Activity

Back at the apartment, Tammi wasn’t lounging around like she usually did, instead, a panel on her thigh was open and she was tinkering with some wires.

“What’re you doing?”

“My reaction time’s a little slow in this leg… an undergrounder trying to break into an old lady’s house almost got away.” Tammi muttered. There was a spark of electricity and Stumpy hid under the couch, “OW!”

Marian frowned.

Tammi continued working on her leg. “Anyway, I thought about what to do.”

“Great…” Marian sagged on the couch, rubbing her forehead.

“So.” Tammi closed the panel and pulled down the leg of her shorts, putting her elbows on her knees and steepling her fingers, “Two things, I go to Vigga’s house, and tell her I need to update Fabian’s database, which needs to be done – and, for Jake, I can go for you and pay to have him released. You can wear your necklace and pretend he’s your fiancé.”

Marian sighed, “I have the money… but not enough.”

“I thought you were underpaid.”

“I’m not underpaid. I live cheaply.” Marian crossed her legs. “I could pay for Jake’s release, but… it would set me back so far.”

“We could’ve been eating like regular people, and you didn’t bother to tell me?”

Marian blushed, “Sorry… I’ve just been saving.”

Tammi crossed her arms.

Marian sighed, “To buy a ticket back to Atlantis.”

“Can’t you visit through your job?”

Marian shook her head, “I don’t have a card. I’m planning on it once I quit.”

Tammi’s eyes widened, “So you’ll move away for good?”

“If it happens, it’s a few years away. That’s why I haven’t told you.”

“But why?”

Marian looked out the window, “I promised my brother I’d return… it’s been so long already.”

“You were gonna tell me you had a brother when?”

Marian sighed, “I didn’t feel the need to share it… and there’s more important matters at hand. His life isn’t in any danger.”

“O-ok…” Tammi’s posture slackened, “Have you come up with any ideas?”

Marian nodded, “So you don’t get in trouble, I could go to Vigga’s house myself and give her what Fabian left at Jake’s apartment as a peace offering.”

“Psh, I don’t care about that.” Tammi waved her hand dismissively, “Seriously, I wouldn’t get fired. What do you think about Jake?”

Marian sighed, “I could inform her of Jake’s plight, or ask how he is.” She sighed, “I don’t know.”

“Do you want to go to her house together?”

Marian shook her head, “You could get in troub—”

“M. I told you that I don’t care.”

“You’re sure you wanna go with me?”

“Yeah.” Tammi yawned, “It’d be fun.”

***

Vigga’s house was large, standing in the middle of a lawn with artificial trees and neat arrangements of fungus arranged in a pleasing pattern, all locked behind a clear gate.

Tammi found the buzzer, she turned it on, saying, “Olympia enforcement.”

“What’re you here for?” a man’s voice carried through.

“May I speak with the woman of the house?”

“Vigga is unavailable.”

“Well, could you let me and my associate in so we can wait for her?”

“I suppose. By the way, why is the white-haired one carrying a box?”

“She had been in possession of some of Vigga’s son’s belongings and wishes to bring them to her.”

Then, as if they heard from a distance, the clear voice of Vigga said, “Paris, who’s at the gate?”

Paris said, “Give me a moment.” And he turned off the buzzer for a few seconds before turning it on again, he said, “You can come in.” and the gate lowered into the ground.

Marian and Tammi crossed the garden, and headed to a large door of frosted glass.

It opened as they arrived, and they were met with a slender man that would’ve looked like Fabian, if it wasn’t for his slick hair as Fabian’s used to be rather fluffy. He opened the door wider, letting them in, “Welcome.”

They were met with a massive foyer, a pair of floating staircases almost gliding up to the second floor and elegantly framing a blown glass chandelier. All in all, bright, opulent, but cold and dispassionate, feeling more like an office than a house.

“I see you’re here again.”

Marian turned, seeing Vigga coming out of a hallway. She crossed her arms over her green dress, looking at the box. “What’s this?”

Marian swallowed, “After the fire, I helped clean out Jake’s apartment. This was what Fabian had left at Jake’s place… and some of Jake’s things. I thought you’d want them.”

Vigga’s nostrils flared, “Hmph.” But her gaze remained locked on the box.

“You wish for a photo of Fabian?”

“Yes,” Tammi said, “Could we see him?”

“Here you go.” Paris handed Tammi a picture of Fabian, awake and looking at the camera reluctantly with his oval-pupiled eyes. “You can scan this.”

“I would prefer to see him in person to take the photo.”

“This will do fine.” Paris’s eyes glinted unnaturally, “Or will we have a problem?”

Tammi pursed her lips.

“Fabian doesn’t wish to meet anyone.” Vigga added. “He’s been tired.”

Marian turned to Vigga, “About your sons, can I speak with you in private?”

“Anything you say here can be said in front of their father.”

“Fine.” Marian put her hands behind her back, “I wanted to make you aware that your son Jake has been taken as a test subject by your organization. I know that many donate themselves or are sent to you through the penal system, so I wanted to inform you if you didn’t know.”

Vigga paled almost imperceptibly, “Of… o-of course I know. After what he did to my son, I will do as I think best.”

Marian felt unease increase in the atmosphere. She set down the box. “Tell Fabian I said hello.”

Vigga snorted, “Paris, I think it’s time our guests left.”

“As do I.” Paris pressed the photo into Tammi’s hands. “Good evening.”