Tom and Brooke wove quietly through the darkened hallways of the base until they broke into the dimming light of the Surface."It's been a while since I have been out here. Although, I don't feel like I'm missing much," Brooke said as she peered into the twilight."It may not be much to look at now, but during sunrise and sunset it's quite spectacular.""If you say so. It just looks like a bunch of clouds and dust to me. But it looks like the stars are coming out tonight. It's so odd how the clouds only hit in the daytime."Tom shrugged. He never really thought about it before, but she was right. It was always cloudy during the day and almost always clear during the night."How far to the docks?" Brooke asked."About twenty minutes or so."She nodded. "Can you believe all of this used to be underwater?""Shh-" Tom hushed her and grabbed her hand. "The less we talk, the less likely we'll be found."Brooke nodded and let him lead her.After winding a way through the old streets
"Where are we going?" Tom asked."I'm not great with the details, but as far as I know, each of the pods that Ellie uses are marked as soldiers returning from the Surface. From there we enter the system with our ID's that she made us and it kind of rewrites it to make it look like we are real people. Then we go to like a secret tech lab where they make our identities bulletproof. They set us up with a house, a pod, jobs, and starter money so we can start a life.""Does this happen often?"Brooke shrugged. "We have our spies. Well, and the escape pods. Not everyone enjoys living so close to the Surface."Tom's ears started to pop as the pod sunk lower into the ocean. After many hours the pod entered on to the speedway docking port. It paused as it read their identities and then zipped off towards its destination.Tom sat back watching the dark waters through the screen on the pod wall. "I'm sorry about the shower.""Can we just stop talking about that?""Not until you hear my sid
He looked out on the pseudo-sunlit area which included a driveway on the left and a fake grass area on the right. Some people chose to put in real grass and mow it, but it cost water and power to maintain. There was a small area to install a flower bed between the lawn and the house. Small steps led to the porch he stood on which extended to both sides of the door. On one side was a two-seater porch swing. After seeing the ruins on the Surface, he could almost imagine what things used to look like hundreds of years ago. This imitation didn't really do it justice.He went back inside and checked the package drop. Packages were delivered in their own tube right to the inside of the front door. Huge packages were delivered by freight pods. Tom opened the tube and took out the large cylinder. He opened the top and found a starter meal package. Most food was bought online and delivered this way. Penina must have had it sent over to get them started. Tom took the food and put in in the kitc
Jack sat in the pod with Lexi as it zoomed down the speedway towards the campaign dinner."Maya, you're a good girl, but I need you to be on your utmost best behavior tonight."Lexi nodded. "Don't worry Dad, I know the drill."For some reason, that didn't put him at ease. She was going to be out there tonight for everyone to see, not safely back at home. Wasn't he the one who came up with a family dinner night for all the employees in the first place? It was supposed to show that Henry was a family man. What was he thinking?Jack grimaced. He was just running short on ideas lately and this proposal seemed to ring true with what voters wanted to see in their representatives. The press would be all over this place tonight and if they hit the predicted numbers, Jack was looking at another promotion. "Twice the pay and double the benefits," they had said. He gritted his teeth. He hoped this was worth the risk.The pod came to a smooth stop and the door opened. Jack helped Lexi out and
People were still standing and applauding as Henry left the podium. Zeven took back over and called people to the stage to be recognized for their outstanding work.Jack pushed past tables and around people, as he chased after Lexi. She was so much faster than him. Being small and agile, she was able to slip passed people without running into them. He hauled his large frame in her direction. He tried to keep sight of her as she zipped closer to the stairs.By the time he caught up to her, two security men, Jack thought they were probably Alphas without their masks on, held her by the arms. She was kicking and shouting."Let me go!" She demanded."Young lady, this is a restricted area.""I want to see her," she yelled."See who?" the man asked.Jack reached them, anger and heat bubbled to the surface. "Let go of my daughter.""I'm sorry, sir, but she's not allowed up here.""Let go of her," he growled. He closed his hands as he felt flame flicker at his fingertips.Lexi stoppe
"Hurry! We're going to miss it!" Brooke said over her shoulder as she pulled at Tom's hand."I doubt we're going to miss it. They're going to be here for the next six hours.""But we're going to miss all the best spots."Tom chuckled. "I don't think that matters too much. You'll be able to hear the music from anywhere. I can hear it from here."Brooke puffed out her bottom lip in a pout. "But Oliver," she whined."Okay, anything for my pumpkin."Brooke smiled.Tom picked up the pace and followed after her. They were playing the typical newlyweds role today, but it was really a scouting mission to see if they could find Jack. This was a benefit put on by the Truex campaign, and they were hoping this would be the kind of thing Jack would attend if he wanted to get closer to Henry and Alex. This would be especially good since it was kid friendly so they would potentially have two people they could find."Here, this spot!" Brooke called from ahead of him.Tom walked over to her an
"Did you have a nice nap?" She asked."I did. Did you?"She nodded. "Have you seen them yet?"Tom shook his head. "They are probably disguised as well as us. I don't think we'd recognize them unless we are up close enough to see their faces."Brooke shrugged and the motion wasn't helping him at all."Maybe we need to find a way to volunteer at these events instead.""With our work schedules? Didn't you say we are barely making it as it is?" She asked and swung her legs over one of his so she was sitting up better.Tom nodded. "I guess I can change my shift to the day shift and see if I can start meeting people working on the campaign. Do you have any idea what kind of work he would be doing if he is even working on the campaign?"Brooke shrugged and smoothed her dress down around her legs. Her hand brushed against his upper thigh and she looked at him with a coy smile.His face reddened. "I just woke up," he mumbled.Her hand pressed up higher. "I could,"Tom snatched up her
After several months of their new life, Tom was finally settling into a routine. Tom's pod parked in the garage next to Brooke's red and white medical one. He pulled himself up the staircase one step at a time until he finally made it to the top."Welcome home," Brooke said as she set a pork roast on the table. "You're just in time.""Wow, look at this. Wasn't it book club tonight? Usually, you're already in bed."Brooke flashed him a devilish grin. We got done early. Besides-" she walked up to him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I missed you."Tom got a distinct feeling that she was planning something. He pulled his security jacket off and hung it in the closet by the door along with his gun holster then sat at the table while Brooke served him up. Was her blouse particularly low this evening or was that just him? He tried not to let his eyes linger as she bent close and put roasted potatoes on his plate. Her feminine scent mixed with the smell of roasted meat and confused his