cell. As expected, Clyde stands right out in front. He is leaning his head against the door as though he is listening to Zoe’s singing. He looks anything but happy. He seems to literally be suffering with her. It’s amazing how close those two have become. Zoe’s words are like fairy tales from a strange world for Clyde. How many other residents of the safety zone would act the same way? Before the kidnapping, I had hung on her every word and absorbed everything she told me, like a sponge absorbs water.
Strange that I initially believed Clyde would be the rebels’ contact man. No one else has the same dreamy essence as him. The rebels are all realists. They have experienced too much to allow themselves to dream.
The realization hits me like a blow. That’s it! Why did not I not immediately realize it? I only have to contact the rebels’ contact in the Legion about the attack. She will surely pass it on. Spasmodically, I try to remember her name, but all I can think of is her face before my eyes. She was a generation older than me and in the combat unit, so she would be C4... something. Frantically, I start to press buttons on the control board. I hope she is not currently on duty, otherwise she could be anywhere in the Legion. I don’t need to check the men, so she could be one of 49 or 50 possibilities. The first woman I see I’m sure is not her, but already after the first four I have the feeling that they all look alike. I close my eyes and try to call up her image in my memory. Was there anything unique about her? Something that sets her apart from everyone else?
Of course, she had the same bald head and blue eyes as everyone else, but there was something different in her face. Her nose? No, it was perfectly shaped like everyone else’s. Her mouth? My finger brushes over my lips. My index finger remains on my upper lip. That’s it! She had a scar. Her skin there was whiter there than the rest of her body and therefore stood out easily.
Hastily I cycle through the remaining digits and find myself stopping on C403. I found her. This is the woman that can contact the rebels. She is my only hope.
I’m not even in my room for five minutes when there is a knock at the door. Astonished, I look at the monitor to see who is just beyond the door. It shows me the image of D560. I open the door and look at her questioningly.
“I am to guard you again tonight,” she tells me.
Slightly annoyed, I raise my eyebrows. “Again?”
She nods and walks timidly past me into the room. It is too late when I realize that she could interpret my response wrong. My disappointment had nothing to do with her.
“I’m sorry; it’s nothing against your company. I cannot understand why A350 wants me monitored. She no longer seems to trust me.”
D560 puts her head slightly askew as she answers. “She said it was for your own safety. I’m sure she just wants the best for you.”
“Yes, what she considers to be the best,” I reply reluctantly. “She does not care about what I want.”
I let myself fall on the bed. “You know, I thought as a Legion commander I would finally have more freedom in the safety zone, but I was wrong. I’m basically as stuck as I was before; the only difference now is that I have a beautiful view.”
“Well, you can decide who is allowed to enter your room and who is not,” D560 replies, I can hear the envious tone of her voice. She must think I’m spoiled. No one in the safety zone has it as good as I do and yet I always find a reason to complain.
“Shall we sleep?”
She nods with a timid smile and this time lies down beside me in the bed.
However, instead of sleeping, she looks at me hesitantly. “I’m glad that I can be with you.”
Her confession touched me. Apparently she is slowly beginning to open up to me. I answer her with a smile. “And I’m glad that you’re here.”
The next morning I’m one of the first awake and eating breakfast. I see A350 and without hesitation, I
Strange that I initially believed Clyde would be the rebels’ contact man. No one else has the same dreamy essence as him. The rebels are all realists. They have experienced too much to allow themselves to dream.
The realization hits me like a blow. That’s it! Why did not I not immediately realize it? I only have to contact the rebels’ contact in the Legion about the attack. She will surely pass it on. Spasmodically, I try to remember her name, but all I can think of is her face before my eyes. She was a generation older than me and in the combat unit, so she would be C4... something. Frantically, I start to press buttons on the control board. I hope she is not currently on duty, otherwise she could be anywhere in the Legion. I don’t need to check the men, so she could be one of 49 or 50 possibilities. The first woman I see I’m sure is not her, but already after the first four I have the feeling that they all look alike. I close my eyes and try to call up her image in my memory. Was there anything unique about her? Something that sets her apart from everyone else?
Of course, she had the same bald head and blue eyes as everyone else, but there was something different in her face. Her nose? No, it was perfectly shaped like everyone else’s. Her mouth? My finger brushes over my lips. My index finger remains on my upper lip. That’s it! She had a scar. Her skin there was whiter there than the rest of her body and therefore stood out easily.
Hastily I cycle through the remaining digits and find myself stopping on C403. I found her. This is the woman that can contact the rebels. She is my only hope.
I’m not even in my room for five minutes when there is a knock at the door. Astonished, I look at the monitor to see who is just beyond the door. It shows me the image of D560. I open the door and look at her questioningly.
“I am to guard you again tonight,” she tells me.
Slightly annoyed, I raise my eyebrows. “Again?”
She nods and walks timidly past me into the room. It is too late when I realize that she could interpret my response wrong. My disappointment had nothing to do with her.
“I’m sorry; it’s nothing against your company. I cannot understand why A350 wants me monitored. She no longer seems to trust me.”
D560 puts her head slightly askew as she answers. “She said it was for your own safety. I’m sure she just wants the best for you.”
“Yes, what she considers to be the best,” I reply reluctantly. “She does not care about what I want.”
I let myself fall on the bed. “You know, I thought as a Legion commander I would finally have more freedom in the safety zone, but I was wrong. I’m basically as stuck as I was before; the only difference now is that I have a beautiful view.”
“Well, you can decide who is allowed to enter your room and who is not,” D560 replies, I can hear the envious tone of her voice. She must think I’m spoiled. No one in the safety zone has it as good as I do and yet I always find a reason to complain.
“Shall we sleep?”
She nods with a timid smile and this time lies down beside me in the bed.
However, instead of sleeping, she looks at me hesitantly. “I’m glad that I can be with you.”
Her confession touched me. Apparently she is slowly beginning to open up to me. I answer her with a smile. “And I’m glad that you’re here.”
The next morning I’m one of the first awake and eating breakfast. I see A350 and without hesitation, I
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