“Tell me what you witnessed here today,” says McCall.
She lifts her chin, raises a pointed finger. At me.
Before she can say a word, Gatz presses forward. “It was me. I hurt the woman. I tried to help, but I hurt her.”
McCall rears back, beckons his fellow troops. “Arrest him.”
“No,” I cry.
With alarm in his eyes, Gatz shakes his head, frowning. “Please. Don't protest. They would have taken me anyway. Hunter’s out to get me,” he whispers. “Go to H. They’ll help you. Stick with Lucy.”
I’m shoved aside as the crowd surges around me, shouting and jeering. Gatz offers up his arms willingly, and they lock him in handcuffs before leading him to the cruiser.
Can this really be happening? I watch, stunned, as the soldiers collect the fallen body and fend off the agitated spectators. From the cruiser doorway, McCall glares at me, but I shrink back, blending in with the crowd. I’m too difficult to locate, and after a minute, the ship powers up and thrusts off with my best friend inside.
I race to my bike, tears streaking my face.
My mission was to get Gatz to Section H safely.
I failed miserably.
Sixteen
An hour later, I struggle between breaths to recount the story to Lucy and Vera.
“Ida, are you going to be okay?” Worry creases Vera’s forehead. “I've never seen you this upset.”
Lucy stares at me. “What do you mean Vance controlled you? I thought you were just seeing him, like in a waking dream.”
I pace the dome-shaped common room. “Ever since I woke up, Vance has been in my head, talking to me. I ignored it. Honestly, I thought it would go away.”
“You should have told me the whole truth,” says Lucy. “Maybe we could have helped you.”
“I went to Alkina for help. She knew Vance was inside my head. She’d seen him somehow. Don’t ask me how.”
“Voices in your head is one thing, but how can he control your actions?”
“I don’t know. He made me punch out a window on Tyren’s cruiser. Then I attacked you when we sparred. And now—”
“Now he’s taken control of your healing ability. Unbelievable.”
“Alkina couldn’t help you?” says Vera.
“She could have. It would have been risky. I would have changed—not been me anymore.”
“You’re right; it was too risky. We have to find another way to get rid of Vance,” says Lucy.
“Right now, my biggest concern is Gatz. We need a plan. I've got to get him out of HQ, away from Colonel Hunter. He's not safe.”
“What do you mean?” asks Vera. “Won’t Major Tyren let Gatz state his case and understand he wasn't at fault?”
“It's not that easy. A woman came forward, and she was about to accuse me. Gatz being Gatz knew what was about to go down and covered for me. He took the fall for me.”
“But how could they make the leap that he could have done it?” Lucy says. “He doesn't have powers. He—”
“We’re talking about Will Hunter. It doesn't matter how the soldier died or who did it. He's out to get the hybrids, and Gatz is their poster boy.”
“Crap.” Lucy exhales loudly. “What do we do? We can't leave him there on his own.”
“I won't let him go to prison for me. Hunter and Tyren know about my power. If I explain to them what happened, that Vance somehow controlled my actions, maybe they'll believe me and let Gatz go.”
“It’s worth a shot. I'm going with you.”
“Absolutely not.” I cross my arms and glance at Vera for back up.
“You're not doing this alone,” says Lucy. “Let me help. Gatz is my friend, too.”
“It’s too dangerous,” I say.
But she won’t give up. “I have lot of pull with Paul,” she says. “He’ll be there, and he has sway with his uncle. Paul won’t let anything bad happen to us. Not after all we’ve been through together.”
“This is a terrible idea.”
“Think about how you saved Paul’s life not once, but twice. The dude owes you big time.”
She has a point. Maybe we can turn Paul into an ally, get him to convince the Colonel that Gatz is innocent. “Vera, you’re okay with this?”
She shrugs. “I gave up trying to make Lucy listen to me a long time ago. Just be careful.”
Lucy grins.
“Okay,” I mumble. No use arguing when she's made up her mind.
To headquarters we go.
