by Rebecca Rode
No, a little voice inside protested. It was the Kole Mason who’d grown up in the Shadows, doing whatever it took to survive. The boy who’d spent his childhood cowering under his covers, afraid to breathe in case his drunk father hear him and remembered he existed. The boy who’d dug in dumpsters for his dinner countless times. The Kole Mason who had climbed down a building just last night to survive. If that Kole disappeared, who would be left to face Dane? I couldn’t let Legacy do it alone.
The newcomer closed in again, wearing a smile that said he knew I was beaten. When he got close enough, I threw a kick to his stomach that sent him stumbling toward the door, where another newcomer emerged. I cursed. The longer I took to end this, the less chance I had of getting out of here.
I scooped the stunner from where Zenn had dropped it, yanked him up from the floor, and held him like a dummy. Then I placed the stunner to his head and flipped it to fatal mode, watching the guy’s eyes widen at the audible click. “Tell me where my uncle is, right now.”
The two halted their approach, their eyes flicking from the weapon to Zenn.
“I’ve killed before,” I told Zenn. “I’ll do it again. Tell me!”
He shook his head ever so slightly and moaned. Hot, slick blood coated my hands, and I realized it came from his head. Must have hit the desk on his way down. Guilt cooled my anger, bringing everything into sharp focus. Me against three Firebrands with more on the way, and I’d just threatened a good friend’s life. Zenn slumped against my arms, half conscious.
What demented part of my brain had chosen this plan?
The newcomer’s irises turned a light-pink color and began to flick around. The IM-NET, probably composing some kind of message to Dane. Within seconds, my uncle would know I was here. I had to get out now.
One of the guys sprinted out the door, probably to get a weapon. I fired but missed. While I was distracted, the other lunged toward me.
I swung the stunner at him and took the shot, hitting him dead-on. He jerked in midair and slid to the floor near my feet, falling still at last.
Then I lowered Zenn to the ground and straightened, breathing hard. I’d have to find Dane some other way. I’d be long gone before these two came to their senses.
Wait.
I looked closer at the guy on the floor. His chest wasn’t moving, and he stared sightlessly at the ceiling. Stunned people didn’t stare like that.
Pain gripped me as I stared at the stunner.
Fatal mode.
I’d killed him.
“You’re just like your dad,” Zenn whispered from the floor. “A monster.”
Shouts sounded from upstairs. I knew I should run, but my earlier rage had dissipated, taking my adrenaline with it. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the Firebrand on the floor, his shirt exposing the corner of a tattoo identical to mine. He looked to be around the same age. In another life, it could have been me.
I tossed the stunner across the room, hearing it hit the wall with a satisfying crack, then leaped out the window and into the street beyond.
Eight
Legacy
“It’s no use arguing about a course that has already been taken,” Travers said in his calmest voice, likely trying to diffuse the tension in the living room. “What matters is what we learn from the events of the morning.”
Everyone remained seated, even our three guests, though there were a lot of frowns. Gram sat in a high-backed, floral-patterned chair, looking every bit the regal ex-leader she was. She wore no less than three sweaters and a single blanket over her lap. At Gram’s insistence, Physician Redd had remained after a quick precautionary examination of me and Travers, ignoring my protests the entire time. He had more important things to worry about than a few cuts from the glass and my sore neck.
The only two remaining members of Dad’s cabinet looked at each other, silent communication passing between them. Chairman Barber, a man with a rapidly receding hairline and bulbous head that sat right upon his shoulders, seemed incapable of smiling as always. Chairwoman Marium, a red-haired woman with pale skin and a black hairpin, perched next to him with perfect posture and a scathingly judgmental expression, her shoes resting daintily on the floor.
Six people. The fate of NORA rested on the shoulders of the six people in this room, and we’d spent most of the last hour arguing instead of accomplishing anything.
Marium glared narrowly at Travers. “And what did we learn, driver? That our honored leader’s recklessness endangered her life while you sat back and watched?”
Travers’s face went red. “Our traveling the city alone during the day was a mistake, as I’ve said several times already. It won’t happen again.”
I jumped in before the argument could begin anew. Recklessness, indeed. If I were a man, it would have been deemed bravery. How did Dad handle such meetings without losing his ever-loving mind? “We know the Firebrands are implanting the homeless community, maybe experimenting on them. We don’t have to know why in order to help them. I’ve already sent armed guards to bring them to safety, and I won’t apologize for that. It was the right thing to do.”
“We don’t know that implantation was the cause of that mysterious illness,” Councilman Barber said. “They could be contagious and infect everyone else. Homeless people aren’t exactly known for their hygiene, after all.”
I found myself on my feet, fists balled. “If you don’t care about the people we’re trying to protect, I’m not sure you should be here at all.”
The councilman looked unfazed. “I’ve been a councilman since before your birth, Your Honor. Our people are only as safe as the laws that govern us. All I’m saying is that you should have consulted with the council before putting us in additional danger by adding . . . those people.”
“Those people won’t be the only homeless ones if we don’t act quickly. We can’t afford to waste time arguing over every single thing.”
