The Amplified

by Lauren M. Flauding

  "I don't know how anyone can get through this room, it's crazy!"

  "Yeah," Liam agrees, "I haven't seen anyone make it yet. I think you have to give yourself multiple commands while you're going through it, just one command for the whole course doesn't cut it."

  I nod my head, recalling how the break dancing worked at first, but then the moves stopped lining up with the clear spaces.

  "But the patterns switch so fast, you'd have to be a genius to pull that off," I retort in exasperation.

  "Or a Miles Paxton."

  I hesitate. Maybe the shocks messed with my brain. Did Liam just say what I think he did?

  "A what?"

  "Oh, it's something we say in my compound," Liam responds. "When someone does something that seems impossible, we call it a Miles Paxton."

  "Did you know him?" I ask tentatively.

  "Of course not! It's just a made up story about someone who broke into our control tower. He doesn't actually exist."

  "Oh, I see," I remark quietly. But now my already aching brain is throbbing with this new piece of information. Did Miles wreak havoc in other compounds, or is this just a rumor that got passed to other people and was altered in the process? How many other compounds talk about Miles Paxton? Is he some kind of legend for the whole Community?

  "Mari, are you okay?" Liam asks, bringing me back to reality. I don't know how long I've been standing here musing about Miles, but I'm sure I have a really ridiculous look on my face.

  "I don't know," I hedge, "I think those electrocution cables really did a number on me. I'm going to go back to my dorm to lie down."

  "Ok, let me know if you need anything," Liam offers.

  "I will," I tell him. "And Liam, thank you. I really owe you one."

  "You owe me two," he teases, winking at me again.

  I walk back to my dorm thinking mostly about Miles, but once or twice about the odd sensation I feel when Liam winks at me.

  Chapter 19

  "Hey, do you know what Talina just said about our assessment? I missed it," I whisper to Alia.

  "I don't know," she responds blandly, "and I really don't care." I try to hide my frustration at her apathy, but there's no need. Alia might as well be dead to the world. For the past few weeks she's been barely more than merely existing, and I'm afraid she's not going to pass the final exam. I mean, I understand that break ups can be hard, at least from what I've seen in movies and the stories my mom used to tell me about her younger days, but this seems a little extreme. And lately every time I try to talk to her about it, she either erupts into a yelling fit or leaves the room. Or both.

  "She said we'd need to be successful with at least 80 percent of the weapons in order to pass," Joby whispers to me.

  "Thanks, Joby," I say flatly. He looks really pleased with himself. I can't bring myself to tell him that I already knew what Talina said and was just trying to get Alia to listen. Joby has started sitting next to me during lectures now. I guess he's not really friends with Liam anymore.

  We're listening to Talina tell us all the most important things to remember for our assessment, which is only two weeks away. If Alia doesn't pull herself together, she'll have her Amplifier removed and end up doing labor for the rest of her life, most likely back at the farm she hates so much. Could this idiot Jaren have messed her up so much that she no longer cares about her future?

  "You will be observed by four Restrainers who will report back to Governor Plenaris," Talina states. Her mention of the Governor makes the room erupt in excited whispers. I don't know why everyone's so thrilled about this, I can't imagine the Restrainers relaying anything more than whether we pass or fail to Governor Plenaris. Unless, of course, someone were to mess up so badly that they set themselves apart. Personally, I'm more interested in the Restrainers being present at our assessment. Adrian told me a couple stories about watching them in action. Their special Amplification allows them to process and perform better than everyone else. Maybe we'll get to witness their enhanced abilities while they're here.

  "Basically, you'll be just fine if you follow the rules and don't say the wrong thing," Talina finishes with a grim smile. From the front row, Tristan raises his hand.

  "What if we do say the wrong thing?" He asks. "I mean, what if we accidentally give ourselves the wrong command? Can we give ourselves another command to stop it?"

  Usually I expect everything that comes out of Tristan's mouth will be stupid or irrelevant, but I'm actually interested to know the answer to his question.

