Contrition (The Perception Trilogy)

by Strauss, Lee

  I ate slowly, adding an apple and a piece of cheese to my meal—after living in a near starved condition for almost a year, I appreciated having food at my constant disposal and always took my time to enjoy it. Afterward, I returned to my room to brush my teeth. I gazed at my perfect image in the mirror and sighed. My life was safe, predictable and dull. Linden was right: my year away from this magnificent cage had spoiled me for adventure.

  I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail and deliberated over my make-up kit. Alison and Charlotte had both chided me into wearing it again. After going without it for so long, I felt silly. Charlotte had begged to apply it for me, and by the time she was done, I’d looked like a clown. I’d promised to do it myself after that so I could tone it down.

  I’d just finished applying a lip glaze when my ComRing buzzed. I expected it to be Charlotte or maybe Serena, but it was Linden. How had he gotten my number? I grimaced. Charlotte. I’d have to have a talk with that girl.

  I almost pressed ignore, but I figured Linden was the type of guy who’d keep calling so I might as well just get it over with.

  “Hey, Linden,” I said, like I’d known he’d call.

  “Hey, how’s it going?”

  “Fine.”

  “You want to hang out today?”

  Not really. But what else did I have to do? Linden, at least, could be a good distraction.

  “Okay.”

  “Great. I’m outside your front door.”

  “You were that sure I’d say yes?”

  “I felt a certain level of confidence, yeah.”

  “In that case, no. I’m busy.”

  I clicked off my ComRing feeling indignant. I fully expected it to buzz again, but instead the doorbell rang. I sprinted to the hallway and peered over the stairwell railing. Bette answered the door.

  I couldn’t see him, but I heard his voice loud and clear. “Hi. I’m here for Zoe. She’s expecting me.”

  I shook my head in disbelief and skipped down the stairs. I waved Bette away and scowled at Linden. “I told you I’m busy.”

  He flashed his perfect white teeth. “Come on, go out with me.”

  “I can’t. I know I said I could hang out, but actually, I’m kind of with…” I wanted him to think I was dating someone else. Just so he’d leave me alone.

  “Who?” He waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter. You’re not married to him, right?”

  “Not yet.” I propelled my illusion further, sure it would scare him away. “But, you never know, he might be “the one.” I raised my eyebrows for effect.

  “How do you know that I’m not ‘the one’ if you don’t date me?”

  “If I date you, and I’m with someone else, that makes me a cheater. Do you really want to date a cheater?”

  “Fine. Let’s do coffee as friends. After that, you can go back to whoever it is you’re pretending to be with and break up.”

  I was astounded by his cockiness. I was also taken aback by the glint of metal on his forearms. I’d noticed it last night, but had paid little attention, because that was before I’d entertained the thought of going out with him.

  “I don’t date borgs,” I stated.

  He crossed his arms, flaunting his cyborg parts, and tilted his head. “That’s a little hypocritical, isn’t it?”

  I was stunned. He knew about my heart?

  I didn’t have to ask how. He hung out with Jackson whom my parents still considered a son. They would’ve told him.

  Even though Jackson was “with” Isabelle, he’d made it obvious since I’d returned that he’d still love to hook up with me again. He’d marry me for my name if not for love. I decided to go out with Linden just to spite him.

  “Okay. Coffee.”

  Chapter 41

  NOAH

  Over the last six months, the cabin had become a control center. The furniture had been shoved against the wall or stored outside in order to make room for the computer system: large flat, glass screens, holographic boards, portable digiwalls. Three guys and two girls currently manned the stations, monitoring government cyborg soldier movement. They had the monopoly on cyber spying, but we had a few tricks up our sleeves, too. Anthony was the prime controller between them, the hacker extraordinaire. He was chief over the operations.

  The small kitchen overflowed out the back door into the yard, under a tarp that kept tables and dishes in the shade and out of the rain. Beyond, the wooded area had been cleared in spots, with dark colored tents dotting the forest floor. My crew of rebels now numbered thirty-one.

