Salvage

by Cameron Coral

  Eleven

  Alone with Ogre in my hotel room, I'm determined to find answers. “Search for any records on Kenmore. I don't know his first name, but he was a professor here,” I say.

  “Ahem,” says Ogre.

  I stop pacing the floor a moment and stop in front of Ogre who sits on the edge of my bed. “What? What’s the problem?”

  “You could ask me nicely and use the magic word,” says Ogre.

  “Dammit, Ogre. We’re wasting time here.”

  The android stares at me, waiting.

  I sigh and kick the bed. “Ogre, please hack into ‘fenseNet and search for records on a Professor Kenmore.”

  “That’s better,” Ogre says. “Accessing Squad general database.”

  I grit my teeth and bite back a comment on how this is the absolute worst time for Ogre to be irritable. There must be records on Kenmore. Ogre hacking into Space Squad’s matrix is my next best move since Lucas won’t cooperate unless I give him a blood sample.

  I'm wearing a circle into the floor with my boots. “Well?” I'm impatient and pissed off that I'm still in Colorado wasting time while Kenmore might be getting away. Now that Lucas knows I’m searching, he might warn the man.

  Lucas is dangerous to my mission. Is Reed on his side, blocking me from information, trying to get my tissue for his precious space program?

  “Still processing,” says Ogre. “It takes finesse to access the records in such a way that I leave no trace. Being discovered would be very bad.”

  “Right, I know that.” It's true we're walking a thin line here. It's illegal to hack into the government’s matrix. If caught, we would be arrested. “Take your time,” I say even though I don’t mean it.

  “Your incessant pacing is making me nervous.”

  “Ogre, you're an android. How can you be nervous?”

  “I can experience a range of human emotions. Now, I’m offended that you think so little of me.”

  Lucy had warned me, but I keep forgetting Ogre is developing emotional intelligence. I'm not used to hanging out with an android, much less one so sensitive.

  “I'm suspending operations and returning to play pool,” says Ogre.

  “Wait. Don't stop...Please.”

  “Are you sorry?”

  “Yes,” I mutter. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Can you please continue? This is important.”

  “Fine.”

  “I'll stop pacing, if that helps.” I take a seat on the bed.

  Ogre continues its attempt to penetrate the world's most secure DefenseNet. It crosses my mind we should’ve gone to a remote location while attempting this hack. But it's too late now. I hope my impatience doesn't cost us everything.

  “I've gained access to the school records. Dr. Philip T. Kenmore was a professor here in 2035.”

  I lean forward, nearly falling off the edge of the bed. Philip. Now I have a first name for my tormentor. “And…? Is there an address for his residence? Any clue to his whereabouts now?” This is too much. I jump up and start pacing again. “Relatives listed as contacts? Anything, Ogre?”

  “Patience, please. I have to delete traces as I go, and it's time consuming. I have sixty-two parallel processes running concurrently, and it’s devouring bandwidth.”

  I start to speak but then shut my mouth. Be patient, I tell myself. I'm getting close. Closer than I've ever been to finding him.

  “No residential address listed. Only a storage box that is no longer owned by him. How do I know? Oh, because I already checked that company's records.”

  Damn. I’d hoped for an address, but I can make do with any relatives.

  “No emergency contact or next of kin listed. Apparently, the arrangement with Space Squad was a lump sum payment, and he was not on their payroll.”

  “Okay.” It doesn't surprise me he kept things under the radar, given his track record of criminal activity.

  “Ida, I am not finding anything unusual with the school records. Other than his name, blood type, and old payment transfer information, which is now closed by the way, there doesn’t seem to be any information.”

  “You're telling me the school records are a dead end?” Kenmore covered his tracks better than I expected. “There must be other clues.” I’ve racked my brain for years, trying to remember anything from the fragments of memory that loosely frame my days as a prisoner at the medical lab. Nothing in my cell contained writing or signs.

  “I think I found something,” says Ogre, interrupting my thoughts.

