Reunion

Gili went directly into the dormitory block, where she had so easily found Dolick a little earlier. No one had seen him, no one seemed to know him. How could she have been so naive? She had immediately trusted him, a blind trust, while he was nothing but a spy in charge of monitoring Chloé.

She wasn't even sure she could trust the Capitans' leader, the bartender whose name she'd forgotten a long time ago. He also hid many things. Gili did not know what to think anymore, but she still wanted to believe in Dolick. She ran into her aides who came to congratulate her and, hiding her doubts behind a smile, she asked them if they had seen Dolick. Unfortunately, they hadn't seen him since the big meeting.

It seemed that the council of Capitans was so rare that it became a legend, as did the Capitans themselves. Her soldiers were filled with pride and admiration in front of their Capitan, acknowledged and respected by her peers, they would have eaten out of her hand had she asked them.

Gili suggested that they take a rest until she managed to make contact with the rebels. Then she went back to the temple to pray. Maybe Nukledeus had other things to pass down to her. Gili was eventually overcome by the tranquility of the holy place after a grueling and never-ending day. She fell asleep on a bench, despairing to be unable to help her friend. A new day was coming up and every minute counted in order to save Chloé.

She was awakened a few hours later by the creaking of a bench near hers. She started, she hadn't realized that she had fallen asleep. How much time had she lost foolishly while Chloé was perhaps fighting death at that very moment? Thrown into a panic, she lost her balance and fell heavily on the stone slab of the temple. She raised her head, looking mean, ready to vent her anger and frustration on the first one who would dare to give even a faint smile. However, in spite of herself, she was relieved to see that it was only Dolick. He had come to her and, at that moment, she was ashamed to have doubted him.

He spoke to her very softy and Gili had to listen carefully to hear him:

– I heard you were looking for me. I'm sorry I left you there. I went to find out about the Shadow Girls. The other Capitans don't seem to want to do anything to help us, just talk, so we have to figure something out.

– I talked to the bartender, he said you had some connections a long time ago, and you can help me find the Shadow Girls.

– Sir N? He must be talking about the Special Forces, I guess. Dolick whispered.

By way of reply, Gili nodded, prompting him to continue. Dolick discreetly looked around and lowered his voice again. He held his joined hands in front of his mouth, partially hiding it, and barely moved his lips as if he were praying to Nukledeus. Gili mimicked his attitude so as not to draw attention. She couldn't see anyone in the temple but this paranoia had piqued her curiosity and she hoped that they would not be interrupted by believers anticipating the first call to prayer.

– I have severed all ties with the Special Forces for years. Fortunately, I was still able to enter their center to see the records in the archives. It seems that they kept me in their database... In short... I was interested in one file in particular. The one concerning Colette Sanders. Five years ago, someone saw her chatting with Capitan Chloé in the evening. It looked like a secret meeting and it was too late not to attract the attention of the Special Forces. They're watching all of us, you know? They're even keeping each other under surveillance ! I remember this event because an agent contacted me at the time to check the information. I lied and said it was our Capitan, but it wasn't possible. She was with us at the pub at that very moment. So it must have been her sister, Daphné of the Shadow Girls. The trail's pretty thin and cold but that's all I found so far. I have to wait a little while before I can go back once more or it will arouse suspicion and it can quickly become very dangerous... We can't save her if we get caught.

– Time is running out. I'm going to meet Colette. I know her a little, we used to see each other regularly before Daphné left.

Dolick nodded, he looked anxious and two deep wrinkles appeared on his forehead.

– I'll log in from the library, if my access is still valid as well. Better keep a low profile than go there in person and disturb the bureaucrats a second time.

With these words, they both stood up and went in a different direction. Gili's mood was lighter. She could trust both Dolick and the bartender, Sir N. Nukledeus knew that she abhorred lies.

The sun was rising on the horizon. The sky was changing color, but the high walls still confined Ark City in cold darkness. Gili was in a rush. She had a little over an hour to talk to Colette before the first ceremony. It was not for herself: she had missed many of ceremonies despite her solid faith. Due to their duties, no soldier could be perfectly assiduous.

As for Colette, she had to attend the ceremony called "presentation of Nukledeus": it was part of her job and she followed her schedule to a T. She held a very important position in the Temple. She was a «Pivot» as people called these vital positions without prestige, almost without title, and supporting the foundation of the theocracy.

She held the reins of the Materna: she was responsible for the birth, the well-being and the upbringing of the future generations. Moreover, she was a renowned scientist who consistently contributed, as an expert, in all lawsuits including those conducted by the prelates of the Dogma, who were secretly called the "Great Inquisition".

