Chapter Seven

East Bank Plaza

Fleet kicked Kennedy’s feet to wake him up. “We’re on” he said as he peeked through the blinds of their safe house apartment. East Bank was the least surveilled urban areas in the western world. It was a sprawling maze of housing estates and complexes with East Bank Plaza sitting smack in the centre. The public transport to the area was limited to one bus route in and out and there was no large corporate businesses. Local family owned enterprises reigned supreme, taking away the power of the corporate world to enforce the polices of the state. Social engineering in East Bank was near impossible as the Central Commission resorted to ostracisation rather than enforcement with the rogue borough becoming untameable over the course of The Lens rollout. It was in this very plaza the full force of the state crashed against the will of the people like waves against rocks, ultimately failing to beat them into submission in what became known as the Plaza Standoff. Fleet’s still sensitive eyes scanned over the crowd and across the park at the other buildings that lined it on either side. Kennedy lit up a hand rolled cigarette and joined his fugitive-in-arms at the window. “My father was in the riot squad for the standoff you know”. Fleet took his time to respond, being mindful of Kennedy’s love for his father. “He probably got a good licking off the old school Bankers so”. Kennedy smirked, unable to muster a response. “We have three apartments in this area…..”. Fleet corrected himself. “They ….have three apartments in this area looking over the park. Three that I know of at least. My money is on the one across from the main gate. Our old classmates are likely in that crowd, eavesdropping and trying to locate Murph’s co conspirators”. Kennedy went to the fridge as Fleet continued to break down the tactics they believed were in play among the crowd. He retrieved two cans of ice cold cola and passed one to fleet. The pair came away from the window and sat down at the kitchen and as they were talking about the Operators in the crowd, there was three knocks on the door.