I choose the direction that I think takes me closer to the button. I dive straight into the cables and hope it's clear on the other side. Unfortunately, as I pass through the wall of chords, I'm cradled by more of the shock-inducing cables. I attempt to wriggle forward, but the jolts are so overwhelming that it's hard to move, much less concentrate on doing anything effective. With a fleeting moment of clarity, I give myself a last-ditch command.
"Mari, break one of the cables."
I scream out as my bare hands grab a cable in front of me. With every ounce of strength in my body, I rip the cable apart. Immediately, the electricity cuts out and I hang limply over the now-harmless cords. I can hear the Restrainers approaching, but I don't have the energy to lift my head.
"That was ... interesting," I hear a woman say flatly.
"Is she all right?" A man muses. "It'd be such a nuisance to have to deal with a dead body."
My disgust at their impassive comments fuels my adrenaline and I roll out of the cables and fall on my back onto the floor. There's a collective sigh from the Restrainers. I stare at them defiantly. One of them bends down and applies some sort of salve to my hands which soothes the burns.
"That was an impressive effort, Ms. Quillen," the pale man asserts, "however, you did not pass this particular test."
I don't know if it's my current fatigue or my overall declining respect for the Restrainers, but for some reason I break decorum and ask: "has anyone ever passed this test?"
There's a hint of a smile on the pale man's face. "No, actually," he states. "This test was designed to be impossible to achieve."
I stare at him for a few moments, wondering if he could possibly be making a joke.
"So then, why..."
"This room acts as a control to ensure that none of the Amplifiers are evolving," he explains.
My head is spinning. Do they expect the Amplifiers to evolve? And in what way? Independently of the person they're inhabiting? I want to ask him all of these things, but instead I ask the less pertinent question.
"So, this won't count against me for the assessment?"
"No," he says curtly, "it's merely a precautionary measure. Shall we move on?"
I follow the pale man and the other Restrainers to the urban obstacle course, but I'm still thinking about the possibility of my Amplifier taking on a mind of its own. Or perhaps stealing mine. Maybe this was part of what Talina meant when she warned about giving your Amplifier too much control of your mind. When we reach the course, the pale man turns around, points to the corner of the ceiling, and announces:
"There is something just beyond that pipe that doesn't belong here. You are to find it within 7 minutes and bring it back to us."
I swallow hard. He's pointing to the spot where I climbed up before and found Felix. Are they aware of the mysterious stowaway boy on the barge and do they know about our meeting? Is it Felix that I have to find and bring back down? Are they testing me to see if I'll volunteer information about him? Or is this just a nauseating coincidence?
I keep my expression smooth as I pass by the Restrainers and start up the course. If I do find Felix up there, I'm going to have to figure out a way to avoid turning him over to the Restrainers. But if they find out I protected him, I might be sent to prison. However, if I help them get Felix, then he could be sent to prison instead. Which is worse? Being confined and punished for the rest of your life or being riddled with the guilt of knowing you caused confinement and punishment for someone else?
I'm really starting to get dizzy with this moral dilemma as I run, jump, and climb through the course. Following the path I used before, I make it up to the pipe in just a few minutes. I shimmy up the pole and wedge myself through the ceiling, wincing at the thought of what I might see. But when my eyes adjust, there is no curly haired boy. Instead, I'm greeted by a small package with red numbers glowing in the dim light.
I've never been so glad to see a bomb in my life.
The numbers are counting down from one minute forty-seven seconds, apparently the time left until it detonates. I wonder briefly if I should bring it back to the Restrainers still active and let them defuse it, but I imagine all the things that could go wrong carting a live bomb back through the obstacle course and decide to take care of it now.
"Mari, deactivate the bomb."
My hands reach for the package and remove a panel in the front, exposing a dozen different wires. For a moment, I feel my brain stutter as the collection of wires appears unfamiliar, but then it recalculates and easily identifies the wires that need to be severed. I pull the designated wires out from the box a bit and cut them on a sharp edge of the air vent. The bomb emits a short, whining sound and the numbers on the bomb disappear.
