Chapter Twenty-Two: Cause for Concern

“They were supposed to send word days ago,” she told him.

“I know, but I still think there’s no need for concern.”

“I’d hope that if I were missing for days you would take notice.”

William placed his hands on Sun’s shoulders, and looked her in the eye. “It’s not like you to behave this way,” he said. “What’s really going on?”

Sun swallowed her emotions before she answered. “Suddenly, I’m afraid of losing them both.”

“You sent her after him.”

“I know.”

“Was it not real until they left?” he asked.

“I was trying to do what I thought was best,” she told him. “But after she was gone, I could feel the emptiness.”

William kissed her softly, then pulled her close and held her tight. “I believe they are safe,” he said. “I just know they are.”

Sun smiled at him, and swallowed her emotions one more time before one of the guards entered the balcony.

“They have arrived, m’am.”

“Thank you,” she responded. The two walked inside to the council chamber where the other members had taken there seats for a meeting. Except, of course, for Kate.

As soon as Sun sat down, Maria asked “Where is Kate?”

“She is working, and will not be able to attend the meeting,” Sun told her. “Go ahead with your reports.”

Maria looked around the room, and then started her report first. “The Builder’s Guild has accepted the terms of the contract,” she said. “We will begin construction in three days.”

“The second prototype is almost complete,” Hermes chimed in next. “Io and I solved the power transfer concerns. We will present it to William in exactly one week.”

“Recruitment continues to rise,” William began. “And plans to assemble …” He drifted off as one of the guards entered the council chamber. William watched him walk around the table to Sun, and place a small glass-like square in front of her. It read, “You have an urgent message.”

Sun tried not to look concerned in front of the other members. But she was. Without looking up, she said, “Thank you all, we will adjourn for now.”

She quickly stood up, exited the room, and went directly to her office without even stopping for William to follow. She sat down her desk and opened her communicator.

It was not a live communication, which is what she was hoping for. It was a brief message sent with Kate’s security code.

“They’re listening.”