“Second door on the right,” Endo says.
As we pass the first door, I glance through the window into a sophisticated control room with large, interactive displays, tech I don’t recognize, Zach Cole and more than one Alicio Brice. My plan is to continue past without stopping, but I fail to stop myself from doing a double take. Not because of who I saw, but because of what was on the large screen—Nemesis. On land. Not in LA or pre-recorded anywhere on the East Coast during the last two years. The barren desert she’s stomping over is definitely West Coast, meaning this picture is live.
It takes all my will to move forward, but I need to get Woodstock and get out of here before the Tsuchi puts the smack down on this place. As we approach the second door on the right, I note that it is guarded. Not wanting to dick around with the guy, I walk up to him, look him in the eyes—and he steps aside, unlocking the door with his handprint. I was going to knock him out and use his hand, but this worked out well enough. Our group files inside. It looks like a small hospital, with rooms on either side of three hallways, left, right and straight ahead.
Endo points to the right and looks at Hawkins and Lilly. “You’ll find a large, clear, pill-shaped device at the end of the hall. Put her inside, seal the hatch and step back. Do not interfere until it is finished.” He points to Collins and me. “You two with me.”
“You sure about this?” Hawkins asks me.
“If you’re not comfortable, we can wait, but we don’t know how she’s doing.”
“I have no reason to lie,” Endo says, “And I harbor the girl no ill will.”
Hawkins stands motionless for just a moment and then makes up his mind, leading Maigo and the unconscious Lilly down the right hallway.
A nurse steps out of a nearby office and looks surprised to see us. “Oh. You guys again.” She’s also not very intimidated.
“Looking for the old man and the young woman brought in with him.”
“You mean Old Timer Magnum P.I. and Lucy Liu?”
On the inside, I’m shouting “Yes!” and hugging the woman for seeing the world through the same sarcastic lens as me, but I maintain my cold exterior and say, “Sounds like them.”
She points straight ahead. “End of the hall.”
Without a thank you or nod of appreciation, I head down the hall with Collins and Endo. The door at the end is locked, a hand print reader beside it. The nurse clearly believes that Silhouette or the BlackGuard could unlock the door. We’ve been lucky to have quasi-willing guards at the other doors.
“Maybe you’re still in the system?” I say to Endo. “It’s still a government facility.”
He’s already removing his glove. “They could have flagged me, too.”
“Just do it,” Collins says, and Endo obeys, placing his hand on the scanner. A moment later, the door unlocks. Inside are a surprised Woodstock and Alessi, sitting in comfortable chairs, drinking soda and playing what looks like poker.
Woodstock, whose head is bandaged and right arm is in a futuristic-looking blue cast, and who is dressed in what looks like a bright blue flight suit, throws down his cards and says, “Really? I’m about to drop a royal flush down, and you bunch of yahoos are gonna—”
“Don’t,” Endo says to Alessi. “It’s me.”
Alessi’s eyes widen. “Endo?”
“Don’t what?” I ask.
“Hudson?” Woodstock says, his surprise matching Alessi’s.
Endo, Collins and I lift our reflective goggles so they can see it’s us.
“Well, damn,” Woodstock says. “Alessi here was about to shank you!”
Alessi holds up her right hand. She’s holding a long, sharpened piece of metal. “Took it off my bed,” she says.
“They would have killed you,” Endo chides.
“They were going to anyway,” she argues.
“We decided we’d rather die fighting than wait it out.” Woodstock grunts and stands. “And to be honest, we weren’t sure we’d see you all again. Now, let’s get this pony show on the road.”
The nurse looks alarmed when we exit with Woodstock and Alessi in tow. “I wasn’t told about any transfers.”
“Hey,” Maigo says, suddenly appearing beside the nurse. She slugs her and the woman sprawls over a desk, spilling dramatically to the floor. Before I can get upset, Maigo points to Collins. “If she can do it, I can do it.”
Why is everyone in my life always right?
“Where is Hawkins?” I ask.
“Still with Lilly. And a doctor. He’s helping, but not happily.”
“We have time,” Endo says to me. “You need to see.”
“I need to come with you,” Maigo says. She’s not being demanding or young, so I believe her. Whatever is down there has something to do with Nemesis, and that means it has something to do with Maigo.
Surprisingly, Endo looks to me, waiting for my answer.