Extensis Vitae - By Gregory Mattix Page 0,52

was mulling the offer over, however.

“I know her prisoner claim sounds far-fetched, but from what I’ve researched, it’s highly plausible. This gang leader—Haze—must have used one of those control tokens on her.” He didn’t mention that the token had been in his possession and that he had returned it to Rin. He doubted Swanson would be pleased to hear that. “She’s cooperated with us the entire time since I assured her that she would receive fair treatment. She hasn’t tried to escape or jump any guards or—“

Swanson held up his hand. “I realize that. I’m in a bit of a predicament here, though—I just can’t allow her to walk away. The people would be screaming for justice.”

And you don’t know what to do with her, just as I suspected, Reznik thought. Aloud, he said, “I could arrange for it to look like she doesn’t survive the upcoming fight. You can use whatever story you like: your judgment is that she redeem herself in combat, or that she be exiled, or even executed.”

“Hmm…you seem to have a knack for politics. Ever thought of becoming a politician?”

Reznik didn’t know if he was being serious or not, but he chuckled. “No sir, haven’t really gotten around to thinking that far ahead.”

“Let’s see, then…” Swanson leaned back in the chair, his hands behind his head, and looked toward the ceiling. “My verdict is that although the prisoner didn’t directly murder, assault, rape, or kidnap any of the victims herself, she is still unwillingly complicit in the crimes of those thugs. By standing aside passively and allowing all of that to happen, I deem her guilty by association. My punishment is exile. If she can assist you on your mission, then fine. Prepare to leave tomorrow, but don’t let word of this get out. I will officially announce my verdict at the appropriate time, which will naturally be after you two are long gone. Once you step out that door, don’t plan on returning here. I would ask that you keep the location of the Colonies a secret from the outside world. This distasteful business has already brought too much harm upon our peaceful lives here. We don’t need to attract any more interest in the Colonies from any outside parties from the surface. Whatever happens up on the surface world is no concern of ours.”

“Are you saying the fate of the people who were kidnapped from Colony 13 is no concern of yours either?” Reznik asked with shock and anger in his voice. “Those people—your fellow colonists—are going to be taken to market like cattle and sold into slavery, and who knows what will happen to them after that.”

Swanson looked at him grimly. “I fear they are lost to us forever. We do not have the necessary knowledge or means to conduct any type of search and rescue mission on the surface. While it is a tragic loss, the selection process of Extensis Vitae dictated that the skill sets were balanced out between each of the Colonies. Doing this ensures that our future society will not lack any critical skills, even if we were to lose one or more facilities. The other administrators and I have yet to discuss an official declaration of loss for that colony.” He sat quietly for a moment before adding, “I doubt those colonists would be able to survive up there and find their way back, in any case.”

“You’d be surprised what a powerful force the survival instinct is,” Reznik said. “Just so you know, I intend to look for those people after I take care of my own pressing matter. If I can help them, I will. Should I send them back to Colony 13, or tell them that they have been written off and are on their own?”

“You would do that? Go out of your way for people you don’t even know?” Swanson looked astonished. When Reznik simply nodded, he said, “By all means, if you are able to rescue them then please send them back to Colony 13. I will instruct my people to set up surveillance equipment and directions for what they should do if that happens. Truly, that would be a miracle.”

“I’m curious—when do you intend to open the vault door and let these people return to the surface world? Aren’t you ready to start rebuilding society yet?”

“When the time is right. And, as we can see from recent events, the time is not yet right. It will be a joint decision between the