Rebel (The Alliance Chronicles Book 4)

by SF Benson

  “Truly Shara Shepard, you are permitted entry. The maximum number of entrants has been granted.”

  The doors part. On the other side is a sterile space filled with rows of counters and monitors. We pass through this area and enter a smaller room. A woman in a lab coat with dark hair and her back to us is the only other person inside.

  “Grekov, you may leave the patient. The process will take a few minutes. We must monitor her afterward.”

  The voice is familiar. Can’t be. I shake my head. She wouldn’t do this to me. Would she?

  “I was told to stay with her,” he contradicts. “She isn’t an ordinary patient.”

  The woman turns around with a syringe in her hand.

  It’s Ko!

  I bite the inside of my cheek. Should I be happy to see her or extremely cautious?

  “And I said for you to leave. Are you questioning how I do my job?”

  The door behind me slides closed. Ko steps forward with a syringe full of clear liquid. She taps the plunger. A colorless drop slides down the extra-long needle.

  “No, but I am not leaving.” Grekov states and removes his suit coat.

  “Very well. You can hold her down. This will sting a bit.”

  Grekov shoves me into a chair and holds my arms behind me. Ko leans over.

  “Please don’t do this,” I plead.

  She smiles. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  I hold my breath, waiting for the inevitable. But what if the hand of fate leaves me a quivering sponge unable to remember my name? I wriggle against Grekov’s restraint.

  “Hold her down!” Ko shouts. “I must have access to the jugular vein.”

  Grekov leans closer. When his head is near my ear, Ko raises the syringe.

  “Oww…” The man releases his grip on me. “What the hell did you do?”

  Ko drops the hypodermic to the floor. A confident smile spreads across her face. “My job. Don’t worry that wasn’t the vaccine. It’s a lot worse.”

  Grekov stumbles backward and hits the floor. Short gasps leak between his bluish lips. His eyes ask the question he can’t verbalize.

  “You want to know what I gave you? A little tetrodotoxin.”

  “What the hell is that?” I ask.

  “A neurotoxin,” Ko replies, lifting her chin.

  My thoughts freeze. Neurotoxins kill. Should I be grateful or worried?

  I gaze over at Grekov as the light fades from his eyes. Ko kicks his leg. When Grekov doesn’t budge, she crouches down and removes his revolver. She checks it for ammunition before standing.

  Ko raises her eyes and looks directly at me. “We’ve got to get out of here. Was there anyone else with you?”

  My mouth opens, but the words won’t come. I drag my gaze away from hers and rub my hand over my tangled ponytail. Back at the safe house, Ko was against us, threatening to leave the first chance she got. And now she’s back on our side?

  Her loyalty is easily bought.

  Niang warned me about Ko. For once, it might pay to listen to someone else.

  “Tru,” Ko touches my forearm. “I’ll explain everything to you. I promise. But right now, we have to go.”

  I glance at her hand. “There’s a soldier waiting in the corridor.”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of him. You stay put.” She shrugs off the lab coat and leaves me behind.

  I lean against the wall and stare at the floor. What am I supposed to think? Gratitude is at the forefront, but suspicion colors the sentiment. How did she know Grekov was bringing me to the CHA building? I trusted Ko, but she took advantage of our friendship. She might do it again. This could be some elaborate trap. I can’t, I shouldn’t risk it. But how far am I willing to go if Ko’s intent is to harm me?

  Minutes later, Ko returns with a smear of blood blazoned across her cheek. A set of keys dangles from her hand. She looks at me with misty eyes and sighs. “I’m sorry, Tru. Whatever you think of me is deserved.”

  “What I think,” I say softly, “is you betrayed us. You sold us out for a position.”

  She shakes her head. “That’s not what happened. Let me get you some place safe, and I’ll explain.”

  As much as I’d rather not go with her, I don’t see another option. Staying here could be writing my own death warrant.

  Stay on alert, I remind myself.

  If needed, I still have my knife. I give Ko a polite smile. “Let’s go.”

