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Maliek sank to a bench.
“Is the root going to cry?” Rikus sneered.
“Cut him a break,” the Bazij female said. “Your first day inside, you curled up in a ball in the tot tunnels, bawling.”
“I’m fine.” Maliek gripped the bench seat in both hands. “I just need a minute. It’s a lot to process.”
“Sure, invertebrate,” Rikus snapped.
Maliek wanted to tell him off, but before he could the Bazij female kicked Rikus in the back of the leg hard. Rikus howled, bouncing on one leg and shouting a stream of words the tradutor didn’t translate.
“There’s got to be a way out of here,” Maliek said. “An emergency escape for those inserted by mistake.”
“No one gets rooted by accident,” the Azzaro said. “But you’re welcome to try the local guards. See if they’ll accommodate you.”
Maliek’s stomach churned at the mere thought of it. He shook his head. “No, but...”
“No one builds an escape route for a prison,” the Azzaro added.
“There must be some way,” Maliek said, feeling he grasped at straws.
“Rock-headed, this one,” Rikus said, having calmed, but still not putting his full weight on his left leg.
“Quiet,” the Bazij female hissed, raising a foot to kick him again.
“I will not.” Rikus jumped out of her reach. “He’s delusional. Even if the Bazij leadership hadn’t intended to root him, they’ll never let him go now. Not when he can tell his people about this place.”
“So... what?” Maliek asked, surging to his feet. “I should hang here with all of you? Accept this as my life now?” He glared at Rikus. At the group.
No one met his gaze, except Rikus.
“You’re on the horn,” Rikus said, touching his right one. “No other choice.”
“No chance.” Maliek couldn’t believe they’d suggest it.
“Many others like you have come through here,” Rikus said. “Refusing to accept reality. They didn’t last long.”
“Meaning what?”
“They were captured,” Rikus replied, with an expression indicating he didn’t think Maliek was that bright. “Taken away. And I guarantee you not released.”
“How do you know?” Maliek asked.
“Because we’re all still here.” Bitterness was thick in Rikus’s reply.
“It doesn’t matter.” A flare of stubbornness shot through Maliek. He rubbed his eyes, drained. He’d lost track of time. How long had it been since he’d left home? A day? But none of it mattered. He couldn’t join this group to hang out in a park sim and pretend this was a life.
“If there’s not a way out of here, I’m going to make one.”
“Count me in.” The mohawked Azzaro offered his hand to shake. “I’m Jana.”
“You’re crazy, Jana.” Rikus scowled. “Headed to zero. Is that what you want?”
Maliek hesitated a moment before shaking the Azzaro’s hand. “Maliek. But why would you want to help if you think there’s no way out?”
“What, you think I like this place any more than you do?” Jana shook his head.
“Then why are you hanging out here?”
The Azzaro dropped his gaze to the ground at his feet. “I had a friend a while back. We all did. She tried to escape. She got caught and zeroed. I stopped searching for a way out after that.”
“And now?”
Jana shrugged. “I miss my family. My home. I’ve been waiting for a reason to try again.”
“You’ve fallen off the maze bars too many times.” Rikus turned his back on Jana, shaking his head.
Maliek didn’t know how to respond. He needed the help. Discovering a way out on his own would be hazardous, and staying out of trouble in the process even more unlikely. But he inhabited a world where he couldn’t verify anyone’s identity. And he definitely couldn’t be sure of their intentions.
“I better go with you, too,” the female Bazij said.
“Fejan, no!” Rikus spun back. “You know what they’ll do to you if you’re caught.”
“Same thing they’ll do to these two if they do something stupid.”
Maliek agreed with Rikus, but for different reasons. After Igata, he didn’t relish trusting another Bazij with his life. Fejan claimed to be a sympathizer, but how could he be sure?
Jana stepped up to Fejan and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. “We’d love to have you along. You’re smarter than anyone else in this sorry group. If anyone can help, it’ll be you.”
Maliek groaned inwardly, but he couldn’t contradict the Azzaro and risk having him change his mind. Besides, they were right. On his own, he was likely to do something stupid that got himself caught. But that didn’t mean he’d trust Fejan. He’d watch her for anything suspicious.
“Anyone else?” Jana asked, his gaze roving over the others.
To Maliek’s relief, the rest glanced away. The fewer he had to trust, the better.
“Not even you, Ganden?” Jana asked the Macab, who turned away.
“Better this than dead,” Rikus said, glaring at Maliek.
Maliek wondered if Rikus blamed him for Fejan joining them.
“Accepting life in prison isn’t better off,” Maliek argued. While he didn’t want anyone else’s help, he also hated Rikus’s comments.
“You’ll change your mind,” Rikus snarled. He pointed his arms out wide at the surrounding city. “This isn’t your typical prison. You can do a lot of great things here. Live a fantastic life.”
“Imprisonment is still imprisonment,” Maliek shot back.
Rikus charged. Maliek flinched, raising his arms to defend himself. But the Bazij stopped so close Maliek could smell his bad breath. Rikus’s arms, shoulders, and chest flexed.
“If you get Fejan hurt, you’ll have to worry about me more than the guards.” Rikus glared down at him, but didn’t touch him. Maliek sensed the Bazij wanted to, though.
Fejan placed a hand on Rikus’ arm. Maliek hadn’t even noticed her close in.
“I’m doing this because I want to.” Fejan tugged Rikus back. “I’ve wanted out for a long time. Come with us.”
Pain flashed across Rikus’s face, and he shook his head, backing away from her. “You’ll get caught like Fluera. Don’t do this. There’s no difference between these sims and the open system.”
Fejan shook her head. “It’s not the same. It’s never been the same.”