Ch 28: To the Moon Verse 3
Erzabet sits in a dimly lit corner of the room, holding the satellite phone tightly in her hands. She takes a deep breath and dials the familiar number, the connection sparking to life. After a few moments of anticipation, the childlike voice of Major Tom fills the air.
"Hello, Major," Erzabet says cautiously. "It's Erzabet. We need to talk."
There is a pause on the other end, the silence pregnant with suspicion and uncertainty. Major Tom's voice finally breaks through, tinged with wariness. "Erzabet... What do you want?"
Erzabet's eyes narrow slightly, sensing the tension in Major Tom's tone. "We have a common goal," she replies, her voice steady. "I want to understand the moon base, your intentions, and how we can work together."
Major Tom hesitates, the sound of rustling in the background indicating his unease. "I've seen what you're capable of," he retorts. "The secrets you keep."
Erzabet's gaze sharpens, realizing that Major Tom might know more than she anticipated. She chooses her next words carefully. "We all have secrets," she says cryptically. "But right now, we need each other. Tailor, Trace, and Rachelle are counting on us."
Major Tom's voice tightens, an undercurrent of anger lacing his words. "I wonder if they know how you got that phylactery in the first place."
Erzabet's eyes widen in surprise. She hadn't expected Major Tom to have witnessed her act of brutality. "They don't, but how do you know?" she asks, her voice tinged with concern.
There is a seething pause on the other end, and Major Tom's voice turns sharp and bitter. "The satellites might be down, but I still have eyes. You ripped the phylactery from one of the Illuminati doctors, taking their power for yourself."
Erzabet's heart skips a beat, realizing that Major Tom's connection with Tabetha runs deeper than she had imagined. She tries to calm the situation. "Major, we all have our reasons," she says softly. "We can't let our past actions tear us apart. We have to focus on the present, on the fight against those who seek to control us."
The line crackles with tension, and Erzabet's voice softens. "How is Tabetha doing?" she asks, attempting to shift the conversation away from their conflicts.
Major Tom's response is immediate and filled with rage. "Don't you dare ask about her!" he shouts. "You don't deserve to know."
There is a heavy pause, and then the line goes dead. Major Tom has hung up.
Erzabet sits in silence, her mind racing with unanswered questions and the weight of the secrets that surround her.