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.He was the only reason I was able to reach her before it was too late.He didn’t even know what his father was planning.He helped me save her.”“Yes, I understand that,” Hamlin explained.“But as you know, the Council doesn’t know anything about Sadie’s true identity.For all intents and purposes, her role in the incident has been viewed as nothing more than an innocent girl in the wrong place at the wrong time.And although Ash’s involvement with his father, a known fugitive, was exonerated at the time of the crime due to his help and cooperation in the matter, his recent activity has brought questions to the surface as possible red flags.”“What kind of recent activity are you referring to?” Rayne questioned.“Well, I suppose in this case, it might be the lack of activity that is the issue.Ash was placed on involuntary leave after his father’s death for a two month period of time.He was supposed to report back for duty almost three months ago.”“He didn’t come back,” Rayne said, as if it suddenly all made sense.Hamlin shook his head.“No one has heard from him for months.He hasn’t even come through Border Security to replenish his Water System.”Rayne knew what Hamlin was leading to before he even said it.Years ago when Voss Hastings went rogue after his wife, Syreen, died, there had been a sudden wave of Healing Water thefts reported from agents out in the field.Although it was never proven, it was obvious to the entire organization that Voss was behind it.“Even if Ash did steal the water to support himself outside the Threshold,” Rayne said.“That doesn’t mean he’s gone rogue.After his mother died, he went completely off the deep end.Everyone knows that.Maybe he’s just grieving for the loss of his father.Voss was the only family Ash had left.He probably just needs more time away from everything, from all the things in Banya that remind him of his family.”“And the Council will take all of these factors into consideration,” Hamlin agreed.“But you and I are privy to more information than the Council.We both know that there are plenty of agents in various locations that could be easy targets for Ash to acquire Healing Water.And yet…a top-secret drop point, which only a handful of people know about, was the target.The vials meant specifically for the one person under your care were somehow the ones to go missing.You, Rayne.The person who killed Ash’s father.”Rayne closed his eyes involuntarily.“What are you trying to say? You think Ash is purposely trying to punish me for his father’s death? By hurting Sadie?”“It’s just one possible motive, son.”“I figured he was upset with me,” Rayne mused.“I mean, he hasn’t answered any of my phone calls.But he’s my oldest friend.I just can’t picture him…”Hamlin looked at Rayne knowingly.“I know you want to believe the best things about your friend.And it’s certainly feasible that my speculations are wrong.I just want you to be on your guard.Don’t rule out any possibilities.Maybe do a bit of an investigation yourself.”Rayne nodded with a somewhat sullen expression.“And if you are right about Ash,” Hamlin added.“It couldn’t hurt for you to try a little harder to reach out to him.If he really is just wandering out there alone in his grief, then I would think he could use a good friend like you to talk to.”“Of course, sir.I’ll do my best.”After a pause, Rayne stood from the bench.“Were you able to acquire any vials for me, sir?”“Well,” Hamlin said, “I have some bad news.I don’t have any Healing Water for you…just yet.But I have some arrangements being made as we speak.It will only be enough to last maybe five or six days for the two of you, and it won’t be ready for several hours, but the good news is, I already have a new drop point in mind where you can pick up more Healing Water on Monday.I figured, in light of recent events, it would be best if we changed the drop location.”“I was thinking the same thing,” Rayne said.“Where did you have in mind?”Hamlin reached into the perfectly pressed jacket of his tux and pulled a small key from the pocket.“Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier,” he said, handing the key to Rayne, “next to the souvenir shop, just left of the front entrance.Locker number twelve.The package will be there Monday by eleven hundred hours.”“Thank you, sir,” Rayne said.He turned to walk away, but Hamlin put up his hand to stop him.“One last thing, son.While you’re out and about waiting for your delivery tonight, it might be a good idea if you kept a low profile.”“A low profile?” Rayne repeated.“Why? I’m gone so often, my own family hardly recognizes me anymore.”“Well…” Hamlin said, hesitating.“I have a minor confession to make.”Rayne’s brows pinched together.“A confession, sir?”“Um, yes, you see, the Council was feeling like the people were in need of a morale boost.There’s been some negative talk circulating around Banya regarding the…usefulness of the Keeper program these days.The Council wanted to give the people some form of reassurance, something or…someone, they could look to as a symbol of all the good the program accomplishes.”Rayne folded his arms apprehensively to his chest.