by Cheree Alsop
Aunt Jenny considered them both. “I don’t know about that. We’ve always gone with the straightforward teaching method in our family. Communication eliminates confusion. And they’re too smart to take everything for granted much longer.”
Breccan’s mom looked at her sister for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. I guess it’s better now than later anyway. At least, I hope.”
“What are you talking about?” Breccan asked.
“You’re making me nervous,” Jonny said.
Aunt Jenny pushed her son’s hand away from his tie and straightened it again as she asked, “Why do you think we plug into the Zone every night, Jon?”
Jonny lifted his skinny shoulders in a shrug. “I don’t know. To make money?”
“Yes, but why are we paid?” Aunt Jenny asked. “I hope you really don’t think it’s because we run troubleshooting for accounting programs, because that’s not worth squat.”
Aunt Jenny and Breccan’s mom laughed at the joke neither boys understood.
“Alright,” Breccan said when they quieted. “If you’re not getting paid for troubleshooting, what do you get paid for, and don’t say time again.”
Aunt Jenny stopped at the doors to Building C Twenty-seven. They stepped aside for several people to pass by. Aunt Jenny waited for the door to close before she turned back to the boys.
“What is a port for?” she asked.
“To plug in,” Jonny replied.
“Yes, but what is the plug for?” she pressed.
Jonny glanced at Breccan, then said, “To connect us to the Edge or the Zone.”
Aunt Jenny’s gaze tightened slightly. “Yes and no. It does connect you, but it’s as much of an output port as an input.”
Jonny shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. Our thoughts enter the Edge, not the other way around.”
Breccan looked from Jonny to his aunt. His stomach rolled over the moment the truth clicked into place.
“Power,” he said quietly.
Both his mother and Aunt Jenny watched him with expectant expressions. His mother’s was a little sad as if she had hoped to put off the truth a bit longer. That solidified the thought in Breccan’s mind.
“We power the Edge,” he concluded.
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Aunt Jenny said. “That among other things. The power remaining from the Edge is used to keep Holram and other cities like it running. It’s the cleanest source of energy possible.”
“And the energy from Cranfield Company, where does that go?” Breccan asked, keeping his voice level.
“To the highest bidder,” his mother replied. “Sometimes it’s a city low on power, other times it’s a country who depleted their resources.”
“And the Cranfield Company makes all the money,” Breccan said with shock. “How is that fair?”
“We get paid for our time,” Jenny began.
“But it’s pennies on the dollar,” Breccan’s mother replied, sharing a knowing look with her sister as though they had gone through the same discussion before. “There are definitely some deep pockets at the top. But the Edge was created as a nonprofit and is owned by each city who chooses to support it as a means of energy,” his mother told them. “Cities like Kirik Reservoir are small enough that we can supply our own energy with the dam, but Holram needs the Edge and the Zone.”
“I don’t get it,” Jonny said.
Breccan could tell his cousin was in denial.
“We’re batteries, Jonny,” he said. “When we plug in, we power your city.”
Jonny’s face grew pale. He leaned against the side of the building and looked as though he was about to be sick.
“Right now?” he asked.
His mother nodded. “Yes, dear, but it’s not a bad thing. Think of it as a symbiotic relationship. You love the Edge, and when you plug in, you also help us have the energy Holram City needs.”
A thought struck Breccan. “If the Edge were to ever fail, then everyone would have to pay the Cranfield Company for their city’s power, for every city’s power.”
“I suppose so,” his mother replied. “But why would the Edge fail?”
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Breccan’s attention. He glanced over to see a boy in a tattered brown coat standing in the shadows between buildings C Twenty-seven and C Twenty-nine.
“This is a lot to take in,” Breccan told his mom and aunt. “Do you mind if we stay out here for a while to process it?”
To his relief, his mother gave him an understanding look and said, “Sure, sweetie. Take whatever time you need. We can show you around another day if you’d rather.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he said.
