“That should work, I guess. I was more thinking about my pairing.”
A slight bit of color came to Vega’s face. She smiled and stroked Ana’s arm. “Of course. It’s not as scary as it seems. Remember, they’re in the same position you are, it’s something new and you’ll get used to it. It’s just a simple adjustment.”
The sound of Vega’s voice, her soft tone and the warmth in her eyes always put Ana at ease, and Ana was glad that still held true. It was no mystery to Ana why Vega was her favorite teacher, and in a sense still was. Ana’s fears about the change ahead seemed unnecessary, hearing Vega’s explanation of it with the ease of a class lecture about machinery assembly.
Ana took a relaxed breath and smiled. “How are things with you? New crop of students coming in soon, right?”
“Indeed. But there are enough familiar faces that I’m not starting from scratch completely.”
They shared a laugh. Students attended school in Lebabolis from an early age, but started focusing on their specific product training from the age of ten. That gave them a thirteen-year run of training with their future work assignments.
Vega’s mouth drew into a line, her eyes filled with compassion. “You’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about anything. Things work out; they always do.”
“Thanks. It’s good seeing you again.”
Vega clasped Ana’s shoulders. “You can always ask me for help. Just because you’re not my student anymore doesn’t mean you can’t, all right?”
Ana dipped her head. “That’s one thing I always had trouble remembering, the asking for help part. Okay, I need to get in before curfew.”
“Of course. Me, too. Good night!”
Chapter 4
The days continued on. Ana focused on what she knew was happening at the moment, time with her parents and Varrick, and some training with Treg. This return to a regular routine after a few days almost made her concern about her future a distant memory. Until one day, on her walk home, when she got close to the Digisign by her complex, a klaxon alarm and series of red lights in the distance by the pathways startled Ana and stopped her short.
Ana crouched down, and felt her sides seize up with fear. She wondered how Warrior Products handled fear, or if they ever even felt it. The way Treg went on, it sounded like Warrior Products had fear removed in some kind of medical procedure.
In the early evening light, it was tough to make out anything, but Ana was determined to see something. After what she’d heard from her parents, Treg, and others around the housing sector, she wanted to know what the problem was, and why Charista’s updates never seemed to focus on this in particular.
Ana heard a quick set of footsteps off to her left. Evening was a time for slowing down, and it was unusual for anyone to be near the housing units in a hurry for anything.
She decided to check out whoever it was and headed in that direction. She hadn’t seen anything and was soon near the trash receptacles. A hand slammed firmly onto her shoulder in a tight grip. She let out a short shriek and felt herself freeze, as she was dragged behind the large refuse bin into the growing shadows of twilight. Ana felt a grimy hand slide over her mouth.
“Careful,” the voice whispered in her ear. It was scratchy and sounded feminine. “I’m not supposed to be here. You gonna turn me in?”
The hand over Ana’s mouth went free. Ana stammered. “What? I—don’t even know what you look like.”
The person pushed Ana to the ground. Ana got a glimpse of them in the dimming light. It was a girl. A mane of dirty, blonde hair covered her face, and she swiped at it with an arm that had more than its share of tattoos.
Tattoo girl eyed Ana, one of her eyebrows arched. After a few seconds, it was obvious to Ana this girl wasn’t in any kind of sharing mood, other than wanting Ana for something, probably leverage with the Sentries.
“Sorry about that. You were in my way, and I couldn’t risk you calling me out to anyone. You’re not gonna, are you?”
Ana was surprised by her words, spoken as if a threat from someone who wasn’t in the vulnerable position they were right then. Tattoo girl’s brow creased, her arms flexed a bit as she braced for Ana’s response.
Ana’s fear gave a little, shifting to mild annoyance about being pulled into whatever this girl was about. Ana figured she was probably a Deviant. Ana had never come face to face with one before, and age-wise she was easily within a year or two of Ana. “Guess I have no reason to. Besides, I don’t even know your name.”
Tattoo girl’s mouth curved upward at one side. “Marlene.”
“How come I haven’t seen you around here before?”
