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Advance: (Advance Industries) (Book 1)

Page 4

by K A Duggsy


  “I don't know Faith, just move, we'll figure it out as we go.”

  We cautiously make our way downstairs, Faith grabs her bag while I pocket the cuff links and comm-rec. “Faith,” I whisper, “Give me the phaser.”

  She shakes her head. “No.”

  “Faith,” I plead, “It's them or us now, we'll only use it as a last resort I promise.”

  She hands it over reluctantly and we make our way to the back exit, hopeful that a perimeter hasn't been set up yet and edge our way into the night.

  Leaning against the glass building Faith asks, “How many were there?”

  “I'm not sure, I saw two trucks but who knows. You must have alerted them somehow.”

  Her eyes burn into me. “When are you going to drop the Faith’s a fuck up act?”

  I wince at her cursing, so unbecoming on a woman and completely unnecessary, but I’m also aware I haven’t yet apologised and she is highly annoyed with me.

  “Come on,” I whisper taking her hand and pulling her towards the neighbouring garden.

  She shrugs out of my hold. “We can't get over there,” she points out, “I have no desire to be impaled on iron railings.”

  “Do you desire being caught by the AIG?” I retort.

  Huffing she accepts my boost up and carefully attempts climbing using the intricate swirling design as footholds, getting up is relatively easy but reaching the top is a brain teaser. I hear her muttering to herself, complaining about the male species and the situation she’s now faced with. Guilt smacks me in my gut but I shake it off and focus on the task at hand.

  I climb up alongside her and on seeing her dilemma I lift her up and over holding myself on just by my feet. Once clear of the spear like top Faith quickly climbs down and then watches in horror as I try to follow, but I manage to twist my ankle at an odd angle before landing awkwardly then rolling, still in her garden.

  “Mannaggia tua, figlio di troia… Merda!” I hiss a stream of Italian.

  Faith rushes to the railings. “You, idiot!” She chastises. I lean heavily against the barrier between us and try not to scrunch my face in pain.

  “Faith this won't work. I'm going to slow us down and they'll be on us any minute. Take these and go to the homeless. Tell them I sent you, in particular search for Ameera and Alec they'll help you.” I hand over the cuff links.

  “No way Fraser you started this, you're coming with me if I have to drag you by your feet.” She glares at me with her hands on her hips.

  Voices in her garden stop our arguing and I push her through the railings with my fingers. “Go Faith and take this too,” I urge and hand her the pulse phaser. “Please, Faith, go now, I'll be fine. Feel free to come and rescue me though.” I wink and wince at the same time. She hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip until the sounds of heavy footsteps get closer.

  I nod in encouragement.

  She gives me a peck on the cheek, turns tail and deserts me.

  Chapter 6

  Fraser

  After being thrown unceremoniously in the back of a transport truck injuring my sprained ankle further I’m a mess.

  I hope Faith made it. For all I know she could be in the other vehicle. Well I'll get to go to headquarters at least, even if it’s not the way I thought.

  The journey doesn't take long and I guess I’m being taken to the conference centre on site. At this time of night, no way will Johnson Franks want to be disturbed, so they'll probably hold me in a containment cell until first light. Great!

  Good actually, I really don't have the energy to face him at the moment. My ankle is throbbing and has swollen considerably, walking will be fun.

  The truck stops and the back doors are pulled open. I’m hauled out but we're not at the conference centre. I dismay, we're at Zone 1 at the grandest of all homes in the city.

  Johnson Franks' house.

  I’m led up a multitude of steps, half-hopping, half-dragging my injured foot, pain slicing through me. At the top the door is opened and Johnson Franks stands proudly at the threshold.

  “Fraser it’s so good to see you again, we have been most worried.” He beams at me, his pot belly protruding and his arms open wide like he's welcoming a long lost friend.

  Which is exactly what we are!

  “Johnson, it’s good to finally be back, you have no idea how tedious life on the streets is,” I respond walking into Johnson’s arms where we slap each other on the back.

