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“Protocol Three.” To my surprise it’s Loricel who speaks.
“What is Protocol Three?” I ask Einstein. He has to know, with his intimate knowledge of the Guild.
“Cormac mentioned it. Well, actually, he sort of threatened it.”
“That does not shock me,” Loricel says. “Protocol Three is the ultimate threat response.”
“Stop speaking in riddles,” Dante demands.
“There are three protocols for dealing with trouble in Arras,” she says.
“Protocol One is alteration,” Erik says. He shrugs at me, mouthing, Misspent youth.
“The Guild employs Protocol One to contain information and deal with troubling behavior,” Loricel explains.
“They used it here,” I tell them.
“But the dissent was widespread and Protocol One became ineffective in coping with the situation,” she continues. “Which leads to Protocol Two.”
“They sever an entire sector from Arras,” I say.
“Have you ever wondered why it is the Guild of Twelve Nations?” she asks.
I swallow hard on the question and nod.
“Only four sectors remain of the original twelve,” Loricel says.
“The others were severed?” Jost asks.
“Yes. When a sector became too progressive, it was separated from the whole, or when a disease broke out, or if one wanted its independence. Protocol Two was how they dealt with these situations,” she explains.
“So Arras was larger?” Dante asks.
“It was more divided. Once a separated sector ran out of resources and unraveled, we extended the remaining sectors to take its place.”
“And no one noticed?”
“Over time as sectors were detached, we simplified the map and revised history to reflect that there were only four sectors. Because of education control, it was easy for the Guild to ensure the people only knew what they were told.”
“But it was happening all around them!” I can’t believe this, and yet I know it to be true.
“It’s easier to focus on the life around you than to see the whole picture,” she says.
“Then what will happen to this sector?” I ask. “What do you mean by ‘unraveled’?”
“Extermination?” Jost asks with disgust.
“The disease in the streets only increases the rate of the sector’s decay.”
“We need to get everyone out of this sector,” I say.
“What do you think we’ve been doing?” Falon asks in an annoyed voice.
“It’s been weeks!”
“Do you think you could have done better?” she asks.
“This is getting us nowhere,” Dante says. “We’re working on a plan, Adelice. We expect to have survivors out within a week.”