“Go on…”“I may have suggested your name, in passing, to the Council as a possible candidate.And of course, when you apprehended Voss Hastings, Banya’s most feared criminal, well the choice was obvious to everyone.”“So, what exactly does that mean, sir? You want to make me the new poster boy for the Keepers or something?”“Something like that,” Hamlin confessed.“More like a positive role model.But…the story has already been released to the press.A month ago, actually, with several follow-up pieces as well.You know, regarding some of your background, a simple farmhand recruited from obscurity, the Advanced Keeper Program created at the Academy on your behalf; that sort of thing.”Rayne suddenly remembered all the Keepers at the border who were calling him sir, even in his advanced state of delirium.There were plenty of occasions in the past where someone gave him a questioning glance, recognizing that Rayne claimed to be a Keeper, yet his tattoo revealed the symbol and rank of a Scout on his wrist.He never made a point of flaunting his elevated rank; in fact, he usually tried his best to hide it, but there was no hiding it anymore.Now everyone knew.“So, what you’re saying,” Rayne accused.“Is that you’re not asking me; you’re telling me.”Hamlin shifted on the park bench.“Rayne, I would never force you to do anything you didn’t feel good about.And I apologize that the Council began spreading your face across the media without your consent.But I would ask you to at least consider it.You have so much good in you to offer.The people need someone like you to look up to.You can, of course, think about it, and if you decide not to participate further, the Council will honor your choice.”“Sir, you do understand that I’m hardly ever in Banya, right? My assignment with Sadie is incredibly demanding of my time.”“Yes, I know,” Hamlin said.“I realize that now, although, I didn’t think about it at the time, when I suggested it to the Council, that is.” Hamlin paused and stroked his chin, then added cheerfully, “But the decision still feels right to me.I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.”Hamlin gave Rayne final instructions on where to pick up the Healing Water in a few hours and sent Rayne off on his own.There were so many things Rayne needed to figure out about his life right now, so many things that didn’t fit together [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.He was the only reason I was able to reach her before it was too late.He didn’t even know what his father was planning.He helped me save her.”“Yes, I understand that,” Hamlin explained.“But as you know, the Council doesn’t know anything about Sadie’s true identity.For all intents and purposes, her role in the incident has been viewed as nothing more than an innocent girl in the wrong place at the wrong time.And although Ash’s involvement with his father, a known fugitive, was exonerated at the time of the crime due to his help and cooperation in the matter, his recent activity has brought questions to the surface as possible red flags.”“What kind of recent activity are you referring to?” Rayne questioned.“Well, I suppose in this case, it might be the lack of activity that is the issue.Ash was placed on involuntary leave after his father’s death for a two month period of time.He was supposed to report back for duty almost three months ago.”“He didn’t come back,” Rayne said, as if it suddenly all made sense.Hamlin shook his head.“No one has heard from him for months.He hasn’t even come through Border Security to replenish his Water System.”Rayne knew what Hamlin was leading to before he even said it.Years ago when Voss Hastings went rogue after his wife, Syreen, died, there had been a sudden wave of Healing Water thefts reported from agents out in the field.Although it was never proven, it was obvious to the entire organization that Voss was behind it.“Even if Ash did steal the water to support himself outside the Threshold,” Rayne said.“That doesn’t mean he’s gone rogue.After his mother died, he went completely off the deep end.Everyone knows that.Maybe he’s just grieving for the loss of his father.Voss was the only family Ash had left.He probably just needs more time away from everything, from all the things in Banya that remind him of his family.”“And the Council will take all of these factors into consideration,” Hamlin agreed.“But you and I are privy to more information than the Council.We both know that there are plenty of agents in various locations that could be easy targets for Ash to acquire Healing Water.And yet…a top-secret drop point, which only a handful of people know about, was the target.The vials meant specifically for the one person under your care were somehow the ones to go missing.You, Rayne.The person who killed Ash’s father.”Rayne closed his eyes involuntarily.“What are you trying to say? You think Ash is purposely trying to punish me for his father’s death? By hurting Sadie?”