by Simone Pond
“I’m going to present you with three options.” He went to the windows and stared off.
“I’m sure they’re all equally horrible.”
“The first one is obvious. You participate in Graduation Day and become Queen, meaning your consciousness will be wiped clean and only your body will remain for the current Queen to take up. Two, you stay intact—with a few minor procedures to erase this last week from your memory—and live as my companion in perpetuity, uploading our minds into new bodies when we grow tired of our current ones. Or three, you’re reported dead and I send you off to Ret-Hav for research experiments until you have so many holes in your brain you’re deemed worthless and tossed to sea.”
Morray turned around and faced Ava, blocking the last rays of the sunset. She closed her eyes and retreated into her mind—she didn’t want any of those options. She wanted to be with Joseph, living out the rest of her life in his village. She remembered the night in the forest when she couldn’t walk another step; she had seen the moonlit clearing in the woods where she found shelter against the rocks. She leaned on that memory—it rekindled an inkling of hope.
“You can’t run from your fate,” Morray said.
Ava opened her eyes. “You’re absolutely right about that.”
“I’ll give you an hour to decide. Any final requests, my dear?”
“How very thoughtful of you.” She glared at him.
“Well, you worked hard to get where you are, you do deserve something.”
“How about bringing in Delilah? I want to see that she’s okay.”
“I’m offering you the chance to request your heart’s desire and you ask to see a low-level entertainer? You are intriguing,” he laughed.
“You’d never understand.”
“No, I don’t think I would.” Morray stood in the doorway. “If that’s what you want.”
After a few minutes, the lights came on and the door slid open. Two guards brought in Delilah. Ava’s insides swelled with joy and relief to see her friend alive.
“Ava,” Delilah cried out. She tried to break free, but the men tightened their grip and escorted her to the lounger opposite Ava. They secured the straps around her wrists, ankles and waist.
“I guess we require top security measures.” Ava smiled sadly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m alive, but I’ve seen some things. Some awful things.”
“I was worried about you.” Ava tried to maintain composure, but the tears came anyway. She felt responsible for putting Delilah in such a vile position. “This is all my fault.”
“I didn’t know what to believe. Morray informed everyone you had been taken hostage, but something didn’t add up.”
Ava looked at the men standing close by. “Can we have a little privacy?”
“We can leave, but it doesn’t matter. You’re being monitored.”
“Then it shouldn’t matter if you leave,” Ava said. The guards looked at each other, confused.
“Leave them,” Morray’s voice came over the intercom. Of course Morray was listening in. He couldn’t risk losing Ava a second time. Ava and Delilah stared at each other, not saying a word, communicating the best way they knew how—with their hearts.
“What did you think?” Ava asked.
“At first I thought you were taken hostage by the Outsider. Then the news feeds didn’t mention your name after that first day. A bunch of us thought that was strange. A lot of us started talking—the people who know the real you, Ava—and I started to remember all the times you mentioned Dickson’s news feeds and how you thought they were fake. I thought about our conversation and how you kept talking about the Outside. Then we got attacked. Almost like you predicted the future. Or sensed something. Then you didn’t leave when we were ordered to get to our dwellings. And later that night you asked me to get you reading instructions. I figured if you needed to read, you had something from the days before. As crazy as it sounded, I just knew the Outsider gave you something before he was captured.”
“I can’t believe how perfectly you put that together. You’re like one of those detectives in the classics.”
“I know you better than anyone. You’d never leave the City Center unless you wanted to. Even if the Outsider took you hostage, you would’ve fought your way out of it.”
“I wasn’t taken hostage. I escaped, just like Princess Anne in Roman Holiday. Only I didn’t have as much fun. I almost died a few times.” Ava laughed, but Delilah looked away.
“You left me behind,” Delilah said.
“I was coming back for you, but I needed to find out the truth about our people.”
“What truth?”
“The book Joseph gave me was a journal from the days before. It told how the elite class destroyed civilization and built the City Center to create a new one by breeding a race of perfect humans.”
“But we already know we were created to serve the City Center. I was designed to entertain and you were designed to serve in Royal Court. That’s no secret.”
“But everything is designed to keep us distracted so we never want to leave. So we keep following the rules, without question.”
“We don’t leave because it’s dangerous on the Outside.”
“If that were true, do you think I’d still be here? I’ve been on the Outside for almost a week. It’s so beautiful out there—the trees, the ocean… There are so many amazing things we could experience together, but we won’t because after Graduation Day you’ll never see me again.”
“But we’ve known that since we were kids. Those are the rules. Royalty cannot mix with anyone outside the noble class.”
“I don’t mean see me, you’ll see me, but I won’t really be me…”
“I don’t understand,” Delilah said. Ava looked toward the entrance. Morray stood at the door and cleared his throat.
“I’m afraid we’ve run out of time. Unfortunately, Miss Rhodes won’t be able to share the entire story, my dear.”
“See, Delilah. There’s more.”
