Reintegration

by Eden S. French

  “This doesn’t explain what’s going on,” he said. “Everyone says they saw an agent taken at gunpoint by students. How does that fit your story?”

  “I’m sure there was exchanging of uniforms to cause greater confusion.”

  “How can you possibly know that?”

  “That’s enough!” Riva turned on him with an impressively convincing scowl. “This is Mineko Tamura. Don’t you know who her father is?”

  “I know who her father is. But she’s not her father. If she and her father were so close, she wouldn’t be here studying to be an ethicist.”

  If not for the inconvenience he was causing, Mineko could have hugged this wonderful, stubborn boy. As things stood, however, she needed to shut him down quickly.

  “My parents aren’t impressed by imitation,” she said. “They’re impressed by people who choose to think and act boldly. It seems to me I have a group of students here who fit that description. All except for you.”

  The other students frowned at the doubtful boy, who licked his lips, clearly conscious of his diminishing position. “What do you want us to do, then? Run up there and toss rocks at them?”

  “If necessary. We have to capture these false agents, tie them up, and stand guard over them until backup arrives.”

  “Are they violent?” said the girl with the bob. “These district people?”

  Another student snorted. “Of course they are, stupid. They aren’t codified. Violence is the natural state of a world without the Code.”

  “You’ve been rehearsing that line for the exam,” said the freckled skeptic, but all he won for his cutting observation was a disapproving look.

  Time for Mineko to play her trump card. “I’ll be sure to tell my father your names. You’ll be remembered as the students who saved my life.”

  That did the trick. The students began to climb the hill, and even the skeptic relented and followed the pack. Mineko gave him a triumphant smile as she hurried to take the lead.

  The Medicine building was a compound of cuboid buildings around a dome-capped central tower. Its marble walls boasted decorative balconies, vine-coated trellises, curling stone eaves, and embellished ledges—a full excess of architectural flourishes.

  Fifty meters from the entrance, Mineko stopped short. Heavy dread uncoiled in the pit of her stomach. Lachlan Reed was waiting before the doors. Kade stood in an alcove behind him, looking grim in a lecturer’s uniform, while Callie sat on a nearby stone ledge.

  “We’d like to talk, Mineko,” said Lachlan. “Inside.”

  Where was the hostage? More to the point, what were Kade and Callie thinking? Was Lachlan exerting some invisible threat over them, or—surely too absurd—were they sincerely expecting her to negotiate?

  She wouldn’t have anticipated such gullibility from either of them. Every second they allowed Lachlan to act unimpeded, they were furthering whatever covert intentions he held.

  “I don’t think so,” she said. “Students, help me detain this imposter.”

  Several of the larger students moved to Mineko’s side, including the big youth who’d spoken earlier, but they hesitated and went no further.

  “Well done,” said Lachlan. “You’ve all performed well on this training exercise. We don’t need any further demonstrations of loyalty, so please return to your daily affairs.”

  “Training exercise?” said the girl with the threadbare uniform.

  “That’s right. Ms. Tamura has been helping us coordinate a tactical evaluation of the student body. I’m very impressed by what I’ve seen.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” said Mineko. “He’s lying to you.”

  She and Lachlan stared each other down. Amazing to think Project Sky could penetrate that deliberately relaxed face of his, peeling away every layer of deceit, and leaving him helpless. Little wonder the Codists coveted Lexi’s power, even though cybernetics was forbidden…

  Of course. Cybernetics was forbidden. There was her solution.

  “I can prove to you this man is no Codist,” said Mineko. “In fact, he’s not even a human. He’s a cyborg.”

  “That’s an inventive scenario,” Lachlan said flatly. “Very clever. But I don’t think we need to embellish the exercise any further.”

  “It’s the truth. I’ll prove it to you all.”

  Mineko took a smooth stone from the garden bordering the path, weighed it for a moment and tossed it at Lachlan. He twisted away with superhuman speed—pure reflex, the sort only made possible by a chip firing stimulus straight down the spine. The students gasped.

  “Nothing human moves like that.” Mineko was unable to keep the satisfaction from her voice. “And now I’ll give him a chance to prove me wrong. If this one strikes him in the chest, he’s not a cyborg.” She scooped up another rock. “All he has to do is let himself be hit.”