  “What is it?”

  “An address. Kenmore ordered large shipments of medical and laboratory supplies to an address in Tucson, Arizona.”

  My pulse quickens. Finally, a clue that might go somewhere.

  “Searching public GPS records for the address… It's an abandoned warehouse, no longer in operation.”

  My stomach rolls. “There must be something else. Can you search for any other addresses—like a forwarding address? What happened to the company that operated the warehouse?”

  “According to records, the business closed years ago. The owner relocated to London.”

  I sigh. “Keep looking.” I step toward the window, chewing my nails.

  “Here’s something,” says Ogre. “There’s a reference to project Frontier, but…”

  Frontier. I flash back to the space cruiser ride with the couple who pretended to adopt me. I stabbed the woman with a screwdriver. Then a memory lights up my mind like a flashbulb. “The word Frontier was written on a metal case inside the aircraft when I was abducted. I remember it. Frontier Medical.”

  “Searching…I've located a section of documents and programming related to Frontier, but…”

  I hold my breath.

  “That section of DefenseNet is walled off. Top secret classification.” The android turns and faces me. “Only the very top officials can access that area. Even my programming can’t touch it.”

  “Then there must be something there. Something important.” I'm sure, now more than ever, that the government is trying to hide something. Are they trying to protect Kenmore? If so, they're hurting innocent people in the process. I can't let it stand.

  “Exiting,” Ogre says quickly. “I had to exit fast and delete all my search sequences. I got pinged by something with machine intelligence in the ‘fenseNet. A few seconds more, and I would have been discovered.”

  “Okay, Ogre. Thank you. You've done enough. No more hacking. We have the address in Tucson, and we can at least go visit the warehouse to see if any clues remain.”

  “I will be ready to travel again when you say so,” Ogre says then pauses, watching me. “If we are done here, may I go play pool now?”

  I let my breath go slowly. I didn't realize I was holding it in so tightly. I roll my head, stretching my neck muscles, which are incredibly tense. I suppose there's no harm in Ogre playing pool with the scientists. “You can go, but no answering questions. If they ask about your programming—if they ask about Spark City, not a word. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, affirmative.” Ogre raises its chrome arms and thrusts both thumbs up.

  I can't help but smile at the silly gesture Lucy taught it.

  I follow Ogre down to the hotel lobby. I need some air, so I venture outside, taking a trail that leads to a forested path. The fresh oxygen rushes into my lungs. But after a few minutes of strolling, I get the feeling someone’s following me. Did security figure out we hacked into the system?

  I spin around, ready to confront an armed security guard, but it's Reed. He's alone and not threatening. I relax my shoulders.

  “Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you,” he says.

  “How did you find me?”

  “I needed to see you.”

  I narrow my eyes and say nothing.

  “Sally probably has a search party looking for me because I skipped a meeting to come find you.” He searches my eyes. “I wanted to find out what happened with Lucas.”

  The mention of Lucas gi
ves me chills. “How well do you know Lucas?”

  “I've known him for years. I trust him with my life. Why do you ask?”

  “He seems...like someone to be careful of.”

  “That’s odd. He’s a good guy. I trust him with everything. What did he say to make you suspicious?”

  I meet his gaze. “He wants my blood for analysis.”

  “And? He’s a scientist… taking samples is part of the job.”

  “He told me you might say that. I don’t trust him, and I don’t trust you anymore, either.” I spin and start down the path away from him.

  “Ida, wait,” he says in a strong voice. “You’ve been lying to me.”

  I halt in mid-step.

  “Lucas told me you're looking for intel on Phillip Kenmore, the geneticist. Why? Is he the doctor you’re looking for?”

  I face forward, not wanting him to see the hate in my eyes when I say, “I knew Kenmore when I was younger. He ran the lab I was held in. He hurt me and others like me.”

  Reed pauses. “You should have told me right away you were looking for him. Lucas says I shouldn’t trust you.”

