Variant

by T. C. Edge

  "And you can trust them?" I asked. It was a foolish question, really. I didn't think Ford was the sort of person to deal with people he didn't fully trust.

  "As much as I can," he nodded. "They know only what they're told, and I pay them well. We have quite a few people like that, working with the VLA in some way or another. They're on the periphery, so can't really hurt us if they were to blab. We use them, and they use us. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."

  "The periphery," I mumbled to myself. "Sounds familiar."

  "Sorry?"

  "Nothing." I shook my head, still reeling from it all. "And, your Lordship? Why do they call you that?"

  He shook his head, laughing. "Just a stupid nickname. They think I'm from some high born line or something, because of how I talk and carry myself. It's nothing, really."

  "But they know you're a Variant?"

  "Sure."

  "And they don't have a problem with that?"

  Ford shook his head. "The Bends is different from Southbank. People there are actually less judgmental, in a way. Everyone is fighting for something, and Variants are just another group trying to get by."

  "But, it's not sensible to broadcast who you are, right?"

  "No, it's not, and we remain incognito as much as we can. Unfortunately, we need contacts and support, and certain connections are necessary. We choose carefully, and try to keep a tight handle on our network. And we never share intimate details of where our safe-houses are, or what we do. So, sleep easy, Paige. It's all just part of life with us."

  "Sleep easy?" I said. "After tonight? You think that's going to be simple. My nerves are half shot."

  "Then the night's been even more successful than I thought. Fraying those nerves will strengthen them in time." He smiled at me. "It's all a learning experience. And you continue to surprise me."

  "You surprise me, more like," I grumbled. "Can we stop with that now? I know why you do it, but I need a break from this whole 'expect the unexpected' thing. With my work at the warehouse, and all my tech stuff, I can't come here worried about what you're going to throw at me next." I looked at him earnestly. "Just...ease up, OK? At least for a little while."

  "Of course," he said, open now in his expression, where he'd appeared so cold before. "I think you've earned the right to make that request. In any case, perhaps a two or three day rest might be in order. It would be best for you to focus on stockpiling those T-Chips for now, and I've got things I need to be getting on with. I'll come by again in a few days. Look for my message on the screen in the safe-house."

  I couldn't quite figure out if it was a snub of some kind as we left the old hospital and stepped out into the night. I was a little too tired to tell, and was probably being paranoid. He prepared to leave at that, but as was his custom, first asked if I wanted company on my return home. I shook my head and told him I needed to think. He nodded, understanding, and perhaps feeling more comfortable now letting me travel alone.

  "Reflection is good," he said. "You've been going hard at things, and need some time to look back. Safe journey, Paige. I'll see you again in a few days' time."

  He took my hand and kissed it, as he always did when leaving me. His smile was broad and warm, and looking at him, I knew I'd miss him over the coming days.

  And yet, I also knew I needed some time to myself. I had been going hard, and it was sensible to dial things back a little bit. Training could take a backward step for now.

  I had to focus on what I was best at.

  And my workshop was calling me.

  24

  I wonder if he's watching me now, came a vague thought, as I sat at my workstation in the safe-house, using one of the tools the VLA had provided to quickly stockpile T-Chips.

  It was a small, portable 3D printer than put together the basic formation of the chip. All I had to do was add a few personal touches, which didn't take long, to complete each one by hand. Already I'd created many dozens, safely stored and ready to go.

  It had been two days now since I'd seen Ford, and I was anticipating a message any time to tell me he'd be coming over. So far, I hadn't heard a peep from him, and assumed he was busy in preparations for the planned capture of Mantis. I still felt a little embittered to not be involved, lingering here on the periphery as I was. After all, these chips were going to make the world of difference for them. I deserved to be included in the updates on what was going on, at least.

  But, I hadn't heard anything, and had been taking action to rectify that. It involved a secret design that I didn't want Ford knowing about, a tracker that I planned to plant on him when he next came here. I wanted to know where he was, and what he was doing. If he could watch me through the cameras he'd hidden in here, after all, I wanted to be able to do something similar.

  It goes both ways, Ford, I thought, glancing to one of the secret camera positions, that I'd since discovered. Two can play at that game.

  Besides stockpiling T-Chips, I'd also spent time working to upgrade my stealth suit, armour, and multi-function pistol, all to make them more capable when fighting the bionically and cybernetically enhanced.

  Whatever happened, I knew I had to be ready. No, I wasn't going to be allowed to join the strike team on Mantis, and I completely understood that. But that didn't mean I needed to sit back and let myself be excluded from it all either.

  One way or another, I would make sure that I wasn't.