  This time, Lachlan’s smile was unconvincing. “Why would I do that?”

  “A reflex implant forces a body to move away from incoming threats. As a cyborg, you have no say over whether that happens or not. The chip compels you. Because, as I said before, you’re less than human.”

  “Min!” Riva’s hiss was reproachful, even angry. Presumably she was offended on Lexi’s behalf, not understanding that if it meant destroying Lachlan, it was permissible to say or do anything.

  Kade took a step forward. “Mineko, don’t do this.”

  “No, let’s see him dodge it.” The skeptical boy had moved to the front of the pack and was studying Lachlan closely. “If he’s not a cyborg, let’s see him do it. I’ve never seen anyone move as fast as he just did.”

  “Sure,” said the big student. “Let her hit you with the rock.”

  “Everyone, observe,” Mineko said. “And remember that no Codist can be a cyborg. If he isn’t a Codist, he’s no agent either.”

  She threw the rock. As before, Lachlan dodged, and the rock sailed past. Aghast, he watched it strike the bricks behind him.

  “There’s our confession.” Mineko grinned, exhilarated. She’d outwitted him, this man who’d sought to rule her. “Not an agent. Not a Codist. Not even a human being. Now take him down. Together, you can subdue him.”

  The students surged, jostling to be first, and Lachlan retreated with his hands raised. “Students, this is a mistake…”

  Mineko yelped as a hand caught her arm and spun her. It was Kade, his eyes wide. “You need to tell them to back down. If this continues—”

  “Get away from her!” The big student pulled Kade from Mineko and shoved him. Mineko swallowed hard, her triumph obliterated by the horror of seeing Kade handled so viciously on her behalf.

  “How dare you come here,” said the skinny girl with the bun. “How dare you!” She hurled a large stone, missing Lachlan and nearly striking Riva. Callie leapt at the girl and grabbed her wrist.

  “Be careful, you idiot! You almost hit her!”

  The girl growled as she pushed Callie back. “Out of my way.”

  It was chaos. Each student wanted to receive the fullest measure of the adulation and glory Mineko had promised them, and so they fought among each other while Lachlan, clearly unwilling to defend himself, backpedaled to the front doors. Meanwhile, Callie, Riva, and Kade ran from student to student, trying to prevent them throwing stones, only to be jostled and bumped themselves.

  And Mineko—she was helpless. Her student army was no longer under her control, and her friends seemed to be supporting her enemy…

  A gunshot rang out, and the students screamed.

  “Back!” Jasmine Turani stood on a ledge two stories above, holding a pistol aimed at the crowd. “Students, stand down. This is Commanding Agent Lachlan Reed. If you harm him, you’re as good as Reintegrated.”

  “Agent, put down that gun,” said Lachlan. Mineko had never seen him so shaken. “Don’t fire another shot.”

  “You can’t let this riot continue, sir.” Jasmine pointed the pistol at the big student, who stared up at her. “You! Step away!”

>   The freckled skeptic tore a big stone from the earth, shedding soil, and raised it above his head. “Fucking uncodified!” He hurled the stone, which clattered against a gutter. “Bring her down!”

  In a renewed frenzy, the students dismantled the garden for missiles. Another stone whistled through the air, followed by a half-brick that flew high enough to strike the roof below Jasmine’s feet.

  “Stop.” Mineko struggled to raise her voice above the commotion. “That’s enough.”

  A rock smashed a tile beside Jasmine’s left foot. She stepped quickly to avoid a second, and her heel skidded on the ledge. She shrieked as she slipped and tumbled down the sharply angled tiles. Mineko’s guts compressed into a sickened knot.

  Jasmine slithered across the roof, fell into empty air, twisted, and caught the edge of an ornamental gutter. She swung one-handed, kicking while she flailed for a second grip that wasn’t there.

  She screamed again. An inarticulate and desperate sound.

  “Turani!” Lachlan shoved through the wall of students, knocking them down, no longer showing any care for their safety. “Hold on!”

  But Callie was quicker.