  “Scouts reported back,” Jabez said as he approached me near the ammo shed that was built from downed trees for the purpose of collecting and storing guns and ammunition of all kinds. Our group did regular raids of nearby cities and even the army camps. All of us were tenacious and fearless due to some kind of personal trauma.

  Jabez had found me three months ago after being rejected by Hannah in Phoenix. We were both heartbroken over the girls we loved, and we shared grief over Mary’s death. I supposed it was natural that we possessed an equal level of intensity in our growing fight against government oppression.

  “Three new humanoids were spotted in Capulette,” he added.

  Shots rang out in the forested area behind the old archery board. Jabez and I immediately grabbed our laser rifles, the only kind that could effectively take out humanoids, and cyborgs, too, for that matter—and ran toward the scuffle. Jabez pointed. “Over there.”

  I never knew for sure what to expect: cyborg or humanoids. Up to now, our only intruders were of the humanoid type. Human/cyborg soldiers had yet to stumble upon us, but there was always a first time.

  This attacker was slim and lithe. “It’s a humanoid.” I readied my gun. It wasn’t armed and didn’t mean to hurt us (I didn’t think), but it was a walking computer. It would go back to wherever it came from and report us. It possibly it had trackers on it and more would follow. Vanderveen had pulled all the stops in his attack against the rebels. We couldn’t be too careful.

  Jabez fired, but the humanoid ducked.

  “Damn!” he muttered.

  I had the advantage of a scope. I got the target lined up and pulled the trigger. The humanoid dropped.

  Jabez patted me on the back. “Good shot.”

  “Thanks.” We quietly traveled to the fallen machine, crouching back to back, on a keen look out for other units. “Looks like it was a loner.”

  The downed humanoid was fashioned after a male dressed in civilian clothes. It looked very real, and I suffered a familiar moment of panic. I hadn’t killed a human by mistake, had I? It was possible that a hiker could inadvertently happen upon our camp. But no, there wasn’t any blood. I used my knife to cut through the neck wires, wanting to make sure the thing stayed disabled for good. Then I took a hold of its feet while Jabez grabbed under its arms, and heaved. I was no longer surprised by their heaviness.

  “That’s the second one this week,” I said. “Someone is on to us.”

  “Whoever it is must wonder why their humanoids don’t return.”

  Jabez had a good point. We arrived at a second shed, newly constructed to conceal the disabled humanoids. We tossed this one onto a growing pile.

  We returned to the outdoor kitchen to the smell of something heavenly cooking on the outdoor pit. “What’s on tonight?” I asked Arthur. He was the camp cook. Like everyone else, he was also a great shot and dedicated to the cause. Lucky for us, he also liked to eat well.

  “Max shot a deer.”

  Jabez and I let out a hoot.

  Over the last half-year, we’d raided towns, farms and some of our own friends and families, collecting guns and ammo. Many of the crew had brought their own vehicles. We’d managed to construct a solar-generated charging unit to keep them running. And we’d acquired a generator so we could preserve food in the fridge. None of that deer would go to waste.

  The outgoing scouts ate before replacing the incoming ones. I looked toward the north as the guys fr
om that group returned. My eyes searched for one familiar form, and I let out a small breath of relief.

  Jonathon. I’d always worry about him. I shifted over at the wooden table I sat at and motioned for him to join me after he’d dished out. He settled in with a tired sigh.

  “How was it?” I asked. Like I did every day.

  He gave me his regular answer. “Boring.”

  Anthony stuck his head out of the cabin doorway. He scanned the faces until he found mine. He waved me over. “You should come see this.”

  Anthony’s fingers tapped nervously on his thighs and his brow furrowed deep. Something was wrong.

  “It’s the Bledsoe camp,” he muttered when I was within hearing range. “They’re being attacked.”

  “What?” I followed him to a screen manned by a petite girl named Cindy. “By whom?” He pointed over Cindy’s shoulder to a satellite view of the camp. Even in the evening dusk, I could easily see shots being fired.

  A cold fear crept up my spine. “Cyborg soldiers?”

  Anthony nodded solemnly. “The rebels are holding their own for now, but they’re asking for backup.”

