The Modified (The Biotics Trilogy, #1)

by Kunz, C. A.

  “I know. I just need time.”

  “Grayson, Kenley? I sense a slight deviation in your vitals. I suggest removing yourself from the situation that is causing this,” Galileo interjects.

  “I guess I better go then,” I say, making my way toward the door.

  “It’s probably best you don’t tell anyone about this. You don’t want to draw any more attention to the fact you’re related to the headmaster,” my dad says with a worried smile.

  “Yeah, no worries about that, Dr. Grayson.”

  The sound of a familiar song awakens me from my sleep the following morning. It takes me a few moments to gain my composure and fully recognize the tune. I rub my eyes and see the sunshine coming through the window again. The song grows louder and I realize it’s coming from my bangle. It’s a beautiful song and brings me back to a happier time in my life when my brother was still alive. It was one of our favorites.

  “Good to see you are awake, Grayson, Kenley. Sustenance is waiting for you in the mess hall,” Galileo states.

  “Why did you play that song just now?”

  “The song was stored in your memory. I set it as your alarm. Is this okay? I sense a change in your vitals. Does this upset you?” he asks.

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “You have forty-five minutes to shower, dress, and arrive at the mess hall. Should I prepare your shower?”

  “Sure,” I reply with a yawn. I hear the shower turn on in the bathroom.

  “Shower is ready. Please proceed into the shower,” he says and then disappears.

  I look down at the band and wonder if Galileo will see me when I undress. “Uh, Galileo?”

  “Yes, Grayson, Kenley?”

  “First of all, you know you can call me Kenley, right? You don’t have to be so formal.”

  “I did not realize I was being formal. I will call you Kenley from here on out,” he replies. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, actually there is,” I say and think how to ask the question. “Uh, will you be able to see me when I’m in the shower?”

  “Searching database for response…Kenley, are you uncomfortable with this? You can utilize the privacy cover located in the top dresser drawer, if that will make you more comfortable,” he replies.

  Opening the drawer I see a round metal casing that looks like it will fit over the bangle. I snap it on and head for the bathroom.

  The water is at the perfect temperature. Standing in the shower feels soothing as I watch the water swirl down the drain. It seems to be mixed with a pleasantly smelling bath gel or soap-like substance. As I move my hands around my body, I begin to see bubbles forming all over me. I hear a pleasant chime sound from the showerhead and I see it turn to the right by itself. The water feels different and the soapy substance seems to be gone. It seems like regular water now. When I finish the shower, I look around for a towel to dry off.

  I hear Galileo’s voice muffled inside the metal casing. “Would you like me to initiate the drying mechanism?”

  “Yes, please,” I reply.

  Several panels on the walls inside the shower shift, revealing metal grates. I’m suddenly blasted with warm air. I can feel the water dripping off me, and at first it’s an odd sensation, but I get used to it. The air stops blowing and I feel my skin, it’s completely dry and silky smooth.

  There’s a robe hanging just outside of the shower and I grab for it. It feels like it’s made of the same material our uniforms are, and fits a little snug on me. I make my way to the closet and my bangle activates it to slide open. Inside is a row of uniforms, all my size, hanging up on the rack, and also several pairs of black boots on the floor. A little dresser off to the side has two drawers, one contains a bunch of black sports bras and the other contains many pairs of black underwear and socks.

  Dressed in my uniform, I look at myself in the full-length mirror. I notice that my hair isn’t still in a braid, and I panic. “This is definitely not a military approved hairstyle,” I state while combing my hand through it.

  I sigh after trying to fix my hair up into several different styles, but nothing works out.

  “Is something wrong, Kenley?” Galileo echoes within the casing.

  I apologize for forgetting to remove it and then reply, “I can’t seem to get my hair like that android had it.”

  “You have ten minutes to get to the mess hall. Would you like some assistance?” he asks.

  “Well, I think I’d be hopeless without any,” I answer.

  “Is that a yes?”

  I laugh. “Yes.”

