John Krygelski - The Aegis Solution

“I told you, we’re alone.”

The barrel withdrew and the door opened. A young male, no more than seventeen or eighteen, stepped out into the hallway, still clutching the shotgun and keeping it aimed in their general direction, as he quickly glanced from side to side to make sure no one was crouched on either side of the doorway. Seeing that the hallway was empty except for Elias and Tillie, the teenager lowered his weapon.

Elias heard Tillie release a large exhale. She had obviously been holding her breath. Talking a cautious step forward, he asked, “Is anyone else in there?”

The boy shook his head. “No. Only me.”

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Tillie asked, following Elias’ lead and slowly moving forward. The boy no longer cared whether they kept their distance, and did not react. Elias covered the remaining distance and gingerly took the shotgun, now held limply, from the young man, leaning it against the wall next to the AK-47.

As soon as he was relieved of the weapon, the teen seemed to crumble, as if every muscle in his body had simply given up. Elias and Tillie both grabbed him by the arms and supported him.

“They’re all gone, all dead,” the teen said in a voice which was closer to a whimper.

The two of them walked him to the side wall and slowly lowered him to the floor. Tillie sat down next to him and held his hand.

“What’s your name?” she asked softly.

The teen, who was staring down blankly, as if he were examining his sprawled legs, murmured, “Zack.”

“Zack, I’m Tillie. This is Elias. Tell us what happened.”

The young man seemed to be slipping deeper into a daze. Elias leaned over and snapped his fingers in front of Zack’s face. “Zack! We need you to tell us what happened. We will get you someplace safe in a minute, but we need to know what happened and why.”

He rallied slightly. “I don’t know what happened. I was back here. I heard the sounds, the yells. I peeked out my door and saw one of those things grab BQ. One minute he was runnin’ and the next he was just dead. Dude, I hid! I didn’t help. I didn’t do nothing.”

“There wasn’t a thing you could have done, Zack.” Tillie’s voice was gentle.

“Why did they do this?” Elias asked.

The young man’s eyes drifted up to look at him. “It’s because of Frank D. We had made a deal with the Man. It was a pretty good deal, considering. Frank D broke the deal.”

“What deal?”

“I know it wasn’t right, but we didn’t have no choice. The Man told us to deliver all the newbies to him, untouched, or he would kill us. All of us.”

Elias said nothing, waiting.

“Frank D took one of the newbies ’cause he liked her. After he and his partner were done with her, he delivered her to the Man. I guess she told.”

They decided it was past time to move on. Since Tillie’s knowledge of the available routes was the most detailed, she assumed the lead. The other two followed. She and Elias had agreed in a whispered conversation that Zack should not be taken to either her living quarters or Elias’ base. Wilson’s atrium seemed the only logical option. Kreitzmann undoubtedly had men out looking for Elias, and Zack was certainly a target as well, so they took a circuitous route through mechanical chases, raceways and, when necessary, public corridors.

Finally entering the man-made jungle of Wilson’s domain, Tillie shouted, “Wilson! It’s me.”

The foliage parted to their left, and Wilson stepped out into the open, carrying his shotgun. He eyed Zack but said nothing as he led them to the shack. Within minutes the teen was asleep on the bed inside, and the three of them were assembled on the porch.

Tillie did most of the talking as she brought her friend up to speed on all of the latest developments, including her rescue of Elias and the death of all of the residents of ZooCity. She had saved one fact for last.

“I hate to admit it, Wilson, but you were right.”

The older man squinted at her. “About what, dear?”

Tillie glanced at Elias and explained, “He didn’t come because of my message.”

Wilson’s mouth pursed in an expression of concern. “No?”

“No. They sent someone in here two or three months ago. When he disappeared, they sent Elias.”

“Oh.” Wilson looked at Elias, a hint of sadness showing on his face.

“As much fun as both of you are having, talking about me as if I weren’t present, would you mind telling me what it is that Wilson was supposedly right about?”

Wilson’s eyes shifted from Elias to Tillie, who gave a subtle shrug to indicate her answer to his unspoken question. Turning back, Wilson said, “Tillie, although having passed the ripe age of thirty-two a brief while ago, is still quite naive. Although she prefers to act as if she is jaded and cynical, she continues to believe that there is a Santa Claus, an Easter Bunny, a Tooth Fairy, and a government in Washington with noble motives. In my mind the jury is still out on the Tooth Fairy, but I am certain about the latter not being the case.”

“I’m with you on that.”

“I am sure that you are, Mr. Death.”

“Please….”

“He calls you that for a reason,” Tillie broke in.

Elias looked at both of them and said, “Okay. I would appreciate it if you could dispense with the oblique and tell me what you think.”

“Tillie believed if she sent a message that we needed help, the conscientious guardians of the public would mobilize a team of Navy Seals to charge into Aegis, guns blazing, to save us all. I, on the other hand, have become convinced that our leaders have a quite different fate in mind for all of us.”

Elias leaned forward impatiently. “And that is?”

A lopsided smile of chagrin on his seasoned face, Wilson replied, “I believe that you have been sent to clean up a mess.”

“Of course I….”

Holding up his hand to stop Elias, Wilson continued, “I believe that you have been sent to shut Aegis down and eliminate all of its residents.”

Wilson was inside the shack, preparing lunch. Tillie had departed to search for Eric Stone, utilizing her knowledge of the hidden passageways. Zack was still sleeping, and Elias sat alone on the porch, watching and listening vigilantly for any indication that the Zippers had arrived.

Moments after he heard a soft clatter of dishes and silverware, Elias saw Wilson emerge from inside with two plates of food.

“I hope that you like ham and cheese omelets.”

“Sounds great.”

Elias moved to the small table and joined Wilson. He had not realized how hungry he was until the aroma of the meal reached his nose. Wasting no time, Elias began to eat. After several bites, he asked, “If you really think I’m here to kill you, why are you feeding me?”

With a chuckle, Wilson answered, “Why not? Perhaps you will find my omelets so tasty that you’ll reconsider.”

Elias gently placed his fork on the table next to his plate. “That’s not why I’m here, Wilson.”

The mathematician did not bother to look up, tucking another bite into his mouth before responding. “Either you are here to do precisely that or you are not, and in each case, that is exactly what you would say. I do not endorse the skill of mind reading, as it is being cultivated by Rudy — too much can go wrong, as you noticed — so I am left with my own ability to deduce and decide.”

“And your decision?”

“Insufficient data at this time.”

Staring at Wilson for a moment, Elias sighed and picked up his fork to resume eating, when Wilson spoke. “For the purpose of conviviality, let’s assume for the moment that you are not our executioner.”