I feel oddly unfulfilled knowing that all I contributed to this event was a few memories of pictures or films that I had seen before. The Amplifier did the rest. I guess I can't expect to feel rewarded when I hardly do any of the work. Good job, Amplifier. I make my way back down the course and present the defused bomb to the bored-looking group of Restrainers. The pale man makes a couple of notes on his Transcriber, then hands me a certificate.
"Congratulations, Miss Quillen."
Chapter 25
"I'm so glad it's over!" Alia shouts to me over the loud music.
"Yeah, me too," I shout back dutifully. But in all honesty, I don't know what to feel. My experience with the assessment was lackluster at best. I don't know if I'm going to get to stay Amplified and go on to Service with everyone else, and I have a nagging suspicion that things in the Community are about to change, and not for the better.
I look around the recreation lounge. It has been completely transformed for the concert. They brought in a rock group I've never heard of to perform in celebration of the end of our Training. Everybody else seems really psyched about it. I don't know why. I mean, I guess the band is good, but I'm pretty sure they're just using their Amplifiers.
On the other side of me, I hear Joby command himself to dance along with the music. I smirk as he moves somewhat unnaturally to the beat. I almost think he'd do a better job of it without the Amplifier.
It's hot and crowded and the music is starting to grate on my nerves. I'd much rather listen to the music on my device. I'm thinking I'll go back to my dorm room and do just that, when suddenly, I feel someone slide their hand around my waist. The encounter with Jaren is still fresh in my mind, so I'm not taking any chances. I snatch at the person's hand and twist it until its owner is brought to his knees.
"Dang, Mari, I guess there's no subtle way to make a move on you."
"Liam!" I gasp, helping him up from the floor, "I'm so sorry! I thought..." I trail off, not sure how to finish.
"You thought I was just some creep, huh? Well, next time I know to give you a fair warning."
"Maybe there shouldn't be a next time."
The words come out automatically, before I know I'm saying them. I'm not even sure that's how I wanted to respond. I'm definitely attracted to Liam, but for some reason I know getting romantically involved with him is a bad idea. Can't we just be friends?
Liam attempts a smile, but looks altogether unsure of himself.
"Okay, well, I'm gonna go find out what Todd is doing," Liam says lamely. "I guess I'll see you later, Mari."
I feel awful as I watch him walk away. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but I see no point in leading him on. Alia is looking at me expectantly, but I don't know what to tell her.
"Why me?" I ask.
Alia opens her mouth to reply, but it's Joby's voice I hear behind me.
"It's your eyes."
I turn around and stare at him. My expression must be pretty severe because the smile fades from his face and he tries to backtrack.
"What I meant to say was that your eyes are unusually ... beautiful."
For the second time in three minutes words fail me. After a few uncomfortable moments, Alia cuts in.
"Hey Joby, do you want to go get some capsule
s with me?"
"Yes," Joby responds quickly, clearly grateful for a way out of this awkward situation. Alia gives me an amused grin.
"Who knew you'd turn out to be such a heartbreaker?" She whispers playfully as she slips by and heads off to the nutrition dispensers with Joby.
I exhale. Within a short amount of time I've managed to offend two of my very few friends. Thankfully, Alia was there to rescue me from my tactlessness. Once again she's shown how she has matured years since she's been here. She's far more intuitive and sensible than the girl I used to know.
I break away from the crowd listening to the band and find an empty couch to sit on. I don't really want to talk to anybody right now, I kind of feel like a social failure. What is wrong with me? Two pretty fantastic guys like me and I can't seem to conjure up genuine feelings for either one of them. Maybe I'm still too young for things like this, although somewhere deep down I know I have the capacity to have strong feelings for someone. The problem is, I don't know who it is.
I shake my head to try to get rid of my confusing thoughts. I notice a bowl of Intoxication capsules sitting on the table next to me. Probably just another way to celebrate the end of Training, I think as I pick up the bowl and study the brightly colored capsules. They really are mesmerizing, and despite my better judgement, my curiosity wins out. Why not? I rationalize, Training is over and I'm probably going to go to bed soon anyway. I pick out an orange and white capsule and pop it in my mouth.
