Deathwatch (The Faded Earth Book 1)(21)

10


They spoke for nearly half an hour before Eshton went through a series of complicated procedures to release the sleeping man from stasis. She helped load him into the empty suit, a much more difficult process than she would have expected. Eshton explained that it would take at least half a day for him to fully awaken. He would have to be somewhere safe long before then.

When he was ready to go, Eshton turned toward Beck. His face was bare, at least. “Repeat to me what you’re going to do once I leave here,” he said.

“Finish my shift,” Beck replied. “Just before it’s over, you’ll send a notice to Carl that the project is being shut down. I’ll shut down all the hacks and overrides and give control of the drones back to you, and they’ll collapse the end of the tunnel. I’m not an idiot. I can remember instructions.”

Eshton smiled ruefully. “I know you’re not, but you were shaky when I got here. It can be hard to keep things straight when your head isn’t in the right place.”

It all went as planned, at least as far as Beck saw. The drones had already begun digging away at the walls and ceiling of the spherical room when she let the massive door close behind her. Knowing what was about to happen next filled her with no small amount of dread, but through sheer willpower her face remained calm.

She stopped by Carl’s office on the way out. It was clear at once that he’d already opened the message from Eshton. He looked up at her. “Did something happen when that Watchman came in to do his spot check? Something to make them pull the project and make you go in for questioning? Because I’m being told you’ll be leaving the Rez within the day and to put you on indefinite leave.”

The worry on his hangdog face almost broke her heart. “No, nothing like that. The guy they sent was impressed with the efficiency of the drones, that’s all. When I told him all of ours use upgrades I created, he called his Warden. She wants me to meet with some of their engineers to see if I have any ideas on how to improve the software running their armor. It’s a good thing.”

The lie was worth telling solely for the relief washing over Carl’s face if nothing else. The cover story would hold; who would bother to question it? No one knew what Beck found outside Warden Stein and Eshton, and no citizen would dare question the Deathwatch for killing a person in the street. They certainly wouldn’t think twice about what Beck felt was solid pretense. Had things gone differently, it was entirely possible Eshton really would have encouraged his people to pick her brain for new ideas.

“Well, hey, that’s great,” Carl said. “Guess they must really be impressed if they want you on indefinite leave. Might offer you work.”

Beck blushed despite knowing the entire thing was a fiction. “Aw, come on. You know I wouldn’t leave you.”

Carl gave her a serious look. “Girl, if you get a chance to do something better—hell, just more challenging—than working in this place for the rest of your life, you should take it. You could have my job in a few years, and you’d do better than me. But I’ve always known you can do more. Be more. Brain like yours, you can change the world.”

Beck took a calming breath to fight back the swell of emotion threatening to boil out of her. She darted around the desk and gave him a fierce, quick hug. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me. Thank you. I’ll let you know as soon as I can. If I’m not coming back, you’ll have to find someone to replace me.”

“Doubt that’s possible,” he said with a snort. “Now go on, get your shit together for your trip. First time out of the Rez. Must be excited.”

Beck kept a smile plastered on her face. Barely. “Yeah. That’s one word for it.”





She told the same story to Fisher, who was buying none of it. He was worried, but didn’t push.

“You don’t have to tell me what’s really going on,” he said in a low voice as she packed a small bag. “Just tell me if you need...” When he trailed off, Beck looked up from her rapid packing to find him searching the room.

“What are you looking for?” she asked.

He stopped, looking sheepish. “Your terminal. No full-size console in here, so your tablet would be the only thing in the room connected to the Mesh. Where is it?”

“Down in the bar,” Beck said. “Why?”

In response, he closed the door and moved in almost intimately close. “Listen, if you’re in trouble, I know people who can hide you. Deathwatch won’t be able to find you. I’ve seen it happen before. Folk disappear after getting a summons, once in a while.”

Once again, Beck’s insatiably curious brain almost got the better of her. Hide from the Deathwatch? How was that even possible? Everything was connected to the Mesh, and anything could be used to monitor a citizen if the Watch deemed it necessary. More important, why would anyone want to take a risk like disobeying them? Their safety depended on the Watch. So many questions, but Beck had to play her role.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” she said, trying to reassure him. “I’ll be back in a few days, or at least send you word.”

Fisher studied her for a little while, then sighed in resignation. “Fine. Just remember what I said, okay?”

“I will,” Beck assured him. She took her bag. “Just in case I end up staying there for a while, thank you for everything.” She gave Fisher a hug, which he returned awkwardly but with warmth.