Configured: (Book #1 in the Configured Trilogy)

by Jenetta Penner

Suddenly, I don't feel well. My lungs can't get enough air, and I gasp to take more in. The white shrouds my vision again, and everything goes so bright I throw my hands over my eyes. Pain shoots through me as a slow vibration takes over.

  A scream forms in my throat and sticks there. I have to do this. I can't let her die.

  All around me, the room slowly dissipates and scatters.

  No, no, no… come back.

  But it doesn't. I'm only left in utter blackness. Alone. Fear rips through me. What if I die in here?

  The space around fades to gra‒‒

  I shoot up and suck in a breath. Meyer bends over me, clutching at my upper arms, digging his fingers into my flesh, his face gone white. Sweat beads the sides of his jaw, and he bites at his bottom lip so hard it might bleed.

  "What happened?" he demands, a look of terror still gripping him.

  Choking, I sit up and try to remember. "I... I couldn't do it."

  Meyer relaxes a bit, and the corners of his lips even turn up slightly. "But you did. See?" He turns me toward Sanda. The seizure has stopped, and her body has relaxed.

  I'm not positive, but her face might have softened.

  Is she alive?

  I grab her and check her wrist for a pulse. Thump, thump.

  70 beats a second blinks in green in my EP.

  "Whatever you did, it worked, but it caused you to have a seizure too. It's like you took it on." Meyer stares at me, eyes wide and glassy. I can't tell if he's grateful, or terrified. "I thought you were dead."

  To be honest, I'm a bit terrified of myself at this point.

  After a moment, he shakes his head. "I need to get Sanda to a safe location, and you need to get home. Do you think you can stand?"

  I nod.

  He snatches his device from the ground. "Affinity has a few guys on the inside that should be patrolling the perimeter today. The Level Two entrance to the city is approximately seven and a half miles from here. Guardian security will be high through the forest and at your entry point, so you're going to need to follow the EP's directions precisely. It will alert me when you arrive. Once inside, my buddy will meet you and get you to a secure area. After that, head immediately to GenTech."

  Meyer goes back to his Flexx.

  "Should be set. The coordinates are uploaded. The viewer will map everything, but you still need the password. I'll send it to your EP."

  "Wait… what?" I ask. "You're not coming?"

  He tips his head. "I need to take Sanda, remember? Even if you got the nanos working, she needs more medical attention. You can do this."

  I didn't even think I would make it this far. What's one more thing?

  "Fine," I relent. "Just keep me updated on what's going on."

  He nods. "Otherwise you're likely to come after me. But for now, I'm deactivating the comm and your tracker on me. You can't know where I'm going in case..."

  He stops talking, but I know exactly what he means. In case I get caught.

  Hours later and without a good-bye, I climb out from the shelter and disappear into the trees. The still-dark sky meets me.

  1 hour 39 minutes at current pace to destination

  I can't move too quickly since curfew is still in effect, so this walking rate is best. However, with each step, my legs grow tired and heavy. Exhaustion sets in from the night, and any bit of adrenaline my body kicked out earlier has dissipated.

  I can't help thinking about Lena. If she made it out, she would have been with me. She'd know what to do. Hot tears sting the corners of my eyes while thick foliage pokes into me. A drone whizzes overhead, scanning the area, and my EP warns me to stay under cover as I skitter next to the nearest tree. As I continue my journey the sky brightens into pink streaks.

  Near the entry point, a few more Guardians drift through the sky, probably searching for Sanda. I still have no idea who the guard contact is. I need to trust that Meyer ended up connecting with him, but he still hasn't sent me the code word.

  The perimeter is thick with security, but most are SI. Instructions start scrolling for me to run toward the perimeter and a countdown begins.

  Don't think. Just do, I tell myself.

  I close my eyes for a second and sprint to the back of a guard station, crouching on the left side for my next set of instructions. The counter keeps moving.

  Still no code word. No instructions. No weapon. No way this will work. It's not giving me my odds. Probably on purpose.

