“Narelle? What are you doing monitoring security systems?”

Good question. Only the Trava family had access to the security network.

“I’m with electrical, sir. When the device malfunctioned it sent a spike through my workstation and I came to investigate. I thought I could fix the sensor, sir.”

“You thought wrong. What’s your birth week?”

“It’s 145,414, sir.”

Ha. He was only seventy-three weeks older than me.

“You’re just out of training. How did you get assigned electrical?”

“It was my choice, sir.”

“Your choice? Oh. Top of your class. Well you obviously need more training. Report to Commander Vinco Trava for extra duty.”

Extra duty meant the dreaded red cuff and hard physical labor in the lower levels. The uppers were probably assigned a boring or mindless task nobody else wanted to do.

“Yes, sir,” Riley snapped.

After a few seconds of quiet, it dawned on me. Riley hadn’t reported me again. Even faced with a punishment, he still kept quiet. A strange sensation rolled through me—relief mixed with…I couldn’t name it. Odd.

“You’re dismissed, Mr. Ashon. Lieutenant Arno, your unit can return to their stations, but I want you to stay,” she ordered.

The shuffle of feet faded and the door clicked shut. I decided to wait. No sense alerting Karla to my presence. I wondered how long I would be stuck here.

“Where were we, Arno?” Karla asked.

“Discussing the situation below,” Arno said.

“Anything?”

“No. No one is talking. The scrubs are terrified. They’re ratting out their friends. We’ve uncovered more illegal activities this week than in the past thirty weeks. Caught a woman who was raising her own children. A whole family unit.”

“That’s new. What did Vinco do?”

“The kids were too old for the care facility. They would remember a mother and might band together. He sent them to Chomper, and the woman was assigned to the sheep breeders.”

He reported the demise of three children in a bored voice. Enraged, I wanted to strangle him.

“Harsh.” A hitch cracked her voice, but then she continued speaking without emotion. “But appropriate. It would be dangerous if the scrubs formed loyalties.” She paused. “You’ve increased the pressure to find Domotor and still no results?”

“Yes, sir.”

Domotor? Riley had mentioned his name, too.

“Cogon’s our best suspect, but he’s had dozens of scrubs vouch for him.” She paused.

Dozens? Wow. I knew he was well liked, but didn’t think so many would risk their lives for him.

“He knows something, I can feel it,” Karla said. “What about our informers? Have they heard any rumors?”

“No. Everyone’s keeping quiet. No speculation. No gossip. It’s as if Domotor never existed. Usually when a prophet disappears, there are rumblings of unease and talk of martyrs. This time nothing.”

Domotor must be Broken Man’s real name.

“What about the young girl…Trella?”

All of a sudden it felt as if the air shaft tightened around my body. I struggled to draw a breath.

“I had a few of my men ask about her,” Arno said. “Keeps to herself. No absences. No reprimands on her record. No friends except Cogon.”