Seventeen
Lucy and I approach the former DremCorp towers, now a makeshift military headquarters.
Gorgeous place…home, Vance says, suddenly chatty.
I crane my neck up following the curving cylindrical shape formed by the twin towers. Before his death, they served as Vance’s residence, office, and factory for building his androids. No surprise the military commandeered it given its strategic location along the river.
We enter the lobby. Soldiers swarm past us, busy packing crates of supplies and marching in groups. Before we can get our bearings, an android approaches, its metal face peering down. “State your business.”
“We need to speak with Colonel Hunter and Major Tyren,” I say.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“We don’t need one. They've been looking for me.”
“Scanning in progress.” The robot scans me with the pulsating red light on its visor, then moves to Lucy. It backs away and summons two other androids.
“Told you they were looking for me,” I say.
An elevator dings across the room followed by the whoosh of doors sliding open. A group of soldiers exit.
Next to me, Lucy inhales sharply. “It's Paul,” she whispers, tugging on my arm.
Sure enough, Paul strides over in full uniform, jawline and high cheekbones accentuated by close cropped light brown hair. He does a double take when he sees us. “Ida? Lucy? What are you doing here?”
“We're trying to meet with your uncle,” she says. “Can you help us? Soldiers arrested Gatz, and we've got to help him.”
His forehead wrinkles. “Gatz was arrested?”
I nod. “I need to meet with Hunter and Tyren. Tell them the truth about what happened. Gatz is innocent.”
He turns to the android security guard that approaches with gun raised, its companions lined up behind it with rifles ready.
“Whoa. Hold on now.” Paul raises his hands. “These two are no threat. They’re with me.”
The robot studies Paul. “Instructions are to seize the woman, handcuff her, and bring her to command center.”
“I’ll take them up.” Paul glares at the androids. “Weapons down.”
The machines holster their guns as commanded.
“Let’s move, quickly,” he whispers. We follow as his polished boots click across the marble floor. In the elevator, he punches floor sixty-five.
“What was that all about?” says Lucy. “You could program the androids to be friendlier, you know.”
“Sixty-fifth floor. Is that where they built the command center?” I ask. “The penthouse level?”
“Yes. You know this building?” He blinks. “Of course, you do. Sorry, forgot.”
“Yeah, I have a little history here.”
Lucy’s back is rigid and her eyes are downcast. Paul keeps trying to make eye contact, but it's no use. “How’ve you been?” he asks her. “How's your mom? I sure miss her cooking.”
She rolls her eyes, keeping her mouth clamped shut. The girl can be stubborn, no doubt.
We reach the roof-level and emerge into Hunter’s military command center. A glass dome surrounds us, shelters us from the high winds so many floors above the ground. Rows of stations fill the floor, attended by soldiers who interact with holographic displays of city streets. From this vantage point, the Colonel keeps his pulse on the citizens. He can command troops whether they’re in the same building or across the city. In the distance, the view extends for miles, the clear blu
e of the lake shimmers like glitter.
Gorgeous, Vance mutters. How I miss my old apartment. I cough to squelch him.
Tyren stands next to a tall, broad-shouldered man who appears to be in his fifties. Colonel Hunter is the picture of military masculine authority with his silver hair cropped close to his scalp, salt-and-pepper stubble, and imposing presence.
On a raised platform, the pair study a digital screen. We follow Paul as he strides toward them.
Tyren notices us first, and his jaw drops. Hunter follows his gaze, reddens, and folds his muscular arms across his chest.
Paul salutes.
“At ease,” says Hunter as he scrutinizes us. “My nephew did what you couldn't, Tyren. Brought me the medic.”
Tyren stiffens.
“We need to talk,” I say.
Marching toward us, Hunter halts directly in front of me. He stands at least six-foot-five and smells strongly of aftershave and pine trees.
“Your men arrested Gatz today. He's a hybrid, and he's my friend—”
“Yes. He’s been accused of a serious crime. He murdered one of our own. A soldier.” Tendons on his neck protrude. “A woman soldier like you. One of your sisters.”