  Vanderveen had obviously had enough of our cat and mouse games. He was pulling out the big guns now.

  “Let them know we’re on our way.”

  I stood on the top step of the cabin doorway and shouted, “Listen up, everyone.” I clapped my hands to get the attention of the guys in the back. “Bledsoe is under attack. Cyborg soldiers. They’ve requested backup. I need a small group to stay behind to guard this camp, but the rest of us need to prep to go.” I assigned different ones to gather the ammo, to make sure all the vehicles were charged, to collect water and rations.

  It was my job to oversee it all, to make sure that we were fully prepared before heading out. Bledsoe was fifty miles through the mountains. I didn’t want to risk any of my guys, but the odds were that we wouldn’t all come back.

  Jonathon approached as I collected my own personal gear. “What should I do?” he asked.

  “I want you to stay here, help hold down the fort until I get back.”

  He shook his head stubbornly. “No, I’m going with you.”

  “Jon…”

  “I’m serious, Noah. If you’re going, I’m going.”

  He’d grown another three inches over the last year and was officially taller than me. He was good with a gun and a knife; I’d made sure all my guys trained on their down time.

  “Fine,” I said reluctantly. “But if you die, I’ll kill you.”

  He snickered. “Same.”

  We were packed up into five vehicles within thirty minutes. I drove the ATV I’d absconded from Sly and the borgs. I wondered how he was doing. If he were still rogue and if he’d found another group to align with.

  It was dark by the time we approached the back of the Bledsoe camp. We released a flare, our signal to them that we’d arrived, and not to panic and start shooting us by mistake.

  We were greeted by an armed rebel soldier. “So glad to see you guys. I’m Tom. I’ll guide you in.”

  We scrambled out of our vehicles and quickly geared up. We had helmets and vests and guns. I hoped it was enough.

  My heart hammered. I could hear shots in the distance. “What are we looking at, Tom?” I asked.

  “We’ve lost a number of our men, but they’ve lost a few, too. Things have slowed down with the dark, but those buggers have night vision. We can’t let our guard down.”

  I split us up into the five groups that had traveled together; it was just easier that way. That meant Jonathon and Jabez were with me, along with a guy named Ryan. Ryan was an Irish American with flaming red hair and a mouth that was just as hot. I was glad I couldn’t understand what he said half the time.

  Other soldiers from Tom’s unit greeted us and pointed toward the action. Ground battle was tricky. The sun, the shadows, the wind swaying the trees; it all had a way of spooking you into thinking the enemy was there, ready to shoot and kill. Jonathon and I splintered off with Jabez and Ryan. We crouched low and followed our fellow rebel deeper into the forest. If I hadn’t known better, we could easily be playing a benign game of paintball.

  Bullets whizzed overhead, and we ducked. An explosion behind us shook the ground and a wave of heat rolled over our backs. We threw ourselves into a low ditch, poking our heads out just enough to gauge the danger around us.

  This was bad. The glint of metal flashed throughout the forest. The cyborgs meant business. They wanted us rebels dead. They shot, and we shot back. Fear worked in my chest like a shovel cutting through hard clay.

  I glanced at Jonathon. Sweat ran down his temples and through the deep furrow between his brows.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Never better.”

  Always a smartass.

  Between the gunshots and grenade explosions, Ryan let out a stream of F-bombs. My ears were buzzing from the piercing booms and my chests rattled with the aftershocks.

  “Let’s work our way north!” I shouted. “They’re going to reach this ditch in ten minutes.” Jonathon darted away. I turned to make sure Ryan had heard me through the noise, but he was down, blood seeping from his neck.

  “Ryan!” I dropped to the ground, and grabbed a wrist looking for a pulse. Nothing. His eyes stared blankly upward, and I took a moment to close them.

  I felt disjointed, like my soul was separated from my body and I was witnessing this onslaught from above. I didn’t have time to weigh out why we were in the middle of a battle for our lives, just that we were, and I had to keep fighting if I wanted to live.

