by Eric Warren
“I found my parents,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He couldn’t keep the surprise from his face. When had she had time to search? It had taken him this long just to find a map of this place and she’d already located them? Part of him was angry with himself he hadn’t done more but the other part was relieved they could get out of this place. But based on her body language, the news hadn’t been good. “Tell me,” he said.
She shook her head. “Not Emily and Carver. I found my biological…parents.” The last word ended on a hitch in her voice and tears fell again.
Frees walked over and sat on the bed beside her. “I thought they were dead.”
“Sy lied about everything,” she said. “They’re here. Scientists, down in research.”
“And they just told you?” he asked.
“They wanted to remove my Device—they call it an implant—because it might have a record of all my memories before the accident. It came out when I got nervous about the surgery. But I don’t want to remember, Frees.” Her voice was stronger now, more determined. “If everything I’ve learned is true I was just like all the rest of them before I woke up in that field. Another machine-hating, human-glorifying sheep. I don’t want to be that person again. I’m afraid if they unlock those memories it will change who I am.” She sniffed and drew a long breath. “And I don’t want to change.”
“Are they going to force you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. My father seemed insistent. But Jessika was more understanding.” She stood and paced to the other side of the room. “Maybe she’s the key.”
Frees sat straighter. “What do you mean?”
Arista turned to face him. “My way in. I can’t trust either of them; they’re part of this whole…operation. They willingly let me go off on my own, allowed me to strand myself in the middle of what everyone here thinks is a hostile world. Would you ever trust someone who did that to you? Especially as a child?”
“I can’t say I know what being a child is like,” Frees said. “But no, I wouldn’t trust them. Trust must be earned, and they’ve done nothing to indicate they’re trustworthy.”
“Exactly,” she said. “But Jessika seemed remorseful. And if she’s feeling guilty about what they did to me, maybe I can leverage that into something useful. A way to find my real parents. Get them out of here.”
“While you’re at it, maybe you can figure out what’s really going on here,” Frees said.
Arista screwed up her face. “What do you mean?”
“I haven’t had a lot of time to search yet, but there’s something more happening than just the humans attacking the machines. I spoke to a guy down in the barracks and I’m not sure these attacks are for the purpose we think they’re for.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He just got back from London. And he seemed—at least from what I could tell—to indicate things were on schedule and they were in a holding position. They weren’t advancing on Trymian, rather keeping him at bay. A standoff.” Was there anything else? He didn’t want to leave out any details.
“What would be the point of that?” Arista asked, frowning. “Why not just go in and take him out? Isn’t that what they want?”
“I don’t think so. He mentioned something else too. Something he said we were supposed to look for from the Peacekeepers. But I couldn’t get him to elaborate.” Frees ran his hand through his hair, a trait he’d forgotten about. It was something he used to do all the time before.
“Like what?” Arista sat back on the bed again.
“I don’t know. But he said it was good I didn’t find it. Do you think Jessika might know what he’s talking about?”
“Maybe,” she replied. She wiped the remnants of the tears from under her sunken eyes. And her face was a shade paler than normal. “Did you find out anything else? Any lead on them yet?”
Frees shook his head. “I found a map and was going to start searching, but I’ve been ordered to medical.”
“Medical? Why?”
“My disguise isn’t as convincing as I’d hoped. Too many people know this guy. They know something is wrong with his face.”
“Great,” Arista said, leaning back against him. “And they won’t let me go anywhere without an escort. Though, they let me keep the energy drives.” She indicated the bag that had been tucked under the small desk. “I think because as soon as they read all my memories they’ll figure everything out pretty quick.”
“So then our goal is to get your parents and get out of here before they force you to undergo the procedure,” Frees said.
“And before you end up under the knife.” Her body relaxed on his and he realized he wasn’t against her laying on him. It felt quite nice.
“Are you still planning to use the explosives?” Frees asked, wondering if he should put his feet up on the bed. She needed sleep, that was undeniable. But she didn’t seem very comfortable.
“I think I’ll have to,” she said, her voice further away than before. “We have to keep them cut off.” She yawned.
Frees pinched his new face together. Should he stay here? Would they notice if he didn’t come back to the barracks tonight? He hadn’t been ordered to stay down there and he hadn’t been notified of any upcoming event he—Byron—needed to attend other than the medic. He could always make an excuse for that later. Right now it seemed more important to stay with her.
“How did it feel? Meeting your biological parents?” he asked.
“Weird.” She paused. “Like it wasn’t quite real. It still isn’t. Who knows, it could all be nothing but a big lie. Humans are good at that.”
“Lying?”
She nodded, yawning again.
Should he? Was it worth the risk?
“Here.” He lifted his legs up, so he was lying on the bed. Arista adjusted so she was still leaning up against him, though she seemed much more comfortable now.
“I’m so tired,” she said. “Is your room this nice?”
“Not quite,” he replied. “And only about half as big.”
She chuckled. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, it’s not like I have to sleep. I haven’t done it in a very long time.”
