The clock said it was a few minutes before midnight. It was the only way Marie could have known. They were in a hidden basement under the art museum Sam Morse worked at. His boss was sympathetic to the cause, which was the only reason they had such a safe hiding place.

The joke was there. Being a part of the underground now meant actually living underground. No, not live. Hide. This had to be a temporary thing. She tried not to think about it, as at times it made her feel completely stir crazy.

Marie walked over to the room she and Sophie shared and gave a soft tap on the door before opening it up a crack. Sophie was in bed, reading.

“Yes?” Sophie sounded so formal. They had been best friends growing up, as close as sisters, but Sophie got her memory wiped and forgot everything about her former life. Sophie’s fake blond hair was spilling over her shoulders, but her real brown hair started to come in at the roots.

“Just checking if you wanted to come join the meeting. It’ll be the last time before the guys start up their internship on Monday,” Marie said.

“No thanks.” Sophie brought up a poetry book closer to her face. It took everything inside Marie to stop a snort from happening. It was a slap in the face of old Sophie to read poetry, but Marie wasn’t sure she should mention it. Sophie’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. With a clear of the throat and a smile, Marie closed the door with a soft click before heading to the main area with the table.

Every Friday Marie would ask Sophie to join their meeting because she wanted Sophie to be there. Part of her hoped talking about what was going on with her parents would jog her memory. The other part wanted to make sure Sophie wasn’t going to abandon them and run back to her parents. Her parents, the power couple of the S.E.A. Her parents, who she loathed before she got her memory wiped. Her parents, one of the main reasons her memory was wiped in the first place.

The hatch above them opened, and Marie placed her worries of Sophie in a box to be examined later as Albert, Abe, Billy, and Edgar climbed down the ladder. She couldn’t help but smile. Partly because she was happy to see them, and also because this meant they were still alive.

“Did everything go okay?” Charles asked the guys.

They all nodded. Marie sat at the table and glanced again at the door of her and Sophie’s room. What else could she do for Sophie? She knew Sophie, or she thought she did. Memory wiped Sophie was harder to predict than her BFF Sophie.

“Hey,” Albert said as he took the seat next to her.

Marie smiled. “Hi, Albert.”

He brought his leg up and hugged his knee, giving her a carefree smile. “Did you hear about cold fusion?”

Marie’s eyes brightened. “Yes! Charles smuggled a magazine down to us, and I got to read the article.”

“That there is science fiction if I ever heard it. I mean, what do you expect from those magazines? Cold fusion was the story after an Elvis sighting, after all. But if it were actually true?” Albert asked.

Marie didn’t bother to hide her excitement. She loved talking science with Albert. “So many possibilities! Cars, buildings, trains! Can you imagine the cleanest source of energy in the entire universe?”

There was a curiosity in Albert’s brown eyes that drew Marie to keep listening. “That would be a breakthrough for inventors. I wonder how one would go around testing it? I mean, if it wasn’t science fiction.”

Marie placed her elbow against the table, resting her chin on her hand. “Oh, I’m sure every invention was once considered science fiction.”

“Hmm. One would first have to solidify the chemical reaction. Make sure the solution is viable. Then somehow create power cells capable of soaking in the energy of the reaction.”

Marie flexed her fingers and felt the faint creak in her joints. “And there’s a matter of making sure the reaction is stable enough.”

“Yeah, this literally sounds like the beginning of a super villain’s origin story,” Billy said.

Marie was so caught up in chatting with Albert that she completely missed noticing Billy and Abe who sat across from her.

“I mean, I guess so. Or the pathway to a brighter future,” Marie said.

Billy shrugged. “That’s what most people think before they become super villains.”

Albert rolled his eyes. “Right, Billy. Do you think we’ll become super villains?”

“No. But it would be an awesome story,” Billy said.

“Just as long as there’s no spit takes,” Abe said.

Billy whirled around and stared at Abe as though he had just insulted his family. “Are you still on that, Abe Lincoln?” Billy said sternly as though he was Abe’s mother.

“Of course, Billy Shakespeare,” Abe said, hugging his knees. Even sitting down, Abe seemed so ridiculously tall. It was probably because his knees were poking over the edge of the table. “The spit take is overused in literature and never actually happens in real life.”

