Once we were out, I shut it, locking it up again with my hand. Heat-sensor technology was incredibly simple. All it took to open the door was a local change in temperature. You just had to know where to apply it. Since not many had access to the technology, it was fairly foolproof.
“We’re not going outside, are we?” Darby glanced around. The hallway was long and dark and carried mold-scented undertones, like most things around here. It was part of the fabric of the environment when it rained damn near constantly.
I put on my chromes. “No. Well, not technically. I guess it depends on your definition of outside.” I adjusted the dial to infrared and moved forward. Halfway down the hall, I stopped in front of a regular-looking door. I set my ear to it and turned the knob, easing it open. “My unit had access to a shared balcony. This is the entrance.” We went through a short passageway. “Close the door behind you and engage the big bolt.” I drew my Gem out of my belt, just in case anyone was lurking.
One blast from this, and they would have a large hole burned straight through them.
The balcony was secure from the inside, but it was impossible to lock it down from the outside. We were fifty-some stories up, so the likelihood of someone being out here was rare. But that didn’t mean people couldn’t be tricky if they found out what I had up here.
I pressed my finger to my lips, indicating Darby should move cautiously. Because of the wind and rain, it was too hard to hear. When I didn’t detect any movement, I eased around the corner.
Darby followed.
On the balcony, I stepped to the side, giving him a full, unimpeded view of one of my most-prized possessions. It wasn’t that big, but what it produced was worth its weight in coin. Through infrared, it wouldn’t look as spectacular as it would during the day, but we were here now.
“Holy shit…” Darby stumbled toward my E-unit, his hands extended in front of him like a seeker. “Is this…an electrolysis system?” He snapped his head toward me to see my answering nod, his eyes wide. “Is it open or compressed?”
“Compressed.” I joined him as he stood by the machine, ogling it. “The hydrogen comes out in condensed nano-carbon cubes.” The pleasure I took in introducing Darby to my fuel lab took me by surprise. I’d kept it secret for so long, it felt strange to out myself, but also fantastic at the same time. I’d put a lot of hard work into this. I plucked one of the pellets out of the bin, making sure to hold on to the sides carefully. The gas was stable in the cell, but dropping it would be bad. Any blast of energy could cause it to explode. It wasn’t more than a centimeter square. “When needed, the gas can be extracted with pressurized canisters to use as fuel, the cubes reused. Just like the ones Lockland gives us, but I found a ton more. Or they can be placed in a gun that uses vaporized fuel.” When Darby didn’t respond, I elbowed him. “Now’s a good time to be verbal. What do you think?”
“I’m just…floored.” He ran his hands slowly along the top of the steel box in what could only be considered a caress. “I have an E-unit as well, but it’s an open system. I have to compress the gas myself, which is tough, and mine’s a lot bigger and takes up a ton of space.” His gaze landed on me. “Where’d you find it?”
“A few years ago, I was down by the edge of the canals, where the sea crashes into the buildings. They’re barely standing anymore.” It was a dangerous place to be, unstable and harrowing. “I stumbled onto a floor that held an old manufacturing lab. I had no idea what they used to make. I didn’t find much, most of it gone or broken beyond repair. I almost left empty-handed, but as I was exiting, I happened to glance in one more room. There it was. It was too big to carry out in one piece, so I went back three times. I risked my life for this thing.” I ran my hand along the top of it, next to Darby’s. The E-unit was a meter and a half wide and a meter high. It rested on a raised garden bed. It contained vessels that heated our ample supply of water, and as the H2O steamed, the unit split the hydrogen from the oxygen and pressurized the hydrogen into cubes. Instant vaporized fuel. “Rainwater flows automatically from the roof through that tube.” I pointed to the left side of the ceiling. “I use the oxygen it produces for my residence. It runs through that vent.”
Darby turned to me, his expression thoughtful. “Holly, I knew you were industrious. I knew you were smart. I knew you were fearless. I knew you had access to goods I could only dream about. But I had no idea what you were doing was as big as this.” He gestured to the unit. “This is a game changer.”