  She threw herself onto a trellis and scampered up it with as much ease as if it were a ladder. The ivy-woven grid stopped short of the second floor, but Callie, without hesitating, reached for a jutting piece of masonry, found purchase, and—heels pressed flat against the wall—hauled herself onto a decorative ledge.

  “Oh my God,” said Riva, articulating in three faint words everything that Mineko felt.

  A sizable gap separated Callie’s ledge from the one Jasmine was dangling from. Callie studied the distance and flexed her fingers.

  “Don’t!” said Kade. “Even you won’t make it across that.”

  Callie put a foot off the ledge and, with both hands, took hold of the brickwork. Clinging close to the wall, she climbed horizontally until she reached the opposite ledge. It was every bit as impressive and baffling as the times Mineko had seen Kaori scale the hardest routes on their indoor wall, fingers wedged in holds that seemed little more than pockmarks.

  In seconds, Callie was beside Jasmine. “Don’t be scared.” She crouched and took hold of Jasmine’s wrist. “I’ve got you.”

  “I can’t pull myself up. Please don’t let me fall.”

  “You won’t fall, I promise. Give me your other hand.”

  Jasmine waved into the open air. “I can’t reach.”

  “Swing for me, then.”

  “I’ll only drag you down.” Jasmine’s voice was barely recognizable, every vowel thickened by tears and terror.

  “Just trust me, Jasmine. I’ve got you.”

  With a desperate sob, Jasmine lunged for Callie’s extended hand. The contact yanked Callie off balance, but after a terrifying second of teetering, she righted herself and pulled Jasmine up to the ledge.

  The students all murmured. Even Lachlan seemed stunned.

  “We’re going back to the window now, okay?” Callie put an arm around Jasmine. “You’re still wobbly on your feet, so hold onto me.”

  Mineko’s relief was soured by an irrational twinge of jealousy. She’d imagined all that selfless heroism and beautiful generosity had been intended just for her. But no. It was simply how Callie Roux was.

  A shadow fell over her. Lachlan. “Are you satisfied, Mineko?”

  Mineko avoided his eyes. The muttering of guilt inside her had to be crushed. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  “It’s been a long two days. Please tell me you’re done causing trouble.”

  “Yes. We’ll talk. You and me, with Kade present to keep me safe.”

  “Exactly the arrangement I would have suggested.”

  The students continued to watch in fascination as Callie helped Jasmine through an open window. “Stay calm,” said Mineko, though her recruits didn’t seem to be listening to her anymore. “I’m going in to negotiate.”

  Kade was waiting in the doorway. His expression was severe, and a fluttering feeling rose into Mineko’s throat and left her queasy. Soon there’d be reprimand. Disappointment.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said, and the kindness in his voice brought her to the edge of tears. They’d all been so good to her. Would they understand she had only done what was necessary?

  Yet what a scene she had left in her wake. A wrecked garden, scattered rocks, a crowd of students still puzzling at the roof from which Jasmine Turani had nearly fallen…and walking away from it all, Riva Latour, silent but somehow accusing.

  CHAPTER 33

  They found Callie and Agent Turani waiting in the lobby. Turani hung her head. “Commanding Agent,” she said. “I lost self-control. I’m ashamed.”

  “We’ll talk soon,” Lachlan said. “For now, gather the other agents and have them assemble in the Administration building.”

  “But we should arrest these—”

  “I said, we’ll talk. You and me. Don’t worry about repercussions yet.”

  Turani glared at Mineko. “Why did you do it, Tamura? What could these district people possibly offer you?”

  “One of these district people just saved your life.” Mineko spoke with her usual quiet firmness. “Perhaps you should take time to reflect on that.”

  For a second, Turani seemed about to respond. Instead, she shook her head and continued on her way.

  As soon as Turani had left, Callie dashed to Mineko and squeezed her in a bear hug. Mineko gave a breathless laugh. “You scared us,” said Callie. “You and your angry mob.”

  Mineko giggled, momentarily a happy young woman rather than a figure of self-control. “You’ve been unwise to trust Lachlan.”

  “If he tries anything, I’ll beat him down.”