  "No, you cannot stop it," Talina responds dryly. "You can only give yourself another command once the previous one has been completed or becomes impossible to perform."

  "So there's no way to resist it?" Tristan says timidly.

  "No Amplified person has ever been able to stop themselves from carrying out a command," Talina replies. She studies Tristan for a moment and adds, "If it is a serious matter than it can be resolved in an Override."

  Tristan looks relieved, but doesn't say anything else. I wonder what serious mistake he made. But what bothers me even more is the fact that it's impossible to resist an Amplifier. Is there really no one with the will power strong enough to combat a command?

  "This concludes your formal training," Talina announces, regaining everyone's attention. "For the next two weeks you will each be responsible for practicing and reviewing skills on your own. Justin and I will be available to offer assistance if absolutely necessary, but please don't come to us with frivolous questions as we will be busy setting up for the assessment." She turns off the screen and reaches down to pick up the silver Override box, then turns back to face us. "Good luck."

  _________

  "What do you think Tristan commanded himself to do that needs to be fixed?" Joby muses, craning his neck to look at Tristan across the nutrition hall. He and Cassidy are intent on a piece of paper on the table in front of them, whispering back and forth and looking anxious.

  "Why don't you go ask him?" I respond, popping a Satisfy capsule into my mouth. I know I'm being rude, but I'm getting sick of Joby trying to engage me in conversation. Actually, I'm just getting sick of Joby, he's been following me around relentlessly for weeks.

  "Nah, it's probably something stupid, anyway," Joby concedes, confirming my suspicion that he really didn't care much in the first place. "So what do you think you're gonna do for the next two weeks?" He asks.

  "Practice and review," I say curtly.

  "I think I'm going to take it easy for a little while," Joby volunteers, despite my not having asked him. "You know, rest up so I'm not so stressed for the assessment." He stretches his arms above his head as if demonstrating that he's ready to start relaxing right now. I study him for a moment. I hadn't realized how muscular his arms had become, and I can see that his pectorals are much more defined. He looks healthier in general, probably a result of being able to sleep more regularly. I guess all the trainees have improved their physique in one way or another. Well, except for Alia, who has inexplicably gained weight. I watch her sullenly poke at her bowl of capsules, then pick out a Pleasure. She raises it to her mouth and then says:

  "Alia, don't eat it."

  Her hand automatically drops the capsule and she goes back to poking at her bowl. Her command to avoid the Pleasure capsule makes me think of Liam, who said he'd commanded himself to hate them. I scan the room until I see him. We make eye contact and he waves at me. I smile and wave back.

  "Hey Mari," Joby says quickly, "do you want me to get you some more capsules?"

  I sigh. "Sure, Joby."

  He leaves the table and goes over to the dispensers. I know full well why he wanted my attention right then, but I still don't like to think about it. Instead I let my thoughts drift back to Liam, about his dramatic physical change that cost him some of his personality. Will his command to hate Pleasure capsules stay in effect forever? What other aspects of someone's personality is the Amplifier capable of changing?

  I start observing the peop
le around me and listen to some of the things they're commanding themselves to do.

  "Devon, go talk to that girl."

  "Ronda, don't eat anymore right now."

  "Brady, calm down."

  "Calvin, remember to lift weights tonight."

  "Charlotte, don't stare at him."

  "Jack, tell a funny joke."

  "Morgan, throw this trash away."

  The more I listen, the more horrified I become. We're using our Amplifiers to do the simple, mundane tasks we used to be able to do ourselves. Have we become so dependent that we can no longer think, act, or feel without the aid of the device implanted in our heads?

  "I got a couple of every capsule because I wasn't sure which ones you like," Joby announces, interrupting my thoughts. He plops a bowl in front of me. I fish out a Hydration and swallow it quickly.

  "Thanks Joby," I say, "but I'm not feeling very good, I'm going to take a walk."