  I hear a soothing electronic sound come from the bangle several times. A couple seconds later there’s a knock at my door. I approach the door and it rolls open. A red-haired android is standing there with an awkward smile plastered across her face.

  “Greetings, I am Ada 18. I was summoned to braid your hair. Would you like me to braid your hair now?”

  “Uh, yes, that would be perfect,” I reply. Really? A beauty android?

  It only takes Ada 18 a minute to perfectly braid my hair exactly the way the other Ada did. I sit there in front of the vanity mirror admiring her work.

  “Thanks, Ada 18,” I say with a smile.

  “My pleasure, Grayson, Kenley,” she says and then leaves abruptly.

  “You now have only seven minutes to get to the mess hall,” Galileo chimes in.

  “Okay, okay, you don’t have to be so pushy,” I reply. “Oh, and thanks for the hair.”

  “My pleasure,” he answers.

  “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask why you and all of the androids say my pleasure, if you can’t actually feel pleasure?” I ask staring at Galileo’s hologram.

  “We are preprogrammed with common phrases used by humans, but not all. My pleasure is a common kind saying, and seems appropriate anytime someone shows gratitude. Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious is all,” I reply. “Crap, I forgot to brush my teeth. Wait, I didn’t see a toothbrush in the bathroom. Galileo, how am I supposed to brush my teeth if there’s no toothbrush?”

  “There are dissolvable tablets in the bathroom that will assist you with your dental hygiene,” he answers. “Check in the mirror cabinet above the sink.”

  I run into the bathroom and pull open the mirror cabinet. There’s a small circular blue tin that’s sitting there all alone on the second shelf. Taking it in hand, I open the tin and find several flat round tablets. I pick one out and hold it right in front of my face, studying it. “This is it?”

  “Yes. Place the tablet in your mouth and it will do the rest,” Galileo explains.

  Once I pop in the tablet, I immediately feel this strange sensation sweeping across my tongue and throughout my mouth. It feels like I just ate the entire contents of a bag of Pop Rocks and then drank a soda. I open my mouth and see that it’s full of a white frothy substance, like I had just brushed my teeth.

  “I would suggest you dispose of the excess tablet residue, and then rinse your mouth,” Galileo states.

  Another knock comes from my door the moment I finish taking a swish of water. As I approach it, the door rolls open and Joey’s standing there smiling.

  “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Joey states as his smile turns to an impish grin.

  “You’re not too shabby yourself,” I say jokingly while giving him a love tap on the shoulder.

  “Ready to go get some grub?” he asks, putting his arm around me.

  “Yep, I was actually just leaving to come get you. Hey, where’s the rest of the gang?”

  “I think they’re already there,” he replies.

  As we walk to the mess hall, it takes every fiber in my body to not tell Joey the truth about why we’re here. His constant talk about how cool it is that the two of us were chosen together makes it even harder.

  “I wonder what kind of food they serve here,” Joey says as we enter the crowded mess hall.

  Looking around the room I see all kinds of food on the tables. There’s yogurt,
cereal, fruit, eggs, bagels, different juices—a whole slew of options.

  “Grayson! You’ve got to check this out,” I hear Sam yell out to me as we make our way over to our seating section.

  Landon is sitting six people down from Sam and his head pops up when she says my name. Our eyes meet and he mouths good morning. I mouth it back to him and smile shyly. Could he get any cuter? I mean, seriously. He has to have some major flaw, I tell myself.

  “Nothing, huh?” Sam asks, looking at me suspiciously with an eyebrow raised. I roll my eyes and take a seat. Joey nudges me and makes a kissy face, causing everyone in our immediate area to laugh. I shove Joey playfully and my eyes meet Landon’s again. He’s sitting there, foolishly grinning at me.

  “Anyway, like I was saying, you’ve got to check this out,” Sam states and then touches the menu button that is showing on the table. I notice everyone has one in front of them. A hologram of a menu, full of food options, pops up from the table, and Sam begins to flip through it to show me.

