I reel with questions. "So, am I still a member of Affinity?"
Concern flashes across Ruiz's face and she crosses her arms over her chest. "It's complicated, Avlyn. When Manning attacked the bunker, our choices were limited." She pauses, as if to carefully choose her next words. "To get Philly to come in after us, I had to not only tell them about Manning's intention to release the virus on the Outerbounds, but also about your ability and how it might be useful to him. If I didn't, we'd all be dead. Including you."
"You mean I don't have any choice? Do I belong to New Philadelphia now?" Fear ripples through me at the thought, weakening my legs. Ruiz throws out a hand and catches me.
"Let's have a seat." She gestures toward the chairs surrounding the conference table in back of us. "There's no need to be afraid. You belong to no one. President Waters will be joining us soon to explain everything."
"The president's coming?" I yelp.
"Yes," says Ruiz. "The findings from round one of testing have been quite eye opening. He wanted to be here to speak with you, too."
Sudden panic burns in my belly and old habits return. My primary goal in life was always to remain invisible, and these days I'm failing miserably at meeting it. I swing my head around to the closed door. I wouldn't get far if I tried to leave.
"Please, sit down. The president said I could begin bringing you up to speed before he arrives."
Ruiz moves toward the table and drags out a chair, nodding for me to sit. I walk to the spot, gingerly sliding my body onto the cold metal. My thin pants do nothing to block the chill. Ruiz takes a place directly across the rectangular table, then produces and unfolds her handheld into a tablet, laying it in the middle of the table. As she does, a hologram of a brain flickers on and hovers over the face of the device.
"The initial tests we've performed indicate you have an extraordinary brain. Or, at least, it has become extraordinary with the aid of what we tracked back to the current VacTech roll out in Elore."
So I was right about everything starting on my Configuration Day.
The glowing, holographic brain rotates slowly, highlighting an area on the top and moving its way into the center.
"Prior to the Collapse," Ruiz begins, "and the Aves virus nearly wiping humanity away, scientists worked on implanting humans with technology to stimulate new potential. Several of the studies involved implants adapting to neuron activity, and allowed a limited amount of communication when linked to a computer system."
The vision of Ben screaming as an infant whirls through my mind.
"Implanted? Was I implanted?"
Were we implanted in the experiments?
"No … no, my dear," she says in a calm, flat tone. "There's no evidence you were specifically implanted. But, please, allow me to finish."
Questions bubble to the surface, but I hold my tongue, despite the burning desire to blurt them out.
"After Aves, the goals of Elore consisted of population survival and healing. The vast majority of brain tech projects worked on prior to the virus was tabled, filed for a later date. As Direction grew and concentrated on population growth as well as increasing natural Intelligence Potential, they concentrated tech on keeping citizens fixated on that goal. Integrating the average human into tech has too many liabilities—too much chance of distraction. New Philadelphia never had any interest in the technology. They felt it too invasive."
"So what happened to me?" I search her face for any indication of her awareness of the experimentation Ben and I were involved in, but she gives no clues, and I can't ask without exposing Ben.
"We believe it to be a side effect from the recent VacTech upgrade. Affinity was able to procure a sample, but have been unable to isolate the exact component that created the effect for you. The theory is it seems to have activated a gene which allowed your nanos to approximate what science crudely attempted over one hundred years ago."
I lean in. "Crudely attempted?"
"Yes. Compared to what you seem to be experiencing, science's previous pursuits at allowing humans to connect to machines at will were clumsy. Only the simplest tasks succeeded. In your case, as far as we can tell, once within a computer system, you have complete control to simply do whatever you want."
Nervousness stirs in my core. Doing whatever I want doesn't sound great from their perspective. "Am I dangerous?"
Ruiz looks from the hologram to me and tips her head. "No, dear, I don't believe you to be dangerous. But immersion could be, and that's what we're here to speak about today." Ruiz's expression shifts to serious. "Realistically, the ability has as much potential for benefit as harm. We must research it further and provide you with some sort of training, but it's all new so we will be learning together."
The door slides away again and in strolls a compact man, maybe fifty years old, with tan, leathery skin. President Waters, I presume.
"Ruiz. Lark." The president nods to us and walks straight to my side. The haughty energy radiating from him causes a shiver to run down my back, but I shake it off and swivel my chair toward him. He extends his hand, and without standing, I reach to grip it. Father always said a firm handshake conveys confidence. Might as well fake it.
"I'm President Waters." He grips my hand and locks onto my eyes. The shiver returns. Despite my ability, this guy's in charge and requires me to know it.
"Avlyn Lark." I hold his stare for as long as I can but eventually relent. "Ruiz said you were joining us."
Waters drops my hand not pausing for me speak. "Have you explained our findings to her yet?"
"Yes," Ruiz says.
"Well, then."
Waters rounds the table and sits alongside Ruiz, taps her handheld, and the image of the brain disappears. He folds his hands on the tabletop, leaning into me. A lump forms in my throat, and I wipe my now-sweaty palms on my pants, but in order to maintain some sense of confidence, I straighten and look him in the eye once more.
