Escaping the Cradle

by Karen Page

Part 3

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Part 3

Their phones had been off while watching the film. As the titles rolled, Becky and Ashleigh turned on their phones, just like most of the audience. The ping of messages being received echoed through the auditorium.

"That was fantastic," said Becky. "Thanks for this."

"My pleasure," said Ashleigh, leaning across and giving Becky a chaste kiss. "You got the last film. It was only fair."

Becky swore when she read her message. Ashleigh had just started reading hers and she swore too.

"Let's go," said Ashleigh and they made their way slowly out. A hundred people in front of them slowing them down.

"Switch off your phone," said Becky quietly. "We don't know if they'll track it."

"Do we go to the factory?"

"No. Tina said they were using Aurora to get out of there. There is a protocol for this. Let's go to the toilet. It's going to be a long night."

When they eventually left the cinema, the temperature had plummeted. A late evening in January wasn't the time to hang around. Ashleigh was looking forward to getting in the car into the warmth, but Becky had another twist to the evening's entertainment.

When they got to the car, she got into the passenger seat. She didn't just open the glovebox but pulled it out and placed it onto the car floor. Using a small torch, that she retrieved from the glovebox, she shone it over the now exposed electronics.

"Ah, there it is," she muttered, and using a small pin, removed the sim card.

"Cars track you," she said, putting the glovebox back. "There is a constant stream of data being sent to the car manufacturer. Your location, your speed, how erratic you're driving, the contacts on your phone etc. They sell that data to others. I don't want to chance someone tracking the car that way."

For the first time on this project, Ashleigh felt shocked. Becky was talking about things she'd never considered. To her, a car was just something that you used to drive from one location to another. What Becky was talking about would have been something someone wearing a tinfoil hat would proclaim. Yet this was something she was now hearing. Paranoid or not, someone had or was raiding the factory. She didn't want to think what it was like at her home.

"How's your map reading skills?" asked Becky, as she signalled Ashleigh could now get into the car.

"Rusty. Ah, no satnav."

Becky passed her an old-fashioned roadmap. On it there were routes highlighted. "Those are routes without ANPR or cameras. A lot of country lanes."

"It never rains but it pours," sighed Ashleigh. "Okay, you tell me where we're going, and I'll try my best to get you there. It looks like you were prepared for this circumstance."

"Laura sent someone to see us about two years ago. I thought they were being paranoid but reluctantly listened. I wish I'd been more attentive."

"You seem to remember the basics."

The journey was slow, but they gradually made it along the backroads. There was no music in the car. For some reason, without the sim card the entertainment system just showed an error screen. At first the conversation was slow with nothing more than Ashleigh giving directions and Becky following. Gradually though the chatter picked up and their ease at talking together won through their adversity.

After nearly two hours of driving, they pulled into a delipidated pub car park. There were more weeds that cars, but the pub looked open. Not knowing if they'd need to move to the alternative meeting point, Becky plugged the car into a highspeed charger but used an emergency prepaid card rather than her normal debit card.

"This is our first attempted rendezvous," said Becky. "Let's go in and get a drink. I could do with the toilet."

The walked in and the subdued chatter stopped and everybody stared. It was a local's pub and someone not local was a surprise. After a few moments, their conversations resumed. While the inside was a setup like a traditional British Pub it was clean and bright. It was like the outside was a way to keep visitors away.

"Two glasses of red wine," requested Ashleigh. Becky had spotted the toilet sign and went to use the facilities.

"Are you driving?"

"Yes."

The barman put a packet of 'Drive Safe' onto the bar, next to the two glasses. Ethanolase was a mandatory drug provided free with any alcoholic purchase, but nobody called it the drug name. It was known everywhere by the brand name.

"A whole packet?" gasped Ashleigh. Normally a sealed pill would be provided for each person.

"This is a locals bar," said the barman. "I rarely have to give it out, but head office sends boxes of the stuff with each purchase."