  5…4…3…

  I can either turn back or make a break for it.

  Human Guardian 10 ft.

  Or surrender.

  2…1…

  I gulp, then stand and start to raise my arms.

  "Halt," a woman's voice says from behind me as cold metal pokes my back.

  Code from contact: You're in a conundrum.

  Answer: Yes, the beach is sandy.

  A little too late, Meyer.

  "On the ground," the guard commands. I do as she says. I have to dispose of my EP, but I can't do it here without her seeing.

  I stiffen as she pats me to check for a weapon, and when she doesn't find anything, she pulls me up and slaps security cuffs around my wrists. Numb, I don't even resist.

  "You're in a conundrum," she mumbles, head down.

  My eyes widen, and I choke out, "Yes… the-the beach is sandy."

  The guard gives me a hint of a smile. "Now shut up. We need to get you to GenTech."

  23

  The human Guardian grips my arm, but I can't even feel it. In a few moments, I find myself stuffed into the back of a security vehicle and told to trust the driver.

  "If anyone asks, you were harassed by Level Ones and security aided you. We'll take care of the rest," the guard says before she turns to leave.

  After a few blocks, the driver pulls the vehicle up to the side of an apartment building close to GenTech and stops.

  "This is as far as I can take you," he says. "Security's too high today."

  He swipes his hand over the front screen, and the doors slide back. After that, the driver moves from his seat to the street and takes my arm to help me out.

  I slip from the seat and plunk my feet onto the street. "Thank y—"

  "Do you need any assistance, officer?"

  The cold voice makes my gut sink, and I pivot toward its owner. A metallic Guardian hovers to the side of my driver.

  "No," he says. "This Level Two citizen was harassed by several Level Ones. We resolved the issue, and I'm escorting her. The report is in my account."

  He holds out his handheld for the drone. A tentacle extends from its body and drifts forward to scan the Flexx.

  All I want to do is stare at my feet, but I force my gaze up and straighten my spine. "Please, I'm already behind. There are important duties at Genesis Technologies I don't wish to miss."

  The drone finishes the scan and retracts its limb. "Guardian Foley, please return to your duties," the drone says. "Miss Lark, on behalf of Direction, we apologize for your inconvenience. Do you need further aid?"

  "No."

  "Thank you for your service to Direction," the Guardian drone says before it turns to hover away.

  "Anytime," I mumble, but the driver is already in the vehicle and pulling off from the curb.

  I droop slightly and grab my handheld from my wrist to check my messages. One from Kyra, and one new spouse pairing request. I swipe Kyra's.

  Flexx 35D52G-KLEWIS: I need to meet after work today.

  I stop and stare at the screen. I'm not even sure how to make it through the day, let alone meet with Kyra. But I do need a friend right now, and she's the only one I have left.

  Flexx 682AB1-ALARK: Sure, no problem. Meet me out front of GT.

  I trudge to work feeling heavy and dreading the day ahead. My mind wanders to Meyer.

  Did they make it?

  As I approach, my reflection shows in the glass of the building. Surprisingly, I'm not too disheveled. I doubt I smell great, but no one gets near enough to care. I
push my hair behind my ears, enter through the doors, and after a quick trip to the restroom to freshen up, I check in, stomach rumbling.

  After gulping down breakfast from the eating area, I ride the elevator to floor eighteen. Inside, I slump into the corner of the lift and drop my head back. When a woman turns toward me, I straighten. She eyes me for a beat more, then resumes her attention to the door, which must be fascinating. At each floor, my mind and body grows increasingly numb, and by the time the chime sounds for my stop, my lids flutter open to an empty space.

  Did I fall I asleep?

  I straighten, take a breath, and step out of the elevator. Daniel is waiting. Of course. It's like this guy has a tracker on me too. Why did I never set my EP to alert me when he was around?

  I move to the side, but he follows.

  "Why were you in a Direction security vehicle?" he asks.

  "What?"

  He crosses his arms, making himself appear bulkier. Probably intended. "You heard me. I saw you getting out of a vehicle."