Billy scoffed, flicking a string of his dark brown hair out of his face. “Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen in real life.”

Marie leaned in closer to Albert. “Should I know what’s going on? Are they actually having a fight over the validity of a spit take?”

Albert gave a sigh. “They watched a show where a guy spat out his water after some revelation. They’ve been fighting over whether or not they actually happen in real life.”

“The spit take is only for comedic purposes, which means it’s only done in books and movies. It doesn’t happen in real life,” Abe said.

Billy’s usual jovial face looked serious, like he was debating Abe on a topic of the utmost importance. “I agree that the way they’re portrayed in the media isn’t realistic. It’s far more disgusting.”

“Um, water never leaves the mouth.” Abe pointed at his mouth. “They just stare at you and awkwardly swallow at best.”

Billy raised his hands, gesturing to the small room filled with the members of the underground. “Given the right circumstances, any person here could do a spit take.”

Abe glanced around the room at the people chatting in small groups before the start of the meeting. In fact, only the four of them were sitting at the table. “Not even you could set that up,” Abe said.

Billy straightened in his seat. “Five bucks says I can get someone to do a spit take before the meeting ends.”

“Spit take, meaning the water they drink spews out of their mouth,” Abe said.

“The water will spew from their mouth,” Billy repeated in an exaggerated tone. He paused to think. “And maybe their nose.”

Albert and Marie made disgusted faces as Abe nodded. “You’re on.”

Billy smiled as he got up. In a louder voice he turned to Harriet. “Hey, where are the glasses here? I think everyone should have some water for this meeting.”

Harriet, who was busy talking with Alice, pointed to the cupboards above the sink. Albert shook his head. “No way I’m drinking any water during this meeting.”

Albert had been trying hard to be nice to Marie. It was enough that Marie took notice. He had been a jerk lately, but at this moment, it almost felt like old times when Albert and Marie could just be friends. It made Marie smile. “Yeah. Me either.”

They watched in gleeful silence as Billy began placing water at everyone’s spot.

“Let’s start this meeting,” Charles said as he sat down and ran a hand through his brown hair. There was once a time Marie was completely overwhelmed with how perfect Charles looked in every way. Now she had moved on from feeling overwhelmed, even if it was still a shock to see his perfectly symmetrical face and gorgeous blue-gray eyes. “Let’s go over the agenda. Oh, thank you, Billy.” Charles took a sip of water and Albert, Abe, and Marie all glanced at Billy who did nothing as he set a glass down in front of Harriet. “Abe? Is everything set for your death?”

Abe snorted. “Sorry, it sounds funny. Yeah, I’ll be ready.”

“The tech is all set up in the abandoned apartment,” Harriet said. “No one’s lived there for years, and it’s well away from regular citizens, so the blast won’t hurt anyone.”

Billy sat up straight, placing his hands on the table. “Is the microwave going to explode? Tell me you put explosives in the microwave.”

It was a testament to how familiar Charles was with Billy that he hardly gave him a glance before turning his attention back to Abe. “Remember, you and Sam need to find a way to convince the clearing that there is another option. We do not have to follow Josef. You are proof that artistic people are not willing to follow President Arnold, either.”

“But also don’t actually say you’re artistic,” Marie couldn’t help but blurt out. “Josef is a psychopath, and he hates artistic people.”

“I’ll be as careful as I can.” Abe’s reply didn’t give her much hope.

“Okay, and Edgar?” Charles glanced at Edgar then away again. Marie couldn’t blame him. Marie still couldn’t get over how frightening Edgar looked. His thick brown hair never looked combed. It didn’t help that he had a ghost of a mustache on his upper lip. His dark eyes were paired with darker eyeliner, and it didn’t help that he looked like he was plotting everyone’s death.

Charles tapped his finger against the table. “Have you recorded what Abe will say before he’s dying?” Charles winced. Albert chuckled quietly at Charles’ obvious discomfort. Edgar stared at Charles, then glanced at Abe, then back at Charles before giving a small nod.

“The takes we did expressed enough desperation and fear,” Edgar said.

