City Center, The (18 page)

“Peter, get going. Make sure the men are holding their positions. You move forward with the orders—no matter what happens to me.”

“Good luck, sir.” He disappeared through a window at the end of the hallway.

“I don’t understand what you want with me,” Ava said.

“This might be tough, but I know you’ll get it.”

“Get what?”

“Morray did a pretty good job wiping your mind, but I know your heart is trying to remember. I’m Joseph. You helped me once before and I’m here to help you.” His voice sounded so familiar, in a comforting way. And since he was the only one willing to give her any answers, she decided to hear him out. She needed to know the truth.

“How do I know this isn’t a trick to sabotage Graduation Day?”

“Oh, we’re going to sabotage Graduation Day and you’re going to help us.”

“You’ll never get away with it. Morray is watching. He’s always watching.”

“We have momentary control of the mainframe. I need you to set aside everything you think you know about the Outsiders and me. Just for one minute, long enough for me to put your chip back in so we can download some of your memory. I promise all of this will make sense.”

Why did he have her old microchip? Was he lying to her? Or was Morray? She went back to her original logic: if Morray were telling the truth, why’d he erase her memories in the first place? Joseph held her shoulders and looked into her eyes. She felt lightheaded.
I know you.
Somehow she trusted him, but she didn’t know if she could let a stranger cut open her finger and replace her microchip. He could have uploaded it with anything.

“How do you have my chip?” she asked.

“I removed it at checkpoint one in Malibu.”

“Malibu.” She remembered walking in the field—the sun warming her body. “I was there. I remember some parts of it.”

“You were on the Outside for almost a week. You don’t remember all of it because Morray doesn’t want you to remember. He doesn’t want you to know the truth, otherwise you wouldn’t go through with Graduation Day.”

“He’s absolutely correct, Miss Rhodes.” Morray’s voice enveloped her from behind. He stood with Planner Dickson. Before anyone said another word, Joseph pulled Ava toward him and kissed her. She remembered that kiss and with it came a flood of emotions. Morray ripped Ava out of his arms and handed her over to Dickson. He aimed his weapon at Joseph’s head. “And it looks like today I finally get to execute you.”

“You can kill me, Morray, but eventually the truth will rise. Someone will find a way to free these people from your prison.”

“I’ve been running the show for over two hundred years. Nobody will ever take me down. I am eternal,” he laughed. “Dickson, I want you to escort Miss Rhodes back to her chambers. Remain with her until we’re ready for the Arena. Before you leave, sedate this filthy thing and have the guards transport him to the Arena.”

Dickson injected Joseph’s neck. He dropped to the ground and Morray began kicking him over and over. Ava feared Morray would kill him—she ran over and grabbed his shoulder. “Please, stop. Let’s not waste time on this matter.” She kissed his cheek.

He straightened his tuxedo jacket and smoothed his hair back into place. “Yes, you’re right, Miss Rhodes. Let’s get you back to your chambers. I’ll be in soon. I’m looking forward to sharing my news with everyone.”

She bowed her head and curtsied.

*

The Beautifiers made their final touches, transforming Ava into some sort of ethereal being, radiating and sparkling from head to toe. But none of the glitz and glamour mattered to her. She was more concerned with Graduation Day ceremonies. She had trained her entire life for this day, never once wanting a position of power, but now on the verge of being joined to the most powerful man in her known world.

The sound of chimes indicated departure time. Morray entered the room and gazed at Ava. He circled around her, inspecting the final product. “Exquisite,” he whispered.

“Thank you for this opportunity,” she said. He stepped behind her and slipped a collar of jewels around her neck. “Sir?”

“For my Queen,” he leaned down and kissed her neck. “My forever Queen.”

“Do you think the people will be upset that I’m not competing?”

“You’ve inspired a time for change.”

Morray’s words triggered a memory.
There is a time for everything… a time to be born and a time to die… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance… a time for war and a time for peace.

“You flatter me, sir.”

“I look forward to many years of flattering you, my dear.” He gave her a firm kiss.

“I think you may have interfered with their work,” Ava smiled.

