Perryn stood wide-eyed as she scanned the arena. Their eyes connected, and her lips betrayed a small smile. He recognized her time on Blue Team had filled her with doubts that she would ever return to the surface. Now that she was here, he couldn’t imagine her joy knowing that the next couple of days were all that were keeping her from home. Mandatory retirement awaited all runners who participated in the Chase. This procession was her victory lap. All she wanted, she had already won.
On his other side, he was surprised to see Jaden’s face. His wasn’t an expression of awe or joy. Willis wasn’t sure, but he seemed saddened by the crazed stadium. He scanned the people filling the stands as if he was studying individual faces and searching for something.
The son of a slave must see this very differently. Willis reached up and put a hand on Jaden’s shoulder.
He glanced over at Willis and breathed in a sigh of thanks. “People like my mother built this, you know,” Jaden said over the thunder of the crowd. Willis nodded in agreement, but he privately chastised himself for forgetting the real cost of the Law and the Chase.
Their attention turned to the center of the arena where the twelve platforms converged around a shallow circular stage where the chairman and the deputy chairmen and chairwomen stood. The other racers acted as awestruck as those on their platform, once their faces came into focus. That is, all but one. Willis’s eyes caught one racer that appeared rather unimpressed with the entire scene. He stared until the platforms got closer and he could make out the racer’s face. His breath caught when he saw who it was.
Antonio DeLuca stood on the platform of the Joint Mediterranean States. He was the racer who had fallen in the previous year’s Chase, and the one person believed to legitimately threaten Willis.
But how? Willis’s mind raced. He raced last year. He can’t race this year!
“Willis, what is he doing here?” Perryn couldn’t mask the worry in her voice.
“I have no idea.” Willis shook his head. “He shouldn’t be here.”
Nonetheless, Antonio stood there appearing as determined as ever. He wasn’t watching the crowds or hearing the fanfare. He gazed sternly over the floor of the stage at Willis’s face, and an understanding passed between the two of them. Antonio had no thought of repeating last year’s mistake. He was here to beat Willis and beat him soundly.
“Citizens of the glorious World Coalition,”—the chairman’s amplified voice echoed through the stadium—“before you are gathered the hope and future of our world. The alliances of the earth have given up the best of their youth to compete, not for our enjoyment, but that they may shower all of us with their grace. For it is they who will shape the way the Law guides us.”
At this comment, Willis was sure the chairman looked straight at him.
“First, let us as world citizens stop and remember those who paid so dearly during the Great Collapse. Please join together in silence to remember those who cannot be forgotten lest we forget all we have been saved from.”
A hush came over the crowd, and the roar of thousands of cheering people transformed into a deafening silence. All over the world, Willis knew, people would be standing silently during this moment.
A sudden noise in the stands to Willis’s right drew his attention. A woman pressed her way through the crowd. A murmur spread from that area of the stadium. Behind her, Willis could see uniformed guards closing in on her position. Reaching the edge of the stands, she took a frightened glance at the guards. Turning to the center she shouted in the common language of the Coalition.
“Slaves! The Law has made us slaves. Turn from it, all of you.”
She was one person, but the total silence amplified her cries. The acoustics of the stadium carried her plea through the crowd. The guards rushed her position. Willis saw them insert a syringe into her neck, and a second later, she collapsed.
“We’re not alone, Willis,” Jaden whispered. Willis nodded. He wasn’t sure what awaited the woman who was hauled away by the guards, but he didn’t question her courage. The attention of the crowd returned to the stage.
“Citizens,” the chairman said, clearing his throat. “While there are those who would mock the beauty of our Coalition, may we all be reminded this year of the peace and security the Law gives us.”
Screens around the arena lit up with images from all over the world. Pictures of smiling children, celebrating families, dancing, culture, and art filled the frame. The video captured an idyllic view of the Coalition and was met with approving applause from the crowd.
“And now,” he continued, “may you join us here tomorrow as we commence this year’s Chase!”
The crowd roared. The fervor of the event returned. The woman’s cries were forgotten.
Chapter Thirty-One
There had been more fanfare and cheers from the crowd, but the ceremony ended soon. Willis stepped down from the platform back at the hanger and wiped the beading sweat from his head with his sleeve.
“That was something,” he said, stepping into the welcome relief of the air-conditioned elevator. He steadied himself as it lurched to return them to the barracks.
“That was nothing.” Perryn crossed her arms. “Did you see how everyone went on as if it never happened?”
“Perr,” Jaden spoke softly. “What she said wasn’t a waste. For a moment, the world heard the truth. That woman gave what little she had, and for a second it outshined all the gloss and glitter the Coalition uses to dazzle everyone.”
“What’s going to happen to her?” Perryn looked back toward the stadium.
“I don’t know.” Willis shrugged. “Nothing good, I imagine, so we’d better make her sacrifice worth it.”
