Configured: (Book #1 in the Configured Trilogy)

by Jenetta Penner

  Pop, pop.

  The drone vibrates again. I flinch. It's the same sound and shutter before Preston crashed. I rub my face and the back of my neck.

  The vibration stops, and then there's nothing. If I didn't expect I'd be shot, I'd pop the hatch to see what was happening.

  A new, muffled voice breaks through the confining metal sending a shudder down my spine. "If you want to live, throw any weapons, your Flexx, and any other tech from the hatch."

  The hatch clears. Bright light and a waft of fresh air dizzies me. Hesitating, I reach for my stunner. I hate just handing it over, but I yank the gun from my side, sigh, and throw it, then the Flexx, out. The two pieces clank onto hard concrete, one after the other.

  "Now, come out. Slowly," the male voice instructs. "We have our own weapons, and no one wants to use them. They're supposedly painful."

  I poke my head out. The barrels of twenty pistols are trained on me, which I'm sure are not set to stun, and the faces of those who hold them are blank. Hollow. These are not the standard human Guardian squads. By the DPF logo on their chests, these belong to Manning's Level One army, now under control.

  My gaze flits between the faces when an older, but fit, man dressed in a white smock steps between two of the soldiers. Just the slightest smirk blankets his face, taunting me.

  Manning.

  "Avlyn Lark?" Manning nods his head toward me. We lock eyes. "We've been searching for you. For a Level Two, you've become somewhat compelling."

  I hold his gaze, and my tongue, for that matter. But when I force myself out of the compartment of the drone, I glance away, trying to ignore the guns trained on me.

  "This is a bit much for one girl," I say, feeling bold for a split second, feet hitting the floor of the bay.

  I raise my hands to show I'm unarmed and nod to the Director, who's only a few inches taller than me. His expression remains poised, but something in his eyes tells me a scorching blaze lurks inside. Not seconds after I step from the transport, several of the sentinels holster their weapons and descend on the pod. The commotion pushes me toward Manning, but I don't turn. They won't find much.

  My hands raise higher as I inch forward on shaking legs, boldness gone. A female guard with shiny dark hair and almond eyes steps up with a type of scanner. She looks a lot like Lena… possibly on purpose.

  A reminder.

  The white beam trails over me and beeps. My heart jumps when it hits the spot where I hid Bess's letter.

  I never should have brought it.

  "She's free of any weaponry, Director Manning." The guard lowers her device and steps back in line with the others. They aren't looking for paper.

  "So," Manning continues, "do we need a few guards to accompany us, or could you join me of your own account?"

  He's not stupid. Whether these guards come or not, I'm secured in some way.

  "Do what's best for you, Director," I say.

  He eyes me and presses his lips together. By the tightening of his jaw, he seems to be grinding his teeth.

  "Troops dismissed."

  The men and women of the guard retract their weapons and exit the bay.

  "Well, Ms. Lark," he says, attention still fixed on me. "Please, follow me."

  When Manning speaks, his tension dissipates. Maybe years of practicing repressing emotions have been a success. Manning motions for the door, and I take a step forward. His face now displays a strange smirk. When I reach him, he steps toward the door and I follow, checking behind me one last time.

  "I have been informed you were recently placed at Genesis Technologies… in information security."

  I nod, but keep turned from him.

  "Ironic." He chuckles. "Your assignment was to protect the interests of both GenTech and the people of Elore, and you have performed the opposite."

  "I am protecting the interests of Elore," I mumble.

  He steps slightly in front of me and brings us both to a stop. His cold, gray-eyed stare bores into me and holds my body in place as if he'd reached out and grabbed me. Everything in me wants to yank back, but I don't dare.

  "Says who? You? What do you understand? Only the lies of a few dissenters." A crease forms between his eyes. "Direction has spent years... decades studying possible outcomes for this society." The words roll from his tongue as if we were having an everyday conversation. "The Direction Initiative gives us survival in a world without crime, with reduced pain and loss, and a naive little girl comes along and suddenly thinks it's still not enough."

