Disparity

by Eric Warren

  “Barrier is coming up,” Blu said. “Working on the recognition protocols now.”

  The train was still behind them but David slowed the vehicle slightly, in order to get closer to the train. Arista could tell they were still a foot in front of it though, based on their speed and the distance the Device automatically measured as they traveled.

  “Dad, I need you to get as close as you can, this is going to be tight.” Blu’s fingers flew over the interface.

  “How close?”

  “A couple inches.”

  Arista caught David’s intense expression in the rearview. He couldn’t do it. But he wasn’t going to stop trying. She nudged Frees. “Get back there and confirm we’re as close as we can get.”

  He nodded and vaulted over the seat, climbing around everything they’d packed until he was at the back windows. “Still seventeen inches away.”

  “I’m not sure I can get it much closer,” David said. “Not without them ramming us.”

  “You’re going to have to, I’ve only got seven feet of clearance on this thing,” Blu said. “And you have less than a minute to do it. Barrier is dead ahead.”

  “David, slow us by point-two mph for two seconds,” Arista said, running the calculations. She felt the van slow then pick back up speed. “Frees?”

  “Nine inches away,” he replied.

  “Is it enough?” Arista asked.

  Blu shook her head, keeping her eyes on the interface. “Thirty-eight seconds. You need to get within three inches of the train.”

  “Blu!” David said. “I can’t—”

  “Slow point-one for two seconds,” Arista said. “Quickly!”

  “I’m not sure I can control it that carefully,” David replied.

  “You can do it, I know these vehicles. Just pull back on the throttle one tic.” David nodded, and the Device registered the van slowing, even though Arista couldn’t feel it. “Back to speed!” she yelled and the van returned to its original speed. “Frees?”

  “Three inches,” he replied. “They’re right on top of us.”

  “Blu?”

  “Should be enough…I hope.” She glanced up. Arista did the same. Directly in front of them was a transparent blue barrier taking up the entire tunnel. “Six seconds.”

  It seemed as if they were picking up speed, but Arista knew that was just her mind playing tricks on her. The Device gave a perfect measurement of everything. If it all came down to this and they didn’t make it through, at least she’d tried.

  The van bore down on the barrier, each second bringing it closer. Arista was sure even if it did drop it wouldn’t have time to dissipate before the van struck some part of it. Blu had made a miscalculation somewhere. The van would be smashed to pieces.

  At the last second a hole appeared in the middle of the barrier, expanding rapidly and it completely dropped, allowing them safe passage.

  Everyone breathing let out a collective sigh of relief.

  “See,” Blu said, the confidence not quite fully in her voice. “Told ya I could do it.”

  Arista turned to smile a Frees, but he only continued to stare out the back windows at the lights on the train.

  “Okay,” David said. “Now to phase two.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  AS SOON AS THEY’D MADE IT on the island, they had used side tunnels and abandoned subway lines to stay off the main areas and away from the stations. If someone happened to catch a glimpse of the van moving down the tracks, they could possibly report it. The last thing they needed was anyone knowing they were there before they wanted them to.

  “I still think we should contact Jennings.” Arista hopped out of the side of the van. “He could help with this.”

  “No. He’s already put his career on the line for me by bringing you to me. I won’t bring him back in. It’s too dangerous,” David said.

  Arista leveled her gaze at him. “I don’t have to remind you what’s on the line here. There are potentially two worlds, two universes at stake here. I think we’d be okay if he lost his job.”

  “And his access to Manhattan. What would his family do then? Our resources are low, we can only support so many people.”

  She shut the door after Frees had exited the van. “Is there another reason you don’t want him involved?”

  David cut his eyes at her and walked around to the back of the van, pulling out one of the boxes. “No. Now stop asking.” He extricated four sets of black robes. “Are you ready to get started?”

  Arista gave up. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with this. Blu yanked one of the robes from him and slipped it on, covering her clothes and flipping the hoodie up over her head. “Do I look the part? Am I a sponsored?”