“I’ll let you finish up here.” Morray nodded, wiping off his lips. “I can’t wait until this ceremony is over and I have you all to myself.”

The assistants dashed over to fix Ava’s lips. “Oh, Miss Rhodes! Our Creator is correct. You’re exquisite. Now we must go. We cannot be late for this most important day!”

The Truth

The ten Successor
Candidates walked in silence toward their Arena box. The stadium burst to life with applause and cheers from the audience. Graduation Day had finally arrived. Music reverberated off the walls and multi-colored lights beamed throughout the Arena. Morray had tailored every detail for the celebration of celebrations, down to the glitter dust winnowing in the air.

Ava sat next to James. They hadn’t spoken in a week, but he ignored her, staring straight ahead. He was probably upset she had missed so many rehearsals. She tried not to think about what he’d do when he discovered she was no longer his partner match. The music faded out and the Arena quieted down. Ava watched two guards escort Joseph to the stand, a glass box on the stadium floor. The crowd booed and hissed. Joseph stared at Ava and she felt helpless. Trumpets sounded and the crowd stood in attention as all ten members of Royal Court approached their box, the fabric of their garments trailed behind in colorful waves. They took their seats and Morray stepped inside his production booth and projected his behemoth hologram in the center of the Arena. Ava was suffocating under the layers of fabric. She took deep breaths to settle her nerves.

“My dear citizens of the Los Angeles City Center, as you know, we’ve had quite a week. We came close to losing one of our Successor Candidates to a terrorist. But fortunately, I was able to bring Miss Rhodes safely back home. Just in time for this most important day.”

The crowd applauded. Planner Dickson nudged Ava to stand up and wave.

“As you’ve heard from the morning reports, we’ve been fortunate enough to capture the Outsider. And today we’re going to do something unprecedented—we will celebrate Graduation Day and perform an execution.”

The audience stood up and cheered. Morray lifted his hand, directing them to sit down.

“Before we begin the ceremonies, I have some most exciting news to share. Again, something that’s never been done before. But today is a celebration of change. It’s a time to release the old and welcome the new. Today many will retire from years of service, while others will graduate and commence their service to the City Center. This is also a time for the birth of a new generation. As you know, after Graduation Day comes Inception Day, when we welcome the newest generation of residents into our home.”

Ava tuned out Morray’s speech and watched Joseph standing alone in the trial box. She didn’t like seeing him caged up and had a fleeting urge to run down and release him. This was the second time he had risked his life to help her people, and they were applauding his execution. She wanted to do something.

“Yes, it’s most definitely a time for change. My announcement may come as a surprise to some of you, but in time you’ll see the value in my decision.”

Dickson assisted Ava out of her seat and guided her down the aisle toward the production booth. The people pointed and whispered. Morray smiled at Ava, his eyes sparkling.

He continued his speech. “As many of you know, Miss Rhodes has been the City Center’s most favored Successor Candidate. For over a decade, her competition scores, along with your individual votes, have consistently placed her above her competitors. She has proven herself to be a true contender. There’s no question Miss Rhodes is qualified for Queen.”

The crowd cheered. The current Queen was waving to the people. She had on an orange wig and white face paint like a queen from the days before. Ava looked at the other members of Royal Court inside the box—suddenly everything seemed so ridiculous as though a veil had been lifted and she could see right through Morray’s charade. Her stomach tightened and instincts kicked in:
This is wrong
—
all of this is wrong.
The audience continued cheering, blind to the truth that was resurfacing for Ava. Morray lifted his hand to silence the crowd.

“We’re fortunate she made it to Graduation Day. However, I have decided to withdraw our leading Successor Candidate, Ava Rhodes, from the competition.”

The cheering ceased. Murmurs echoed throughout the Arena.

“But all is not lost. Our Miss Rhodes is an extremely significant person—with much to contribute to the entire Kingdom of Los Angeles. That is why I have decided to bestow the most honorable of positions to Miss Rhodes. I’m making her my partner and we will serve City Center—together.”

Morray held out his hand toward Ava, inviting her over to the production booth. The applause roared. Ava could hear only the sound of her heart thumping in her chest. Music drummed and more glitter filled the air. Ava waved to the audience as she made her way to Morray. Another tremendous cheer erupted. Morray stepped out of the booth and whispered in her ear. “It’s time for you to address your people, Miss Rhodes.”