They returned to their quarters, and Willis cleaned up. He laid down, certain that sleep would be hard to come by that night. His thoughts centered on the Chase, his parents, and all that the next two days held. A buzz at the door startled him. Climbing off the bed he opened it and was surprised by a nervous Stan.
“What are you doing here, Stan? I thought your job was done?” Willis leaned against the door opening.
“Sorry, Willis.” He avoided Willis’s gaze. “You have one more unexpected appointment.”
“Who wants to meet me this time? The chairman’s mother?”
“The doctors forgot to administer one test. Follow me.”
Willis rolled his eyes. He’d been poked and prodded enough that day, but he figured he would get to return sooner if he went along with it. The two of them walked to the medical section of their barracks. Walking into a room, a partially reclined chair sat in the middle of the space.
“Have a seat,” Stan said flatly. “They’ll be with you in a minute.” With that, he left the room still staring at the floor.
The doors reopened. A man in a white lab coat entered flanked by two guards. These were followed by a short man with greasy black hair and an Alliance insignia on his jacket.
“What’s going on?” Willis looked at the guards and started to get up.
“Calm down, Mr. Thomson,” the man said. “These gentlemen are simply my escort.”
Willis sat down, but he didn’t relax. He stared at the four men who’d entered, the Alliance official studying him for a moment in silence. The man in the lab coat approached a table in the corner and began preparing something, his back shielding Willis’s view.
“Mr. Thomson, I am the Administrative Liaison to the Coalition Chairman’s Office.”
“The what?”
“Let’s say that I help carry out the chairman’s needs in the Western Alliance.”
“I was told this was a medical test.”
“Mr. Thomson.” He ignored the comment. “I’m here to provide assurance to our chairman of your loyalty to the Coalition. Too much has been invested in you to have the dangerous ideas of certain participants cloud your judgment on the matter.” He stopped and stared at Willis to see his reaction to the statement.
Willis sat stone-faced. He means Jaden.
“You see, I share the chairman’s concern that the Coalition exists on the knife-edge of peace. Tip off-center a bit, and we fall into anarchy again. He has called upon the Western Alliance to help him ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Willis pointed to himself. “And what does that have to do with me?”
“You will see to it that emergency powers are granted to the chairman to take whatever measures are needed to snuff out shameful displays like the one at the opening ceremonies today.”
“What?” Willis laughed in disbelief.
The official sighed in annoyance and glanced over at the doctor, examining whatever it was he was preparing on the table. He turned back to Willis, his lips curling into a sinister smile.
“Many years ago, it became apparent that the Coalition couldn’t function perfectly with the current model of twelve equal alliances. The Lawgivers were too idealistic in their belief that people from varied backgrounds and cultures could work together. The beauty of what we’ve created is threatened each year as the less worthy alliances fail to follow the leadership of the Coalition. Voices are growing stronger that challenge the very fabric of our world peace.”
“You mean the authority of the chairman,” Willis interrupted.
“Call it what you will.” The liaison sighed. “They are one and the same. The will of the chairman is the will of the Coalition. He is the protector of the Law, and he won’t see it cast to ruin by the agenda of alliances who insist on causing trouble. That is why he came to us for help.”
“Us?”
“The Western Alliance. When your parents announced your coming birth, our wise chairman saw an opportunity. A great racer would be born in you, and you could restore our world back to order. The years since your birth have been spent preparing for your moment.”
Willis swallowed hard. “Preparing? What do you mean?”
The man approached him, smiling. “Mr. Thomson, by passing emergency powers to the chairman, you’re giving him the ability to use the resources of the Western Alliance to control the dissident alliances around the world. It took time to prepare these resources, but we are ready.”
“Resources? You mean armies, don’t you? To control the other alliances?” Willis was starting to understand the chairman’s idea of “protecting his people.”
“Don’t be so short-sighted.” His eyes narrowed. He walked the perimeter of the room and gestured as if giving a lecture. “This goes far beyond armies, though the use of Law-keeping forces will be necessary. We’ve compiled strategies and weapons. We’ve secretly placed key people in positions of leadership around the world. All the pieces are in place. As soon as you pass this law, the chairman will crush all opposition in one swift move and usher in the true perfection of the Law. The Western Alliance will become the World Coalition. We will have peace and prosperity like the world has never seen.”
Willis couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This official in front of him acted genuinely convinced of what he was saying. Willis shuddered at the idea of how many people would die opposing this move.
“There’s no way I’ll cooperate. You expected me to agree to do this?” Willis scoffed.
“Sadly, no.” The liaison nodded to the doctor, and before Willis could react, a needle was in his neck injecting him with a solution.
“What are you doing?” Willis jerked away, but it was too late. The solution was in his blood stream.
“The chairman wasn’t convinced of your loyalty when he met you shortly after your return to the surface. By law, we can’t force you to pass any particular law. But like I said, we pride ourselves on planning ahead. You’re aware that you were genetically recoded as a child?”