  “Are you freakin’ kidding me? Is that how we order our food?” I ask with wide eyes.

  “Yeah, and here’s the best part,” Geoffrey interjects as he presses on the picture of a bowl of cereal. The menu closes up and shrinks back into the table. A second later a male android is at our table section, setting down a bowl of cereal in front of Geoffrey and then proceeds to pour milk over it.

  “That’s insane,” Joey chimes in and brings up his menu.

  I look over and Caleb is sitting there with a smirk on his face while flipping through his menu. I wonder why he doesn’t talk much, I think to myself.

  “So Grayson, how’d you get your hair that way?” Sam asks, flipping my braid.

  “I told Galileo and he made it happen. I swear two seconds after I said I needed help, he had an android at my door.”

  “Too bad my AI isn’t as kick ass as yours. I think I got the cheap model or something. I had to put my hair up with this rubber band. I really need a braid. They’re harder to grab ’cuz it doesn’t swing free while fighting. Can you tell your AI to hook me up?”

  “I’m sure if yours can’t do it, Galileo would be happy…well, I don’t think he knows what happy is, but I think he’d be okay with it,” I say as I make my selection from the menu. Moments later, an android with my food places the tray in front of me.

  As I finish my oatmeal with blueberries, my bangle begins to ring. It reminds me of the tardy bell we had in high school. I hear the same chime ping from down the table. It’s Landon’s band. Then I begin to hear more bands ring around the room.

  Galileo appears, “Your introductory training session begins in fifteen minutes, Kenley. Please proceed to training room B. Your instructor will be waiting for you.”

  “See ya, Grayson.” Sam nudges my shoulder with hers, while Geoffrey waves sheepishly, and I get a nod from Caleb.

  “Good luck,” Joey says, placing his hand on my forearm as I get up to leave.

  “Thanks,” I reply, wishing at least one of them, even Caleb, was coming with me.

  Halfway to the door I hear my name being called from behind me. “Hey, Kenley, wait up. Think we could walk to class together?” Landon asks.

  How can I deny that face? “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Both of our bands go off at the same time, interrupting our conversation. “I sense a change in your vitals. Are you okay?” our AIs say in unison. We both laugh nervously. He attempts to cover his bangle while I try to hide mine behind my back.

  “So…I kind of feel we started off on a weird foot,” Landon says hesitantly. He pauses. I look at him and smile at his obvious nervousness. “I just don’t want you to think I’m some kind of creep because of that atrocious line I used on you when we first met. In retrospect, that probably wasn’t one of my finer moments.”

  I tried, but I couldn’t hold back a giggle. “I kind of found it cute. In a bad pick-up line kind way, but still cute nonetheless.”

  “Really?” he asks, sounding unsure of himself.

  “Yeah, just don’t do it again though, okay?” I joke.

  “Deal,” he replies.

  As we approach the training room, I see my dad through the large glass window. He’s standing at the podium at the front of the class and his name is written really big on the white board behind him. The room doesn’t have any desks when we first enter. As if queued, bright white posts slowly rise from holes that appear in the floor, and blue light forms the seat and tabletop of each desk upon each post.

  “So, your father’s our teacher as well, huh?” Landon asks as we take our seats.

  “I guess so,” I reply as I flash a confused look at my dad.

  “Please, everyone take a seat, and we’ll begin shortly,” he announces and then sends me his I’ll explain later look.

  After the last few cadets filter in and take their seats, my father begins to speak again. “I want you all to look around the room and get to know these faces, because for the next month or so you’ll all be training together.”

  I look around the room and see our group is a mixture of all the continents represented at the academy.

  “Now, here at the Magnus Academy there are three divisions that each and every one of you will train in. There’s Strike division, which are considered the attack experts. The Tactical division, who are the war strategists, and then there’s the Fortification division, who are the main line of defense. All three of these divisions must work together to ensure victory. At the end of the month, you will each be assigned to a division based on which one you excel in most. During the course of your training, you will do things that no other mortal would ever dream of being able to do. For example…” he pauses as he scans the room. “You, in the back row. What’s your name?” he asks the girl four seats over from me.

