The guard stared, blinked and frowned.
‘I… can’t –’ stammered the guard.
‘If you don’t then who will,’ asked Patricia.
‘I’m sworn to obey,’ said the checkpoint guard ‘I don’t have the right to question what I’m told.’
‘Yes you do,’ snapped Patricia. ‘If you don’t think then you’re a walking baby machine. If you don’t question then you’re nothing!’
The guard glanced down suddenly; a green light had burst into life on the desk.
The doors slowly opened.
* * *
Caroline Rook stood watching the screens. Two, side-by side, held her attention. One pointed at the guard at checkpoint two; the other at the quartet of Patricia, Daisy and the two guards.
She had overheard the exchange and was almost, but not quite, disturbed by it.
She made a mental note to make changes to the indoctrination programme; Patricia had gotten under the checkpoint guard’s skin far too easily.
She reached down and pressed a button on the console while watching the screens.
‘Team Two?’
Patricia and Daisy stepped through the door, while keeping the guards between them and the checkpoint guard.
‘In position,’ said a voice in response to Caroline’s question. ‘Awaiting instructions.’
‘Get on the other side,’ said Patricia on the screen.
The checkpoint guard stepped through. Patricia activated the doors once again and when they closed, clicked them onto ‘Manual’.
‘Confirmed,’ said Caroline. ‘Hold for further instructions.’
* * *
‘Thanks for coming for me,’ said Daisy.
Patricia stopped.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t stop this sooner,’ she said, glancing downwards.
Daisy frowned slightly.
‘I hope you can forgive me,’ said Patricia, her gaze sliding up to Daisy.
After a moment, Daisy smiled slightly and slowly nodded.
They began to walk once more.
‘How did this happen,’ asked Daisy.
Patricia gave her a suspicious look.
‘I don’t understand any of this,’ said Daisy. ‘And my memory…’
Patricia breathed out heavily, her head drooping. She stood straighter, nodding, and explained.
‘Your memory is in tatters,’ said Patricia, eyes glancing this way and that, trying to work-out away to best explain.
Daisy looked over, questioning.