“And I say we can’t afford to make dangerous mistakes. You’re lucky to be alive right now, young Miss Hawking.”
I caught Gram’s eye and detected a hint of warning. I bit back my next retort and calmed my breathing, trying to look unaffected. “You will address me with the appropriate title, Councilman.”
The man looked startled for the first time. He glanced around, then sank into his chair. “My apologies, Your Honor.”
I turned back to Physician Redd. “You were saying?”
Our family physician clutched his hands in front of him, looking very out of place. He probably had a thousand things to do right now, yet he was stuck in a meeting that went in circles. “My understanding is that implant screens cannot cause pain.”
“Except that’s not entirely true,” Gram interrupted. “It’s not that the screens can’t cause harm. It’s that they can’t do it alone.”
The room went silent. “What do you mean?” I asked.
Gram frowned. “In our day, we had techbands and implants. If you tried to remove one, it triggered what we called “punishment mode.” Somehow, the two were connected. Maybe that’s what the Firebrands are trying to do—discourage people from trying to remove their implants. Assuming we ever figure out how to do it without killing the patient, that is.”
“But why?” I asked. “People are disillusioned with their implants after what Virgil did. I don’t see how forcing everyone to keep them helps Alex’s cause. If anything, it will make the country angrier with him.”
“He hasn’t seemed all that concerned about his public image so far,” Travers muttered.
I had to agree. Alex’s allocation of medical care to his own followers and rejection of everyone else had sent a huge wave of supporters my way. Then he’d made an announcement about a Rating System committee examining the possibility of reinstating the old system. The country-wide riots began the next day. Hurting those who tried to remove their implants would only shorten his reign. Sooner or later, the people would rise up against him, with or without my help.
“They
want us to have both the brain implant and the screen, then,” Gram said. “That’s where the control comes in. They must have been testing punishment mode on those poor dears, and now we know why. Nobody will miss those who don’t have steady work. I agree with Legacy’s decision to bring them in. When will we know they’ve made it safely?”
I nearly sighed with relief. “Foster will send word when it’s done.” I could only hope the rescue had gone smoothly. If Alex had sent all his Firebrands to that park to protect his little experiment, we were likely in for some losses. I couldn’t think about that right now.
“I’ll see if I can get an update,” Travers said, sending a glare in the councilman’s direction before striding out of the room.
“If you’ll excuse me as well,” Physician Redd said. “If we have more patients coming, I’ll need to notify my assistants. I’d like to examine them the moment they arrive.” He inclined his head toward me and followed Travers.
Councilwoman Marium and Councilman Barber exchanged an impatient look. They had no such excuse to leave, much as I wished for one. I wanted to dismiss everyone and do things my way, but that wasn’t how this worked. If I intended to hold on to this position for any length of time, I’d have to get used to these pointless meetings.
I cleared my throat and continued. “If the Firebrands really are testing, that means Alex plans to launch the Rating system soon. We need to encourage people to resist. Even Alex’s supporters won’t stand behind someone who wants to hurt his citizens.” I grimaced when I thought of the man and girl from earlier and the agony in their expressions. “This could turn the tide for us.” It would also make taking over the Copper Office much easier when General Knox arrived with her soldiers, but my cabinet didn’t know about that plan yet. I was glad I hadn’t told them now. We would have spent the past few weeks arguing about my plan and still be right where we were now.
“If we had access,” Councilwoman Marium said, “we could hack into the IM-NET and send out a message. But unfortunately, Alex has seized all relay stations except Neuromen, which you dealt with yourself, Your Honor, if I recall.” Her eyes were sharp and accusing.
Gram gave a low growl from her perch across the room, but I jumped in before she could defend me. “I won’t apologize for that either. We saved hundreds of lives.”
The councilwoman leaned forward. “I don’t know if I would call lying on a hospital bed in a coma being saved. Besides, copycats have set fires all over the city in retaliation. It’s a miracle we haven’t lost hundreds more.”
“Those are no copycats,” Gram snapped. “Those are Firebloods . . . Firebrands? The fire people act under my grandson Alex’s direction. You can’t blame any of that on Legacy.”
“The point is,” I said, staring down the councilwoman and councilman, “Alex controls the flow of information right now. People believe what they’re told. If we take just one station, we can hack into the system and get our message out.” I rose to my feet again and began to pace the ornate rug covering the floor. “Is there a remote location with fewer guards?”
“Alex has increased security at every location,” Councilwoman Marium said, looking sufficiently chastened. “We’d take huge losses in the attempt.”
“Then we use the army Her Honor has been gathering all this time,” Councilman Barber said evenly. “That’s what they’re for, is it not?”
I gritted my teeth and halted in front of my chair. “They came to us for help. I don’t intend to send them into battle unless we have to.”
“So your grand plan is to stare down the bad guys with the power of our righteous cause behind you and nothing else,” he said. “That sounds like a disaster.”
Councilwoman Marium covered her face with her manicured hands and groaned. “Please tell me we have a plan, Your Honor. Despite what it seems, we’re on your side. It would help if you explained what we’re doing here.”
