As I glance out Omicron’s window, I notice the light beginning to fade. We’ve been here for almost a full day: Omicron, my mother and I. We talked for a while and then my mother encouraged me to get some sleep for the journey ahead. I’ve done my best to nap, but I’m too keyed up. My mother is in Omicron’s bedchamber watching over her now. I hope I see my grandmother again before we have to leave. It isn’t every day you discover a long lost relative, and that she’s an Elder to boot.
They told me the story of our family. When she was younger than I am now, only about seven hundred weeks, Omicron discovered she had the rarest of all dual Callings, one that had never been heard of before, or since: Elder and motherhood. She was forced to confide in the Elders of her own time who authorized her to raise a child before she joined their ranks. Omicron says it gave her a unique perspective when she took up her duties as an Elder. She truly understood the fabric of the society, having been a mother herself.
But part of the bargain with her own Elders was that she had to conceal her identity and hide away from her family and friends when she joined their order. When my mother took up with Theta, Omicron believed that her mothering duties were complete. She removed herself from the public eye and took up residence with the Elders. Her contact with my mother was severed. Until Mom ventured outside the wall. Omicron blamed herself for what happened. She felt she should have known what my mother would do, worried that she had injected some of those ideas into Sigma’s mind herself: the idea that our society couldn’t sustain itself, that there was more outside we needed to find.
Omicron intervened to authorize my birth, and she watched quietly to make sure Mom and I were safe as I grew up. She also had her suspicions about Delta and Epsie. She didn’t want to pry in case she made it dangerous for them, but when Epsie was admitted to the Clinic, Omicron had an uneasy feeling. That’s when she asked my mother to resume her explorations outside the wall. Omicron needed greater knowledge of the outside so she could offer assistance to Delta and Epsie if it came to that. Unfortunately, it did.
After Ghent turned himself in, Delta had begged Ma Temple to save him. Like her daughter, Ma Temple was affected by Ghent’s bravery and Delta’s obvious devotion to him. She pretended to go along with Commander Theta’s plan to fake Ghent’s execution and spirit him away to the Bank for breeding, but she also contacted Omicron who called on my mom to help.
So that’s where we are now. Everyone should be in place for tonight’s expedition. Ma Temple has spent the day at the Bank preparing to fake Ghent’s post-operative infection and subsequent “real” death. Upsilon should be on standby with the vehicle after returning Delta to the Clinic. Delta’s cover story is that Upsilon escorted her to her quarters to collect some things for Epsie and then returned her to the Clinic.
Outside the window, a small clutch of bats screeches as they pitch into the sky, wings outstretched. I examine my new clothes. A black outfit, from head to toe, like my mother’s. Rubber-soled shoes, lightweight and sturdy. We look like twins.
“Ready, Omega?” Mom’s voice startles me as she enters from Omicron’s bedchamber. There are dark hollows under her eyes, and I wonder how much rest she’s had today.
“Where’s Omicron?” I ask, still not quite ready to call her Grandmother.
She motions at the door. “She’s getting up now. Don’t worry, honey. She’ll say goodbye before we leave. Did you get enough sleep? It may be a while before we can rest again.” She scrutinizes my face. “Your eyes are bloodshot.”
“Yours, too.”
She grimaces. “I suppose it’s not easy to sleep with all of this going on.”
“No, it’s not.” Omicron’s voice crackles from the doorway. We both turn to her. “But you will both do me proud regardless.”
The bats outside shriek as the sun disappears beneath the horizon.
“It’s time,” Mom says, as she moves to the entryway to check our bags. “Throw me your cloak, Omega.” I give it to her, and she threads it through the straps of my pack. I tremble at the thought of seeing Ghent again. I can’t believe he’s alive.
Mom crosses the room to Omicron. “I suppose this is goodbye.”
“Never goodbye, my daughter. Only so long.” She wraps her arms around Mom and even though Mom stands much taller than she does, she looks like a small child. “Come here, my granddaughter.” Omicron beckons me, and I join the embrace. The Elder’s arms are surprisingly strong, infusing me with confidence that this might work. Mom breaks away and wipes her palm over her face. I back away too and look at both of them. I can’t yet get my mind around the fact that this is my family.
Mom goes to the door and grabs the two packs, handing one to me. “Upsilon should be here any moment.”
As if Mom’s words conjured her, the door opens and the Protector hurries inside. “All good here?”
“Yes, Private,” Omicron says as she limps to the bench where she left her cane earlier. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“It’s my pleasure. I care about the world my daughters grow up in.” Upsilon has a dual Calling? Protector and motherhood?
My mother casts a final glance at Omicron who raises a hand to her heart before she speaks. “My children, you are doing something brave and important. I hope you find sanctuary, and happiness.”
Mom gathers my elbow and escorts me through the door, with Upsilon following. As the door closes, I wonder if I hear a sob from Omicron’s quarters, but I can’t see with the two women behind me. They shepherd me to the entrance where Upsilon’s vehicle is parked. The sun has set, and it’s difficult to see where we are. The scent of gardenias is strong, but all I can see is a paved pathway and some boulders. The shriek of the bats is more distant now.
After checking that no one is around, Upsilon helps us both into the back seat with our packs before slipping into the driver’s seat herself. “The tinted windows will help some, but you both should keep your heads down.” Mom nestles down beside me, pressing my head into the seat and covering us both with one of the dark cloaks. The engine hums to life.