I slung my arm around Darby shoulders. “Let’s head back inside. We’ve got lots to discuss. I’ll tell you more about my tech, and you get to tell me why you were roaming the canals alone at night.” I grinned. “In case you were wondering, I haven’t forgotten.”
CHAPTER TEN
“I didn’t catch that last part. Try it again, slower this time, please.” We were seated on the bench in front of my screen. “Darby, I’m serious, you have to explain it again in layman’s terms. I’m smart and industrious. I can rig up a battery pack. I can install a solar panel. I can reroute plumbing. But I’m not at your level when it comes to bioengineering and human genetics.”
We’d been talking awhile, and try as I might, I couldn’t get Darby to divulge exactly why he’d been in the canals. But I’d finally managed to get him to talk about some general aspects.
“I can’t tell you the location or the person I’m working with,” he insisted. “So don’t ask, but the government involvement in Plush goes much deeper than you’d think.”
I leaned forward, my face set. “What I think is the government has been involved for a very long time. They’ve been keeping seekers high for years, because honestly, where else would they get their fixes? It’s not like we have the recipe for Plush. The government assumes blissed-out seekers are less of a threat than ones in rage-mode—and they’re not exactly wrong. But what you just told me is a bigger game changer than my E-unit. Being able to reverse the effects of Plush—that’s huge. I didn’t follow along with the genetic cell mutation stuff, or the filling in the breaks of the filaments with bio-matter stuff, but if you can do such a thing, it…I mean, it would change the course of our civilization as we know it. There are upwards of ten thousand seekers inside the city limits alone. That’s a fourth of our population.” It was impossible to know exactly how many were out there, but the impact of curing them would be incredible. “If you could reverse the damage done to their bodies after years of abuse, this city would be revitalized. Not to mention a ton safer.” Death by seeker was a violent affair. It involved a lot of ripping and scratching and biting.
“It would be a game changer, but don’t get too ahead of yourself,” Darby cautioned. “It’s an extreme long shot, as I’ve said. But the person I’m working with happens to be brilliant, and the engineering is groundbreaking. I think there’s a chance. If not full reversal of symptoms, at least partial. It would allow them to function more normally.”
“I’m happy to supply you with anything you need.” I sat back, my brain ticking through all the massive implications. “Seriously. I have more stuff than anyone knows about. I can be an asset.”
“I’ll pass that on.”
“So, you’ve been coming to the canals how often and for how long?”
“Twice a week for the last two months,” he answered sheepishly. Darby was good at being sheepish. His large eyes fluttered and his cheeks blushed a very cute tint of red. Darby looked like the boy next door—when there had actually been boys next door. I didn’t have much to compare it to, but he was boyish and innocent. Everyone loved Darby.
I crossed my arms. “How many seekers have you fought off?”
“None.”
My eyebrows rose. “If you’ve entered this area that many times, the law of averages is not in your favor. I run into a seeker every fifth time.” He shrugged, glancing at my battery wall, pretending to be distracted by the large conglomeration of shiny metal discs. “Oh, no, you don’t.” I play-slugged his arm. “You don’t ge
t to go nonverbal on this. How are you getting in and out without issue?”
He sighed, turning back reluctantly. “If I tell you, it could compromise the operation.”
I appraised him, taking in his guarded demeanor and serious expression. His brown hair was cut short and had calmed down and dried from its time under his helmet. He’d taken off his protective jacket, and he wore standard-issue clothing provided by the government. A simple long-sleeved shirt in a brown hue, the pants made from a little thicker material, same color. They were uniforms by all accounts. The government didn’t have much in the way of imagination. “Okay, I give up. You don’t have to tell me. But anything that could help me avoid seekers is good knowledge to have.”
