“It’s unfortunate that you followed him,” Mr. Kull said sternly. “She’ll have to be detained.”
“What?” Tim asked looking him straight in the eye. “What are you talking about?”
Rusty let go of Nina’s arm, motioning for her to sit down on the couch.
“We have to go,” he said facing Tim. “We are leaving for Earth today.”
Tim looked over at Max who having learned the truth just a day earlier still seemed in a state of shock and unable to say much. Then he looked at Nina.
“No way, I can’t leave. I won’t leave Nina or my parents,” he pleaded.
Luke and Max came to stand by their friend.
“Your parents will come later,” Luke said. “But your Earth parents are waiting for you. You don’t belong here.”
Tim tried to stay calm as Rusty explained that their parents from Indus would make the trip to Earth later. Another team would be sent for them.
“I have to go,” Ms. Duvall said. “Emily’s parents are bringing her in through the tunnel. We’ll see you at the station. Don’t be late.”
And with that she was gone.
Tim’s mind was racing.
“Wait, we are all from Earth—except for Nina?” Tim asked as tears of frustration began to form in his eyes. “Nina, did you know?”
Looking up from the floor where her eyes had been focused, she faced Tim.
“Yes, I knew. But the planet needed you . . . we needed you.”
Rusty turned to look out the window.
“She was told to keep an eye on you and the others, make sure you adjusted to life here,” he said. “Her parents are the people who came up with the whole idea . . . to save the planet from eventual extinction.”
Nina looked back at the floor, then jumping up from her seat, ran to Tim and flung her arms around him.
“But . . . I . . .” she mumbled. “I grew to care about you so much . . . all of you.”
Tim’s arms remained at his side. He was numb. Everything he thought was real was just a lie.
She eventually let go.
“Okay, time to go,” Mr. Kull said.
“Wait, where are you taking her?” Tim shouted at him.
“Don’t worry, Tim. She’ll be just fine, just going to take a little nap is all,” Kull responded with a wink. “She’ll wake up good as new but without any memory of this conversation, or this entire day for that matter.”
Tim’s heart was breaking, but he knew what he had to do. He wanted to get off this planet and get back home, his real home on Earth.
“Come on,” said Max holding out his hand. “We’ll do this together.”
Luke and Tim both placed their hands on top of the other’s in a gesture of brotherhood.
Max had already said a tearful good-bye to his parents, and Rusty promised Tim his parents would meet them along the way to the station so he could say his good-byes, too.
“Just remember, we’re coming back for them,” he said trying to offer reassurance. “The ship can only accommodate a certain amount at one time.”
Mr. Kull came out to join the group.
“She’s sleeping comfortably,” he said.
Tim walked past him and into the room where she lay. He sat on the bed beside her.
“I thought I loved you,” he whispered. “But I guess it wasn’t real.”
Then, he gently touched her face with his hand, brushing away a small amount of hair from her eyes.
“Good-bye, Nina.”
Rusty called out from the other room.
“Time to go.”
•••••
It felt good to be outside.
Canary had been cooped up in the white room for two weeks without a whiff of fresh air. He watched as the red and purple trees swayed in the warm breeze.
The large guard didn’t say much as he paced back and forth.
Then he heard it.
The twisting of metal as the lid was removed from its placement underneath the brush.
“Your ride’s here,” said the guard. “I can only keep them off you for about an hour before they find out you’re gone, and by that time, I’ll be gone, too.”
Canary bowed his head in thanks to the burly guard and lowered himself into the tunnel where Mr. Kull was waiting.
“I never thought I’d be so happy to see your sour, wrinkled face,” Canary said.
The comment actually made Kull smile.
•••••
After dressing themselves in disguise to avoid being recognized, Rusty led the group through the tunnel toward the entrance of the transport station to Nomad. Tim couldn’t believe he was finally going to see the underwater city. But he always thought it would be with his father.
About halfway there, Rusty slowed down and turned to speak to Tim.
“Your parents are meeting us just ahead,” he said. “I know it’s going to be difficult and you may feel betrayed, but remember that they love you very much and that’s why they are letting you go.”
“Okay,” Tim replied.
They walked a little farther and there they were—the only parents he had ever known.
Without words, they embraced their son and held him tight.
When they finally let go, Tim took his parents hands in his.
“I love you both so much,” he said. “Good-bye for now.”
After Tim’s parents had gone, Rusty told the group about the origin of the tunnel as they continued on the journey.
It was built by members of an Earth team, working with a group of sympathizers from Indus. Many here did not agree with the authority’s decision to take children from Earth. Great care had been taken to keep the tunnel a secret.
The group finally reached the area they were looking for, the entrance to the Nomad station. One by one, they climbed up into the small storage closet where the opening was located. Emily and Ms. Duvall were already there waiting for them as they made their way inside the room.
All three boys gave Emily a big hug.
“It’s so good to see you, Eme,” Max said.
Luke and Tim nodded in agreement.
“This is where I say farewell and good luck,” Ms. Duvall said. And before anyone had a chance to say good-bye, she was climbing back into the tunnel and locking the cover into place.
Rusty called the group together and instructed them to stay close and keep quiet. He peered out the door to make sure no one was close by and then signaled everyone to follow him to the other side of the building where the shuttle was waiting.
The shuttle had just arrived from Nomad and the area was filled with travelers. Just as the group was about to make their way across, three police officers turned the corner and stopped in front of the shuttle loading area. Looking worried, Rusty looked at his watch.
“The shuttle will leave again any moment now,” he whispered. “We have to be on it.”
The officers were looking around almost as if they were keeping an eye out for someone in particular. But after a few minutes, they walked off down the corridor.
“Okay, now!” Rusty instructed.
They walked into the crowd and across to the shuttle entry point. Rusty flashed a series of cards across a scanner for each member of the group, and they were able to board the vessel.
About thirty others came aboard and after everyone had a seat, an automated message began to broadcast over the speakers.
“Welcome aboard the Shepherd 2 transport to Nomad, please stay in your seat, and enjoy the journey.”
Looking over at Luke, Max, and Emily, Tim took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe they made it onboard. So far, so good.
“Tim?”
He kept facing forward. Pretending not to hear that someone had just called his name—and it wasn’t someone in his group.
“Tim?” the voice called again. “Hey is that you, what are you doing here?”