  "Hey, I'll come with you," he offers.

  "No!" I respond, a little more harshly than I intended. "I mean, I just... I'd really like to be alone right now."

  I turn away and walk out of the nutrition hall as fast as I can.

  Chapter 20

  I reposition my pillow for the tenth time tonight. It seems like I've been staring into the dark for hours — sleep just will not come. And Alia's not even crying, which is usually what keeps me awake. Every time I start to drift off, Talina's words about not being able to resist the Amplifier run through my head and jar me back to consciousness. I don't know why it bothers me so much. I mean, if people were able to withstand their Amplifiers, they wouldn't be as effective. But it's just hard to believe that, "no Amplified person has ever been able to stop themselves from carrying out a command."

  I get out of bed. Clearly I won't be falling asleep anytime soon, so there's no use just lying there staring at the ceiling. A plan starts forming in my head. I'm careful not to wake anyone as I put on my shoes and slip out the door.

  It's a clear, cool night. I look up at the stars as I walk across the deck of the barge. They're shining so brightly that I don't have any problem seeing where I'm going. As far as I can recall, there are no cameras outside of the recording room, but I still walk around and double check when I get there. I end up on the side facing the edge of the barge, where the building hides me from view and there's about 12 feet of deck before it drops off into the darkness.

  I take a deep breath. I am fairly positive that this is a stupid idea. But I just want to know how hard it really is to resist the Amplifier.

  "Mari, do a back flip."

  Before I have time to even think, my body squats down and propels itself backward, performing a flawless back flip. I shake out my arms and legs and close my eyes, trying to concentrate on keeping my feet planted on the ground this time before giving myself the command.

  "Mari, do a back flip."

  There's a slight pain in my legs as I fight to keep them in place, but other than that, nothing keeps my body from completing the back flip. Looks like this is going to be harder than I thought, I think. I center myself again and try a new tactic.

  I think about my father. When he worked on his carvings, he would be so focused that nothing could distract him. He wouldn't stop until his wood carving was perfect. Sometimes you'd speak to him for several minutes before he'd notice that you were trying to talk to him. I really miss watching him carve out those elaborate designs. He was so methodical and exact. If I could just channel that kind of focus, maybe I could overcome these commands.

  I fill my mind with thoughts of my father as I give myself the command to do a back flip again. My body tenses as I work hard against the mechanical movements being forced by the Amplifier. I'm slower to comply this time, and as a result, I falter halfway through the flip and land on my stomach instead of my feet. It's progress, at least, even though I got the wind knocked out of me.

  I roll over onto my back and give the command again. I try to keep myself lying on the ground for as long as possible, but it's only a few seconds before I feel myself stand up and go through the motions. I command myself to do the back flip about a dozen times in succession, thinking maybe if I wear my body out it will make it weaker than my will power, but it seems to have the opposite effect.

  I command myself while clinging to the side of the building, feeling my finger pads burn as I try to hold on to the brick walls. I command myself starting from several different positions, and while I'm able to hinder The Amplifier a little bit, every time I more or less complete the back flip, but not without incurring a collection of scratches and bruises. I'm completely exhausted and I know that I should give up and go back to bed, but I know by now that I wasn't raised to give up.

  I shake myself off and walk to the very edge of the barge. A part of me can't believe I'm about to try this, but I'm so determined to overcome the Amplifier that I'm driven to extremes. Surely I won't comply with the command if it's a matter of life or death, right?

  A gust of wind rushes past me as I look over the side of the barge. I can't see how high up we are, but I know that if I do a back flip from here I will be falling to my death. What are you doing, Mari? Is it really worth it? Of course it isn't, but I also know this is the only way to really motivate myself to go against the Amplifier.

  I turn around so that my back is to the edge. I stand there for a few minutes, trying to calm my nerves and psyching myself up for what I'm about to do. Finally, I close my eyes and slowly give myself the command one more time.

  "Mari, do a back flip."

