by Jake Bible
Beth looked alarmed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Weber. I don’t know why I said that last part.”
Mr. Weber waved her off and glanced around the room. “Well, what is everyone waiting for? Projects on desks now!”
Melissa immediately set her project case on the table while Beth dug around in her satchel for hers. Melissa tried to ignore Beth as much as possible, but as soon as Beth began to unload the contents of her satchel onto the table, Melissa had had enough.
“Do you mind? Your trash is getting everywhere,” Melissa said snottily.
Beth glanced up for a moment and locked eyes with Melissa. Without breaking her gaze she withdrew her project case and slammed it down on the table, knocking the other contents already covering the surface everywhere. Hair ties, wadded up wrappers, nail polish and other junk skidded off the table, onto the floor and into Melissa’s lap.
“Jesus, you freak!” Melissa shouted, jumping from her seat, flicking Beth’s satchel contents away from her like they were hot coals.
“Problem, girls?” Mr. Weber called from across the room. “Do you both need a consult with Headmistress Ellis?”
Melissa glared at Beth, then turned and smiled for Mr. Weber. “No, sir.”
Mr. Weber watched the girls for a moment, then went back to critiquing a student’s project.
Beth grabbed up her stuff and jammed it back in her satchel.
“Don’t fuck with me, freak,” Melissa growled. “I’m really not in the mood.”
***
“Take the next left,” Reginald said, while Mr. Stone drove the mag-skiff through the busy afternoon traffic.
“You sure this is the Secondary?” Mr. Stone asked, patiently waiting for an elderly lady to cross the road before he turned.
“Yep. Face-rec confirmed the school records,” Reginald responded, looking at his tablet screen. “One Ms. Elizabeth Laughlin. Age seventeen. Orphan. Lives with a foster family a few blocks from here.”
“Plot that route also in case we don’t get to the school in time,” Stone said, finally able to turn. “School lets out at 1700 hours.”
Stone pulled the mag-skiff to the curb outside Gramercy Secondary School and cut the drive, letting the skiff settle onto the pavement. He reached past Reginald and tapped at a panel on the dashboard. “Tag-5 semi-auto, fully silenced,” he said aloud. There were a series of clicks and part of the dash dropped, extending a compact biochrome pistol. Stone grabbed it and placed it inside his jacket. “Ready?”
Reginald tapped at the panel also. “Ten inch, 100-fold edge blade, 30 gram hilt.” Two clicks and a biochrome knife appeared. “Ready, Stone.”
The two men exited the skiff and proceeded up the greenway towards the school entrance.
***
“And I saved the best for last,” Mr. Weber said, not even bothering to conceal his sarcasm. “Let’s start with Ms. Laughlin, shall we.”
Beth handed Mr. Weber her paper and opened her project case. Inside was a small chunk of biochrome, about ten centimeters square. Mr. Weber’s brow furrowed as he picked up the square.
“It’s a multi-tool,” Beth said quietly. “I couldn’t think of a single object to make, so I figured out a way to program the properties of several objects into the BC. All simple tools so it wouldn’t overload the matrix, but it could come in handy.”
Melissa gasped. “You cheating bitch!”
Beth turned on her, stunned. “What…?”
Mr. Weber ignored the interaction and set Beth’s project back in its case. He reached across the girls and opened Melissa’s. Inside was a nearly identical square of biochrome.
“I can’t believe you copied me!” Melissa screeched. “Have you been watching me or something, freak?”
“I…didn’t…,” Beth stammered. “I came up with this on my own.” She turned to Mr. Weber. “You’ve seen me sketching this in class.”
“You mean copied from my sketches!” Melissa shouted.
“Quiet! Both of you!” Mr. Weber snapped. He closed both projects and shoved them into each girl’s hands. “I want you to take those and wait up by my desk! Now!”
“But, Mr. Weber…,” Melissa started.
“NOW!” Mr. Weber shouted, causing many of the students to turn to see what was happening. “Eyes front!” They all turned away, but their attention was still focused on the commotion.
