Everything stilled, it was as if his world had stopped moving. Seconds seemed to tick by without anything happening. There was something peaceful about the stillness that resonated within him making him believe it hadn't happened, but, it was gone all too soon, the world unfroze, snapping back into place as everyone but him moved. Moving away from Jazz. Away from the sickness. Jazz stood still, flaming orange hair like his very own personal spotlight. James felt his heart thud against his ribs like a bird trapped in a glass house. It was a painful sort of bashing. How could this happen? Why would this happen?

He felt selfish for thinking it, he was losing his only friend, but, Jazz was going to be kicked out, forced to follow the woman to his death. He vaguely wondered if that was the reason Abe had waited for so long. Normally, the sickness spread, and at least four people were evicted as the same time. Sent to die, but, with the small comfort of not being alone. Whatever comfort that was he didn't know, but, he knew he had to go with Jazz, no matter what. He stepped towards Jazz.

'JAMES!' Abe roared.

He froze.

'Don't take another step!' Abe said sternly.

James sent Jazz an apologetic look, but, Jazz had already backed away from him.

'I'll be okay,' Jazz muttered holding up his arms as if to ward him off, but, he could hear he didn't mean it. How could he?

'I'll go with you,' he managed. 'I'm ready.'

'No!' Abe exclaimed. 'You're nowhere close.'

James gritted his teeth. How much more training could he undergo, learning about the outside world from books and the knowledge of his teacher. All so he could assimilate and fit in.

'You can't keep me here,' he shouted surprising himself. The tunnellers rustled and murmured behind him, but, he didn't care anymore. They hated him because he was different, because he was born without a Unit. It wasn't his fault. And, it wasn't his responsibility to take on the Corporation, but, he was trying, he was learning despite the fact that he was risking his life. He had decided to fight, to stop people from living their lives under the servitude of the Unit. Of course only Abe, Bridgette and... Jazz knew about his plight. It was impossible to keep Jazz out of the loop, besides, he had to tell someone. Had to discuss what he had learnt.

An idea sparked. What if what he had learnt would save Jazz?

The Unit made medicine redundant; everything was controlled and regulated through the Unit. But, out there, there might be something that could save his friend. Out there was supposed to be impossible, so it wasn't improbable that something in the books could've regrown. A plant, a remedy...

Abe walked towards him cutting him from his thoughts, his strides purposeful. But, he was saved the trouble of what James was sure would have been a scathing response by Jazz.

'James,' his friend said, 'his voice somehow sounded strong, 'you know I can't let you come with... not this time. Not yet,' he finished knowingly.

James was about to call his bluff when someone else coughed. The tiny sound spluttered into the chamber echoing around like a car coming to life. And, then it built, the tonsil tickle turning into a hacking chorus that reverberated around him. There was a spark of familiarity, but, before he had a chance to see who it was, a force of chaotic emotions crashed into him. The wave almost overwhelmed him...

He didn't see anything, but he could feel everything. The tunnellers panicked letting go of their emotions, losing control... they moved away from the new patient like water around a boulder. He didn't know what to do, but, subconsciously he knew he had to calm them before they triggered their Units. It was difficult, he was struggling under a torrent of his own emotions, but, somehow he managed to soothe their anxiety away as if he was linked into them.

The whole chamber seemed to exhale as one. Breathing in tandem with him, again he felt that feeling of complete control. He looked at Abe wondering if he could convince him to let him...

The thought made him recoil. He dropped the unexplainable connection immediately. He didn't know what was happening to him and right now it didn't matter...

A girl had stepped forward on trembling legs. A girl that set his heart beating so fast he was afraid that someone else's Unit would pick up on it. She lifted her delicate hand, covered her mouth and coughed.

'No,' he whispered. Julia didn't look at him, instead she walked towards Jazz. She stopped next to him, standing on his right, her body rigid, her eyes wet.

He went numb. He couldn't move, couldn't talk, he simply watched as Abe motioned towards the exit like an air hostess. It was so wrong; he couldn't even shake Jazz's hand or embrace him in farewell. And, Julia... a section of the chamber split and Abe shot him a glare, but, the crack only widened.

Some of the tunnellers screamed.

'James,' Abe hissed, 'get out of here.'

He didn't need telling twice. He didn't want anyone to end up hurt, and Jazz and Julia had already disappeared from view. Walking out of the darkness and into the light. A cruel irony, he thought as he spun and walked from the eviction knowing that if he didn't do anything, and soon, he would probably never see them again...