Simons POV
The week was excruciatingly slow. They didn't allow me to leave with them for supplies, and I spent the bulk of my time becoming well acquainted with the ceiling above my bed. Every evening they came back with new supplies, cryo chambers, medicine, weapons, and finally on the last night, a government issue ship.
"But where?" I sputtered, looking over the ship; it looked as pristine as any I had ever seen.
"You like that?" Thomas laughed at my expression. "They just drop those off in the wreak yards. Course we had to fix her up a bit. Shiny though ain't she?"
"Yes, very," I nodded. "You are all very good."
"We leave tomorrow for your sister. Ready for big crime?"
"Not at all," I manage a smile.
"No one ever is," Thomas nods. "You're doing the right thing; they're the shady ones if that makes you feel better."
"They'll kill us the same if we're caught," I point out.
"Always has to be a practical one in the group," Thomas grins. "Way my plan goes, we don't get caught."
"Good plan," I nod.
It sounded like a good plan, simple, easy in and out. Of course I knew that was never going to be the fact, but I had allowed myself to believe it in order to not go insane in the waiting. As the school came into view and we flew low over the planet, my stomach tied in knots of fear. I straighten the suit they have given me. It is that of a government inspector. Mine is to be the key role in River's rescue, I will stride straight into that school, and ask to be taken to her. My fingers itch where they have fused the fingerprints of a true inspector to my fingers. I don't ask how they got the prints.
"You've memorized the maps?" Adam asks from the seat next to me.
"Yes," I nod. "The layout should not be a problem."
"Now you understand the weapon, correct?" Thomas leaned around from the front.
"Yes, sir."
"After you get your sister, strip to the facilities uniform. Everything goes smooth you can walk her to the getaway point easy as pie. We'll be monitoring you, show up quick as you're ready."
"Thank you," I nod, as we lower to the front landing strip. Two guards approach the craft guns raised. Thomas lifts his hands with a grin, and shoves open the door.
"Official inspection," he hands them forged paperwork they barely glance at.
"Mr. Odin?" Adam steps out of the craft, holding the door of me. I nod briskly at him and push past to the guards.
"Good afternoon officers," I nod at them both as they stand at attention. "I am here to see Dr. Mathias on direct orders from parliament.
"Dr. Mathias, is in sessions," one of them ventures.
"Exactly what I am here for," I push past them, headed into the building. They scramble behind me, opening doors as we go. In the entrance area my finger prints are scanned, and I am lead to Dr. Mathias office. It's a round, sterile office, looking more like a lab than a place to relax or study. After a short wait Dr. Mathias steps into the room.
"Mr. Odin?" He puts out a hand which I shake. "I was not informed you were coming."
"It's about getting a clean inspection," I nod. "We have to make sure we are seeing the truth."
"Yes, indeed." He smiles. "You are here for the sessions?"
"One in particular," I make a show of pulling out a piece of paper, and reading from it. "River Tam."
"Well, you have fantastic timing, she is in session right now," he motions for me to follow down a path of turns until we step into the room. I almost cry out as a man shoves what looks like a needle deeper into River's head.
"Nightmare?" Dr. Mathias asks.
"Off the charts," the assistant grins. "Scary monsters."
"Let's amp it up. Delcium, eight-drop." The assistant does as he says, I study River, this is like nothing I have ever seen before.
"See, most of our best work is done when they're asleep. We can monitor and direct their subconscious, implant suggestions," I step forward as River moans, crying out quietly and squirming. The doctor luckily misreads my concern. "It's a little startling to see, but the results are spectacular. Especially in this case. River Tam is our star pupil."
"I've heard that," I am still watching River grimly.
"She'll be ideal for defense deployment, even with the side-effects."
"Tell me about them," I perk up, knowing this information could be useful alter.
"Well, obviously, she's unstable, the neural stripping does tend to fragment their own reality matrix. It manifests as borderline schizophrenia."
