Shutdown (Glitch)

newest tech, designs I kept just for the Rez—antigravity hover based, complete day and nighttime cloaking tech, and solar-celled engines. We can fly for days before we gotta stop and let the engine cells refuel.”
    “So why didn’t you come earlier?” I asked. Adrien stood beside me, but was silent, staring at the ground.
    “Because genius here stashed it halfway across the country,” Xona said, cuffing Henk on the shoulder.
    “Hey, how was I supposed to know when the time came, I’d be in a transport meant for four that we had to stuff sixteen people into?” Henk looked back at me.
    “Seventeen,” Xona said darkly. “Don’t forget the traitor stowaway.”
    I looked at both of them in confusion. “Who?”
    “That crafty little shape-shifting bastard,” Henk said. “He knew we’d ’a left him behind if we could see him. But he made himself invisible and must’ve run with us down the tunnel, then he stuffed himself in with everybody else on the transport. It was so tight and we were all so cracked with everything happenin’, we didn’t even realize.”
    It sounded exactly like something Max would do. It was horribly unfair that he of all people was safe when the Professor was dead . But, weasel that he was, he always managed to survive.
    “With so much weight, we had a right hard time liftin’ off and stayin’ in the air. Engine trouble stalled us out after we escaped from the rendezvous site. I’d pushed it too hard trying to get us out of there as fast as possible. We were grounded for days before I figured out how to rig some power cells to get her up in the air again.”
    “And we could still only manage short hops and then had to stop for half a day to let the solar cells refuel,” Xona said. “Ginni told us you and Adrien were alive and hadn’t been captured, so we didn’t worry. We figured you’d found out that the rendezvous site was a trap and were hiding out.” Then she frowned, looking around the cave. “Where’d you hide your escape pod transport?”
    “We didn’t have one. Long story.” I waved a hand. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
    “I was so worried about you.” Xona’s eyes were uncharacteristically soft, her eyebrows drawn together. “Ginni said you’d stopped moving and I was afraid you’d been hurt. After Tyryn and Jilia…” She looked away.
    “I’m fine now.” I squeezed her hand back. “I’m okay.”
    Henk had already jogged over to the jet and pulled open a door on the side. It released with a hiss, and a small stepladder dropped out.
    Adrien shouldered our packs, and I climbed up and stepped inside. Everything was pristine and white. A short aisle ran between four rows of plush white seats.
    “The Uppers thought I was designing ’em a luxury flier.” Henk smirked.
    “Where are the others?” I asked. I’d half expected to find them inside.
    “Left ’em at the bunker where I hid the jet,” Henk said, climbing up into the front navigation chair. “They’re all safe and sound. I never told a livin’ soul ’bout that place. Not even Taylor knew.”
    Adrien joined him in the front seat. I watched the back of his head. Everything that had happened over the last week seemed suddenly surreal. Now it was back to real life.
    Adrien asked Henk questions about the bunker. His voice was calm and even, but I could hear how the words caught in his throat every so often. Was he just asking questions to distract himself from thinking about his mom? Xona strapped herself into one of the overstuffed chairs and tilted her head back against the headrest. She let out a slow sigh. Her eyes were puffy and red, and there were bruiselike shadows underneath her eyes.
    She looked as tired as I felt. I sat up suddenly in my seat. “Wait, so if you guys didn’t leave in a pod transport, you don’t have the supply packs.” My entire body slumped with exhaustion. “That means you don’t have any spare biosuits. Our packs didn’t have any and I’ve barely slept this week.”
    Xona’s eyes widened, but Henk looked back at us. “I stocked a med container at the bunker,” he said. “You’ll be able to sleep right when we get there.”
    I laughed with delirious relief. Finally! I’d be able to sleep! I looked back at Xona. “When was the last time you slept?” I asked.
    She cracked a tired smile. “A while,” she said. “But you’re safe now.”
    “I’m sure we’ll be able to rescue Tyryn and Jilia and all the rest of them too.” I meant