by Harper North
“Once you do this, everything will change,” he says, staying put now.
“Good,” I say. I’ve waited my whole life for change. I take a deep breath and press the receiver. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
Silence greets my first attempt. I swallow. My eyes scan each face in the room. A part of me hopes that all of this wasn’t for nothing.
“Try again,” Sky urges.
I press the button again, but before I can say anything a voice says, “Sovereign Nerics Alliance secure channel, delta one. Please identify yourself.”
CHAPTER 15
MY BREATH CATCHES. I quickly press the button. “Fin—”
“Stop,” Reinhart orders, raising his gun to my head. “You speak one more word, and—”
Elias turns his gun on Reinhart. “Don’t listen to him. Keep going.”
Sky takes aim at Bellaton, and all around us, the ops raise weapons. The small office space is charged with nervous energy. My eyes jump from gun to gun, and from the pounding in my chest my heart feels like it might punch its way out. I swallow and release the button.
“Kill her,” Bellaton orders.
Drape pushes back into the corner, but Emma inches closer to me. “You do, and every single person in this room will be dead. Is that what you want?”
After a moment that feels like an hour, Reinhart slowly lowers his arm. He furrows his brow and mutters something under his breath. “Stand down,” he finally says out loud.
Emma steps in close to me. “Give them our location.”
I depress the button. “Command access F39RT009-delta. Enhanced Human Coalition. Located in the capital city, Ethos.”
Bellaton slams her fist against her leg. “You’ve just destroyed everything,” she hisses, looking to Lacy.
Lacy’s eyes burrow into me. Motionless and stiff, she’s in pure robotic compliance with the orders. She begins to project her mind onto us until Talen puts a gun to her head. “Back down, or else.”
I gulp and grip the comm device tighter. Do what he says, Lacy, please.
She takes a step back and averts her eyes to the ground.
“Hurry,” Emma says. “We have to make contact before it’s too late.”
No way I’m going to stop now. I’ve waited too long for this. I take a deep breath and then click the button again.
“My name is Finley. I’m part of an underground Dweller resistance. There’s been an uprising. We’ve taken over the EHC Command Center.” I flash a smug smile to Bellaton.
“You’ve made a calculated mistake,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “Those modifications have made you delusional.”
Sky moves his gun closer to her. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be insulting us right now.”
“That’s enough,” Reinhart orders.
“I agree,” Elias says. “The message has been sent. It’s over. Now, let’s get them out of here.”
Talen moves to Reinhart’s side. “Give me your gun.”
Reinhart grits his teeth and doesn’t move, but with our weapons trained on Bellaton, the commander finally relents. His shoulders drop as he hands over his weapon. “This isn’t over.”
Sky jabs his gun into his side. “Move it!”
“What about them?” Drape asks, pointing to the ops before Reinhart is escorted out.
Slowly, the commander nods. “Hand over your weapons,” he tells the guards.
Drape takes their guns, each of their faces tight with anger. Lacy stands barehanded. My nerves settle as I pull back my shoulders and raise my chin. I can’t help but worry about her. The longer she’s an Aura op, the greater hold the nanites take.
“Everyone out,” Talen orders.
One by one, Reinhart, Lacy, and the ops are pushed from behind until they gather in the hallway.
“I’ll secure them,” Elias says. “Try to make contact again.”
“Let’s go,” Talen says to Bellaton.
The director circles her desk, glaring at me the whole way around. “You’ll regret this,” she says as she follows the others out into the hallway.
“Keep her secure,” I say to Talen. “She’s our only bargaining chip.”
He nods.
Drape and Sky follow, leaving Emma and me alone to figure out the next step. I blow out a quick breath, grateful for how that went and that none of us fired the first shot that would have definitely ended everything in a matter of seconds.
“What now?” Emma asks.
I rub the back of my neck and press the button to call the SNA again. No response. I click off and pace. “Where are they?”
“Try again,” Emma says. “Maybe the communication was cut.”
Pressing the button, I repeat the coordinates of Ethos and retell the story of our coup. Elias returns from the hall and closes the door. “Sky and Drape have them secured in the office next door. Talen’s watching the corridor. I don’t know how long we have. More ops are probably going to storm the command center soon. Any word back?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Well, we have to establish an open line,” he says, wiping sweat from his head and checking his gun. “Without them, we’re sitting ducks.”
Emma pulls back the window shade. Just beyond the window, I spot a line of black uniforms on the roof next door. I chew on my lip, knowing no matter which direction we run, there will be a fight, and with each passing minute more guards will join in.
“We have to do something,” I say.
“Let me try.” Elias takes the comm device. “This is Elias Hayes. I am one of the leaders of the resistance movement to overthrow the EHC. I’m with Emma Nejem and several others. We are trying to make contact with the SNA. We need your help. Is anyone there?”
He holds the device between the three of us and we wait, but there’s nothing but silence. Cool air from the vent overhead kicks on and ruffles my hair. I step back and turn to face the wall. If all of this was for nothing, I don’t know what I’ll do. After all the fighting and sacrifice, we can’t just give up.
The device crackles and I spin around. Emma’s eyes go wide.
