The Resistance

intently. ‘He tricked her. He sent Catchers after her . . .’
    ‘Catchers? But she’s Legal. Peter, please sit down. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation –’
    ‘Was there a perfectly good explanation last time you challenged Richard Pincent?’ the guard asked suddenly.
    Dr Edwards turned. ‘I’m sorry? Are you talking to me?’
    The guard nodded. ‘You know as well as I do that Richard Pincent is a dangerous man. And you know as well as I do that there are things going on within these walls. Things which Richard Pincent would do anything to protect from prying eyes. Even if it means imprisoning Anna. Blackmailing Peter.’
    ‘Blackmail?’ Dr Edwards’ eyes widened. ‘Who are you?’ he asked the guard. ‘Who is this man?’ he asked Peter.
    Peter stepped forward. ‘He’s . . . a friend,’ he said tentatively. ‘He’s come to help me.’
    ‘A friend?’ Dr Edwards faltered slightly. ‘He’s . . . He’s not a guard, is he?’ he said, his voice a whisper now.
    Peter shook his head.
    The man turned his gaze to Dr Edwards. He had the most incredible blue eyes. Dr Edwards thought he remembered eyes like that from somewhere, but it was impossible. Those eyes . . . they were from another time.
    ‘You questioned Richard Pincent’s methods and you were sidelined because you didn’t like what he was doing. Now Peter thinks you’ll help us. To be honest, I’m not sure you’re up to it, but we don’t have many options here, so what’s it going to be?’
    ‘It is you,’ Dr Edwards said suddenly. ‘It’s . . .’
    ‘Pip, I go by Pip now. We studied together, you see, Peter,’ Pip said levelly, still holding Dr Edwards’ gaze. ‘Many years ago. Dr Edwards was always top of the class. Cleverest scientist of his generation. And since there weren’t many more generations, that makes him one of the cleverest men alive.’ The way he said it didn’t sound like a compliment.
    ‘You were a scientist?’ Peter looked at Pip incredulously.
    ‘I used to be,’ Pip said flatly. ‘And now,’ he said, addressing Dr Edwards, ‘now you’re working at Pincent Pharma. Only you’re not really, are you? I mean, ReTraining. It’s hardly a prestigious post, is it?’
    Dr Edwards blanched slightly. ‘Training is important. Imparting knowledge . . .’
    ‘To who? There’s no one to teach,’ Pip said. ‘Not any more. You’ve been pushed out of research into semi-retirement. Isn’t that closer to the truth?’
    ‘I chose to leave,’ Dr Edwards said firmly. ‘No one was pushed out of anything.’ He faltered slightly, reached out to his desk to steady himself.
    ‘And now you’re fully involved in the development of Longevity+? You know what it is they’re doing?’ Pip’s eyes were boring into Dr Edwards’ and he felt beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead.
    ‘No . . . I mean . . . it’s highly secret.’ Dr Edwards thought uncomfortably of his visit to the lab technicians that afternoon – a visit in which his former colleagues had been evasive, even secretive. A few years ago, he’d have challenged them, tried to discover the truth; now he barely even noticed, had lost the will to even care.
    ‘So secret that you, an eminent scientist, are being kept out? So secret that you haven’t even been invited to the press conference this afternoon?’
    ‘Press conference? No, that’s not my field. That’s not . . .’ He cleared his throat, forced his shoulders back. ‘I don’t expect to be kept informed of press conferences. I train people, I train the scientists of the future. I prefer it that way.’
    ‘The scientists of the future or the accountants of the past who are bored of their old jobs and looking for something to fill their time for a few years?’ Pip asked. His voice was softer now and more compelling for it.
    Dr Edwards’ shoulders sagged slightly. ‘ReTraining is a good initiative,’ he said weakly. ‘It enables people to reinvent themselves, to reinvigorate their careers.’
    ‘He’s a great teacher,’ Peter said suddenly. ‘Pip, leave him alone. It isn’t Dr Edwards’ fault about Anna or the other Surpluses. He didn’t know.’
    ‘Other Surpluses?’ Dr Edwards asked. He felt his chest constricting.
    ‘You remember,’ Pip said levelly. ‘That was what you disagreed with Richard Pincent about, wasn’t it? The use of Surpluses?’
    ‘He said they wouldn’t . . . He said . . .’ Dr Edwards said weakly.
    ‘I’m sure he did,’ Pip