  Ko navigates the black sedan out of the parking lot and away from the CHA. She takes the turn and heads down Lakeside Drive. We ride in silence for a short distance. Ko pulls the car over near Lake Okonoka and cuts the motor.

  “Why are we stopping?” I ask. My eyes dart around the area attempting to spot any hidden dangers.

  “We need to talk.” She faces me.

  No shit, Sherlock. I have plenty of questions. If Ko gives me the wrong answers… I just hope she doesn’t.

  “First, I wasn’t the one who called Malcolm. Dr. Aoki made that phone call. Second, I did receive my ranking, but it wasn’t because I asked for it. Dr. Aoki questioned me. When I refused to give her the intel she wanted, she threatened the lives of my parents.”

  I clutch the door handle ready to make a fast exit. I don’t want to hear what Ko has to say.

  “I didn’t think she would kill innocent people,” Ko mutters.

  “You didn’t say anything?” I ask with disbelief.

  “No,” she clears her throat. “I didn’t. Dr. Aoki showed me the video stream. Riza stormed my parents’ home.” Ko’s voice hitches. “The bastards killed my father. Left my mother to witness it. I had to tell that bitch something to keep Mama alive.”

  No words needed. I reach across the console and pull Ko into an embrace. “I’m so sorry, Ko.”

  “I know you are. None of this should have happened. I followed the Alliance because I thought they could change our world. Save people like you.”

  I lean back. “What do you mean?”

  “I learned about Operation Restore and the Helix. I didn’t want to lose you, so I joined the Alliance. Thought I could make a difference. Only thing I’ve done is make a mess.”

  I want to disagree with her, but I can’t. Her quest created chaos. We’re all paying for her decisions. Problem is, I don’t know if I can trust Ko. I don’t think she lied about her parents, but…

  “I’m also sorry about Shara. When I saw the paperwork, I wanted to spare you the pain…”

  My head rocks back. “You had her cremated? Is that why you were in the CHA building?”

  “Yes. I did it because I thought Eden was up to her tricks.”

  It’s not the time to dwell on our mistakes or the asinine decisions of others. Once we’re free of this horrid place, we can share our grief and find a way to heal. I place my hands on Ko’s shoulders and look into her eyes.

  “Put it behind you for now. We need to get out of here, but I have questions.”

  Ko doesn’t flinch. “Go ahead.”

  “How did you find out about Operation Restore and the Helix?”

  “Asher recruited me for the Alliance. He told me about it,” she says. Her gaze shifts.

  My heart sinks. She’s lying. The information about Restore and the Helix was hidden. Riza and Alliance operatives may have known about it, but I seriously doubt if Asher would have told Ko right off the bat.

  “If you don’t have any more questions, we need to go over the plan.”

  This should be interesting. Will she tell me more lies?

  “Mark is waiting at the old Coast Guard station,” she explains. “The plan is to take a boat into Canada. There’s a private plane waiting at Windsor’s airport. I’ve arranged a car for you on the other side of the International Bridge.”

  More red flags! I’m positive it was either Niang or Mark who contacted Fletcher. If that’s the case, Mark would be at the greenhouses and not at the station.

  I tilt my head.

  “Is there a pro
blem?” Ko asks.

  More than one. “Where is this plane headed?”

  She leans back in the seat and cranks the motor. “France. You’ve always wanted to go there.”

  This isn’t the plan. What is Ko up to? “What about Zared? I’m not leaving without him.”

  “After I drop you off, I’m going to the greenhouses. I’ll try to get him out.”

  Threats of disaster and imminent death will only enable people to survive, giving them reasons to live. People fight harder when they feel they are in real danger.

  —from “An Introspective on Combative Strategies” by Dawa Zhu

  Tru

  Ko pulls into the parking lot in front of the vacated Coast Guard building. She cuts the motor and exits the vehicle ahead of me. My chest tightens. I scour the area looking for a way out if things go south. Unless I plan on swimming, I’ll need a vehicle.

