Chapter 3
Finn
I don’t sleep well, and when I finally give up, Timothy informs me that I should expect to be tired in a few hours.
“You’re not helping,” I grumble as I make myself breakfast.
“I’m providing you with information that can help you better prepare for your day. You’re welcome.”
I sit at my small kitchen table to eat my salad while listening to people as they start their day outside. Timothy climbs onto the chair next to me and says, “Since I’ve spoken with Dino while you were speaking with Caden, we should update each other on what we have learned.”
I chew on a tomato. “Shoot.”
He tells me what I already know, and I tell him a bit more about Hector from what I can remember.
The bottom line is clear—something is definitely happening.
Fights between the Hives and the Raiders have been going on for decades, with the worst of it taking place over ten years ago with the horrible attack on Unity known as Skyfall.
The Hive Salvation was completely destroyed while the Hive Mercy was spared because it was too hard to reach.
Caden lost a brother back then, who was also a close friend of Josh’s.
“Do you think they’re that eager to go to war?” I ask.
“It stands to reason that they have grown fearful of us.”
“Why?”
“The assembly has spent a lot of time and energy strengthening our relationships with the Free Cities. The Raiders could have also learned about our peace agreement with the Semi-Humans.”
I know firsthand how much effort is being spent on our military alliances. That’s one of the few things the general and Dino are in complete agreement on.
“We should examine old reports of Raiders’ attacks,” Timothy says. “Maybe someone like Hector was mentioned.”
I take a final bite of my salad. “Good idea, but I’ll need to do my rounds first.”
I put on my beige assembly uniform, still honored to wear it even after a year of doing this job.
Everyone in Unity knows about my history with the Raiders, yet this uniform feels like a full-body armor that protects me from harassment.
My dark, curly hair could use a bit of trimming, but it can wait until I have more time.
We leave my apartment and walk toward the shopping area.
It’s still early, so not all stands and shops are open.
I can hear the gushing of the underground waterfall from out here, as well as the construction taking place next to it.
Last year, our reactor was almost destroyed by a treacherous Semi-Human named Rowen, so it was decided we must lower our dependency on our sole reactor.
It will be a while before they finish the construction of the hydroelectric system, but people are excited about something new being built after so many years.
There are three shop owners I visit every few days to gather information and rumors. We start with a small tailor shop. The old owner looks up from his work station. “Morning, you two.”
“Hello, Henry,” Timothy says, walking ahead of me. “I hope you’ll have time for a game of cards with me this evening.”
“Yeah, we can do that. Nothing I love more than losing to a spider robot.”
“He’s not a robot,” I say sternly. “He’s a synthetic being.”
Henry scratches his bald head. “Aren’t those just fancy words for a robot?”
I give him a hard look, even though he doesn’t mean to insult. “He has the consciousness of the scientist Timothy Brown as well as human blood.”
“That is correct. My blood is enhanced and constantly revives my skin, allowing me to walk around on these beauties for so many years.” He raises his two front legs, which end in pale, human palms.
Henry makes a face. “No offense, but those are plain creepy.”
“They were meant to hold babies.”
“That’s even creepier!”
“Any news?” I ask, eager to finish my round and go speak with Dino.
“News? You mean like how Caden lost his entire squad on a mission and no one knows what happened? Yeah, I’d call that news.”
I stand straighter, always amazed by how quickly rumors travel around the Hive. “What do people think happened?”
“Well, Raiders, obviously, but to lose an entire squad? Again. People wonder if there’s something more going on, and why Caden was the only one who got back, not to mention uninjured.”
My blood heats at the implication that this had something to do with Caden screwing up. “You tell those idiots that—”
“Anything else?” Timothy cuts me off.
“Nah, that’s all I’ve heard. Folks have been feeling for a while now that things are heating up with the Raiders, and nobody wants another Skyfall situation.”
“Of course. Finn, we should continue.”
I follow him outside, expecting to be reprimanded, but he doesn’t mention it. The two other informants tell us similar things, both mentioning the overall skepticism about Caden’s return as the only survivor.