He nodded readily. “Oh, I agree. I’ll be ready to talk more freely in a month or so.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. I met him halfway, our heads almost touching. “Now it’s time for you to tell me about the quantum drive and the pico.” He nodded toward my sleeping area. “And how you ended up as a sustainer. Honestly, that’s the most puzzling piece of the story.” When I made a face, he added, “I know you have a heart, Holly. I just always assumed it was more of a murky purple color than gold.”
“Are you implying that I’m a coldhearted bitch?” I asked, arching back, making a face that exaggerated a pretend offense. “Because if you are, you’d be correct. I actually have no idea what came over me,” I chuckled as I ran a hand through my hair. “I guess he kind of reminded me of myself at that age. And he knows a bunch of stuff I don’t.” I met Darby’s gaze. “There’s a new child-slavery ring in town, and this kid was in the middle of it.”
Darby whistled low. “Child slavery? That hits close to home. No wonder you took him in.”
The crew knew most of my backstory, but they hadn’t learned it from me. Bender had told them, with my blessing. It wasn’t something I talked about often.
I stood and made my way over to the cooling unit to get more water. The jug was almost empty, so I brought it over to a patch on the wall, slid the piece of metal I had inserted there to the side, and popped the plug. Water gushed inside, filling quickly. When it was full, I covered the spigot back up and poured myself a glass. “You want another cup?” I asked. “I also have some of the amino stuff, but I can’t stand it.”
“No, I’m good,” he answered.
The crisp, white building was on the wall screen now with the blue sky juxtaposed, the lofty billowing clouds floating above it. It would’ve been a pleasure to see such a sight in real life. I sighed as I sat back down. “Three days after I turned nine,” I started, “I killed the leader of the slavery ring who’d taken me captive with my bare hands. With my ‘unusual-colored hair’ and my ‘emergence of breasts,’ they were getting ready to sell me to the highest bidder, so I’d had no choice.”
“Jesus,” Darby whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said, shaking my head as my index finger traced the outer rim of the cup. “I’d refused to cooperate, and I’d been beaten for days. But I got my revenge in the end. Not only did I free myself, but eight others. The man I killed was an animal and had been using the boys as his playthings.” I curled my lip at the memory, bile making its way up the back of my throat. I had no idea what happened to the other kids. I’d done the deed, escaped, and never looked back.
As luck would have it, I’d found Bender the next day.
I’d been broken and weary, but alive. If it hadn’t been for him, I shudder to think how my life would’ve ended, because it would’ve been snuffed out quickly. I’d had no method of survival except my instincts, which were there, but had yet to be honed. My mother had died months before, and she’d sheltered me from our world the best she could, making me dependent and weak, instead of strong and able.
“That’s terrible.”
Telling Darby wasn’t as hard as I’d imagined it would be. “I did the killing with a shard of metal from a broken plank they’d beaten me with, then played dead for a day and a half. It was pure luck that the ringleader came in to dispose of me himself. I jammed the thing into his neck, and that was that.” I shrugged.
Darby was wide-eyed. “I can’t even imagine. I had both my parents until age nineteen. Daze is lucky to have you.”
I smiled. “I only agreed to be his sustainer for one year. After that, he’s on his own.”
“Yeah, whatever you say.”
“I mean it.” I stood. “I’m going to teach him everything I know and set him free. He’s scrappy, he’ll figure it out. It’s not like I’ll leave him empty-handed. I’ll give him the right equipment and make sure he has the survival skills he needs. I’m not a monster.” I walked over to a drawer and took out a blanket, setting my cup on the rail. It was old and worn, but it didn’t smell even close to as bad as the one in the craft. “All I have to offer you is this bench for sleeping.”
“It’s more than fine.” Darby extended his legs, reclining, his boots hanging over the end. “Where I sleep at home is barely better and certainly doesn’t have such an amazing view. It’s really something that your screen still works. It defies all logical explanation.” I spread the blanket over him. He yawned. “What about the pico? How are you going to find it?”
