Quartz Quarter Plans

Lelia lingered at the school gate, waiting for Tanner. Students pushed past her, laughing and making afternoon plans. Lelia glanced down at the heart-shaped locket at her neck. Absentmindedly she snapped it open to reveal the watch face underneath. 3:05.

Someone nudged her shoulder. "Hey, friend."

"Hey, Tanner. Come on, let's go. We don't want to stay here any longer than necessary." Lelia flashed her ID at the monitor, shoving past a gaggle of younger students to get out the gate. "Ready to head to Kabar's?"

Tanner grinned. "Of course. Good thing our parents don't know."

Lelia laughed, shaking her hair out of her face. They headed down the street, crossing through the Diamond Quarter. The district boundaries were clear--high wooden fences topped with barbed wire and gates with security cameras and ID checks. Tanner and Lelia kept away from the gates, wriggling through the fence by way of a loose board.

The Quartz Quarter was a stark contrast to the richer districts. It was run-down, the corners and alleyways dirty, the people rude and filthy. Lelia and Tanner ditched their backpacks and school jackets in an abandoned house they knew of, and sauntered down the alleyway to Kabar's workshop. Lelia glanced round nervously, trying not to let her hand stray to her knife. She found the slum quarters both frightening and interesting, and despite the danger she kept on coming. She walked with Tanner down one of the main streets, turned a few corners, and entered Kabar's workshop by the back door.

Kabar’s grimy figure was seated at a desk, his head in his hands, papers strewn all over the place and the desk drawers pulled out and lying on the floor. He glanced up when they entered.

"It's happened again."

Lelia bent down and picked up a sheet of paper. "The government stole some of your papers?"

Kabar nodded. "Some of my new diagrams. I couldn't get a patent--I didn't even bother trying--because of my prison record and my 'district of living,’ and we all know that the government won't buy my designs."

Tanner's face darkened with anger. "Because you're from the Quartz Quarter."

Kabar shrugged.

"What were the designs for?" Lelia asked as she began to tidy the desk.

Kabar looked away. "Weapons."

The silence in the little workshop was stifling. Lelia's hands stilled. "Why were you designing weapons?"

"It was just an idea,"Kabar said miserably. "I had plans for new designs--missiles, guns, planes--that were stronger and faster and had longer range. I wasn't going to keep them in here, it was just for one day."

Tanner met Lelia's eyes. "We need to get them back. Our country--" He stopped. They all knew what their country's military tactics were like. If they made use of Kabar's designs, it might spell destruction for other nations.

"Kabar," Lelia said quickly. "We'll get them back. Promise." She held out her hand.

Kabar hesitated. Then he took her hand in his own scarred one. "If you need help, come here."

They had barely stepped outside when they ran into the street patrol. Street patrols in the poorer districts were unusual, unless they had a specific goal in mind. Lelia and Tanner ducked into the nearest alleyway, peering out to watch.

Lelia reached for Tanner's hand. "They're headed for Kabar's workshop!" she gasped.

Tanner’s lips tightened and he stepped out from the alley, but Lelia grabbed his arm, holding him back. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to stop them. If something happens to me, make sure you find Kabar's designs and destroy them." He wrenched his arm from Lelia's grasp and ran out onto the street.

Lelia stood to follow him, but he hissed back, “Stay there. It's better if only one of us goes. I know what I'm doing." She hesitated, then crouched back down, nervously gnawing at her lip.

"Wait!" Tanner called after the patrol as they approached Kabar's workshop. The captain turned, his eyes narrowing. "Student Tanner Lankaster. Why are you here?”

“Captain Miles!” he exclaimed. “I--are you going to arrest the man who lives here?"

The captain nodded curtly. "Yes."

"I know him," Tanner said in a rush. "He's a good man. He's done nothing for which you'd have to arrest him."

Lelia stifled a groan. Was Tanner trying to get himself arrested? How would this help them?

The Captain sighed. "I don't know what he's done, Student, but I have my orders. If you try to interfere, I will have to arrest you also."

Tanner glanced quickly over his shoulder, but Lelia's eyes were riveted on Kabar's house. She saw the back door open slowly, then Kabar crept out, a satchel in one hand. He looked back, pausing for a moment, then disappeared into the maze of alleyways that made up the Quartz Quarter.

"Now," the captain was saying. "You've wasted enough of my time. Stand aside, and let me do my job."

Tanner took a step to the side with pretended reluctance, his eyes darting back and forth. The patrol entered the house, and Lelia watched anxiously as the men disappeared inside. But within seconds, they came out again. "No one's in, sir," one of them reported.

Captain Miles frowned. "I have reliable information—it was confirmed that he was in barely fifteen minutes ago."

"Perhaps he got wind of your coming," Tanner suggested.

Captain Miles turned, a curious expression on his face. "Perhaps he did," he said thoughtfully. "Student Tanner Lankaster, in the name of our glorious President, I arrest you and charge you with assisting in the escape of a wanted criminal."