Crystal Keepers

  “You’re amazing,” Sidekick said. “Nobody can do it that casually. You’re sure the harmonics are different?”

  “For each crystal, I erased the harmonics, changed the shape, and set up new random harmonics.”

  “Big question,” Sidekick said. “What about Aero’s crystal? Do you remember its harmonics?”

  “It was pretty distinct,” Blake said.

  “Can you forget it?” Sidekick asked.

  “Maybe, if you give me some time,” Blake said. “I’m not a computer. I can’t just erase it. Think of the harmonics like a catchy tune. The more I try to forget it, the more it gets stuck in my head.”

  “That’s a problem,” Sidekick said. “Potential contact with Aero remains a threat as long as you remember the harmonics.”

  “I’ll forget,” Blake said.

  “We’ll let Googol worry about it,” Sidekick said. “I take it you also remember some of the harmonics you used with Datapoint?”

  “Not all,” Blake said. “But lots.”

  “You could be a major asset for the rebellion,” Sidekick said.

  “Everybody wants me for my tinkering,” Blake said with a sigh.

  “At least you’re wanted now,” Cole replied. “The only person who used to like you was your mom.”

  “I’d trade anything just to have her remember me,” Blake said heavily. “Or my dad. City Patrol let me use a thruport to send e-mails. I never heard back.”

  “I tried too,” Cole said, feeling a little bad for his joke. “I had the same problem. We’ll figure it out. But not right now. Should we see if the escape tunnel works?”

  “Sounds good,” Sidekick said, heading through the doorway.

  “Think Datapoint will have people guarding this way out?” Cole asked.

  “Depends how much credit she gives us and how much she trusts her people,” Sidekick said. “She didn’t know Aero was aware of this passage. And she probably doesn’t want anybody knowing about it. This room is the secret of her success, and if the secret got out, most everyone in Zeropolis would want her executed. I bet there are no guards. But best to be ready just in case.”

  The hall went on for a serious distance. Finally they reached a steel door with a square slot to one side. Cole inserted the same crystal key, and the door opened.

  They passed into a room with walls of steel. When the door shut behind them, there was no slot to open it. But a square slot on the other side of the room opened a new door, and they continued into a grungy basement. After the door closed, once again there was no way to backtrack.

  A flight of stairs led up to a locked hatch in the ceiling. Sidekick used a tool to cut the lock on the hatch, and they went up to a higher basement.

  “How far to Rainday?” Cole asked.

  “It’ll take a few hours,” Sidekick said. “I’ll get us there underground. Stay with me.”

  “Are we there yet?” Blake complained.

  Cole rolled his eyes. This was far from the first time Blake had asked. They hadn’t been walking long before Blake began to make it clear how comfortable his life had been in the Outskirts so far. He didn’t like the grimy tunnels. His feet hurt. He needed fresh air. He was hungry. He was thirsty. As the hours passed, his protests became more frequent.

  “Does it look like we’re there?” Cole asked, holding out his hands to display the dank, empty tunnel.

  “That’s the problem,” Blake griped. “It looks like we’re lost.”

  “We don’t want anybody to see us,” Cole said. “Sidekick is taking us down paths that don’t get used much.”

  “There’s a reason people stay away,” Blake said, eyeing a large spiderweb. “Is it worth hiding from Datapoint and the patrolmen if we die from spider bites and diseases?”

  “We’re not going to get diseases,” Cole said, trying to be patient.

  “Sidekick sure won’t,” Blake said. “He’s made of metal. And he doesn’t get tired. Maybe we should take a breather.”

  “We just stopped like ten minutes ago,” Cole said. “If you want to get to Rainday, we need to keep walking.”

  “Think Rainday will have beds?” Blake asked.

  “Probably,” Sidekick said.

  “I call top bunk,” Blake said. “I hate sleeping under people. It makes me feel like I’m in a drawer.”

  “It might not be bunk beds,” Cole said.