  “Don’t ask me, ask your dad; he’s the expert.”

  “You look fine, honey, now as long as you can modify the entry codes for everyone…”

  “Should be easy enough,” Blu said, “I’ll finish on the way over there.”

  Arista slipped a robe on, followed by Frees.

  “You two, make sure you keep those hands hidden. We don’t need another incident like when Frees stumbled into that clothing store. This time I won’t be able to come for you.”

  Arista turned to Frees, grinning. “I so wish I could have seen that.”

  But he didn’t return the gesture. He only gave her a half-hearted smirk. “Yeah.”

  She grabbed his arm and yanked him to the side of the van. “What the hell is going on with you? Can you do this?” She was close to fuming and it had come on so quickly. “Because we can’t risk Blu’s life if you’re not one hundred percent on board.”

  He straightened. “No. I’ve got it. I can do it.”

  “Are you sure? We only have one chance.”

  “I know what’s at stake, Arista,” he said, his voice hard. He turned away for a moment. “I’m sorry. It’s just…this whole thing with Charlie has me on edge. To know I did that to you. To everyone we tried to help. I can’t help but think what would have happened if he’d somehow gotten full control. What would he have done to you? And would I have been forced to watch?”

  Surprising even herself, she took his face in her hands. “It wasn’t your fault, understand? You can’t blame yourself for something you had no control over. And nothing happened. We’re okay. I’m okay.”

  He hadn’t pushed her away, which she had to take as a good sign. But he hadn’t relented either. Knowing him the guilt would take a while for this to run its course. Maybe weeks or even months. And they certainly didn’t have that kind of time on their hands.

  “Look,” she added. “Just don’t think about it right now. Let’s get Echo, get through this part then you and I can talk it out. We have a lot to work out, so it will be good to do it all at once.”

  Instead of playing dumb he just nodded. He brought his hands up around hers and pulled them away from his face, turning from her again. His shields were back up.

  Though she had to admit it was more progress than she’d ever made with him before.

  Arista walked around the van to see David rummaging around the back. Blu looked guilty as she stood off to the side, fiddling with a loose loop on her robe.

  “Are we ready?” Arista asked.

  “Ready,” replied David. “Who’s carrying the extra cloak?”

  ***

  Arista, Frees, and Blu emerged on the streets of Manhattan, appropriately dressed as sponsored who had just been acquired by some rich tycoon. Blu told them the Manhattanites switched out sponsored all the time especially if they became insolent or made too many mistakes. Arista could only imagine the kind of torment these people endured from their bosses. What kind of things were they made to do? Was there even a limit?

  “Hey, Blu?” Arista asked as they walked.

  “Keep your voice down,” she said. “Sponsored are only supposed to speak when their master allows it. It’s bad manners. We’ll be noticed.”

  “I just need to know. Do you know anyone who has become a s
ponsored?”

  “Yes, now shush,” she said, fiddling with her interface partially shielded by the cloak.

  Arista tried to exchange glances with Frees but couldn’t see his eyes under the hood. It was better that way. One orange and one blue eye would stand out. She only hoped this would work. The train ride had been harrowing enough but getting back out of the city should be a cake walk. Hopefully Blu had properly set up all the access points to get them into Echo’s tower as new hired sponsored.

  They turned down forty-fifth street, coming upon a large tower that took up the entire block. It was hard not to compare it to Hogo-sha’s tower back in Osaka, though this one was shorter by a couple hundred feet.

  They entered the cool lobby; a stark contrast from the heat of the city and Arista realized she was already sopping wet with sweat. She’d be lucky if she didn’t start dripping all over the marble floor.

  “Over there.” Blu pointed to the registration desk.

  They approached, Blu in the front as she was the shortest, with Arista and Frees behind her. They kept their heads down, unsure if Echo had sent out alerts for them or not. Not that it mattered; no sponsored looked anyone in the eye, according to David.

