by Gideon Mills
It was empty, and no one was here. This was going to be interesting. At least the keys were in it. Even though she was thirty, this would be her first time driving.
Doing her best, she mimicked what she'd seen the others doing. It would be easier if Amita were on the upper levels. Those cars literally drove themselves, but this one didn’t.
Behind the wheel, she pressed the button to start, and the car roared to life. The first time Amita heard it, she thought it wasn’t too bad. This time, it hurt her ears. Amita pressed the pedal, and nothing happened. It took a moment, and she remembered Jonathan moving a knob.
Once Amita figured that out, she got the car going. Driving wasn’t too complicated. She could get used to it. Amita sped back toward New Detroit and the meeting point. She hoped to see some of the people. Most were going to drive to Chicago, even though it wasn’t the best city. Others would go farther south, to New St. Louis.
Back in the city, somehow, Amita was free. Her heart pounded as she drove through the dirty streets. Making her way to the meeting point was a slog. It didn’t help that Amita really didn’t know what she was doing.
Amita pulled in and parked the car at an awkward angle, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t alone when she got out. Surprisingly, Ihor was there with a mystery woman.
“Who’s she?” Amita asked.
“You won’t believe me,” Ihor said. He rubbed his hand on his head. “I don’t believe it.”
This had to be good. “Who?”
“I’m Marcus’s mom.”
Amita’s jaw dropped. His mother was the last person Amita expected. She didn’t know much about Marcus’s family, other than his brother worked at the scary place, and his dad was a director at Mara Corp. Even though Amita had spoken to both, albeit briefly, she had no feelings for them.
“Uh. Hi.”
His mother gave Amita a strained smile. “I heard from my husband that a raid occurred. I also heard that Marcus had been captured.”
“He’s alive,” Amita said. That made her day. They could save him. Free him. She wasn’t sure how, but it was possible. “We have to get him.”
“Slow down,” Marcus’s mother said. “Amita, first, we have to get out of here. The Security Force will know about this place soon. Second, we have to get more people. Third, we have to save him, but it isn’t going to be this second. I’m sure they will take him to his brother.”
Amita groaned. That meant the place used for experiments. That wasn’t going to be good for Marcus. “Why are you here? You aren’t part of the Resistance.”
“She isn’t,” Ihor said. “I’m not even sure how she knows any of this. Marcus didn’t tell you?”
“No, he didn’t. I have been keeping an eye out for this. It was only a matter of time. Keres isn’t the only person with a network.”
Amita suddenly liked this woman more. “What should I call you?”
Marcus had never told her the woman’s name, just Mom.
“Cynthia,” she said. “Follow me.”
Ihor nodded and trailed her, leaving her little choice. Amita followed up to the second level and into a luxury car. The younger woman was worried about this being a trap. Amita had no clue what was going to happen. It was hard to trust a person from a family involved deeply in the corruption of the country. The Wards were dangerous, and Amita feared this wouldn’t be good for the Resistance.
Before Amita knew it, they were on the fourth level and parking at an apartment building that shot up high into the sky. It nearly touched the bottom of five.
Ihor appeared to know the structure. “Here?”
“You will be safe,” Cynthia said with a firm voice.
Ihor didn’t seem to think so. Amita was completely lost since she really didn’t know any of the buildings.
“What is going on?” Amita asked.
Ihor gulped. “This is the second home of Keres. When she doesn’t want to go up to level five. She lives on the top two floors.”
“I’m going to pass,” Amita said.
“Where better to hide?” Cynthia asked. “There is an apartment on the tenth floor under a name that only I know. You will be safe. It is a hideout. I’ll learn what I can and get back to you.”
With reluctance, Amita followed her up, and the waiting game began.
A week passed with little information from Cynthia. Marcus was alive, that was about all they knew, and he was being experimented on. It pained Amita so much that he was being hurt and tortured, that she couldn’t save him.
Being stuck here with no real contact was awful. It was as if Amita was back to her old life. Amita went to work the first day, and nothing was wrong. She didn’t get arrested and decided it was safe to continue to go back. She couldn’t risk drawing attention.
Ihor and Cynthia refused to let Amita go back to her place. With help, they got her back to the hideout, and they were not followed. It made the trip long every night, but Amita was happy to get out and pretend things were normal.
The real surprise was that the enemy hadn’t realized Amita was part of it. Marcus had never said her name, and the Security Force members Amita faced off against didn’t scan or remember her. That baffled Amita since when on the street level, that was all they did, scan and detain people. It made more sense now.
They scanned to see who would be a good fit for the current round of upgrade testing, to make sure the people brought in would give a good sample of what the mods would do. Amita gritted her teeth.
She sat on a plush couch and read the tablet with reports from the city. Nothing unusual was going on. Amita kept expecting to see something in the stories about the raid, but since it wasn't supposed to exist, there was nothing.
Jonathan sent word to Ihor. The leader of the Resistance had reached Chicago and would be back in a week or two. The freed people had been given new chips and were shipped across the country. Amita was thankful that had worked out so well.