"Ms. Lark, have you been comfortable so far since you arrived in New Philadelphia?" Waters asks.
I clear my throat. "Um, I guess. But not being told anything or allowed to see anyone since I landed three days ago has been … disconcerting."
"I expected nothing less, but we needed to complete the diagnostics to ensure you were not infected with a tracking or data collection device from Direction. We felt it unlikely, but could not take chances. Immediately following this meeting, you'll go to the lab for phase two of testing your ability, as well as to be fitted with a permanent eyepiece."
Shock sweeps Ruiz's face. "Why wasn't I informed? The permanent EPs are new tech. Is it worth the risk?"
My eyes flit from Ruiz to President Waters. Risk?
"It is. My top science team has been working around the clock evaluating Lark's information since she arrived." Waters swings his attention back to me. "And I will be honest with you now because you will become aware of this as soon as the implant becomes operational. This EP has been specially designed for you and the ability. Not only will it track your connection to a computer system, the tech is also equipped with special firewall technology to keep your skills in check. This will allow you to have additional freedom within the compound and eventually outside of it. We desire for you to have that freedom. You are a new citizen of New Philadelphia, and you should enjoy it."
I inhale deeply, looking to Ruiz, whose face continues to bear an air of concern. "Will it track everything I do?"
"You will be able to disengage the visuals of the device at will, as you did the removable device," Waters explains. "But even disengaged, it will continue to relay your location and vitals for security. However, any time you have it on, it will record. After the implantation, you will be kept here until you've completed training."
I suck in a deep breath. Part of me wants to fight him on this, but the other knows if I don't, Father and Aron will have no one on their side. I must have leverage. "I don't have a say in this, do I?"
"Unfortunately, for your safety, you do not," Waters
says.
Ruiz's demeanor relaxes slightly, but her face maintains a hint of concern. "I wish this were easier, but until we fully understand immersion and are convinced you can control it, you will need to be kept under close observation."
So much for freedom.
"Lark," says President Waters, "do you have any additional questions about the procedure?"
My mind reels. If Waters hadn't blindsided me, I'd have questions prepared. "How do you intend to use my ability?" I somehow choke out, thinking of Ben and my conversation.
Waters pinches his lips together. "We are still trying to determine that."
Ruiz remains silent, eyes trained on the table.
"Will that be all?" Without waiting for my answer, Waters turns and makes for the door.
Ruiz stands, her chair legs screeching over the tile floor. "Outside you will find an escort. President Waters and I have a few additional matters we need to discuss."
Waters stops and shifts toward Ruiz, a crease forming in the middle of his thick eyebrows. Even in my dazed state, the tension between them is obvious.
If Waters won't answer my first question, at least I can get in another one.
"I do have one more question." I don't pause for him to protest. "During the attack in Elore, a boy named Aron tried to arrest us, but then your men took him into custody. What happened to him?"
Aron's a nice guy who asked me to secure a spouse contract, and in return, I threatened him with a gun. It's not as if I had another choice, but I don't want him to think I'm dangerous and would have killed him.
Waters taps his foot impatiently. "Ah, yes. Barton. He's safely in custody."
I wring my hands together. "Is there any way I can talk to him?"
President Waters scoffs. "No. Barton is a prisoner of war. He's not exactly seeing visitors."
I take a breath and weigh the possible outcomes. If I keep Waters calm about my ability, he might do something else for me. "Listen, I'm doing everything you ask. I don't want to, but I am. I recognize your position. Now, Aron is a friend of mine—one who risked his life to come in after me during the attack on the bunker. He may have been on the other side, but his motives were sound."
Ruiz opens her mouth to speak.
"Please." I hold up my hand to stay her before she says anything. "There's no harm in me seeing him to make certain he's well taken care of."
"Mr. President, she's right," Ruiz says. "Avlyn has cooperated and proven herself to be on our side. Simply speaking with Barton—under security, of course—would not pose any risk."
Waters crosses his arms over his chest. "Fine. I will arrange it, but you have to keep it short."
"Yes, sir," I say. It's a meager victory on a day where so much suddenly seems to be spinning out of control, but I'll take it.
The president taps the screen on his handheld. "Send in Ms. Lark's escort." He looks at me. "Thank you. You are dismissed."
Ruiz motions me toward the exit. With that, I nod a goodbye and follow President Waters' orders.
Outside the closed door, I draw in a deliberate breath and wait for my guardian, hopefully Ben, to retrieve me. As I let the air from my lungs, he rounds the corner.
"You good?" he asks, concern blanketing his face.
"Uh, yeah." I shake my head, searching for the appropriate words. "All this," I wave back toward the door behind me, "is simply too much, too soon."
He grasps my arm and pulls me through the hall and out the front exit. "The emotions I sensed from you while you were in there were off the charts. What happened?"
I check around us to ensure no one can hear, but there's no one in sight. "Waters is implanting me with a permanent EP equipped to block my ability," I whisper.
"What?" he hisses. "You can't let them do that. They'll track your every move."
"I know. I'm not sure I have a choice."