"What use do we have for a psychic is she's insane?" I ask, stepping closer to River.
"She's not just a psychic, given the right trigger this girl is a living weapon. She has her lucid periods, we're hoping to improve upon the⦠I'm sorry sir, but I have to ask. Is there a reason for this inspection?"
"Am I making you nervous?" I ask, turning to him.
"Key members of parliament have personally observed this subject; I was told that the alliance's support for the project was unanimous. The demonstration of her powers-"
"How is she physically?" I interrupt.
"Like nothing we've seen. All our subjects are conditioned for combat, but River, she's a creature of extraordinary grace," As he speaks I move even closer to River, till I am in the perfect position.
"Yes, she always did love to dance." The doctor gives me a look of confusion, but before he can speak I drop to one knee letting loose the weapon they gave me, it sends electromagnetic pulses at head level, temporarily stunning whoever it comes in contact with. I squat in front of River.
"River, its Simon," I undo the device from around her face. "Please, it's Simon, it's your brother." She doesn't seem to wake up, I leave her for a moment, now that the pulse has dissipated, and stripping to the school uniform, check the door to see if anyone's checking on us. Seeing no one I turn, almost walking into River, who is awake, but still looking lost.
"Simon?" She looks at me, but seems to look through me. "They know you've come."
"We have to go," I take her hand, and she follows as complacently as a small child, letting me lead her. "We can't make it to the surface from the inside," I explain. A door opens and I panic. "Find a place to-" she's already climbing up the wall, I try not to stare in awe as the people pass.
"River," I hiss, and she drops gracefully beside me.
"Gravity's a mind game," she tilts her head. "Thomas is waiting." For a moment I am terrified of my own sister, and what she has become. Her eyes meet mine and I see so much pain in them, I can't help but pull her into a hug.
"We have to go," I pull back, tugging her along behind me, following the path I memorized to the ventilation tube. The back of the building it built into a cliff, if we can get up the tube, we can load into the ship with no one the wiser.
I use a crow bar to open up the barrier to the tube, helping River out, then sealing the opening behind us, just as two guards arrive. They slam into the glass, cracking it with each blow, below security shields are powering up. Just in time a platform is lowered from the ship above, we step on and the others haul us up, just as I hear the glass smash out below. A couple shots hit the platform but we're safe for now.
"Hold on," Thomas yells out, revving the engine to hyper-speed, we hit atmo before anyone can follow. "Woo!" Thomas yells from the front.
"Are you okay, River?" She nods, but I am not sure she understood the question.
"How was that for exciting crime, Mr. Odin?"
"Odin?" River looks up quickly at me, and I worry for a moment that she doesn't know it's me. She places a hand on my cheek. "Norse god. Meaning fury, or poetry, the god of wisdom, death and prophecy."
"I nod."
"Simon," she smiles a little. "My brother."
"Yes," I smile back, holding her close.
"We need to put her under," Adam holds a needle.
"No," River scrambles away, holding tighter to me.
"River, it's okay. We're not safe yet. We need to do this." I hold her tightly and she stops squirming long enough for Adam to inject her. Within moments she is sleeping peacefully.
"She needs to be naked to go into the chamber," Adam blushes.
"I'll do it," I nod. He scurries to the front, leaving me alone, I undress her quickly, blushing to see the woman she has turned into while away. I arrange her carefully, as modestly as possible, and shut the chamber, setting the dials appropriately.
"Wo ai ni." I whisper quietly, almost able to hear her quiet voice whispering that she loves me too. It's going to be hard, but we'll make it through.
"She set?" Thomas asks, as I step into the front.
"Yes, thank you." I nod.
"Thank you, you're the one who set us up to save more than her," he grins. "Next stop Persephone."
EndGame
Thanks for reading everyone, and all the supportive feedback, I hope you enjoyed this short take on River's time at school. If you are interested in reading my newer, original work please look me up on Amazon as Samantha Boyette