“You, too, Jonny,” Aunt Jenny told her son. “Stay with Breccan. I know it’s a lot, but you guys will be fine.”
“I’m sure I just need some time,” Jonny said weakly.
Breccan could tell his cousin’s nausea wasn’t completely forced.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him,” he reassured his aunt.
“I love you both,” she said.
“Me, too,” Breccan’s mother told them.
The boys watched as the sisters made their way to the door. Both women waved goodbye. Breccan and Jonny did the same.
The moment the door shut, Jonny let out a stream of curse words that would have made a Kirik Reservoir fisherman blush. Breccan heard a few that must have been Edge slang because they were new to him. He patted his cousin’s back and hoped he wasn’t just about to witness whether or not puking while plugged in was possible. The thought that he was powering the Cranfield Company while he was in the Zone made him feel like joining Jonny.
“Hey, uh, that’s the jacket, right?”
They both looked up at the sound of the boy’s voice.
“Sneedle?” Breccan asked.
The boy nodded. He pushed brown hair out of his face that was obviously the result of a home haircut. The boy looked too skinny as if he didn’t get enough to eat at home. “Yeah, it’s me.” Embarrassment showed when he said, “My name’s Mortimer, but most people call me Morty. I don’t really deserve the name Sneedle out here.”
Breccan held out his left hand. “I’m Breccan and this is Jonny, my cousin.”
Morty shook his hand as if shaking the left instead of the right was completely normal. He didn’t even appear to notice Breccan’s missing arm. Breccan found himself liking Sneedle all the more.
“Which one of you is Game Breaker, if you don’t mind me asking?” Morty queried politely.
“I am,” Jonny began.
Breccan elbowed him. “I am,” he said. “Don’t listen to Jonny. He’s had quite the shock today.”
“Yeah,” Jonny shot back. “I’m not handling the news well that we are all just batteries to fuel our power-hungry cities. How am I supposed to feel?” He was nearly shouting by the time he finished.
Breccan held up his hand. “Take it easy,” he coaxed. “We need to get to the bottom of what’s happening in the Edge, and losing it now isn’t going to help us any.”
“What does it matter? We’re just juice for the Edge like we’re juice for the Zone. It shouldn’t make a difference,” Jonny replied, his voice hysterical.
Breccan could tell the boy was close to going off the rails completely. He grabbed Jonny by the shoulder and pushed him back against the wall of the building.
“Ouch, Brec!” Jonny protested.
“Jonny, I’m only going to say this once,” Breccan said, his voice deadly serious. “We need the Edge. It’s the only form of balance this world has. If the Edge crumbles and the Cranfield Company takes over, they will own every single person in Holram City and beyond. You will have to work for them to fuel the city you love, and in return, you’ll have to pay for that fuel. Do you want that?”
Jonny shook his head.
Breccan held his gaze. “Not to mention that the girl I love will die completely if the Edge falls. I will do everything in my power to fix the problem, and
I need someone I can trust to go with me because I don’t really know what I’m doing. Can I count on you?”
His question hung in the air between them.
Jonny took a few settling breaths, then he nodded. “You can count on me.”
Breccan let him go and stepped back. He looked at Morty.
The scrawny boy raised his hands. “I’m already in. You don’t have to do that to me.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Breccan replied.
“So what now?” Jonny asked.
“If the Cranfield Company is trying to destroy the Edge, there must be someone pulling the strings. Who owns the company?” Breccan asked.
“Mathias Cranfield,” Jonny and Morty said together.
“But his son is running it now,” Jonny said. “Everyone knows Mathias has poor health. Victor Cranfield took over a few years back.”
“Do you think he’s behind the Techsecs?” Morty asked.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Breccan replied. “Where do they control the Zone?”
“From the Mainframe in downtown Horizon,” Morty said. At Breccan’s blank look, he explained, “It’s the capital about fifteen minutes from here by speed rail. But you’ve got to be quite the hack to break in there.”
That brought a grin to Breccan’s face. “Luckily, we know quite the hack.”
He took off running.
