Rupture (11 page)

“Dammit.” Rigon looked like a man in a corner. “One that size could call in an army. It’s not on me if they don’t listen. What about you? You on the outs with your brass?”

“We Wellborns have, for some reason, been black-listed,” Yancey said. “It’s as if someone high up knew this was going to happen, and wants it to happen.”

“Swell,” Rigon said, but Yancey could see he believed it, too.

Simone mumbled her mantra, shutting her eyes.

Her mother tapped her in the shoulder. “Not now. You need to hear this.”

“An RAI incursion is highly likely here at Sterling,” Rigon said.

“That’s right,” Yancey said. “For some reason our beloved Sterling School has caught their attention. And why is that?”

Mother and son both knew the answer, and when their eyes turned to Simone.

“Why me?” Simone asked.

“You and the others,” Yancey said. “Don’t be narcissistic, dear.”

“Why?”

Again, Yancey looked at Rigon as if he had stolen their life savings and needed to ‘fess up.

He crossed his arms and glared. “No, not me. Simone should hear it from the man himself.”

“Keep dreaming,”  Yancey said. “He won’t say a thing. Not yet, at least, although we’re close to pulling him out of hiding.”

Everyone, except Simone, knew what that meant, but Yancey glared so that no one would clarify it.

“Somewhere private we can go?” Yancey asked.

“Doctor’s office in the back,” Keila replied.

Yancey began walking, pulling Simone with her.

* * *

Rigon sprinkled a few monitor bots on the Rogue Maker. He alerted his team:
Get me the other Alter students
.

He entered a large corner office. His mother in her silver Bodyglove sat behind a desk, fashionable leather boots kicked up on the corner, while Keila and Arthur sat on a comfortable sofa he imagined the physician on duty using for a nap or two. Simone remained by their mother’s side, still frightened. She was such a small girl, compared to the enhanced people in today’s society. But inside her existed a volcano of potential his parents had crafted to one day explode in brilliance. He just hoped she was ready for it.
 

“You wanted their inclusion,” Rigon said, “fine, Mom. Now you’ll see why I fought it—now that Simone’s involved.”

A knock on the door alerted everyone.

Rigon opened it up and ushered in the frightened students.

Beasley Gardner was a mountain of a young girl, replete with the thick neck and torso of a future glad fighter. She appeared uncomfortable with the unfortunate effects of her athletic and physio packages. Her parents probably had expected a tennis pro or something. Rigon could see where she’d end up: on the front lines in some infantry unit full of brainwashed Line Punchers burning out on Alter rage. She entered with the hopeful mech pilot on her shoulder, two-foot-tall Wally Dorsey. . He wasn’t an infant, or even a dwarf. He was proportioned well enough to look like a shrunken teenager who might do some ollies on a shrunken skateboard. The little guy might find a place piloting the mechs, but he looked so fragile. Next came glad-fighter-boy Hutto Toth, without a care in the world. He even passed Rigon a “What’s up?” as if they were equals. Lastly, Kimberlee Newkirk shuffled in all wide-eyed and scared shitless.
 

The other one, Sterling’s first Alter, Joss Beckwith, lay sleeping in a cot down the hall, the Rogue brands already disappearing, free of the poison he had carried in his deformed body. Fixing him would take some time, though. If all went well, he could make it to the top of the Consortium Interfacer elites, maybe, and survive, maybe even become a cyagent like Rigon. If the Rogue’s hadn’t secretly turned him.

Experiments in transhuman warfare, he thought. Poor kids.

The door shut behind them.

Yancey beamed. “Welcome, young Alter warriors.”

Simone looked at her mother, as if she’d just announced they would all be crucified. Rigon signaled to keep quiet. Better not to bait her.

Keila hid her face in her hands, for only a second, before putting on an excellent game face. Rigon winked his thanks for her fortitude; she, without hesitation, sneered back.

Arthur even smiled.

“We have some interesting news,” Rigon said. “You were all recruited by Sterling three years ago. Each one of you was selected for ... the specific talents you have.”

“We were?” Wally asked.

“Even you, young man.” Rigon walked in a line in front of them like a drill sergeant. “Each one of you was brought to Sterling to be a case study in what we call our International Consortium Cybercorps Defense Program. Since you’ve been here the Council has been monitoring you.”

