Outside In
Page 46
And as the hours passed, I felt more pressure to accomplish something. Anything besides how to determine if a wound was infected or not. Halfway through week 147,024, I completed the fourth and final sweep through the Trava Sector. Still no results. However, by spending so much time in the ducts above the Travas, I learned a few things.
One—they were dangerously bored. Two men had pulled apart a heap of computers to build a couple of hand-held devices. They could be weapons or a way to communicate, I had no idea. But my glass tube didn’t glow so it wasn’t a link to the Controllers.
Two—they planned to escape and release their comrades in the brig.
Three—they wanted to regain control of Inside and protect something or somebody. Which didn’t make sense to me. They already had control. So why didn’t the so-called Controllers tell the Committee to release all of the Travas?
My agitation grew and the tension in Inside filled every space. Fights broke out and a number of riots erupted. Anne-Jade’s ISF officers were swamped and many were injured.
When she stopped by the infirmary to check on Yuri, I pulled her aside and informed her about the Travas’ plans.
“They can have it,” she snapped. “Nothing is getting done besides the repairs to the air plant, and everyone has reverted to acting like the Pop Cops are back. They’re keeping to themselves and not helping despite the food rationing.”
“And the Committee—”
“Does nothing! They’re too afraid. I wish the Controllers would just lay it on the line and tell us what they want.”
Interesting strategy. “Is the Transmission working?” I asked.
“No. The three Travas who Karla named had no clue how to work it.”
“If the Transmission isn’t fixed, eventually it won’t matter who has control.”
“You don’t need to tell me, but the Controllers don’t seem worried about that.”
Odd. “What about Hank? Can he fix the Transmission?”
“He’s busy with the air plant repairs. And trying to help us find the saboteurs.”
“Did Bubba Boom tell you who they are?” I asked.
“Yeah. But the five of them disappeared when we tried to arrest them.”
They could have been tipped off. “There aren’t many places to hide.”
“You think? Such stellar intellect, I’m going to promote you to captain.”
“No need to be nasty.”
Anne-Jade rubbed her eyes. Exhaustion had etched deep lines into her face. “Sorry. I don’t have the manpower to search those places. If it wasn’t for Hank’s offer to keep an eye out, Sloan and his cohorts could be lounging in the dining room without having to worry about the ISF.”
“At least with them on the run, there shouldn’t be any more attacks.”
“One good thing,” she said.
“One thing at a time.” Which reminded me of my task. “Anne-Jade, I know you’re swamped, but can you search the Trava Sector for the active computer? I’ve done all I can through the shafts and came up with nothing.”
“We do regular inspections. Too regular from what you’ve told me.” She sighed. “I think it’s time for a surprise visit.”
“Take the glass tube with you. It should pick up anything that is hidden.” I hurried back to my room and retrieved the detector and Zippy for her.
She raised her right eyebrow. “You keep Zippy in your room?”
“In case I need him. Can you bring him back when you’re done?”
Anne-Jade left muttering about smoke damaged wits. I had told her the truth about Zippy, but not the entire reason I kept the little cleaning troll near my bed. He’s been with me through some tough times. And he filled the void left by Sheepy.
At hour sixty, Anne-Jade returned with Zippy and the glass detector. Although her surprise inspection had netted her an interesting and scary array of illegal devices, weapons and contraband, she didn’t find a computer linked to the network.
Which meant another person or group were the Controllers. Not good. Two hours later, I hurried over to Logan’s room.
Faint voices rolled through the shaft as I neared his vent. I slowed, keeping as quiet as possible as I slid the final meter. Logan’s aggravated tone was easy to recognize. The other two sounded calmer and were harder to discern.
“...long are you going to keep me here?” Logan demanded.
“...safe…saboteurs…life,” a man’s voice said.
“I’ll stay in the Control Room. No one can get in there.” Logan’s anger rang clear.
“...rebellion…easy…”
“That’s because we were all helping her. Besides, Trella’s not a danger to me, you unrecyclable idiot. She’s my friend.”
More murmuring and I strained to hear the rest. The voices stopped and the door clicked shut. Metallic snaps and clangs followed before silence filled the room. I waited a few minutes until I was certain Logan’s keepers had left, then I dropped down to the floor.
Logan stared at the closed door, hugging his arm to his chest.
“Logan, if you want to leave here, just say the word and I’ll find you the perfect hiding place.”