  “If it is, top bunk,” Blake said. “Man, my legs are beat!”

  “I walked a lot farther than this to get here from Zeropolis,” Cole said.

  “You had the battle suit,” Blake said. “Still do. Why not let me wear it for a while?”

  “Because you don’t know how to use it in an emergency,” Cole replied.

  “Maybe you’d take a rest now and then if a machine wasn’t walking for you,” Blake said.

  “How much have you walked since coming to the Outskirts?” Cole asked.

  “A normal amount,” Blake said.

  “Have you ever slept on the ground?” Cole asked.

  “I slept in the slave wagons,” Blake said. “Since then I’ve had a bed.”

  “Have you ever been in danger?” Cole asked.

  “I was a slave,” Blake said. “I had to follow orders. It wasn’t easy, but I never dealt with anything worse than that. Except now. How about you?”

  “Soldiers have shot arrows at me,” Cole said. “I’ve fought monsters. I almost fell down a bottomless cliff. I’ve watched people die. I’ve run from slavers, Enforcers, legionnaires, and patrolmen.”

  Blake wiped his hands down his face. “And you’re who I’ve joined up with?”

  “I warned you it would get ugly,” Cole said.

  Blake shrugged. “I figured if you could handle it, I’d be fine.”

  “Can you make a sled and pull him, Sidekick?” Cole asked.

  “Probably,” Sidekick said. “But we’re almost beneath Unity Avenue and Long Street. You two should wait here. Let me go find the base and make sure it’s secure.”

  “What if you don’t come back?” Blake asked.

  “Follow Cole’s lead,” Sidekick said. “He’s a survivor.”

  Cole appreciated the praise but felt a little worried. “You’ll be back though, right?”

  “I plan to,” Sidekick said. “Sit tight.”

  Blake looked around. “Couldn’t you leave us someplace a little less . . . moldy?”

  “Don’t worry,” Sidekick assured him. “You won’t see any mold. It’ll be dark.”

  As Sidekick trundled away, his lights faded and darkness closed in. Soon Cole could no longer see Blake. Then he couldn’t see anything.

  “This is really dark,” Blake said. “I can’t tell if my eyes are open or closed.”

  Cole felt tempted to remain silent. Then he felt tempted to growl or make choking sounds. “At least it means other people can’t see us.”

  Blake lowered his voice. “Do you really think this rebellion business is a good idea?”

  “Sure beats giving up,” Cole said.

  “Is this how it is all the time for you?” Blake asked. “Hiding in sewers?”

  “At least these are pretty dry,” Cole said. “You should smell the ones under Zeropolis.”

  “Maybe I could do more if I let the patrolmen catch me,” Blake said. “You know, bring down the system from the inside.”

  “And have plenty of food?” Cole asked. “And a comfy bed?”

  “Not just that,” Blake said. “I have skills that make them really want me. I didn’t know about the rebellion before. I could help them big time if I was back with City Patrol.”

  “How would you avoid copying more crystals for them?” Cole asked.

  Blake paused. “Maybe I could get some wrong.”

  “City Patrol would catch on so fast
,” Cole said. “Plus, you’ve heard about the princesses. And you know how to contact Aero.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Blake said. “I’m trying to forget.”

  “They’ll torture and imprison you if they find out what you know.”

  “I see why people flock to the rebellion.”

  Cole thought for a minute. “Do you wish you had let us go to the situation room without you?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. Datapoint would have figured out I made the key. It could have gone pretty badly.”

  “Do you wish you hadn’t made the key?” Cole asked.

  “I wish . . . you hadn’t seemed so confident. Like you knew what you were doing.”

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  “If you say so,” Blake said. “I’m not sure crawling around in storm drains is what I would call freedom. We’ll see what happens. Working for Datapoint wasn’t great. If the Unseen have some decent bases, maybe this will get better.”

  “They had decent bases,” Cole said. “Then you copied their crystals.”

  A light was returning.