“She’s late,” Ihor said. He had just walked into the living room from the back of the apartment. “Not good. She’s never late.”
“I know.” Amita was nervous. Cynthia was supposed to arrive and give them an update. “Nothing we can do.”
Ihor nodded. Amita had gotten used to living with him. At first, it was a little rough and confusing. She had gotten used to living on her own since leaving the Halo Home. As an adult, she'd never had to share her tiny home.
Ihor was generally quiet and spent most of his day on the laptop. He said Amita didn’t have to worry about it being tracked. Not that she had been. Amita knew nothing about computers or hacking. That was all over her head, not part of the street level. They had rarely even seen one.
A knock sounded on the door. Ihor checked the peephole. “She’s here and not alone.”
He opened the door, and Cynthia strode in with a Security Force member.
Amita jumped to her feet. And scanned him.
David Strong: Security Force
Stats:
Intelligence: 1
Strength: 10
Cunning: 1
Speed: 10
Modification: both legs, arms, eyes, heart, ears, lungs
“What is he doing here?” Amita give Ihor a dirty look for letting this man in.
“He’s a friend,” Cynthia said. “He is trustworthy.”
Amita sneered, baring her teeth. It had been her experience never to trust a person in that uniform. Never, ever trust one. It was then that Amita wished the scan of people gave out even more information, but she realized almost immediately that she would have been disgusted if it had.
Ihor walked over to Amita and put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay,” he said.
He was calm and okay with it. Amita could try to be as well, though it went against every fiber of her body. “So be it,” Amita said.
They shut the door behind them and entered the hideout completely. Amita would be on edge the entire time with the Security Force member here.
“I work at t
he building. I have access to the area you seek,” the Force member said.
This was what she liked to hear. “Good.”
Cynthia took over. “Jameson let slip that Marcus won’t have much time left. They have been testing on him. I don’t know what. My younger child has a mean streak. I fear Marcus won’t be the same. We have to make a move.”
Amita didn’t like that at all. It pained Amita to her core that Marcus’s own brother was torturing him, hurting him in ways that Amita couldn’t even imagine. Something had to be done and fast. She feared for her love, and Amita would do anything to save him.
“When can we make a move?” Ihor asked right before she did.
“Tomorrow morning,” the David said. “I can get a few in. You can make a move then. You have to be fast.”
“No problem. I’ve been in before,” Amita said.
The Security Force member gave her a long glare. “The breach a while back?”
Amita nodded.
“Oh.” The man cracked a tiny smile for a fraction of a second, before whipping it away. Amita was mildly pleased.
Cynthia grinned too. “I’ll pick you up at five in the morning. We’ll go then.”
“How many?” Ihor asked. “I can get more men.”
The Security Force member looked at Cynthia. “I can only get in four without drawing attention.”
“Then only one more,” Cynthia said. Amita must have made a face. “Yes, I am going.”
“Okay,” Ihor said. “I’ll make a call.”
24
Time to save him
The next morning arrived after a long night. Amita tossed and turned the whole time, unable to sleep. She tried and tried, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Marcus and the pain he was in. Amita longed to help him, to save him. Her love was hurting, and she had let it happen. She called William and told him she was going to miss work today. He was fine with it.
Ihor led them out of the apartment and to the curb. As they exited, a tall grizzled man joined them.
“Ihor,” he said.
“Nickolas,” Ihor replied. “This is Amita.”
“Hi,” Amita said.
“Hey.” She had to scan him to learn about him. He had that ‘I’m a badass’ look to him.
Nickolas Swanson: Mara Corp Accountant
Stats:
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 10
Cunning: 1
Speed: 10
Modification: both legs, arms, right eye, lungs
If Amita had to guess, he was ready for any type of attack.
In the car, Cynthia and the Security Force member were ready. This was going to be intense. Marcus needed to be freed and in her arms. Amita had to care for him.
They drove in silence to the building across the level four. It was a tense and silent drive. Amita feared that they might all get caught and be forced into the experiments too. The thought was terrifying.
When they finally arrived, the Security Force member turned to them. “Follow me.”
He led them to the rear of the building and used a door that appeared to be for deliveries. Once inside, no one was around. Her body relaxed then. Amita had been worried this was a trap. It was tough to get past the uniform he wore.
They went through several hallways and then stopped at a familiar bank of elevators. So far, they had been unseen. The officer knew the route to avoid everyone.
“This is as far as I can take you,” David said.
They stepped into the elevator and went to level ten. The ride was fast, and Amita was ready to go. The three turned to her. Amita was the only one who had actually been to the room in question.
Amita gulped and led the way. It wasn’t easy to remember, but she managed to get them to the room without getting lost. Thankfully, no one saw them. It was still too early for most of the building's workers to be here.
But that wouldn’t last long.
They entered the room, and her companions’ jaws dropped. It was a complete shock. Amita had trouble, even though she had seen it before.
“On my lord,” Ihor said.
