CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Don't Fall into Dejection
I tap ‘STOP’ on the recording.
“Shit, we’re in the deep aren’t we?” Oliver murmurs.
When I came back, Peter had already gathered the rest besides Deidre and Lance into Peter’s room. We’re all huddled in a circle next to the vent. I’m caked in dust; my white shirt is already a dirty gray.
Peter is staring at the phone, his hand over his mouth. He seems to be in deep thought.
He points to the phone. “Play it again.”
I tap replay.
Vanguard: …A list of individuals from Quartz that attended the Greeting. (pause) Humphrey James Lance.
Lance: Yes.
Vanguard: Deidre Luna Bulgattia.
Lance: Yes.
Vanguard: Charles Michael Lance Nolan.
Lance: Yes.
Vanguard: Oliver Goren.
Lance: That’s right.
Vanguard: Seth and Victor Morrison.
Lance: Yes.
Vanguard: Naveen Charlene Maxwell.
Lance: Mmhm Yes.
Vanguard: Joseph Baxter Lance and his brother, Peter Downing.
Lance: Yes and yes.
Vanguard: And John Kingsley, the human one.
Lance: Yes it’s all in order. That’s everyone.
(Pause)
Vanguard: Are you sure?
“Play it again,” Peter demands.
I flick back to the beginning and the conversation repeats.
“What are you looking for?” Oliver asks over the recording.
“… Oliver Goren…”
“Something’s not right,” Peter says. “Vanguard said something about a woman like a few seconds after it. I just wanna hear him list the names again.”
“… Naveen Charlene….”
“Pete, it doesn’t matter” Les answers. “Thanks to John we know where Quartz is on Vanguard’s radar. We know where we stand. With this, we know how we need to act.”
“But –“
“Les is right,” Henri interrupts as he slips into the room. He strolls forward and stands between Peter and Les, giving them a hearty pat on their shoulders. “We don’t need to worry about the petty details.”
Peter starts with, “How’d you-“
“What? Know what you kids been up to? Going into the vents to spy on Lance?” Henri interrupts with a hearty laugh. He rubs Peter’s head playfully. “I’m not that old and stupid. I did the same thing a few minutes after you but they’d already left. Saw someone’s feet disappear around the corner,” he gives me a wink.
“Besides,” he continues. “You shouldn’t worry ‘bout the other thing. The Council’s notorious for making shit up when it suits them. They’re just tryin’ to throw Lance off his game. Don’t pay attention to that.”
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SIDEKICK
Ficção AdolescenteWhenever someone, out there, creates a story that involves a hero, they'll always be someone in the form of a sidekick. Male, female, young, old, alien, paranormal, dog, whatever. Anything. But there's something that no one is aware of. You see, in...
