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He led me away but I turned back to peer at it over my shoulder. A suit of armor where no one and nothing could ever hurt you.
It sure sounded like magic to me.
But the armor didn’t work that way. It might spare the wearer from physical harm but there were far worse things that could get you.
Afflictions of the mind. Emotional damage. Loneliness. These were things the armor couldn’t protect you from.
I was no longer that small child, and I no longer looked to the Supervisor like a father.
“Kren,” the Supervisor said. “What’s the problem?”
I eyed the other scientists and felt a little exposed. I had personal things I wanted to discuss with him. A room full of strangers wasn’t exactly the kind of place I felt comfortable opening up.
“Can we go somewhere a little more… private?”
“I’m very busy right now. I’m afraid I don’t have time to discuss anything in great detail. How about we organize another time for us to talk? When I have a little more free time?”
Free time? The Supervisor didn’t believe in free time. He never took a holiday or a break or even a day off. If I waited for that moment to come, I would never get to speak with him.
“Here’s fine. I’ve been thinking about my position here.”
“Your position?”
“I’ve been here my whole life. I’m not a criminal. I never broke the law or did anything wrong. The way I see it, I’m a free man. All I have to do is leave.”
The Supervisor nodded and scratched his chin.
“I see. Well, you’re right. You came here with your parents. You’re free to go at any time.”
I blinked. I never thought it would be that simple to leave. At least that was the easy part over with.
The Supervisor turned away.
“Are we done here? Pack up your things and I’ll give you the use of my shuttlecraft. It will take you wherever you wish to go.”
“Wait. There’s something else I need to mention.”
Now, how did I say this? I wasn’t a good tactician. I was more of a direct-action kind of person. So, direct it would have to be.
“I want to take Ivy with me,” I said.
“Ivy?”
“She’s one of the Prize Pool girls. I’ve met with her many times and I think… I think we could be happy together.”
The Supervisor fixed me with his eyes, made beady behind his thick lenses.
“And does this Ivy feel the same way about you?”
“Yes. I think so.”
I smiled when I thought of her. It was impossible not to smile these days.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the Supervisor said.
My smile vanished.
“But she’s being held here against her will. She doesn’t belong here any more than I do.”
