Perfection

by Melissa Koberlein

  “Gage?” a familiar voice said from behind him.

  He turned. It was Dr. G. “Thank you for helping me get control back at Bio-Core,” he said. “It wasn’t enough to save my granddad, but more people could have been hurt.”

  She pressed her hand on his shoulder. “Of course. It was what Sam would have wanted me to do.” She glanced over his shoulder at the list in his hand. “Oh, I see you know my secret.” She pointed to the name Dr. Madeline Gardner. “I have a few other aliases as well.”

  Gage looked down at the paper and back up at her, connecting the dots. She was Madeline Gardner? Sally Gardner’s sister? But she was much too young to be her, wasn’t she? “How? You’re—”

  “All in good time. You do remember I work for a bio-medical company, right?” Dr. G. smiled.

  True.

  “For now, I’ll ask you keep my secret, just as your grandfather did. Would that be all right with you?”

  “Sure.” He didn’t like keeping secrets, but in this case, it wasn’t his to tell.

  Dr. G. looked at Ryssa, something unreadable in her eyes. “I was there, you know. When it happened. You shouldn’t blame yourself. You were just a baby.”

  Gage looked back at his mom. He knew what Dr. G. said was true, but his mom’s condition and his granddad’s death weighed heavily on his heart. “I know, but it doesn’t take away the pain.”

  “You’ll get there.” She patted his shoulder and walked back to the door. “Let me know when you’re ready to talk about your future role at the company. You’ve got your work cut out for you, but someday, I think you’ll make an excellent CEO of Bio-Core and Strickland Enterprises.”

  After she left, Gage stayed with his mom a little while longer. He said he’d come back and visit her regularly, a promise he intended to keep. He headed home then, to wash away the pain of the day so he could focus on the most important person in his life—Iris.

  32

  Fresh Start

  Iris

  Evie told her parents that Iris went back to Canada for a few days. When she was well enough to go back to the Grayson house, Mac and Serena were more than happy to see her. They even mentioned that she was welcome there after school ended.

  Gage had been by her side most of the time during her recovery, but he’d left a few days ago for a meeting in Denver with some lawyers to discuss his grandfather’s will. He’d texted her a few hours earlier that he’d be back later today. Since it was a Saturday, they agreed to meet down at Jack’s, along with the rest of their friends.

  Evie gave Iris a ride to Dalia’s to check in. She missed her mentor and her favorite sewing machine. They made plans for a new summer line and discussed the details of their partnership.

  Everything was coming together. Iris had a solid future for in Ashwater. Now she wanted to see if that future included Gage staying in town. While she knew that his grandfather wanted him to take over as CEO, that didn’t mean that he wanted that or that the Bio-Core board would accept it.

  She headed down Main Street toward the arcade. Derrick and Luke were across the street from their parents’ diner, headed in the same direction.

  “Hey, Iris. How are you?” Derrick asked.

  “I’m much better. Thanks.” She tightened her high ponytail. “How are you guys?”

  “Well, we’re not in jail anymore.” Luke chuckled.

  Sheriff Grayson put them, along with Evie, Mazy, and Sloan, in a cell for a few hours to “teach them a lesson” for setting off illegal fireworks in the woods by Bio-Core.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Have you heard from Gage?” Derrick asked, as they walked to the arcade together.

  “He’s meeting us at Jack’s.”

  “Cool,” Derrick replied.

  Inside the arcade, their other friends were seated at the snack bar. Daisy was behind the counter getting fountain drinks for them. Jack was at the front register, counting money while swaying to “Photograph” by Def Leppard.

  “Hey, kids. The cade’ is open for business,” Jack said, smiling.

  “Thanks,” the trio said in unison.

  Evie swiveled around in her seat and waved. Mazy hopped off her stool and hugged Iris.

  Iris cringed, inhaling sharply. She’d healed for the most part but was still sore.

  Mazy released hr. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m just really happy to see you.”

  “It’s okay, just need to have gentle hugs for a while.” Iris smiled.

  Sloan blew her a kiss. “Well, you still look sexy. Maybe even a bit more since you’ve been shot now.”

  “Show some sensitivity.” Mazy whacked Sloan in the arm.

  “Sorry.” Sloan pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

  “It’s fine, really. I don’t mind,” Iris replied.

  “You really okay, honey? Can I get you something? Maybe some tot-chos?” Daisy asked. Her hair was lime green today.

  Adam smiled and pointed to the paper boat in front of him filled with fried tater tots and mounded with orange cheese, bacon bits, and jalapenos. “So good.”

  Eww. Iris did her best not to grimace. “Some water would be great.”