  I saw a glimpse of metal approach. The main advantage we had as rebels was our ability to black out. Even though the borgs attempted it, there would eventually be a tear from a bullet shot or a fall that exposed the metal that reflected in the dimmest moonlight.

  I stayed low, watching as he grew closer. My heart hammered, and I worked to keep my breathing quiet. The borgs had night vision, and the slightest move on my part could give my position away.

  He didn’t see me. If he had, he would be shooting by now. Instead, he crept nearer to my hiding spot. I kept my scope focused on him, and my finger rested on the trigger. I focused on keeping my hands and arm still.

  I took the shot. The borg collapsed but cried out in pain. I hadn’t killed him. I stayed hidden but studied the borg’s face through my scope. The image made me shiver. He looked very familiar. Blond buzz cut, square face, crooked nose.

  Couldn’t be.

  I scuttled closer, my rifle aimed at the borg’s neck. “Sly?”

  His gray eyes landed on me, and a humorless chuckle escaped his lips. “In my dreams, kid, this situation was reversed.”

  “What are you doing fighting for Vanderveen? I thought you were rogue?”

  He winced. “I was starving as a rogue. All my guys are dead and, I guess you could say I just stopped caring.” He struggled for breath before adding, “I didn’t think I’d see you again before I died.”

  His fingers still gripped his gun. He raised it with a shaky hand and pointed it at me. I cocked mine. “I wouldn’t do that,” I said through tight lips.

  “Then shoot me.”

  “Just put the gun down.”

  “Noah Brody, I’m going to kill you unless you kill me first. Understand? They want you and I’d get a medal for bringing you down.” He scoffed. “You’re special. You don’t remember, but we made you very special.” He guffawed loudly. The guy had definitely gone nuts.

  “I don’t want to kill you, Sly, but I’ll do it if you don’t lower your weapon.”

  “This world and everyone in it can go to hell.” He cocked his gun, and I fired.

  Chapter 42

  ZOE

  Paul came home just as we were leaving. “Hey, Linden,” he said, patting him on the arm. His gaze moved from Linden to me and then back again. “How do you like Sol City?”

  Linden’s eyes cut to me briefly, his lips pulling up in a hint of a s
mile. “So far, so good.”

  “You know each other?” I asked.

  “Sure,” Paul said. “Linden’s dad works in the tower and Linden’s interning at our humanoid tech lab.” He turned back to Linden. “How’s that going?”

  “It’s been great so far. The rapid strides Sleiman is making with the humanoid technology is fascinating.”

  Paul grinned widely, showing off his straight, white teeth. He didn’t look much older than Linden, which was weird, considering he was my dad. “I think so, too,” he said.

  As if on cue, Bette joined us, taking Paul’s summer sweater from him. “Can I get you anything?” it asked.

  Paul clasped his hands with an eager look on his face. “An iced tea would be great. I’ll take it in my office.”

  Bette left, and Paul reached out to shake Linden’s hand. “Good to see you. Feel free to hang out around here anytime. I’m sure Zoe would love to show you our pool.”

  I would not.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  I headed out the door toward Linden’s pod car, hesitating by the passenger door. “Maybe I should meet you there?” I didn’t want to get stuck with him for longer than I might want.

  “Why take two? Don’t worry. I’ll bring you home the instant you ask.”

  We didn’t talk in the pod. If I bored him to death, maybe he’d leave me alone. I expected Linden to ask me where the best coffee place was nearby, but he didn’t. Seemed he already knew. We pulled into the pod park of Beachside Brew, and I followed him to an outdoor table facing the ocean. I inhaled the saline air deeply before brushing loose strands of hair off of my face and pushing them behind my ear.

  “What would you like?” Linden asked. “My treat.”

  A virtual glass menu appeared between us, readable on both sides. I didn’t’ need to study it. “Sweetened latte.”

  Linden gestured, and the order icon blinked. Then the menu disappeared into thin air.

  He leaned back slightly and held my gaze. His eyes were ocean blue like almost everyone who lived in Sol City. His right eye glimmered brighter than the left. It was enhanced, a recent trend among GAPs. I was probably the only citizen of Sol City to refuse the procedure.