“Yes, my people.” She stepped inside the booth and sealed the door. The audience grew quiet. Stillness settled through the Arena. Ava caught Joseph’s eye and gave a slight nod. “Dear citizens, fellow Successor Candidates, and Royal Court, I’m most honored to stand before you today. So much has happened the days leading up to Graduation Day. And today I stand before you a new woman. A changed woman.”

“As I was listening to Chief Morray’s speech about our utopian City Center, a familiar emptiness filled my chest. Maybe some of you have experienced a similar hollowness, but didn’t understand it and moved on. It’s hard to interpret emotions when you’re programmed not to experience them, or when you’re so pumped up with chemicals you’re numb.”

The audience shifted in their seats, whispering to one another. Ava noticed Morray—he looked ready to pounce.

“As Chief Morray mentioned, one week ago I left the City Center with a man from the Outside. I learned some valuable information out there and I’m here to share the truth. The truth that Morray and his Planners worked diligently to erase.” She paused and reached into her mouth to remove the microchip Joseph had transferred during their kiss. “But some things cannot be forgotten.”

Morray bolted toward the production booth. Ava smashed the entry panel, locking herself inside. While everyone was absorbed with her speech, Joseph’s men had moved into position and were now storming into the Arena. They disarmed and detained the Officers and guards. Another group of men encircled the members of Royal Court, containing them inside their box. Morray kicked the glass door to the production booth over and over until it shattered. He charged into the booth and slammed Ava against the wall. The gigantic hologram in the middle of the Arena displayed Morray choking Ava, terrifying the already unhinged audience—their screams pierced the air like sirens. Dickson rushed to the booth to disengage the hologram. One of Joseph’s men fired shots at him. Dickson grabbed the back of his neck and fell down. Ava tried pulling away from Morray, but his grip was too strong. Using all of her strength, she stomped on his foot. He lost his grasp and Ava flipped him over—he pulled her down and they rolled around, kicking and punching each other, until they heard the click of a shotgun being cocked. Joseph stood over Morray and pressed the barrel against the back of his head. Morray raised his hands in surrender.

Joseph tossed a knife to Ava. “You gotta put in the old chip. It has your memory—and a lot more.”

Ava nodded. She didn’t understand the extent of his words, but she trusted him enough to follow his instructions. Joseph pushed Morray from the booth, keeping his gun aimed at the back of his head. Joseph’s men handcuffed the ten members of Royal Court and escorted them to the Arena floor, along with the Officers, Planners and guards.

Ava held the knife; she knew the pain wouldn’t last, but she was terrified. She closed her eyes and sliced open the top of her finger. Blood oozed down her hand. The hologram continued to display her image. The audience watched on, confused but captivated. She dug into the gash and removed the microchip Morray had inserted earlier. She took the microchip Joseph transferred during their kiss and shoved it into her finger, pressing hard to make sure it went deep enough to engage. She cried out as her memories rushed back—the dark tunnel, wrapping Joseph up in her gown, the pages of Lillian’s journal. The images triggered deeper memories and everything collided. She remembered the real reason for Graduation Day. She remembered her only purpose was to be used as a body replacement. She remembered Ret-Hav was not a haven at all, but a research lab for human experimentation.

She stood up. It was time to address the audience. “I know this looks horrible. It might seem like an attack on our city, but I assure you it isn’t. Watch and see the truth.” Ava pressed her bloody finger onto the control panel and uploaded the files onto mainframe.

The hologram began to display a montage of Ava’s memories. Visuals from Lillian’s journal—quaint neighborhoods with children riding bikes, adults jogging, families sitting around the dinner table, couples holding hands and walking along the beach. She spoke while the images streamed.

“A little over two hundred years ago there was peace on the Outside. People lived in harmony with their neighbors. Humans weren’t created in a lab with DNA coding manipulation. Children were born, not manufactured in incubators. Couples weren’t matched up. Men and women fell in love and got married. They started their own families the way nature intended. People weren’t tossed to the side at the age of thirty-six. Average humans lived into their 80s. There were all walks of life, ranging in colors, shapes and sizes. Yes, they had their share of disputes, sickness and war, but they were free. They had freedom of choice. To live life as they pleased.”

