by Eliza Green
She shook her head so fast her shoulder-length, blonde hair fanned around her face. She backed up until she was in the alley.
‘Give me a minute with her,’ said the Inventor to the pair. He joined her outside. ‘Is something the matter, miss?’
‘Two females are following me around the compound.’
The old man nodded, as if the news didn’t surprise him. ‘Max ordered them to follow you, Jerome and Alex. It’s only temporary until they get to know you like I have.’
His revelation rocked Carissa and forced her farther back. ‘You knew Max was having me followed?’
‘Yes, but please understand I have as much say here as I did in the city.’
That didn’t matter to her. ‘I thought you trusted me.’
The Inventor reached for her, forcing her back another step. ‘I do trust you, Carissa.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘You haven’t tried to contact the city, have you?’
She glared at him. Was he asking or accusing?
‘No!’ she lied. ‘I promised I wouldn’t.’
The old man stared at her for longer than she could stand. ‘If you say you didn’t then I believe you.’ He nodded behind him. ‘Did you want to watch us work for a while? We’re just sorting through the items from the towns, but I’d like you to share your knowledge of the Collective with the young men.’
Carissa hugged her middle. ‘They don’t like me.’
‘They don’t know you yet. But they’ll like you once they do.’
Carissa looked around. ‘Where’s Rover?’
‘Max asked that I keep him sedated for the time being. He’s making the others nervous. But I’m sure he’d like a visitor?’ He pointed to the end of the alley that finished with a building and a double door. ‘He’s in the storage shed.’ He glanced back inside the workshop. ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get back to it.’
Carissa watched as the Inventor returned to the workshop. She’d expected him to make her feel better, but if anything she felt worse. It made her miss the city more.
The double door at the end of the alley was attached to a building with a partial roof. She approached it and stepped inside the half shell. Rover was in one corner, lying on the grey, stone floor, head nestled between his legs. He seemed subdued, but not decommissioned. His eyes tracked her from the moment she entered the room. A soft, metallic whimper escaped his lips.
This beast remained her only connection to the city.
She slid down to the floor next to him and patted the Guardian’s head. It wasn’t that long ago these beasts had terrified her. But Rover was an unusual Guardian in that he took commands from the Inventor, not the Collective.
Rover lifted his head to nuzzle her hand, but as though he lacked energy, he slumped back down to the floor. Something rattled as he did. It was then she noticed the chain around his neck.
Anger coursed through her. She shook the chain, but it was too strong and heavy for Carissa to manage alone.
Was that how the rebels treated respected Guardians of Praesidium? A Guardian was a revered creature. A Copy, with human traits no less, was far superior to the Original in whose image they were created.
What hurt her more was the Inventor had allowed this to happen.
Carissa lay next to the beast on the floor. Now she knew where she belonged.
6
Dom
A female soldier dressed in a green uniform stopped at Dom and Sheila’s table. ‘Max wants to see you two in the battle room when you’re done.’
Dom gave her a tight nod and she left. He waited for Sheila to finish eating before collecting both trays up and dropping them back to the counter.
On his way out, he tried not to look over at Anya and Alex, still sat at their table. But he slipped and glanced over, long enough to see their joined hands. She was leaning in close to him, smiling at something he said. Dom shot his eyes forward. He made it out of the dining hall and into the corridor without making a scene.
Sheila gave him a slap on the back as she passed him. ‘It’ll get easier, Dom. Come on.’ She walked backwards to the battle room. ‘Let’s hear what Max has to say.’
They entered a room that looked more like an administration office than a battle strategy centre. The room had been cleared except for one table shoved against the window that was covered in maps and blueprints. One wall was inlaid with bookcases; some shelves still had books on them. Dom couldn’t tell if the rebels had taken over this town or if Praesidium had forced the residents to leave.
