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Harmony glanced around the room and tried to figure out the strange relationship of the Overseers to the stooped-shouldered man who was doing anything and everything but paying attention to his visitors.
The room was certainly large enough to hold eighteen Overseers, six humans and two tiny robots, with still enough room to fit in her airship if there’d been any way of flying it in here. One wall was covered with a complicated series of control panels. It was impossible to tell what any of it was for since, every time she tried to get a closer look, one of the Overseers would push her back to join their little group. Another wall was covered with the names of the citizens of Freedom, each with a detailed description of what they looked like, and below that, a record of who was related to whom. The wall resembled a huge family tree, all of the relationships neatly mapped out.
While Harmony busied herself trying to figure out what the room had to do with the running of Freedom, Griffin had his own question.
“Why have I never seen you before?”
At first, the man seemed to ignore the question, but when Griffin repeated the question, he finally acknowledged their presence. His voice turned out to be an annoying nasal whine. “You should have stayed away, Griffin.” The hunched man wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and leveled cold, gray eyes at the group. “But I appreciate the fact you’ve saved us the trouble of coming to look for you.”
Griffin took a step forward but all eighteen Overseers closed in as a wall of protection around their leader. “Why would you bother? I’m just one man, and the world’s large enough for all of us.”
“But not for your kind. You have only been saved from death because our laws forbid the taking of a life, but it is perfectly legal to make certain you and your sister,” and he turned and looked over at Shadow before finishing, “will not be able to carry on your race.” His cackle was as unpleasant as the rest of him.
Molly pushed through the Overseers who did nothing to stop her, although they refused to let Boy follow.
“Randall,” she said, “before the war, the walls were built around Freedom to keep its people safe from what was coming. That was also the only reason the Overseers were created. I’m curious to learn why the protectors have become the jailers.” Molly wandered around the room with no apparent purpose, nor did she seem disappointed when Randall didn’t answer. When she didn’t speak again, all eyes turned back to Randall.
Tech stepped forward. “This history lesson is all very interesting, but it has nothing to do with me or my family.” He waved toward the room’s only window. “You must be aware of the fact we’re not alone. If you do not release us – all of us, including Griffin and Shadow – our friends have been instructed to use whatever force necessary to rescue us.” He gritted his teeth. “Your walls will be of no protection against our airships. We have always lived our lives in peace but we will stand up for our right to be free, and the rights of our friends. We cannot allow you to wipe out any race just because you do not approve of its skin color. Our world has been ravished by hatred of differences. I want to leave you and your people in peace, but we cannot allow you to run roughshod over those of us who are trying to rebuild this world.”
Harmony couldn’t believe her ears. Her father was a man of few words. Never had she heard him say so much at one time before. She walked over and stood next to him, as did the others. They linked arms, to show they were of one mind and would stand or fall together.
Randall smirked. “I might consider your request if you were to agree to leave us one of your airships.”
Tech’s expression left little doubt as to his feelings on this, but all he said was, “No.”
“What is one airship set against your freedom?”
“We have helped many to have this method of travel, but never will I help you. To give you an airship would be to hand you the world .” Tech leveled an intense stare at Randall. “You have already proved you can’t handle that kind of power. We will leave with everyone, and with all of our airships. You should be grateful we mean you no harm.”
Without warning, all the Overseers slumped to the floor, Molly exclaiming, “So that’s the button. I thought so.”
Randall made a move towards Molly but Tech and Walker quickly intervened. Tech exclaimed, “Good job, Molly,” and then he smiled at Randall. “We will destroy everything in this room before we leave. No one man should have all this power.”
Harmony turned to her father. “That was it? No fighting or running and screaming?”
He looked puzzled. “You want to run and scream?” He shook his head and handed her the pipe he’d picked up in the railroad yard. “No running and screaming today, but you do get to destroy as much of the control panel as you can manage.”
She took the pipe from him and kissed his cheek. “I’ve no idea how you were able to get so many people to join you here with their airships.”
He shrugged. “I told them you needed their help. Once they heard that, they couldn’t get here fast enough.”
“Ah... that’s so sweet. Wait! That reminds me. Where’s Boy? He needs to get onboard Airus and make certain no one has messed with anything.” She turned to look for him but noticed Griffin heading over to Randall.
The older man flinched but didn’t back away when Griffin demanded, “You never did answer my question. How come I’ve never seen you before?”
Molly went over and stood with them. “All of our Randalls were born and raised in this building.”
Griffin scratched an eyebrow. “All of our Randalls?”
Randall spread both arms wide and sneered. “I was born and raised to command the Overseers. Everyone has a job to do here in Freedom. How do you think we’ve survived for so long?”
Harmony joined Griffin, to offer her support if needed. She scowled at Randall but shuddered. His eyes that spoke of a hint of madness. She had to ask, “If you were their leader, shouldn’t you have valued their differences instead of trying to wipe them out?”
Randall pulled up to his full height. “I am Freedom’s leader.” He waved at the inert Overseers. “I am the Overseers. It is within my power to do whatever, and hate whoever I wish.” He glared at Griffin. “Griffin and Shadow are a blight on Freedom.”
Harmony linked her arm though Griffin’s. “Griffin’s a good man. The world needs more people like him if we’re to survive the devastation we’ve inherited.” She glanced over at the spider-like robots. Even without power, they were still creepy. “A real leader loves the people and wants what is best for them. Besides, I reckon the citizens of Freedom will now decide whether or not they still want someone like you to lead them.” She held up the pipe. “Anyway. It’s not for me to say.” She winked at Randall. “I have work to do.”