“You guys want to find out if the bill passed?” Mattson asked.
Keeping her eyes on the tree, Liz shook her head. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
****
After finishing for the day, Javier and Damien straightened up the lab Robert had built in the cabin in Virginia. The frozen guinea pig had provided enough genetic information about the virus and the vaccine Brenda had created that Damien could copy it, eliminating the need to start from scratch.
Damien injected two guinea pigs with two variations of the vaccine—one stronger than the other. He’d said they could more quickly determine an effective dose that way.
“You know,” Damien said as they left the lab and headed to the living room. “If you hadn’t saved that animal, this would have taken much longer.”
“Yeah.” Images of Brenda’s body flashed in his mind. “Good thing I thought of it, huh?”
Smiling, Damien squeezed Javier’s shoulder.
Sam was on the couch, watching a cable news show. A correspondent was discussing the latest bill going up for a vote in Congress.
While Damien went to the kitchen, Javier plopped next to Sam. “Did we win?”
“Too soon to tell.” Weaving her fingers between his, she kissed his cheek. “Holleran had the floor for a while. She argued for all attempts to influence Congress from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry to stop. She said any sign of it should get the representatives removed, even if it’s technically legal. A few of her colleagues didn’t like that.”
“I bet.” Javier remembered Congressman Warner punching him in the face. “A lot of them were depending on LifeFarm to keep them young.”
“Right. It’s part of the bigger healthcare bill. If it passes, the hospitals will be in much better shape. Doctors too. The insurance companies and government won’t be able to hoard money meant to benefit patients anymore.”
They watched for a few minutes. Holleran had put up a hell of a fight, sharing specific stories of families harmed by LifeFarm, including those of Jade’s mom and Kyle. She’d argued that no company should be able to wield power via the legislative branch.
Even if her bill failed—and that was likely—enough information was out that LifeFarm’s image was permanently damaged. Of course, the extra “shows” featuring Kyle on Mattson’s hijacked broadcasts didn’t hurt either.
Javier believed these little actions would bring down LifeFarm. They were chipping away at the empire, one piece at a time. Families fought against their children going overseas in any capacity that would benefit the company. Kyle shared all of Javier’s information about the virus and vaccine on one of the broadcasts. The more truth the public had, the more reason they had to resist. And they were getting more all the time.
Sam rested her head on Javier’s shoulder, watching the news of Holleran’s bill unfold.
The front door opened, and Charlie breezed inside. He hung his coat on one of the wall hooks. “Did we win?”
Javier laughed. “Not yet.”
Charlie sat in the desk chair, focusing on the screen. “I thought we might know by now. I promised Annie I’d make Mattson go home if Holleran got this through.”
“Does she really think he’ll leave? He loves working with Kyle,” Javier said.
Charlie shook his head. “I can at least say I tried.”
Javier laughed again. With any luck, Mattson’s need to hack the networks’ signals would soon be over. Then he’d have to find a new outlet for his gifts. “What about you? Will you go back to California with him?”
“Maybe.” Charlie shrugged. “I was kind of thinking of Seattle.”
“Seattle? That’s random.”
“Not really. My wife moved there after she divorced me. I called her and told her what happened.”
“Really.” Sam sat up straighter. “And what did she say?”
Charlie put his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. “She said I could visit and we’ll see.” He smiled. “What about you guys? Are you staying here once you figure out the vaccine?”
Javier gazed into Sam’s eyes. “I don’t know. Have you decided what you want to do?”
“Yeah. Let’s go back to Hayes.”
“Back to Iowa? On purpose?” Charlie sat back, shaking his head.
Javier kissed Sam’s head. “Yep. That’s where her family is.”
Sitting back, Javier wrapped Sam in his arms, and they watched the correspondent wrap up his report. The hearing went too late for a vote on Holleran’s bill to happen tonight.
Oh well. Even if it didn’t pass, Javier, the Seeds, and the Grays had proven that LifeFarm couldn’t operate unopposed anymore. Citizens would soon have their healthcare, their technology, their media, and their freedom to live without fear. They would insist on nothing less, because for the first time in at least three decades, they realized they could.
And it had all started with a case full of bees.
THE END
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Acknowledgements
This book took over two years to complete, and it would not have happened if not for some key people.
First, I must offer my most sincere gratitude to my editor, writing partner, and friend, Dan Alatorre. My writing career wouldn’t have had the strong start it did without you, and I am humbled that you continue to devote so much time and energy to my work.
To my writing partners on Critique Circle, including Al Macy, Dana Griffin, Drstarne, Harpalycus, and Vkkerji, your feedback made the book so much better in so many ways. I can’t thank you enough for your attention.
And finally, to those who read and loved The Fourth Descendant, inspiring the creation of this story, thank you for the simple act of reading. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
Other Books by Allison Maruska
The Fourth Descendant
“Allison Maruska has taken me on an amazing historical adventure in The Fourth Descendant.”