“Mmm,” she murmured. This sensation, of laying on a bed, it brought back certain memories he hadn’t cared to think about for a long time. How ironic the last time he’d slept in a bed he’d still had skin. And now, here he was again, playing the part of the human. But it was different this time. It was for a cause; something he believed in. He glanced down at Arista whose eyes had closed and her breathing had evened out. It was for someone he believed in.
They had both been through so much, half of it seemed like a lifetime ago and the other half like just yesterday. And somehow she had remained as resilient, if not more so, than he had.
He didn’t even want to admit it to himself, but if he could stay like this he might just be happy forever.
Eighteen
A bell rang somewhere far off in the distance. It was a strange-sounding bell, not like those she’d heard before. It had an electronic quality about it.
“Isty, wake up.”
Arista cracked her eyes, not recognizing the place she was in. What had happened?
It all came flooding back to her. She wasn’t alone in bed. She glanced over to see Frees, sitting slightly higher than she was, though she was practically laying on him. She rolled to the side and pushed herself up. “Sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I was more tired than I thought.”
“You slept for over twelve hours,” he said softly.
“Twelve hours? What time is it?”
“Seven-fifty-eight,” he said. “And there’s someone at your door.” The chime came again, except this time she recognized it as the door notification. It had made the same sound as the one last night when Frees arrived.
“Shit!” she said. “What do we do? Who is it?” She hopped off the bed.
“I don’t know,” Frees said, sitt
ing up.
“They’re probably here to take me back down to research,” she said, fumbling with her hair in the mirror. It would just have to be messy, she didn’t have time to fix it.
The chime came a third time. “Miss Barnes?” the voice said through the comm.
Arista tried smoothing out the wrinkles on her clothes and grabbed her jacket, throwing it back on. “Hudson,” she replied. “I’ll be out in a minute. What do you need?” She indicated Frees go hide in the bathroom. He shrugged, mouthing “why” and she just pointed at it more fervently.
He pushed himself off the bed and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Arista tapped the wall beside the door and it slid open. Hudson stood before her in the same garb he’d had on yesterday. “You really don’t sleep, do you?” she asked.
He only smiled.
“What can I do for you?”
“Leader Dante would like to speak with you please,” he replied, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Leader Dante? You mean Echo?” Arista only now realized she’d never caught her last name.
“Yes. This way if you please.” He held out a hand, indicating she should go ahead of him. She glanced back toward the bathroom, sure Frees would probably leave once the coast was clear. It was better if they weren’t seen together as often.
“Is this how things are normally done here?” she asked, walking out and watching the door slip closed behind her. “Meetings without any kind of notice?”
“You are not a normal case, Miss Barnes.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Meeting with Echo was better than going back down to research, at least for the time being. Though when she did, she’d at least be ready for Jessika. If what the woman said was true, then Arista should be able to get what she needed and give up very little in return. Then maybe they could finally work on getting out of this place with what they came for.
As they moved through the corridors Arista noticed things seemed brighter, more vivid in some way. She felt a lot better than she had in some time. It was amazing what a good night’s sleep would do. But had it been because the bed was comfortable? Or because Frees had been there? She wasn’t even sure she knew how to define their relationship anymore. It had evolved into something she couldn’t quite put a label on, though that wasn’t necessarily true if he didn’t feel the same way.
She shook the thoughts away; she couldn’t afford to be distracted right now. Not with the show she needed to put on in a few moments.
Echo’s doors slid open and the woman didn’t look up or acknowledge her when she entered, Hudson not far behind. The atmosphere was chillier than it had been yesterday, though the temperature in the room felt the same.
“Thank you, Hudson,” Echo said, still not looking up. Hudson turned and left without another word. “Have a seat.”
Arista did as she was told, telling herself to remain calm. She sure wished she could see her adrenaline and cortisol levels right now. The Device always told her to breathe. She took a deep breath in through the nose and exhaled through the mouth.
“I understand Jessika tried to pressure you to undergo the procedure yesterday.” Echo tapped on the screen in front of her.
“I wouldn’t say she pressured me. She mentioned it.”
Echo finished tapping then pushed the screen down where it lay flat and became part of the desk, the writing on it disappearing. “I see. And you refused?”
Arista nodded.
“That was very smart. I don’t know what game Jessika is running but like I told you yesterday, it’s better if we wait for them to come back on their own, rather than force it.” She stared at Arista.
“That’s fine with me.”
“Good. I’m glad we’re in agreement. We wouldn’t want anything happening to you now we’ve just gotten you back.”
Arista’s brow furrowed. “Happen to me?”
Echo relented. “Forcing the procedure can be…dangerous. But it’s nothing you need to worry about. If she asks you again, tell her you and I spoke, and you’ve decided to hold off for now.” Her mood became significantly lighter. “I mean, you’ve only been back less than a day. We need to give your mind time to adjust.”
Was she saying Jessika had tried to pressure her into something that might hurt her? She had seemed to apologetic yesterday. Just another human lie.