“It shouldn’t surprise me,” Cynthia said. “I really shouldn’t be surprised.”
Nickolas shrugged as if this was just like he had expected. “Mara Corp. Slime.”
Amita agreed with him. Slime was about the perfect word.
She went down the stairs, and the others followed.
“So many people,” Ihor said. “Can’t we help them?”
“You can try to release them,” Cynthia said. “But we can’t carry them all away.”
Ihor nodded. He knew that just as well as Amita did. They had talked about it many times. She had wanted to do just that. It had wrecked her not to.
Then she saw a person, one they weren’t looking for. There was no way she was leaving her there. Samantha lay on a table. Amita walked over to her. Sam had a plate on her head and her left arm had been changed. So had Sam’s eyes.
She looked at her. “Amita?”
“It’s me.” Amita turned to Ihor. “This one we save. She is my friend.”
“Okay.”
Amita knew she was being selfish, but she couldn’t leave her only childhood friend here. Ihor went to work on Sam, and Amita rushed around, trying to find Marcus in the large room that covered many floors of the building.
Twenty minutes in, Amita heard Cynthia scream and followed the noise. She was in a room off to the side. When Amita entered, Marcus was on the table. He was covered in burn marks. His other arm and both of his legs had been upgraded.
So far, they had left his face alone. Amita was sure it was only a matter of time. Marcus was unconscious. It took them several minutes to detach him from all the wires.
Once he was free, Cynthia and Amita lifted him and placed one arm over each of their shoulders to carry him out. They joined Ihor and Nickolas, who had Samantha. Then, they made their way to the exit.
They came into view. SF members were standing there waiting for them. They weren’t alone. In the group was Keres.
“Shit,” Ihor said.
They were doomed. That was the only way out. And the most powerful person in the world was there. Amita had never been so scared in her life. Her heart raced, and sweat started to pour down her back.
Keres walked down to them, as they stood in place. Amita couldn’t believe it.
“Hello,” Keres said with a condescending tone. “Cynthia.”
“Keres,” Marcus’s mother said. “You going to let us go?”
The evil woman smiled. “You? No. The men? No. Amita? Yes.”
They all turned to Amita. Now she was really worried about what was going one. Why would this vile woman want to save her, and not the others? They were much more important than she would ever be.
“I don’t know her,” Amita said. “I don’t know why she would say that.”
“Dear, dear,” Keres said. “Many don’t know.”
Cynthia cut her off. “Amita. Keres here has a secret. A deep, dark one.”
Keres stepped forward and smacked Cynthia. Marcus’s mother was knocked back, and her face turned instantly red. She rubbed her face and glared at Keres.
“You aren’t supposed to tell anyone,” Keres said. “No one. You swore to me.”
“And I haven’t.” Cynthia looked deep into Keres’s eyes, not wavering.
Keres sneered.
“What is going on?” Amita asked.
Marcus stirred as Amita held him.
Keres turned to Amita and walked closer. The Security Force members were right behind her. There were only four of them. They might be able to fight their way out. Amita was looking for any way to be free of here.
“Amita, dear.” Keres smiled in what Amita thought was supposed to be a friendly way. “Thirty years ago, when I was young, too young to have a child, I did.”
Amita couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Why was Keres telling Amita this?
She reached out to Amita, and she j
erked back.
Keres crinkled her nose. “You are that child.”
“No,” Amita said without even thinking.
“It’s true,” Cynthia said. “I helped her.”
Ihor stared at Amita. He was just as confused as Amita was. “That explains it,” he said.
Keres laughed. “I hid it well.”
“I don’t believe it.” Amita couldn’t be related to her. She had lost her parents when she was a kid. “The nuns told me about my parents.”
“False,” Keres said. “They lied for me.”
Amita refused believe it—or couldn’t. Who would put their own child through the hell Amita had lived? And when that person was the most powerful woman in the world? Amita just wasn’t able to wrap her mind around it.
“No,” Amita repeated.
Without thinking, Amita let Marcus go, to be supported by just his mother. Amita punched Keres, knocking her out before the Security Force members could react. Nickolas left Sam to be held by Ihor and joined Amita in her assault. They both went for the closest member. Amita used her training; she had been keeping up with it. Amita got close and used several punches and kicks on joints, the weak points on the body, whether real or cybernetic.
The man wasn’t expecting Amita to be able to fight. It surprised him. Amita made quick work of him. She wasn’t as fast as Nickolas, who had a long blade come out of one arm and a hammer on the other. He used both with a skill that amazed Amita. He was on his second member. The last one looked at him and Amita and then made a move against her.
Mistake. Amita let the member get close, sidestepped, and used the man’s size against him. She took him down with a kick to the back of the knee and a punch to the side of the head.
With them down, we had a brief window to escape. “Run,” she said.
The six of them left the room and made their way down the corridor that led to the elevator. Regular workers were trickling in but ran from them. Amita didn’t mind at all.
Down the elevator and back the way they came. No other Security Force members responded.