I took a long breath and exhaled forcefully. Everyone watched me expectantly, even Gram, who pressed her lips together worriedly. They were right. My cabinet deserved to know that much.
“I had a different army in mind,” I began. “General Knox’s soldiers. She’s had dinner with my family many times, and we’ve grown close. She always joked I would have been a better general than leader of NORA. I think she’ll side with me rather than Alex.”
“So we just wait, then?” Barber shot back. “Wait and place our hopes in the lap of a general who obviously doesn’t care that her country is falling apart? She’s been at the border for over two years now.”
Marium looked stricken, as if she agreed but didn’t want to voice the words.
Gram shook her head. “Legacy may be right about the general. I don’t know the woman very well. What I do know is that Alex will find us no matter what, so we may as well look at all our options. If getting the word out means knocking on doors and talking to people one-on-one, so be it. I’ve certainly had to do that before.”
Barber’s nose twitched, and I realized he hid a smile. “Forgive me, Your Honorable Treena Hawking, but times have changed. It would take years to reach everyone that way.”
“And it will take forever for the Copper Office to fall into our lap because it won’t happen,” Gram snapped.
“We all agree on one thing,” I interrupted. “There isn’t much time. Physician Redd is doing what he can, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to safely remove implants anytime soon. Millian’s lab has made huge strides in studying how implants work with the brain. If she succeeds, we won’t have to remove them at all. Maybe we can permanently disconnect them rather than temporarily disable them. Then nobody can use them against us, Rating screens or not. But that will take time too. So we need to send a message out somehow. If we can do it in a public way, all the better.”
The group fell silent again.
A full minute passed before Barber spoke up. “I admire your vision, Your Honor, but something so public would bring the Firebrands upon us in minutes. Secrecy would surely be the better course.”
“I agree,” Marium said.
“I disagree,” Gram said.
Then the room filled with chatter again, everyone expressing their opinion and talking over each other. I could barely pick out one voice over another. Even Gram waved her bony arm in a dramatic fashion, facing down Barber while Marium leaped to his defense.
I plopped down into my chair again, feeling the effects of the morning and another sleepless night finally hit me. I wanted to shout for everyone to stop questioning my every move and leave me alone, but I saw their drawn expressions and the redness in their eyes. I wasn’t the only person who cared about NORA, and I couldn’t blame them for feeling as helpless as I did.
The problem with attending school rather than going to the office with Dad over the past few years was that I had no training in these matters. I’d sat in few meetings, collected few interpersonal skills, and argued no points whatsoever. Alex had more experience with all those things. His mind had always been in the right place, even if his heart wasn’t.
The deep yearning that grew inside me felt like a black hole in my gut. Dad. He should have been here. He would have quieted everyone and guided the discussion in a more purposeful direction.
“Excuse me,” Foster said, tapping me on the shoulder. I hadn’t seen him enter.
I perked up. Finally. “You have news? The homeless community—are they safe? Are you seeing to their needs? Was there fighting? Are the sick—”
“They’re fine,” Foster said curtly, then realized he’d just interrupted me. “Uh, I’m sorry, Your Honor. Yes, we were able to rescue nearly all the community. Everyone except the implanted individuals, who were all missing. Witnesses say the Firebrands returned and took them away.”
I thought of that little boy, now without either of his parents, and felt a lump in my throat. “You made sure they weren’t followed to the warehouse?”
“Yes.” He swallowed. For the first time, I noticed the paleness of hi
s face. “Actually, Your Honor, that isn’t why I’m here. You’ve received a message via one of our IM-NET readers. They managed to find some paper and copy it down for you. The contact said it came from the border.” He held out the note.
My heart stuttered. I slowly reached up, pinching the folded paper between my fingers. It looked as if it had been torn from an old-fashioned book, one edge uneven, the page number 239 centered at the bottom of one side. Someone had glued it closed.
The room quieted once again, all eyes upon my hands. Foster retreated to the doorway but lingered, clearly hoping to learn what the message said before being dismissed.
“Finally,” Gram breathed with relief.
I tore the secured edge free, then opened it and scanned its contents for the words I desperately needed to hear. The message was short and to the point.
“Well?” Gram asked. The others watched my face for any sign of good news.
I read the letter once, then twice, hoping its contents would change the second time. My insides deflated, everything that held me up to this point receding like draining water.
“General Knox can’t help,” I said, unable to keep the defeat from my voice. “Says her troops are needed at the border and can’t be spared.”
A somberness descended upon us. Even Gram’s shoulders visibly sagged, and she slumped back against the chair, looking as exhausted as I felt.
I refolded the message and shoved it into my pocket. I knew exactly what this meant. General Knox had pledged an oath to Dad, not me or Alex. She’d wait until Dad recovered and took power again or the succession war resolved itself. I tried to sound unaffected, but I couldn’t hide the bitterness in my voice. “Better she remain neutral than join Alex’s side. With the Firebrands and military on his side, we’d be defeated in weeks.”