Elias presses the button again. “Is anyone there?”
Another second, and then a voice says, “This is Ambassador Garrett Morris. We’ve received your transmission and understand you are located within the city of Ethos, an EHC held territory.”
“Yes,” I say, rushing to the device. A wide grin spreads across my face as I tremble with excitement.
“I handle communications with outside sectors,” Morris says. “We’ve been trying to regain contact with the EHC for several years. I’m glad you found a way to get through to us. I will assist you from here.”
“Thank you,” I say. “We thought we lost contact.”
Morris clicks back on. “The line is secure. We had to verify the connection. After all this time, we were… a bit surprised to hear from you.”
Elias laughs. “It’s good to make contact with you, sir. It’s been a long road.” He lifts his gaze to me. His eyes shine. In one fluid movement, I throw my arms around him. His arms are tight around me as he lifts me into the air.
Emma steps back to Bellaton’s chair and sits down, resting her head in her hands. “Let’s not jump the gun.”
“What?” I ask as Elias lowers me to the ground.
“We don’t know if we can trust them yet.”
I sigh. Not trusting is ingrained into every fiber of my being. It felt good for one moment to have hope, to imagine escaping this nightmare and beginning again in a new world.
“Why do you say that?” I ask Emma, raising an accusatory brow.
“We’ve only just discovered this group. There are no guarantees that they can even help us.”
Again, the device crackles and my eyes flash to it. Emma’s words bounce around my head, making me wonder if our easy out might be more challenging than I thought.
“I’ve been tasked with mending relations with other regions and organizations,” Morris say
s. “I’ll do my best to assist you in any way needed.”
Elias takes the device. “We need your help to get us out of here.”
“We’re not in the best situation,” I add. “We’ve stormed the EHC command center and have captured the Director of Operations, Flora Bellaton. She’s our only leverage to escape.”
“I don’t know her,” Morris says. “However, I’m sure you are very anxious to get out of there. From our past experience with the EHC, they won’t let you go easily. The citizens of Ethos and the Dwellers have suffered a great deal, I imagine, manipulated under the control of this powerful organization.”
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. Hearing another person say those words brings me some validation. My shoulders begin to relax. Even though we still have to find a way out, I feel comforted that soon a whole new life will begin for us.
“I think we can trust him,” I say to Emma, who furrows her brow. “We don’t have a lot of options.”
Emma sits silently and eventually opens her mouth to speak. “Ambassador Morris, what do you advise? We need to get a secure path from the building and out of Ethos.”
The speaker crackles with static. “I suggest you grant the SNA access to the no-fly zones,” Morris says.
Elias steps back. “Can we do that?” he asks Emma as soon as she clicks off.
“We’d have to hack into the system or force Bellaton to do it,” she says.
Morris’ voice breaks in. “They’ve been on lockdown for over thirty years.”
Thirty years? I begin to chew on my lip. Opening up the no-fly zone sounds risky.
“I’m not sure we can do that,” Elias says into the comm.
“I can offer you support to secure control of the EHC.”
My breath hitches. “We’ll never be able to do that on our own,” I say. “This might be the way.”
As I try to take back the device, Emma grabs it. “Wait. We have to think this through.”
I sling my gun over my shoulder. “What’s to think about? It’s our only option.”
She turns to Elias. “Had you heard of the SNA before today?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything. The EHC kept a lot of information secret from us.”
“Ambassador Morris, this is Emma Nejem. We’re prepared to assist you. However, I’ve been a part of the EHC society since I was a child and have never heard of your organization before today.”
A few seconds of silence and the comm comes back to life. “As you know, the EHC works hard to maintain order. It is our belief, that we and other groups have been wiped from your society’s records. Letting the people know that there is something more out there is not in their best interest.”
The device clicks out as Morris waits for our response.
“Do you believe him?” Elias asks Emma.
Emma shrugs. “I have no idea. He’s not telling me anything new.”
“Then make him tell you something new,” Elias urges, then clicks the comm back on.
“When did the communication end?” Emma asks.
“Several years ago,” Morris says. “The EHC has developed defense systems that have locked the rest of the world from their territory and comm networks. The EHC needed to look like the sole proprietor of the world after the Flip.”
“Why?” Elias asks.
The same thought runs through my mind. What would the EHC have to gain from convincing the rest of the world that they were the sole owners?
“Power,” Morris responds. “It’s always been about power with the EHC.”
Emma lowers the device to the desk, flicking it silent.
“There’s one thing that bothers me,” Elias says, grabbing the device. “Ambassador Morris, how has no one been able to make contact for this long?”
“The EHC restriction zone extends far beyond all their cities’ limits,” Morris says. “No one could ever get close enough. We have tried. Every attempt was met with retaliation from EHC forces.”
Emma leans back in the chair. Elias quickly covers the device to give us a bit of privacy.
“If only they had gotten through,” I say. “This could have ended a long time ago.” We toiled underground all this time when help was trying to get to us.
“We have to make a decision,” Elias says. “Do we accept their help or not?”
Emma nods at the device and Elias removes his hand, holding it out. “What guarantees can you give us?”