Max was leaning over a map while soldiers a couple of years older than Dom stood next to him and listened. One he recognised to be Imogen, Max’s first in command. The second, a male Max called Julius, was new to his group. Dom had thought he knew everyone on Max’s team. He shook his head; maybe he’d been out of commission for too long. Wearing a furrowed brow, Jacob, the inventor from the city, stood off to the side with Anya’s brother, Jason, and Thomas, the inventor working with Max’s team. Vanessa, whom Dom vaguely remembered from the city, waited alongside Jacob. He’d been too out of it to remember much about her.
June entered the room and stood next to Sheila. Dom waited with the pair for Max to finish his discussion. When Max grunted and dipped his head suddenly, Dom knew things were not going well. Imogen glanced back at the room then tapped her leader on the shoulder.
Max turned and crossed his thick, soldier arms across his chest. He pinned Dom and Sheila with his battle-hardened gaze. ‘Good, you’re both here. We’ve been discussing strategies, trying to identify weak points between here and Praesidium, places from where we could set up and mount an attack. But the landscape is barren and flat and won’t provide us with suitable cover. We’re assuming the city will send out search parties to retrieve its Copy, Breeder and Guardian. What we don’t know is when they’ll come.’
‘What defences do we have against them?’ said Dom.
Max nodded to his second in command. ‘Julius?’
Julius explained, ‘An anti-magnetic field floods the valley from the start of the compound entrance to the mouth of the mountain range. It also runs in the opposite direction to cover the remainder of the town that was cordoned off.’
‘Remainder?’ said Dom.
‘Yes,’ said Max. ‘We had to reduce the size of the compound so we could manage it better.’
‘What does the anti-magnetic field do?’ said Sheila.
‘It should stop the machines from accessing the camp,’ said Imogen. ‘Anything with metal components will be repelled by the force of the anti-magnetisation. We’re hoping it’ll be enough to keep them away, giving us time to plan our escape.’
Dom thought about the field that encased Praesidium. ‘How far up and wide does the field extend?’
Julius looked to Max.
‘It has a height limit,’ explained Max. ‘It won’t stop aerial attacks from above. But that’s where our spotters will come in handy.’
For what? Dom glanced at Sheila, who shrugged. They’d been out of touch with the rebels for too long.
He looked at Max and said, ‘Aerial attacks?’
‘Orbs. Essention was crawling with them.’
The flying spheres with the ability to record? He remembered their patrol of the water supply and the area near the hospital and entrance. But other than that, he hadn’t paid them much attention.
‘Okay, what do we know about these orbs?’
Jason stepped forward. ‘Thomas and I had the recent opportunity to study one up close. They’re fast in the air, like hummingbirds. So that makes them almost impossible to target. But we managed to deactivate one using Thomas’ Disruptor gun. The Disruptor stuns the orb by using a concentrated blast of air to disrupt its flight pattern. Then, while the orb is inactive, we can use the same gun to steal power from it, rendering it inactive. All the guns were transferred from the Glenvale camp to here.’
At least they had something that could defend the camp.
Dom nodded. ‘So we’ve covered
off on aerial attacks, and, Max, you say the anti-magnetic field will deal with ground troops. Are we sure that all of their assault personnel will have trouble with the anti-magnetism?’
Max frowned at him. ‘What do you mean?’
It was Jacob who answered. ‘He means the Copies, don’t you, son?’
Dom nodded at the man who’d come from the city. ‘Praesidium’s medics and guards looked organic. What metal do they have?’
‘Jacob?’ said Max.
The old man introduced himself to the group. ‘They called me the Inventor because I helped the Collective create its Copies and build its machines. I repaired what broke and while they were busy with their prisoners, I built a Guardian wolf that answers only to me. The machines will have difficulty, and potentially the Guardian wolves, but the Copies might not.’ Jacob looked at Max. ‘I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but the Copies carry varying degrees of metal inside them. The newborns have none and would have no trouble with the field.’
‘Vanessa?’ said Max. ‘You were in the city too. Anything to add?’
‘Whatever he says is right,’ said Vanessa. ‘I don’t know much about their anatomy, but Jacob is best placed to judge.’
