Out of the Shadows (Renegades)

by Ana Stone

  “I want you to know that I never set out to take Roxy.” West said. “She loved you, man. You have to know that. But things got bad. You’d always been a player and at first she didn’t care. But then it got bad, bro. She got to where she felt like ̶ well second-choice, you know? Like you came to her when you couldn’t find something better.”

  “It wasn’t like that.” Zeke said heatedly, then cursed. “Fuck. Sorry. Go on.”

  “I know you didn’t mean it that way,” West agreed with him. “And I guess she did too. In a way. But she was hurting, and I was there and you know we were always friends and ̶”

  “And you were always in love with her.”

  “Yeah, I was. But I didn’t sleep with her behind your back. I didn’t touch her until she’d called it quits with you.”

  Zeke didn’t respond and after a few minutes West figured he was not going to. At least Zeke had given him the chance to say his piece, and he did feel better for it, but he’d hoped for more. He wanted to put the animosity between them in the past and move forward. Zeke was the best friend he’d ever had. Hell, he was like a brother, and West didn’t want to lose him.

  But he couldn’t give up Roxy. She was in his blood and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “I know it was bad,” Zeke said. “And god as my witness, I didn’t mean it to happen. I know this sounds like a cop out, but sometimes it felt like something had crawled in my head and was shoving me to do things that would drive her away.”

  That statement unlocked the hidden compartments of West’s mind. Pieces of the puzzle swirled like numbers on a board, jumbled and nonsensical, a maelstrom whose velocity slowly diminished to reveal what had been hidden. He understood.

  Thank you, Roxy. It was all starting to make sense. Now the question was, how to take what he knew and figure a way to save them all.

  *****

  Roxy was not surprised to find Doctor Turner waiting for them, when she and David arrived at NeuralNet. “Activate lockdown,” David ordered. “No one comes in or goes out without my authorization.”

  Turner nodded and keyed in the commands on his console. David pulled out his phone to place a call and left Roxy with Turner as he moved into a private cubicle on one side of the room. Roxy moved over beside Turner, keeping her eyes on David. “He’s going to kill you.” She said softly.

  Turner’s head jerked in her direction before his eyes darted toward David, who had his back turned on them. “How can you know that?”

  Roxy didn’t have to answer. She focused on the conversation she’d had with David on the drive and then projected it toward Turner. She dared a quick look at him and saw that the transfer was successful from the horrified expression on his face.

  “We can stop him,” she said quietly. “But we have to work together.”

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked as he pretended to study one of the monitors.

  She inched over closer and leaned down to slide his keyboard to her. It took less than a minute to key in the instructions. She was just finishing when David ended his call and turned.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I don’t know, David. You tell me.” She blocked his view of Turner as he started toward them.

  “Move,” he shoved her aside and looked at the bank of monitors mounted on Turner’s console. After a few moments he grunted and moved away. Roxy dared not look in Turner’s direction but kept her eyes on David.

  “So what now?”

  “We wait.”

  “Fine.” She went to a nearby console and took a seat in the empty chair.

  David cut a look at Turner. “Give us some space.”

  “Of course.” Turner stood. “I will be in my office.”

  David nodded and watched Turner cross the room to one of the offices. When the door closed behind Turner, David claimed his empty seat and looked at Roxy.

  “It’s not too late.”

  She shook her head. “You know I’m not going to say yes. And honestly, why would you want me to? We’re not a good fit. And you can’t afford to lose West and Zeke. West most of all.”

  “Says who?”

  Roxy knew he would not be so cavalier if he didn’t feel he was in the superior position but she couldn’t figure out why he felt that way. What had changed in the time since she and her team had been altered?

  “No one knows the system like West.”

  “Things have changed.”

  “Like what?”

  He smiled at her. “We have new talent.”

  Alarms went off in her mind. “What does that mean?”

  Again he smiled. “What the hell. It’s not like I can’t take the knowledge from you. I’ve recruited new talent. People who have improved on West’s design.”

  “What kind of improvement?”

  He got up and walked over to sit on the edge of the console so he could look down on where she sat. “Vast improvements. See, we discovered the data you and West hid.”

  “What data?”

  “Don’t play that shit, Rox. It’s too late in the game for that. We found the data on the imprinting process he was developing.”

  Nothing he could have said would have scared her more. West had been working on something that surpassed what anyone had ever done. Essentially he had developed a method of mapping someone’s mind and collecting data that created a type of blueprint, not just memories but skills and abilities.

  In essence he could collect the unique signature of an individual and in theory, transfer those skills and abilities to another.

  They had run several tests. Roxy had insisted on it, just as she had insisted on being the test subject. They mapped his mind and uploaded into her brain.

  West had the ability to see mathematical equations on an atomic level. He could program virtually anything and could compute complex equations at a superhuman level far beyond what the normal human brain could process.

  He also possessed a form of persuasive mind control. He could charm or “push” people into doing what he wanted.

  They tried the upload twice, and tested to see if the abilities were transferred. It did not appear to have been successful, and he was working on modifications when they were sent on the mission that led to them and Zeke being taken and having their memories erased.