“Yes. So what?” He angrily rubbed the new wound on his neck. Willis thought better than to reveal his knowledge of his parents’ intentions to keep him from training.
“Among other reasons for doing so,”—he smiled crookedly again—“your recoding allowed for two suggestions to be planted into your subconscious, which will be awakened by the neuro-stimulant the doctor has given you. The first was an unwavering desire to win the Chase, simple enough and part of why you have performed so well in training. The second was—well—let’s say you’re going to be far more open to passing emergency powers to the chairman. We won’t have to force you to do anything.”
Willis shuddered. He could feel it. He tried to focus his mind on all he and Jaden had intended to do if they won the Chase, but that idea grew distant. He strained his mind, reaching for the idea, but a haze kept it shrouded. It no longer made sense. Everything the chairman intended to do felt—agreeable—even admirable. In fact, Willis found in moments he was angry that he’d ever questioned the idea.
“I can see in your eyes the stimulant is taking effect. I’m happy to see you’re coming around.”
“What if I lose?” Willis was suddenly not sure if he was questioning the plans of the man or if he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to help the chairman.
“Again, Mr. Thomson, we plan ahead. The Western Alliance was more than happy to support the Joint Mediterranean States in their appeal over the fall of Mr. DeLuca last year. In fact, it was our support that tipped the scales in their favor. You’re not the only one prepared to give the chairman what he needs, even if the JMS doesn’t understand why. We’re confident you will win, but it doesn’t hurt us to have a back-up plan.”
Strangely, this news made Willis feel relieved.
Willis lay in his bed. He’d considered stopping by Perryn’s room to tell her what had happened, but he stopped at her doorway.
Why would I tell her? She might try to stop me, and that can’t happen.
He stared at the ceiling.
He had to win.
He had to help the chairman restore peace to the world.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“You okay?” Perryn approached Willis from behind.
Willis started at the sound of her voice. He hadn’t even noticed her. “Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know. You seem lost in thought.”
She reached out a yellow and black sleeved arm toward him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Her eyes studied his for several moments as they waited for the elevator to take them up to the platform that would deliver them to the starting line.
“Just thinking about today, I guess.”
“Willis, today is a big day. What you and Jaden hope to do will change everything, but I want you to know that I’m mostly glad I get to be here with you. I know I should care more about the plan, but it almost feels too big for me. All I’m sure of is I don’t know what I would do if I was still on that station having to watch you from so far away.”
“Perryn, I—” Willis couldn’t get the words out. Something in him wanted to tell her about the previous night, but every time he opened his mouth to do so, the words wouldn’t come. He hated keeping a secret from her and hated himself even more for doing so, but she wouldn’t understand. He knew there had been a plan with Jaden and that he’d been convinced of that plan as recently as yesterday, but the chairman’s intentions had rooted, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise. He rubbed at the injection site on his neck. The idea of betraying his friends made his stomach sour. Still, everything in him pushed to give the chairman the power he needed to right things.
She would never understand. He gazed at her in silence.
“What is it? You can tell me.” She spoke as though she could see his inner thoughts, and she looked concerned.
“I’m glad to be here with you too.”
She smiled and grabbed his hand in hers. The elevator doors opened, and they stepped aboard. Moments later, the hot blast of jungle air filled their lungs.
“You love birds ready?” Jaden smirked, elbowing Kane.
“I think so—and shut up with the ‘love birds’ talk.” Perryn smiled and gave Jaden a sisterly shove.
“It’s the day of the race, and Perr is trying to injure me.” Jaden laughed, prompting Perryn to slug his shoulder. Jaden approached Willis, then placed his hands on his shoulders. “Friend, you ready for this? After tomorrow, the world will never be the same.”
“Never the same,” was all Willis could think to say. The statement was a double-edged sword to Willis. Giving the chairman what he needed would certainly change the world, but at what cost to his personal world? Jaden and Perryn might never talk to him again after today.
Thousands of cheering people, who had paid a premium for a seat at the starting gate, greeted Willis and the others as their platform turned the corner several minutes later. Twelve gates, like those on the station track, filled the space between two sets of stands rising almost vertical on either side. The image of people screaming and hanging over the edge of their stands overwhelmed him. Names of better-known racers were being shouted, and Willis was sickened by the display of hero worship.
Less worthy alliances. Willis pondered the words of the official he’d met the night before. Tip off-center a bit, and we fall into anarchy again. Seeing the crazed crowd convinced him of the words. The size of the multitude and the nearness of their endless screaming gave Willis the sensation that they were going to crash down and smother him.
Each gate was shadowed by a drone camera hovering over it, ready to follow the progress of each team. The video feed would be displayed on two massive screens bracketing the track, on which Willis couldn’t make out the first obstacle. He could barely see a stretch of open track leading off into a fortress of tree-infested jungle.
The Chase Page 21