Ben's face grows stern. "You always have a choice."
"Of course I do, but there are people who need me. In order to keep them safe, I may be required to make a sacrifice."
"And that might be us. The more they know about you, the greater the chance they could find out about my ability."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Ben twists from me slightly. "I know that's what you think, but it doesn't make it guaranteed."
The words punch me in the stomach because, in the end, I know he's right. It's a promise I might not be able to keep.
~ ~ ~
A dozen techs in white coats bustle about the clean, bright lab, but the bustling turns to gawking when they finally notice me. Hot nervousness creeps up my neck as they stare. One of them, an older man with thin, graying hair approaches Ben and me.
"Avlyn, I'm Medic Harris. We've been expecting you." He gestures to a doorway straight ahead, through the middle of the lab.
"I'll be waiting for you outside," Ben tells me.
I flash him a nervous look, but remain silent.
"Actually …" The medic stops to examine the name on Ben's uniform. "Porter, you will no longer be required at this time." He tips his head for Ben to leave.
Ben glances uneasily at me, but quickly returns his attention to Medic Harris. "Yes, sir." He rotates and exits the room, leaving me alone with the medics.
"The tech team will explain the process to your liking." Medic Harris places a hand on my shoulder and nudges me further into the lab. The curious stares of the lab techs stay glued to me as I walk to the opposite side of the room. All I want to do is disappear into the floor.
In the adjacent room, five more white-clad lab techs surround a large, sterile-looking chair, the kind that leans back for its occupant to lie in. The wall to my right shows a floor-to-ceiling screen, displaying a full image of my body on one part, and a gigantic, revolving brain on the other. Mine, too, I assume. Stats, facts, and figures scroll down a column in the middle too fast for my eyes to keep up with them.
Harris blabbers on about the procedure, but no matter how much I want to, I don't hear what he says.
"Ms. Lark?" A new, gentle voice draws my attention from the information display.
"Yes?" I yelp.
"The process is about to begin." An attractive female tech with coppery skin guides me to the seat and explains the procedure of implanting a permanent EP. I focus on what's important to calm the nausea rolling in my stomach. I can handle a permanent EP, and playing along with Waters and Ruiz will give me additional time to evaluate the situation.
Medic Harris taps the arm of the chair and it reclines. From underneath, a silver shield emerges from either side and meets with a click over the top part of my body, dimming the bright lights of the lab.
"We'll immerse you in Virtual Reality, Ms. Lark. Doing so will allow a portion of your brain to interact with the program and absorb it much faster. But first we'll sedate you and perform a series of tests prior to the implantation. The sedative will cause a form of short-term amnesia, so even though you will be alert during the procedure, you won't remember it. Do you have any final questions, Ms. Lark?"
Of course I do.
"No."
"Then I will begin."
The darkness of the shield melts, replaced by a generated schematic of the lab.
Something pinches at my arm, and before the room fades, President Waters steps into my virtual world.
Chapter
Four
I open my eyes to find them hazy. Breathing hard, I blink a few times and the murk clears, slowly replaced with silvery, sparkling wisps floating in the air. I reach out to one, but it repels from my touch. The sparkling vision swirls about me and eventually solidifies into cylindrical shapes.
Incubators. The same type as the testing pods in GenTech's secret lab. Those pods contained Level One citizens who Direction tested a deadly new virus on, one they intended to force on their own citizens—the ones with lower intelligence potential.
Nausea burrows its way through my belly, and I lightly step toward the shapes, afraid of what I
might see.
Each holds a human form, void of features; only blank, translucent, sparkling faces. I place my hand on the surface of the pod and words immediately scroll across my vision.
Project Ascendancy
"Identify Project Ascendancy?"
Over the top of the pod, a 3D version of a brain twirls slowly in my vision, appearing much like the hologram of my own brain Ruiz showed me. The identical points are highlighted as on mine.
Neuron Implantation procedure to facilitate a bond between human and technology.
Panic rises up my frame. This is the same procedure Ruiz was telling me about. Why would someone be studying this again?
"Who oversees Project Ascendancy?"
As if cued by the question, the medical pod in front of me disperses and blows away, as if a gust of wind took it.
"No!" I yell, grabbing for the pod. I need to know more, but it's gone, and I'm left standing in a fading, empty lab. My head goes light, and I brace as the whole digital world twists and arches.
My eyelids burst open, and with them, a gasp escapes my mouth. My pounding heart threatens to escape my chest until my eyesight clears, revealing a plain ceiling overlain with information floating over my vision. I release a long breath of relief and fall back onto my pillow.
8:10 AM
Location: New Philadelphia Research Facility
The EP.
Memories pour back. I had an eyepiece implanted, and it seems to be working. Without having had access to one for several days, I'd forgotten how annoying they are. Helpful, but annoying.
My pulse slows upon the realization that what I just saw wasn't real. The door to my room slides clear and a short male medic comes through.
Medic Luis Rodriguez
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Security clearance: B
The words slide across the bottom of my vision in green.
Well, this EP gives me more information than before.
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