  “Is it the bot?” Blake murmured. “Should we hide?”

  Cole got out his last tube of freeze-foam. “Doesn’t look like Sidekick. Might be the ghost train.”

  “Shut up,” Blake said. “There aren’t any tracks.”

  “Why would a ghost train need tracks?” Cole asked. “It picks up the souls of people who complain too much.”

  “You’d complain too much if you . . .”

  “If I what?”

  “If you were good at something,” Blake said. “I’m the best crystal shaper in the whole kingdom.”

  “And you like how your owners treated you,” Cole said.

  “They treated me really well,” Blake said. “I’m not like you. I have other options.”

  “I have an ability too,” Cole said.

  “What?” Blake asked.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Cole said wearily. “It got blocked by a shapecrafter. A person who can shape the shaping power. But when I had it, I used it to help the rebellion. I didn’t try to sell out.”

  “Are you even sure the Unseen are the good guys?” Blake asked. “Are you sure they aren’t thieves and terrorists?”

  “I know they don’t support slavery,” Cole said. “I know they don’t steal the powers of their children and fake their deaths. I know they’ve given me real help.”

  Sidekick came into view. Googol was with him, wearing the same clothes Cole had seen him in last time, except they were torn and filthy. Then Dalton came into view.

  “Dalton!” Cole called.

  His friend broke into a huge smile. Then he blinked in surprise. “Is that Blake? Where’d you find him?”

  “Long story,” Cole said, running to Dalton. They hugged.

  “I was worried about you,” Dalton said.

  “Same here,” Cole replied. “I heard they found Forge’s hideout.”

  “Yeah,” Dalton said. “We all got away, though. He had a good escape plan. Secret is here too. She’s safe. Forge and Scandal too.”

  “What about Jace?” Cole asked.

  “We’ve lost track of him,” Dalton said. “Trickster too. And Joe. But Trickster wasn’t picked up, and we know Joe was with Outlaw. Jace met up with Roulette. Hopefully they’re okay.”

  Blake gave Dalton a hug. “Good to see you,” Blake said. “This is becoming a reunion. We’ll have to play some soccer.”

  “Where have you been?” Dalton asked.

  “We’ll fill you in,” Blake said. “Is there a base around here?”

  “Not much of a base,” Googol said. His voice was tired and a little hoarse. “More of a safe house. But we have food and places to sleep. I’m sorry for the way this has turned out. Let’s get you inside. Welcome to Rainday.”

  CHAPTER

  22

  ENVOY

  Cole sipped tomato soup from the edge of his spoon. He had blown on the spoonful to cool the thick red fluid, but it was still a little too hot. His stomach gurgled.

  He sat on a slim chair that looked flimsy but felt sturdy. Googol, Forge, Dalton, Blake, Mira, and Sidekick shared the room. Rainday was nothing fancy—just a collection of connected underground rooms. The walls, ceilings, and floors were all made of gray cement, rough and unadorned. Cole hadn’t seen many electronics, but there were plenty of crates and storage shelves.

  Cole and Blake had just explained how they found each other, and Sidekick helped detail their encounter with Aeronomatron. Googol had listened soberly, asking minimal questions. Now he turned his vision gear toward Blake.

  “You still recall how to make a crystal that can contact Aero?” Googol asked.

  “I’m trying to forget,” Blake said nervously. He looked uncomfortable.

  “It’s hazardous knowledge,” Googol said. “But you learned it through no fault of your own. Will you vow never to create a crystal with those harmonics for any reason?”

  “I can do better than that,” Blake said. “I’m going to forget how to do it. It’ll just take a little time. Focusing on other harmonics should help.”

  Googol nodded. “Your ability could provide just the help we need as we try to get our comms back up.”

  “I’m happy to pitch in,” Blake said. “Do you have any bonded crystal that I can use as raw material?”

  “An ample supply,” Googol said.

  “He also remembers many of the harmonics he used working for Datapoint and City Patrol,” Sidekick said.