“I’m taking the kid to Port Station tomorrow. We’ll go from there.” I hit the lights on the way out, leaving the screen on. “Good night.”
“Night.”
The first thing on the agenda was to get out of these clothes and into the cleaning stall. Then it was a straight ten hours for me. I needed it.
Before I headed into the waste room, I stopped in front of Daze’s unit. There was no movement inside and I couldn’t lift the lid without waking him. But I stood beside it, like an anxious mother, my mind drifting to the day I met Bender. I’d been limping, my clothes torn and bloody. Blackout had just begun, the streets dark and foreboding, the rain cold on my exposed skin. I’d had nowhere to go. I’d just killed a man. I’d barely been in my right mind. But I’d known—even at nine years old—that my life was not up for grabs and that I was willing to do anything it took to survive.
Looking back, I had no idea why I’d been so steadfast in my thinking. This world—the one I’d been born into—was the epitome of ruthless and cold. It chewed people up and spit them out on a daily basis. By all reasoning, giving up would’ve been a hell of a lot easier.
But it’d been impossible for me then, just as it was now.
I’d always been a fighter. Every battle I entered, I wanted to win, hands down.
Or die trying.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The ultraviolet light tingled my skin, the hairs on my arms slowly rising to attention. I stretched as best I could in the confines of the pod, my arms spreading at awkward angles. I managed to get the job done, slowly waking, my muscles protesting the movement.
They’d much prefer I leave them alone and let them sleep.
The heat felt great, warm and gooey, energizing me. It’d been a while since I’d dosed up on vitamin D. It was hard to make it a priority when you were busy trying to survive. Even though I was sore, I felt loose. “Sorry, guys,” I told my muscles, my voice cracking with sleep. “It can’t be helped. We’ve got shit to do and people to see.” I stretched again, all the way down to my curling toes.
Waking up like this wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
It was leagues better than fumbling for my Gem because I’d heard a clatter that couldn’t be named. I’d even closed the top last night, but only because Darby was sleeping in the other room.
I would’ve awoken to his screams if anything had gone wrong.
After approximately seven more minutes, my lid cleared and popped open.
Next to me, Daze’s did the same.
Before I even sat up, the kid was out of his, hurrying to the waste room. I knew the feeling. “Make sure none of the green splashes on your skin,” I called. “If it does, jump into the cleaning stall and turn it on.”
Dragging my legs ov
er the side, I poked my toes into the cold room. A shiver raced through me. Now my hair was on end for a different reason. It summed up life in this place perfectly—hot to cold in an instant. Once I was out, I slid open a drawer next to the unit and picked out an identical outfit from yesterday.
I had more clothes than most, having scavenged for them for most of my life. Four years ago, I’d paid a talented seamstress, an acquaintance of Bender’s, to cut a bunch of items up and sew together some outfits for me. She had a foolproof method for extracting thread from old clothes to use for new ones. She was worth her weight in coin.
I wasn’t used to waiting for my time in the waste room so, clothes in hand, I padded into my living space. Darby was half on, half off the bench, snoring loudly, the blanket crumpled on the floor. I didn’t have the heart to wake him yet. Instead, I leaned my back against the wall and, like I had hundreds of times before, my eyes slowly tracked the clouds over the mysterious white building with the crisp, clean lines.
It never got old.
The kid emerged from doing his business, and I made my way back.
Daze had his clean clothes and was in the process of sticking a scrawny leg into a pant leg. I yawned as I passed. “Your hair is blond like mine,” I told him. “I wasn’t expecting that.” I walked into the waste room and began to slide the door shut.
The kid grinned. “My mom said my dad had blond hair, too. Maybe he was your brother?”
Any kind of light hair was an anomaly. The races had been thoroughly mixed over the last hundred and fifty years, and the dominant genes were brown and black. “Not a chance,” I said. “If I had a brother, I’d know it. Plus, my parents both had jet-black hair. I’m just a freak.”
Danger's Halo: (Holly Danger Book 1) Page 8