“’Cause I’m from Sector 3. I’m making my way to the next pickup point for the Action.”
“So, Marlene, why are you leaving, anyway?”
Marlene flashed her left wrist to Ana. Even in the dim light the skin brand of a Deviant was distinct. Their eyes met and Marlene nodded. “Yeah, I was a few hours away from Realignment. They had me paired, and I lasted about a year, but then my dad got sick. When I found out, I wasn’t keeping away from blood. Screw the Pairing law. I also wasn’t gonna let him be treated by the Lebabolis medical wing.”
“Wait.” Ana’s eyes widened. “Why not?”
Marlene’s mouth twitched and a bead of moisture trickled from her eye. “All I know is anyone they take in to ‘heal’ isn’t heard from again. So, I raided the Central Depot for extra food and whatever med packs I could swipe. All of this happened because I wanted to take care of my father. I’m sick of it all.” She swiped a tear from her eye as she glanced downward.
“So you’re abandoning him.” Ana scoffed.
“No, I’m making a play. The Action’s getting people out, in case you haven’t heard. But it’s not a free ride. You get out, you help others do the same. They’ll get my dad, soon enough. That’s how they’ve worked it, and so far it’s gone all right.”
Marlene’s eyes darted about every few seconds at the noises in the evening. ‘‘All right’’ wasn’t even in the deck of cards Ana wanted to play on care for Varrick. It amazed her, how much Marlene must’ve been pushed to consider an escape attempt. Ana felt for her, and she had to admit the extra rations Marlene asked for seemed perfectly reasonable. To be punished so hard for something like that, what would Ana or her parents be in for if they pushed the issue with Varrick?
Ana clasped Marlene’s arm. Marlene flinched at Ana’s touch, her eyes scanned the area once more, then met Ana’s again.
Ana took a measured breath, and checked around them for anyone sneaking up close. “I get what you’re doing, really I do. But, going to the Outlands with the Action . . .? How long will you last? Lebabolis is hunting you down. What if they can’t get back to pull your dad out?”
“The way I figure, my dad and I have a lot better chance there than here. The sooner you realize this ain’t some place for you either, the better.”
Ana stifled a laugh. It was so easy for these people, she mused. There had to be a better way than the Realignment Marlene faced if caught. Ana felt resolve course through her veins. She couldn’t have argued she was in paradise, but she had needs to be met. “We’re being fed, and my brother needs help.”
“Oh does he? Let me guess, the Pox?”
Ana bolted upright at Marlene’s tone and the way she made the terrible sickness Varrick faced sound like a sorry excuse. Ana quickly found herself edged up onto her haunches. “He’s got a disease. How about some compassion?”
Marlene leaned back a bit her hands outstretched. “Easy. Hear me out before you do something stupid.”
“Why the hell should I listen to anything else you say?”
Marlene’s lips trembled. “Because the second I show my face to any Lebabolis Sentry, I’m dead. I’ve got a lot to lose. Sounds like you’ve got plenty, too. Look, I’ve screwed things up for me and probably my dad, too. I won’t argue that. At least let me help you before it’s over for me.”
Marlene’s eyes pleade
d with Ana in the darkness. Ana’s annoyance dissolved into pity for her. Ana held her ground while Marlene spilled her information. That Lebabolis Products were being weeded for something other than the Pairing and Product system that had been as much a part of their lives as daily sunlight. She talked about Baudricort, not as some distant fugitive, but as a nearby organizer and leader who could just as well have been on the other side of their current hiding position, much less hidden in the far corners of Lebabolis.
The thought of the Action being an option for Ana bludgeoned its way into her mind. She was annoyed it made it into her thoughts like it did, but she also wasn’t able to push it out easily. Ana thought if she were crazy enough to try the Outlands, the last place she wanted to be was with a group of known fugitives who were Lebabolis’s number one priority to find. “Okay, suppose I believe you. What then?”
“Gimme a few of your rations? You can split food with your family for a few days, huh? I don’t know how soon we’ll be able to eat and I need something.”
