Summer recognized his tentative tone and knew why. “I know. I know. You gotta clear it with the boss first.”
Morse nodded. “He’s never been real keen on letting others know we exist.”
“What if Edison says no?” Summer asked.
“Then I’ll probably fire it up anyway. We need to see who else might be out there,” he said, glancing at the grease board with the calculations written in red.
“Now who’s breaking the rules?”
“Sometimes, they need to be broken, for the greater good.”
“Except when I do it,” Summer quipped.
“Too often, my dear. Patience wears thin.”
“I try really hard, but it seems like no matter what I do, it all goes haywire.”
“I think you and I both know you could do better. Just space out the rule breaking a bit, then people won’t get so upset.”
Summer nodded, realizing Morse was correct, as usual. “I have been pushing it a bit lately. Especially with Krista. I just hate that she’s always telling me what to do and how to think. She’s always on my case.”
“I understand. I’d push back, too. But you need to work it out with her before things get outta hand. Trust me on this.”
“Okay, I will. Promise.”
CHAPTER 18
Summer waved a quick goodbye to Morse and left his work area, closing the door behind her. Edison’s office wasn’t close, giving her a few minutes to formulate her summary of what had happened on today’s Seeker Mission.
Morse suggested she tell the truth, giving her the whole “honesty is the best policy” speech—the same speech she’d heard a million times when she was little, back when she still had a family—a real family, not some adopted group of strangers who were packed together and living underground like a bunch of zombie gophers. She hated the books of hers that contained stories about zombies—decomposing a little bit each day, despite their best efforts. Almost like the Scabs, though they were real.
Summer figured Liz would want her to tell the truth to Edison, too, but the truth didn’t paint a good picture of her recent activities. Maybe she could soften her mistakes, spinning them to become lesser failures in Edison’s eyes.
The Professor was like an uncle to her and she couldn’t bear to disappoint him. Not when he’d saved her from a horrible existence after her family vanished from her life.
She knew she couldn’t please everyone all the time, but there are certain individuals in everyone’s life that rank above the rest. They are the people that matter—the ones you can never disappoint. Not when you depend on them for your very survival.
Summer adjusted her backpack so the straps weren’t cutting into her shoulder, wondering if the Professor was still awake at this hour. Liz and Morse had been, but that was no surprise. They were workaholics. So was the Professor, mostly, but he’d been known to crash early some nights, like old people do.
When Summer made the first corner, she came face-to-face with another person, bumping chests.
It was Security Chief Krista Carr.
“There you are!” Krista said, latching onto Summer’s arm with a wicked two-hand grab. The powerful woman tugged hard, yanking Summer off her feet.
“Let go of me!” Summer screeched, but Krista kept her grip tight, dragging Summer down the hallway, her feet trailing behind in a skid.
Summer tried to break free, but the former Army soldier was too tall and too strong, the veins in her biceps bulging like twisted rope.
Krista continued down the corridor, her combat boots marching with purpose. “Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through, young lady? We’ve been out there looking for you all night. Do you know how dangerous that is?”
Summer was able to get her feet under her, though now she was stumbling forward in large steps instead of being dragged like a sack of flour. “Yeah. I’m sorry. Ran into some bad luck. Just look at my face.”
“I don’t want to hear any more excuses. We are way past that. The Council has ruled. Your skinny ass is mine now.”
Summer thought about throwing a punch, but Krista was too well trained and outweighed her by at least sixty pounds. Maybe more. Probably wouldn’t make a dent in that thick skull of hers anyway.
Summer decided to stop fighting, shedding her body of its resistance. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, hoping her arm wouldn’t break as Krista pulled with even more force than before.
“To the brig. A little time in solitary will do you some good. Maybe you’ll come to your senses and realize that the rules apply to everyone. That you can’t just do whatever you want whenever you want. That every action has a consequence.”
“I already know all that,” Summer snapped, wincing in pain. “You’re hurting me.”
Krista seemed to ignore her plea, taking her to the wire mesh elevator that ran between floors. There were two male guards waiting, one of them inside the lift. The other was outside, standing at a slight angle, yielding enough space to allow entry into the elevator.
Summer felt a sharp jab hit her back, forcing her into the elevator in a forward lunge. Her shoulder crashed into the back of the cage, stunning her for a second.
When she turned, she saw the bronze-skinned woman slide a metal lever to the side, then press a green button, sneering at Summer with that penetrating look of hers.
Summer had been in trouble before. Lots of times. But this felt different. “I said I was sorry. I’ll do better. I promise.”
“When have I heard that before? No, this time you’re going to spend some time behind bars. Like everyone else who breaks the rules. Edison is not going to save you, either. Neither are the rest of your cronies. Not after The Council gave me the authority to take action.”
“Come on, Krista. It’s me. You don’t have to do this. Please.”
“Oh yes, I do. We all play by the rules or we don’t have a community. It’s as simple as that.”
“I demand to speak to the Professor at once!” Summer yelled.
Krista stood silent, waiting for the lift to arrive at the designated floor. When it did, she adjusted the headband covering her short-cropped hair, then pulled the manual safety door open.
Another guard stood outside. This man was twice the size of Krista, with a broad chest and a nasty scar across his forehead. It ran from one side to the other as if he’d been sliced open with a meat cleaver.
Summer couldn’t help but stare at his disfigurement, even though her mind was reeling with thoughts of prison. Krista’s version of it, anyway, with hours of lecturing first, then days of boredom to follow.
Krista ripped off Summer’s pack, then looked at Scar Man. “Frisk her and put her in two, Wicks. I’ll be there in two shakes.”
“Hey that’s mine!” Summer yelled, making a stab for the backpack.
Krista wheeled sideways, holding the pack out of Summer’s reach. “Nothing goes inside the cell but you.”
“What about a strip down, body cavity search?” Wicks said. “She could be hiding a weapon somewhere.”
Summer shot her eyes to Krista. “No, no, no, you can’t let him. Please. You can’t.”
Krista paused for a few moments, acting as if she were considering it. “Just put her inside, Wicks.”
Wicks looked disappointed as he tugged at Summer with his long fingers wrapped around her elbow.
Summer fought back out of instinct, trying to wriggle free, but stopped when the sting of his backhand landed on her chin. The man’s whack spun her head to the side, bringing a wave of dizziness with it.
Wicks held up a coiled fist, his eyes screaming at her to just give him a reason. He was ready to pummel her.
Summer put her free arm up and ducked to protect her face. “I surrender! I surrender!”