"You don't have Drive Safe Plus, do you?"

He laughed. "No. It hasn't made its way to us yet."

The plus version included an anti-tiredness formula. There was no excuse for drink driving, and soon there would be no excuse for falling asleep at the wheel.

"That announcement was something," the barman said, trying to strike up a friendly conversation as he prepared the drinks.

There was no need to ask which announcement. There was only one that everyone was talking about. The announcement was the Prime Minister announcing that aliens existed.

"Aliens, who knew," said Ashleigh, eyeing up the bottle the barman was pouring out of. It looked like it had been open for weeks, if not longer. She began to wish she'd ordered something else.

"Not just that," he said. "The bit about us soon leaving the solar system. Just imagine that, exploring the galaxy."

"An intergalactic barman?"

"Who knows. It's like a new avenue has opened. New possibilities."

"Yes, I hadn't thought of it like that," said Ashleigh, looking at things in a different light. It was hard when you'd seen the ship with her own eyes and knew that what the barman was talking about was more of a possibility that he could imagine.

Ashleigh took a sip of her wine and was surprised to find it tasted fresh. After paying, she went and took a seat. The little round tables were slightly unsteady, but she placed Becky's on it, while nursing hers.

Becky wasn't long and joined her. "Any sign?"

"No. I've got a feeling we're being watched, but I've no idea if that's just my imagination. Not an ideal third date."

"I don't know," mused Becky. "I get to spend extra time with you."

"Tina's going to be mad," said Ashleigh. "She'll be blaming herself."

"Jenny is going to be worried. She's very clingy since–"

She tailed off. Not wanting to mention Hilda's name. This had been a date.

"Hilda isn't a name to dance around," said Ashleigh putting down her glass, and looking Becky directly in her eyes and holding one of her hands. "You can't change your past. I'm just glad that we found each other after all these years. To be honest, it might not have worked out back then. We were both finding ourselves. Now we know who we are, it will be easier. When we find this contact, they might know where Jenny is. We will find her."

A woman wearing a thick coat came across from where she'd been playing cards. She sat down next to them and asked, "Are you two love birds lost?"

Instantly Ashleigh let go of Becky's hand.

"We're just having a quiet drink," said Becky.

"Since you normally spend your days in a pub, it's not much of a change. Well, I suppose this one still serves drinks."

Ashleigh looked at the person in front of her. There was something about her that was familiar, but she couldn't place them.

"Are you here for us?" whispered Ashleigh.

"Yes. I'll tell you about it on the way."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe. Drink up and let's go. Both of you go empty your bladders, we have a long journey, and I don't want to stop. I know the way, so will drive."

Ashleigh was on her guard. This mysterious woman seemed to be waiting for them. It was unlikely on the of mercenaries would have had someone at a remote country pub, on the off chance they would stop there. But she wasn't taking any chances.

"How do we know you aren't a baddy?" asked Ashleigh and then frowned at using the word 'baddy' in a normal conversation.

Becky had started to get up but quickly sat down again. She'd assumed that because the woman was there, she must be their contact. Ashleigh was being more cautious that she was.

"You don't even recognise your own brother-in-law?"

Ashleigh quickly put her hand over Becky's and shook her head not to respond. Ashleigh then asked, "What was the fourth gift you opened at your wedding?"

"It was a gift from Caroline, and I'm not going to explain what it was."

"Luke," she breathed.

"I prefer Lisa when dressed like this."

"When did you get back?" asked Becky.

"A few days ago. I had some things to do before I could come up. I was supposed to arrive tomorrow. Now go to the toilets, we have a long journey ahead of us."

Becky joined Ashleigh at the toilets, even though she'd just been. All too soon, they were leaving. Lisa put a rucksack into the boot, then walked slowly around the car, checking for anything unexpected. Finally, she was happy and got into the driving seat.