“Where are you going?” Jonny yelled.
“Back to Holram so we can get to the Edge,” Breccan shouted over his shoulder.
“Just unplug,” Jonny called back.
Breccan stopped short. An embarrassed grin spread across his face. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “I forgot you can do that here.”
“Where will I find you guys?” Morty asked.
“At the Edge, I guess,” Jonny said. “Sounds like a death sentence there right now, but Breccan likes that kind of stuff.”
“Count me in,” Morty replied. “I like a good adventure.”
Breccan reached back and pulled the plug. A moment later found him sitting in the small room where they had plugged in. He sat up slowly and glanced at his mother. She sat next to Aunt Jenny with her eyes closed and a half-smile on her face.
“Stay safe,” Breccan whispered. He pushed to his feet with one hand. He hated the thought of leaving his mother plugged into anything that belonged to the Cranfield Corporation, but involving her in the Edge would be even more dangerous. At least she was with her sister.
“To Building Seven?” Jonny asked wearily.
Breccan gave him a worried look. “Hey, do you need to sleep?”
Jonny shook his head. “And leave you to do all of this hero stuff by yourself? No way.”
Breccan watched his cousin closely as they made their way out the door. Jonny nearly missed the last step and would have fallen flat on his face if Breccan hadn’t grabbed his arm.
“Hey, look at me,” he told his cousin.
Jonny peered into his face, his eyes unfocused. He blinked and wavered slightly from side to side.
“How many nights is this for you?” Breccan asked.
Jonny sighed. “Last night was my seventh.”
Breccan let go of his cousin’s arm. He grabbed it again when Jonny nearly fell over.
“You should be asleep,” he scolded. “My mom said plugging in more than seven nights in a row is dangerous. You need to rest or you can really damage your brain.”
Jonny nodded, but his eyes were closed. Breccan realized with a start that his cousin was asleep on his feet. He glanced down the road toward Building Seven. The thought of how badly the Edge and Jorie needed him made it tempting to just take Jonny with him and leave him to sleep in one of the chairs, but his cousin was obviously exhausted. He shouldn’t have plugged in that night at all. The Catlan home was closer, and that would be the safest place for Jonny to rest.
“Come on, cous,” Breccan said. He slung Jonny’s arm over his shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”
Jonny mumbled something incoherent and stumbled beside him toward the Catlan residence. Adrenaline raced through Breccan’s veins. He wanted nothing more than to get to the Edge as quickly as possible. He had no idea how the avatars were holding up against the Techsecs. If Minx hadn’t found a weakness and the Techsecs had any idea that there was a resistance, the avatars might be in big trouble. The thought of Jorie caught up in the mix made his heart thunder in his ears.
He wanted to run, but couldn’t push Jonny faster than a half-stumble, half-walk. He was tempted to pick his cousin up in a fireman hold and jog it, but he was worried about doing so with only one arm. Things were so much easier in the Edge.
The steps of the apartment building where the Catlans lived loomed into view from the alley he had taken as a shortcut. Relief filled Breccan. He was about to hurry them across the road when movement caught his eye. He crouched in the shadows of the building across the street and eased Jonny down to sit beside him.
A man in a long black coat with the hood pulled over his head had slipped up the steps. As Breccan watched, the man messed with the doorknob; a moment later, the door opened. The man glanced around, but his face was too deep inside the hood to make out any features. The man said something into his cellphone implant, then darted inside and pulled the door shut.
Foreboding filled Breccan. As far as he knew, nobody in the Catlan residence was home. But if his uncle or his mother and Aunt Jenny came home early, they would be in trouble.
“Stay here,” Breccan whispered to Jonny.
“The cotton candy rats are coming,” Jonny muttered.
Breccan touched his cousin’s shoulder. Jonny slumped to his side on the pavement and began to snore.
“At least I don’t have to worry about you getting lost,” Breccan whispered.
He rose to his feet and looked down each side of the street to make sure there weren’t others watching the building. When he was certain the man had come alone, Breccan jogged to the apartment and then around back. He studied the rear of the building.