  “It is a great thing you did Fraser, a noble thing. I shall never forget the sacrifice you made to ensure our success. Now, about the girl, is everything in place?” Johnson asks whilst leading me to his kitchen where he pours us a glass of champagne each.

  “Yes, I believe so; she should be at location shortly. Ameera and Alec were prepped this afternoon while she slept; everything seems to be on track.”

  “Marvellous, marvellous.” Raising his flute Johnson toasts, “To you Professor Fraser Laudnam and the greatest invention of all time.”

  Faith

  I keep going, if I stop to think I’ll cry. Not tears of sadness but of frustration and anger. All I seem to have done tonight is run and now I don't know if I’m homeless, but as I’m on my way to where the homeless reside things aren't looking good.

  I’m worried about Fraser, after all he left his home to live with the homeless because he was so against his company’s motives and morals, and now they have him. He's hurt and at their mercy and as ridiculous as it sounds I feel compelled to help him. God knows how but hopefully his friends from the street will be of some assistance.

  It's after two in the morning; no way will I get any help tonight. Everyone will be asleep and at times like this I wish I had friends, relatives, acquaintances even to turn to for one night. I can't stomach facing a night on the street and cringe at the thought. Plenty of others do it every night and have done for years. When I’m tucked up in my oversized bed with warm blankets and black out glass, I don't spare a thought for those who lie on single camp beds in the clothes they wear all day every day. I don't wonder how they cope when it rains and temperatures are freezing. I didn't care and it hits home that I’m just as bad as the corporate bigwigs. Sure I help out with charity but is that really out of the goodness of my heart or is it to ease my conscience?

  I’m wealthy, really wealthy but I don't put it to good use. I could buy every homeless a plot and a shack to put on it but I haven't. I talk about caring and making a difference but when it comes down to it, that's all it is, talk! I can't fathom how I came to care about homeless, it's not something people of the complex are concerned about and I don't really fit in, hence why I keep to myself.

  Tonight is making me take a long, hard look at myself and I’m really not enjoying what I see. I have time to turn it around though, don’t I? I really hope I can.

  I’m lost so deeply in my uncomfortable self-assessment and concentrating on nothing but my pounding heart that seems so loud in the silence of the streets, I miss the shuffle of footsteps until I sense a presence behind me. Before I can turn or reach into my bag for the phaser, a gloved hand clamps over my mouth, an arm comes around my waist and I’m pulled to the entrance of the city - dragged through to off the grid.

  Fraser

  I leave Johnson Franks home and although my home is close by I use an over-rider to get there as my foot really is in a bad way, it’s been strapped up, courtesy of Johnson's hired help and I can't wait to get home and relax in my own surroundings.

  My time spent on the streets really had been an eye opener but Advance Industries is my life, my one true love. That's why at the age of forty-two, I’m still single, I’ve never been married nor had children and sure I would have loved too but my work comes first.

  Always has and likely always will.

  Nothing and no one else can hold my attention when all I can think about is the next design, the next creation... the next big thing. I’m nothing if not loyal and I never forgot the plan, but the experience did change me and I’
m torn. Everything I told Faith was true, more or less. I just left out the bigger picture. I never expected to find so much good in her and I feel almost regretful for the way we are misleading her.

  She will come and I hope when the time comes I’ll make the right choice. I respect Johnson Franks but now I also respect Faith and that is a flaw I never envisioned. We have to bring her back into the fold, and if being deceptive is the only way to do so, then so be it.

  She now believes she has something to fight for, a purpose and although I convinced her that Advance is an abomination - it isn't, it’s the future. One we hope she will journey with us. After all she is the key. We just need to work out how to unlock her.

  I sit down and stretch out my weary limbs, it’s heaven to be home again surrounded by my finery, yet my time on the street is causing me to question the need for such extravagance. I really made some good friends out there; they are what saw me through. I always knew there was an end in sight and I would be re-united with my peers but that doesn't change the fact that it was hard.

