“Is the mystery girl with the tattoo and red-streaked hair part of this?”
“I don’t know her or her role. Honestly, I don’t. Neither does Storey.”
“But you know Storey Ming.” Finn paused. “Did you know her before this trip?”
“We may have met.”
“Through Wayne,” Finn said.
“You don’t have to see it as a conspiracy.”
“Don’t I? Don’t we? Me and the others? You’ve been acting totally weird, Philby. Like you’re running things.”
“When we started out—can you remember that far back? We all thought Maybeck would be the techie. But look how things turned out.”
“Sure. You’re the techie, and you’re saying that things change. Big surprise. Are you telling me that the leadership of the Keepers is changing, too?”
“Calm down. Look, who’s going to interface the most with the Imagineers and Wayne? Hmm? The techie, right?” The hint of a British accent came out most when Philby acted superior. “Wayne invented the crossover. They’ll be studying this stuff for a hundred years. He can put our dream state into a hologram projection. Think about that! That’s totally sci-fi, right? But we do it! You, me, the others. It’s nuts! Insane! But it’s real! You know it. I know it. So, yes, Wayne consults me from to time on technology issues. So sue me.”
“Technology issues…like 2.0,” Finn said, trying to measure Philby’s reaction. He saw nothing. The guy was chill.
“Like 2.0.”
“Because we’re being replaced.”
“Have you stopped to think about the ramifications of 2.0? The control that the new software gives us? Remember back when we had to use every ounce of strength to hold off our fear in order to stay all clear? But now we don’t give it a second thought.”
“So?”
“So, the five of us. Now picture fifty. What about five hundred?”
“An…army.” Finn gasped. “The military wants this?”
“Everyone wants this, Finn. Not just Maleficent and some has-been witches. Everyone.”
“The OTs want Chernabog to lead an army?”
“You’re not thinking big enough. Let’s just say that encrypting 2.0, keeping it safe, is the most important work any of us can do. For now, we need to keep 2.0 protected, and we need to make absolutely certain Maleficent doesn’t get her hands on it—or on any one of us.”
“She’s working for someone?”
“Don’t worry yourself with this stuff.”
“There you go again,” Finn said, “acting so smug, like you know everything.”
“If Wayne swore you to secrecy, what would you do?”
Finn thought long and hard. He felt hurt that Wayne had not included him. Hurt…and envious.
“I’d worry,” he said.
* * *
Charlene and Willa remained by Maybeck’s side during the remainder of their confinement for DHI activity.
Maybeck slept. And slept.
“What do you think?” Willa asked.
“About Terry?”
“About the blue-sky lightning,” Willa said. “Chernabog being smuggled on board. Maleficent’s warnings. All of it.”
“What do you mean, what do I think? I hate it.”
“I mean: why is it all happening?”
“I don’t care. I just want Terry to wake up.”
“So you two are for real?” Willa said.
“As real as you and Philby.”
“Then you’re not real.” Willa smirked, winning a grin from Charlene. “Philby and I are nothing right now.”
“It’s all crazy, isn’t it?”
“I thought you liked Finn.”
Charlene looked over at the sleeping Maybeck. “Yeah? So what?”
“But you like Maybeck better.”
“I like Terry different.”
“You don’t want to kiss Finn.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You do want to kiss him.”
“I didn’t say that either.”
“Kissing is gross,” Willa said.
“You say this because…?”
They both burst out laughing.
“Boys are so weird,” Willa said.
“I like boys,” Charlene said, “but not that way. Not that way at all. I just like them better than girls. Less drama. They like to do stuff. They like sports. Working out. Stuff I like to do.”
“Philby and I think the same way,” Willa said. “That’s…refreshing, I guess.”
“‘Refreshing,’” Charlene said. “See? That’s just not a word I would use. But you and Philby would.”
“I suppose.”