Unfazed, Echo continued. “I brought you in today for a few reasons. First, to clear up the matter about the procedure.” She paused. “And second, because I want to send you back out into the field. You’re the only one who can disappear from the machines and still interact with them.”
“No one else has an implant like mine?” She assumed lots of people would have them, it seemed to be a big tactical advantage. She’d been confused about it ever since Sy had explained the refractor.
“Not that is tested and ready to deploy,” Echo said. “But for you do to that I need you in top condition. I don’t want to send you back out there blind. So we’ll need to do something about that arm. I assume Jessika discussed that with you at least.”
“She did,” Arista said, curtly. The thought of waking up with another device attached to her arm sent a shiver through her, though she managed to suppress it.
“Good. Then that’s settled. I don’t need operatives out there physically compromised.”
Arista frowned, forgetting herself. “I don’t see it as being compromised. If I hadn’t—” She stopped short. She was about to say if her arm hadn’t been the way it was now she might not have ever been able to overpower Sy.
“Hadn’t?” Echo prompted.
“I just meant it hasn’t been a hindrance. I’ve been getting along fine without it.”
Echo studied her for a moment. “But wouldn’t you want the functionality back? Especially if I need you to blend in again. You stand out, which is the exact opposite of what an infiltrator is supposed to do.”
An infiltrator? Is that what she was? Is that what she’d volunteered for?
“It wouldn’t matter anyway,” Arista said. “Charlie broadcast my face across the world when he was hunting me. The Peacekeepers and any remaining surveillance would pick me up the minute I stepped out into public. I’ve had to hide for the past month.”
“That’s an easy fix,” Echo said. “We’d just do some cosmetic work, which can be reversed later. Our medical technology is very advanced, which, you probably don’t remember.”
Arista wasn’t quite sure how to take this. On one hand it gave her an out, a way to leave the colony. But without Frees and her parents what was the point? It would have all been a giant waste of time.
“Am I required to return to the field?” she asked.
Echo stood and came around to her side of the desk, perching herself half-on and half-off the edge. She crossed her hands and laid them in her lap. “Arista—Miranda, I’m aware David and Jessika went against my orders and told you about your heritage. I didn’t want them revealing that information to you yet because honestly, I need you focused and present. There’s something going on with the Peacekeepers that we don’t quite understand. We need someone who can blend in to discover what is happening and why.”
She was talking about what Frees had told her. “What’s happening to them?”
“We think they’re becoming fully independent on their own. Gaining full ICS.”
Arista drew her eyebrows together. “What’s ICS?”
“Intelligence, Consciousness, Sentience. The three requirements a machine needs to obtain before we consider them ‘alive’. So far, we haven’t seen any machine that meets the requirements. There are a few, like the ones we humans can naturally change that imitate it, but we don’t think they’re fully there. Tests seem to indicate they’re still just mimicking. But these Peacekeepers, reports seem to indicate they are going rogue, especially the ones in North America. Even though technically they should still be following Charlie’s directives.”
No. That co
uldn’t be right. Frees was more alive than anyone else she knew. As were her parents. Maybe the humans didn’t have a complete picture of what was going on. Or maybe they hadn’t had a chance to properly meet machines that had changed. Regardless, Arista decided it was better to keep her mouth shut about it. She didn’t want to give the humans any advantage.
“Is that why you have humans attacking different Cadre outposts across the world?”
Echo stared off into the distance. “Hmm? Oh, no. That’s part of something else. A different operation.” She stood and circled back around the desk.
“You have a lot going on at once,” Arista said.
Echo smiled, then let it drop. “You set a lot of things in motion. If you hadn’t managed to destroy Charlie, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” She waited two beats. “Will you consent to the procedure to fix your arm?”
Arista squirmed in her seat. If she refused they might start treating her as a hostile prisoner and do the procedure anyway. But accepting meant allowing them to install another potentially dangerous prosthetic on her. Something that might end up killing her just like the last one. She only had one hope: Jessika. Even if she did have her own agenda.
“I’ll consent,” she replied.
“That’s very good news,” Echo said, brushing her hair back over her ears. “I’ll inform Research. Trust me, it is very simple, and you won’t feel a thing.”
“Sure,” Arista said, trying to keep her breathing normal. Just the thought of having to undergo another procedure by humans was enough to throw her into complete panic. But hopefully she could convince Jessika otherwise. Or at least tell her to delay the procedure another day or two.
She stood to leave.
“Oh, and Miranda?” It took Arista a second to respond to the foreign name. She didn’t like how it sounded coming off the tongue. It was a pretty enough name in its own right, but it just wasn’t…her. She turned back to Echo. “I noticed Specialist Abrams stayed in your quarters last night.”
Arista froze, afraid to even breathe.
“I don’t have a problem with citizens and soldiers…intermixing, but I just wanted to warn you. Don’t get too attached. He’ll be sent back out soon, and you probably won’t see him again.”
