Meyer's good, near dead center each time. When he finishes the round, the targets vanish, replaced by a closer one, as does his stunner.
"Your turn."
I'll never be as good as he is. Meyer's probably had years of practice. But I won't learn if I don't try.
"Might as well give it a go."
"Okay, first, always hold it pointed downrange," he instructs. "No accidents on my watch."
I do as he says and hold the grip with both hands, my finger just outside the trigger guard, squeezing it so tight it almost hurts.
"Relax," he says. "You don't need to squeeze so hard. It's not going anywhere, and you'll have better control if you loosen up a bit."
My heart flutters as he places his hand on mine.
It's just training, Avlyn. Get a hold of yourself.
Meyer gently removes my left hand and shows me which fingers to place where. I've held the weapon in the last sim, but I really had no idea what I was doing.
"Now, bring your other hand back and steady the weapon in front of you."
From behind, he guides my hands up toward the target and helps me position my body in place.
"Arms a little higher, and bend your knees to control your balance," he says.
I follow his instructions, keeping my eyes trained on the mark, all the while fairly unsuccessfully trying to keep my mind away from the fact that he's so close to me.
"Now move your index finger onto the trigger, and as smooth as you can, start to press."
Without moving anything else on my body, I pull the trigger, anticipating the imminent burst and slight kick. It just gives under my touch, and the blast shoots forward to the target. I repeat this four times.
"Not bad," Meyer comments.
I hit the target each time. Two of them in the center, and the others pretty near the first two. My lips upturn into a smile as the weapon disappears from my hands. In my excitement, I round toward Meyer and throw my hands around his neck. His muscled chest presses against me, and the scent of him, clean and… well, good, fills my nose, or at least my brain's mixed with the sim's perception of it. In the split second it takes for me to realize what I've done, I freeze, as does he.
We stay like that for what seems like an eternity, until I finally slide my arms off of his shoulders, embarrassed.
"Sorry," I say as I back away.
Meyer clears his throat. "Avlyn, I want to make sure you don't get the wrong idea."
The pang of my shame worms its way around in my chest, which by this point basically feels like it's on fire.
"Really, I didn't mean to."
"I know," he says. "You were only excited. But you need to understand nothing can happen between us. I'm your handler, and that's it."
I pull my chin up from my chest and gaze into his eyes. "I understand."
His face stays serious for a moment, and then the corners of his lips turn up to form a smile. "But your shooting was really good for your first time in here. Better than most."
"It was good, wasn't it?" I return his expression, reveling a bit in my success.
Meyer backs off and looks down at his feet. "You should keep practicing, but I need to go."
I nod, and he vanishes from the sim.
Instead of reloading the targets, I plop down on the ground. "Return to the last sim," I say. The shooting range disappears and is replaced with the field dotted with the yellow flowers.
I pluck one and bring its sweet scent to my nose again.
"Ben, why can't things just be simpler?"
If they were, my twin probably never would have died, and beyond that, Direction wouldn't even exist. I know it's too late for Ben, and I may never even know what truly happened to him, but at least I can do some good in his name. Make this world a better place.
I lean back onto the grass and let the fragrance of the earth fill me.
Maybe the lark will come back.
Maybe this time it will sing.
I can always do my report later.
16
URGENT flashes on the viewing screen in my bedroom. I creep from bed, but walk past the screen. Once in the living room, I see the same broadcast alert appear on the media viewer. Reluctantly, I tap the screen. The Direction logo pops up. Not wanting to wait, I continue on into the kitchen while Director Manning's voice wafts behind me.
"Direction citizens, tonight at 8:00 p.m., a required viewing broadcast will air. It is imperative citizens and children over the age of twelve watch. At its completion, you must immediately log in to your citizen's account and answer a series of questions to confirm understanding of the announcement by 9:15 p.m. For each hour that questions remain uncompleted, each citizen will be docked one day's wages. Your cooperation ensures humanity's continuation."