  “Okay,” Daisy said. Under her breath she muttered, “No wonder you stay so skinny.”

  The front door to the arcade opened, and the jukebox changed to “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” by The Police. Iris looked at Adam, who’d changed the song, and knew exactly who’d walked through the door.

  When she met Gage’s eyes, she couldn’t help herself—she ran straight into his arms, not caring if she pulled a stitch. “I’m so happy to see you.”

  “Whoa, careful.” He wrapped his arms around her carefully and tilted her head up to kiss her gently on the lips. “Hi.”

  “Hey,” Iris replied.

  They turned and walked over to their friends, who shook Gage’s hand.

  Adam hopped off his stool. “Who wants to play some DP?”

  Derrick, Sloan, and Luke were all in.

  The group headed toward the DP room, but Gage hesitated. “I’ll be right there. I need a minute to talk to Daisy.”

  “Don’t be too long.” Iris let go of Gage’s hand.

  “I won’t.”

  Gage

  Gage leaned on the counter. “I wanted to thank you for all that you’ve done for me. You know, my whole life you’ve been like a mom to me.”

  Daisy shook her head and waved him off. “You don’t need to thank me. You let me teach you how to play guitar with eighties’ music.”

  “True.” He laughed. Their relationship was much more than that, but he didn’t need to say so—it was understood. He pulled out an envelope from his back pocket. “I wasn’t the only one who appreciated what you did for me.” He slid the envelope over to her.

  She picked it up. “What’s this?”

  “It’s what my granddad left you.”

  “For me? Why on Earth would he do that?”

  “Open it.”

  Daisy opened the envelope and pulled out a check. She covered her mouth. “Judas Priest. Is this for real?”

  “It is.” Gage smiled.

  She put the check down and rounded the counter, hugging him tightly. “You’re like a son to me too.”

  “I know.” He sighed.

  A dark-haired boy he didn’t recognize finished his game of Aliens and walked over to the counter. He was about the same age as Gage. “Hey, I hate to interrupt but could I get a Coke?”

  “Coming right up.” Daisy wiped away some tears and went back behind the counter. She waved the check in the air. “Today, it’s on the house.”

  “Wow,” the boy said. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  Gage nodded at Daisy and turned to head back to the DP room.

  “Hey, what’s back there?” the boy asked.

  Gage turned. “Do I know you?”

  “Oh, sorry. I’m new in town.” He picked up the drink Daisy put in front of him and hopped off the stool, glancing back at her. “Than
ks, again, for this.” He turned toward the front door.

  “Hey, sorry.” Gage shoved his hands in his pockets. He might have come off as rude, but he was feeling even more protective of his hometown and its secrets. “Welcome to Ashwater. I’m Gage.”

  The boy turned back, and Gage swore he saw a sparkle in his unnaturally dark eyes.

  “Nice to meet you. My name’s Will. I’ll see you around.” He waved and walked out of the arcade, leaving Gage with an unsettling feeling that Ashwater was about to get stranger than it already was.

  Epilogue

  Derrick

  Luke always stuck him with it. He dragged two big trash bags out the back door, propping open the door with one of the bags. He went over to one of the dumpsters and heaved the first bag inside. He wrinkled his nose. His dad had just cleaned out the freezers and fridges. Forgotten diner food didn’t have the most pleasant odor. After closing the lid, he opened another dumpster and grabbed the other bag, allowing the back door to close. He hoisted the heavier bag on his back like Santa Claus and hurled it over his shoulder and into the garbage bin.

  A groan from inside the dumpster made him jump.

  What the hell?

  Quickly, he leaned over the edge of the dumpster and peered in. He’d slung a bag of trash on top of someone! He pulled the bag back out and reached for the body that was still very much alive.

  It was a woman. He eased her down on the gravel.

  “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” He recognized who it was—Dr. Naomi Rice. She was wearing her white lab coat, although, it wasn’t very white anymore from being in the dumpster. What was she doing in there? Derrick shook her. “Dr. Rice, can you hear me? Dr. Rice?”

  Dr. Rice turned her head from side to side, trying to regain consciousness. She reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out a syringe. She waved it in the air. “Take.”

  He took it from her. “Dr. Rice. What should I do with this?”

  “Keep safe. Tell no one,” she mumbled. Her head lulled to the side, and she went still.

  “Dr. Rice?” Derrick set the syringe down and felt for her pulse at her throat. It was weak. His head was spinning. What was wrong with her?

  Oh no. Stay calm.