“Monitoring?” Beasley asked. “How?”

“Joss Beckwith was recruited first and went straight to work upgrading the school’s surveillance system. He was better than we thought.”

“He caught the attention of humanity’s greatest enemy as well,” Yancey said. “But he survived.” She edged her daughter around the desk and put her in line with them. “Simone was the last one to be brought in ... because some people fought it.” She flashed her shades at Rigon to keep quiet. “My daughter is ... above all things, fervent. She’ll make a splendid soldier in the Great Conflict, won’t you, dear?”

Simone nodded but Rigon could see fear in her eyes. He’d always known his sister would end up this way.

“I’m Yancey Wellborn, a Consortium intelligence officer. And I’ll teach you how to harness the things inside you for the benefit of humanity.” She looked at Rigon. “He’ll teach you everything else.”

“Together we’ll make you ready,” Rigon said.

Kimberlee had backed up almost all the way to the door. “Ready for what?”

“Well, first, ” Yancey said, “to survive the Sterling Incursion that’s about to happen.”

They all looked at her as if she’d spoken Chinese. Joss would have understood a bit, as would Wally. But none of them knew what she meant in full, not even Simone, who had heard her family talking about things like incursions since she was born. Rigon felt sorry for them. He’d seen enough Alters get abused by the system, but these were children. Just because Yancey, and the Alumni Association president, had convinced everyone that she could make them viable didn’t mean she could stop them from being chewed up. It made him sick. He looked at his sister and cringed at what she might become.

Wally showed the first sign of interest. “Incursion? One is happening here?”

Yancey faced the little Transhuman. She had to look up at him on the large girl’s shoulder. What she saw thrilled her. “Would you help if we asked?”

“I would.” He straightened.

“Good.”

She glanced at Rigon. “Go ahead.”

He grumbled but walked over. “Give me your arm.”

Wally hesitated. He appeared to recognize that the Alumni Association Council was a good friend to have. The Sterling School meant everything to the students, and now they wanted him. Rigon had read up on Wally Dorsey. A few days ago, he was still struggling to properly pilot the personal mech the Council had given him, and now he was being recruited by the people who could take him from running it around in a gravel field to an actual job one day.
 

He presented his right arm, and Rigon grinned at him before touching him. Wally watched as the brand imprinted into his flesh for only a second. He didn’t cry out.
 

Everyone stared at the geometric symbol—three circles within a larger circle—that meant they were now enlisted in the Consortium Cybercorps, the most powerful cyber defense force in the world. It glowed for a few seconds, then disappeared, as if it weren’t there.

Wally frowned. “What happened?”

“It’s still there, little man,” Rigon said. He waved his hand over it, triggering the light sensors. It glowed again. “See?”

He walked down the line and branded each one.

He turned to his sister last and couldn’t bring himself to do it. He looked at his mother, who continued to smile, as if he were about to tie a friendship ribbon around Simone’s wrist. Rigon knelt down.
 

“Come here,” he said and embraced Simone. He placed the brand on the back of her neck as she held him. “Sorry it’s happening so fast.”

Yancey appeared pleased. She even clapped. “Good, a bit rushed, but good.”

* * *

Both men walked out, leaving the students with the older women. Mrs. Ogilvey arranged her things. “I’ll be going, now that it’s settled. I’ll update the Council president.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Ogilvey,” Yancey said. “Tell him ... we’ll all do our duties when the time comes.”

The older woman nodded, then left.

Simone stood in the middle of the room, all the students’ eyes on her.

Kimberlee looked at her arm. “What’s this thing he put on my arm? I can’t see it.”
 

“It means you’re their property,” Simone said, “as far as Cyberspace goes. It means you can’t be owned by any Rogues or weirdo Interfacer kidnappers out there. It’ll pretty much let you go wherever you want in Cyberspace—not that any of us besides Wally and Joss hotjack. Each one of those is worth several million dollars on the black market.”

“Several million?” Kimberlee asked, rubbing her wrist.

Wally smiled. “I never thought I’d get one.”

“We’re all part of the club now,” Simone said. “For better or worse.”