  Without speaking, I intend to make a beeline for the InfoSec suite, but my brain isn't sharp at the moment.

  "Nothing. It was nothing," I say, catching his glare. "A Level One citizen approached me…"

  Daniel's eyes form into slits and bore into me. The stare brings a lump high in my throat, and I try to swallow it.

  "But security took care of it and escorted me to work." I push my shoulders back and look at him. "Direction takes care of Level Two and Three citizens. You, of anyone, should know this."

  His body tenses even more. He doesn't break the stare.

  My mind reaches for something that will make him leave. "And not that I should tell you this, but I've been commissioned with a special project."

  A sneer starts to overtake Daniel’s face, but he controls it, and the anger only simmers in his eyes. "What kind of project?" he says through his teeth.

  "A special program to help Direction identify angry undesirables before it's too late." I furrow my eyebrows, and I'd swear a low growl comes from his throat.

  Daniel steps to the side and toward the closed doors of the elevator.

  I start toward the suite, but from the corner of my eye, I see his hand whip up toward the side of my neck.

  "What's this?"

  I freeze and turn my head enough to see what he holds, but I already know what it is. The necklace. The chain must have come out of my shirt. I grab for the jewelry and stuff it in, but he's seen it, heart charm and all.

  "Just a meaningless childhood keepsake," I manage to lie. "Simply haven't had time to get rid of it. I'd forgotten I had it on."

  "A keepsake?" Daniel leans in toward me. "Sounds very... undesirable."

  "Daniel, unless you have proof I'm doing anything other than maintaining my focus, I'd suggest you worry more about your own distractions." I spin and rush toward my cubicle, but I still catch his last words as I make it through the door.

  "Oh, and Avlyn? You stink. Hygiene is important."

  I don't turn back. I hurry to my cubicle, slamming my Flexx onto the desk. After that, I launch my GenTech account on the viewer to check the daily projects.

  Please, no Daniel. Please, no Daniel.

  I scan the list of tasks, finding there aren't any group projects today. The swimming in my head slows. Just a day of tapping away at blissful code, unnoticed, and staying awake.

  * * *

  Throughout the day, the screen keeps going blurry, and several times I catch myself dozing off. At the end of my shift, I'm nowhere near completing the task list, but I need to go home, to bed. I have no doubt that mistakes riddle my work.

  When I try to stand, my muscles resist and burn, but I push up anyway, take my handheld, and use the elevator. No stairs today.

  Exiting the building, my mind is filled with fantasies of my bed and a shower. Then a vibration comes from my pocket. I pull out my Flexx and tap the screen.

  Flexx35D52G-KLewis: Sorry, I'm late. I'll be there in a few minutes.

  I forgot about Kyra.

  Ugh. I could already feel the water pouring over my skin.

  I shuffle through the other citizens to prop myself on the GenTech building and wait. I could fall asleep right here.

  My eyes snap open.

  "Thanks for waiting," Kyra says. "I really needed to talk in person."

  Something about her is off. The pride I saw in her the other day is gone, and all that's left is nervous energy. Her eyes shift to a passing citizen.

  "Are you okay?" I ask, resisting the newfound urge to place my hand on her shoulder. For one, Kyra's not used to being touched, and a public display would be risky anyway.

  Kyra hugs herself uncomfortably, looking as if there isn't a place for her hands. "Just get me out of here."

  "Where do you want to go?" There aren't many choices. "We could take the long way to‒‒"

  "I want to go to your unit."

  My eyes grow wide. "But that could draw attention."

  "I don't care." Kyra looks at me with pleading eyes. "Talking in the open is not an option."

  "Fine, let's go."

  Wordlessly, Kyra and I walk the several blocks to my building. She follows me into the front entrance and the elevator. When the doors uncover the hall, I motion to step out, but freeze. Lena's door. I clench my jaw and swallow the lump in my throat.

  "What's wrong?" Kyra asks as she steps in front of me.

