Power Play

“There’s something weird going on,” Philby said. “Willa’s projection coordinates are for Epcot, but the current default for the Return is in MK.”

“How could that be? The fob’s in Epcot.”

“It was when we last saw it.”

“Why would the Imagineers reset the default?”

“It doesn’t make sense. Not for the Imagineers. The point is, we’ve lost the Return somehow. I’ll definitely have to cross you back manually from here.”

He made it sound so simple. One of Philby’s greatest qualities was his confidence. He wasn’t arrogant or a bragger; he just happened to be right most of the time-a know-it-all who didn’t get all up in your face with it. To hear him even slightly uncertain was alarming. Finn didn’t say anything about it. Philby lived with more pressure than most of them, stuck with the Professor role.

“So, we’re good to go,” Finn said. “One o’clock.”

“Yeah, sure. I just wanted you to know where we’re at. I can Return you manually. All I’ll need is a signal.”

“I’ll bring my phone.”

“Yeah,” Philby said, “but they don’t always work, so we go with one o’clock or a signal if you find her earlier.”

Philby had a plan for everything. He provided Finn with a way to signal him that Philby couldn’t miss.

“Okay.”

“But no matter what, if you can’t send a signal, you and Maybeck should be at the plaza by one-an hour and a half from now.”

“It isn’t much time. It’s a big place.”

“I realize that.”

“Philby,” Finn said, “if this doesn’t go right, it’s not your fault. Okay? Forget about that. Just, whatever you do, don’t let anyone else cross over. Three of us in the Syndrome is enough.”

“Do not go there.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” said Philby. “Don’t even go there.”

“If that happens, get to Jess. Maybe she’ll have dreamed something that will help us. But don’t freak out. Come into the Park as your real selves. We’ll find you. We’ll figure it out together.”

“Okay, now you’re definitely freaking me out,” Philby said.

“Just promise.”

“Yeah, okay. I won’t panic.”

“Someone’s got to keep it together.”

“I thought that’s your job,” Philby said.

Maybeck placed a hand on Finn’s shoulder, overhearing the conversation. It was not what he expected from Maybeck.

Finn hung up, and a few minutes later the boys went back to bed. It was not easy for either of them to fall asleep. Finn didn’t know how much time passed, but he woke up lying on the concrete at the edge of the Epcot fountain plaza. He’d crossed over.

“Took you long enough,” came the familiar voice of Maybeck.

Finn got up off the concrete, checked his hands for the shimmering blue outline, and grinned. It felt good to be back.

He sat with his back pressed against the concrete retaining wall that formed the fountain.

“So? How do we find her?” Maybeck said.

Finn looked around. Epcot began at the golf ball- shaped Spaceship Earth; two huge areas ran off to both sides, with a half dozen attraction pavilions in both directions. The plaza fountain gave way to the lake surrounded by replica World Showcase countries, with Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and other world landmarks.

“Mexico,” Finn said. “We start with Philby’s plan.”

* * *

For close to an hour, Willa had huddled behind a rock in the Primitive Man display inside Spaceship Earth. Earlier, she’d heard two men speaking French-cathedral guards-as they’d passed on the ride. She’d made herself as small as possible, and held her breath to make no noise. One of the guards had apparently jumped out of the car he was riding, but by doing so he tripped a sensor and shut down the ride, at which point there had been a flurry of discussion.

Realizing his mistake, he and the other guards had left quickly. One of the advantages of being a hologram- Willa had not tripped the system.

Assuming Disney maintenance men, and possibly Security personnel, would follow up on the ride’s emergency shutdown, Willa had relocated to a display that included a Roman guard.

Things had been quiet for some time now, and so she ventured out, determined to search for the Return. Determined to get home.

She would start with Lost and Found. If a Cast Member discovered what looked like a garage door opener, he or she would turn it in. Because the Keepers had lost the fob once before, Willa knew exactly where to look.

She took her time, careful to advance and pause, advance and pause. After determining an area was clear, she would move a little bit farther. Thankfully, the Lost and Found wasn’t far: in the back office of a small building tucked away near the entrance gate turnstiles.

She reached the building, concentrating on her thin blue outline to make sure her hologram was all clear, and then walked through the back door.

She arrived into a tiny office with event posters covering the walls. There were two desks, one cluttered, one neat. Two computer terminals. Two phones.

The phones presented her with an opportunity she had not, until now, considered. She could call Finn or Philby and…except, she didn’t know their numbers. They were on her phone as speed dials, but her phone was back home. She knew Charlene’s number by heart; Charlene could relay a message. She would need to lose her DHI state at least slightly in order to be material enough to pick up and handle a telephone, but at this point being afraid wouldn’t take any effort.

First, she checked the metal cabinet marked Lost and Found. Unlike when Finn had to go into the cabinet months earlier, it wasn’t locked now. Inside, she found over a dozen cell phones, clothing, wallets, jewelry, driver’s licenses, credit cards, and four sets of car keys-all with black fobs. But not the Return.

Her conclusion was that the OTs had stolen it, as she’d suspected. She eyed the phones and the computers. Did she dare start down the road of fear in order to become material enough to work the devices? Once begun it was hard to turn back. Fear fed on fear.

But what choice was there? She thought of her mother trying to wake her while in the Syndrome. Her fingers, knees, and toes tingled. She picked up the phone and dialed.

Charlene answered.

“It’s me!”

“Willa?”

“I’m in the Syndrome.”

“We know that. But how-”

“I’m in Epcot. I’m pretty sure the OTs have the Return. You have to tell the boys not to come after me. It’s obviously a trap!”

“I…ah…I think it’s too late. The plan’s for Finn and Maybeck to cross tonight.”

“But they can’t. They…we…can’t Return.”

“Philby got back into the server. It’s going to be all right.”

“No, it’s not. Not anywhere close.”

“Finn and Maybeck should be there by now.”

“I need Philby’s number,” Willa said. “I keep it on speed dial, but-”

“Yeah. Okay. Hang on.”