Gili already knew all this. It was public knowledge. Nevertheless, she would have liked to read the Special Forces files to find, perhaps, an angle of attack or even a way to put pressure on Colette. For years the two young women had not seen each other, let alone spoken. One hour to plead her cause seemed hopelessly short, but Gili was a soldier first. One could count on her to give everything when it came to a fight; the slightest hesitation could be fatal on the battlefield. She checked her handgun. To achieve her aims, she was ready to threaten a fellow citizen, regarding Colette, she had to deal with an important and public figure. Time was running out and it was her only lead, however, she hoped it wouldn't come to this. Gili couldn't back out now but she truly feared that, with this mission, she might have bitten off more than she could chew.

She arrived in front of Colette's building. The latter was living near other high dignitaries who respected her as much as they feared her. Luckily, the scientist was home and opened the door in person.

The apartment was large and plain, almost austere. The white walls without decorations created a functional and cold atmosphere. If Colette was surprised by this visit after such a long time without getting in touch, she did not show it. Both women went deeper into the heart of the big apartment, until they reached a room without a window.

Colette carefully closed the heavy door which slammed with a slightly metallic thud. Gili, who was not used to being locked up, had to suppress a panic attack. It was not the time to be claustrophobic. On edge, she wondered what kind of trap could be hidden in this strange chamber.

She methodically scrutinized every corner but the unpleasant feeling did not leave her. Instinctively, she placed her hand on the holster of her weapon, grazing the metal to boost her confidence while trying to convince herself that Colette was not her enemy.

The two women sat down on both sides of an immaculate desk in a library with an aseptic atmosphere, its temperature and humidity perfectly controlled. The intense light almost hurt the eyes but Colette did not seem to notice the discomfort of her guest, nor her tension.

In one corner, Gili noticed an almost hidden chimney which still contained a number of small partially burnt wooden sticks. If this object seemed incongruous in the middle of all these books so carefully aligned, the ashes and soot that lined the extinguished hearth brought a touch of dirt that was totally discordant in the overly clean room. Gili and Colette looked at each other for a moment. Not a single word had been spoken, not even a hello. They were both far beyond social attentions and other polite gestures.

– How may I help you, Gili ?

– All I need is information.

Getting right to the point. Gili knew Colette liked straightforward people. Unfortunately, she had to test the water first and she wasn't very good at subtle probing. The first minutes since her entry and her first impressions of the environment compelled her to proceed with utmost caution. Colette was remarkably smart, Gili knew she shouldn't take her lightly.

The scientist remained unfazed, completely unruffled and yet Gili believed she perceived a slight tightening of her counterpart's lips. Gili kept telling herself that she shouldn't let herself be manipulated, that she shouldn't let the other woman gain the upper hand or everything would be lost.

Colette stood up quietly and moved without a sound. In the complete silence, not even the faintest rustle of cloth nor the softest breath could be heard. She carefully took a book from a shelf and turned on the device hidden behind it. A continuous and muffled hum could then be heard. She then walked toward to the chimney and carefully chose a wooden stick the size of a pencil. Finally, going back to her seat facing Gili, she took a sheet of paper out of her desk.

A second phase of observation then began. Gili felt Colette's eyes scrutinizing every detail of her face, as if they were trying to extract the truth from it. She thought that her former friend had spent too much time working for the prelates of the Great Inquisition but did not look away.

After a while, Colette spoke again.

– OK. I'm listening. Here, we can speak without fear.

– I want to meet the Shadow Girls.

Colette's right eyebrow fluttered faintly, her eyes, however, didn't show any sign of anxiety. Gili felt like she was in the middle of a poker game and was trying to interpret her opponent's every move. She knew the smallest sign might reveal Colette's hand. If her sense of observation was above average, she had never been clever enough to be able to benefit from it. The card games against Chloé, in the dormitory and later in the Capitan's pub, usually ended with Gili's defeat, and Chloé didn't even play seriously.

Colette seemed even more formidable to her. How could she overcome a superior mind, under pressure and at the heart of a hostile environment? She was frantically wracking her brain to find a strategy in order to compel the scientist to cooperate. To be thorough in her choice of military tactics. It was the one and only solution to this problem.

She had yet to list all her options when a metallic click rattled in the room. Gili reacted in a flash, her reflexes taking over she jumped out of her chair, rolled on the floor just like in training and straightened up, her gun in hand and pointing in the direction of Colette.

The latter did not seem surprised in the least. Her stern face had turned into a playful, almost mischievous smile that made her look youthful.

– You think as slowly as ever!

Gili's hands tightened up on her gun. She gritted her teeth and did not answer. She happened to be, unwillingly, in the most brutal scenario she ever considered. From then on, any negotiations seemed impossible, she had played her only trump card, she could not step back. Colette's composure was getting on Gili's nerves. The latter felt an irresistible desire to erase this arrogant smile with a bullet.