The flavor is tangy and sweet and I immediately feel myself relax, despite the mild anxiety I was experiencing just a moment ago. I notice a tiny bit of haziness in my otherwise clear mind. I decide to test my Amplifier to see if it really has shut off.
"Mari, do ten push ups."
Nothing happens. My body doesn't respond; I feel none of the familiar urges to complete the command. It's freeing, in a way. This is the first time my Amplifier has not worked, and for some reason it makes me laugh.
"Hi Mari!"
My laugh turns into a scream as Cassidy jumps onto the couch next to me and the bowl of Intoxication capsules launches into the air. She really has an uncanny way of startling people. She looks worried, so I try to recover quickly.
"Sorry, Cassidy, I guess I'm just a little jumpy tonight," I explain.
"Oh, don't worry! I'm jumpy all the time!" She responds. "Here, I'll help you clean these up," she offers as she starts to collect the scattered capsules. I join her.
"Where's your brother?" I ask nonchalantly, not really sure if I care.
"Oh, he's with Talina getting his mistake fixed."
I really want to ask what his mistake was, but I feel like it would be impolite to pry. Turns out there's no need, though, because Cassidy plows right on.
"That idiot tried to command himself to solve all his problems, but instead he commanded himself to solve all the problems."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and he's been spending hours obsessively working out every problem he encounters."
I look at Cassidy for a moment, and then we burst out laughing. I mean, it's really not that funny; it would be exhausting to constantly have to be working out mathematical equations and ethical dilemmas, not to mention scientific incongruences and who knows what else, but it is a little comedic that such a small mistake caused such a personal disaster. If I didn't hate him so much I'd feel sorry for him. We pick up the last of the spilled capsules and sit back on the couch.
"So what did you think of the assessment?" Cassidy asks.
"It wasn't too bad," I answer. "It was a little weird, though."
"I know!" Cassidy nearly shouts. "The new offer with the Override really threw me off! I almost went for it, because I was so nervous, but then I read the contract and decided to do it on my own."
"What did it say?" I ask, wishing I had read through it more thoroughly.
Cassidy's face becomes somber. "There was a lot of normal, mundane stuff, but at the end, it said if we chose to use the Override for the assessment, we would be subject to perform other various assignments conducted by the Override."
I shiver. "You mean people can be overridden at random without an emergency?"
"That's what it sounds like."
Uneasiness creeps through me. How many of the trainees decided to use the Override for their test? Did they know by doing so that they could be used at any time as pawns for whatever the Community deems necessary?
"Anyway," Cassidy blurts out, suddenly shedding all her seriousness, "I'm going to go see if I can get the band to autograph my arm!"
I watch her gallop off toward the stage, her white-blonde hair nearly glowing in the new lights they put in for the concert. I consider her for a moment. Maybe she's exaggerating what the contract actually said. She does seem the type to get a little paranoid about things like this. Although, if her interpretation really was correct, I can't imagine the Community would use people for anything too serious. They'll probably just use them for routine tasks and tests.
Now that I've rationalized away most of my anxiety about the Override, I let my mind wander back to my most recent encounter with Governor Plenaris. I wonder if there's any way I can persuade him to allow me to stay Amplified. He didn't say anything definitive when we last spoke, and I was surprised that he remained calm during my outburst. Although, that might just be the way he reacts to everything. Maybe the Restrainers will be merciful. I'm only a 15-year old girl, after all. Maybe they won't see me as such a threat.
It just seems that now, more than ever, it's important to have the advantage of the Amplifier. Something big is coming, and I want to be equipped with the best defenses when it does. The fact that we've never heard of this mysterious North and that the Governor was so obsessed with covering up their attack tells me that our fantastic Community isn't as ideal or as stable as I've always thought. Tonight, if I can find her, and if she'll let me ask, I want to find out more about the North from Talina.