  We walk up the concrete steps and through the red-framed, glass door. The lobby is dark. A light coming from a hallway accents the frame of a tall, lanky man standing in the center of the floor. When I turn back searching for Ko, I find a gun pointed at me.

  “What the hell?” I exclaim.

  “See, here’s the deal,” Ko begins, “I practice self-preservation. I won’t lose any more family members because of you.”

  “What was all that bullshit about not wanting to lose me?” My face tightens as my fists clench.

  Ko ignores me. Instead, she urges, “They just want to talk to you. Give them the info they want, and they’ll let you go. If you don’t, I might lose my mother.”

  “Who wants the information, Ko?”

  A light clicks on, and the room is illuminated. The man in the hall walks toward us. Unfortunately, I know the dark-red hair, scruffy beard, and blue-green eyes. His lips curl up as he gets closer.

  I fold my arms over my chest. This is the neurotic who held us at gunpoint. Why the hell did Ko align herself with him? Once again, vivid proof I can’t trust anyone in this godforsaken world.

  “Nice to see you again, Tru,” he says.

  “I can’t say the same.” I frown. “Whatever deal you made with Ko was bogus. I have nothing to tell you.”

  A foot tapping against the floor catches my attention. Ko’s sharp tone rings out. “Is this a done deal, Griffin? I delivered her.”

  “Where’s the package?” he asks.

  Ko reaches into her jacket, removes a slender box, and passes it to Griffin.

  He flips the lid and looks inside before saying, “Yeah, we’re good. I’ll make sure the Network knows you cooperated.”

  “Thanks.”

  The next sound I hear is the door opening and closing.

  Bitch.

  Griffin grasps my arm and drags me from the lobby. We meet the not-so-jolly Saint Nick in the hallway. The overweight man sneers in my direction. “Let’s get her back to Canada. I can draw her blood and start running the DNA.”

  “You think it will help?” Griffin says as he gives the rectangular box to Leon.

  “Yeah.” Leon holds the box up. “The leader wannabe gave us vials of the vaccine. It’s just a matter of testing blood samples to find a cure.”

  I can’t help laughing.

  Griffin’s eyebrows knit together. “What’s so funny?”

  “All the lies. Ko lied to me. You lied to her. Where does it all end?”

  Leon faces me. “Ya can fix this. Help me engineer a cure for the vaccine. I promise nothing will happen to ya.”

  I fold my arms over my chest. “There isn’t a cure for the vaccine. What are you talking about?”

  “I’m a scientist, and so is Griffin. We’ve been working for a few years to reverse engineer the vaccine. All I need is ya blood to test my hypotheses,” he says plainly.

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Because ya are a Creative. Ya don’t want to lose ya ability, and ya don’t want anyone else to either.” Leon raps his knuckle against the box. “It’s the whole reason ya been on this little mission with ya boyfriend.”

  If this man speaks the truth, then I do owe it to myself and other Creatives to help him out. “You just need a sample of blood? Nothing else?”

  Leon nods. “I assure ya. Let me get the samples, and ya can go free.”

  I relax my posture. “Do you have what you need to draw my blood?”

  “Not here. We need to go to Windsor. I have a lab there. I can draw ya blood, run a test or two, and then ya can leave. I promise.”

  To be honest, I have nothing to lose.

  The cold air hits me in my face and I start to zip my jacket. Leon leans closer. “This place is heavily guarded. Make it look as if we’re taking ya against ya will.”

  Technically…

  Leon and Griffin flank my sides. I allow them to drag me as I jerk against them. Before we clear the dock, Mark steps out from the shadows.

  What the hell?

  I’m confused. I was so sure Ko betrayed me. Again. But Mark’s here just the way she said he’d be. Maybe being pregnant is clouding my judgment. I don’t know who or what to believe any more.

  Mark and his family exchange words before Griffin pulls me onto the waiting Coast Guard boat. Mark shakes hands with Leon at the end of the dock.

  I keep an eye out for movement. Somehow, I hope Zared is near and knows to follow us.

  The best combative strategy is the ability to overcome the enemy without a fight.