  As I continued to work on my new designs, a knock sounded at the door. It made me jump, sudden as it was. I'd had no message from Ford and wasn't expecting anyone. I quickly turned and looked at the camera images, currently displayed upon the wall-screen, to find that is was Becca standing outside the door.

  I drew a breath and stood from my chair. I had been a little more evasive with Becca over the last few days, not being quite as open as I had before. I suspected that's why she was here.

  I stepped over and unlocked the door, planting a smile to my face. "Hey, Becs, what's up?"

  I glanced outside to check there was no one else around.

  "It's all right, I was careful," she said. "The coast is clear."

  She stepped right past me and into the room, as I locked the door behind her. Her eyes went first for the large screen displaying the cameras. Then they moved a little lazily towards my workstation, perusing the various items on display there. She wasn't as excited as before. She'd been here a few times over the last week, but not for several days. I had made it clear that she was a distraction, when I needed to focus on my work. I might have been a little blunt with her. It was hard to tell.

  "So, what are you working on?" she asked, trying to remain casual, though with a little bit of bite to her voice. "Now that you've solved the T-Chip problem."

  "Oh, this and that," I said, moving to my workstation. "A couple of modifications for my stealth suit and pistol. And my knife as well. I'm trying to enhance its charge capacity. It's good for temporary paralysis, but I want it to be more effective against tougher opponents. Maybe even disable bionic enhancements."

  She nodded, semi-interestedly, and pursed her lips. "Your mum been over here yet?" she asked. "How are things going with her, by the way?"

  I took a seat, as she looked toward the screens. She seemed a bit subdued, and had been for the last couple of days. Ever since my successful T-Chip test at work, I'd told her pretty much nothing of what had been going on with me. It wasn't necessarily that I didn't want to, or wasn't willing to. It was more the fact that, at work, it wasn't safe to do so, and outside of work, I'd been busy here and didn't have the time to natter.

  "They're...OK, I guess," I said. "I haven't spoken with her much, to be honest. She knows I'm helping the VLA. I told her I'm making tech for them."

  "And she's OK with it all?"

  "She says she is," I sighed, "but I know she isn't really. She knows I'm going to do it regardless. This is the best way for her to keep in the loop, I guess."

  "Hmmmm."

  She moved around the room
, casually looking over a few random items. She hadn't really made much eye contact with me since she entered, aside from a few awkward glances. I knew her as well as anyone, and knew just what was wrong. I found her manner of dealing with it rather comical, in a way. She was so endearingly innocent at times, with those glasses and freckles and mousy brown hair, sighing softly, pacing slowly.

  "You know I'm not trying to exclude you on purpose, right Becs?"

  I considered that a direct course would get things moving more quickly. There was no need to beat around the bush or prolong this awkward silence.

  She looked at me, raising her eyes. "What? I, er, don't know what you mean, Paige."

  "Come on, I know you're a little bitter because you think I've been hiding things from you. Let's not waste time denying it."

  "Bitter? I'm not bitter," she said, sounding rather bitter. "I wouldn't use that word. Makes me sound like a child."

  "Well..."

  She turned on me. "You think I'm acting like a child?"

  "I didn't say that."

  "You insinuated it. I can see it in your face. You think I'm being immature. That I'm annoyed because you're keeping things from me."

  "Becca, I don't think that. You're not being childish or immature. I know you're just interested in what I'm getting up to. There's nothing wrong with that."

  She drew a loud breath, then blew it out through her lips, slumping into the chair set in the corner of the room. "Actually, I think I am being immature about this," she said openly and honestly. "I have no right to know about everything you're doing. Just because I want to know, doesn't mean it's safe or sensible for you to share. I guess...well, I guess I just feel left out. I probably got overexcited at first. But, I have to realise that this is your life, not mine. Mine is always destined to be dull, packing boxes in that godawful warehouse. I'll be one of those bitter old ladies before I know it." She sighed again, shaking her head. "I'm already headed that way by the looks of things."

  "Becs," I said softly. "Don't be silly."

  I stood from my chair and went over to hers, pulling her up to her feet. I drew her into a hug, feeling like she needed it. We all had the right to go through these bouts of despondency and pessimistic thought. Becca was always so bright and full of energy. Seeing her like this wasn't pleasant for me. It must have been so much worse for her.

  I pulled away and took her hands. "I've been busy Becs, that's all. I'm not excluding you. Yeah, maybe there are a few things I probably shouldn't tell you, but...mostly I can. I've just been here, making these T-Chips for the most part. It's not that exciting, really. But, I do have some fun things to tell you about. If...if you're keen to hear them?"