He spun around. “No worries, I’m fine. I just have to whine and complain to my captors or else they’ll suspect I’m up to something. Did you hear my little tantrum about being bored to death?”
“No.”
One—they were dangerously bored. Two men had pulled apart a heap of computers to build a couple of hand-held devices. They could be weapons or a way to communicate, I had no idea. But my glass tube didn’t glow so it wasn’t a link to the Controllers.
Two—they planned to escape and release their comrades in the brig.
Three—they wanted to regain control of Inside and protect something or somebody. Which didn’t make sense to me. They already had control. So why didn’t the so-called Controllers tell the Committee to release all of the Travas?
My agitation grew and the tension in Inside filled every space. Fights broke out and a number of riots erupted. Anne-Jade’s ISF officers were swamped and many were injured.
When she stopped by the infirmary to check on Yuri, I pulled her aside and informed her about the Travas’ plans.
“They can have it,” she snapped. “Nothing is getting done besides the repairs to the air plant, and everyone has reverted to acting like the Pop Cops are back. They’re keeping to themselves and not helping despite the food rationing.”
“And the Committee—”
“Does nothing! They’re too afraid. I wish the Controllers would just lay it on the line and tell us what they want.”
Interesting strategy. “Is the Transmission working?” I asked.
“No. The three Travas who Karla named had no clue how to work it.”
“If the Transmission isn’t fixed, eventually it won’t matter who has control.”
“You don’t need to tell me, but the Controllers don’t seem worried about that.”
Odd. “What about Hank? Can he fix the Transmission?”
“He’s busy with the air plant repairs. And trying to help us find the saboteurs.”
“Did Bubba Boom tell you who they are?” I asked.
“Yeah. But the five of them disappeared when we tried to arrest them.”
They could have been tipped off. “There aren’t many places to hide.”
“You think? Such stellar intellect, I’m going to promote you to captain.”
“No need to be nasty.”
Anne-Jade rubbed her eyes. Exhaustion had etched deep lines into her face. “Sorry. I don’t have the manpower to search those places. If it wasn’t for Hank’s offer to keep an eye out, Sloan and his cohorts could be lounging in the dining room without having to worry about the ISF.”
“At least with them on the run, there shouldn’t be any more attacks.”
“One good thing,” she said.
“One thing at a time.” Which reminded me of my task. “Anne-Jade, I know you’re swamped, but can you search the Trava Sector for the active computer? I’ve done all I can through the shafts and came up with nothing.”
“We do regular inspections. Too regular from what you’ve told me.” She sighed. “I think it’s time for a surprise visit.”
“Take the glass tube with you. It should pick up anything that is hidden.” I hurried back to my room and retrieved the detector and Zippy for her.
She raised her right eyebrow. “You keep Zippy in your room?”
“In case I need him. Can you bring him back when you’re done?”
Anne-Jade left muttering about smoke damaged wits. I had told her the truth about Zippy, but not the entire reason I kept the little cleaning troll near my bed. He’s been with me through some tough times. And he filled the void left by Sheepy.
At hour sixty, Anne-Jade returned with Zippy and the glass detector. Although her surprise inspection had netted her an interesting and scary array of illegal devices, weapons and contraband, she didn’t find a computer linked to the network.
Which meant another person or group were the Controllers. Not good. Two hours later, I hurried over to Logan’s room.
Faint voices rolled through the shaft as I neared his vent. I slowed, keeping as quiet as possible as I slid the final meter. Logan’s aggravated tone was easy to recognize. The other two sounded calmer and were harder to discern.
“...long are you going to keep me here?” Logan demanded.
“...safe…saboteurs…life,” a man’s voice said.
“I’ll stay in the Control Room. No one can get in there.” Logan’s anger rang clear.
“...rebellion…easy…”
“That’s because we were all helping her. Besides, Trella’s not a danger to me, you unrecyclable idiot. She’s my friend.”
More murmuring and I strained to hear the rest. The voices stopped and the door clicked shut. Metallic snaps and clangs followed before silence filled the room. I waited a few minutes until I was certain Logan’s keepers had left, then I dropped down to the floor.
Logan stared at the closed door, hugging his arm to his chest.
“Logan, if you want to leave here, just say the word and I’ll find you the perfect hiding place.”
He spun around. “No worries, I’m fine. I just have to whine and complain to my captors or else they’ll suspect I’m up to something. Did you hear my little tantrum about being bored to death?”
“No.”
