CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Slade's Bunker, Palmyra, NY December 13, 2308 09:46:12 (Plus 00:03:46:12)
They both looked toward the bunker's entrance. More thumps, "shave and a haircut" again, and then silence.
"That's really eerie." Hotaru said.
"Uh huh. You're not kidding." Slade said, heading up the stairs. "Check the middle monitor on the desk. There's a video feed to outside."
Hotaru rushed over, eyes scanning the screen frantically.
"There's no one there. But I can see a blue box. It's to the left of the access door."
"Great. I'll get it." His voice echoed down the stairway.
On the monitor, Hotaru watched as the access door swung open. Slade's head popped out, quickly scanning the area in all directions. He grabbed the box and quickly darted back inside, slamming the door above him. There was a small delay between the door on the video slamming and the actual audio. Hotaru found it slightly unnerving.
Slade crossed the bunker to the desk, and placed a square one meter by one meter box on the desk. It was the blue of a summer sky, with aluminum reinforced edges and corners, like an old steamer trunk might have had. There was no lock, but a black and green fingerprint scanning pad rested in the center of the top side. Slade put his index finger to the pad, and nothing happened.
"You try," he said to Hotaru.
She did, with the same result - nothing.
"Together, maybe?" she suggested.
They both put their index fingers on the pad, and there was a slight click followed by a hiss of trapped air as it left the box. There was now an almost imperceptible seam one-third of the way down the box, and Slade opened it carefully, as if he expected a poisonous snake to jump out of the box and bite him.
What was inside the box surprised them both. Two shiny silver chronometers rested off to one side, nestled in foam. The soft amber light reflected off the faces like a sunset. Above the chronometers were two chronotags, and two pair of sunglasses above that. The left side of the box was dominated by a large square box. Opening the box, Slade found two new Tablets. Unlike the ones they used at The College, these new Tablets were sleek, with rounded corners and large display screens that at the moment were black. He lifted them out, handing one to Hotaru, and then distributed the rest of the gear. Underneath the Tablets was a note, handwritten in shaky script:
Activate Tablets first. Dial your Emissary number in reverse as the activation code. Use signal from Tablets to activate Chronometers and tags. Sunglasses will be explained.
"Seems simple enough," Slade said, pushing the power button to power his Tablet up. Once it was powered up, he pressed the Login button, and entered 3987420 followed by the Enter key. There was a small set of musical notes and the word Welcome appeared. Slade went through the remainder of the setup process, storing his fingerprints for easier login access and customizing the menus to his preferences.
Hotaru followed his lead, and once her Tablet was set up, they activated the chronometers and tags, linking them to the Tablets. There was a chirp from the Tablets, and they once again opened their email programs, knowing with certainty that there would be an email from "OM"
From: Old Man
To: Slade , Hotaru
Subject: Meeting
Slade and Hotaru,
You are now a team. That means you have to work as one. We have a common enemy, you and I. It may be hard for you to believe, and that is why I must meet with you in person to discuss our plan of attack. Meet me tonight at the Sundance Motel, 7 pm. Ask for Bill Brooks. Wear the sunglasses, no matter the weather. They will keep you safe.
Old Man
"That settles that," Hotaru said. "Do you have any idea where the Sundance Motel is?"
"Yes. I stayed there a few times during Deliveries. That's probably why he picked it. We'll take the truck."
Hotaru checked her chronometer. It was three o'clock.
"I don't suppose you thought ahead far enough to have some clothes for a lady? I need a shower. Badly."
"I'll see what I can rustle up. Towels are in the cupboard beside the shower."
When Hotaru stepped out of the shower, there was a neat pile of clothes waiting for her. They mostly resembled her iCorps uniform, but lacked the stylized 'I' logo. She dressed quickly, and met Slade at his desk. He was busy poring over schematics of the hotel.
"Problems?" She asked, peering over his shoulder at the blueprints on the monitor in front of him.
"Not really, but I like to have a way out in case this heads south."
She pointed to the monitor. "I see exits at both ends of the building on all floors."
"Fire escapes." He said. "As well as the main entrance and the loading dock. That makes twelve exit points."
"Do you expect trouble?"
"I'm hoping there isn't. But you can bet your butt that Control has someone after us. Probably two or more."
She nodded, pointing at the lounge. "Is that where we're meeting him?"
"Probably. It would make the most sense, but from a security perspective, it's a nightmare on our side. Anyone in that room could be waiting to Deliver."
She paused, scanning the blueprints once more. "I guess we'll just have to go on faith."
"Let's hope," Slade said, standing from the desk and grabbing his new sunglasses. "I hate surprises."