“He's innocent.” I shift my gaze between Hunter and Tyren. “I was there. In fact, I'm the one who caused her death.”
Tyren’s eyes widen. Next to me, Lucy flinches.
“Go on,” says Hunter.
“You know about my power to heal. Gatz and I came upon the bridge. We saw a riot and someone on the ground being beaten, kicked. The female soldier. So we stepped in and pushed the mob away as fast as we could.”
Hunter's hazel eyes study me. Can I convince him?
“Once the crowd had cleared, I inspected her injuries. She’d been stabbed in the abdomen and was losing blood fast. I took off my gloves and tried to heal her with my hands.” I catch Tyren’s eyes. “The major has seen me do it a few times.”
Tyren nods silently.
“And then what?” Hunter props his arms on his hips.
“I began to heal her, but…”
Careful what you say, Vance orders.
“I failed. She was past the point where I could save her.” I lower my head, shuddering at the memory of Vance controlling me, tainting her body with his icy blue tendrils.
Hunter rocks back on his heels. “You expect me to believe this bullshit? There were eyewitness reports that Gatz stuck a knife in her and knocked her to the ground. According to my men, the mob was going after him because he murdered her.”
I glare at him. “That's not true. The so-called eyewitnesses lied on the spot. The crowd just wanted to see a hybrid accused.”
“Now it's your word against theirs. We’ll have to give him a hearing.”
I clench my fists. “A hearing? You mean a military tribunal? Will there be any hybrids deliberating his case, or will they all be human?”
“Stand down, soldier, before you say something you'll regret.”
I'm running out of options. “Tyren, have you ever known me to lie?”
He shakes his head. “Sir, Private Sarek is an honest person.”
“Well, her relationship with the mutant makes her judgment suspect, now doesn't it? We've been pursuing Gatz for weeks. He’s been inciting riots and looting. He's stolen government property. Yet, you continue to be his friend. Maybe Gatz has dirt on you. Blackmail—”
“Stop.” I clench my teeth. “Let him go. He's done nothing wrong.”
“And then what?” says Hunter. “Return him to his people, where he’ll cause more riots, cause more trouble for me and my men?” He grins. “No. I have Gatz exactly where I want him.”
I lunge forward, but Paul grabs me from behind. Lucy takes my right arm, her fingers jamming into my shoulders as they restrain me.
You shouldn't have done that.
Hunter smirks. “I ought to lock you up too, but I’m a reasonable man. I understand you’re still recovering. It’s time we test your abilities. Understand how they work. See how we can best use them.”
I stop my struggle, submitting to Paul and Lucy's hold. Biting my tongue to hold back my rage, I taste the copper bitterness of blood.
“Tyren,” Hunter says. “Take her immediately to the med clinic. I want them to draw samples. Keep her under medical observation until further instructions.”
Eighteen
"Ida, you don't look so good."
I let Lucy hold my arm since I'm swaying. She guides me to a chair in the med clinic.
The nurse on duty, Maxine, stares at me. “You were a medic, right?”
"Yeah, but I left the blood and guts to my fellow troops."
“An army medic who can’t stand the sight of blood. That’s a new one.” She chuckles.
I focus on the light green cotton of her scrubs, willing myself not to wretch as she preps a needle to draw my blood.
"There was blood, sure, but it doesn't bother me when I'm in crisis mode." I bend over, put my head between my knees. "Only times like this. When it’s my veins you’re sticking with giant needles.” I force myself to swallow despite my dry mouth and throat.
“I’ll be fast," says Maxine.
Lucy pushes my shirt sleeve high on my arm as a rubber tube tightens around my bicep. "Squeeze your hand into a fist."
"I know the drill." I swallow back bile.
"Think of your favorite place in the world," says Maxine.
"Don't have one.”
"Think of a time you enjoyed." A hot sensation stings my arm. I can’t help it. My eyes find the vial. Crimson blood fills the chamber. My stomach lurches, and I close my eyes.