  He gives one last look and moves to the side as if to let me pass. An argument builds in my throat, but I know my words would be wasted on him. Instead, I study the neutral walls of the inside of the building, wondering where exactly I am.

  Manning starts walking again. "Prior to Aves, life was different. Wars, hate, crime, violent atrocities. The virus was dreadful, but in the end, it saved us. It saved us from ourselves."

  We pass a door labeled with an unknown name. I still don't know where I am.

  "And setting your own virus free inside Elore isn't an atrocity?" I spit.

  "I'm not a monster, but sacrifices must be made in order to return the Initiative to order. I will not return to the world that existed before the Collapse."

  REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL AYERS is displayed on the next door. Ayers, Kyra's supervisor. We're in the Level Two Representative building. Mother and Father are, or were, here. My pulse gallops with the possibility, but I shift the thoughts away. For now.

  "Sacrifice?" I echo. "It's our own people."

  "Oh, child. The problem of the undirected population is so much greater than you know. The Outerbounds has gotten out of hand, Ms. Lark."

  "You're releasing this virus outside the perimeter?" I ask. "Are you truly that amoral?"

  "Amoral? This concerns survival, not morality. What is more important?"

  I clench my teeth, willing away the disgust skittering over my skin. "By killing anyone who thinks differently, or is unworthy?"

  Manning tsks. "Oh, Avlyn, you comprehend so little. And to be honest, Direction knows little concerning you. But my intention is to become much better acquainted this evening."

  He stops in front of a door and activates it. A conference room with a long table and chairs and a viewing screen behind glass on the wall greets us. The room has no windows, and another door sits on the left.

  The door shuts behind us when we enter, and Manning gestures to the table. "Have a seat. Food will be delivered soon."

  Ruiz didn't trust Direction's food. I'm keenly aware they want information, and they have other ways to get it, but I won't make this any easier for them.

  "What about my parents?" I mumble. "They've done nothing but follow the Initiative."

  "We will see," he relies. "If you decide cooperation would be worth your time, we might discuss Mr. and Mrs. Lark further."

  I glare at him and walk over to the corner of the room, my back to the door.

  "Ms. Lark, Direction is aware of your involvement in the terrorist activity against GenTech earlier today, and then again tonight. There is also suspicion you had a connection with a recent detention escape. You know these crimes are now punishable by death."

  I wince, but still say nothing. He knows something about me, but how much?

  "Well, no matter. With some re-education, someone with your skills could be useful to us. For that reason, Direction might be willing to overlook the fact you destroyed years of research so near to completion."

  My lips turn up to form a smile. The Director could be lying, but there's a chance we succeeded.

  I spin toward him, willing the expression away. "You got the wrong person. The guy that did that crashed to the ground when you brought me in."

  Manning stares at me as if he sees right through the lie, tucking his arms over his body. "If you choose death over working with us, it will be a tremendous waste, but any actions will not extinguish Direction's resolve to do what is best for the people of Elore."

>   I let out a scoff. He still doesn't know the extent of my abilities. They think this is simply expert system hacking.

  "Where… where is this Direction?" The words spew out before I can stop them. "I see only you, Director Manning."

  "Elore trusts my judgment." Manning steps close, inches from my body. "And Ms. Lark, I suggest you do the same."

  I recoil from the simmering energy radiating off him, falling back into a chair behind me.

  Manning takes a step backward and straightens his white smock. "Now, if you are ready to listen?"

  I cross my arms and turn away.

  His voice has returned to its usual calm. "Because of your hacking skills, we are prepared to upgrade your status to Level Three."

  "Level Three?"

  "Yes." Manning's eyebrow raises as he stares at me. "And you will be given a new position."

  Hate burns in my belly. Does he think I can just forget what he's done and is willing to do?

  "And my family?" I press.

