Chapter Thirty-Three Faith

Sophia was sitting up in bed, alone. She looked miserable. A tray of food sat in front of her, but the contents were untouched. Still hooked up to machines on both sides, she was clearly unable to leave the room. Her only companion was the medic who popped in every couple of hours to take her temperature and blood pressure. She never stayed long, and she didn't seem to say much to her patient.

Faith traced a finger across her friend's face on the screen, willing her to stay positive. "I haven't forgotten you, Soph. I promise."

Could her friend really be pregnant? If so, did she know? How must she be feeling? Did she think Faith had given up on her?

With all that had happened lately, Sophia did not seem high on Madeleine's list of priorities. In fact, since Danforth's press release denouncing the validity of the leaflets, the Resistance leader had been pretty much locked in her office, barking at anyone who tried to gain access. Rumour had it, she had been so crushed by the failure of the leaflet mission, she was on the point of giving up.

Robyn was keeping things going. Ella had left for her new position a few days ago. Diane was being given ever more responsibility and had been buried in some tech project with Blake, often working until the small hours of the morning. Even Noah had been permitted to resume his drudge training, and was out for the day with Evelyn.

Only Faith, it seemed, had no purpose. And with little to do other than sit and stare at Sophia, she felt like she was going to go mad.

She pushed her chair back from the table. Enough was enough. She would demand to speak to Madeleine. Ask if she had thought any more about rescuing Sophia. At least it would give her something else to do.

When she reached the hub, it was deserted. She headed for the office without hesitation. Knocking sharply, she walked in without waiting for a response.

Inside, the Resistance leader was hunched over a datadev. Expecting criticism for her intrusion, Faith was surprised when Madeleine simply waved her into a chair. She gestured to a spare pair of headphones which lay on the desk.

Faith slid into the seat as requested. Slipping the headphones on, she listened.

"Will you be calling on Hammond again, do you think?"Anderson asked.

Faith waited, wondering whether they would need to decipher the other side of the conversation from Anderson's replies. As she heard a second voice, she sat bolt upright.

"I don't think so." It was Danforth. Another meeting in Anderson's office. Clearly, they had much to talk about. "You saw the beating Kemp received. I don't think she knows anything."

Madeleine and Faith exchanged knowing glances. It was a relief to hear that they believed Kemp now, though she would certainly have to watch her step.

"You'll have to keep a close eye on her, though."Danforth sounded stern. "Make sure she isn't slipping off anywhere she shouldn't be… that sort of thing."

"Of course."

"On to other matters, then." Danforth cleared her throat. "Laura Meadows, for example."

"Have Hammond's methods proved more fruitful with our little rebel?"

Faith recoiled from Anderson's words, and the sound which followed them. It was suspiciously like a snort of laughter.

"They have. To an extent at least. The Meadows woman has given us a couple of addresses linked to the rebel group she belongs to. One on Hyde Street. Madeleine Leigh's old residence, in fact."

Faith found herself admiring Laura. Whilst she hadn't remained silent, she had given up a location which was no longer of use to the Resistance. It was a solid strategy. But as Danforth went on, she knew they wouldn't have been satisfied with a single location.

"She confirmed Leigh's involvement with the rebel group. And that she's dead." Faith couldn't help sneaking a look at Madeleine, who looked heartened by the false claim. "She also gave us an address on the east of the city, in the Garner district. My guards are on their way to check it out as we speak."

Faith glanced at Madeleine in alarm.

"A safe house?" she mouthed.

"Not one we use often," Madeleine whispered "I'll have Blake check it out."

She began tapping commands into her datadev as Danforth continued. Faith relaxed slightly, knowing Blake would be on the case within minutes. She hoped it would be soon enough.

"There may be more to come. She definitely hasn't told us everything. I'll have Hammond try again later today." Danforth sniffed. "Moving on, have there been any more conclusive results on the femgazipane trial?"

"I'm afraid not." Anderson sounded reluctant to give the response. Faith wondered if she was scared. "We're still not seeing the hormone levels Sanders wants."

Faith felt a hot sweat sweep across her body at the doctor's name.

"I'm sorry it's not better news," Anderson hesitated. "The others just don't seem to be adapting to it as quickly as Sophia did, no matter what we do."

There was a sharp bang, as though Danforth had hit the desk with something. Faith and Madeleine jumped.

"I want to know why." Danforth spat out. "We know it's possible, now that Sophia's pregnant. We've got to…"

Faith tuned her out for a moment. It was true, then. Sophia was actually going to have a baby. She found it difficult to imagine. Hearing a gasp of horror from Madeleine, she refocused.

"…start increasing our numbers. It's imperative that we get some more of these girls on the metraxilone pills."

Faith looked at Madeleine. Metraxilone. The mysterious second drug. And now Danforth was suggesting they give it to the academy students en masse.

In the academy office, Anderson sounded doubtful. "But Sanders doesn't want them to have it yet. Not until their hormone levels are optimised. She said–"

"I don't care what she said." Danforth's tone was harsh. "I want results. Those damn leaflets have done some serious damage. There are actually some citizens who still believe the information, despite my announcement."

Faith glanced at Madeleine again. While the leader's face remained serious, there was a more positive lift to her chin, and a determination in her eyes which hadn't been there a moment earlier.

"We need something big." Danforth sounded like she was pacing. "Something to convince the women of this city to get behind me once and for all. But one pregnant girl isn't enough. I need several. We have to be certain that it works. Or we'll have to consider… alternative strategies."

The chancellor's words were ominous. But Faith didn't have long to ponder what she meant as Anderson went on.

"Of course, it works. You've done exactly what you set out to do!" Anderson was fawning now. It made Faith shudder. "Reproducing without male seed. It's going to change everything! I mean…"

Faith slumped back in her chair. Finally, it made sense. Danforth wanted to eradicate men altogether. If she had found a way to get women pregnant without male input, it would solve all her problems.

In the background, Anderson was still fussing. "But Sanders says there's no guarantee the metraxilone will work if the hormone levels aren't right." The sound of footsteps stopped, as though Anderson's words had stopped Danforth in her tracks. "You know the two drugs work in tandem. It might be dangerous for the girls if they're given the second drug before the first has–"

"I don't care whether they're ready or not."Danforth's voice was low and urgent. "We need more successful pregnancies."

"Of course we do, that's why we're–"

There was another loud bang, silencing Anderson's interruption.

"Enough!" Danforth sounded menacing now. "Choose the six girls with the most promising hormone levels. Start them on the metraxilone. Today."

"But what if–"

"What if nothing." Danforth dismissed Anderson's protest. "We have to make this work."

They heard the sound of footsteps again, followed by the creak of a door opening. Then a pause. Faith imagined Danforth turning to Anderson before she swept out of the office.

"If we make this work, all talk of rebellion will disappear. For good. The women of Bellator will believe us. There will be no doubt. They'll thank us, adore us." Danforth's final words sent a chill down Faith's spine. "And if that's the case, why worry about a few dead school girls?"