  Googol grinned. “We can definitely put you to work.”

  A door opened, and a woman with short white hair entered. Of medium height with a somewhat heavy build, she limped and used a cane. Her loose, unbuttoned sweater hung long, flowing behind her like a cape. Cole thought she looked about as old as his grandmother.

  Googol rose. “I’d like you all to meet Nova, leader of the Unseen in Zeropolis.”

  Cole stood up, as did the others.

  Nova shook her head. “Please, sit down; I’m a freedom fighter, not a dignitary. I’m glad you all found your way here. It’s hardly a palace, but at least nobody is kicking down the doors yet.”

  Nova moved one of the vacant chairs and sat beside Mira. The others sat down as well.

  “Forge, well done bringing Secret here,” Nova said. She laid a hand on Mira’s wrist. “You are our hope.”

  “I only brought trouble,” Mira said.

  Nova shook her head. “This trouble has been coming for a long time. We were clearly more vulnerable than we realized. In a revolution, some lessons are only learned through bloodshed. We had grown complacent here in the old town. We should have anticipated this.”

  “Is the revolution doomed?” Blake asked.

  Nova regarded him in silence for a moment. “We’ve suffered major setbacks lately. We lost good people and important resources. But our people know their trade. More have slipped away into hiding than you might guess. Many of our most vital operatives remain free, some in solitude, some in quiet hideaways like this one. The fight will go on.”

  “Nova has weathered worse than this,” Googol said. “While she’s standing, the revolution is in good hands.”

  “Which means I better not lose my cane,” she said with a wink.

  “Do you think the government is using a smart computer?” Cole asked.

  “I know what you learned from Aeronomatron,” Nova said. “I’ve been following this conversation, though I wasn’t in the room. Bad habit, maybe, but it’s what happens when you’re hosted by spies. The use of a manufactured intelligence would help explain their sudden increase in efficiency. As would Blake’s power.”

  “I was their slave,” Blake said defensively. “I’m not from here. I did what they told me. I thought I was catching criminals.”

>   “You were, according to their definition,” Nova said. “You’re still not sure whether you want to be here with us. Don’t deny it—I can tell. Furthermore, I can understand. You’re far from home. You’ve already been displaced. Why should you also join a losing cause and give up the comforts City Patrol provided?”

  “It might have crossed my mind,” Blake admitted guiltily.

  “You played a major role in helping our enemies access our secrets,” Nova said. “Your ability blindsided us. But it could also help us fight back.”

  “It’s not too late?” Blake asked.

  Nova shook her head. “Our enemies are hitting us so hard because they’re scared. We still have enough people to regroup and fight back. Secret and her relatives could heat up the revolution from a brushfire to an inferno. But the government will try to stamp out the blaze before it can spread. We’re on the verge of a real opportunity to gain popular support.”

  “We have to find who I’m looking for,” Mira said.

  “Exactly,” Nova said. “Googol and I have conferred, and I’ve just reached a decision about how we’ll do that. It involves your friend Cole. You told me that you trust him completely?”

  “Yes,” Mira said, looking distressed. “But I don’t want him in more danger.”

  Cole quietly agreed with her but kept silent. What could they possibly need from him?

  “We’re all in danger,” Googol said, leaning forward. “Cole is currently in a unique position to aid us.”

  “How?” Cole asked.

  Nova leveled her gaze at him. “Can we speak in private? I want to discuss a possible mission of the utmost secrecy.”

  “Okay,” Cole said, with a nervous glance at Dalton. His friend looked worried for him.

  Nova stood. “This way. Bring your soup.”

  Cole followed her out of the room, down a hall, around a corner, through a door, then through a thicker door into a small room. A simple crystal lamp hung from the ceiling above two chairs and a table.

  Nova claimed one of the chairs and indicated the other. Cole took a seat across from her. Being there alone with her felt very formal and official. She nodded at his bowl of soup. “Go ahead.”