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Resi has big plans to break into the Assembly Chambers, and find out all
their secrets, but he can’t act on his rage just yet. He is still so weak.
Father doesn’t think he will ever be strong enough to be part of the
physical aspect, but surprisingly, he doesn’t say no to the plans
altogether. He decides that, even though they managed to get their ally,
Keller, in a position of power, it hasn’t been enough. They have been at
this for decades, and still haven’t moved the needle, he laments. Resi isn’t
so sure about that. If the insanity of the last few years is any indication,
it must be a maddeningly constant battle. Things could be far worse if they
chose to stay out of it. In that theoretical reality, Yana might be a police
state, or an entirely apocalyptic nightmare. That is what Resi needs to
focus on while he is recovering. He asks to see Caprice, since she is the
only one he can trust with this particular task who would also have
hypothetical access.
She is able to procure him one dose of the Kidjum elixir, and doesn’t even
argue that it’s dangerous for him to take it. She doesn’t know how important
it is for him to conjure a vision. She doesn’t even know about the visions
in the first place, but she believes in him. He loves her for that. The
house is empty now. She has offered to stay by his bedside and be
responsible for his care while the rest of the family is out in the fields,
or in Kala’s case, attending what are potentially her final days of school.
The Assembly still wants to drop the age of majority, in labor terms. It
still hasn’t taken effect. Those who will turn twelve before the official
start date will grandfathered in, but they might be expected to go through
it when they turn thirteen in a year, or maybe fourteen. It is all still
high up in the air, and hopefully it never comes to that anyway. They have
to do everything they can to put a stop to it.
Resi accepts the dose, and lies back down on his pillow. He might be the
only person in the universe who has done this more than once. Now it’s three
times? There’s no other choice. The first time, he had no idea what he was
in for. The second time, he didn’t know it was going to happen at all. Now
is his chance to take control of the reins. Earlier, he read up on lucid
dreaming techniques; data he downloaded from the Bungulan network while he
was briefly on Anchor Island. He shuts his eyes, and lets the solution flow
through his veins, and break the blood-brain barrier.
The next thing he knows, he’s lying in a hospital bed. Kartica is looking
down on him with that weird little smirk that she has had since she
reyoungified herself. “What the hell are you doing here?” he demands to
know. “What did you do to me?”
“Resi, don’t you know, there’s a reason Kidjum elixir is so regulated. This
is dangerous stuff. You can’t just take it whenever you’re thirsty”.
“You’re the one who wants me to see the future. Now that I’m actually
trying, you’re trying to stop me? Make up your mind, granny.”
“I’m not doing anything of the sort. Res, you have the power to see the
future. The elixir taps into it, but it comes from you. If you had
taken the real stuff, you may have died. I saved your life by switching the
vials. You’re welcome. You need to learn how to trigger a vision without
aid. It’s the only way you’ll avoid the negative consequences.”
“Oh, and I suppose you’re the only one who can teach me how to do that.”
“No.” Kartica steps to the side to let someone else dominate Resi’s field of
vision.
“Hello, Mr. Brooks,” the woman begins. “My name is Brooke Prieto. I believe
that you’re named after me?”
