Concealed through the cold and darkness, Gloria carried a communication towards her closest friend. She had kept the secret to herself, all day, just as the messenger had entrusted her to do. They had given her implicit instructions, and a progression of signals, to share with only one other, a figure few could find. Vesta, guardian of the sacred fire. Time was of the essence, and nearly as soon as Gloria accepted the task, almost like a test of her inner mettle, dark clouds above birthed thundersnows layering the city with record snowfall and dropping subzero temperatures colder than any day in recent memory.

Gloria wouldn’t reach out to her friend by digital or electronic means, Vesta simply didn’t use them. She believed patrolling MILDREAD’s were always listening. For this very reason, Gloria left her communication device behind, because they most certainly were. The government tasked the military to use their cyborg dreadnoughts to scan all communication channels for elements of resistance chatter and keep a close eye on members of the population that made them feel uneasy. In almost all cases, the safest way to communicate had to be face-to-face.

Shatters of lightning amidst the thundersnow illuminated MILDREAD units populating the streets in greater numbers than usual. Between them and the weather, Gloria had her work cut out for her. However, Gloria had gained an item from the messenger that, along with the whiteout, helped to negate their detection protocols. A pin which when attached to her jacket and activated rendered her invisible to automaton scans. Despite the multitudes of MILDREAD’s about, they completely ignored her presence.

Vesta changed her location frequently, largely out of paranoia. It was another one of her rules, which ultimately safeguarded her against discovery. However, Gloria knew Vesta preferred churches as her hideout, and there was some reason to deducing where she would be. Vesta had separated the city into twelve quadrants, each with three churches apiece. Gloria knew she rotated between the quadrants monthly, and the churches every ten days. Being the first month of a new year, Vesta would almost certainly be in quadrant number one. Lucky for Gloria, that happened to span over several of the blocks nearby.

As Gloria came upon the first church, she found it quiet and uninhabited, aside for MILDREAD units prowling the grounds about. When Gloria attempted the main entrance, it was barred and locked. She checked a couple other access points, looked in the windows, but could find no signs suggesting her friend harbored inside. Gloria moved through the biting cold, onto the next location a few blocks away.

The second church was illuminated and open, and Gloria made her way inside. The innards of this sanctuary were frigid. A few souls huddled close to each other beneath blankets within the pews. They prayed together with a man of faith, thanking the powers that be, and counting the blessings they did have. Vesta was not here. Gloria departed, intent on finding her friend at the final church.

As Gloria neared the last cathedral, a warmth radiated from its innards that melted the snow nearest the outer walls before it could even land. The main door was barred, but Gloria found a side portico where she could gain entrance. She rapped three, six, and seven times upon the door. At first, nothing. It wouldn’t even budge. Then, the door opened, and Gloria along with the blizzard rushed in, trailing slush on the floor. There before her stood the guardian of the sacred flame, Vesta.

“Good heavens! Why in the world are you out in this mess? Have you seen the number of MILDREAD’s patrolling the streets? It’s unsafe to move about.”

While removing her coat, Gloria looked left, and then right, and whispered, “I simply HAD to find you and tell you this in person, regardless of how many of those nosey old MILDREAD’s I had to avoid. A messenger came to me today, in search of you. I think it is time.”

Vesta looked at her friend and repeated the words, “It is time?” She fashioned a pen and paper and prepared to translate. “Detail me the signs.” Gloria signed with her hands the progression she had memorized from the messenger, a silent message designed especially for her friend. After Gloria finished the movements, Vesta produced a location and a time. She looked at her friend and asked, “Do you know what this means?”

Gloria nodded. “It’s time to end this decade long winter and restore sunlight and warmth to our land.”

“Yes, and this is the location of the weather machine that keeps us perpetually in darkness and cold. Steel your mettle. Tonight the resistance attacks, and we will be with them.”