by Imran Siddiq
“I can hear your heart,” she said, glimpsing his lips. “Thank you, Zach, for being there.”
The tip of Zachary’s nose nudged against hers. He let Rosa advance. Lifting her upper lip with his, they kissed. Every second felt more real than he’d imagined it to be.
She flung her head back. “I’m still an android.”
“You’re still Rosa. I,” he wanted another kiss, “love you.”
The medic woman appeared in a rushed state, pulling the curtain all the way along the railing. She paused at their embrace. “Sorry. I’m not entirely sure you should see this, but as it was because of your bravery, I think you should.”
In the distance a screen on the wall activated. Medics gathered alongside injured protesters. Confused heads turned and noticed Zachary. One by one, they nodded in appreciation. On the screen, a man stood behind a pedestal. Further serious-looking men flanked him.
“Turn the volume up,” said a protester. “There’s interference on the Confederation’s feed.”
Zachary grasped Rosa’s waist. “The module. Did they accept what I sent?”
“All of it,” she replied. “The Confederation’s been in contact with Carell. Assayer is in upheaval. It’s better to be underground than up there.”
“Is Sokolov –?”
“We think so. They haven’t found him. Hadrian Tower’s a mess.”
Zachary stroked her hand. “What about your parents?”
“Patch hacked a network to show definite activity at their home.” She pressed on his lip. “I’m not going back to them. It’s better this way.”
The man from the Confederation continued. “Plans to rectify the shortcomings of Galilei’s administration are considered greater than the advantage to be gained. The devolvement of standards aboard Galilei troubles us. No other Base has undergone such travesty and disorder. It is reminiscent of what history teaches us about the Old World. Please understand the predicament we face with overturning events.”
With a glimpse to his side, the man on the screen made a single nod. He leaned forward. Wrinkles dug deep under his baggy eyes. “We have sent codes to Galilei to enforce our remedial solution. Sometimes the weaker of the species must allow the strongest to make their mark. Minds dominated by disorder have no place in the Integrated Confederation. I beg that you will forgive our action and seek to live amongst yourselves in the world you’ve created.”
A screeching noise rang around the Medics Section. Then, the screen switched off followed by the lights and every machine. A yelp echoed from the exit slopes.
“A shortage,” said Rosa.
Zachary heard silence take over from the humming sound that had been present on the other side of the wall behind his bed.
“Nothing’s working,” said a man. “Everything’s off.”
“What about the generators?” cried a female.
Feet rattled along the floor in every direction. In terms of severity, this was far worse than a shortage.
“Zach,” whispered Rosa. “What have they done? I’m scared.”
“I’m here. I’ve got you,” he said, clinging to her waist.
In absolute darkness, amidst the alarm of protesters rushing to escape, Zachary understood the Confederation’s actions. They wanted to wash their hands of the disgraced Base and leave it to rot, like the House of Representatives had before with a certain half. What better way to send a warning than to force Galilei into Underworld.
Zachary whispered, “We’ve been disconnected.”
Review
Thank you for reading my debut novel.
Writing takes a lot of dedication, sacrifice of time, and head banging on the desk. I hope that I satisfied you, but I won’t know unless you spend a few minutes adding a review. It’s the comments, the highs, the lows, the great bits, and the slap-in-the-face groan parts that will help me evolve as a writer.
Give me a few minutes, and I’ll keep going.
Please revisit the site of purchase and add a review.
Synopsis
In 2340AD, 16-year-old Zachary Connor survives by scavenging in the Wastelands of Underworld. His miserable life changes when he finds a rare Intercom with the recording of a girl; the first Overworlder he has ever heard. It peaks his curiosity, making him want to know her, though he knows that to be impossible aboard the Galilei Research Base.
During an opportunity to sneak-away visit to Overworld, he meets 16-year-old Rosa Kade, a beautiful girl living a sheltered life. When she accuses him of stealing her Intercom, Zachary is insulted by her offensive view of Underworld. Out of guilt, Rosa gives him a new Intercom, to sell for his own needs, and orders him to wipe out the contents of the Intercom.