“Yes, much more, but I can’t have Miss Rhodes giving away my secrets. Not when I have so many plans.” He walked over to Delilah and brushed her cheek. “For instance, wiping your mind clean and setting you aside for the new King. We think you’ll better serve as his personal servant rather than performing in the Royal Troupe.”
“No, you can’t. You said if I returned, you’d let her go!”
“I’ve misinformed you, Miss Rhodes. Something I’ve perfected over the years. Guards, take Miss Delilah back to her chambers.”
“I’ll help you, Delilah. I promise,” Ava called out.
Morray stood next to Ava, stroking her hair. “Such a beautiful creature. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced anything like you. And to think, you almost shared my biggest secret.”
“What are you?” Ava asked.
“I’m your Creator.”
“No you’re aren’t. You don’t create. You destroy.”
“Such lofty ideas. Must have gotten them from your little tryst with the Outsider.”
“You don’t know anything about him.”
“I know he’s dead.”
The air siphoned out of her chest. Joseph was gone. The inkling of hope vaporized. She closed her eyes to hide her tears.
“Your decision, Miss Rhodes?”
The Plan
Joseph awoke to stabbing pain in his right calf. Rebecca sat next to him, patting his forehead with a damp cloth. Things inside the bunker were much quieter, which was a good sign.
“Meds must be wearing off,” he said.
“Good to see you’re still with us.” She held out a glass of water. “Hopefully I can get you fixed up.”
“I need a status update.”
“According to the latest reports, Peter took out a large portion of the ground units, and any remaining Officers retreated. The battle is over, sir.”
“The women and children?”
“All safe and sound in the foothill bunkers.
”
“Losses?”
“Our village was very fortunate. We had zero civilian casualties. No damage to the crops either.”
“What about my men?”
“So far, we’ve lost about thirty-eight. No final count yet.”
“The nearby villages?”
“Unfortunately, Carpenteria suffered great losses.”
“Where are the survivors?”
“We’ve been bringing them to our village. The medical hall is at full capacity, but the wounded are being tended to.” Rebecca looked to the ground. “I’m sorry about what happened with David. And Ava.”
“All those years feeding Morray information.”
“He had all of us duped.”
“He’s gone now. I need to focus on Ava. Please tell me I haven’t slept through Graduation Day.”
“Tomorrow’s the big day. But why don’t we focus on getting your leg fixed up. It’s time to change your dressings.” She handed him some antibiotics.
“It’s pretty bad, huh?” Joseph looked the wound.
“Muscle damage. Forty stitches. The bone’s okay.”
Joseph closed his eyes while Rebecca removed the bloodied bandages and wiped down his leg with disinfectant. He thought about Ava. He was sure Morray would work double-time to get her back to perfect physical standing in time for the ceremonies. What he didn’t know was whether Morray would make her compete to keep up appearances, or make her pay for her disloyalty. But who knows with Morray? His interest in Ava was excessive—he had flown in and personally retrieved her from the Outside. She appeared more than a body replacement. He wouldn’t be surprised if Morray kept Ava all to himself, like David suggested. Either way, he had to stop Morray and get Ava back.
“Man, that burns.” Joseph squeezed the mattress.
“I’m sorry, but it’s deep. Do you need another dose of codeine?”
“I want a clear head.”
“How about some numbing agents?” Rebecca asked.
“That’s fine, as long as my mind is sharp.”
“I know you won’t listen to me, but I think you should stay here rather than risk an infection.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right, but I know you’re gonna do your best to get me back up and running. Or at least limping.”
“I can manage the pain and hopefully the antibiotics will ward off infection, but if you overextend yourself you could cause permanent damage.”
“You keep dressing the wound and numbing out the pain, and I’ll deal with the consequences.” He patted her shoulder. “I don’t plan on doing this alone. Get me Peter. And a pot of coffee. And a map.”
“You need to get some rest first,” she said.
“I’ll rest when I know Ava is safe.”
*
Peter entered the bunker. Joseph waved him over.
“Good to see you up, sir.” Peter shook Joseph’s hand.
“I heard what you did and I’m proud of you. You’re a hero,” Joseph said.
“I was only following your instructions, sir.”
Rebecca brought over a fresh pot of coffee. “Don’t let him overdo it. That leg is in bad shape. I’m starting to question his mind. He’s either delirious, or manic. Maybe both.”
“Have a seat,” Joseph said to Peter. “I’m working on a plan to take down Morray. And get Ava back.”
“Or obsessed,” Rebecca sighed and walked away.
“I’ve worked out a strategy,” Joseph said.
“Sounds like a big undertaking, and all due respect, you’re not looking so good.”
“That’s why I need your help. I’m not waiting another eighteen years. That hovercraft was a gift and it’s key to pulling this off. How comfortable are you with the system?”
“I’ve figured out most of the functionality.”
“Do you think you can get it back online and synced into the Morray’s mainframe?”
“What are you thinking, sir?”
“We’re taking a trip to the Royal Palace to get Ava. So we have to be synced to the mainframe. We’ll need to override the entire system so we can get our men inside, like I did for those three minutes, but longer.”
“How much longer?”
