The Sensorians: Awakening

go and ask now.  Get it over and done with.”
He stood up reluctantly and motioned me to follow him.
“Please let me do the talking though,"  he said curtly but with a pleading look in his eyes.
Zack knocked on Markus's door and I was surprised to hear a woman's voice inviting us in.  His room was light and airy, not at all what I had expected, and in the middle of the room stood a striking looking woman.  Her gentle eyes exuded confidence, and looked straight into mine.  There was no hiding from her.  Her blonde hair pinned up in an immaculate bun, something that I could never achieve with my hair.
“Hello, you must be Eliza."
She took my hand in hers and gave a firm shake.
“I'm Laura, Markus's wife and co-leader.”
She smiled at what must have been my surprised face.
“Did no one tell you? Typical men!"
She flung an accusing glance at Zack, who looked sheepishly back at her.
“I suppose Zack hasn't told you either that I'm also...”
She stopped mid sentence responding to a poignant look Zack had thrown her.  I couldn't work out what it meant and she quickly continued, changing the subject.
“Anyway, nice to meet you at last.  I've heard a lot about you.  Have you settled in okay in your room?"  she asked kindly.
“Getting there,"  I answered a little hesitantly.
She immediately picked up on that and asked if there was anything else I needed to help me feel comfortable.  I looked at Zack who was shaking his head menacingly.  I ignored him.
“Well, there was something I was promised to get access to, but it hasn't happened yet and it would make me feel so much better and more relaxed if I were able to.”
I saw Zack rolling his eyes at me, looking grim.
“Laura, Ma'am, nothing was promised.  I can assure you.  I'm sorry, we shouldn't be bothering you with this anyway.  Where's Markus? We'll talk to him.”
He looked apologetically at Markus's wife and accusingly at me.  However, Laura waved his comments aside and addressed me again.
“Okay honey, what is it that you so desire to make you feel comfortable?”
I took a moment to consider but decided to go for it and ask her straight out if I could have some FaceTime with my boyfriend and best friend.  I wasn't prepared for her reaction as she looked such a kind and sensible lady.  But now I understood Zack's reaction.  She stared at me, her furrowed brow making her look quite fearsome.
“You really have no idea, do you?"  she hissed through gritted teeth.
“Has no one informed you of the gravity of the situation and the need to be totally off grid? No access to any communication devices at all! If the wrong people found out you, the daughter of Rick, were here? It could endanger everyone!”
Then she turned her attention to Zack.
“I'm disappointed in you, you of all people should know better than to promise things that are not possible”.
Zack straightened his back and got ready to defend his actions.
“Ma'am,"  he started, but was interrupted by Markus entering the room.
He felt the tension and somehow managed to diffuse it in an instant.  I could see why Zack admired this man.  He immediately noticed something was off and took charge.
“Right, Zack and Eliza, come with me.  You can tell me about what just happened and we'll find a solution.  Laura, don't worry.  Whatever Zack did wrong, he'll learn from it.  Remember, we were young and inexperienced once.  Can you brief the team please and find out if anything else has been discovered?”
Laura had regained control over her emotions and swooped out of the room, still glaring at Zack.
“Zacharya, what the hell was that about?"  Markus started when he closed the door to his office.
It was a spacious, modern looking room with a bookcase full of books, making the place a little less sterile.  I felt a bit sorry for Zack now and was about to say something, but he was quicker than me.
“Sorry Sir, I apologise.  I told Eliza that I was going to ask you if she could use FaceTime to talk to Kasper and Bella, knowing full well that that was going to be impossible.  I felt it necessary at the time as Eliza was ….”
And he looked at me when he said this
“...inconsolable and rather insistent.”
He stared at the floor, not wanting to look Markus in the eye.
I didn't understand what the big deal was.  They were behaving as if he'd broken the law! All I wanted to do was reassure my friends, which probably would stop them bothering my mum or get suspicious.  I decided to make my case to Markus, but when I looked at him I couldn't get my words out.  What was it with this man? In any case, it wasn't necessary as, to my and Zack's surprise, Markus had decided for himself it might actually be a good idea.
“Under strict supervision, you may make a call on FaceTime.  You must tell Zack exactly what you plan to say and if any awkward questions arise you must defer a straight answer.  Never be precise, just leave it open ended.  Remember it's for your own safety and for all of us that you remain underground.”
Decided, just like that.  I wondered what he was going to tell Laura, as I guessed she wouldn't be pleased.  Markus wasn't finished yet.  He beckoned Zack.
“A word please.  Now."
He motioned for one of the girls working just outside his office, to come and 'look after' me, though I was never out of his field of vision.
I took the time to have a good look around the place.  Computers were everywhere and people tapping away behind them.  One area was busy with people congregated around a big screen, quietly but urgently talking.  I wondered what they had found out, but I didn't dare leave the seat that Karen had put me on whilst she was dealing with a phone call.  I could see Zack coming out of the office with a stoic