Everyone scanned their arms, as if they might see the brands there.

Keila glanced at the students as if she feared what had been done to them. “What if you’re wrong, Agent Wellborn? What if we can’t defeat them?”

“The RAIs are our biggest threat,” Yancey said. “They’re the supreme example of human ingenuity gone wrong. We have to defeat them—”

“And the entities you summon? What are they?”

“Allies. They worship us and provide service. We must use them in our great fight—”

“Stop with the speech. I’ve heard it. I want to know if your fringe beliefs are going to get these kids killed, or worse.”

Yancey moved to Simone’s side and pulled her close. “We must meet the challenge any way we can, otherwise the Rogues win.” Simone could see that Keila was on the verge of understanding, but refused to admit it. Yancey continued. “What if the RAIs are more than they seem, Keila? What if the radical think tanks are right? The Consortium lies and says they’re just computer programs to not scare the people. It’s easier to believe the Rogues are just smart software than to think they’re disembodied intelligences.”

“So you think they could be
alien
?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we opened the doors for the SAIs and RAIs, and we must master them, or become their slaves.”

Keila nodded to Simone. “Doesn’t your mother ever take those shades off?”

“Of course,” Simone said, “but only at home.”

Keila shook her head. “They’re just kids.”

“I know.” Yancey clapped. “Who wants ice cream?”

Hutto perked up. “What does this mean for the school year? Will we get to skip class?”

“You’ll be in school, all right, but you’ll have a few different classes from everyone else. It’ll be fun. You’ll see. But that’s a month away, and a lot can happen in a month.”

She led them out of the office, through the foam-filled room, and into the south corridor of the main campus building. Tables with ice cream had been setup. It was Friday night. No one was leaving campus. And all the summer camp students locked up were as happy as they could be with spoons of ice cream at their mouths. The hallway was crowded and full of anxious noise, as if they were waiting for a party to start.

Simone watched her mother mingle—one minute the warrior goddess, the next a suave diplomat. A few minutes later a cheer erupted, and she saw Joss Beckwith leave the clinic. He looked as white as a ghost and shaky as hell, but the brands were gone. He was still deformed and couldn’t walk right, but that could be repaired. As long as the Rogues didn’t have him …

Everyone paused when he said, “They’re going to treat me. It may take weeks, but they said they can fix me.”

Again the cheer. Simone’s mother beamed like some futuristic superhero in silver bringing her brand of justice to the world. Only Simone knew what she really wanted: to leave the Bodysuit, the shades, and the nanobots behind and become more powerful than Simone’s lords. She wanted to be disembodied. Simone hated the idea. She liked having a body, and a mother. And the thought a human could be equal the lords sounded like the worst form of heresy. It sounded like her mother’s heresy.

* * *

“Hey, Rigon,” Simone said as he approached. She waited toward the middle of the hall, where it was quiet and she could be alone. He had changed out of his bloody shirt and had put a new bandage on his arm. “Does it hurt?”

“No worse than a bee sting.”

“I heard what you did saving Keila. You’re a hero.”

“That’s my job.” He smiled at her like he always did, as if she were his hero.

She hated the fact her mother and her brother always fought. If her father were alive, he’d fix that. She knew they both still loved each other, but jeez, they looked like they wanted to shoot each other most of the time.

“She’s been waiting for this for years,” he said. “Mom always gets what she wants. Come on, let’s talk in private.”

They walked farther down the hallway, away from the mingling students by the tables. Everyone had heard about the official Consortium brands and what the government had offered the Alters. Hutto looked like the superstar he would probably become and already seemed to relish his new role as the football team’s current hero. Even Kimberlee looked happy to be getting so much attention. Beasley stood at the end of a table and ate from a carton, while Wally stood on the table and ate from a small cup. They all appeared thrilled by the opportunity.

Then why do I feel like so bad?

Her brother saw it. “You know why I branded the back of your neck?”

“No.”

“I think you’re going to do it, Simone.”

“Do it?”

“If any of them can, it’ll be you who figures out how to use your gifts. And I want you to be able to hide your brand if you need to. It’s just a gesture, of course. You can’t really hide your brand. But don’t get lost chasing power. No matter what our mother says.”