Jason Luthor - Floor 21

“Fine, I get it. You’re some supersecret observer that has to act like a backup because everyone else is so stuck in their own roles or work that they can’t figure out how to react to new circumstances. God, it’s like taking care of children. So, why am I really here then? Why did you call me up? What, are you choosing me as the new director or something?”

“You?” He laughs really loud at the suggestion. Insultingly loud. “Do you really think you could keep all this a secret?”

The director’s got me there. “Well, no. I might be able to do it for… I dunno… a year?”

“I doubt even that, Jackie. No, what you are here for is something else. You are here because we’ve had two Category 2 Incidents almost a year apart from each other. They’re becoming more frequent.” He stops and looks down at the desk, his eyes dancing around for a second. “No. That’s a lie. That’s not the reason. It’s just an excuse I’m telling myself, and you.”

“Okay. Well, what then? You just want someone to talk to or something?”

“Not at all.” His words are coming slowly. Seriously, I think he’s about to tell me he’s about to have a heart attack or something, and I clutch up for a second. “The reason you’re here is because I’m going to grant your request.” Edward’s eyes crawl back up to mine. “I’ve chosen you to be a Scavenger.”

“What?” In my head the words echo around like they’re being blasted through a megaphone. “You want me to do what… ?”

“I saw you fighting, Jackie. For someone with such little training, your natural skill is exceptional. Your mind is incredibly sharp and can potentially rival your father’s. The Scavengers need that.” His hand lifts up, and he sighs. “And things will have to change. The Scavenging will have to change. I’ll sell that to the council, though. I’ll tell them that the reason we’re changing the Scavenging is because we need new ways of entertaining the population, especially on Floor 1. We’re going to shift the Scavenging’s focus from reclaiming material from the lower floors to exploration. To going as deep down Tower Pisa as possible.”

For a minute I just sit there, looking at this guy. He’s just freaking me out now. So, I’m sounding like a broken record, but what else am I supposed to ask? “Why are you doing this?” is about all I can manage at first. Like I’m an idiot. “I just, I can’t… You just got done telling me all this stuff about how you can’t tip the balance, can’t destroy the institution, this Tower shall not fall, blah blah blah. Now you’re completely changing the direction.”

Pygmalion smiles, pointing to me. “I also told you that memories make us. Memories are the most powerful form of knowledge. And that, in the end, there will be those who are unbothered by the sins they are guilty of, and those who are.”

“Right. So…”

“So, the man that I was when I became director was content with holding the bloody knife. The man I have become, and his many years of knowledge and observations, is not.”

I just stare at him from across the table, and there’s just this tiny… and I mean miniscule… part of me that starts to feel bad for him. “So, what you’ve learned changed who you are.”

“And what I’ve seen. Because all I’ve seen, all those memories, have created the man that stands before you.” He laughs. “I’ve spent decades watching the world. Now, before the end, I want to impact it, even if that impact is small. The director I choose to follow me may learn from what I have done. The memories of my actions may help mold him into a different man than I. Hopefully a man with a bit more boldness that I lack.”

“So, what is it you want me to do?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Pygmalion gets this devilish smile on his face. “I want you to get out. It’s the only way I know of that could change the Tower without destroying it. If we knew there was an escape.”

“And if we can’t?” I ask, thinking back on how hard it was to take Sally down.

“Then I suppose we’ll just continue on like we always have. For as long as possible.”

There’s no easy way to react to this. He’s offering me something I’ve wanted my entire life, but that was before I knew it was just entertainment for a bunch of snot-nosed rich jerks on Floor 1. Plus, how do I even know I can trust this guy?

Thing is, I know there’s only one answer.

“Fine,” I say, looking up at the ceiling and hoping I’m not nuts for agreeing. “I’ll do it.”

“I knew you would,” he says, bowing his head. “As I said, it is part of my job to be predictive, although there was always a slight doubt.”

“So, what now?”

“Now? Now you and your father go home. Now I have the audio listeners removed from your room. And tomorrow, you start getting ready. You start getting ready for the Scavenging.”

There’s something about that. Something about how he says it. I just… I have to smile.

“Yeah… yeah, okay. This is… this is great.”

“Is there anything else before you go?”

“Actually, yeah,” I say, my mind racing as I think about what’s coming next. “You don’t happen to know what happened to a guy named Mike, do you? He was part of the last Scavenging.”

“I am aware of him. Unfortunately, even as great as my knowledge is, it’s not infinite. All contact with the team was lost following an incident deep inside the Tower. I could not tell you whether he’s alive or not.”

“Oh.” Dammit. “Okay, that’s… that’s okay. Is it all right if I make part of the exploration a search for them? For Mike and his team?”

“Hm. A rescue story? That would certainly please viewers. Yes, I think that would work. The council would be even more willing to approve that. We’ll call it the Second Scavenging.” He shakes his head, tapping on the desk. “A wonderful idea. Yes, Jackie. I’ll make sure it’s all approved. And believe me, as callous as I may sound, I do hope with all my heart that you find your friend.”

I’m biting my lip as I nod, and then I just kinda get up to go. I don’t have anything else to say as I shuffle off beneath the lights of images broadcasting down on me from throughout Tower Pisa. Huh. Tower Pisa. For the first time in my life, I know what this place is called. Anyway, I’m just starting to put my hand to the door when I hesitate and look back toward the director. Pygmalion’s already working at something on his desk when I interrupt him with a final call. “Director? Edward?”

He looks up from his work, like he’s surprised that I’m still here. “Oh? Yes, Jackie?”

For a second I don’t know whether to ask it, but I have to. “I’m just… I was just wondering. You’ve got eyes all over the Tower, right?” I pause one more time before I ask. “So, what are the Angels?”

Pygmalion laughs and looks back down at his work. “Jackie,” he says, “you should know better. Angels don’t exist.”

It took exactly one day for the Morale officers to have flyers pasted up and down every floor proclaiming “The Second Scavenging,” starring the first girl from Floor 4 to ever go on a mission. Better? It was to be a daring rescue into the bowels of the Tower to find the last scavenging team.

Whatevs.

But… I kinda liked it.

Don’t get me wrong. Mom and Dad aren’t thrilled… but I think they kinda knew, somehow, that it’d always turn out weird with me. I have a pair of weirdos for parents in the first place, so, of course, I turned out the same way. Dad’s a little less worried than Mom. He says my batting skills are gonna come in handy.

I don’t know about all that.