Red by Ryan Rinsler

Author:Ryan Rinsler [Rinsler, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-17T18:30:00+00:00

26

Stanley had no idea how they did it, but Connor was on his way back to Pure Reality.

Or should be.

The young man had brought him a lab coat, false access card and a charger that could be used with his BlackBook, so he could keep the time at least.

It was now down to him.

Somehow he had to get back into the Pure Reality center, down to the booths, negotiate with Red Oscar, Mana’s universe, to secure a host, meet with Connor, then send him into Red Oscar, all without being apprehended by Scouts. Deep down he always knew it would come to this — he knew it would be on his shoulders to get him in there, to push the final button.

Deep down, he knew it was likely a one way ticket.

Even if he could get inside the center — even if he could somehow make it to the Pure Reality booths, and somehow get a message to Mana, and even if he received one in time to send him in — even then, the mission was far from being a success. Connor had to get in there, to the right place, and make contact with Mana.

Stanley wasn’t even considering how he would escape the Pure Reality center at this point — his only goal was to get Connor in there. Everything else was a bonus. The boy had long since left, and Stanley sat on the edge of the bed, lab coat on and ready, watching the seconds tick by, closer and closer to the time he was told to emerge from the bunker and head into the center.

One hour to go. He was restless, pacing more than ever, wringing his hands, his brow sweating profusely. He took off his jacket and put it on again a few minutes later, only to do the same three or four times more before he eventually decided to leave it on.

Ten minutes to go. He climbed the ladder and emerged from the bunker into the dimness of the room above. Connor was due for his medical at five o’clock that evening, and as it was past that time already, it was time for Stanley to leave.

Along with the lab coat, the young man had kindly given Stanley a hoodie to conceal his visual identity as much as possible on the way back to the Pure Reality center. Darkness made no difference — in this world it was no true form of concealment, only becoming useful when avoiding someone face-to-face, which was rare in itself. Surveillance cameras and drones would be on the lookout, but having a new ally, John Patterson in the Aerial Surveillance team, looking down on him, he felt some level of comfort stepping out into the open.

But he wasn’t there yet.

He picked up the key the young lad had slid back under the door as he left, and slowly turned it in the lock. He opened the door very slightly, barely a few millimeters, just enough to see shapes moving in the yellowish light of the coffee shop.

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