My breathing stops. Did Paz stay behind? Was she on the Fly with Farouk? Have I lost her too?
“How much longer until we get there?” I yell out to the front of the Fly.
“About an hour,” the pilot yells back. I don't recognize him, but I don't think he'd be transporting ten mutineer drones back to Egypt's compound if he wasn't on our side.
I lean my head against the window and look at the terrain I was in awe of when they first sent me away. Now, as my head rattles against the window, everything I see below me looks of despair. I didn't ask to do this. I've never wanted to do this. They thrust this leadership and responsibility upon me. For the first time, I understand Atom's dilemma. His struggle.
We were both indoctrinated and manipulated into our supposed destinies. We are puppets tied back-to-back, only able to see what is in front of us, told that what we see is the right way. The only way.
I'm excited to see Atom again, but it won't be the same. I'm different than the last time we saw each other, and I'm sure he is too. Still, the history is there. Maybe I'll be able to appeal to his senses. The scientists won’t be able to go through with the Ragnarok if their prized possession is against it.
The Fly begins to drop, and I brace myself for the return to Egypt. Once we break through the clouds, I see it; the pyramid looms large over the city, leading to the compound. The streets remind me of running through them with Atom and tasting chicken for the first time. A smile graces my face. Something I didn't think I would ever be capable of doing again.
As we approach the compound, I am shocked by the image before me. It looks like a recent attack has destroyed parts of it. A large number of drones are rebuilding the outer walls as more still patrol the grounds.
When the Fly lands in the open field inside the compound, I can see two familiar figures through the window. Farouk and Paz made it. A wave of relief overcomes me, and I can relax my body. I step off with Pocket in my arms, and the rest of the Integers exit behind me.
Farouk looks at me from a distance but then steps away when he spots the head of the compound, Dr. Anfang. He puts his arm around the older man and walks him off in the opposite direction. They laugh, but I can tell that he's trying to distract him.
Paz hustles over to me as fast as her body allows her, though she stops short of pulling Pocket from my arms. The look she gives me lets me know that other scientists should not see me holding a young outsider in my arms.
“Pocket.” I look down at her. She looks back at me with a mixture of innocence and fear. “I need to hand you over to someone else.”
Pocket responds by pulling herself tighter into my body.
“It's okay, sweetheart. I promise to protect you.” Paz's calming voice opens Pocket up a little as it did for me so many weeks before. Pocket turns her head to see Paz's loving arms reaching out for her. She turns and looks back at me for reassurance.
I smile at Pocket. “I will never let anything happen to you. Paz is a very good person. She's like my mom.”
Paz's eyes water as she looks at me, surprised and grateful for what I said. I smile at her as I pass Pocket into her arms. Paz looks down at the frightened girl. “You are going to stay with me, and 80 will come and visit you all the time.”
“Yes, I will.” I place my hand on the girl’s cheek, and she smiles at me. She wraps her arms around Paz and closes her eyes.
“Come see us tonight in the scientist's wing. You have more free reign here. No one will bother you,” Paz tells me as she rocks Pocket back and forth. Holding her seems natural to Paz.
“I will,” I respond and look around at the group of Integers gather a few feet around us.
“Take them to the barracks where the other drones are.” Paz looks at them and speaks loud enough for all of us to hear. “The quarters farthest to the back should be empty unless they have changed things since I was last here.”
She looks at me for the last instructions. “I trust you will make smart choices and lead them properly. Outsiders attacked this compound a few days ago, so they are grateful that you are all here as reinforcements. Remember that there are more of them than us here, 80. So know that anything out of the ordinary will be noticed and reported.”
“I understand, Mom.” I give her a smile and wink.
Paz blushes and turns away, Pocket already asleep in her arms. She heads in the same direction that Farouk led Dr. Anfang.
“So, what now, chief?” 13 ends his silence.
I turn to face about twenty Integers, all eager to be told what to do next. 13 most of all. He's probably the only one that spent any significant time here before. They shipped off the others within a day of being created, from the tube to battlefield, ready in a week.
After scanning for eavesdroppers, I check the Integers' necks in front of me for markings before I speak. “No one here knows that you all have been turned. So, you all must work to convince anyone who might be watching that you are a regular drone like all the others. Three to a room, and hold each other accountable. You stay in your quarters unless I say otherwise. Understood?”
“Yes.” They all speak in unison. The power of
