Chapter Four

"The problem," announced Jared Wiles to his assembled Coalition of Pity, "is that people just aren't listening."

Jule, among others, nodded. Jared noted this and was encouraged by it.

"I see you've all experienced the ignorance of those whose feeds control their minds. You must agree that if our messages fall on deaf ears we cannot begin to make a difference. We must be heard, but our latest course of action is failing.
Now, broadcasting is out of question - as we all know – but do any of you have other ideas, regarding the feed?"

His words fell on silence as the fifteen-or-so attendants of the day's Meet considered the options. They all knew, ultimately, that it would be their wise, rational leader, Jared, who came up with the answer.

As it became clear that there were to be no suggestions offered, Jared Wiles sighed and scratched his head.

"I cannot solve this problem, either."

He gathered his thick coat around him and prepared to step down. A hoarse voice stopped him in his tracks.

"You know my idea, Jared." It was a small, old man, his crinkled face challenging his leader, white eyebrows raised.

"And you know my thoughts on the matter remain the same, Kiaran!" Jared returned, anger igniting in his eyes. "Broadcasting will never be necessary."

"But what if it's the last resort?" the old man reasoned in his harsh, gravelly voice. "What if it becomes a matter of broadcasting or failing?"

"If it comes to that, friend, we must fail."

There were murmurs, Jule noticed., of outrage at Jared's words; would their respected leader really throw away the previous work of the Coalition even while a last hope remained?
Secretly, Jule was relieved. The thought of broadcasting terrified him. Silently, he willed the old man to back down.

"Why?" the hoarse voice called again. "Why should we fail, when broadcasting would solve all our problems?"

"Because the risk is too great. The broadcast must take place in a public place, as I am sure you are aware, therefore whoever we sent to trigger it would be witnessed by many. Think what would happen if one of us were caught. How long do you think it would be before the found the means to wipe us out?"

"Send me, Jared, to trigger the broadcast, and I swear that the minute they catch me I'll take my own life and keep our secrets safe."

"I don't want anybody to die," Jared Wiles sighed. It was a conversation he'd had many times before. "Broadcasting is dangerous not only to us, but to the people we trigger. We could damage them permanently. Our aim is to improve people's lives, not destroy them!"

The Meet adjourned, Jule joined a thoughtful Marton at his computer.

"Do you think Kiaran will ever give this broadcasting talk a rest?"

"No," replied Marton slowly, "only when he gets his way."

"Only when…?"

"Jared doesn't want to fail, Jule. He'll do anything for the Coalition, even if it means giving in to Kiaran. But I don't want to believe he'd be that stupid."

They sat in silence for a while, the click of Marton's mouse incessant, like a broken metronome.

"Ember had no luck with our potential recruits, then." Marton suddenly commented.

"What?"

"The tunnel was deserted when she arrived. I guess the Corps caught them. It was only a matter of time."

"When did she…?" Jule stammered. "She told me…yesterday. She said she hadn't been."

"Don't mention it to her." The technician beckoned and Jule leaned in towards him. "I don't know what's going on between you two, but don't forget why she's here. Without you, I doubt she'd give the Coalition a second glance."

He nodded, satisfied with Jule's guilty, wistful expression.

"Now go and give her a lift home."

As he edged his upcar into an unusually busy drop tube, Jule felt Ember's probing mind nudging his. He turned to glance at her, and found her staring back, face neutral.

Sorry, Jule fed to her.

There was a pause. Her nudging continued. Suddenly, Jule knew just how to clear things up.

"Look, I haven't been contacted by Violet since!"

The probing abruptly stopped.

Then you're entirely forgiven. Ember smiled at Jule as he slowed his upcar outside her house. He was so surprised to see the relief in her eyes that he allowed the kiss that followed to go on longer than he'd have liked. H waved as she reached her front door.

Jule.

Oh, shit.

He felt his face redden and his jaw tense, and glanced back towards Ember, still on her doorstep, one hand raised towards a fingerprint scanner.

Pleased to hear from me again, I can tell.

Did Ember's brow just crease slightly with suspicion? He didn't want to find out.

Bad time? asked Violet as he sped away from Ember's neighbourhood.

You couldn't have picked worse. Look, Violet; what about the disassociation? My girlfriend almost-

I know. But…I wouldn't break the rules if it wasn't important.

How important? Jule fed suspiciously.

Important enough to risk getting you into trouble.

Does that mean you'll come over?

No. Maybe. Sometime...

Remember the address?

I'll dig it up from somewhere.

He imaged her amused smile, and instantly wished he didn't. He hastily cut off the feed connection. He needed time to think.

Tough decisions can lead to big stress, Jule Boden. But don't fret; here's a choice you'll find easy to make…