As they made their way down another set of country roads, Ashleigh asked "So why Lisa? Even if you were en-femme on your investigation, wouldn't you have changed when you got back?"

"I was male on my investigation. However, in that pub this is how I'm known and not as Lisa."

"Have you heard about Tina and her issues?"

"Yes. Thank you for being there for her. When I heard, I was upset that I couldn't have been there."

Ashleigh noticed that there was no regret about not being called. It was part of the life they lived. And she knew Tina would have been very upset if her husband had to leave an investigation.

"Have you been told more about the project?" asked Becky.

"No. Just that a group of mercenaries planned on attacking the factory. Last I heard, they attacked but they only succeeded in becoming target practice. Did you know it had defences?"

"The team that built it was one of the sister companies, so I'm not surprised. I knew the stairs between floors had shutters, but that was it."

"Anyway, I was told that Tina and the project team, including your daughter, bugged out. The person who contacted me didn't know where they'd gone. It was only a few hours ago, but I know where they will probably go. We are on the way there. I've no idea if we'll get there first, or them."

Becky laughed. "They'll be there first by a long shot."

"Okay. Then I better make sure my approach is obvious, and signal that it's us. Tina will be on the defence."

"I bet Sam is too."

"Sam? Is there someone new on your team?"

"Sam Hood. Two years older than you at Hayfield, transferred to an American school. I think the word was Study Partner to Jessica. We also have a James Partridge ex RAF."

"Oh, that Sam and Jessica. Yeah, we never met but I'm aware of them both. It's interesting they're around. I thought Sam was in the US Navy."

"US Navy retired was on the résumé. So where are we going?"

"Hopefully somewhere safe."

The sound of the car against the tarmac lulled the two passengers to sleep. Even though Becky was used to working late, that was when her mind was active. This monotonous journey even impacted her, and it was soon just Lisa who was used to driving alone. Solitary journeys were nothing new for the investigator, but there was normally the radio for company.

As they neared their destination, Lisa called "Becky."

Becky stirred but mumbled that she wanted her sleep. Ashleigh woke and looked across at Becky. "Becky!"

Becky instantly woke and sat up straight. "What?!"

"We are nearly there," said Lisa. "Let's take this very slowly. If the gate is shut, then I will put in the code. It will alert everybody there, but the code will identify me. We drive in and get out of the car. The camera there will identify you to anybody watching."

"You think there will be?"

"Definitely. They bugged out. They will be on alert."

The gate was shut, as Lisa had predicted. It wasn't one of the standard farm wooden gates, but an elaborate metal gate with spiked tips at the top. A three-meter wall ran in each direction.

"This looks rather formidable," remarked Ashleigh.

"I don't see any cameras," said Becky.

"Oh, they're there," responded Lisa. "Let me put in my code."

Lisa lowered her car window, leaned out and tapped in her code. The gates stayed shut.

"Okay, they are really being careful. Get out and look at the brick post, just to the right of the gate."

"Huh?" said Ashleigh, her brain not having fully awoken.

Becky was awake quicker than Ashleigh. She got out of the car and stared where requested. She even gave a little wave.

Ashleigh shrugged and followed suit. The crisp clean air wasn't like where she'd lived the last several months. There was no tang of water. It was clean, so she knew she wasn't in the city, but where she had no idea. Wherever they were, it was cold but looking up she saw the most dazzling view. When she lived in the city, she saw no more than a dozen stars. Near the lab, she saw perhaps fifty. Now, there were so many. Wow.

There was a slight creak and groan as the gates protested at being opened. Then they smoothly opened the rest of the way.

"I'll drive just inside the gates," said Lisa. "We will walk slowly to the house."

When they all were inside, the gates swung shut. Ashleigh felt like they were being watched. When she put her hands inside her coat pocket for warmth, Lisa quickly told her to keep her hands visible.

"This is some driveway," said Ashleigh.

"STOP!" was called from the dark.

