XVI

by Julia Karr

  Gran came out of the kitchen, dish towel in hand. She plonked Pops right on top of his head with the towel. “Don’t go hollering at me, old man. Think this pile of reconstituted sand and sludge is soundproof? I heard ’em come in, I’m not deaf. But I will be if you keep shouting every time anything happens around here.”

  She tucked the towel in her waistband. When she saw Sal she paled, reaching for the arm of Pops’s chair.

  I leaped up and grabbed her. “Gran, are you okay?”

  “Fine, I’m fine.” She shook free and waved me back to my seat. When she regained her composure, she said, “You’ve got to be Brock’s son. My Lord ... the spitting image. He and my son, Alan, were friends in school. I thought I’d stepped back in time.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “It’s not your fault—you had no way of knowing how the resemblance ... well, uncanny, that’s what it is.” She wiped her glasses on the towel, adjusted them on her nose, and studied Sal.

  “I knew I looked like him,” he said. “But it’s been ages since I’ve seen his high school pictures.”

  “I heard the news,” Gran said. “Four years ago—wasn’t it?”

  “Yes. They were on assignment, researching Nina’s father.”

  “Lost in the ocean, wasn’t it? Leviton went down—no survivors.”

  “That was the story.” I was startled by the bitterness in his voice.

  “Damn lie,” Pops muttered.

  “What? Speak up,” Gran prodded him.

  “Lies, I said. Everyone knows that Media used a suicide robot for that flight. No one was supposed to survive. Anyone gets too close to the truth about Alan ...” He made a cutting motion across his throat.

  Sal was half smiling, but I saw his jaw muscles working beneath the surface. Pops could be as bad as Sandy sometimes, blurting out things that hurt other people without thinking.

  Gran looked at us and almost imperceptibly shook her head. I realized there could be surveillance.

  I jumped off the couch, grabbing Sal’s arm. “Let’s go to my room? You don’t mind, do you, Pops?”

  “Go on with you.” He waved us away. “Kids don’t care nothin’ about nothin’ anymore, anyway.” He reached for his zine, burying his nose in it.

  Gran accompanied us partway down the hall. “Ignore the crazy talk from that old man. His leg’s been bothering him so much lately. I gave him some pain medicine half an hour ago; it obviously affected his head. I am very sorry about your parents, Sal. Go on now.” She motioned toward my room. “I’ll call you when dinner’s ready”

  “Where’s Dee?”

  “She’s doing her homework with a friend.”

  I panicked. “Gran! You let her go out?”

  “She’s on PAV in her room.” Gran pinched my cheek. “Wasn’t born yesterday, dear.”

  Even if Ed was after me, and not Dee, I wasn’t taking any chances where she was concerned. I peeked into Dee’s room and waved to her, just to be sure she was there.

  Dinner was minus Pops. The pain meds had knocked him out for the night. Sal helped me get him into bed after we ate. Then I walked Sal to the elport.

  “I have so much to think about,” I said. “I don’t know what to do, what to think ...”

  The doors opened, Sal kissed me and stepped inside. “I have just one thing to think about,” he said. “You.”

  The doors closed.

  When I got back to the apartment, Gran was waiting for me. “Nina. Something was taken during the break-in.” Her voice was strained.

  My thoughts flew—Gran hadn’t said if she and Pops had a second scrambler, or something else illegal. Something that could mean really big trouble for Pops if the authorities found it. And Gran had filed a police report. My “what?” came out more like a squeak than a word.

  “Your FeLS contract is missing. I doubt I would’ve even noticed, but I had this feeling that I should put it in a safer spot. When I went to get it—it was gone.”

  The tiniest shiver of fear started at the base of my neck. “Maybe you just misplaced it, Gran.” I didn’t mention her advanced age and that old people sometimes forget things. “Besides, the FeLS agency will have a record of the buyout, right?”

  I could see the relief spread across her face. “Of course they will. I didn’t think of that. I’ll call first thing on Monday.” She patted her cheeks. “Silly to get all upset now. Everything will be fine.”

