Content Warnings: references to misgendering and transphobia
Leslie walked into the basement with a folded chair tucked under their arm. They snapped it open and planted it firmly in the middle of the room. As soon as Leslie sat down, they said, “We need to strategize.”
Al, Tazina, and I moved our seats from the usual stations so that we formed a circle with Leslie.
“We already know how we’re getting Dax in,” Leslie said after we’d all settled. “But not Tazina. And there’s at least one idea we know won’t work,” they said as they gave me a pointed look. I avoided their gaze by looking to the ceiling. From the corner of my eye, I caught the confused glances from Tazina and Al. They did not need to know I dropped my partner in a pond.
“So,” Leslie continued. “Any ideas?”
Silence. Al and I glanced at each other. The map we were working on was nearly complete, but we weren’t certain how it would match with the System’s plans.
“It would have to be through a dead zone,” Tazina said. “Dax would have to let me in twjtieowlkmfdsnhetijofdsklmdknce. From there, she needs to get me to the room.”
“How?” I asked her. “The unauthorized entrances are nowhere near System walls. There’s no way we could get you to one without her seeing.”
“Unless,” Al offered, “you find a closer entrance.”
I scowled at him. It was going to be hard enough confirming the path we were putting together and he wanted me to try exploring?
“Is there a way you could turn off the cameras along your path?” Leslie asked Tazina.
Tazina shook her head. “There’s too many.”
Leslie sighed, scratching at their ear. I glanced at Tazina sitting in her wheelchair. Even if she reinstated her number like she was doing for me, the only possible way we could get her to an entrance undetected would be forcing her to walk. That was too cruel an option.
Suddenly, Tazina’s eyes lit up. “Put casts on my legs,” she said.
“What?” Leslie asked.
Tazina looked around at all of us, appearing as shocked by her own idea as I felt. “Accidents happen,” she stated. “As long as something’s fixable, the System will allow the opportunity to recover. And wheelchairs are common in hospitals.”
“They are?!” Al exclaimed.
I was glad I wasn’t the only one surprised. I’d never even seen a wheelchair until I’d met Tazina. I would’ve never thought the System would have something like that.
Tazina ignored Al’s outburst. “We can pretend I’m out for fresh air,” she continued, her excitement growing with every word. “I can do a quick job – just enough for the System not to question why I’m out.”
“Won’t she figure out you’re not a friend she assigned to me?” I asked her.
Tazina gave me a blank stare, then chuckled. “I left something out,” she said. “It won’t be you taking me for a walk, Dax. It’ll be an orderly.” She turned to Leslie.
Leslie looked back at her in surprise. “You want me to go in with you? Wouldn’t Al be better?”
Al laughed. “Sorry, Director,” he said. “But if you try to send me in, I will quit this job immediately.”
I looked from Leslie to Tazina in absolute horror. What was she thinking suggesting something like that?
“I mean,” Tazina said, “it doesn’t have to be you, Director.”
“It shouldn’t be you,” I quickly interjected.
Leslie glanced my way. “Why’s that?” they asked evenly.
“The System doesn’t accept people like you, Leslie,” I said. “It’s not… You wouldn’t…” I looked toward Tazina, hoping she would finish what I was trying to say. I didn’t want Leslie to get hurt by the System. I didn’t want them to be forced into choosing between two things they weren’t.
“Oh,” Leslie said, seeming to realize what I was trying to warn them about. “There’s only two genders allowed in the System.” They looked at Tazina. “I couldn’t use my pronouns in there, could I?”
Tazina shook her head.
“Then I’ll find someone,” Leslie stated. “Looks like we have our plan.”
My body practically collapsed from relief. Leslie wouldn’t get hurt by the System.
To be continued…