The screen momentarily blanks and the logo returns. I can't remember walking back into the living room, but here I stand in front of the media viewer, heart pounding. A couple weeks ago, this message would have hardly fazed me. Yet citizens have never been docked wages for not watching a broadcast. Come to think of it, I can't recall any time-sensitive announcements. The news can't be good.
I tap off the screen.
In the bedroom, another message waits on my Flexx. I swipe to retrieve it. Kyra. Returning mine after I saw her come through the lab yesterday.
Flexx 35D52G-KLEWIS: Yes, I did have an interesting day. Can't say much, but exciting events are happening. I messaged a potential spouse pairing.
Affinity keeps reminding me to contact Aron, but I don't even want to think about him. Maybe he'll delete my information eventually and Affinity will let me move on from that. Kyra always was more excited than me for that part, and she sounds as if she could be looking forward to tonight's announcement. Maybe it's not that bad.
When I access my Affinity account, there's the reminder again to contact Aron. This time it urges me to use flattering language in the message. Says he might respond to it. I log on to my spouse pairing account. A new meeting invitation waits, but I want nothing to do with it, and don't even look at the name. Aron's account is still active in my potentials, but Meyer's fake account is deleted. I hover my hand over the screen where it used to be at the bottom of the list.
If citizens could truly choose, I might elect to find the thoughts behind Meyer's intense eyes. But I don't live where choice is an option. Not yet anyway. Even if I did, Meyer's request was never real, just a hack to allow him to arrange a meeting without questions.
Aron is a near perfect pairing. Direction says so, and even Affinity is pushing me in that direction, wanting me to almost flirt with him.
So why can't I stop thinking about Meyer?
I pinch the heart necklace encircling my throat, pulling the pendant across the chain, lost in the zipping sound of metal against metal and dreams of the freedom to choose.
With a shake of my head, the fog clears. Playing with the necklace could become a bad habit. It's not like it's against the law to wear jewelry, but anything out of the ordinary can make someone appear suspect. I tuck the charm back into my nightshirt.
Anyway, Meyer's only being nice to me to acclimate me to my new life. Just doing his job. In order for me to focus on what needs to be done, Meyer can be no more than a friend… and he knows that too.
There's a slim chance Aron still has interest in me since his account is still active, although, he still hasn't responded to my second request. Affinity gave me a simple assignment, and I botched it up.
Gathering my wits, I ask for the second time to arrange a follow-up meeting. I even throw in a bit of flattering language, and ready myself for another day.
* * *
At closing time, the GenTech elevator is always packed with other employees. I nearly squeeze in at the last second, but spot Daniel near the back. Because of it, I roundabout and take the stairs. Only a few workers use them, and it gives me a chance to get in a run. Six stories, then rounding the corner to the seventh, I slow for a person at the landing below.
/> "You looked tired today. How is it you have so much energy?" a smooth voice echoes, wiping away my smile.
Daniel. How'd he get down here so fast?
Before reaching him, I stop. "And what does it matter if I'm tired or not? Maybe I'm just working hard."
"You'd take the MedTech to fix it like everyone else does, but for some reason you must not be." He steps up the stairs toward me and stops at the one below mine.
"Aww… I didn't know you cared about my health, Daniel."
"I don't," he sneers.
"Maybe you should spend less time worrying about me and more time standing out as a model citizen to guarantee your advancement," I snap back.
Before I know it, Daniel thrusts his hands toward me and grabs at my upper arms. I let out a gasp, and just as I think he's going to let go, his fingers grip tighter around the meat of my arms, yanking me down to his level. I clench my jaw and keep my gaze trained on his icy stare.
"I've been watching, and you're not hiding your flaws as well as you think, Avlyn," he whispers, narrowing his gaze, unmoving.
I hold his stare, refusing to let him think he can intimidate me. "Apparently you aren't either. Maybe you need some MedTech. Now, why don't you back off before I report you."