They all froze. Becky had taken the torch from the car and shone it into her face. She then passed the torch to Ashleigh who did the same.

"It is Becky and Ashleigh," came the voice of Sam.

"I vouch that the person next to me is Lisa," said Ashleigh.

There was the sound of running feet, and next thing Tina appeared with Jenny.

"Ma," Jenny squealed and flung herself at her remaining parent.

Tina rushed to Lisa. "You gave us all a scare, appearing like that."

Lisa didn't respond but just took Tina into her arms and they kissed.

"Okay, the funs over," said Sam. "I'm going back to bed."

"It looks like everybody's flown in the ship apart from us two," said Becky, lifting her daughter into her arm. "How was it, Jenny?"

She shrugged. "It was okay. Nothing to it really. One second, we were there, and next here. I thought it might have been more exciting."

"And safe?"

"They are going to check Aurora over in the morning," said Jenny, stifling a yawn.

"Let's get you back to bed," said Becky.

Ashleigh looked around and saw that James was stood with two women she didn't recognise, but she concluded they probably owned the place. The only ones not there were Evan, Liam and Henry.

James was staring at Tina and Lisa. He looked confused.

"Hey James, do you want to introduce me to our hosts?"

"Ah, sure," he said, averting has gaze. "This is Emma and Paula. They live with their son at this farm. They have some holiday cottages they're letting us stay in."

"Don't tell me, you went to school with Tina," said Ashleigh.

"Well, we were a few years above them, but yes."

"Thank you for having us at short notice. I'm Tina's sister."

"The hockey player?"

"No, that's the other one."

"Well, we're back to bed," said Emma, putting her arm around Paula. "When Tina has put down Lisa, I'm sure they'll show you where to go. See you in the morning."

"What's up, James?" asked Ashleigh, now they were alone. "You seem distracted."

"I thought Tina was married to a Luke."

"You're an officer, right? So, a gentleman and someone that has seen a lot of different things?"

"Yes. I was RAF. We are the best there is. Why?"

"That's Luke," said Ashleigh, softly. "Or Lisa when dressed like that."

"Oh."

"Do you have an issue with that?" asked Ashleigh with a firmer tone.

"No, Ma'am. I was just a bit confused. I've known Tina over the last few months and Luke was mentioned earlier. Jenny was very worried about Becky."

"Becky was also very worried about Jenny." Ashleigh then called out, "Tina, can you put Lisa down and show me where I'm sleeping."

Tina didn't break away but removed her right hand from Lisa's back and raised her middle finger.

James laughed. "Come on, I'll show you where they are. Let's leave those two to freeze."

They made the way to the four buildings where the evacuees were staying. "Each have three bedrooms. Liam, Evan and Henry are in one. I'm in another with Sam and Jessica. There is a spare room in that one."

James, then pointed to the third cottage. "Jenny is in that one, with Tina. Though by the looks of it, Tina was using the couch. When the alert sounded, she was already ready. She stayed back to protect Jenny."

Ashleigh smiled. This was her sister. In her eyes, a hero.

"Someone mentioned the word Investigator in conjunction with your sister. I don't understand. I thought she was a teaching assistant. Yet she handles herself like she's been in the military."

"No, she's never been in the military," said Ashleigh. "Anyway, good night."

Ashleigh went in, the door unlocked. The downstairs light was on dim. There was a blanket on one of the three large settees, with the television showing video outside the cottages. On it she saw her sister on the way in. Lisa appeared a few moments later, driving the car up.

She went upstairs. The first door was open, and she spied an unoccupied room, but the duvet was missing. The next door down, she opened and the light from the hallway shone in. Jenny was in there, with Becky lying next to her. Ashleigh quietly shut the door. The next bedroom was also unoccupied.

She went in and slid the door shut. This has been a long day. 'Rest is a weapon' she reminded herself and got ready for bed. As she slipped under the duvet, it reminded her of her university days. Sleeping in just her knickers. They were safe. For now.