Max dropped his concerned gaze to the floor. Dom knew the colonel well enough; this news had rattled him.
When Max looked at Jacob, his gaze had hardened. ‘Jerome is a newborn, yes?’
Jacob nodded. ‘Completely organic. It’s only after they achieve full maturation that the Collective gives them their NMC, and replaces any weak, biogel organs with stronger, metallic ones.’
‘And the Breeder? What is he?’ said Max.
Jacob shrugged. ‘I don’t have any experience with him or others like him. I assume he is organic. Again, I would need to run tests to be sure.’
Max switched his gaze to Sheila. ‘Vanessa says she found you with a Breeder. What was your take on him?’
Sheila shrugged, but given her sudden stiff posture, Dom guessed she’d rather forget her time in the city’s medical facility. ‘I tried not to interact with him. He was charming, cool. Made promises he thought I wanted to hear. All in all, he was a convincing human.’
Dom’s stomach lurched at the thought of Anya being seduced by Alex in a similar manner.
‘Why are we waiting for the city to attack us?’ he said, desperate to switch focus off the topic of seduction. He nodded at the table filled with blueprints and maps. ‘With all of these, we should be able to sneak back to the city and attack them when they least expect it.’
‘We don’t know enough about the city to make assumptions, or to predict what move the Collective will make when we get there,’ said Max.
‘But Carissa does,’ said Jacob.
Max released a sigh. ‘I don’t trust her yet, so, until then, we must learn their tactics the hard way.’
But Dom wasn’t satisfied. ‘Your pressing concern right now is to know what can pass through the anti-magnetic field, right?’
Max pondered it then nodded. ‘I’d say so.’
‘So, use me to see how far I can get. I’ve got their tech inside me. I’m essentially a human version of them.’
‘No, that wouldn’t work,’ said Thomas. ‘We need to know how little tech poses a resistance. It would need to be someone from the city with trace amounts of their tech.’
‘You mean Carissa?’ Jacob’s hardened gaze fell on Thomas, forcing him to look away. ‘I won’t have her used in this way. She already thinks everybody here hates her. She’s not happy with her female escorts. For as long as Carissa resides here, she will have my protection.’
Vanessa squeezed the old man’s shoulder as if to reassure him.
The lack of plan created a palpable nervous energy in the room. Everyone mumbled to each other, forcing Max to control the conversation with a whistle.
‘Everyone calm down. I haven’t decided what to do yet. But one thing’s for certain: I’m not prepared to use Carissa until I know I can trust her. Who knows if she’s sending signals back to the Collective right now? Who knows if, with a flick of her NMC connection, she could pass on the frequency of the anti-magnetic field to the Collective just by interacting with it?’
Dom didn’t see how Max could avoid using the Collective’s most prized possession. To advance their knowledge of the machine minds, they had to use someone they’d once trusted.
He put the main dilemma back on Max. ‘So what do you suggest we do?’
Max released another sigh. ‘I have no idea, Dom. But for now, all we can do is prepare.’
Vanessa spoke up. ‘We should discuss what Anya Macklin told me.’
Hearing Anya’s name stiffened Dom’s stance. What did she have to do with this?
‘We got here because she’d overheard her parents discussing this exact location: the Ferrous Mountains. Evan and Grace told me once that they’d seen the border to the Beyond close to this camp, but they weren’t able to pinpoint its location.’ Jason looked equally as confused as Dom felt. ‘If the border is here, we’ll find it.’
‘What makes you think my parents knew anything about the Beyond?’ asked Jason.
‘Grace and Evan were both founding members of the rebellion,’ said Vanessa. Jason’s eyes widened. ‘Members of the rebellion crossed over in secret. We can guess who, but not where. Evan and Grace were working on trying to locate the point where the rogue rebels crossed. That’s when they reported seeing a shimmering border. Grace said when they approached it, it vanished. I’ve been out of touch with the original group due to my time in the city. And Max, you were busy looking for your wife. I don’t know if what they saw was the real border but we have to check. We’re going to need a safe haven after this is all over.’