  She breathed easier, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to think about what could happen, what might be ... It all felt too much, almost too much to handle.

  When I went to my room, instead of going to bed, I took out my pad of paper and a special rapido Ginnie’d given me when I started art classes. I sat at the window and drew the shapes of the buildings outside. Rectangles and squares stacked side by side and up to the sky. Neat, orderly, controllable. The complete opposite of my life.

  If the FeLS agency didn’t have a record of my contract buyout, I would have to apply to the program. Unless I was able to get my Creative designation before the Choosing. My birthday was coming up, but I didn’t know when the Choosing was going to be, or when I’d be able to get my designation. I stacked the last square on the paper and went to bed.

  XXXIV

  I woke up to the tones of my PAV. It was Wei.

  “Wanna go to the zoo?”

  “I’ll be ready when you get here.”

  By the time I’d scarfed down breakfast and dressed, she’d arrived.

  “See you later, Gran.”

  “Homework done?” she asked. “Tomorrow’s a school day.”

  “I don’t have much. I’ll finish it when I get home. I promise.”

  “I’m holding you to that. Now go on, you two, so you can get back.” She shooed us out the door. “And be careful.”

  “I’m always careful,” I said.

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. Oberon, she’s with me.”

  We goofed around while waiting for the elport. Wei demonstrated a headlock on me and then showed me how to break away if someone grabbed my arm. We were downstairs before I managed to free myself from her grasp by jerking through the thumb side of the hold. “Keep practicing,” she said. “You’ll get it eventually.” I wasn’t so sure of that.

  Outside it was bleak and gray. The sky spat hard little balls of white that bounced off the concrete. Automatically, I scanned the street for Ed’s green trannie. Nothing.

  “I’m not ready for snow. I hate being cold.” I pulled my gloves on. “Is your dad back from Amsterdam yet?”

  “No—tonight. You want to walk or take a trans?”

  “Let’s walk. I need to toughen up to the weather.” I was envious that the cold didn’t seem to bother Wei at all.

  We’d gone two blocks when the wind picked up and the sleet pellets turned to snow, soft and flat, falling faster and thicker. “Maybe we should take a trans,” I said. “I can toughen up later.”

  We braced our backs against the wind gusts and waited for the number 33. I noticed a green trannie idling at the corner; I nudged Wei, nodding in its direction.

  “Get in that doorway,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

  I was so intent on watching her that I didn’t notice that another green trannie had pulled up in the alley behind me until it was too late. Ed’s hand was over my mouth and he’d twisted my arm behind my back before I knew what was happening. Wei turned around in time to see him force me into his transport.

  Quick as she was, Ed was quicker. He pulled out into traffic before she could reach us. I pounded on the door, but it wouldn’t open while we were moving—damn safety devices. I was trapped. I swallowed the urge to scream, forcing myself to turn and face him.

  “Let me out,” I demanded. No way would I let him know how scared I was. I’d seen the damage he’d done to Ginnie. I was sure he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me if it served his purpose. And at last I knew what his purpose was: Dee’s baby book. He needed me to get that. My heart q
uailed, but my resolve stood firm.

  “Not even going to say hello?” He smirked. “That’s the least you could do—show some respect to the man who supported you for the last ten years.”

  “Supported me?” I couldn’t disguise the sarcasm in my voice. “You never gave me anything at all.”

  “Well, I’ll give you something now.” He backhanded me across the mouth. The pain was sharp and sudden. I tasted blood. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I felt a fury boil up inside me—ready to explode.

  He watched me, his eyes hard and soulless. “And here’s something for the knee you gave me last time we met.” His closed fist slammed into my face.

  I actually felt my brain rattle in my head and shooting pain spread from my hairline to my chin. Little silver dots floated in my line of vision and my rage turned to nausea. It took everything I had just to stay conscious, but I knew I had to if I was going to escape.

  “I think we’re even now,” he said. “Let’s get down to business. You have something I want. A book. I wasn’t sure what until your blond girlfriend practically waved it under my nose the other night.”