  I feel my legs start to jerk upwards but strain as hard as I can against the automatic urge. My whole body is shaking and I stumble back a couple inches, causing one of my feet to momentarily dangle off the side. I start to panic. I didn't think this through. Did I think the Amplifier would just stop after a few seconds of noncompliance? Talina said the command would remain in effect until completed. I can't hold off these powerful impulses forever.

  My body aches and my head is throbbing. I feel convulsions in my stomach as the Amplifier tries to force me backwards. I think about how good it would feel to just yield to the sensations coursing through my body, but in the next moment remember that to comply would mean certain death. My endurance is almost spent and I'm getting weaker, but I just hold on to the fact that I desperately want to live. In an effort to motivate myself, I open my mouth and scream at the top of my lungs:

  "DON'T GIVE IN!"

  The words echo across the barge and come back to me. Slowly, I feel the robotic compulsions of the Amplifier subside, and I don't have to fight anymore. I exhale and take a few shaky steps away from the edge, repeating over and over, "That was so stupid, that was so stupid..." But somewhere beneath all my fatigue is a feeling of triumph. I did it, I overcame the amplifier. I turn back to face the edge that a few minutes ago I was struggling so vehemently against. In my relieved delirium, I start to laugh.

  Then suddenly my body tenses up and does a back flip.

  Chapter 21

  "What happened to you?"

  "Personal experiment," I grumble in response to Joby's worried inquiry. I have scratches all over my face and a huge bruise on my arm. I suppose that I should be proud that I held off the Amplifier for so long last night, but I'm still frustrated that it got me in the end, almost like it was having the last laugh.

  "Are you going to make a habit of these ... uh, personal experiments?" Joby presses.

  "I don't think so," I reply, rubbing a sore spot on my hip.

  "Good," Joby says and pops some Protein capsules into his mouth. I bite back a nasty remark. It's nice that he cares about me, but it's not like I need to be taken care of.

  "Have you seen Alia?" I ask instead.

  "Yeah, she's over there with Jaren," Joby answers, pointing across the nutrition hall. I see Alia standing at a table talking with Jaren. For a minute I'm hopeful that they're making up, but after watching them for a while it's clear that they're in a heated argument. I'm
too far away from them to hear what they're saying, but I can tell that Alia is far more angry than Jaren. She keeps throwing her hands in the air while he stands with his arms folded across his chest looking only slightly perturbed. Finally, Jaren spreads his hands as if to say, "What do you want me to do about it?" and Alia stomps away, probably to go lay in her bed for the next several hours. I let out an involuntary growl.

  "What was that for?" Joby says, looking around at me quizzically.

  "Oh, it's nothing, really," I respond. "I just wish Alia would get over this funk already."

  Joby raises his eyebrows at me, frowning a bit. Is there something he knows that I don't?

  There isn't time to find out. Suddenly, there is frantic screaming coming from outside on the deck. I'm not sure if we're all driven by curiosity or fear, but everyone runs out of the nutrition hall to see what's going on. When I get outside, my heart jumps into my throat.

  The sky is filled with a dozen massive air ships. They're like nothing I've ever seen before; sleek, black, oval-shaped carriers hovering over the barge and systematically firing down on all of us helpless victims below. I see a few people staggering around with bleeding arms or legs, but so far, it seems no one is mortally wounded. Yet. A group of trainees run back into the nutrition hall, but it seems their movement does not go unnoticed. A moment later several explosions rip the nutrition hall apart. Apparently, nowhere is safe.

  What is happening? I feel like I'm frozen in place while people are running frantically across the deck of the barge, with no direction, no plan. It reminds me of when I first watched those water droplets float around in the hover chamber. Here we all are, with infinite potential, and no power. We might as well not be Amplified.

  And then I have a fleeting memory of the architecture of the air barge, something I saw in school. While the shots and explosions are demolishing the buildings, the deck of the barge seems to suffer no damage. We need to get under the deck.