  —from “An Introspective on Combative Strategies” by Dawa Zhu

  Zared

  Thirty minutes earlier…

  I keep the gun firmly planted at my father’s temple as we advance. Truth be told, I have no plan going forward. A trigger-happy soldier can put an end to my effort with one well-placed shot. My hope is there are enough rebels in the crowd—or at least soldiers on the fence about where their loyalty should lie—to keep me alive.

  “Open the door,” I snarl.

  “You know this is a mistake, son. The soldiers, my loyalists, will shoot to kill. You’ll never see your girlfriend or your child.”

  “Stop stalling and open the damn door,” I snap.

  “Have it your way.”

  He pushes against the handle. All hell is breaking loose, and Mark is in the center of it provoking the crowd. The soldiers are divided—those for and those against the New Order. Angry words zig zag between the groups. Rifles go up.

  “The New Order doesn’t give a shit about any of us,” Mark shouts. “They’ll kill you and replace you with other recruits.”

  “He’s right,” someone yells.

  “No way,” someone else adds.

  “The recruits are getting younger,” Mark tells them. “The Academy is full of babies waiting for their chance to be killed.”

  His words result in punches thrown. No one’s paying attention to me and my father. I take the risk, wrap an arm around Venter’s neck, and fire two shots in the air.

  The mayhem breaks. All heads swing toward me.

  “Now that I have your attention,” I start. “Here’s your opportunity to do what’s right.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” my father yells. “He’s a traitor!”

  “Shut the fuck up and let him speak,” someone shouts.

  I clear my throat. “What do you want me to do with this man? He’s planning on killing off citizens. Might even be your family members. He’ll replace them with clones. But not just any clones. No. These are programmed to do whatever the New Order wants.”

  Distressed murmurings rise from the soldiers. The sound reminds me of the start of the Street Wars. Will it take another revolution to turn our country around?

  Mark joins the fray. “Listen! We have a chance to stop this shit right here, right now! Put this man out of his misery. He’s suffering from misuse of power.”

  Heads bob up and down. The wall of bodies moves closer to us.

  I lean closer to my father’s ear. “I like to keep my hands clean, just like you. Your own military will end your
ass. Nice meeting you.”

  I shove Venter forward and watch the mob swarm down on him. I get a quick glimpse of the incredulous stare on the man’s face before the sea of darkness takes over.

  Mark grabs my elbow just as Fletcher runs up.

  “Where’s Tru?” I ask.

  “I told her to go inside the White House,” Fletcher pants. “She shouldn’t be part of this scene.”

  “Thanks, man.” I shake his hand.

  The three of us weave a path through the combative bodies. This rebellion, even if we hadn’t incited it, was waiting to happen. Leaking the SIM card over the DarkNet will have repercussions—some disastrous and some necessary. All in all, we have done what the country needed from us. We jerked off the Band-Aid. Now maybe the AR can heal.

  We run into Niang half way to the White House. He’s out of breath. Fletcher grabs his shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

  “The girl is gone,” he stammers out.

  “What do you mean gone?” my voice wavers.

  Niang shakes his head. “Carter and I split up. I went back to the main building to check on the transport. An alert sounded at the CHA. Grekov checked in with Miss Shepard.”

  “Noooo!” I start moving forward.

  Fletcher cuts me off, but he speaks to Niang. “Are they still there?”

  “Armstrong called for backup. Medics found him dead on the scene. Grekov’s dead, too.”

  Thank God for small miracles. “So where’s Tru?”

  Niang continues, “I checked the security feeds. She’s with Lieutenant Castaneda.”

  My fingers grip the gun in my hand tighter. “Where?”

  “The car they are in is traveling toward the river front. My guess is they’re headed for Canada.”

  Mark catches my eye and nods. “We’ll get her back, Aoki. Stop worrying.”

  We leave the helter-skelter behind us as Niang speeds away from the scene. When the street dead-ends, he hangs a left, and the Jeep accelerates. My heart jackhammers in my chest. I want to believe Ko wouldn’t harm Tru, but I don’t trust her.