  I thought my head would explode. How Ginnie survived all the times he’d done this to her, I didn’t know. I murmured, no words, just sound.

  “I’m not one for making deals, but I’m feeling generous today. I’m finally going to show them. All of them.” He glanced into the rearview and gave a self-satisfied smile. “So, Nina, how do you like this: you give me the book, or I make sure you’re chosen for FeLS. I heard your contract disappeared. Shame. And to make the deal even sweeter, while you’re out there in training, Dee will have to come and live with me. No doubt she’ll want to stay forever. That’s how Cinderella girls are ... so I’ve heard.”

  “I ...” I stalled, pretending I was still dazed while I scanned the dash in front of me, looking for something I might use to get away. His trannie had a chiller, just like the one in Rita’s. I wondered ...

  Snow was falling faster now and the streets were getting slick. Even though trannies hover about a foot above the pavement, their tractor system relies on sonic contact between the vehicle and the ground; I’d learned that in Mechanical Science. I’d also learned that if a transport isn’t winterized, you can be in for a slippery ride.

  Ahead of us, directly in our path, three trannies had swerved to miss a transit that had stalled.

  “Stupid-ass drivers!” Ed eased up on the accelerator, his attention leaving me for a moment and focusing on the road. That’s when I saw my chance.

  I pressed the chiller button and out burst a Sparkle—just like I’d hoped. I shook it, aimed, and popped the top—exploding the sweet, sticky liquid right into Ed’s face.

  “You goddamn little bitch!” He smacked both hands to his face, frantically wiping his eyes, trying to get the carbonated soda out of them. He spluttered and cursed, momentarily blinded.

  Reaching over, I jerked the steering wheel, causing our trannie to plow into the back of a transit. His side of the transport crumpled and my door automatically flew open. I bolted, skidding and slipping on the snowy streets, not daring to look back. People jumped out of my way as I raced blindly on. My sides were splitting and my lungs screamed for air, but I kept on running. I didn’t know how long I ran, but I didn’t stop until my legs refused to go any farther.

  Crouched in an alley behind a stack of wooden crates, I called Wei.

  “Where are you?” she cried. “I’m with Sal and Derek. We didn’t know what to do to find you.”

  “I. Got. Away.” My breath came quick, shallow and painful. “I don’t know where I am. On the south side somewhere ... I think.”

  I strained to see through the swirling snow, looking for anything that might be familiar. I saw a transit sign outside the alley. It was for the number 47 line.

  “I’ll get to Union Station,” I said. “Meet me there.”

  I skulked in the doorway of a nearby building, not venturing out into the open until I heard the transit approach. As I scanned my pass, the driver gave me a funny look. The trans lurched forward and I stumbled down the aisle. A woman put a package she was holding down on the empty seat beside her as I approached, so I took the seat behind her, sliding over by the window. The pain in my face had settled into a dull throbbing. I hesitated before touching my lip; it was swollen and crusted with blood. I automatically reached up to brush the hair out of my eye. A little cry escaped when I bumped my cheek. The woman in front of me half turned in my direction. I put my head down to avoid her glance.

  I skimmed my fingers along my cheek—I could tell it was swollen, too. No wonder the driver and the woman had stared; I bet I looked awful. By pulling the collar of my jacket up and letting my hair fall over my face, I was able to partially conceal my injuries. I didn’t want to draw any more attention to myself than I already had.

  The few people brave enough to be out were merely dark apparitions in the driving snowstorm. It took an eternity to get to Union Station. The familiarity of the worn marble floors and wooden benches was somehow reassuring. I sat down, facing the front, waiting for my friends.

  When they finally got there, I tried to keep Sal from seeing my face. But it didn’t work.

  “What—?” He lifted up my hair. Then he spun around and slammed his fist into a wooden pillar.

  We all heard the familiar whir of a security cam changing direction, to focus on the disturbance he’d made.

  “Control yourself,” Wei whispered to him. “We don’t need any cops showing up.”

  “I’ll kill him,” he muttered between clenched teeth.