  Air softly expels from his lungs. "I don't understand why you care… but, yes. They will need some… work, but if cooperative, Mr. and Mrs. Lark will be released."

  My gaze darts from him to the floor. The offer sounds tempting, but I have no reason to trust him.

  "What if I don't take the offer?" I whisper.

  "Then you die. They die."

  The finality of his words knock the breath from me.

  "But I can wait for an answer," he adds. "At least for a while."

  Manning turns and exits. Before the lock clicks shut, I'm already searching for a way out, but without other than beating a hole in the wall, there are no options but the main exit. The other door just leads to a bathroom. There's no windows, and no accessible tech, so nothing to hack.

  There's a crackle from behind me. The glass encased media viewer is playing. The Direction logo spins, then fades away. Images of death and destruction float across the screen. A young child cries in his mother's arms. A gaunt man wastes away from starvation.

  "For thousands of years, the earth was riddled with pain, greed, and corruption," the deep voice of a narrator drones. "Direction has risen above this destiny with focus and determination. Join us in being part of this solution."

  I cover my ears. But the vid only plays again, louder.

  The vid plays. Over, and over. So many times I stop hearing and settle into the corner, arm over my head. I lay with my face shoved against the wall, and my tears soak into the fabric of my shirt.

  * * *

  When I wake the vid is still playing. The dull lights illuminate the room, and their meager glow stings my eyes. By the door sits a tray of uneaten food and a glass of what looks like water. My tongue sticks to my mouth, and my head is pounding. In hopes of improving the pain, I rub on the back of my neck as I sit up. My internal nanos are not helping fast enough. There's water in the restroom, but… no, it could be tainted too.

  A light scratching at the door makes my breath catch and I leap off the couch, expecting Manning. Instead, a girl with golden hair rushes into the room.

  Kyra.

  My eyes widen. "What are you doing?" I whisper.

  "Giving you a chance to leave." She flips back toward the door. "I have some time before I'm missed. The guards are changing now, so you have a few minutes."

  Kyra reaches into her satchel and pulls out a handheld and stunner.

  "I stole them from Ayer's office," she says. "Manning stored everything in there last night."

  "But how'd you know I was here?" I ask.

  Kyra tips her head, a look a pain washing over her face. "Ayers is careless around me. I saw the vid feed in his office."

  My hands tremble as I take the device. Kyra's hands tremble, too, and she turns again toward the door.

  "Hurry, you don't have long." She glances at me, and then averts her eyes. "The next guard will be here any second. Hardly anyone's in the building."

  "Thank you so much." I throw my arms around her and squeeze. "Please, stay safe."

  "Avlyn, I'm sorry…" Tears fill her eyes. "Sorry I couldn't do more. I have to go, before I'm late and Representative Ayers reports me missing." Kyra pulls from the embrace and starts for the exit.

  "Do you know where my parents are?"

  She thinks for a second. "If they're being held, it's probably in suite ten-thirty-eight. I've seen others kept in there," she says without turning as she rockets away.

  Following her, I dash for the door, but she's gone, a wisp of blonde hair disappearing around a corner. No one else is there.

  I pull back into the room and grip the stunner. It's activated and on the lowest setting. I then slap my handheld to my wrist and immediately reactivate the Affinity app I downloaded to my nanos.

  Meyer is my only chance. Although I have no clue if he got away or not, I send a message.

  We need help. I'm getting my parents.

  Easing out in the corridor, I place a palm on the security pad and wince for the alarms, which don't come. They're not reading my presence.

  Suite ten-thirty-eight, I think.

  A layout of the building forms in my mind, showing my current location in relation to Mother and Father. It's close. In my mind, I link into the surveillance system. Sure enough, two frames are huddled in the corner of the room. I tell the system to loop the surveillance in the entire building as well, setting it back fifteen minutes, to when I was still asleep. This way makes it so Kyra won't be seen either, but it won't take them long to notice. The quickest route to my destination is a service entrance at the back of the building, and Suite 1038 is not too far from it.