“It’s just one possible motive, son.”“I figured he was upset with me,” Rayne mused.“I mean, he hasn’t answered any of my phone calls.But he’s my oldest friend.I just can’t picture him…”Hamlin looked at Rayne knowingly.“I know you want to believe the best things about your friend.And it’s certainly feasible that my speculations are wrong.I just want you to be on your guard.Don’t rule out any possibilities.Maybe do a bit of an investigation yourself.”Rayne nodded with a somewhat sullen expression.“And if you are right about Ash,” Hamlin added.“It couldn’t hurt for you to try a little harder to reach out to him.If he really is just wandering out there alone in his grief, then I would think he could use a good friend like you to talk to.”“Of course, sir.I’ll do my best.”After a pause, Rayne stood from the bench.“Were you able to acquire any vials for me, sir?”“Well,” Hamlin said, “I have some bad news.I don’t have any Healing Water for you…just yet.But I have some arrangements being made as we speak.It will only be enough to last maybe five or six days for the two of you, and it won’t be ready for several hours, but the good news is, I already have a new drop point in mind where you can pick up more Healing Water on Monday.I figured, in light of recent events, it would be best if we changed the drop location.”“I was thinking the same thing,” Rayne said.“Where did you have in mind?”Hamlin reached into the perfectly pressed jacket of his tux and pulled a small key from the pocket.“Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier,” he said, handing the key to Rayne, “next to the souvenir shop, just left of the front entrance.Locker number twelve.The package will be there Monday by eleven hundred hours.”“Thank you, sir,” Rayne said.He turned to walk away, but Hamlin put up his hand to stop him.“One last thing, son.While you’re out and about waiting for your delivery tonight, it might be a good idea if you kept a low profile.”“A low profile?” Rayne repeated.“Why? I’m gone so often, my own family hardly recognizes me anymore.”“Well…” Hamlin said, hesitating.“I have a minor confession to make.”Rayne’s brows pinched together.“A confession, sir?”“Um, yes, you see, the Council was feeling like the people were in need of a morale boost.There’s been some negative talk circulating around Banya regarding the…usefulness of the Keeper program these days.The Council wanted to give the people some form of reassurance, something or…someone, they could look to as a symbol of all the good the program accomplishes.”Rayne folded his arms apprehensively to his chest.“Go on…”“I may have suggested your name, in passing, to the Council as a possible candidate.And of course, when you apprehended Voss Hastings, Banya’s most feared criminal, well the choice was obvious to everyone.”“So, what exactly does that mean, sir? You want to make me the new poster boy for the Keepers or something?”“Something like that,” Hamlin confessed.“More like a positive role model.But…the story has already been released to the press.A month ago, actually, with several follow-up pieces as well.You know, regarding some of your background, a simple farmhand recruited from obscurity, the Advanced Keeper Program created at the Academy on your behalf; that sort of thing.”Rayne suddenly remembered all the Keepers at the border who were calling him sir, even in his advanced state of delirium.There were plenty of occasions in the past where someone gave him a questioning glance, recognizing that Rayne claimed to be a Keeper, yet his tattoo revealed the symbol and rank of a Scout on his wrist.He never made a point of flaunting his elevated rank; in fact, he usually tried his best to hide it, but there was no hiding it anymore.Now everyone knew.“So, what you’re saying,” Rayne accused.“Is that you’re not asking me; you’re telling me.”Hamlin shifted on the park bench.“Rayne, I would never force you to do anything you didn’t feel good about.And I apologize that the Council began spreading your face across the media without your consent.But I would ask you to at least consider it.You have so much good in you to offer.The people need someone like you to look up to.You can, of course, think about it, and if you decide not to participate further, the Council will honor your choice.”“Sir, you do understand that I’m hardly ever in Banya, right? My assignment with Sadie is incredibly demanding of my time.”“Yes, I know,” Hamlin said.“I realize that now, although, I didn’t think about it at the time, when I suggested it to the Council, that is.” Hamlin paused and stroked his chin, then added cheerfully, “But the decision still feels right to me.I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.”Hamlin gave Rayne final instructions on where to pick up the Healing Water in a few hours and sent Rayne off on his own.There were so many things Rayne needed to figure out about his life right now, so many things that didn’t fit together [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]