  “Sal ... don’t.” I laid a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”

  “Okay?” he practically shouted, pointing at my face. “That is not okay!” He looked at Wei. “Do something.” Then back at me. “Does it hurt?”

  “Of course it hurts, pigeon brain,” Wei said, exasperated. “Come on.” She took my arm. “Let’s get out of view of that thing and get you cleaned up. Don’t do anything stupid,” she said to Sal. “Wait right here. Derek—watch him.”

  “I’ll kill him,” Sal repeated under his breath. “When I find him, I’ll kill him.”

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Wei said. “We need to talk to my parents. They’ll know what to do, and who to go to in order to get it done.”

  Derek, who’d been standing there staring at me the whole time, finally spoke. “We’ll go outside. Sal needs to cool off. And, Nina ... red is not your color.”

  I thought about smiling, but even the thought hurt.

  Wei dragged me off to the bathroom. Nothing could’ve prepared me for my reflection. I hardly recognized the girl staring back at me. My lips were swollen, way beyond collagen-pumped, and bloody. My entire left cheek was as big as an orange and bright red to boot. I had to touch it to make sure it was really me.

  Wei dabbed at the blood from around my lips.

  “Ouch!”

  “Sorry.” She continued cleaning my face with wet tissues. “I’m trying to be careful.”

  A couple of white-haired ladies entered and peered at us suspiciously. I wondered if they were security—you could never tell.

  “My friend slipped and fell on the steps outside,” Wei said. “Looks awful, doesn’t it?”

  They obviously weren’t security or we would’ve been questioned on the spot. Wei’s explanation brought out the grandmother in both of them. One dug around in her purse and offered up a couple of Band-Aids. The other handed me a bottle of OTC pain meds.

  “Keep them, dearie.” She gently patted my hand. “I have plenty more at home. Government issue, don’t you know.” She winked at me.

  We thanked them and they left. But not before making dire predictions about how much worse I would look and feel in the morning.

  Wei doctored up my lip with the Band-Aids and I swallowed a couple of the pills.

  She stood back, surveying her handiwork. “That looks a little better. I can’t do anything for
the bruising, though. That’s going to take a major makeup job or some of Mom’s concoctions.”

  “Great story about me falling on the slick steps. I think Gran will buy it, too. I can be a real klutz sometimes. I can’t tell her what really happened. I don’t want her worrying about me every time I leave the house.”

  “No, I’ll be the one doing that now.” Wei’s hands were firmly set on her hips.

  “Oh ... you want me to check in with you before I go anywhere?” I mimicked holding my PAV receiver. “Wei, this is Nina, I’m leaving for school. Wei, this is Nina, I’m going to the store for Gran. Wei, this is Nina, I’m going to the bathroom. Oh, wait—that’s not outside, is it?”

  We both started laughing, which wasn’t too bright on my part. “Ouch, ouch!” I grabbed at my face, tears trickling down my cheeks. “I really can’t laugh.”

  We finished up and went outside where the guys were waiting.

  “Nina, are you all right? I will make sure he regrets he ever laid a hand on you ...” Sal said. I knew he would, if he had the chance. I even fantasized for a second that he, or someone, would “take care” of Ed.

  “So much for a day at the zoo,” Wei said.

  “I need to get home.” The pain pills hadn’t kicked in yet, and I was exhausted, plus I was feeling nauseous again. “Ed wanted the book. The accident looked bad, but if he was able to get to the apartment ...” Images of Ed terrorizing Gran and Pops came to me and my stomach churned. I ran back to the restroom, making it just in time before throwing up. I fought the vision of Pops trying to defend Gran and Dee against Ed. Pops wouldn’t stand a chance.

  Wei’d followed me in. “Come on, Nina. We’ll get you home. Ed’s trannie slid into a transit, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Even if Ed wasn’t hurt, he’d be tied up with CTA investigators for hours.”

  We went back outside to where the guys were.

  “I’ve got practice with Riley. We’ve got another show coming up at Soma. I think we were a hit the other night,” Derek said. “If you need me, though, I’ll call him. We can do it later.”