  When my hand lifts from the pad the door seals, and I continue down the hall, weapon poised. I take the corridor and turn two rights. I'm about to round to the left when I hear voices and stiffen.

  I tuck into the first doorway I see, stuffing the weapon into the back of my suit and pulling out the Flexx. I poke at the screen and try to look busy.

  The two citizens early to work at the Representative's building pass me without a glance and continue out of sight.

  Three doors ahead, I see the suite numbered 1038. I rush toward the door while pulling out my weapon and sliding my hand onto the pad.

  "Open," I whisper. I'm met with a dark room, the only light spilling in from the hall. Two faces peer toward me from the ground, and I make out the outline of Mother's bobbed hair.

  "Mother?" I choke.

  "Avlyn?" Father's voice comes from the shadowy figure next to Mother.

  I step in, holster the weapon, and activate the light on my handheld. "Let's go."

  Mother holds her hand to her face to block the light.

  "Are you all right?" I ask.

  But she's not. Her lips are swollen, and an angry cut mars her cheek. Purple tints the skin under her bloodshot eyes. My stare swivels to Father, and he looks similar, but not as bad since his dark skin hides it.

  "What happened?"

  "Never mind that," Father says. "You can't be here."

  "Doesn't matter. I'm likely dead either way." Weapon in one hand, I grab Father's arm. "It's time to leave."

  If I'm going to die, I'm at least going to try to save my parents.

  31

  Mother and Father don't move. My mind races for the right words they need to hear so they'll come with me immediately, but this is not how they do things. They still believe Direction will save them.

  "You're going to die either way," I tell them. "You might as well try to make a run for it and force them kill you here instead of televising your deaths to further their propaganda."

  "Manning is after you, Avlyn, not us," Father says.

  I lock onto his eyes. "He dragged you two in here and tortured you. If you think either of you will see the light of day again, you are sadly mistaken. Believe me, if I thought for one second you'd be safe, I'd leave you. Manning will probably televise your execution for all to see, letting them know how you were spies for Affinity. Manning's a liar."

&n
bsp; Mother throws me a look that only tells me she knows there's no other option. "She's right, Michael." She takes my offered hand and pulls herself up from the floor.

  Father grimaces, but deep down, he knows too. "Fine."

  Whatever happened to them must have been bad for him to back down this easily.

  Squeezing my stunner, I peer into the hall. "It's clear."

  The three of us run into the long neutral hall, but quickly slow as to not look too out of place. Since Manning offered me a deal, I can only hope the news of my capture has not be televised.

  Every sound makes me flinch; the tapping of our shoes on the slick tiles, muffled voices from behind closed doors. There can't be much time left before this area is filled with citizens who work at the Representatives building.

  I glimpse back at my parent's sunken faces and shudder. There's no way for them to blend in. Manning must have disabled their nanos too. If I had time, I would reactivate them, but it's too much of a risk. Father's normally strong jaw quivers slightly, and the dark streaks under Mother's eyes make her look frail and exhausted.

  I whip the thoughts away and replace them with a memory of the building layout. Not far now. Up ahead should be the service entrance bay. I make for the door, Mother and Father huffing behind.

  I twist and activate the secured bay door, willing it to open and hoping no one is on the other side. We duck inside just as two guards, clothed in dark uniforms, the Direction emblem on their chests of their jackets, whip our way. I pull up the stunner and fire twice as the door slides closed behind us.

  The closest guard freezes, stunned, but the other withdraws and pulls up his own weapon, followed by a burst of light and muffled blast.

  "Get down," I yell, aiming again and shooting.

  A grunt comes from behind me. Mother's on the ground, clutching her arm.

  "Darline!" Father springs to her. I've never seen him with so much concern for another person on display.

  I force my attention to the guard, who now stands frozen in time like the first, weapon still extended. His teeth are bared at us in a silent, fixed growl.

  Mother groans again and I pull my thoughts from the guard back to my parents.