His statement was true, though maybe not entirely. Sometimes her anger took her places where she had no intention of going in the first place. Tempers can do that. Krista knew she wasn’t immune. Yet the calmer side of her personality would usually take over if she gave it a chance to rise up when she needed it most. Like now.
“I know it seems that way, Rod, but I really don’t want her banished. I was just setting the bar high with The Council so we could negotiate something in the middle. Something that would be constructive for everyone. It’s the art of the deal, Rod. Never make your best offer first.”
He took a moment before responding, his head tilted to the left as if he were in deep in thought. “Hmmm. Thought you hated her and wanted her gone.”
“You know me. I always have a plan. Even when I don’t know what it is yet.”
“Not sure what that means, but okay,” Rod said, scooting his chair closer to hers. He looked around the room, his eyes darting left and right before he brought them back to Krista.
He lowered his voice, speaking just above a whisper. “I’m thinking if you assigned someone to accompany her, you could cover all the angles. But it would have to be someone you trust.”
Krista hesitated, letting Zimmer’s words soak into her thoughts. The man might be on to something. She responded in a whisper as well. “Maybe someone her age. Someone who can get close to her without suspicion.”
“Exactly. Summer doesn’t have the training you do. She’ll never see it coming. Especially, if it’s someone her age. A nice-looking young man who might turn her head, if you know what I mean.”
“I do,” Krista said, letting her mind sift through the people she knew, searching for someone who might fit the task. “But she’ll balk at the idea. Probably run to Edison like she always does. I can see it now, both of them quoting regulations about Seekers being sent out alone.”
“What if you spun this as some kind of a training mission?”
“For her?”
“No, for the spy. I’m guessing that Edison would agree to a new Seeker Training Program. One that would develop new talent. We’re going to need more Seekers with the recent explosion in population. Edison has to know that we need more resources than we have now. We can’t keep growing like this. Not with limited food stores and a maxed-out hydroponics bay.”
“Interesting idea. If I present it right, it might just get around The Council’s mandate.”
“Exactly. Plus, if Edison goes for it, you’ll cover your ass, no matter how this plays out. It’s time to start thinking about yourself, Krista. In the end, it’ll be good for Nirvana. And maybe even for Summer, depending on what happens. She might just grow up a little.”
Krista nodded, feeling the pressure release in her chest. “I knew there was a reason I hung around you, Rod. You always think outside the box.”
“That’s why I’m in Supply. I climb in and out of boxes all day,” he said, snickering.
“Well then, I’m glad it’s you,” Krista said, touching her hand on his forearm.
A long pause hung in the air before Zimmer spoke again, his face turning serious. “There’s something else you should know.”
“What’s that?” she asked, pulling her hand back.
“Have you seen all the signs going up, with motivational quotes on them?”
Krista nodded, but didn’t respond.
“Aren’t you curious as to who’s behind them and why?”
Krista knew the answer but chose not to reveal it to him. She wanted to hear Zimmer out without any influence from her end, potentially tainting whatever he was going to reveal. “Been a little busy, Rod. Only so many hours in the day.”
“It’s Edison. He’s damn worried. Been scribbling them like crazy and having me put them up all over.”
“Worried about what?”
“A mutiny, I’m guessing. Morale is at an all-time low. I’m sure you can feel it.”
“As a matter of fact, I have. You can almost taste it. But then again, I thought it might have been my own stress. Got that meeting to cover at Heston’s tomorrow and I haven’t begun to tackle duty assignments. I’m so far behind.”
“You can only do what you can do. Gotta prioritize.”
Krista rolled her eyes. “Easy for you to say. You don’t have all the Summer crap on your plate.”
“It’s a lot to deal with, I’ll agree, but you’ll figure it out. You always do.”
Krista appreciated his confidence, but he never answered his own question. “A mutiny? Seriously?”
“It’s a possibility. In fact, the more people we rescue, the higher the chance of a revolt. Just too many personalities in play.”
“Plus we really don’t know anything about these people. They could be criminals for all we know.”
Zimmer narrowed his eyes. “Exactly. There’s no telling how this will play out. Especially if food and supplies run low. Tensions build with every new body he brings in.”
“And yet he keeps bringing them in.”
“Insanity, brought to you by a man named Edison. I’m sure his great-great-grandfather Thomas would have a different take on all this.”
“Cousin, not grandfather,” Krista said, feeling the need to correct her friend.
“Same difference. You get my drift.”
She did. “All they have to do is claim they need help and they’re in. No way to check them out or verify their story. Boom, he just opens the door and gives them all a great big hug. It’s nuts, Rod. Just nuts. Where are they all coming from?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Zimmer said, shaking his head. “Well, that and how did they survive all these years?”
Krista felt her kinship with Zimmer growing by the second. “I’m afraid we’ll never know.”
“In the end, does it really matter? They’re alive and they’re here.”
“True. And now they’re our problem.”
“I think Heston is just glad to get rid of them. The last thing he wants is more and more people showing up without anything to trade. That crusty old cowboy knows Edison will take them in, without question. The only thing Heston cares about is keeping his business running smoothly,” Zimmer said.
“Can’t blame the guy. I would, too. Those people bring nothing to the table. I just don’t get Edison and his insatiable need to help everyone. Talk about a major security risk. What if one of these new people brings in some kind of virus that gets loose? We can’t deal with that. Might as well put a gun to our heads right now and end the suspense.”
“That might be a little drastic.”
“You know what I mean,” Krista said.
“If we’re right about Edison’s fear of an uprising, then he’s ripe for picking. Now is the time to ask for changes, especially if he’s willing to try new things to save this place. You know what today is, right?” Zimmer asked, not giving her time to answer. “The anniversary of his wife’s death.”
“Yeah. Always a tough day for him. He loved her a lot.”
“It means he’s vulnerable. Now’s the time.”
“You might be right, but it’s never easy to get him to change his mind. On anything. I know; I’ve tried. So have you.”
“It won’t always be that way, trust me.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means, someday, you’ll be running this place and we can change the rules. Like granting entry based on merit, not need.”
“Me? Really?”
Zimmer nodded, looking determined to make his point. “Edison ain’t gonna live forever. You’re the only choice in my book.”
“I’m not sure the others would agree.”
“It won’t be up to them. The Rules of Succession are clear. Edison gets to name his replacement. He has to know you are the one and only person qualified to take over for him.”