  What started out as an undercover operation quickly turned into an appreciation for the families I was surrounded by. At first suggesting possible candidates for the invention was easy, it was what I was sent for, but as the months dragged on and I realised how the community banded together and shared what little they had between others I became disenchanted. My job became harder. Those people were good people, better than most of the rich I know yet their circumstances caused them to be outcast.

  They could have gone off grid, but Advance Industries had long ago spread a rumour about the dangers lurking beyond the gates of the city - ruin, crazies, and a fate worse than the streets. All lies. Many fear leaving because of that, but off grid is probably a better community than here. There is no class divide, people don't live on the street, off grid life is a happy life. I should know as I volunteered for the first mission to abduct off grid dwellers to test on, and it wasn't as easy as we thought. There was no plucking up people from the street and the community was strong and suspicious of the men wearing AIG emblems.

  I don't know what to do; this is my life's work. I put my all into it. I was prepared to do anything to see it through but that was before I was humbled and I realised there really is more to life than wealth, recognition and luxury.

  Chapter 7

  Faith

  I kick wildly, every possible threat running through my mind. I’ve been taken off grid that much is apparent. Probably by crazies I realise and notch up my fight. What the hell do crazies want with me? This is all I need. I feel jinxed tonight.

  “Shh, shh. Calm down. Stop fighting me.” A male voice urges while I buck wildly. I flail into positions I didn’t realise my body could pull off, like a toddler determined to escape the confines of their pushchair.

  “Stop, Faith… Please. I won't hurt you. I promise.” He pleads.

  At the shock of hearing this unknown enemy voice my name I momentarily stop my struggling. My mind is working overtime.

  “That's better. Now, I will move my hand and explain what's going on but you have to promise to listen, okay Sweetheart?”

  Sweetheart? Who the hell is this guy? How dare he abduct me and then call me that. I decide to co-operate to gain favour and slowly nod my head in agreement to listen.

  He removes his hand from my mouth and releases my waist. I prepare to run and whizz around in the opposite direction, only to be stopped in my tracks when I realise he has men with him. They've formed a semi-circle around me and eye me suspiciously. There’s nowhere for me to escape. I feel myself deflate.

  I turn back around and look at the hulk of a man in front of me. I can't make out much but his eyes and formidable size as he's clothed completely in black, even his face is covered.

  He takes a step towards me and reaches out his hand as if he’s going to caress my face. I jolt backwards and he lets his hand drop to his side, sighing as it does.

  “Faith we're here to help. Please don't be frightened of us… of me.”

  Finally finding my voice, I demand, “What do you want? Who are you?”

  “I'm Kye… You know me, Faith, you just don't remember.”

  “If I knew you, why wouldn't I remember?” What a stupid thing to say, this idiot is trying to confuse me. Is this what crazies do? Confuse you until you end up just as crazy as they are?

  He puffs out a lungful of air. “It's a long story, Sweetheart. Just believe you have nothing to fear from us. We want to help you.”

  “With what?”

  “The predicament you currently find yourself in.”

  “How do you kn…?”

  Kye interrupts, “I know a lot about you Faith. You're being deceived - the whole damn city is being deceived. You can't trust Fraser.”

  “What the hell do you know about Fraser? And I can trust him, he never abducted me!” I yell.

  How dare he! Why I’m bothering to argue with a crazy is beyond me but he sure knows how to rile me up.

  “That may be so but he wasn't honest with you. He set this whole situation in motion - his dedication to Advance Industries knows no bounds.”

  “He's not dedicated to them, he's afraid of them, he wants to stop them. He lived on the street for God sake, to escape them.”

  “Dedication Faith. Not escape.”

  “Why should I believe a word you say?”

  He steps forward and strokes my face with a gloved finger, staring down at me almost affectionately.

  “Because you know me Faith. You do. You just need to remember, Sweetheart,” Kye says gently.