  "Nothing," I reply, but my voice trembles. I force myself toward my apartment door, keeping my gaze from Lena's.

  She's not coming back.

  "This is it," is all I can muster, gesturing at the door.

  She looks back toward the elevator as if to make sure we had not been followed. "Can we go inside?"

  I tap the security pad and the door slides clear. Kyra rushes past me straight toward the window, dropping her bag in the middle of the room along the way.

  "What an amazing view," she whispers. "My unit is nowhere near as prime."

  "Yeah, it's nice. And I'm sure your apartment is lovely." I plop on the couch and let out an unintended groan.

  She turns my way. "It's fine. Are you sure you're all right?"

  "Yes." A flash of Lena crumpling to the ground flashes through my brain, and I shake my head to focus. Kyra wouldn't have come here if it weren't important. "But you have something you wanted to talk about?"

  Kyra leaves the window to sit beside me. "I do."

  A pained look sweeps over her face but she says nothing else. She's stalling. Why would she risk coming to my apartment and then not tell me why?

  "How have your spouse pairing appointments been going?" she asks finally.

  I let out a sigh. "You came here to talk about pairings? There's no way that's what this is about."

  "I didn't just come here to talk about that." Kyra chews on her lip, and sadness darkens her eyes. "Work has been so busy. There's been no time to meet with any of mine."

  "I thought you'd be messaging your pairings on the first day, securing the best of the best."

  She shrugs. "I did, but I have no time for meetings."

  Kyra sits silent, eyes glued to her wringing hands. "Do you have something else you wanted to tell me?" I ask.

  Because if not, I'd like to grab a shower and crawl into bed.

  "Yes." She lets out a long sigh. "But I don't know where to start."

  "You know you can tell me anything."

  "And that's why I'm here. There's no one else I could trust." Tears well in Kyra's eyes. Once, I cried in front of her after admitting I still missed Ben. She never said anything about it to anyone, but I've never seen this girl even come close to shedding a tear.

  My stomach knots and I straighten from my slouch, feeling immediately guilty I wanted her to leave so I could get cleaned up. "What's going on?"

  "Where to begin?" Kyra buries her head in her hands and quietly sobs. "When I started in the Level Two representatives department, it was going smoothly. I actually loved it. But then some
thing happened…"

  My first thought is that she could have been approached by Affinity too.

  No, not Kyra.

  "Representative Ayers was assigning me a lot of responsibility, and so we started spending more time together. The job felt important, right? He told me I'd quickly move up in position. When he started keeping me at the office and calling me in early… he wanted me there just after morning curfew lifted, I was flattered. I'm a hard worker and I deserved to be noticed for my achievements."

  "But then one day when I got there early, before anyone else…" Her voice wavers. "When… when I got into his office, he locked the door."

  Suddenly Kyra throws her arms around me, something she has never done, and weeps onto my shoulder. The shock of it takes me aback, but I return the embrace and pull her into me.

  "Kyra, what happened?" I ask.

  She withdraws slightly. "He knew what my parents had done to advance my career configuration. It was illegal, and if Direction found out..." She speaks so quickly I barely get all her words.

  It feels a million years ago when Kyra mentioned her parents pulling some strings. I never imaged they would actually be able to change anything, let alone it to be something illegal. It all seemed like talk.

  "After that, he wouldn't allow me to leave, and…" Horror blankets her face. "Oh, Avlyn… what if I'm pregnant? I'll never be chosen as a pairing. I'll lose my job."

  In my shock, I try to gather my thoughts, tell her something to make this right. "You need to report him… he can't do that."

  Kyra's body goes stiff. "He threatened me, told me if I said anything, he'd expose me and my parents. Ruin us. I tried to make him stop by telling him I could get pregnant, but he said not to worry… there's MedTech he could get for it."

  Affinity could help her, get her out of the city, but I have no idea if it's a solution Kyra would accept. It might be her only option.

  I stroke Kyra's back as she continues to cry, holding back my own tears to be strong for her. "There could be a way to help you."