Alice began to play with her short bob of black hair, staring at the table with her brown eyes, processing what Edgar said. Harriet placed her hand through her brown hair before glancing at Edgar and trying to smile. Charles cleared his throat. Marie and her dad exchanged glances. Billy simply nodded and waited for the next order of business. Marie kept telling herself that Edgar hadn’t actually tortured Abe to get the noises, but she had to struggle not to clarify that with Abe.

Charles pulled out some papers. “These are the Junior Officials you three are going to be under. Hopefully this will make the transition a little easier. Remember, we want to recruit people to our cause, we do not want a war. President Arnold and Josef are both bad options, and we are a third option. We just need more people to be a valid third option.”

He gave the papers to Albert, Edgar, and Billy. Marie couldn’t help but glance over Albert’s shoulder at his official. There was no picture attached, just a resume list of the guy’s accomplishments.

“Nice work, Charles. I didn’t know you were capable of this level of sneakery,” Billy said.

“Harriet got them,” Charles mumbled.

Billy picked up his water glass and gave Harriet a toast with his glass. Harriet lifted hers up to return the toast, then took a long drink. Again, Albert and Marie glanced at Billy, but he said nothing.

Charles gave a small smile before turning his attention again to Abe. “Sam’s already crossed the wall and, since I haven’t seen him as a hobo, he’s going to be at the safe house, waiting for you. From Marie’s report, we figured it will take about a full day for someone to come collect you, and hopefully seeing Sam they’ve already sent someone over. Remember, you two don’t know each other.”

Abe nodded. Billy, for some strange reason, began singing one note very loudly. Marie panicked for a moment, thinking his chip had been activated, but the more she listened to his sustained note, the more something felt off. Billy closed his mouth, smacking his lips. Charles stared at Billy. “Was that a yawn?”

With a frown, Billy glanced around at everyone else as though they didn’t sing while yawning. He pointed at his mouth. “No need to let a perfectly good open mouth go to waste.”

Abe rolled his eyes, but smiled. Charles sighed. “Alright. From now on, meetings every Friday at midnight. No texting each other, no communication, no nothing. We only communicate here in the safe house.”

House was a stretch. More like a cramped basement. They all nodded, the somber mood thickening.

“I have something I need to request,” Tom said as he pulled out a piece of paper. He leaned forward awkwardly with his leg in a cast, but managed to get the picture on the table. “This is a picture of my old roommate. I haven’t seen him in decades, but he might need help.”

Everyone leaned in to see a picture of a young man in an old photograph. Marie knew this was Nikola Tesla, but if Tom wasn’t going to volunteer that information, she wouldn’t give it either.

“What’s so important about this guy?” Alice asked.

Tom gave a twitch of a smile. “Let’s just say we really don’t want the S.E.A. to kidnap him. We might need to offer him a safe place to hide.”

Harriet turned her head to the side to get a better look at it. “Do you have a more recent picture?”

“Unfortunately no,” Tom said.

“I think there’s some aging technology at the S.E.A. you could use,” Alice said to Charles.

Charles gave a small nod. “Yeah, I’ll try that. Then we can have everyone keep an eye out. If Tom doesn’t want this guy falling in the S.E.A.’s hands, then we have to be vigilant.”

Marie stared at the picture, but she didn’t recognize him at all. She tried to imagine him the same age as Tom, more gray hair for example, but it would be better if she had a picture of what he might look like. Though, for a reason she couldn’t shake, he did seem familiar somehow.

“Hey Charles, have you asked Alice on that date yet?” Billy asked.

A thick spray of water descended on the inhabitants of the table. Marie instinctively closed her eyes as Charles began sputtering and choking. When the water stopped coming, Billy wiped his face with one palm and, in a discrete manner, held his other palm in Abe’s direction without looking at him. Abe grumbled as he opened his wallet and pulled out a bill before slapping it in Billy’s hand. Harriet gave a disgusted face as she tried to shake the water off her arms. Albert shook his head with a slight smile as he wiped the side of his face with his sleeve.

“On that note,” Charles said, trying to act like the last five seconds hadn’t happened, “Meeting adjourned.”

He stood up quickly and left Alice looking at him in an annoyed but curious fashion.