The Constant Star (18)

THE STORY SO FAR

When I get the codes to access those places I am closely monitored, but if I had those codes without monitoring I could open the doors for our people to make their way to the upper levels en masse. Once our presence is known to everyone, people will see the grave injustice done to us and change their hearts, just like you have.”

“How are you going to get those codes?”

“You are going to get them for me.”

Siff plays with the small drive in her pocket. Her stomach turns in knots. Is it nerves, or is it from the beating she took just a few minutes ago?

“When your father gets home, put this drive on top of his workscreen. Keep it there until it buzzes and it will have copied those maintenance source codes. Then throw the device down the furnace the same as you did for your papers. I’ll be watching and catch the drive, upload the code, and set our people free.”

Leaving the headset behind a bush outside, it is only just past noon when Siff slips back into her house. It is going to be a long wait for her father to come home. It is going to be a long time for her to think about everything that could go wrong. It doesn’t help that her body has fresh bruises from the beating she took earlier.

The front door closes behind her and she limps to the living room. Siff wants to use the med-bed, but it feels sacrilegious to take advantage of it; the guilt of all that suffering keeps her to the couch. Collapsing on her back she groans and holds her ribs before managing to find a comfortable position to process her morning.

She has discovered a people hidden and enslaved, and she has been given the power to help them. How can she not try? Because I’m already in enough trouble as it is? Because if I get caught I will almost certainly be killed? Because there’s no way my father can protect me from this? Because if I do this, there’s no turning back? Oh skita, what have I gotten myself into? Can I live with myself if I don’t follow through? I’m already in enough trouble for hiding all those papers-those papers! That drawing! Oh shit! What am I going to do when my dad gets home? Does he have the drawing? Oh skita oh skita ohskitaskitaskita.

Siff sits up in panic then paces the room, limping back and forth trying to figure out a script of things to say and do depending on who comes through the front door first: her father or security. She finds her mind going in loops and has to focus on her breathing to calm down. She goes to her room and picks up her homework again, “Mission Documentation and Purposes”, hoping to distract herself from overthinking what the near future might look like. Hiding under the covers she reads intently, but after a couple of hours her fatigue closes her eyes and she drifts into dreamless slumber.

13

There is a gentle nudging and Siff groggily regains consciousness on her bed. Her father sits next to her, his hand on her shoulder, “Siff, we need to talk.”

She rolls over and rubs her eyes. Sitting up she begins to remember the events of her day and sees her drawing in her father’s hand. Ohhhhhhhhhh skita. Here we go.

“I found this in your jacket this morning.” Siff’s insides knot up so fast she thinks she’s going to pass out. “I took it with me to work for two reasons: first, I didn’t want you to be caught with it. Second, I wanted to think about what to do with it.

“I noticed the writing on the back. I also noticed it is not in your handwriting. Have you been contacted by anyone?”

Siff stares at the ground in silence.

“If you have been contacted by anyone, I need to know, Siff. I need to know what is going on. It is the only way I can protect you.”

Silence.

“Siff. You have no idea how serious this is. This isn’t just a danger to you, it’s a danger to the whole mission. And if this mission is deemed a failure, it is a danger to our entire race.”

“….”

“Siff, you have to talk to me. We need to protect you from evil people who might be manipulating you.”

Flashes of seeing a child spat on and beaten spur her anger. She knows she shouldn’t say anything, but she can’t stop her indignation, “Stop people from manipulating me? That’s a great idea. And while we’re at it, let's stop people from lying to me as well! You knew! You knew, Dad! You knew! And you did nothing! You knew!” Tears are streaming down her face.

“What did I know, sweetheart? What did I know?”

“The lower levels! I’ve seen it! I’ve seen those poor people we keep as slaves! Out of sight. Tortured. Starved. Worked to death! And you knew! You knew! How long have you known? Have long have you known and done nothing!?”

“Honey, this is far bigger than them, or me. The mission-“

“The mission is a lie! What’s worth saving about us if we treat people like that?! We pretend to be so holy and clean and righteous, but we treat them like that?! How can you stand the hypocrisy? How can you know that is happening and be proud of your reflection in the mirror?”

“I see my reflection and I am proud.” He stands up and holds the paper out, “I stand for the mission and all it entails. There are things that must be done to protect our purpose, and while those things may be difficult to stomach, they are necessary. And so I will fulfill my duty and protect our way of life. And a part of that is to find who these dissenters are and bring them

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