Chapter 8: Ruth & the Alliance

The day seemed to drag on for Casey. Teleporting onto one of the malfunctioning membranes took only minutes, but the process always drained her energy. She couldn't tell if her headache was due to the strain of organising her thoughts or from missing her daily gnia-itra pill that morning. She had never missed a dose before and was worried about how this might affect her.

After studying the instruments attached to the membrane and transporting water samples back to the lab for testing, she identified a deficiency in a particular chemical: lysoid. It was unclear how this could be the case, as all chemical pouches attached to the membrane came from a securely controlled manufacturing plant. The protocol is to notify the chemist if there is a short supply of a particular chemical.

By the time she discovered the lysoid issue, it was late in the day. As she was tired and really needed to talk to Ruth, she sent an Airplay invitation to the manufacturing plant director for a meeting the following morning. After cleaning and storing all her equipment, she left the lab for the day.

When Casey arrived, Ruth had visitors. They were people she knew, not overly well, but well enough for an informal greeting. It seemed they were all waiting for her. Fortunately, Ruth's hug was warm and firm; she was practically holding Casey up. Ruth felt Casey collapse into her, and rather than releasing her from the hug, Ruth held her until Casey made the move to disengage from the embrace.

Ruth directed everyone to her dining room, and once everyone was settled around the table, she spoke directly to Casey. "I know you have met Julie, Conney, and Graham before, but what you don't know is that they are members of the Alliance." Casey, not quite her alert self, just smiled and glanced around the table at the three unexpected guests, nodding as she went.

In her authoritarian yet somewhat pleasant voice, Ruth continued, "I know you wanted to talk to me, but something has happened, and the Alliance thinks you might be able to help. So, I hope you’re okay with me inviting these guys."

Overwhelmed as she already was, it took a minute for Casey to realise they wanted something from her. She had waited a long time to get closer to the Alliance. She was in awe of the stories Ruth would tell her, particularly when the Alliance went undercover to help a family that had been put on trial for something that could have made the family an outcast by the Calberras.

Very few people knew who was part of the Alliance. Casey would try to guess, but Ruth would never say. So, Casey knew that exposing themselves to her meant that what they wanted was important.

As exhausted as she was, she responded, "If I can help, I will. But I've just received some new information about my family, and I'm still processing it. So, I might not be able to engage or offer my best support right away, but I want to try."

Ruth's look of concern prompted Casey to gently touch Ruth's hand and say, "I'm okay, but if you can help me sort through some things, I will do everything in my power to help." 

 "Of course," Ruth responded quickly.

"Okay then," said Casey, "what is it?".

Casey was transfixed by Conney as she was floored by what she said. "We think the Calberras are diverting lysoid to your father's lab; the anti-aging drug requires lysoid, and there have been problems with growing it as it hasn't adapted well to the changing climate. They are starting to—" Conney stopped mid-sentence when she saw the look on Casey's face. Conney looked at Ruth and said in a hurried voice, "Are you sure Casey is one of us? Can we really trust her?"

Realising that Conney thought Casey's look was something other than surprise, Casey jumped in before Ruth could answer, saying quickly, "Yes, yes, yes, I can. It's just that today, I discovered in the lab that lysoid is deficient in several seawater membranes. It surprised me that you mentioned it. But why would the Calberras divert lysoid from the seawater membranes? They need fresh water, too." Not only Conney, but also Julie and Graham looked relieved. 

"They are only depleting it from the membranes that feed the wells outside the Calberras' walls; the wells within the walls remain unaffected," explained Conney.

Casey was horrified. "Why would they do such a thing?" she asked, and wondering how her father could allow it. Conney simply replied, "Because they are the Calberras." 

When Casey looked confused, Conney continued, "The most important thing to them is the anti-aging drug. If the person stops taking it, their life expectancy is compromised." Immediately jumping to thoughts of herself, Casey asked, "What do you mean compromised?" 

Graham responded, "It depends on how long they've been taking the drug and their age as to how quickly the aging process then catches up with them." 

Casey made a mental note that, until she understood more about what 'stopping it' meant for her, she would recommence her daily dose.

Ruth asked Casey what she was thinking; her response was honest and pragmatic. "Guys, considering the other things going on in my head, this is a lot for me to take on. So I'd appreciate it if we could take it a step at a time. Do you know anyone in the manufacturing plant?"  "No," Graham replied. "Well, I have a meeting with the Director tomorrow morning. It is a secure site, so I cannot take anyone with me who doesn't have Level 1 security, but I could ask questions that might be of help."

Julie and Graham looked at each other and nodded. Graham then turned to Casey and said, "If you could wear a camera and earpiece, it would really help us out." Julie added, "We could create a camera tonight that matches the button on whatever clothing you wear tomorrow. If you leave your Airplay on, we can hear what is happening. When you get home, send us a picture of your shirt, and we'll have the camera and earpiece ready for you first thing. Ruth can drop it off in the morning."

Casey thought for a moment, then said, "I'm okay with the camera. I'm not sure about the earpiece or whether I can leave my Airplay on, but I will try."

"That is all we ask," responded Conney.

As Conney, Julie, and Graham rose to leave, Casey said, "All my work shirts are the same, so if you could make a replica using the one I have on, that would help me, as I don't want to rush home. I need to talk to Ruth." Measurements and a picture of Casey's shirt were recorded, and the three left, leaving Ruth and Casey alone.

Ruth started to apologise to Casey, saying, "Sorry to spring it on you like that, but I knew how much you wanted to be involved, and they didn't want me to warn you." 

"It's okay," Casey said with a weary voice. "But I need to talk to you about Percy's files and what my father told me last night."

Ruth responded, "I'm all ears." Casey then gave her the rundown of everything that had happened since she had read the file about her mother. Ruth didn't seem surprised but could understand why Casey wasn't herself.

Ruth suggested that, as tomorrow marks the end of Casey's four days at the lab, she should do what she had planned for the Alliance, organise her thoughts the next day, and wait until the following day to open the Vietnam Veterans file. This file might contain answers for both Casey and the Alliance.

Ruth verbalised a thought that "as Percy perfected the anti-aging formula using the Vietnam Veterans, this file might indicate an alternative to lysoid. Casey had been thinking the same thing and agreed.

Casey hoped for a good night's sleep and that she might feel like opening another file after getting through tomorrow and organising her current memories.