Chapter 11

"I don't see why he is insisted upon this," Cynthia complained as she sighed the paper releasing her from that day of Training. "But I suppose it may benefit you in some case or something. Enjoy yourself Arabella."

Cynthia and herself had finally come to an agreeable relationship. Cynthia planned to retire once Arabella was done with her and Arabella only had to tolerate her until Training was done. The less she complained, the more training she got and the sooner Cynthia would be gone. She hated to be cynical about her, but she couldn't help it. She was well aware about all the other things she could be frustrated about from the past, but Cynthia just made her seethe inside.

"Thanks so much," Arabella said as she took the paper and raced out the door to find Cale. He was, of course, patiently waiting for her at the Departure Center with a car ready for them to leave. "Hi. When do you think we'll be back…I'm under the impression that Cynthia wants me to train more often."

"I apologize for occupying your time," Cale laughed.

"I accept your apology. Feel free to occupy it whenever you like," Arabella replied smiling.

"We'd better leave now if you expect to be there by noon," the driver informed them. Cale nodded and gestured for Arabella to get in. The driver, Chad, quickly explained the routine precautions and the logistics. The drive would only be fifteen minutes, possibly twenty if the plant was busy which was unlikely.

"So why are you going to this plant?" Chad asked.

"Training purposes."

"There's got to be more to it than that!" he insisted.

"Confidential I'm afraid," Cale replied evenly. It wasn't, really, but it wasn't as if he could share the reason they were going was to figure out how to destroy the plant. Cale was now used to lying. He had picked the Releasing syringe manufacturing plant because of the process of the Release and the immoral was that Thomas had been murdered…no, killed. He had even met the nurse who had done it, her name was Lily She didn't seem to be aware what she had really been doing, poor woman.

He could hear Chad sigh. He was probably used to confidential work. He was a driver, and a seemingly intelligent one at that. He could have been selected for a much higher Assignment. The way Arabella was talking with him, he seemed to be much perceptive than his job allowed. The odd thing was he didn't appear to be dissatisfied with his Assignment…

"…oh yes. The Chief Elder takes lots of confidential drives to miscellaneous places," Chad was saying. "So does the Reciever, and the Director of the Department of Justice…almost the head of every department visit places quite frequently."

"Curious. I've never seen Cynthia leave for a visit or anything," Arabella remarked.

"Cynthia?" Chad asked.

"She's the Director of the Department of Justice. I'm the Assistant Director," Arabella explained. "And Cale is the Reciever-in-training."

"The Reciever is a very nice woman," Chad told Cale. He nodded. "Looks like we're here. I'll be waiting here. The Chief Elder expects you to be back by 4 pm."

"Thanks for the ride, Chad," Arabella said as she got out of the car. Cale waved good-bye and turned towards the manufacturing plant. There was an attendant assigned to provide a detailed tour of the plant, a quick tour. The laborers were obviously uneasy and Cale didn't want to take too long.

"These are the syringes ready to be shipped," the attendant finally concluded, gesturing towards an opened box filled with the fatal liquids.

"Can I take one as a souvenir?" Cale asked sarcastically.

The attendant laughed, and shook his head. "We were asked to provide with you a map of the place so if you wish to come back, you can get around without an attendant."

Cale took the map and looked at it. It was fairly straight forward. There was a board room for important people like Cale or the Chief Elder to come to talk about things and a large room for actual manufacturing, a Departure Port for the product to be sent to various communities in the local area, including his own.

"Thanks," Arabella said as she turned to leave.

Cale grabbed her arm to stop her and whispered, "We need to talk. Here is a good place to do it." Arabella hesitated and looked at him then returned to stand at his side again. "Is there a private room we can talk in?"

The attendant showed them to a small conference room.

"Why aren't we leaving? The sooner we get back, the sooner-" Arabella demanded, not angry but not pleased.

"I want to close down this plant," Cale said bluntly. "Will you help? I plan to talk to Stella about it…so don't say anything to her."

"How? And why would you ask Stella?" Arabella asked in a more gentle, soft tone.

"I haven't thought about the how…" Cale replied, "And why not ask Stella? She's nice. Smart-"

"Oh don't flatter yourself Cale!" Arabella interrupted. "I apologize-"

"Don't apologize. I will not live in this…dystopian society they've created for us! I will not! I refuse!" Cale snapped impatiently. He paused a moment, thinking; and then smiled and told her, "You think I like her more than yourself, don't you? You don't want her to help because you think-"

"What a…what a foolish idea! Yes, I do know what the past was like…with all those…open relationships, but I am certainly not a victim of one!" Arabella interrupted. Arabella looked down and then looked away, refusing to meet his eye, "Cale, I-"

"It's fine. Fine. I won't ask her to help us," Cale whispered, defeated. Arabella still refused to meet his eye by the time they got into the car. Chad was trying to unsuccessfully cheer them up and Cale was comforted at his kindness and thoughtfulness but he still couldn't accept Arabella's outrage. She was not often angry. She was more timid and thoughtful, more considerate of what other people wanted.

Stella and Arabella never had really gotten along to begin with. Why had I picked Arabella and not Stella? How could I have possibly been so oblivious? She was obviously the one. Maybe I will mention that idea of Cale's…maybe I can find the right one…maybe it isn't Stella or Arabella…maybe I was right…