Melissa stood from the table and pushed past Mr. Weber, stomping to the front of the room and Mr. Weber’s desk.
“Mr. Weber? Please, my foster mother will be—” Beth tried, but he held up a hand stopping her instantly.
“Up at my desk now, Ms. Laughlin!” he glared
***
Heather stood before the case and smiled. There it was, months of undercover work, acting like she was some stupid spy from one of the other Kingdoms so she would get thrown in this specific facility, all of it now coming to a close.
She snatched up the case, having already disabled the less than adequate (for her) security measures and bolted from the room.
***
“Excuse me,” Reginald said as he approached the school receptionist while Mr. Stone waited outside the office door, his eyes scanning the hallway as the end of day bell sounded and students poured out of their classrooms. “Might I inquire as to the location of Ms. Elizabeth Laughlin?”
The receptionist looked up and was startled to see such a tall man connected to such a high voice. “Oh, I’m sorry, but we cannot give out student information.”
Reginald smiled brightly. “No, of course you can’t. But, she was here at school today, correct?”
The receptionist eyed Reginald warily. His smile widened. “I work with her foster father and he has to work late and wanted me to bring a message to her.”
Reginald watched the woman’s hand shift slightly towards the com unit on her desk. Before she could move more than a centimeter, Reginald had his knife out and buried into the soft underside of her chin. “Looks like it’s the hard way, Stone!” Reginald called out.
***
Shock troops on her heels and bullets whizzing past, Heather passed through the BC barbed wire like it was cobwebs and stood at the top of the wall, nothing but the Thames below her. She melted the straps of the case, changing it into a backpack, and slung it around, securing it tightly about her shoulders. The BC charge she had set exploded as timed, ripping the troopers apart and closing off the roof access. Heather leapt, her arms outstretched, body straight, and plunged head first into the frigid waters.
***
Melissa and Beth walked down the hallway towards the main office with Mr. Weber railing at them from directly behind, his face purple with rage. “Did you two think you could get away with it?” he yelled. “How stupid do you think I am? You didn’t even bother to adjust the tools. They are exactly alike!”
Melissa tried to stop and talk to Mr. Weber, but he grabbed her by the upper arm and pushed her along.
“Mr. Weber, please!” she cried. “I swear I had nothing to do with this! If anyone cheated it was her, not me!”
“Save it for the Headmistress!” Mr. Weber growled. “I’ve had about enough of you brats and your little feud!”
“Confirmation of target!” a voice shouted directly outside the main office door.
The two girls and Mr. Weber stopped, confused, and watched as Mr. Stone pulled his pistol from his jacket while Reginald stepped from the office, his bloody knife trailing bright red droplets behind him.
“Elizabeth Laughlin, step away from the others!” Stone called out. “A capture or kill order has been given! We will use deadly force!”
Mr. Weber stepped forward. “If you are police then I demand some ideni-!” He never finished the sentence as Stone silently put two bullets through his right eye. They ripped through his brain and skull, splattering the hallway with blood and grey matter.
“Oh my god!” Beth screamed and other students in the hall took notice of the confrontation.
Shouts and yells ec
hoed down the hall as the students became aware of the blood and panicked. Stone ignored the chaos and took aim once again. Beth’s eyes widened and her bladder loosed as the pistol’s muzzle trained on her.
“Get down!” Melissa ordered.
Her legs already weak with panic and shock, Beth crumpled to the floor as bullets from Mr. Stone’s pistol punched through the empty air where she had just been.
The school security guard, finally realizing he needed to do his job, rushed Mr. Stone, tackling him about the waist.
Reginald ignored the two men grappling on the tile floor and brought his attention to Beth. Two quick strides and he towered over her, his knife poised to strike.
“Who are you?” Beth squeaked. “What do you want?”
Reginald smiled down at her. “Your head, girly. And what’s inside it. That’s all.”
Reginald grunted and shuddered, his face taking on a surprised and pained look. His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell to his knees. Beth scuttled away before the tall man could collapse on her. Behind Reginald stood Melissa, the flag pole normally stationed outside the main office gripped tight in her hands like a quarter staff. A look of anger crossed her face and she dropped the pole, wiping her hands on her skirt.