– You would not have bothered to come if the situation was not urgent and desperate. If you kill me, you will get nothing and you will remain locked up here.

With a greater effort than what she thought she had been capable of, Gili lowered her weapon and loosened her jaws. Her voice quavered with suppressed rage. She could not handle defeats very well and she fell for Colette's taunt hook, line and sinker, but this time, the stakes were far too high, she could not afford to fail.

– Chloé's out there, she's been caught by the No-lights.

The smile faded from Colette's lips but Gili felt nothing, neither triumph nor relief. She returned to her seat in silence. Meanwhile, Colette, with her eyes closed, seemed to pray to Nukledeus.

– In that case, she's going to die. I can't help you. I don't know why you came here.

A deep distress could be seen in Colette's eyes. Gili wanted to shake her up to force her to act and save Chloé, but all she did was place her hand on her former friend's.

– I didn't get a chance to tell you how sorry I was for Daphné's death. I'm the one who found her, you know?

– I know, and I thank you for taking Chloé to her. I know that was Daphné's most precious wish.

– It's been over a year now. Today, Chloé is the one who needs us and we can still save her.

– I was the one who performed an autopsy on Daphné, I had to understand. Otherwise, I think I would have gone crazy. I still miss her every day. For ten years, I've lived in the hope that she would come back to us and then, one day, everything came to an end.

– She would have wanted you to help us.

– Yes, probably, but I can't do it. You wanted to meet the Shadow Girls. I thought you wanted to join them too.

Gili felt indignant.

– Of course not ! Only, because of the curfew, it's impossible to get out unless you kill the entire Guard. The Shadow Girls must know some secret access to get in or out of the city. The other rebel groups probably have their own ways, too, but Chloé told me that Mona herself saved her in the past. I need to warn her and convince her to help Chloé again.

– Before Daphné joined them, I met Mona. I didn't know who she was at that time. Afterwards, I saw Daphné once or twice, but she was always the one to come and find me. The last time was about five years ago. I don't know where the group is hiding or how to contact them.

Colette had just confirmed Dolick's information. If he kept on digging for clues, he might find other useful details on his side of things.

– What did she want?

– Daphné? Oh, she asked me to help one of her friends suspected of producing chimiocs for the black market.

– And it was true?

– Yeah, but he was doing a pretty good job. I don't think he made the poison that killed Daphné.

Shocked by the news, Gili almost forgot the reason for her visit.

– Daphné has been poisoned?

– Yes. I wrote the cause of death in the report regarding Daphné's autopsy, but I was asked to burn that page. My guess is that some rebels were trying to contaminate the chimiocs supply system. Daphné must have figured it out, so they killed her. As head of the Materna, I know that some rebels, including Mona, have been genetically designed in order to be resistant to diseases and harmful radiation from Nukledeus. No cancer for them, so no need for chimiocs. Only their small number prevents them from taking control of the city. By terrorizing the population with poisoned chimiocs, they will get everything they want, including the means to produce other mutants in the Materna. Of course, we can always imagine that the Special Forces compelled one of the manufacturers or black market dealers to poison its products to reduce the number of rebels... I'm not sure yet, I've only been investigating for a year. But what does this have to do with Chloé's situation?

The tone of her voice clearly indicated to Gili which trail Colette favored. However, Gili was not really interested in chimiocs trafficking and instead was curious about Daphné's friend.

– This friend surely knows other Shadow Girls. Does he still provide them with chimiocs?

– I don't know. I made sure the charges against him would be dropped and his name would be cleared. I didn't hear about him after that. However, he must be heavily monitored by the Special Forces. I doubt he can maintain his illegal activities.

– To find him, I need at least his name.

– No problem. I'm sure I have it in a file, but my archives aren't here. I don't want them to fall into the wrong hands. I have to go now. Meet me an hour after the end of the ceremony. I will wait for you under the bridge spanning the reeds pond. It's in the north district, near the intern dorm.

– Thank you.

Gili waited for Colette to unlock the door and took her leave. She was relieved to finally get some help. Daphné's friend would take her to Mona and her Shadow Girls and they would all go together, soldiers and rebels, to save Chloé. This was the ideal, optimistic plan.

The Capitan left the building and turned around, looking for Colette's window. Colette's pain was evident. Gili would not have been surprised to see tears on the scientist's cheeks but the latter's eyes had remained dry, staring into the abyss of solitude that was her life. Since she got what she had been looking for, Gili retraced her steps without regret. She had no time for pity, she had a fight on her hands and she had to win if she wished to avoid the same fate as the inconsolable Colette.