Page 49 of Jump or Fall
“I know you aren’t into watching people, but it could be useful. It works with a tablet.”
She was right—he wasn’t eager to spy on anyone, but it would definitely be useful.
“Why not keep it for the enforcers?”
“Chief Dax would steal it for a more important Division. Or himself.”
“Thanks, Kim.”
She waved him off, and they started the walk down the tunnel. It was long and moisture held heavy in the air.
Curiosity got the better of him. “Where is your family from?”
She smirked and he continued, “I've been a professional creep for years—profiling and watching. I’ve never seen anyone that looks like you and your mom. I’m assuming your sister looks similar.”
“My mom is Deluri. She came to Teichus legally with my dad, who was visiting her island for work. He was some big shot who got permission to travel. My sister and I were born here. Apparently, there are a bunch of us in Cygnus.”
“Learn something new every day.”
“Wanna know why we look like this?”
“I assume a dominant genetic mutation.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, obviously, that’s the real reason, Gordon. I’m talking legends and shit.”
He laughed. “Go on.”
“A long time ago, this guy was in love with a woman, and then she got sick. Her limbs started to rot away, but he didn’t want to lose her. So, over time, he replaced her body parts with bronze. Eventually, her hair fell out, so he decided to replace it with thin strands of electrum since that was closest to her real color. Then he swapped her eyes with jade when they fell out. Somehow he got her knocked up, and the kids came out looking like her.”
“That is quite the origin story.”
“Yeah… Really, it’s just a story about a guy fucking a robot, but my mom’s proud to be a ‘descendant’ of the great Deyela. Obviously, he would’ve knocked her up before she was a hunk of metal, but that doesn’t stop anyone from obsessing over her.”
“How is your mom?”
Kim scrunched up her face. “Memory is worse, and she sleeps a lot. She forgets to eat and drink, which isn’t helping.”
“How long do you think she has?”
“Hard to say. Some people get these growths that kill them fast, and others just fade away. My sister is still in school, and I’m working, so it’s hard to watch her.”
Pain curled in his chest. Kimmie and her sister didn’t deserve to lose their parents to abandonment and poisoning. It was evident that Kimmie’s rough demeanor came from necessity, but there was still something soft underneath. She cared deeply about people even if it was hidden under expletives and eye rolls.
The tunnels gradually changed to be more natural rock and the air grew even cooler. Pushing the bike was making him sweat, but the faint air circulation kept him somewhat comfortable.
They reached a door that Kimmie unlocked, revealing a mostly empty room. A small table with two chairs and a map on the wall were the only furnishings.
The next door had no lock and opened roughly. The bike barely fit through but they were able to maneuver it to the side.
Another door was at the end of the room.
“That’s the last one,” Kimmie said. “It’s another tunnel that opens up to the outside. The path will hang right—just follow it along the wall. Don’t shine any lights until you’re in the trees.”
Holy shit. He was actually leaving.
Gordon had dreamed of traveling for so long, but it’d been so out of reach. Could he actually do this?
“Oh, one last goodbye something.”
