The Variables

The door swung open behind him and Grant felt cool air rush forward at hit the nape of his neck.

“What’s the emergen—” Scott said as he tumbled into the room holding a small first aid box in gloved hands. “Grant. What’s Grant doing here?” Scott walked right past him and into the center of the room, staring at Huck with his mouth drawn tight. “You said it was an emergency.”

“Dispose of him,” Huck commanded. “Do it quickly. No mess. My carpet is brand new.”

“No,” Grant breathed and he took another step backward toward the door. He had expected it. He had waited for this moment, and yet he couldn’t believe it was happening. He looked to Scott and shook his head. “Wait—”

“You called me down here to infect Grant?” Scott asked again. He pointed his hand behind his body, but kept his eyes on his boss. “But Grant—”

“Survived,” Huck said. “And we discussed this earlier, don’t act so surprised.”

“We discussed the issue of his survival, but we didn’t decide on a solution,” Scott answered. “Huck, this is a Board decision at this juncture. People know he’s back...”

“The news of Copia must not spread!”

“He won’t tell anyone!” Scott pleaded.

Grant watched them.

“Your power on the Board has been stripped. Effective immediately,” Huck said. He walked over the paper on the floor and it crinkled under his feet. “You have committed treason against the Elektos. Grant was supposed to die twice in the System and he has survived, and while I understand why...” Huck paused as if he were going to give a chance for Scott to explain, but when Scott opened his mouth, he continued. “You don’t want to break Lucy’s heart. You’ve let some short-sighted teenage puppy love cloud your judgment.”

“My integrity as a scientist has nothing to do with my daughter’s love life. I believed Grant was an outlier and I was wrong...you can’t possibly believe I did that on purpose. And this? This is not the right thing to do,” Scott said. He set the first aid kit down on the nearest surface and stripped his hands of his rubber gloves. Turning back to Grant, his eyes were wide. He spun back to Huck. “Blair’s been telling people he saved her from an unruly revolt. He’s a hero, Huck. He’s a kid. And the people down there know it.”

“He is not one of us and he never will be!” Huck seethed. “I want this. I want this the way I pla

Spi

“Did Mr. Truman confirm the request?” she asked with a toothy smile.

“Get Gordy here, now,” Scott said again and he slammed the door.

“She won’t do anything without my approval. Like a good employee.” He paused.  “Now...let me say a few things to dear Grant while you ready the vials. Get your gloves back on.” With steady, rhythmic steps, Huck slid over to Grant. Scott stayed stationary behind him with his arms crossed, unwavering. “This isn’t a personal choice. You don’t deserve to die. It’s simply that I will not make room for you here. That’s always been my fear, child, that everything I have worked on for so long will crumble because of an oversight, a crack. Lucy loves you, and why shouldn’t she?”

Grant’s mind drifted to the night he spent alone in Scott King’s bed. The brown sheets were soft and clean, and the downy comforter cocooned him against the hard mattress. He hadn’t slept that night because he was waiting for the virus to overtake his body. And all he could think about was seeing his mom again, and how grateful he was that she wasn’t alive to witness this. He had believed his father to be dead, too. Without people on the earth to love him, Grant waited for death with calm serenity. It wasn’t about Lucy then, or even about dying. It was about understanding how his death could have affected others.

And it wouldn’t have. Not really.

Not the way his death would affect Lucy now. Or his dad, alive, and waiting. It was different now than it had been before, and Grant wanted to scream that he deserved to live, so let him live. But his voice was stuck.

Even now, as Huck stormed forward, the determination set in the lines between his brows, he knew that if he thought too much about the aftermath of his passing, it would make his last few moments full of fear and longing. How many times had he been spared? At what point would a call for his life become a joke with a muddied punch line?

This time it was Gordy’s chance to come through Huck’s doors, and the moment the father made eye contact with his son, his fury shifted direction.

“She called you anyway? Demote her...”

“No, Dad,” Gordy said. “As a matter of fact, she tried to keep me from coming inside,” he shot a glare through the closing door. “But I got wind you had called for Scott and I couldn’t possibly understand why...seeing as how we discussed putting a moratorium on any changes to our Island populations for right now.”

“You decided that. I have remained constant in my desires. He’s not supposed to be here,” Huck said with a flippant flick of the wrist. “He’s not for my cause. He’s a danger...”

“Those things aren’t true, Dad,” Gordy said, unable to hide his contempt. “You’ve overstepped.”

“Are you out of your mind? You were the one cheerleading Copia...”

“And Copia is done.”

“You agreed...”

“To killing Grant when it could be easily covered up. Not anymore. To everyone on Kymberlin, the Copia crowd is enjoying their first night on their new Island. You think if word gets out that you’re offing members of our community that you won’t face a revolt? Muuez and Shay are dead because people could no longer trust them. If you misstep here, you are inviting the same demise. You don’t think this kid knows where he stands? You don’t think he understands the fragility, the precariousness of his life?” Gordy turned to Scott. “You won’t be needed. You may go. But I want to talk to the boy.”

“Gordy,” Scott said. “Your father mentioned that I’ve been...”

“This is clearly not the time, Scott,” Gordy snapped. “I have never been a fan of your waffling and your weak temperament. Your work is celebrated, but I’m not losing sleep over considering our partnership over. It’s not even that you cared about the boy. It’s that you lied. And continued to lie. And your lies cost us time, men, and energy.”

“I didn’t lie—”

Gordy gave a knowing stare and shook his head. “Don’t you think you’ve earned enough from us? Leave your credentials with the secretary on your way out. You won’t be called for any more late night emergencies.”

“I was promised a leadership role for my...”

“You have received everything you were promised,” Huck yelled. “And you’ve done nothing but work behind our backs.”

“That’s not true...”

“I’ve spared the child,” Gordy said wearily and he pointed to Grant. “But I will not go to bat for you. You are finished with the Elektos and your security clearance is revoked. Go enjoy some time as a civilian, Scott—your services with our government are no longer needed.”

Scott hesitated. He looked at Grant and then to Gordy, and he looked confused. Without another word, he grabbed his kit, but Gordy cleared his throat.

“Leave the virus, Scott,” he said.

Setting it back down, Scott looked at Grant and then to Gordy and Huck, and without another word, he made a swift exit, leaving Grant alone and exposed, the storm clouds gathering energy, rain spitting against the glass.

“You’re not dead because my sister somehow wants to tout you as some war hero...so, you’re safe today,” Gordy said. “Safe for now. But let’s understand something…we are watching you. You will champion Kymberlin and the Truman regime as long as you have breath. Your life depends on it.”