Reticent

Date: 09/12/12119

I quietly crept from my room towards Geo's office. I was certain Thana was gone by now, but I didn't want to chance seeing Geo so soon. I glanced around the office to make sure it was clear before slipping in and shutting the door. After shifting some paperwork of the chair, I took a seat at his desk and pulled out the number I found in the last crate shipment.

I glanced towards the door to make sure no one was around to listen in on my call before entering the number. A steady beeping sounded as the call connected.

"Hello?" Albin's low voice asked on the other end.

"Hello, Albin. It's Flora."

"Hello, Ancient One," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "I am glad you called." It almost sounded like this was a social call rather than a business one, and the implication stilled me for a moment. I hadn't forgotten that he was the one trying to remove me from this lab. Maybe he did it for my benefit, but I doubted it. Either way he was trying to remove my choices from me, and that did not sit well.

"Lena said that you wanted me to check in on my progress today. Where would you like to start?" I asked straightforwardly.

"Let us slow down," Albin said with a chuckle. "How are you recovering, Flora?" His tone sounded sincere, but I could sense that there was more behind his question.

"I am recovering well. Fever has been gone for several days now and the sores have scabbed over, so the red macula risk is gone," I replied clinically. "Geo has started my round of vaccines, so my treatment is progressing."

"I am glad to hear you are recovering despite the hermit's treatments," Albin said lightly with an undertone of bitterness. He quickly adjusted his tone as if catching himself. "I have been so worried about you and your recovery. I hate to see anyone fall ill, but when it is the Ancient who could help unlock these mysteries, it is especially worrisome. Believe me, Flora, when I say that I want the best treatment for you. That is why I have continued to ask the council to move you to a more experienced facility."

There was a pause as he waited for my response. "I appreciate your concern, Albin," I finally said as I tried to gather my thoughts. Just as I was about to explain my need to have a choice in my treatment he cut me off.

"Well of course! You are very special to me, Flora. I cannot wait until you are out of there. I have arranged everything for your transfer as soon as the council approves it." I was taken aback knowing that he had already set everything in motion. I wanted to object, but what he said next had me biting my tongue. "I have no doubt they are trying to drip poison into your mind about me and some of the council members over there in that lab."

"We don't really discuss the council," I said as casually as possible. "Most of my time is spent resting and working, so there isn't much time for socializing." The silence on the other line gave me the impression he did not buy my response, so I quickly changed the topic. "Speaking of work, where would you like to begin?"

Albin chuckled lightly at my attempt. "I assume since you did not call earlier that all the samples have come back negative?"

"That is correct."

"That is a shame. I had hoped that some of the changes we had made would have been enough, but it does not look like it," he said with frustration.

"I was curious," I said hesitantly, "what is being done at each site? Maybe that could give me some clues on what to look for with each sample. I could track any progress being made in its composition."

"I cannot share that information with you," Albin said firmly.

I was grateful he could not see me blink in surprise. "I don't understand. I can't find solutions or track experiments without this information," I said in confusion.

"And I cannot give you this information until you are in a secured facility." His voice was calm but uncompromising. "There are many who have tried to steal information and give it to other pods. We cannot risk the information falling into the wrong hands."

"But I am isolated in a lab on Central. Surely this is a safe place," I argued.

"As I said, until you are in a place that has been secured by me, you will not receive that level of information. I am sure you recall Nera being suspicious of you stealing information during your trial. There are Arcans leaking information, and some of them may be closer than you think." He let that bit of information hang in the air as my mind began to race. Was someone in this lab selling information to rival pods? What did that even mean for Arca?

"That is why the sooner I can transfer you the better. I will be sending another shipment of samples to you tomorrow. In the meantime you should get some rest and continue to recover," he said cheerily, throwing me off.

"Uh, yes. Thank you," I managed to mumble out.

"If I do not get you transferred by then, call again in 3 days. Goodbye." With a beep the call ended.

I leaned back in Geo's chair dumbfounded. I had naively hoped that Albin would give me the information I needed. If he did, I would have continued to work until I found a solution without having to secretly work for Thana.

If he didn't give it to me I thought I would be able see that Thana was telling the truth, that Albin is hoarding information for selfish purposes and work for her guilt-free. Now I am not so sure. Is he hoarding it or protecting it?

Either way my time is running out. If Albin transfers me soon I doubt I will have much contact with Thana anymore, and my opportunity to work with her father will be gone. Supposedly I will get all the information I need on the sites if I'm transferred, but will it be enough? Do I even want to be transferred?

I thought about my situation for several long minutes debating on which course to take. I suddenly found myself standing in front of Geo's main lab and realized I had already made my decision.

I quietly stepped inside and weaved my way through the machinery and scrap piles until I found his cot just outside the halo of light at the center of the room. I watched him sleep, and for a moment I could forget all the suspicion and anger. With an arm draped over his eyes, I took the opportunity to glance at the definition in his arms and lean torso as he breathed rhythmically. Sleeping shirtless must be a habit, I noted as I tried to force down the blush creeping on my face. He seemed peaceful, but the frown on his lips said otherwise. I wondered if that frown was because of me.

I started to rethink waking him, that I would talk to him when he woke up, but I knew if backed out now I might never have the gumption to do it again. I licked my dry lips before gently shaking his shoulder.

He jolted awake and looked at me with wide eyes. "Flora, are you ok?"

"Geo, I need to meet with Thana's father."