  She stands, “Jamie Warren, sir,” and finishes with a salute.

  My dad chuckles. “At ease, Jamie, this isn’t the military,” he jokes, causing the whole class to laugh. Jamie smiles and proceeds to relax. “Come on up to the front of the class, I’d like you to demonstrate something for us, please.”

  Jamie moves quickly to the front.

  “Now, I want you to stand right here and face the class. Then raise your arms straight out in front of you, and clench your fists. A little higher, please, so your arms are at shoulder height. Good. Okay, I want you to concentrate and focus on something that makes you very angry.” Jamie’s face becomes strained as she concentrates. A hush falls over the class as Jamie’s hands begin to glow with a blue light. A little blood begins to trickle down her nose, and I hear a few gasps erupt from the people around me. Her AI chimes in, telling her that her levels have risen significantly.

  “Okay, don’t overdo it, Jamie. Just relax,” my dad says in a soothing voice. “Now open your eyes and look at your hands.” Jamie opens her eyes and they fill with surprise.

  “I want you all to imagine being able to use this energy, that you see right before your very eyes, in combat. Because over the next month that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. Thank you, Jamie, you may return to your seat. Oh, and don’t worry, with practice the nosebleeds will go away,” he explains as he ushers the shocked cadet back to her seat. “So, who else would like to give it a go?” my father asks and then claps his hands together. I see several hands shoot up into the air, mine included.

  Chapter Six

  Training Ground

  I hear a voice and footsteps going back and forth outside my door. Pushing myself off my bed, I make my way toward it. The door rolls open and I’m surprised to see Landon standing there. He looks at me and smiles while combing his hand through his chestnut brown hair. He seems to be at a loss for words.

  “Landon, what are you doing here? It’s late and we have class tomorrow.”

  “I know, I know, but some of us are going to the rec hall to unwind and check out what’s going on with Earth. I was hoping you’d join me, I mean, us,” he rambles.

  “Sounds like a plan.
I don’t think I could sleep right now anyway,” I reply with a smile.

  When we enter the rec hall, my first thought is that it looks more like a really nice lounge than an actual military recreation hall. There are several large screens affixed to the walls that all tuned into the World News Network. A few tables and chairs that are made up of blue light are scattered about the space, and three large white plastic couches are arranged in the center of the room.

  Landon shakes hands with a guy that I recognize as one of the draftees from his region. “Oh, Kenley, this is Bradley Jacobs. Bradley, Kenley Grayson.” Bradley nods at me and I nod back. “So, any news about Earth?” Landon asks him.

  “It’s not good,” the guy replies.

  “Did something happen?” I ask anxiously.

  “South Africa was attacked earlier. They came under heavy artillery fire and were hit by some major spacecraft debris. Everything happened at once. It’s all over the news. No one knows why the Bringers concentrated an attack there. They don’t expect many survivors out of the areas that were hit,” Bradley explains somberly.

  “Oh my god,” are the only words that escape my mouth while watching the footage playing on the screen behind Bradley. The chatter amongst the rest of the cadets gathered in the rec hall ceases, and a quiet falls over the room as we all just stare at the devastation. “Why is this happening?” I ask, not really expecting an answer.

  I feel someone take hold of my hand, it’s Landon. His grip is firm and his skin is smooth to the touch. His palms are slightly sweaty. Somehow this simple action calms me.

  “I don’t know why,” is all he says.

  The next day Landon walks with me to class again. I want to ask him why he grabbed my hand last night. Was it because he was sympathizing? Was it a spur-of-the-moment thing? Was it planned? Does he like me? Stop it, Kenley, this is not the time for this, I argue with myself.

  “Here we are, our first official class,” Landon states as we reach the door to training room A. The room looks identical to the one we were in yesterday.