  His words are like a gut punch. He’s supposed to be on my side. I turn and meet his gaze. “Lucas said the same thing to me. Don’t you see he’s playing us?”

  He stares at me as a light rain begins to fall.

  “Can you see why I won’t hand over my blood to that man? Look what Kenmore did to me. He made me a monster.” Drops of rain mingle with my runaway tears. “I won’t let that happen to other people.”

  He closes the distance to me, peering down. “I’m sorry I put you in this position. Damn Lucas. I suspected he was jealous of you, but this…”

  “Just be careful.”

  “He’ll be questioned.” His jaw clenches. “And Kenmore. I'll help you find him. If it's justice you want, we’ll locate and arrest him… Bring him to trial for his crimes.”

  I gaze up at him. “Yes, I need to bring him to justice.” Only, I leave out that my definition of justice is strangling him. “What do you know about Frontier Medical?”

  “It was a military program, but I didn’t know the specifics.”

  Reed’s face tells me he’s being sincere. “You really want to help me?”

  He nods. “You know I do.”

  “Can you get me past the firewall? I need to find out about that program.”

  He lifts his chin and narrows his eyes. “I have top tier security access. But giving you classified information, that’s…treason,” he says in a low voice.

  I hold my breath, not sure what to say. This is my best shot at finding Kenmore.

  After a minute, he says softly, “Treason comes at a price. This is going to cost you, Ida Sarek.”

  A shiver passes through me. I’d be willing to do almost anything to find Kenmore and make him pay.

  “Come to my place for dinner tonight. This time you stay for the whole dinner,” he says. “Then I search for intel on Frontier. Deal?”

  I had hoped to get the info I need and get on the road. Dinner tonight means another night wasted in Colorado. But then, my gaze lingers on his brilliant eyes and his perfect lips. It’s not as if dinner with him is torture. How many women would jump at the chance to dine with the head of Space Squad alone in his quarters?

  And if everything goes as planned, I’ll have a location for Kenmore.

  “One last evening together before you leave,” he whispers and gently squeezes my shoulders.

  I struggle to breathe, memorizing the pressure of his hands on my arms, then swallow against the lump in my throat. “Deal.”

  Twelve

  In my room, I study myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. There’s been no sign of Ogre since he trekked off to play pool with the scientists. Maybe that’s just as well.

  I stare at my outfit after switching to my black jeans. I muss my hair, add a little product to spruce it up. Satisfied, I finish off my look with lipstick and mascara.

  I step back to assess. “This is stupid,” I say out loud. Then I pace the small room. Here I am, fretting over makeup because I’m dining with an old friend. Granted, he’s an attractive old friend, and it's been ages since I've had any romantic action... When was the last time I slept with someone? Baez—a soldier in my platoon. It was my last night in the military, and I figured, what the hell? He and I had been fighting off a mutual attraction for nearly a year.

  I can’t be with Reed physically anyway. If he flirts, I'll reject him. He’s a distraction, keeping me here. I face the mirror again and tell myself, “Ida, you are here to find Kenmore. Stop playing around.”

  Stepping away, I breathe deeply. When I set my mind to something, my resolve is like steel.

  I have a job to do. Reed has information, and I’ll get it from him.

  After I buzz his door, he invites me inside. “Spaghetti tonight,” he says. “Hard to mess up.” He smiles in his endearing way before beckoning me to sit.

  I ignore him and stay on my feet. As he busies himself in the kitchen, I scan the room looking for his media terminal.

  He talks to me while he stirs a pot. “Hey, remember that time at Woodlawn when we all decided to go on a hunger strike to protest how bad the food was?”

  I linger in the middle of the room, hands stuffed in my jacket pockets.

  “Hey,” he says, approaching. “Where are my manners? Let me take your jacket.”

  “No thanks. I'm not staying long.”

  He frowns. “What do you mean? You're staying for dinner—”

  “No, I'm not. Reed, cut the bullshit. I need the information on Kenmore.”