  If David had found someone capable of continuing and perfecting the process then that made him one of the most dangerous people on the planet.

  “And?” she finally asked.

  “We’re making progress.”

  Relief swept through her. “You’ll never solve it without him.”

  “Oh I think we’ll manage.”

  “That’s ego talking, David. There’s no one else like him, no one that can even come close to him.”

  He gave her a cold smile. “And yet you’d let us lose such a valuable asset.”

  “You can’t put this back on me.”

  “Oh but I can. All you have to do is say yes and I swear he and Zeke are safe.”

  Roxy didn’t trust him as far as she could spit him, but maybe she needed to play a different game with him. She looked down for a minute, heaved a heavy sigh and then looked back up. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?”

  “When have I ever broken my word to you?”

  She hated to admit it, but he never had. He had lied to her on numerous occasions, misdirected and manipulated, but he had never gone back on his word.

  “Still, I’d need guarantees.”

  “What kind?”

  “From the Controller.”

  “He’s not part of this.”

  There it was. The key to all of this. David was acting on his own. Her team’s suspicions from a year ago were right. David was working against R3NG.

  He was quiet for a few moments, then leaned down so that his face was closer to hers. “Your ability is well documented. Even the Controller wouldn’t dispute your memory transfer. I’ll give you complete disclosure. You’ll know everything. If anything h
appens to Zeke or West all you have to do is go above my head.”

  “Why?” She asked.

  “Because I want you.”

  “Why?”

  He straightened. “You have to ask?”

  She stood to face him. “Yeah. What makes me so different from any other woman? You’re handsome … hot, smart and can have your pick of women. Why me?”

  “Your pheromone ability.”

  “Say what?”

  “When you’ve lived as long as I have not much excites you, Rox. I’ve done it all. Women are … orifices but that’s about it. You have the ability to evoke emotions in me. You can make me furious or despondent. You can fill me with lust. I want that. I need it.

  “I need to feel.”

  That shocked her. She’d never considered how it must be for him, to be so long-lived. He had always seemed to be a cold person. Capable of great cruelty or great kindness if he chose, he still operated with a type of detachment that was abnormal. Almost inhuman.

  He’d shown great passion with her, as well as anger. Could it be that he was telling the truth? Strange as it was, she believed he was. And that was an advantage she could use.

  “And you promise they won’t undergo memory alteration?”

  “That depends on you. You have to make them believe that you’re choosing me, that you don’t want them. There’s no other way. You know that. Otherwise they’ll never give up. You know them Rox. That’s West’s downside. He’s obsessive. Once he gets focused on something he can’t let go.”

  She knew that was true. West was obsessive, even in his emotional make-up. Once he loved, he could not unlove. It wasn’t in him.

  “So what, I make them hate me?”

  He stared at her for a long time. “You’re right. That won’t work. Hate and love are too close. As long as you live, they’ll cling to their emotions, be it love or hate. You have to be removed from the picture.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that as far as they are concerned, the woman they loved is dead.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “They will undergo memory alteration. It wasn’t Roxy Quinn they fell in love with. We’ll give them someone else. Zeke was wounded and the woman died. You? You’re mine. As far as they’ll remember you’ve always been mine, always worked directly with me. They barely know you.”

  Roxy hated to admit it, but his plan had merit. He could cover his tracks, bring Zeke and West back together and continue on his plan to double-cross R3NG. Obviously, Maybelle was behind him. If Roxy played along and Zeke and West had their memories altered there was no one but Turner who knew anything about what he was doing.

  “And Turner?” If I say yes will you let him live?”

  “Until I have reason to believe he’s betrayed me.”

  She turned away, wrapped her arms around herself and let her posture slump. Her mind focused on a feeling of defeat. With a few seconds of concentration she was able to release pheromones that would project that feeling. When she turned back toward David, she could see that her projection had worked. He had a smug smile on his face.

  “Come on, babe, don’t be so down. You know it’s for the best.”

  She nodded and did not resist when he reached out and took her hand to pull her to him. “Say it, Roxy. You’re mine. Say it and they live.”

  She nodded. “I’m yours.”

  David claimed her in a kiss that was as brutal as it was passionate. She had to force herself not to pull away, but did not try and pretend a passion that did not exist. He snarled into her mouth and wrapped one hand around her throat. She knew what he wanted and did not want to give it to him.

  But she was not about to let Zeke and West die. So she focused on thoughts of passion, of moments spent with West, and times with Zeke. And then she released those feelings. Even she could feel the effects of the pheromones. Her pulse sped up and her body responded.

  David’s hand around her throat loosened and the kiss lost some of its brutality to be replaced with genuine lust. She felt his erection press against her. So this was his Achilles’ heel, his weakness. Why had she not realized that long ago? He craved strong emotions, something he had lost the ability to feel on his own.

  The sound of a speaker had him pulling away. Maybelle was announcing her arrival. David turned and keyed in a sequence on the keyboard at the console where he and Roxy stood. “What about Chief Phillips?” she asked.