Marlene’s eyes peered up like an animal that waited for the hunter to vacate the scene. She eyed Ana up and down. “You wanna come with? You’re practically aiding a Deviant right now, anyway. If they catch you, that won’t go too well for ya . . . what are you anyway? Let me guess. I’ve seen bigger arms on some people, but you got dirty hands for sure. You got Worker Product all over you, honey. No freaking contest.”
Ana felt her face flush hot in the cool evening air. “So what if I am? Besides, what you’re trying isn’t the way. I gotta stick by my brother. If he has the Pox, here’s our best shot.”
Marlene winced, her eyes dimmed with despair in response. “Well. maybe they’ll find it in their black hearts to help. You wanna roll the dice on that, it’s your call. Me, I’m done waiting for something to happen.” She shook her head.
Ana chuckled a bit at the realization that the rumors she’d heard about the resistance weren’t just fantasies of the desperate. “So the Action is real.”
“Damn right they are. They got a cache of gear, too. Even some Hell Hawks they managed to swipe. They make runs across the border when they can. Supposed to be around once a month.”
“Not for long. Charista said the borders were being shut down.”
A hoarse chuckle rolled off Marlene’s lips. “Oh, you really are one of them, aren’t you? Honey, they tell you that to keep you feeling nice and cozy over here in your life so you’ll keep producing and popping out other babies—excuse me—Products so Lebabolis keeps churning along, bleeding us all dry.”
Ana opened her mouth to answer, but never got the chance.
A chorus of mechanical buzzes and whirrs filled the air around them. Marlene bolted up, a pulse pistol in her hands. Her weapon made an angry whine as it activated. Ana gasped at the sight of a Radomet, the mechanized soldiers that worked with the Sentries in policing the Deviants of Lebabolis. The smooth steel of the Radomet’s body gave a few reflections of the distant lights around the housing unit. A sharp reddish glow came from the face of the android. Ana’s pulse throbbed in her throat at the sight of a Radomet closer than she’d ever been to one.
Ana watched the Radomet as it cast a measured gaze around them. Ana noticed there were no eyes visible behind the metal and visor. She’d heard these soldiers were once humans, but what looked at her just seemed to be a mechanism.
When it saw Marlene and her drawn weapon, the Radomet responded with its own pulse gun, a red dot appeared at the center of Marlene’s chest. “Freeze, Deviant. Relinquish your weapon,” its robotic voice directed.
Marlene checked out her pursuers and thought for a moment. She glanced at Ana, but their eyes met, and an unspoken conversation happened. Marlene’s eyes teetered between the Radomet and Ana, until she gave Ana a slight smile. Ana hoped Marlene thought enough about her and Varrick and didn’t try using Ana as a hostage.
Ana held a breath as things seemed slowed down at that point. Marlene’s head twisted until her eyes locked with Ana again and Marlene muttered barely above a whisper, “Get out before it’s too late, and tell Vega I’m sorry.”
Ana felt a chill at the mention of her instructor. What did Vega know about this?
In the next instant, things sped back up, and Marlene fired a few pulse bolts at the Radomet. The shots glanced off the armor, as Marlene made a beeline for the forested area. The Radomet swung its arm around and shot an electrotase pulse of bluish energy bolts that wrapped around Marlene like a cocoon. Her screams were soon muffled by the electronic buzzing sound of the containment energy current.
A group of Lebabolis Sentries collected her and carried her to a large transport vehicle that arrived near the front of the complex.
After Marlene’s unconscious body was loaded, one of the Lebabolis guards approached Ana. “Are you injured? Did she tell you anything?”
Ana felt her pulse quicken and her throat started to close. “No, she wanted me as a—hostage.” Her gaze darted about, and saw the name Wayland on the Sentry’s uniform.
Wayland’s eyes narrowed, his lips in a line. “We’ll need to run a scan on you before you can go. Standard protocol.” Ana felt her throat tighten as Wayland led her over to the transport vehicle and hooked a series of wires up to her arm. Her vision got cloudy with a series of static before images of her and Marlene played back. Sounds of their conversation were heard on speakers.