I lower my eyes to where he still grips me.
Daniel rapidly blinks and frees me, then turns to grab the handrail and stomps down the stairs. I release a breath, and my head spins a little as oxygen hits my brain again. I shake my tingling hands. It's as if there's electricity zooming through my arms. Either because I can't move yet, or to make sure he's gone—both if I'm honest—I wait several minutes before resuming my descent.
Daniel has been eyeing me since day one at GenTech, and if he'd have actually seen me coding a concealment for the Affinity bug, he'd have turned me in. Daniel knows nothing concrete. He only suspects. Or he's hiding a few of his own secrets, like his anger problem. If he weren't, he'd have turned me in already. At least, that's what I hope.
Outside, golden rays of sunlight spill over my face as I exit GenTech, making Daniel seem less important. It reminds me of warmth and freedom, of the sim in the field with Meyer. It's a sensation I long for more of. Not only in an artificial world, but this one.
I have a lot of work to do before that ever happens.
A voice from behind me pulls me from my thoughts. "So, you made it to GenTech, too."
I stop and turn. Corra. Always ready to talk, most likely about herself, just like at university. Placement at GenTech hasn't changed that part of her, but being that she works in the lab, I'll take advantage of that egocentric nature.
"Yeah, it surprised me. But you always knew you'd be placed here," I say.
She catches up, straightens, and puffs up. Inside, I laugh at her predictability.
"Working in the lab is fascinating," she says. "But configuration was not quite what I expected."
Those words shock me coming from her mouth. "Really?"
Corra realizes her mistake and recovers, ignoring my question. "Direction is making so many exciting changes. GenTech is right on the cutting edge with them."
"Yeah, I saw Directors Manning in there the other day with the Level Two representative." My heart races. Pushing Corra for information could be dangerous. "Are they often in the lab?"
"I've seen Manning around a couple times. They seem to be working on a project," she whispers. "If I were a couple years older, I'd have been assigned to the project."
"I'm sure it will come together for you." I give her a tight smile. "What do you think is in that secured suite?"
Keep playing dumb. Make her feel smart.
"Not sure, but this is the first time I saw Director Manning and Ayers go in." Her face takes on a serious expression, as if she remembers to mind her own business. Too bad. "I should go."
Without another word, she's gone.
* * *
Lena's not home. She hasn't been around for a couple days, and I find myself missing her. Company would be nice for tonight's announcement, which will no doubt be bad news for Affinity. Unfortunately, no answer comes when I knock at her door. I sigh and head into my unit.
Before the door shuts, my handheld buzzes. I pull it out and swipe the screen.
Meet me at 6:45 p.m.
Attached are sim coordinates from Meyer.
* * *
Briny air with a hint of sulfur wrinkles my nose in the simulation. Under my feet is earth, but not dirt. It's too pale and fine. I bend to sweep my hand through it. The rough grains sift between my fingers back to the earth.
Ahead of me is water as far as I can see. Not still water. Instead, the sapphire waves swell and churn as if lapping the sky for air, forming silvery foam before they vanish, then appear again in the distance and repeat the cycle.
I rise and walk closer to the shoreline, wind blowing my hair back from my face. Water rushes over my shoes and then pulls back, leaving the earth darker and denser. Again, I bend to scoop a soft clump and form it into a ball in my palm. It's like clay.
"Magnificent, huh?" Meyer's voice sounds from behind me.
I turn to find him walking toward me. Once again he's wearing completely different clothing than I'm accustomed to. Short khaki pants, a white short-sleeved shirt, and no shoes.
I peer at my typical black uniform, then back at Meyer. "Should I be dressed differently?"
He laughs. "I didn't want to assume… but sure."
I shrug. "What else is available?" My clothing has never varied from practical and utilitarian. I have no idea what to ask for.