  “No. Stay here. If he does try something, you’ll have time to run.”

  “Have you forgotten I’m right here?” said Lachlan. “I can assure you, if any of your friends wish to flee, they’re more than welcome to do so. I’ll even close my eyes and count to ten.”

  Callie grinned. “You’re one sneaky shut-in, Reed.”

  “Compliment or insult?”

  “Fifty-fifty.” Callie bounded over to Riva, who still stood in the doorway, and hugged her tight. “Chickadee! I was so worried about you.”

  Riva smiled back, her hand lingering on Callie’s hip. “You were amazing out there. How did you pull yourself up?”

  “Hidden muscles.” Callie flexed her right arm. “I practice bouldering out in the canyons, and I’m a beast at parkour.”

  “You just keep getting sexier. I should get myself in trouble so that you can come rescue me.”

  Lachlan chuckled, but Mineko glared at Riva with such naked animosity that Kade quickly intervened. “We don’t have time for banter. Keep watch down here, and if any more agents show up, let us know.”

  “Very good,” said Lachlan. “Don’t leave your back unguarded, especially around evildoers like myself. Now, perhaps we might conclude this in one of the seminar rooms. Objections?”

  “No, that’s fine.” Kade reached into his pocket and touched the handle of his revolver. Reassuring though the gun was, it was unlikely he’d have to use it. The time for violence had passed. “Min, let’s go.”

  They left Riva and Callie still chattering and walked down a corridor to the seminar room—small, sunlit, and filled with motes of dust. Mineko stood on an illuminated patch of carpet, her upturned face catching the sunlight, while Lachlan lounged against the lectern.

  “You didn’t tell them I was lying.” In the light, Mineko’s green eyes seemed impossibly bright and clear. “Instead, you invented a further lie that would have exonerated me. Why?”

  “As I told you before, you’re important to me,” Lachlan said. “You have a unique opportunity to inherit real power and liberate other Codists. People like sweet, hopeless Valerie Wren.”

  “Don’t bring her into this.”

  “She’s not going to forget that kiss, you know.”

  Minek
o blushed. “You still take pleasure in mocking me, even now.”

  “Whatever you’re looking for, you won’t find it outside. Trust me. Stay in the enclave. Participate in the future rather than flee from it.”

  As much as Kade wanted to offer some input, to influence Min, he kept himself in check. This was a debate between Codists, and nothing he said now would hold sway.

  “I don’t want to live under the Code,” said Mineko.

  “There’s always a code. Out there, it’s the code of human baseness. Most district people are covetous, hateful, and vindictive. Codists, in contrast, tend to be timid, well-meaning, and troubled by thoughts of disorder. Like Dr. Wren. Like those students, when they’re not being goaded into acts of hate. Like Agent Turani, desperate to perform her duties well. That’s Codists for you. Meek and obliging.”

  “Are you trying to persuade me or to arouse my contempt?”

  “Believe me, I also despise these cowards. I just don’t restrict my contempt to the fortunate.” Lachlan produced a humorless smile. “Kade, why don’t you tell her who killed the woman you loved?”

  Would that memory ever stop being a physical blow, a fist right into Kade’s chest? “It’s irrelevant,” he said.

  “It could hardly be more relevant. This is the life you’re offering her. When Mineko too lies in some district grave, will you then be satisfied?”

  “For God’s sake, Lachlan. She’s on the verge of being caught and Reintegrated. For that matter, so are you. You have nobody to protect you.”

  “That’s fine. The devil always stands alone in the end.”

  Nobody could ever fault Lachlan his gift for melodrama. “The devil doesn’t win, though.”

  “Perhaps not. But he knows full well what he’s doing.” Lachlan looked back to Mineko. “Just do what I do, Mineko. Inspire fear, and you’ll no longer be afraid. Laugh whenever you feel like crying. Then you’ll survive.”

  “I want to follow Callie.” Mineko spoke softly but with conviction. “I want to see the sky.”

  “The sky? You can see it from here.”

  “Not the horizon.” Mineko took a phone from her pocket. “You enjoy manipulating me. Now it’s my turn. Discover what happens when you provoke a Tamura beyond the point of tolerance.”