  “Yes?” the woman behind the desk said, her voice haughty and tight.

  “Sponsored Bates, Moorehouse and Willoughby reporting for service to her illustrious honor, Echo Dante,” Blu said.

  “Scan your thumbs,” the no-nonsense woman said.

  Blu went first, the small pad she pressed her thumb upon flashed green. Arista and Frees followed suit, careful not to use their mechanical hands.

  “One-hundred and twelfth floor,” the woman said once they’d cleared, and pointed to the elevators. The plastic walls in between the turnstile dividers moved apart and they each walked through, careful to move slowly and reverently. That had been one thing David had been sure to stress. Sponsored were reverent above everything else. Everything they did was a pleasure and an honor. Even if it meant picking up a piece of trash with their teeth.

  They reached the elevator and when they stepped inside there was only one button: 112.

  “I guess they don’t want to take any chances,” Arista said as they stepped in.

  “Shush!” Blu said. “Not another word until we’re up there.”

  Blu certainly could hold her own when it counted. Usually she was nothing more than a bubbly, happy seventeen-year-old girl, but when it came down to action, she had no trouble switching modes and taking care of business. Arista couldn’t help but admire her, and the only other human she’d ever admired had been her biological mother. Maybe she hadn’t given humans enough of a chance yet. Some surprised her.

  Arista ran through the plan one more time in her head. They would enter Echo’s personal chambers—Blu had made sure her old sponsored had received termination notices—as her new personal servants. Then they would wait and dote on her as long as necessary until she was alone, then restrain, and kidnap her. The fourth robe was for her. The four of them would leave through the service exits and to anyone on the streets it would look like four sponsored returning to the outer city after having been let go. Then they would rendezvous with David and he would hold onto Echo until the gate appeared. Then they would find Charlie.

  The elevator up was silent as it passed each floor and Arista’s ears popped twice as they continued to ascend. She wished she had a weapon or at least Frees still had the felp. Anything to give them an edge if things went awry. Which, knowing Echo and her cunningness, was possible. But they didn’t have a week to sit around and think up a new plan. It was this or nothing else.

  The elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open, revealing an opulent hallway beyond. It was entirely marble, with what Arista assumed had to be artificial palm trees reaching to the tall ceiling. They made their way out of the small alcove toward a pair of large double doors—oak from the look of it. Again, not unlike Hogo-sha or even Charlie’s upper floors. The similarities were striking. As they approached the doors they opened automatically, revealing a large, open foyer two stories tall, with windows on the far side of the room overlooking the city.

  Another man in a black robe stood in the hallway, though his hood was down. A higher level sponsored; he’d earned his face to be shown. Arista was glad they were still considered first-levels.

  He didn’t smile, he only turned and indicated with a subtle hand gesture they follow him through the cavernous space. Arista couldn’t help but marvel at all the antiquities Echo—the other Echo—had collected. Ancient pieces of art, trinkets, and artifacts; all things that should belong in a museum. Maybe the other Echo wasn’t the saint everyone made her out to be after all. Surely she would see much of what she’d surrounded herself with was nothing more than self-indulgent.

  They came to another set of wide doors, this time the head sponsored opened the one on the left, allowing the three of them to enter first, before closing the door behind him.

  In the room stood Echo with her back to them, speaking to the wall. Or rather, a screen embedded into the wall. But from their angle it was hard to tell who she was talking to, Arista couldn’t see anyone on the screen.

  “Be with you in a moment,” Echo said, not bothering to look at them. It wouldn’t matter if she had; with their heads down in supplication she wouldn’t be able to see their faces. But they wouldn’t be able to play this game forever. Getting inside Echo’s personal quarters was far more than she’d even hoped. She’d been sure Blu had missed something, but there was nothing. She was theirs for the taking.

  Arista noticed Frees move for the extra cloak hidden under his. What was he doing? He was supposed to wait until they were alone with her. Blu hadn’t even had a chance to scan for surveillance devices yet.