“God, you’re a pain in my ass!” she shouted. “Now get the fuck up and let’s go!”
Beth didn’t question Melissa and got shakily to her feet. “What’s going on?!?” she yelled at Melissa.
Melissa looked at Mr. Stone and Reginald, then grabbed Beth, yanking her towards the front entrance. “Fuck if I know!”
Bits of wood exploded and showered the two girls as they ran through the doorway. Beth risked a glance behind her and saw Mr. Stone, gun aimed at her, smiling before the guard’s right elbow caught him across the brow and his head slammed against the tile floor.
Chapter Three
“Sir?” Corporal Stephens said, hurrying into General Nathan Fitzroy’s office. “You have to see this!”
General Fitzroy, Head of American Forces UK, glanced up from the sheet of dataplast he was reading. “You know, Corporal, for an assistant you do more interrupting than assisting.”
The Corporal ignored the comment and switched on the holo.
“-confirm this Director Gein?” the reporter asked as they both stood outside an official and ominous looking complex. “This is the first breakout in the history of this facility, isn’t that correct?”
“Like I said earlier, Valerie, I am not at liberty to comment on the situation at hand,” Mr. Gein said, pulling at his collar and looking quite uncomfortable. “This is an internal LOMSD matter and will be handled thusly.”
“But, Director Gein, there are reports that this facility isn’t strictly a detention center, but a holding facility for sensitive and quite possibly dangerous materials. Can you confirm this?” Valerie asked.
Director Gein’s eyes narrowed predatorily and the nervous bureaucrat disappeared for a moment. “You must have your facts mixed up, Valerie. This interview is concluded and I have given you as much information as I can. Thank you.” With that he stormed off.
“Well, obviously there is more going on than the LOMSD would like to discuss,” Valerie continued. “I can assure our watching public that we at the HBC will be digging deeper to bring you the truth. Valerie Adams reporting for HBC Breaking News. Back to you, Lois.”
The holo switched to an anchor woman. “Thank you Valerie. Certainly is troubling. In other news, reports are coming in from Gramercy Secondary School of a possible shoot-.”
Fitzroy switched off the holo. “Fucking hell, Heather! Which part of clandestine do you not understand?”
“Shall I call her, sir?” Corporal Stephens asked.
“You think she has a com on her right now?” the General asked annoyed. “I’m pretty sure she’ll be in contact when she wants to be in contact. In the meantime, keep monitoring all channels, official or unofficial. If there is even a hint that this might get back to us, you tell me right away. I won’t be caught with my pants down!”
***
“Please… can… we stop…running,” Beth panted. “Please… my side…”
Melissa halted and looked about, pulling Beth into an alleyway next to Jameson & Sons Fine Candies & News Shop. When sufficiently hidden by shadow, she let go of her arm and looked at Beth.
“You want to tell me what the fuck that was about?” Melissa whispered harshly. “Mr. Weber is dead because those two men were looking for you!”
Beth wouldn’t meet Melissa’s eyes. “I don’t know,” she croaked, tears streaming down her face.
Melissa stared at her hard, then her face softened slightly as she saw the large wet stain on Beth’s skirt. She took her school uniform jacket off and stepped to Beth, draping it about her waist and tying the arms in front. “Here, this should cover it.”
“Thanks,” Beth nodded. “I really don’t know what is going on.”
“Yeah, I believe you,” Melissa said, and then looked around, making sure no one passing by the alleyway heard her. “You may be a freak, but you’re a crappy liar. Come on, we’re going to my place. My aunt is off on business and we’ll have the place to ourselves. You can get cleaned up there and we can figure out what to do next.”
“Why are you helping me?” Beth asked.
“Because Americans stick together,” Melissa said.
Beth’s eyes grew wide with shock. “I’m not an American!”