Max’s nostrils flared. ‘Where is it?’
‘In the vicinity. That’s all they told me. But we spoke a while ago, so I can’t say if that information still holds true.’
‘What about others from their faction?’ asked Dom. ‘Would the Macklins have spoken to any of them?’
Max shook his head. ‘We’ve all been split up. Some are dead or missing. Others have possibly crossed over. Only Charlie, Vanessa and I remain of the original faction.’
‘There were others more senior than us who the Macklins might have shared this information with,’ suggested Vanessa.
Max nodded at Jason. ‘Did your parents ever discuss the rebellion while you were around?’
Jason shook his head slowly. ‘I knew they opposed Praesidium, but they were careful about what they discussed at home. But I can’t be sure Anya didn’t overhear something. The more our parents kept from us, the more she needed to know.’
Max gave Vanessa a tight nod. ‘I’ll arrange for a scout party to check the vicinity. If we’re close to the edge, as the Macklin’s believed, we’ll find it.’
‘Good,’ said Vanessa. ‘Let me know what your soldiers find.’
Max addressed the group again. ‘I’ll need all remaining soldiers back training on guns. That includes you, Dom.’
A little training was exactly what he needed to get his mind right. He was rusty and out of shape. While his scars no longer bothered him, his left arm with the new tech in it pinched enough to remind him of his ordeal.
Sheila patted his stomach. ‘Don’t worry, Dom; Imogen will help shift those pounds in no time.’
7
Anya
‘Where are those two going?’
Anya watched as Dom and Sheila left the dining hall a few minutes after a female soldier had spoken to them.
Eyes on Alex again, she said, ‘Is there a meeting happening?’
Alex looked up from his food. He lifted both brows. ‘Do you think June’s gone with them?’
June this. June that. Alex had only just met her but he wouldn’t shut up about her.
She sighed. ‘Maybe. I don’t know. Why aren’t we in the meeting, though?’
She might not possess the memories of her time in Arcis, but she and Ale
x had first-hand experience of the medical facility in Praesidium. In fact, it had been her efforts with her medic that had convinced the Copy to help them escape. ‘You and I are just as important, Alex. You’re a bloody Breeder.’
Alex glanced at the two male soldiers who sat at a nearby table. All through lunch, they hadn’t stopped looking over. ‘Tell that to them.’
Both soldiers, who were around Jason’s age, looked over once again. Alex had said they’d acted as his chaperones all day.
Their continuing intrusion angered Anya. Alex had been a prisoner in Praesidium just like her. ‘Max has no right to treat you like this. I’ll talk to him, explain—’
Alex’s eyes widened. ‘No! Leave it, Anya. If Max doesn’t want to trust me, it’s fine by me.’
She leaned forward. ‘But it’s not fine.’ Alex had taken some convincing to leave the city. His life there had amounted to nothing, and the Collective had worn down whatever optimism he had. She would not see him settle for a lesser life on the outside. ‘I didn’t risk my life to save you so you would become a prisoner here.’
Alex glared at her. ‘Save me? I chose to leave. Of my own accord.’
Anya recoiled from Alex’s harsh tone. ‘I didn’t mean it like that... I meant I promised you freedom, not this life.’
She gestured to Alex’s escorts. They looked over and smirked.
He banged his fist down on the table, startling her and attracting the other soldiers’ attention. ‘Leave it, Anya. I’m obviously a danger here. I told you I didn’t fit in anywhere.’
‘Of course you do.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I just asked you about a secret meeting I was not invited to attend. You’re not the only one being treated differently here.’
Alex laughed hard. ‘Are you comparing your life to mine right now? Because I’m starting to see your Copy’s traits emerging and I don’t like it.’
That stung. Her Copy, Canya, had been selfish, domineering and a bitch. She’d passed back one set of memories to Anya, of Warren attacking her in the bathroom on the fourth floor of Arcis. She hadn’t told anyone.