  I flinch from his touch and because I don’t believe a word he is saying. He must be lying, if I knew him I would remember. He could have found out my name easily. I’m a reporter after all. Though off grid dwellers wouldn't have heard of me. My mind is reeling. He speaks as if he knows me, his endearment is… too familiar? Who does he think he is?

  I suddenly feel extremely tired, it's been a long night and if Kye does have a story to tell I know there is no possible way I will be able to comprehend a word of it right now.

  Resigned to my fate I ask, “What do you plan to do with me?”

  “Protect you. Nothing more. I promise Faith- no harm will come to you, you're safe with us.”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “To our base.”

  At the look of alarm on my features he explains, “Off grid is safe Faith. More so than in the city. Don't be alarmed. I'm sorry but it is quite a trek to reach.”

  I don't respond. I’m too tired, too confused and despite myself too... Intrigued.

  “MOVE OUT.” Kye demands and his men fan out and start moving forward.

  Chapter 8

  Fraser

  I rise the following morning and stretch lazily. It's so good to be back home. That was the best night sleep I’ve had in months. I rise slowly, aware of the pain in my foot and hobble unsteadily to the eleview.

  Once on the ground floor I check the messages on my comm-rec, noting that Ameera and Alec have both tried to reach me. It activates and their message plays in front of me, it's dark but I can make out their worried faces as they whisper into the comm-rec - together in this message.

  “Fraser, she never turned up. We stayed awake in case she couldn't find us and we would have approached her. But nothing. No sign of her. We've searched tonight and will resume in the morning. Thought we should keep you updated. Will check in again when we're clear.”

  Damn it! She has no family or friends so where else would she have gone. That's why she was so perfect, she was isolated. She has no-one to turn to so where could she have gone? I can't contact the twins and let them be rumbled by the homeless for having a comm-rec, so it's a case of waiting and … hoping.

  Unless… She has only ever had a relationship with one person - Donovan Daley.

  We forced him to let her go, so there's no way… would he? I never thought she'd go to him or that he’d backtrack on our deal but it's a possibility
, one that can't be overlooked. I hurriedly get ready as fast as my ankle will allow. Stupid thing to do I chastise myself, injuring myself all to convince Faith that I was trying to escape as quickly as she was.

  Once finished I call an over-rider to collect me and take me to Zone 2 when I realise if Faith is there, I can’t just turn up. As far as she knows Advance Industries is the enemy and they carted me off. If I show up on Donovan’s door as a free man, all the lies I told will be for nothing. I cancel the over-rider and take a seat in the kitchen trying to gather my thoughts. Deciding to wait for Alec or Ameera to check in again is the best bet; it’s just having the patience to wait.

  Faith

  I’m dead on my feet, they’re blistered and every step is agony. My exhaustion is clawing at me but a small dose of adrenaline is keeping me focused. Kye’s men steam on ahead like machines. I’m trying desperately to keep up. I don’t want these strangers... these abductors to think of me as weak. Never let your enemy see your weakness! I don’t know where that thought comes from but it seems like solid advice. Until I have time to figure out an escape plan I have to do as they want, so I’m maintaining this strong front as long as I can. I tumble for the third time and I’m swiftly scooped up like a doll and held in solid arms. I can’t even attempt protesting.

  “I’ve got you.” He murmurs.

  I look up at him into those hazel eyes and can’t muster any enthusiasm to argue. So much for staying strong Faith! I settle back into his warmth and unwillingly start to drift off.

  I dream again about rows of Advance tubes, scientists surrounding test subjects all recording the results on their comm-recs. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck prickle but no-one is fighting, they’re all standing patiently in a line looking dazed, shuffling forward when it’s their turn.

  The machine I’m queuing for is slightly different to the other Advance tubes; it’s larger for a start and stands alone, separate from the other tubes. When I reach the front and watch the person before me disappear, hear their frozen scream and see their clothes fall to the floor, only then do I snap out of the trance I was in, as I’m urged forward for my turn.

 

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