“Until a group of elites decided population growth was out of control. They worried about supply and demand. They worried there wasn’t enough clean water or land. They feared they’d be overtaken by what they considered lesser and unworthy humans. This select group developed a plan called the New Agenda. Their mission was to eradicate 90% of the population. And after they destroyed the current civilization, they’d create a new one.”

The hologram showed visuals of chemicals being sprayed in the air, malnourished bodies being piled into landfills, bombs exploding and fires burning through neighborhoods and cities.

“This new civilization wouldn’t be anything like the previous version. It’d be manufactured and controlled by this elite class. They’d breed the perfect race of humans and house them here inside the City Center, where they could supervise population growth by managing all birth and termination dates. Individuals would be genetically engineered at inception and receive specific indoctrination throughout their formative years. Each would be trained for specific positions within the City Center to keep the machine running smoothly. Over the years, this group perfected the living conditions on the Inside and worsened them on the Outside, so nobody would ever consider leaving.”

Visuals of life inside the City Center appeared—flawless humans standing on moving walkways as they passed by beautiful crystal landscapes and modernized dwelling units, people packing into the Arena for virtual events and sporting competitions, the members of Royal Court wearing opulent gowns and waving to the crowds.

“We were so distracted we never thought to ask why they were determined to create the perfect human. When I was on the Outside I was given the truth. The real reason behind everything is so Morray and his Royal Court can live indefinitely. Morray devised a method for transferring individual consciousness into different bodies. Once he figured that out, he just needed the bodies. That’s where the Successor Candidates enter the picture. We are body replacements for the ten members of Royal Court. This means after Graduation Day, we’d no longer exist. Our minds would be wiped from existence and our bodies would be used as containers to house Royal Court. These ten members are the same elites who devised the New Agenda centuries ago. They destroyed civilization and created a new one for their own selfish desires. And it’s through us they live eternally.”

The hologram displayed the faces of the ten Successor Candidates and their competition scores and rankings.

“She’s lying!” James stood up and yelled.

“Why would I lie, James?”

“Because you’re an Outsider. I always knew you were different. You’re an implant,” he yelled.

The other Successor Candidates stood up and shouted.

“Liar!”

“She wants to take over the City Center.”

“Fraud!”

The crowd started shouting and shoving each other.

“Please, wait,” Ava yelled over the swarming crowd. “Why would I risk my life telling you this? Why would I turn away an opportunity to serve next to Morray at the Royal Palace? I’m telling you this because it’s true. I don’t care about my consequences, but I want you to know the truth. I implore you to listen because this affects all of you.”

“Ava,” Joseph called out. “Open the file called Ret-Hav.”

The screen showed dozens of folders Joseph had been compiling over the years. Ava clicked on the one titled Ret-Hav. The hologram illuminated and began streaming footage of the island. It looked as beautiful as it did in the commercials—a paradise surrounded by turquoise waters, white sands and hundreds of palm trees. The people settled down and watched.

“Ret-Hav, circa 2315,” Joseph’s voice came over the intercom.

The hologram zoomed in closer, revealing a dilapidated building with broken windows and peeling paint. The camera moved inside to show hundreds of glass cubicles lined up side by side. Inside each one there was a human or partial human hooked up to a circuit board with wires and tubes coming out of every orifice—they were still alive. The hallway jetted out to more wings containing an endless succession of cubicles. They entered a vast laboratory with countless rows of sleep pods containing people with the tops of their heads exposed. Body technicians performed brain surgery on them while they were still awake.

“This is the real Ret-Hav. Where Morray ships you off at the age of thirty-six. This is how you’ll spend your retirement—as experiments for Morray and his team of Planners.”

The hologram displayed additional experiments in the works. The most graphic ones showed people being used to test out teleportation channels. The crowd screamed as bodies were electrocuted or zapped into the void. The camera zoomed toward a man standing behind a control panel. He turned around. It was Morray.