My head is starting to hurt and I realize it's getting pretty late. If I'm going to track down Talina, I better start looking now. I stand up and stretch to fend off some of my fatigue, then turn around just in time to see Joby's face before he punches me hard in the stomach.
"Hey!" I cry out in alarm. "Look, Joby, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but do you really think this is the best way to handle-" I stop short when I see Joby's face. He looks absolutely terrified.
"Mari, I'm so sorry!" He says pathetically as he takes another swing at my face. I duck just in time.
"Joby, what's happening?"
"It's the Override!"
Now it's my turn to be terrified. All of Cassidy's words about the contract come flooding back into my brain. Of course Joby would have chosen to be overridden for the assessment, and now he's dealing with the twisted consequences. And apparently, so am I.
Joby comes at me with a spinning kick. I try to get past him, but his foot connects hard with my thigh and I fall to the ground.
"Joby, whose voice are you hearing?" I yell at him. "Is it Talena? Justin?"
"No!" He responds desperately, "It's neither of them!"
He lunges at me and I roll out of the way.
"Then who is it?"
"I don't know, but it sounds kind of like — "
Immediately, his mouth slams shut. Naturally, whoever is conducting this Override is not going to let him tell me who they are. But I have a pretty good idea. I try to get up, but Joby slams me to the ground and puts his arm across my throat, cutting off all my air. I struggle to free myself, but the weight of his body is too much. His face is inches from mine, his eyes are filled with tears.
All at once, Joby goes limp. I see a pair of hands roll him off of me, and look up to see Alia with a tranquilizer gun in her hand.
Chapter 26
"Mari, are you all right?" Alia asks, rushing to help me up. "I don't know what happened! One minute I'm talking to Joby, and the next minute he starts acting really weird and runs off."
"Where'd you get
the gun?" I ask her wearily.
"Oh, I've just started keeping one with me since Jaren..." She answers a little sheepishly.
"Well, I'm glad you had it. I think you just saved my life."
"Mari, I had no idea Joby was going to come after you like that! It's not like him at all!"
"It wasn't him, it was the Override."
"What are you talking about?"
But I don't have time to explain. Behind Alia, I see about 2 dozen trainees coming toward me. Now I know exactly how many opted for the Override during the assessment and are now subject to performing a "random assignment." Most of them are looking at me with fear and confusion, and a few are wearing an expression of demonic delight. One of these is Jaren, and I notice with a fleeting moment of satisfaction that he's walking awkwardly. Guess he hasn't recovered yet. I start to think of a command to give myself, but then remember with a sinking realization that the Intoxication I ate has rendered my Amplifier useless.
"Mari, what is going on?" Alia asks shakily, watching the small army of trainees approaching.
"I need your tranquilizer gun," I say urgently.
Before Alia has time to respond, I wrench the gun out of her hands and start shooting at my overridden attackers. My aim is a little off without the Amplifier, but I see about 7 of them drop to the floor before I run out of darts. I thrust the gun back at Alia and run straight through the pack toward the stage. They seem to hesitate for a moment, but then turn and start to run after me.
I leap onto the stage, vaguely hearing cries of protest from the band, which turn into cries of fear when my pursuers follow suit. I knock over the drum set, and a few of the trainees stumble over it. An unusually tall boy is right on my heels, but I grab a bass guitar and smash it into his face. He topples backwards and takes down two other trainees that were behind him. Their numbers are dwindling, but there's still a dangerous amount of trainees that are trying to kill me.
I jump off the stage and run hard to the other side of the recreation lounge, toward the middle of the aerial obstacle course. I don't dare look back because I don't want to lose any speed, but I can hear their feet pounding close behind me. Praying that my plan works, I jump over the barricades and straight into the hole in the floor that makes up the second half of the Plunge. All of my attackers follow me, so I'm hoping this means the air turbines are going to turn on and stop us from falling hundreds of feet to our death. Otherwise, whoever is orchestrating this Override has just mercilessly killed about a dozen teenagers.
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