  He clears his throat. “So, that's all I am to you? The guy you need information from?”

  “That sums it up.”

  His eyes darken, and he starts to say something but bites back his words.

  I feel awkward just standing there, so I say, “Can you search for data on Kenmore, and we can get this over with? I leave tomorrow morning. Early.”

  “Fine, let's look.” He takes a seat on his couch, opens a panel on the coffee table, places the visor over his eyes, and swipes the small table’s surface. A holographic display appears, and he starts rapidly manipulating objects on the screen. He's much faster than I would ever be looking for information. After a few minutes, he says, “I see the Frontier cluster and the firewall protecting it.” He pauses and stares at something I can't see. “Whoever designed this made it challenging.”

  “Can you get in?” I take off my jacket and slide onto the sofa next to him. This close, I can see the muscles flex in his forearms as he navigates the virtual world. I can smell the soap he used in the shower. I slide away an inch.

  He's focused, concentrating on finding a way in. “Nearly there.”

  “I thought you had the highest security level.”

  “Yeah, but someone made this really tricky.”

  “I need an address, anything that might tell me where he is.”

  He tilts his head. “Working on it. Patience.” After another few seconds, “I'm in.”

  “Holy shit.” My legs shake with adrenaline. So close.

  All of a sudden, his holofeed starts flashing with a red light. He flinches and leans back.

  “What's happening? Talk to me.”

  “I-I’ve never seen anything like this.” His hands shake.

  “Tell me.”

  “I gained access, but I was booted out.”

  “How’s that possible?”

  His brow furrows. “According to this, Frontier files have all been deleted. What exists is just a shell.”

  “How? Why would they do that? What the hell are they hiding?”

  “There’s a message I’ve retrieved…” His voice falters. “The Frontier program is redacted…by presidential order.”

  “This is being covered up by the president herself?”

  He pulls off the visor. “Looks that way.”

  “What can you do? Is there any way you can get past it?”r />
  He turns his head but doesn’t meet my gaze. “If I tried,” he says quietly, “the President herself would contact me.” His voice is low. “I can’t jeopardize all I’ve built here…”

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t ask you to risk everything you’ve accomplished here.” I rise from the sofa and pace the living room. I’m suddenly very warm and finding it hard to breathe. “How hot do you keep it in here?”

  “Ida, are you okay? I know this is disappointing news—”

  “Disappointing! You have no idea how many years I’ve tried to remember details—anything that might give me clues about him. To be so close and then…” The more I pace, the more my fury rises. I’m like a kettle about to boil over, so I grab my jacket and stride to the door.

  Reed leaps up. “Ida, wait. Please don’t go.”

  I stop before the door. “I have to.”

  “Why? To go and do what? Sulk by yourself?”

  I say nothing, just stay frozen in place, my back to him. Why do people always get attached and stop me from achieving my goals?

  “You know what I think?” He edges closer. “I think you’re afraid.”

  “What are you talking about? I’ve been searching for clues. I’m not afraid of Kenmore.”

  “Oh, I agree with that. You’re not afraid of Kenmore. You’re afraid of something else. You’re afraid of letting people get too close to you. Turn around and look at me.”

  Reluctantly, I turn.

  Flushed, he clenches his fist. “How can you live like this? Pushing people away, never letting anyone get close to you… Running from everyone who cares about you. Let me guess, people in Spark City are worried about you, yet you ignore them.”

  I lower my gaze and bite the inside corner of my cheek.

  His mouth twists into a half smile. “See, I knew it. I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Reed, I…” My throat tightens. “I can’t be normal. Don’t you see? I can’t be with someone physically because I will hurt them. It’s been this way for two years. I’m used to it, and yeah, I guess I push people away. Wouldn’t you?”

  “Ida, we can work together. Maybe Lucas can find a cure like he did for me.”

  “I don’t have time for that,” I say quickly. “I can’t hang around here being someone’s lab rat. I need to find Kenmore and make him pay for what he did. He could be hurting more people as we speak.”