Meyer pulls his handheld from his pocket, makes a few motions on the screen, and my clothing shifts. The bottoms of my now-bare feet sink into the damp earth, and I wiggle my big toe into it. But then a gentle wind swirls my legs.
The hem of emerald-green fabric falls at my calf and hangs loose around my lower half. I'm no longer wearing pants, but clothing called a dress I recognize only from history research at university. They went out of fashion long ago. It's a stark contrast to the form-fitting pants I always wear. The top half of the outfit hugs my chest, and the sleeves— nope… no sleeves, only thin straps. I hug my exposed arms and rub the bumpy flesh under my fingers.
"Um… I'm a bit… naked."
Meyer's cheeks flush, and he pulls out his Flexx again. "Sorry. I thought I'd give you a taste of something other than Direction's stuffy clothes."
He swipes at the screen, and a long-sleeved stretchy white top with buttons on the front appears over the dress.
His face is sheepish as he asks, "Is that better?"
"A little… I'll adjust," I reply, but it's a white lie.
He folds and returns the handheld back to his pocket and joins me where water meets land. "I'm dreading tonight's announcement, so I thought I'd show you this instead of training."
"Training is more important."
"It is, but we won't have a chance again for a long time, if at all." Meyer's eyes focus down, and he pushes the grainy earth around with his left foot.
As we walk on the shore, I tell him the little I learned from Corra today and about Daniel's bullying.
Meyer bristles as I share what happened in the stairwell with Daniel. "You know, if you wear the EP, it can alert you if he's near."
"Wear it all the time? I didn't know if I could."
"They're undetectable." He pauses. "It's how I tracked you in One."
I cross my arms. "And how you knew when I was in sim?"
"I know. It seems like a privacy invasion, and it probably is, but you were… are my assignment. Sorry I didn't explain it to you sooner. All I see is your position in relation to me, your vitals, and if you're in a simulation, nothing more."
I relax and let my arms fall to my sides as I gaze out over the rolling waves. "Where do you live now, Meyer? In Elore, or outside the city?"
"All over. If I have business in the city, I'll stay in a safe house for a few days. If not, outside city bounds."
"You can tra
vel outside city bounds?"
"Until recently, Direction has mostly used Guardians to patrol the borders, and our people on the inside have gotten us past the electro perimeter. But with human security increased, it's not as easy anymore."
"Where are you located now?"
He gestures for us to walk. "In the city. To stay near."
Near to what? Me?
I blush. That's ridiculous, he must mean rebellion activity. Meyer is on assignment, nothing more.
"Where did you grow up?"
That's not the question I wanted to ask.
"In the Outerbounds…" he replied stiffly. "With Jayson."
"Really?" I study his face. "Tell me what it's like."
His coal eyes gaze toward the horizon, and the stubble growing from his chin fascinates me. So much so that I have to stop myself from reaching over and touching it.
My face warms. Men in Elore never grow facial hair. Most even have their nanos programmed to slow the growth so it only has to be removed occasionally.
"I can't… I'm not allowed."
My shoulders sag. "What can you tell me?"
He shrugs while running a hand through his thick, dark hair. "Only that what Affinity does is worth it. It's imperfect outside the city, but I've experienced both lives, and the freedom far outweighs the security and advancement Direction offers." He checks the time on his antique watch.
"Why do you wear that?" I chuckle. "You see the time in your EP, or you could just wear your handheld."
"Time fascinates me."
"Should have guessed. A bunch of your messages were about it. Remind me of the second one? Lost time is—"
"Never found again," he finishes.
I stop and turn toward him. "That's it. What did you mean by it?"
"Oh, it's an old quote from a person you won't find in official Direction history."
"Who?"
"A guy named Benjamin Franklin, a leader from a long time ago. You'd be surprised by the information still beyond the walls of Elore."
"Surprises are overrated." I sigh, thinking of Ben. "I just want to know now."
Configured: (Book #1 in the Configured Trilogy) Page 13