“Bullshit. That multi-tool design is classic Ghost training,” Melissa grunted. “Either you’ve had the training or someone has shown you. Whichever it is, only an American with genetic control over BC can make that. Come on, we’ve got a short window before they come looking for me as well. I’m not registered, but I think they can get around that.”
***
“The bath is up the stairs,” Melissa said as she ushered Beth through the front door of the brownstone. “Third door on the left. There should be towels.”
Beth looked at her and smiled, then scrunched her face. “I’m going to need, well…”
Melissa frowned “You can grab some of my aunt’s clothes,” she latched the door behind them, activated the security system and turned towards a set of double doors on her right. “Bedroom’s next to the bath. I’m going to check the holo and see if anything has been mentioned.” She opened a hallway closet and pulled two satchels from a hook on the door.
“Are you going somewhere?” Beth asked, eyeing the satchels.
Melissa laughed. “We’re both going somewhere. I don’t know what your deal is, but if you’re an American then that means I have a duty to help and protect you.”
“Why’s that?” Beth asked.
“Are you dense?” Melissa responded harshly. “Because I’m a fucking American also! You really aren’t getting what’s going on, are you, freak?”
“Please don’t call me that,” Beth whispered.
Melissa sighed. “You go upstairs. I’m going to get some supplies and I’ll meet you up there. We probably have ten, maybe fifteen minutes until Special Branch comes knocking. Or the LOMSD.”
Beth took in a sharp breath. “The League? Why would the League want me?”
“Just get upstairs. We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the run.”
“The run?!? But, where-?”
“Fucking get upstairs and get changed for Christ’s sake!”
Beth shut up and dashed up the stairs. Melissa shook her head and walked back to the kitchen.
***
“No, sir,” Director Gein said over his com, his fingers nervously tapping on his desk. “No, we followed every security protocol. She’s obviously a Ghost, sir. There was no way to detect—”
Gein’s face grew redder and redder as he listened to the voice on the other end of the com.
“I understand that, sir, but like I said… Right, of course, sir. Yes, I’ll be expecting you.”
Gein disconnected the com and sat staring at his office wall.
> “Fucking bollocks!” he yelled, slamming his fist down.
***
Heather burst into the kitchen. “Get your shit in a sock! We need to be packed and gone like right now!” she shouted at Melissa. “And what’s with the sec-sys being activated in the middle of the day?”
“Where the hell have you been?” Melissa yelled. “Do you know I almost got killed today?!?”
“Join the fucking club,” Heather said grabbing one of the packs from Melissa. She felt the weight of the supplies and looked inside. “What the hell? Are you psychic now? What’s this about?”
Melissa frowned and pointed at the holocast.
Heather turned her focus on the image of the news woman, once again Valerie Adams, standing outside Gramercy Secondary School.
“Authorities have released this holo footage of the vicious attacks on a teacher and the school receptionist,” Valerie reported. The picture changed to the scene in the hallway, but instead of Mr. Stone firing the pistol, it showed Beth turning on Mr. Weber and executing the teacher. The scene switched to the main office, showing Beth bursting in and stabbing Mrs. Drover repeatedly in the throat and face then running from the office.
“We now have Mr. Able Stone of the LOM Security Division here to give us some insight into this unthinkable act,” the reporter said as Mr. Stone stepped into the image. “Thank you for speaking with us, Mr. Stone.”
“Of course, Valerie,” Mr. Stone said, his face a mask of serious concern. “We know that information is the key to keeping everyone from panicking and jumping to conclusions.”
“Now, Mr. Stone, early reports are calling this an act by a troubled teen connected with terrorists, which is why Special Branch isn’t involved,” Valerie began. “And, if this is part of something bigger than just a London incident, why is the LOMSD here and not the Americans?”
“Well, Valerie, we aren’t sure how deep this goes,” Mr. Stone said. “And, unfortunately, the suspect in question may be an unregistered American, which means the Americans have no choice but to let the LOMSD handle the investigation.” He turned and faced the camera. “After a quick examination of the school’s security holo and speaking to witnesses, we have concluded that this horrible act was the fault of a poor girl addicted to scabs. How that ties into her being an American, we are not sure.”