Zachary cannot follow her order. He is drawn to Rosa, wanting to keep in contact with her. He begins to feel for her, something that he’s never felt for anyone before. This intensifies with each precious conversation Zachary has with her. However, his happiness is crushed when Overworld’s Army led by General Masim Sokolov attacks Underworld. Devastated over his dad’s death, Zachary escapes to Overworld.
Zachary meets Rosa, who left her home to find him. He finds solace with her. In the midst of a skirmish, Overworld protesters seize Zachary separating him from Rosa, who is taken captive by Sokolov. In the protester’s mid-world lair, Zachary learns that Sokolov has been extracting ribonucleic acid (RNA) from Overworlders who died nine years ago. He is even more troubled when he discovers that the RNA influences the capabilities of androids – all with the ultimate aim of colonising Jupiter’s moon, Europa.
In an attempt to rescue Rosa, Zachary joins the protesters and battles his way to Sokolov’s headquarters. Sokolov reveals Rosa as the RNA influenced android of a girl who died nine years ago. Fearing for Zachary, Rosa electrocutes Sokolov, and damages herself in the process. Zachary attempts to save Rosa, but his wounds weaken him. He collapses with her in his arms.
Zachary awakes to find he is recovering in the protester’s lair, and that Rosa has been repaired. Although they are different, their understanding of one another is very real and that is what binds them. They need each other even more when power inside Galilei is switched off reducing the Base into darkness.
Scheduled for 2013
Disassemble: Book Two of the Divided Worlds Trilogy (June 2013)
Disrupt: Book Three of the Divided Worlds Trilogy (July 2013)
Tyler Nitbone and the Snowflake Traitor (November 2013)
About The Author
Imran Siddiq lives in Syston, Leicestershire (UK) and works as a Senior Information Manager with the NHS. He makes time to write in-between work, tweeting, dabbling in digital art and feeding his two cats. A timetable stretching out for the next three years keeps his focus sharp. Can you blame his ambition to tell a tale or a dozen?
Interact and seek what lurks in his mind at:
http://www.imranwrites.com
https://www.twitter.com/flickimp
http://www.facebook.com/imransiddiqwriter
Acknowledgements
Believe it or not but thanks goes to my guide in Borneo who left me alone to absorb the zillions of bugs creeping within the jungle. In a minute of solitude, I realised the one thing missing from my life that had spurred me on as a child; writing. I couldn’t blame anybody except myself for not continuing the worlds and dastardly characters I used to create. As soon as I got home, I started writing. Disconnect is my second novel, and at the time of writing, I’m working on my sixth.
A huge thanks to everybody that believed in me to write and not give up, even during those moments when I doubted myself. My wife, Shehnaz, for putting smiley faces on bits of the manuscript, although I often wondered why? In addition, my two cats for inspiring me – yes, try to work that one out.
My writing group: The Nomad Novelists http://nomadnovelist.wordpress.com tore apart the first draft and kicked me into gear. They deserve credit for making me think again.
Kudos to Sendol Art Studio http://william19.deviantart.com for th
e amazing character art on the front cover. I sense a long-term relationship formed.
Appreciation galore to Stephanie http://edit-my-book.com for the great copy-editing and proofreading. It’d be wrong not to mention another Stephanie http://about.me/rachelwritereditor for doing a great job in copy-editing an earlier version and helping me to focus my writing. Thanks to Jo http://www.ebook-formatting.co.uk for tweaking the formatting of the manuscript, and eBook Partnership http://www.ebookpartnership.com for their valuable conversion and distribution services in getting this to you. And in no way last of the experts, Giselle http://www.xpressoreads.com for the amazing promotion packages put together.
A final thanks to colleagues, friends, friends of friends, and many on Twitter and Facebook.
I hope that I delivered.