  Derrick picked up the syringe she gave him and examined it. He’d never seen anything like it before. It looked like one of those adrenaline shots for people with severe allergies, but it had a clear case. Inside was a dark red substance that looked a lot like blood, making his stomach roil. When he looked closer, he could see tiny, glowing green specks floating in the fluid. He turned it over and over and looked back down at the doctor. Keep safe, she’d said. He stood and put the syringe in his pocket. Then he ran back inside to call the cops for the first time in his life.

  Read on for a sneak peek…

  RAVEN’S SPHERE, an exciting space adventure by MELISSA KOBERLEIN

  The year 2342, Deep Space in the Milky Way galaxy

  I’d have left without a fuss. No mess. But the guard’s eyes, trained on mine, say otherwise. There’s recognition there too—he knows who I am, and my capture could mean a large bonus in his future. Honestly, I prefer not to get into skirmishes when I’m stealing tech. There’s too much risk for damaged merchandise. But if he insists—

  As the guard triggers the alarm, I duck into a holding compartment close to some private ship docks, heart pounding. Swiping at a stray sapphire hair on my forehead, I contemplate my next move. I’m not going to reveal my hiding spot, at least not until I count how many guards are waiting for me. If it’s more than five, I’ll need a new plan.

  The massive trade freighter is an organized labyrinth of holding compartments, heavily guarded and coveted tech vaults, and spaceship docking bays, both commercial and private. Freighters, like this one, can be a thief’s dream come true. The tech vaults are my favorite to loot—tough to break into but the merchandise travels well.

  I flex my artificial-skinned arm, an excellent purchase from Arta-Limbs. Although a considerable hit to my credit account, having an arm is preferable for someone in my line of work.

  “Come out where we can see you, girl. Return what you’ve stolen, and we won’t hurt you,” a male voice echoes down the long passageway in the compartment. “I promise.”

  I stifle the urge to laugh. These thugs don’t stand a chance. With my academy training and cold heart, I made it to the top of the most wanted list in only two years, the youngest too. Quietly, I adjust my amplification earpiece and activate a reflecting hologram I’d mounted across the passage before I ducked behind some pallets. The hologram reveals three freighter guards chatting, no doubt discussing their plan of attack. I growl and bite down hard on my bottom lip when I hear their licentious ideas for after my capture.

  Disgusting assholes. I tighten my belt, making sure my newly acquired merchandise is secure. There’s no way I’m giving up even one of my expensive holograms. I’ve got a reputation to uphold, after all.

  A second guard bellows back to my hiding spot, “Maybe we can make a deal. How about you come out and we can—”

  Before he can finish, I rush them, my plasma pistol set to level two damage—it won’t kill, but it’ll leave a mark. I tag the first guard right between the eyes, dropping him like the sack of shit he is. I use the other two guards’ shock at their fallen comrade to my advantage. I speed toward them as fast as my legs will carry me. Before I reach guard number two, whose arms are outstretched to grab me, I slide feet first, flattening my back on the floor to glide through his open legs, and come to a halt under guard number three. The extra thousand credits spent for the glazing on my battle suit was well worth it. With a tap of the fingerprint sensor on my thigh, I expose the neurotoxic barb on my boot and aim up into his crotch.

  He yelps in pain as the toxins spread like a tidal wave through his body.

  Two down, one to go. I jump to my feet in one swift motion as he drops to the ground and turn to face the remaining guard, crouching low, all my senses focused, ready to pounce.

  He whips around to face me, and his bloodshot eyes tell me he’s on some type of Xodin. “You’re dead, girl.”

  I gag as his drug-laden breath reaches my nostrils. “Show me what you got.”

  He swings a clumsy, meaty fist at my face. I dodge left and spring on top of him like a wildcat, my feet landing on his back as my hands find his thick throat. My bionic grip closes off his airway as he struggles, prying clumsily at my hands. He falls to the floor, his lips emitting a final gurgle before he loses consciousness.

  I release him and stand.

  Not bad. I exhale and scan my handiwork. This lot won’t be coming after me for quite some time.

  Special Acknowledgment

  I’d like to thank Kim Cromer for picking the song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. It was a perfect fit for Chapter 24 - Reunion. Thanks for participating in the contest!

  About the Author

  Melissa Koberlein is a professor of communication and publishing in eastern Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband and their two daughters. She enjoys reading and writing about the spectacular, sci-fi, technology, and romance. Her passion for stories comes from an imaginative childhood where every day ended with a book. Ashwater is her newest young adult series. You can read her first series, Fireflies, available from Amazon and other retail outlets.

  Also by Melissa Koberlein

  “Raven's Sphere will make you happy, sad and laugh the entire book. This is a must read and a true page turner.”

  “A mix of Twilight and I am Number Four, the twist at the end was unpredictable, making it a good turn adding spice and intrigue to the plot." -Review from Writer's Digest

 

 

 
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