Find Violet Hyde: Secrets In Space

Frida

A pained expression crossed the android's face. "Well, yes. You could call it a city. We have Ickwall beneath us, underground."

"What do they do there?" Frida sat up on her cot, leaning in with excitement.

Kennith picked a piece of fuzz from his dark green suit before meeting Frida's eyes. "They help the city of Genesis in many ways by making anything we need, such as: clothing, transport, food, furniture. There are also mines and industrial plants down there."

"Sounds busy, I would love to see it! What is Genesis like?" Frida knew the answer would be a good one.

"In Genesis we have entertainment, restaurants, shopping centers, and beautification parlors, incredible housing centers, lovely gardens, sightseeing ships, and so much more." Kennith smiled.

"So, Ickwall supports Genesis?" Frida's mind was running full blast.

"Yes, it does, if Ickwall has a riot or goes on strike or something, life becomes a bit less pleasant for Genesis. The people who live in Ickwall are...uncivilized and need to be contained and controlled, that's what Madame President Lucille says." Kennith seemed to mock his employer. He bit his studded lip when he realized his mistake. "I may have told you too much already. Please don't tell Madame Lucille."

"She is the President of both cities, and runs a lab? What does she not do?" Frida dug deeper.

"She is and does everything. I am at her side helping most times." Kennith proudly touched the little beaker pin on his suit. He jumped as his wrist began to beep; he typed on his arm and looked up at Frida, then looked down and typed more. "That was Madame Lucille, she was checking on you. I think she likes your spirit. She wants you bathed and clothed to meet her for dinner."

Frida eyes Kennith suspiciously. "Am I going to be knocked out first, or can I walk there myself?"

"I won't let it happen again, Madame Lucille did that for your safety, though. I am going to find you some clothes and will come back soon. Do you need anything before I go?"

"Do you know where Violet, Zia, and Mr. Hubert are?" Frida shot.

Her question startled Kennith. "Um, my guess would be...they are on a ship called the Confero bound for a planet named Vitruvius. Madame Lucille is seriously mad about it, too. So let's not discuss that, okay?"

"One more question, if everything is so wonderful on Moon Colony, why do people even live on the Farm on Earth?" Frida could feel Kennith's anxiety.

"I cannot talk to you about the Farm, I am so sorry. I will see you soon." Kennith left in a hurry, the flaps on his dark green suit flowing behind him as he whirred across the lab.

--

Frida sat at a huge grey slate table across from Madame President Lucille, in her private dining hall. They were still inside the Genetics building, Frida noticed. Wearing a shiny silver dress with her hair up in knots across the top of her head from ear to ear, Frida was incredibly uncomfortable. She looked like a doll, a toy she never enjoyed.

"You look so much better! That hair of yours was...well it looks better now." Lucille was smiling, pouring herself a glass of wine, strings of  blue jewels dripped from her ears, tinkling when she moved.

"I feel better, Madame President Lucille." Frida spoke formally.

"Please call me Lucille. I am glad you are up and moving around. Just so you know, you will not be going back to the lab; we just had some tests to run on you, to make sure you're in good health." Lucille spoke casually, putting Frida a bit more at ease.

"How long will I be here?"

"As long as you wish, I was hoping to show you around Genesis, take you out to see the Colony. Would you enjoy that?"

"I think so; can we go to Ickwall, too?"

Lucille coldly giggled behind her hand, "Who would want to go there?"

"Me, I just asked." Frida glared.

Lucille paused, with her perfect eyebrows raised. "If you truly want to, I will send someone to go with you. You are never to go to Ickwall alone for it is not safe, the people there are...savage, I know from experience. Promise me."

"I promise...What shipment did take care of today? Kennith said you do everything that needs doing on the Moon Colony." She hoped flattery would work.

"I don't want to talk to you about that yet, Frida." Anger flashed in Lucille. "You ask too many questions, you know that?" She took a breath, adjusting the waist of her silky emerald gown. "Now, I would like to ask you something."

Frida shrugged. "Ask me."

"Would you like to come live at my personal residence? Kennith lives there, too, so you will not be lonely. We will have to sneak you in though." Lucille tapped her sharp jaw, worried Frida would say no.

"Why would you have to sneak me?"

"The people of Genesis cannot reproduce, children are...not valued. The adults continue to age, but their bodies do not deteriorate. If we have children, we run out of room for the adults. I don't expect you to understand." Lucille's voice had gentled. Her thoughts seemed to go elsewhere.

"I'll live with you if you promise to tell me the truth always. Now, you have to promise!" Frida looked Lucille in the eyes, daringly.

"I...Promise." Lucille's eyes filled with tears.

"What's wrong?" Frida held her captor's hand.

Lucille thought of Violet Hyde, sweet defenseless Violet. "I've missed having children around, that is all!" Madame Lucille turned wiped her black lined eyes.

"Tell me about your home." Frida tried to cheer Lucille. Maybe if she could learn about this world and the person who runs it, she could help the kids on the Farm and the people of Ickwall.

What have you learned in this chapter?

What do you make of Kennith and Lucille's treatment of Frida?

Do you think Frida has a good strategy?