2.11.2

Crossing Exchange

Knowingly or not, Gavin alluded to contacts and resources. People that could potentially aid them. And Astrid had to try.

“Is there any way you can help get Channelers out of the Sanctuaries and to safety?”

“You of all people should know how impossible that is,” Gavin returned. “We deal where we deal because no one expects it, and it goes overlooked. Transporting out of a restricted facility, under locked guard and constant supervision…? You may as well ask if I can orchestrate a prison break. And that would not go unnoticed.

“And if we tried, it would unravel everything we’ve done. Expose the network we’ve built and betray the trust of those whose lives depend on us being invisible.”

“What is it, exactly, that you do?” Anders inquired next.

Gavin seemed to consider his guests with great effort. And Astrid permitted him time to consider them allies. Or at least, harmless to his cause.

“We relocate the hidden before they are discovered. Or find new homes for orphaned and abandoned children, with sympathetic Statics. The colonies provide a few places where a Channeler may go years unnoticed. Farmlands and quiet communities. The cities… they are not so unregulated.

“We keep families together,” he then directed to Astrid. “And our people from ever making it to the Sanctuaries, where they are defenseless.”

“Defenseless?” Astrid felt the urge to argue. To rail against his accusation, while so many Guardians now lay dead in their efforts to protect their charges.

But then, with regret, she remembered that by some measures, they failed.

“The infants are the hardest to help. They are usually immediately identified and nearly impossible to hide until they’re older. Too many are still sent to the Sanctuaries,” Gavin further explained. “But if they can remain concealed, even for their first five years, there is much we can do to help them. I won’t tell you more than that. I can’t.”

“How many? If you had to guess, how many are out there, living in secret right now?”

“They don’t all come to us. And even if I had that number, I wouldn’t share.”

“Hundreds? Thousands?”

“Enough that I don’t see the need for my work subsiding any time soon,” Gavin deflected. “Now, that’s all I will say. I would rather we all pretend we never had this conversation.”

“Are you the leader?” Astrid pried anyway. “Our sources suggested this only happened in the last eight months or so.”

“Sources?” At that, Gavin frowned. “How is it that you’ve heard of us at all? The goal has always been to go completely beneath notice.”

“You have, for the most part,” Romo interjected again. “As far as I know, we’re the first to notice. I,” he corrected. “I was the first to notice. If you have a weak spot, it’s in your charges when they seek you. Some flee a little too loudly.

“You need more contacts on the ground. Some way for people to reach for help without crying it out and drawing too much attention. I found signs of people looking for your organization. And frankly, the clumsy nature of your intake made me first suspect Astrid.”

The specialist pinched her brow at his words while she tried not to be offended.

“I’ll pass on your insights when I get the chance. But if you want to help us, you must keep everything you’ve heard and seen to yourselves. Truly,” Gavin again, shifted his attention to Astrid directly. “The worst thing you can do for our people is interfere.”

“How did you avoid return to a Sanctuary?” Anders questioned instead. “The Third Fleet was supposed to transfer you.”

A wry smile that didn’t reach Gavin’s eyes turned his expression glum. He raised a hand, as Astrid often did when referring to her energy talents. “A gift, from my time in Argos. The Fleet underestimated my abilities, and I used to them to slip away. The Channelers under Argos were advanced.”

“We heard,” Astrid admitted. “We discovered Rahna at the head of the Static Opposition last year.”

To that, Gavin scowled furiously. “Always the apologist, Rahna. But I refuse to believe she was behind what happened to our people on Thedes.”

“No single person can control all the pieces,” Romo repeated back to their host. “Her methods were drastic, but I doubt her fingers could have touched every crime personally. She’s under custody of the Earthen Military Service, now.”

“May she stay there where she can do no more harm to her people than she already has.”

None in their company relaxed so far as to sit. The soldiers drew no closer to where the two Channelers conversed, and Gavin and Astrid fell quiet for a moment, caught in a mutual inclusion that neither could share more of their respective missions.

“This location is as good as burned,” the young man said after a moment. “I’ll have to relocate. I would appreciate it if you did not seek us again.”

“How will we find you if we need to?”

“You won’t,” Gavin insisted. “If we need you, we’ll find you.”

“Seems a bit one-sided,” Anders contended.

“You are not the ones endangered by every encounter. I will pass Miss Hale’s name on. If she is deemed trustworthy, then you might hear from us again. And only then.”

“You’re not the leader then,” Astrid deduced.

At that, Gavin’s mouth twitched. “No,” he replied, “I’m not.”

Astrid couldn’t help but leap to inquire, but she found herself immediately shut down.

“You know I’m not going to tell you who is. Now go. You know all you need to. We have nothing to do with the Sanctuaries. And we will not. If you want to help, leave now and never speak of this.”

“And there’s nothing more I can do to help you?” Astrid tried. “Personally, I mean.”

“I’m afraid not, Miss Hale,” Gavin rejected her offer. “As long as you serve the military you are too visible for our group. And we would not risk the extra eyes that come with you.”

“He has a point,” Romo supported. “Trust me, Astrid. If there’s anything I’ve learned about intelligence work, it’s that who is involved reveals more than how they’re involved.”

Gavin bristled under the reveal of Romo’s specialty. Suddenly, the agent bore the lion’s share of his wariness.

“How can I be sure what you learned here won’t soon be all over the Service?”

But the lieutenant-commander answered for Romo.

“We didn’t invite a Channeler to join us just to turn around and assist in their restriction. Our goals for integration are aided by Channelers residing freely by means other than our own.”

After a beat, Gavin seemed to accept that.

“Besides, we have somewhere else to be,” Romo prompted the specialist.

Reminded of their awaiting destination, and the potential race they ran to Mercedes, Astrid finally pulled herself away.

“Stay safe, Gavin. For what it’s worth, I’m glad to see you survived your time on Thedes.”

“Likewise,” Gavin returned. “Though it is not without its scars.”

On that, she could agree.

Gavin made no move when the group finally made for the door, perhaps to avoid being seen with them further. But on the way out, Romo paused, briefly, to pass one last bit of news.

“Those looking to have a more active hand in shaping their future… They may find their strongest allies on Septimus.”

Gavin said nothing but gave the subtlest of nods.

Then the trio excused themselves.

They put as much distance between them and the Underground outlet as they could, and as quickly as possible. A small effort to respect Gavin’s need for discretion.

They spoke no word of what they witnessed, or discussed, until they reached the relative seclusion of their own docking bay, to board the Aldebaran.

“How is the captain is going to feel about looking the other way on this?” Astrid wondered aloud to her companions.

“He brought you out of Endra. He thought you were behind this, and he let it go,” Anders replied. “He’s been playing this game long before we got here.”