The Truth Will Out

Sedona sat alone in the lounge. Even her cat seemed to know she needed to be alone for a while. Some serious thinking was needed right now, not snuggling. Sedona was beginning to realize that sometime in the last few weeks, she’d done a flip. She could no longer support Lundun, at least not this new, out-of-control Lundun. The one who lied and manipulated and used people. Karachi could have him!

To her own surprise, Sedona realized she’d had a significant change of heart. And, in a way, it was Lundun’s own fault this had happened – his command to go spy on Pariss only gave her an opportunity to get to know Pariss. And what Sedona found was that she liked him. And Tokyo as well. And she thought they both had a better sense of responsibility for the city than Lundun ever did.

She was also learning to see the city’s layers of power and control. Those power plays could be multi-layered, complex, and dangerous. Of the three Administrators, Tokyo seemed to be the most minor and the one with least power. But Sedona was beginning to suspect that Tokyo was the most subtle of them all.

Now Sedona jumped up, carried away by a surge of energy as she decided she would be fine. Even if she lost her apartment and her place in the scouts, she would manage. She found – much to her surprise – that even the threat of exile no longer scared her. She had right on her side and she was sure she’d have support. She didn’t need sympathy, she just needed to do what was right. In fact, why wait any longer? She would just go see Tokyo and Pariss right now.

As she stepped onto the ring road that ran around the three administrative towers, Sedona saw orphan 34 approaching. She looked downcast. And in view of what Sedona had recently learned, she was now certain that Lundun had been mistreating her. As orphan 34 passed by and saw the sympathy on her face, the orphan reached out and gave Sedona’s hand a quick squeeze.

This further show of support gave Sedona the final push she needed. She squared her shoulders as she strode up to Tower Two. She knew she was right. And Tokyo and Pariss were right. And Sedona herself felt compelled to fight for whatever was right for the residents of her city.

As she walked into the suite on the top floor, Indiga looked up from his desk and smiled. “I had a feeling we might see you today. Pariss is waiting for you, go on in.” He waved her into Pariss’ office. The door opened and Sedona could see Pariss standing behind his desk, holding a stone in his hand and wearing a welcoming smile. Orphan 103 was just leaving the room with a big stack of books in her arms. And, as Sedona came through the doorway, the orphan leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, “ASPIDISTRA!”

THE END