“About ten minutes.” Joseph pointed to the map. “I’ve been working on ground entry strategies. The ceremony starts at noon tomorrow, and every single resident, along with Morray and his elites, will be in the Arena.”
“What about the Officers and guards?”
“Thanks to you, they’re down a lot of men, giving us the advantage. And they won’t be expecting us. Nobody will.”
“Then what?”
“That’s where Ava comes in. She’ll address her people. Show them the truth.” Joseph paused. “Listen, I know this sounds unrealistic, maybe even crazy. But it’s not impossible.”
“How, sir?”
“With this,” Joseph held up Ava’s internal microchip. “I’ve uploaded some pertinent information onto it. We just need to get it into the mainframe.”
“I guess I better get to work.” Peter shook Joseph’s hand.
“One last thing. Locate another EMP device. I lost mine somewhere by checkpoint three when David was trying to kill me. We need a backup plan.”
Peter nodded and left the bunker. Joseph studied the map. The plan was solid. He had considered every angle and possible outcome. It had to work. This would be his last chance. He folded the map. If he were going to pull it off, he needed some rest. He closed his eyes and thought about Ava. He hoped he could reach her in time.
*
“Sir.” Rebecca tapped Joseph’s shoulder.
“What time is it?”
“4:30 a.m. It’s time.” Rebecca changed his bandages again and helped him outside to where Peter waited by the hovercraft. They flew toward checkpoint one and landed in a clearing. Several Jeeps drove out of the woods, and hundreds of men gathered around Joseph and Peter.
“Men, we’re about to embark on a mission our people once thought impossible. It’s been many years since the elites destroyed civilization for their own benefit, killing millions of innocent people they deemed unfit. But they overlooked one simple truth: all men are created equal. Lillian and her people fought against tyranny, and because of them we’re here today. Our people have survived. Morray has failed at destroying us. And I believe we survived for one reason: to take down this corrupt elitist system, once and for all.”
“Peter has given instructions and coordinates. I’d like to remind all ground troops to remain in the subterranean tunnels until you’re given orders to move into position at the Arena. Remember, no movement until you have orders from me, or Peter. While you’re out there, I want you to remember what our people have been fighting for since Lillian’s day. Freedom. It’s now our turn to do the same for Ava’s people. Today we put an end to Morray. Godspeed, men.”
Peter helped Joseph back to the craft. They rose up high above the trees and shot across the basin, heading toward the massive white palace on top of Griffith Park. Joseph’s plan was to get Ava out of the palace, then head east to the City Center, where they’d enter the Arena to complete the final mission. Getting into the palace would be the most difficult part of the plan. Morray would have high levels of security protecting his domain.
Peter lowered the hovercraft into a patch of trees along the side of the mountain, just below the palace.
“Let’s sync to the mainframe and get the palace feeds,” Joseph said.
Peter pulled up the main monitor and typed in a string of codes, which pulled up additional screens. “These are mostly feeds of the City Center. Morray has some hardcore firewalls.”
“Can you pull up a schematic?”
Peter typed more codes. A hologram of the Royal Palace illuminated. Joseph studied the structural layout and zoomed in on specific areas. None of the rooms were named or labeled. Navigating the place would be difficult.
“Sir, look at this. We’re in.” Peter had pulled up a live feed of the
interior. He touched the screen and scrolled through the hallway, at the end he turned left and scrolled down another one. At the far end there were two men guarding an enormous crystal door.
“He’s gotta have Ava stashed in there. It’s the only room with guards standing by. Figure out the location,” Joseph said.
Peter plotted the location on the 3D render. “It’s located at the far end of the west wing. Now I need to figure out how to open the geodesic dome.” Peter searched the multiple monitors tabulating binary coding. Minutes passed and he still hadn’t found the access codes. “I’m not sure I can get in.”
“Try a few more…” Joseph froze. He watched a hovercraft lowering down. They were caught. Peter attempted to force the craft into manual mode, but the system was locked.
“They’ve got control, sir.”
The system panel began beeping. The Officer had locked in on their craft, preparing to blast them to pieces. The beeping grew louder and faster.
“Jump!” Peter yelled and pulled Joseph out of the craft.
The missile launched and was heading straight toward the craft—the explosion would wipe them out.
“Backup plan,” Joseph yelled. He held up the EMP device and flipped the red switch. The electromagnetic pulse rippled through the atmosphere—everything powered off. The missile lost momentum, veered off its path and skidded out into the bushes. The Officer, who was now defenseless, jumped from his craft and ran toward the bushes. Peter chased him, firing his pistol.
“Don’t move!” Peter yelled.
“I request to be terminated,” the Officer shouted.
“Trust me, I’d love to take you out, but we need your access codes.” Peter shoved the Officer back toward the hovercraft.
Joseph had already rebooted the systems panel. “You’re going to open up that geodesic and get us inside,” he told the Officer.
“You’re wasting your time. Security is at the highest level.”
“Just get me inside,” Joseph pointed his gun at the Officer’s head.
“Go ahead and shoot me. I’m dead anyway. Morray doesn’t believe in second chances.”
“You get us in and I’ll keep you alive,” Joseph said.