Stolen Minds

  *****

  Hannah, Nathan and Lola got off the cabin at Perimeter 1, right next to the shopping megaplaza; a few blocks from where PharmaTech’s head office was located.

  “We’re going to need a key-card to get into Building 0,” Hannah announced.

  “That’s right. Not just anyone can get in there and I doubt my codes are still active,” Nathan added. “If my memory is correct the Guardians all have access and they usually meet for soft drinks at The Point, a few meters north of here. So why don’t we try it out.”

  “That’s as good a plan as any,” Lola agreed and the trio walked the short distance to the bar. “With any luck, they’ll be as bewildered as the rest of the citizens,” Lola added as the trio approached the entrance to The Point.

  “I doubt it. Guardians aren’t allowed any form of intoxicants,” Nathan responded.

  “Greetings, I am Atlas,” said a robotic sentry outside the bar. “Please provide identification…”

  “That’s it, end of the line,” Lola announced.

  “Don’t worry; it’s just one of his subroutines,” Hannah responded. “I doubt Atlas closely monitors this access point.”

  “But we don’t have any identification,” Nathan said.

  “Leave it to me Duke,” Hannah replied and deliberately walked to the robot sentry, while simultaneously accessing her implant. After a brief wireless exchange the sentry’s LED changed from amber to green.

  “Welcome Miss Davencourt, you and your guests are welcome, your credits have been uploaded,” said the robotic sentry and Hannah looked back to the others with a smile and motioned for them to follow her.

  They entered the bar, which had many patrons for this early in the day and as Nathan predicted there were Guardians having drinks at the far end of the bar. It was a large bar, worthy of its location in Perimeter 1, right next to the Capital Complex. Hannah pushed down her memories of her last night out in Safe Haven; it was here that she and John tested Select for the first time. The Point had high ceilings with beautiful floating chandeliers and its interior was adorned with the most remarkable works of art.

  “Shouldn’t we drop our hoods?” Nathan asked.

  “Yeah I agree, it might make us look less conspicuous,” Lola added.

  “Perhaps, but if you drop the hood then you’d have to take the whole robe off. The undertakers are never seen with their hoods down, since the hood is a sign of reverence for their work. Besides most people prefer to stay away from undertakers, it’s considered bad luck to be around them,” Hannah explained and the others nodded, keeping their disguise intact.

  “Well, if you don’t mind, I think I’d like a drink,” Lola announced and made her way to the bar and the others followed. The bar tender approached and took their orders before hurriedly removing himself from their immediate vicinity.

  “So, any ideas?” Hannah asked the other two quietly.

  “What I wouldn’t give for optical camouflage right now… You don’t have any of that in your bag of tricks do you?” Lola asked Hannah, while Nathan surveyed the Guardians, who were engaged in a heated discussion while having soft drinks.

  “No, unfortunately I don’t. Hank needed those that we had at the Fort,” Hannah replied.

  “That’s a shame, both you and Nathan are on the most wanted list and I’m declared missing…” Lola added.

  “I have an idea,” Nathan announced and started to get off his bar stool.

  “Duke wait, where are you going?” Hannah queried but Nathan continued walking towards the bathroom.

  “I think he just followed a Guardian in there,” Lola said to Hannah in a whisper and Hannah’s eyes darted to the rest of the Guardian group, who didn’t seem to have noticed Nathan’s advance. “I think we should stay on our toes, this might get hairy,” Lola said and quickly emptied her glass.