-Michelle Stanley, reviewer for Readers’ Favorite
When Michelle receives a call from a Richmond historian, she sees the chance for a much-needed adventure. All she has to do is find a century-old key.
Three others – a guitarist, an engineer, and a retiree – receive similar calls. Each family possesses a key to a four-lock safe found buried in a Virginia courthouse, though their connection is as mysterious as the safe itself. Their ancestors should not have interacted, had no apparent reason to bury the safe, and should not have disappeared thereafter.
Bearing their keys, Michelle and the other descendants converge in the courthouse basement and open the safe, revealing the truth about their ancestors - a truth stranger, more deadly, and potentially more world-changing than any of them could have imagined. Now it’s up to them to keep their discovery out of the wrong hands.
“I rarely read a story that I can’t wait to get back to, and this was one. It’s full of drama and suspense. It’s fresh and new, something very much needed, and it’s totally unpredictable."
- John Darryl Winston, author of IA: Initiate
Drake and the Fliers
"Brilliantly written, you are a part of it all, right from the start. The author’s powers of description put you right in the heart of the action with Drake and his friends."
- Amazon Reviewer
Sixteen-year-old Drake can’t understand why the virus spared him. The only survivors he’s seen vandalized his makeshift dwelling, and despite his sister’s dying wish that he connect with others, he spends his days alone – that is, until he shapeshifts into a dragon.
While exploring his new abilities, Drake nearly flies into Preston, another shifter. Their chances of survival increase if they team up with others like them, but when their search leads to a group in Las Vegas, they find not everyone is welcoming.
As Drake develops new relationships, Preston endures
daily confrontation and eventually takes off on his own. Concerned for his friend’s safety, Drake launches a search and stumbles into a situation stranger than anything he could imagine. Now he must embrace his animalism if he wants to save his humanity.
“Maruska does a stellar job of creating believable characters that are flawed and relatable but also admirable in their determination.” – Allison Gammons, author and blogger for Eclectic Alli
Project Renovatio
Levin Davis has it made. At 20, he’s a college graduate with a dream job, a beautiful girlfriend, and a life that can only get better - until he receives a mysterious letter suggesting his long-dead father is alive and hiding an extraordinary secret.
Distraught, Levin meets the letter’s author, who could pass for his twin. The stranger claims to be part of a genetically engineered race designed to survive global catastrophes and rebuild society, and he insists Levin and his sisters are as well.
Despite his disbelief, Levin uncovers not only the bizarre truth of his existence but also Project Renovatio’s ominous purpose – to secure genetic superiority, the new race must live according to harsh demands or risk severe penalties inflicted on their loved ones. If Levin hopes to protect his family and live a free life, he must escape Project Renovatio – or rise above himself to fight them.
“What if scientists take genetic engineering to the next level and start altering the human race? Allison Maruska writes a thrilling YA novel that will grab the attention of her readers and hold it until the end.“ – Lisa Tortorello, author of My Hero, My Ding
Project Liberatio
After weeks of hiding from the radical group that plans to turn him and his siblings into an army of genetically engineered supersoldiers, Levin wants nothing more than to get back to his old life. So when he learns they have the opportunity to return home, he jumps at the chance – all they have to do is defeat the very faction that has forced them to take refuge.
Following intense training, Levin’s group pursues the faction, but his focus isn’t solely on the fight. When he sneaks away to visit his girlfriend, he unwittingly reveals himself to the enemy. Now, he must sacrifice his own plans and desires and commit himself to a new mission - or he could lose much more than his freedom.
"Project Liberatio is a fictional treasure that will fully involve the reader. In addition to being a highly entertaining work, it is thought-provoking. This book will appeal to all readers. "
- Tracy Miller, Contributing Writer at The Nerdy Girl Express
Project Ancora
After suffering great loss, Levin struggles to find his place in a world that would see him as an outcast if it knew the truth of his existence. His purpose lies in keeping his siblings and the other genetically engineered youths safe. So when they start disappearing, he has no choice but to find them – a mission that becomes more urgent when his sister, Rana, is among the kidnapped.
As Rana works with the captives on an escape plan, Levin uses his extraordinary abilities to figure out where they are and who is behind the abductions. What he discovers is more serious than he could have imagined, and it’s up to him to get them back to safety while keeping them hidden from those who are supposed to be protecting them.
"If you enjoy stories about genetically engineered societies that are heavy on action and grit, then Project Ancora is the novel for you." - Leah Vernon, author of Impure
About the Author
Allison Maruska started her writing adventure in 2012 as a humor blogger. Her first published book, a historical mystery novel called The Fourth Descendant, was released in February, 2015. Drake and the Fliers followed in November, 2015. Project Renovatio was released in April, 2016, followed by Project Liberatio in August and Project Ancora in March, 2017.
In addition to writing, Allison is a teacher, a wife, a mom, a coffee and wine consumer, and an owl enthusiast.
Connect with Allison on the interwebs!
Blog: http://www.allisonmaruska.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/allisonmaruskaauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/allisonmaruska
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/allisonmaruska
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