The Catlan apartment took up one entire side of the bottom floor and half of the second as well. He could enter the back door, but he didn’t have a key and would no doubt make far more noise than the man in the coat had attempting to jar it loose. But the window to the room he and Jonny shared was open a crack. Aunt Jenny always complained that it smelled too much like boy in there. She usually opened it to air it out.
“Smelling like a boy has its advantages,” Breccan said wryly. He glanced around and realized he was talking to himself. “Garrick would have laughed,” he said.
But it wasn’t true. Garrick usually rolled his eyes and told Breccan he was making jokes because he was scared. He missed how badly his twin had known him. It was one thing to go against a Battle Boss in a virtual world; it was another entirely to figure out why a real-life bad guy was breaking into his aunt and uncle’s house. His brother would have understood the difference and been right there beside him in both instances.
Breccan shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in self-pity. He hoped he survived to find time for that later. Garrick would have at least laughed at that.
Breccan eyed the fire escape. The ladder hung a few feet over his head. A wry smile crossed Breccan’s face at the thought that he had already trained for this. He glanced around and spotted the Catlans’ garbage can. His hope that it had been emptied recently shattered when he opened the lid to find it overflowing with garbage, along with pretty much everyone’s meal from the night before that Aunt Jenny had proudly served them. He closed the lid again and hoped his aunt didn’t find it.
Breccan dragged the garbage can toward the spot beneath the fire escape. The sound of the metal on asphalt made him cringe and by the time he reached the ladder, he was practically carrying the entire can in one hand.
The can wobbled when he attempted to climb on it. He waved his hand to keep his balance, but it was much harder since he was already off balance to begin with. As Breccan rose, th
e can wobbled even more. Breccan reached his feet and threw himself upward in a desperate attempt not to fall off. He grabbed the bottom rung as the can crashed to the ground. A glance down showed all of the garbage, last night’s dinner included, sprawled across the alley. Breccan cringed at the sound and dangled there, waiting to be found by the burglar, or robber, or murderer, or whoever he was.
When nobody appeared, Breccan pulled himself slowly upward. He had to use his chin and his shoulder, which hurt with the scar tissue, but eventually he was able to pull himself up and wedge his knee onto the rung. With a feeling of déjà vu, Breccan climbed up to the second floor and crouched by the window.
A quick peek inside showed that the room he and Jonny shared was empty. The light from Jonny’s green alarm clock glowed in the corner, illuminating his cousin’s action figure collection and card album. When Breccan had teased him about keeping toys, Jonny had pointed out that each of the action figures was a collector’s item and worth a lot of money. Perhaps that was what the burglar was after.
Breccan grabbed a wrestling figure that had one hand up and was making a crude gesture with his other hand. If Breccan couldn’t bribe the man in the coat with it, at least he could use it as a makeshift weapon.
Breccan crossed the carpet on silent feet and paused by the partially-open door. A glance down the hallway revealed that it was empty. Breccan let out the breath he had been holding. He didn’t like the thought of wandering through the apartment without any way of knowing where the man had gone, but with Jonny sleeping out in the alley and time counting down for the avatars of the Edge, he was out of options.
Breccan stepped quietly into the hall.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A crash sounded from the living room. Breccan hurried down the stairs with the wrestling action figure held tight in his left hand. He paused at the base of the steps and listened. A shoe crunching in glass caught his ear. Breccan stalked quietly into the room.
The man in the black coat stood illuminated by the moonlight that streamed through the living room window. He was searching through the stacks of papers Uncle Jix kept on every available surface. They were nutrition breakdowns from his job at the food processing plant. Aunt Jenny always said they could warm the neighborhood for weeks with the amount of paperwork he brought home. She patiently restacked them whenever Jonny accidentally knocked over one of the piles, then placed lace doilies on top as if that made them decorative. His aunt had made doilies for as far back as Breccan could remember. He had never understood the use for them.