  “We’ll alter his memories.”

  “You think Maybelle will be onboard with that?”

  “It was her idea.”

  Roxy shrugged as if it didn’t matter one way or the other to her. In truth, she was disgusted. Did Maybelle and David have any real feelings for anyone or were they too far gone in their hunger for power to remember what honest emotions were?

  Maybelle entered with Raymond and Chief Phillips behind her. Raymond took the Chief into one of the adjoining offices as Maybelle crossed the room to where Roxy and David stood.

  “Is she on board?”

  “Yeah,” Roxy answered the question. “As long as you hold up your end.”

  “Which is?” Maybelle asked.

  David quickly explained. Maybelle listened and then nodded. “Very well. Where’s Turner?”

  “In his office.”

  “I want Art’s modifications taken care of immediately. Raymond will deliver him home when the procedure is complete.”

  “What are the parameters?” David asked.

  “Leave everything that’s happened since Roxy arrived in Harmony. Mayor Morris was killed by a drug gang who’d set up shop in the new phosphate mine. Art discovered that Morris had been in bed with them and called in the feds. They busted the gang and Art received a commendation. Roxy and West went back to wherever they came from.”

  “What about Zeke and the MC?” Roxy asked.

  “Leave it all as is. Just erase any memory of my involvement or this agency. Zeke helped bring down the MC, and Reese was collateral damage. Life goes back to normal in Harmony. Oh with one exception.”

  “Which is?” David asked.

  “Art and I will be married.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love him and I can control him. And I think Harmony is the perfect place to establish our base.”

  David shrugged. “Suits me.”

  A beeping sound had all three of them turning toward the monitors on the console behind them. David keyed in a sequence and the monitor displayed the camera’s view of the back entrance. Zeke and West stood at the door.

  David granted them access then looked at Roxy. “Can I trust you, Rox?”

  “Yes.” She met his eyes without hesitation.

  “Good. Maybelle get Turner started on Art now. We’ll greet our guests.”

  Maybelle hurried off toward Turner’s office. A few moments later, the entrance door to the lab opened and Zeke walked in. West was two steps behind him.

  They both stopped and looked at Roxy and David. West addressed her. “You okay?”

  “Fine.” She replied.

  Their attention went to the side of the room as Maybelle and Turner exited an office and went to another. She entered the office and returned a moment later with Chief Philips.. Everyone watched as she, Philips and Turner made their way to the command console. A moment later Raymond emerged from the room where Philips had been held with a gun in his hand.

  “Lay down your weapons,” he said to Zeke and West.

  They looked at one another then took out their guns, put them on the floor and kicked them in Raymond’s direction. Raymond moved closer to them, gesturing them to precede him. They did and all three walked to where Roxy stood with David.

  “That’s close enough,” Raymond said when they were ten feet away.

  “I should kill you,” Zeke directed his comment to David.

  “If he so much as flinches, shoot him,” David directed Raymond.

  Roxy understood his caution. Zeke was lethal. He possessed a
form of hyperkinetic ability that endowed him with extraordinary aim, reflexes and balance. He was a perfect shot, never missed and could predict the trajectory of objects in motion. Zeke could kill someone by throwing a paperclip. David was right to be wary.

  “Now, this is the way it’s going to be,” David said. “Turner is going to reprogram you boys. As far as you’re concerned, you never worked with her, never cared for her and, naturally, never screwed her.”

  “And Roxy?” West asked, looking at her.

  “Oh she’ll behave,” David said and smiled. “I have her word. But just in case she decides to renege on our deals, if she contacts you or comes to you, your programming will kick in and you’ll kill her.”

  “You son of a bitch!” Zeke yelled. “You won’t get away with this.”

  “Oh but I will.” David replied.

  “You fucking played us,” Zeke growled.

  “Very well, I might add,” David gloated. “Oh do stop the fierce glower. You were never a match for me. Not even all three of you. You thought you were but you were wrong. Actually you were wrong about all of it.

  “Remember, it was me that put you together. Who do you think arranged for that Delta mission to go wrong when the two of you were taken hostage?”

  “You did that?” Roxy looked at him in surprise.

  “Intel suggested they’d make good recruits. I needed to know. So, yes, I did.”

  “We rotted in that stink hole for two months, you bastard.” West said.

  “I sent you a savior,” David replied and cut a look at Roxy.

  Roxy had no idea David had arranged for the Delta mission to go bad. All she knew was that two Delta operatives had been taken hostage. She was ordered to go in and extract them. She managed to get into where they were being held in a cellar and was almost killed with a pebble thrown by Zeke when she broke in, an impossible feat.

  Having worked with R3NG for several years, she had learned to recognize special abilities. When West charmed her into turning over her weapon she knew they had a chance to survive. She surrendered her gun and convinced them to work with her. Their combined skills got them and she delivered them to David who recruited them.

  They were assigned to her team, with her as team leader. West and Zeke had been in Delta together for years. They’d grown up together, enlisted together and had an intense relationship – two warriors bonded by war and death in a way that only men who have lived the life could understand. Working as a team was second nature to them.