I remember one of the nights Gatz and I stayed up late drinking wine and talking. It was during the time he hid me in his underground bunker beneath his bar. Laughing with him, getting to know him—that was probably the best night of my life so far.
"All done," Maxine says.
My eyelids flip open, and Lucy applies an adhesive bandage to the delicate skin of my forearm. My head aches. "How much did you take? Geez."
“Breathe normally.” The medic lifts my chin and inspects my eyes. “You going to be okay?”
I grunt. “Just dizzy.”
Tyren nods to Maxine. “Give us a moment.”
The medic slides out the door, leaving me alone with him and Lucy.
“Tyren, you’ve got to believe me. Gatz is innocent,” I say. “If anything, he jumped in—covered for me. To keep me out of trouble.
“Well, you managed to stir up shit with the Colonel. You heard the man, I'm to keep you here.”
“He can't keep me here against my will. Are you going to arrest me?”
“What do you want from me, Ida?”
“Help me clear Gatz’s name. Get Hunter to let him go. Maybe he'll listen to you.”
Tyren paces the small room while Lucy leans against a wall.
“The man’s a wild-card Ida. I've dealt with a lot of hot heads over the years, you know. But Hunter, he's different. Whip smart and ambitious.”
“Will Gatz receive a fair trial? Can you testify and tell them what really happened?” asks Lucy.
“If Gatz goes up before a military tribunal, he’ll be crucified,” I say.
“He won’t fare well in any scenario,” adds Tyren.
I rise, feeling steadier. “So you agree? He needs our help.”
“Ida, there’s not much I can do. When Hunter makes up his mind—”
“But you’ll talk to him? You’ve got to convince him that Gatz’s arrest is a sign of aggression against the hybrids. Against their leader.”
“I’m not sure that matters to Hunter.”
“What does matter to him?”
He sighs. “Power. Respect. Ultimately, I think he wants the hybrids to submit to his authority. But Gatz, especially, has been resistant, rebellious. Hunter hates that.”
“Why should the hybrids submit to someone who comes in and takes over the city—and segregates them?” asks Lucy.
/> “You’d have to convince Gatz to make a public statement,” Tyren says. “The only way Hunter might let him go is if he makes a deal with Hunter. Give up control of Section H, let the military in and not cause unrest in the city.”
“Gatz would never agree to that, that’s insane,” Lucy says. “That would be admitting guilt.”
“And dangerous.” I chew on my lip, tasting the salt and lingering copper from biting my tongue earlier. “Can you talk to Hunter first, Tyren? Reason with him. This could cause an all-out war with the hybrids. Is that what he wants?”
He shrugs. “Hard to say, but yes, I think he’d rather not have his troops dying over pissing rights with hybrids.”
“I haven’t asked you for much. You’re like family to me. Talk to Hunter, reason with him.”
He locks his gaze on mine. “Yes. I’ll talk to him in private. See if we can get this sorted out—peacefully. I promi—”
The sharp ringing of a sudden alarm makes us jump. The building’s walls and ceilings light up with a pulsating orange light.
“ThreatCon Delta,” shouts Tyren over the din. “Means imminent attack. Arm yourselves and head for the stairs.”
Outside in the corridor, Tyren opens a panel stocked with weapons and tosses me a pulse rifle before grabbing one for himself. Then we race into the stairwell and clamber down among armed soldiers. The pungent odor of sweat invades my nostrils as we hurry.
I follow closely behind Tyren and grab Lucy’s hand. “Stay close.”
Nineteen
We clear the stairs and find ourselves in the main lobby. Soldiers spill from opposite corridors and elevators, lining up in formation, automatic pulse rifles strapped to their sides.
“This is not a drill,” Tyren says over his shoulder.
“What’s happening?” I crane my head, trying to discern what’s outside—what the threat is. Next to me, Lucy hops up and down, trying for a glimpse.
We push our way through the crowded room. Tyren’s rank is like a VIP pass, causing troops to slide back and let us by.
The Rogue Spark series Box Set Page 33