  But if he was going for it, there was nothing she could do to stop him.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  “DON’T,” ARISTA WHISPERED. “Not yet.”

  But he didn’t care. Frees wasn’t about to let this woman get away from them and the longer they waited the better chance she had of figuring them out. It was better to do it now, while she was distracted and while they had the element of surprise. He pulled the spare cloak from under his own, balling it in his metallic fist.

  He took three steps toward Echo, but stopped short as soon as the screen she was speaking to came into view. Even from this angle it was impossible not to recognize a digital version of Charlie’s avatar he’d used against them back in Chicago. She was blonde, with sharp, angular features, just as the avatars he had used back in his stronghold had been.

  “Behind you,” the metallic voice of the avatar said.

  Echo spun, pulling a weapon from a hidden holster and pointed it at Frees. “What are you doing?” she asked. “Who are you?” Her eyes traveled down to the hand holding the cloak and she sneered. “Frees. I should have guessed. And you brought your entourage.” She glanced behind him.

  He should still do it. Maybe if he was fast enough he could restrain her, put her in a choke hold until she passed out. But he couldn’t take his eyes off the gun. He’d already been shot in the leg, abdomen, and back and each time it had been near-fatal. Could he afford to take the chance again? He took a step back.

  “They are cunning,” Charlie’s avatar said on the screen. “Trying to capture you is a tactical advantage.”

  “And you’re next you tin can-sounding monster,” Arista yelled.

  Why was Echo even talking with Charlie? It wasn’t hard to guess how he found her; if he had access to this world’s communication network her name would be everywhere. And it wouldn’t take him long to figure out she wasn’t the same one produced by this world.

  “Does he know?” Frees asked.

  “Of course he knows,” Arista yelled. “They were partners before, it only makes sense he sought her out here. He probably knew the moment he saw her.”

  “Arista. You are correct,” the voice said. That goddamn voice. Frees thought he’d heard it for the very la
st time back in that cavernous space. When it had been hiding within him the entire time. And he had to admit, the pressure on his mind was gone. The constant ache he’d barely even realized was there but continued to grate on him day after day. Being free of it was like being in zero gravity. But it also meant he’d been an unwitting instrument in everything going wrong for them. There was no telling how much Charlie knew about everything.

  “It was too bad things didn’t work out,” Charlie said. “You would have made a good addition to my collection.”

  “Yeah, that’s really too bad for you,” Arista snapped, pulling her hood back. “Living the rest of my life inside a glass jar just happened to be on the top of my bucket list, too.”

  “Your sarcasm is not appreciated,” Charlie said.

  Echo eyed them each, in turn. “Get back over there,” she snapped, swishing the gun in front of him. Frees returned to Arista and Blu, dropping the spare cloak on the ground beside them.

  “What was the plan? Kidnap me? Though I’m impressed you got this far. That takes an amount of skill I didn’t realize you had. Which will teach me to underestimate you,” Echo said. She turned to Blu, who still had her hood up. “Who is that?”

  Blu yanked the hood down, her silver hair spilling out around her shoulders. “The skill.” She tapped a button on her interface. The computer console behind Echo burst into a shower of sparks, causing Echo to duck. Frees jumped for the gun but before he could reach her Echo had regained control of herself and fired a warning shot over his head.

  “Don’t!” she yelled. She pulled what resembled a small six-sided crystal on a stainless-steel chain out from under her shirt. Frees was still halfway to her. He might be able to grab her hand before she fired. But she dangled that crystal in front of them, like it was a hypnotist’s watch. “Do you know what this is?” she snapped, clearly unnerved at Blu’s ingenuity.

  “It’s the key,” Blu said. “Croden’s key. She already found it.”

  “It wasn’t hard,” Echo said. “Considering it was in the possession of this world’s Echo. She did all the hard work for me. All I had to do was ship it here from an offsite location.” She turned to Frees. “But if it touches you, it locks you down. For good. So don’t. Come. Any. Closer.”