We take the elevator to the Heights and walk to the assembly building in the Government District. On the third and final floor, we walk down the hallway until we enter a small and cozy lobby where Vivian, Dino’s secretary, sits.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” She frowns at me. “You look tired.”
“I’m fine. Can we go see Dino?”
“Sure you can. Go ahead.”
We knock and wait for Dino to invite us in. Despite the early hour, I’m sure he’s been working for a few hours now. He has an old computer, one of the few we still have working in the Hive.
“Good morning,” he says. “How was your conversation with Caden last night?”
I sit in front of his desk and update him. He’s aware of my prior relationship with Caden, but he’s always stayed out of it. “Do you know any more about Hector?” I ask.
“Not as much as I should know about the man who’s ruling Denver. He seems to have come out of nowhere, and that damn city has turned into even more of a mystery since then.”
“Timothy suggested we look through reports of Raiders’ attacks to check if he was mentioned. We know he has a tail.”
“That might not tell us much. We know they have a few mutants in their ranks. The man who helped Josh escape from Vegas was one of them.”
“Buck,” I say, still finding it hard to believe that Josh befriended that monster. “Why do you think Hector came so close to the Hive if he’s the ruler of Denver? It feels risky.”
Dino leans back in his chair, his eyes troubled.
“That is strange, but he did let Caden go so he could convey a message, and that message is much more powerful now that we know the kind of mutants Hector can control. A man who managed to come out of nowhere and take over the most dangerous city in Colorado didn’t do that without a solid plan—hell, a brilliant plan.
” He shakes his head. “If his goal is to keep us afraid behind our walls until he can attack when it suits him, we have to act before him.”
Unless he’s counting on us to do just that, I can’t help thinking.
“And will all the Free Cities stand with us?” Timothy asks.
“Most are in agreement. I spent last night updating my counterparts about Hector’s attack and his mutant soldiers. Colorado’s trade routes are our lifeline, and with those under attack, everyone will be affected.”
“How can I help?” I ask, even though I feel in my gut that we’re missing something.
“High Hope,” Dino says. “They’re far enough from Denver to not be bothered by Raiders’ attacks and high enough to be protected. They’re not in enough danger to join us, and by ’they,’ I mean him, Roger Campbell the Third.”
I met the king once as part of my work, and I still can’t say with certainty what I think of him. “Are we going to travel to High Hope?” I ask.
“I’m needed here, Finn, especially now, but I would like for you to go and represent Unity.”
I try not to show how stunned I am. This is bigger than anything he has ever asked me to do. “You should send someone more experienced, sir.”
“I’ve spent the last year making sure there wouldn’t be anyone more experienced than you, and I don’t believe I wasted my time.”
“You haven’t,” Timothy says firmly.
I only manage to nod, feeling lightheaded.
Dino smiles. “Good. The general will assign a few Defenders to join you. I would have preferred a bigger force, but the general’s right about not attracting unwanted attention.”
“When should I leave?”
“Soon. There’s still some work for you here in the coming days.”
“I would like to accompany Finn,” Timothy says.
Dino shakes his head. “The people of High Hope are not used to seeing someone like you. It’s best if we keep the Defenders focusing on keeping Finn safe.”
I understand Dino’s logic, but the thought of being away from Timothy for so long worries me more than the journey itself.
“He can sense danger better than any Defender,” I say. “I’ve also been to High Hope before, and they have mutants living in the city, so Timothy will be less of an anomaly than he is here.”
Dino still looks reluctant as he says, “Fine, but both of you better be careful.”
“We will,” Timothy says. “I wonder if River and Josh might also be there.”
“I can try speaking with Mother,” I say.
Dino nods. “Worth a shot. Now, I don’t want to decide for the general who will be the Defenders to accompany you, but if Caden were to ask for this assignment...”
My heart beats faster thinking of that possibility, though it will hurt if he refuses. Still, there’s no other Defender I trust more to keep me and Timothy safe. “I’ll talk to him.”