“Once we enter Ethos,” Morris begins, “we can secure your safety.”
“What about the citizens?” Elias asks. “They’ll blame us for this.”
Morris clicks back. “We’ll help the others to understand your uprising. I understand you’re nervous. There’s only one way for us to help you; you must open the no-fly zone.”
“It’s the best offer we’ve got,” I say.
Elias grabs the device and opens his mouth to respond.
“Hold on,” Emma says. “Don’t agree to it.”
“Why?” Elias asks, returning a hand to cover the device.
I turn a sharp gaze to her. “It’s our only way out.”
“No,” Emma says. “It’s not. We still have another option.” Emma takes a deep breath. “Get Lacy back in here.”
Elias wipes the sweat from his brow. He grabs the comm device. “We’ll get back to you soon.”
After a moment, Morris replies, “Don’t wait too long. This may be your only opportunity.”
Each of us looks to the other, recognizing the stakes. Elias checks his gun. “You want to reprogram her?”
“Can we do that?” I ask.
Emma’s eyes shift to mine before scanning the room. “Maybe. The nanites are customized for each person. Just because we were able to hack Talen’s doesn’t mean Lacy’s will be the same.”
With Talen, it was hard enough, but Lacy was infused with the latest Aura nanos. She could be far more complex to break.
Emma jumps up from the chair. “We’ll need some supplies,” she says as she pulls open Bellaton’s desk drawers, then moves over to the cabinets.
“Like what?” I ask, scanning the room.
“These,” she says, holding a couple of stun weapons.
“Where did you find those?” Elias asks.
“Here,” she says, reaching into a metal cabinet in the corner of the room. “There are other emergency supplies in here, too. We’ll need everything. Help me.”
Elias and I race to fill our pockets and packs with the stun guns, medical supplies, bottles of water, and other emergency gear.
“We’ll need Lacy close,” Emma says. “It’s the only way we can hack her with Bellaton’s terminal.”
“You sure you know what you’re doing?” I ask.
Emma sighs. “That terminal is top-of-the-line, much better than what we used for Talen. I’ll use it to tap into her programming. She might become unstable, but I’ll do my best.”
Once Lacy realizes what’s happened, will she have the strength to forgive herself, or will she lose her mind?
“I’ll get her,” Elias says. In a flash, he moves to the door.
“And Bellaton and Reinhart,” Emma says. “She won’t come alone. It will look suspicious.”
Elias nods. He swings open the door and rushes out.
Emma and I get set up at Bellaton’s desk. She preps the inputs and hardware connected to the computer terminal for tapping into Lacy’s nanites. My body tightens with each movement. Free Lacy. Escape unharmed. Destroy the EHC. The stab of a headache forms at my temples.
A few minutes later, Elias brings all three back inside the office. Scowls and frustration fill each of their faces. Lacy clenches her fists and her eyes narrow on me again.
“What did you say to the SNA?” Bellaton demands.
Reinhart pulls from Elias’ grip. “Answer her.”
“Nothing,” I say. “We haven’t made a decision on your future yet.”
Bellaton raises a brow
“What do you know abo
ut the no-fly zone?” Emma asks, shifting her eyes between Bellaton and Reinhart.
Reinhart moves toward her. “Why would I answer you?”
Even with Elias’ weapon trained on her, Lacy’s hands begin to rise. I pull my gun around and hold it at my hip and she lowers them. The odds are not in her favor.
Bellaton pushes past Reinhart. “The lockdowns were established well before our time. We were told under strict orders to never break the protocol. Tampering with it leaves the city vulnerable. You have no authority to change that.”
Lacy stretches her fingers and tilts her head from side to side. My heart picks up the pace as she does it.
“Control her!” Elias shouts to Reinhart.
Inching forward and unafraid, Lacy raises her hand to Elias’ neck.
“Move!” I yell, and Elias darts to the side.
I reach into my pocket with my free hand and pull out one of the stun weapons, zapping Lacy with it. She falls to the ground with a thud.
“Tie her up,” I order Reinhart. “Lacy’s service to you is over. I’m bringing my friend back.”
CHAPTER 16
REINHART’S EYES FLASH with anger. “How dare you!” he growls and lunges, swiping wide with his hand to pull me down.
“Fin!” Elias shouts.
I step back just as Elias raises his gun and clocks Reinhart’s head with a crack, knocking him out and sending the commander crumbling to the ground.
Bellaton rears back. “What have you done?”
“The same thing I’m going to do to you if you don’t comply,” Elias says.
Bellaton presses against the wall and runs both hands through her hair.
Taking a deep breath, I wipe my forehead and refocus on Lacy. “Give me Reinhart’s belt.”
Elias quickly pulls it through the loops and hands it to me.
Lowering down to Lacy’s side, I tie the belt tight around her hands.
“Will that hold her?” Elias asks.
“It’ll have to do. It’ll at least give us a few seconds.” But I remember how dangerous Talen was when we tried to deprogram him.
“She’ll be deprogrammed faster,” Emma says, fiddling with a pair of repurposed medical sensors. “We may not need as much restraint. If I can just get to the nanites—”