Ana noticed Wayland watched the monitor screen with her as the talk between Ana and Marlene played back.
Wayland nodded. “She gave a pretty standard story for an escaping Deviant. We’re running into this more and more. It’s best you tell no one about this.”
“Of course.”
“We’re unable to wipe your memory of this out with the Link for now, so I’ll need to put you on a watch for a few weeks. The Action is a terrorist organization. Their aim is to disrupt, and destroy our way of life, and the sooner they are eradicated, the better. That’s all you need to know.” Wayland’s voice was even and measured, and Ana noticed how much it sounded like it was rehearsed. Or maybe even programmed?
“Sounds like you tried talking her out of it, which makes me glad. Just be careful.”
Ana felt her body relax, but then Wayland said, “There is something else. At other times, we’ve seen you heading to the outer portions of the Sector. That’s a great way to arouse suspicion.” Wayland disconnected the device and eyed Ana for a few moments. “Care to tell me what you were doing out there?”
Ana’s gut tensed and she felt her face heat up. He knew about her and Treg. How did he?
Then she realized.
The Link. They’ve already activated mine.
How much had they seen?
If they knew about me and Treg. Why hadn’t they approached me before now?
Had they talked with Treg? He didn’t say anything about it. Wouldn’t he have told me something if they did?
Ana took a slow breath, but still her pulse rattled in her throat. “Nothing at all, trying to get some fresh air.”
“Sorry, gonna need more of an answer than that. Try again.” Wayland regarded Ana for several moments, a glare deepened into his face.
What was he doing? Should I run now? Does he already know about me training with Warrior stuff? She tried slowing her breaths, but the longer they stood there, the worse it got.
I’m surrounded. Marlene even had a weapon and it didn’t help at all. Ana felt her pulse throb in her neck and her breaths came fast and short. She began to brace and wondered if there was another electrotase coming, this time for her.
Thankfully, Jordan interrupted their conversation. “There you are, I’ve been worried about you!” He turned toward the Sentry. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“She was seen in the company of a Deviant and I just asked about her trips to the wooded area. It’s not typical for a Worker Product to be concerned with things like that.”
Jordan gave Ana a concerned look that all but spoke the words to Ana, “I told
you so.” He then turned to Wayland. “What exactly did you see?”
Wayland looked at them both, then gave Ana a pointed stare. “Well, the Links aren’t active a hundred percent but we saw her approach the tree line area several times. There’s no reason for a Worker Product to be taking that many trips that way.”
Jordan eyed Ana with a smile. “She’s always been an active girl, she just wanted to get some exercise. I don’t think anyone would mind a Worker Product in better shape for their job, right?”
Wayland studied the monitor once again, on it was a map of their sector and the wooded area. He finally looked back at Jordan. “She’ll be on monitor for a time. We can’t be too careful.”
“Of course not. Can she go now?”
Wayland eyed Jordan, his glare traded between Jordan and Ana for a few moments. He glanced back at the monitor screen then jabbed his head toward their housing unit. “Inside and stay there, curfew is in effect.”
Chapter 5
“I’m worried about Varrick.”
Emily’s words hung in the room like the still air before an approaching storm. No one had a response, at least not one that included a cure.
Varrick lay still on the bed. Emily sat at his bedside and rubbed a cold damp cloth over his head. His brow was creased, and Ana felt the pain in his eyes in her gut. “The medics said they don’t know what else it could be. I’m just waiting for this fever to break.” Emily said.
Ana and Jordan stood near the back of the room and watched Emily and Varrick. “So, what happened with that Deviant?” Jordan asked.
“She jumped me while she was trying to escape. Tried to get me to come along.”
“What did they tell you?”
Ana froze at the question. Whenever Deviants or the Action came up in conversation before, Jordan talked about not giving either of them any thought, but now he wanted information about them. Also, Ana noticed a strange glint to his eyes. Ana wondered why he was all of a sudden interested in someone who’d spoken about the Action, a subject that was supposed to be so forbidden. “She talked about the Action and that they were making runs across the border.”
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