  She tried to remain glum, but wasn't very good at holding the expression. She was easy to win around, really, and I meant that in the best possible way. She had a natural optimism that had drawn me to her in the first place. So few were like that around here.

  Her face began to forge back into her usual smile. "I...I guess," she said, shrugging. "Why not. Not like I've got anything better to do."

  I took a second to work through what had been happening with me over the last couple of days, and what I could expose to Becca without contravening the rules of the VLA. The deal between Mantis and Ursula, I thought, remained out of bounds for her. However, there seemed no reason why I couldn't tell her about the other night with Ford. About the fake custodians, the fight I had with them, and the lessons Ford had been teaching me.

  I took the decision and then went straight into it, as Becca moved over to my workstation and dropped into my swivel chair. I stayed on my feet, pacing side to side, acting out the odd scene when describing how I took down Ford's men. Her face brightened with each passing moment, her comments thrown in like heckles at a show.

  "I can't believe he'd do that," she said, shaking her head when I revealed Ford had set it all up, and been observing the entire thing from above the whole time. "Something could have gone really wrong. What if you'd shot at them with live fire? You might have killed them."

  "I guess he knew I wouldn't," I said. "They were only attacking with stun weapons, so he knew I'd respond with the same. It was a test, really. He was trying to show that I wasn't ready to kill."

  "Jeez, that's pretty intense, Paige. He pushes it quite far, doesn't he?"

  "He takes it to the line," I nodded. "I guess it works, otherwise he wouldn't do it. He's been training people since he was fourteen, you know."

  She sighed through her lips, flapping them like a horse. "Rubbish. There's no way he's telling the truth. You remember fourteen year old boys from school? They're spindly little things, all awkward and gangly. Got nothing but 'you know what' on their pubescent little minds."

  I laughed out loud. She did have a point.

  "Yeah, I don't think Ford was like that, though. Probably an early developer. I think his work with the VLA took priority over 'you know what'."

  "If that's the case, that isn't healthy. Boys of that age shouldn't have such a responsibility. I don't agree with that at all."

  "He seems well adjusted enough."

  "Does he?" she asked. "I mean, I like the guy and everything, but the way he tests you all the time." She shook her head. "He sounds like he's got a few screws loose, if you ask me. There's something masochistic about it all."

  Again, my laughter filled the room, partly because I knew she wasn't being completely serious, and partly because she probably had a point. He didn't exactly have a conventional upbringing. Nor did he have conventional methods either. It wasn't completely out of the question to imagine that the two might be related.

  "Anyway, how do you feel about it all now?" Becca went on, fully in her stride and element now.

  "About what?" I asked. "Ford?"

  "No, about what happened. Are you disappointed, in a way, that they weren't real custodians?"

  "Disappointed?" I didn't quite get her meaning immediately.

  "Yeah. As in, disappointed you don't have to go into hiding. You know, join the VLA full time?"

  "Oh, right." I thought about it for a moment. "Well, maybe," I said eventually. "Anyway, it sounds like you are, at least. You'd like it, wouldn't you? You'd like it if I was found out."

  "Because it would put an end to the mind-numbing drudgery of my existence?" she grunted. "Probably, yeah, but what do I know really? It all sounds fun and exiting until it actually happens, right? I might hate it, living over in the Bends. Or maybe I'd love it. I just don't know."

  "You never can until you try. Unfortunately, on this one you get one chance, and one chance only. There's no going back once it happens."

  "And you'd have to get your mum on board first?" she said.

  I nodded. "That, and the VLA themselves. Seems like they prefer me just working from here. Nice and quiet and on the side, not causing any trouble."

  "And that's a load of rubbish too," she said firmly, planting her hand down on the desk with some vigour. "I've told you before, they owe you a lot. It's scandalous that you still haven't even met their leader. He should have come down here himself to thank you personally for figuring out that T-Chip stuff." She lifted her chin in defiance. "I'll have words with him, if ever we meet. You're being treated like trash, and that's not on."

  "I'm not being treated like trash, Becs. You really do get riled up, don't you?" I giggled.

  "Yeah, well I've got your back. That's my job. I don't suppose they've told you anything else about Mantis by now, have they?"

  I hesitated in answering. It made it clear that I was hiding something.

  "Don't worry, you don't need to tell me," she went on. "If it's top secret, that's fine. I have no right to know. But you should. You've earned that, Paige."

  "I...know some stuff," I said, lightening my tone. "But, not much. I get the feeling I'm being excluded, at least a little bit. They want me to make these chips, but that's about it."

  "Even after?" she frowns. "Once Mantis is caught? Will you be included then?"
/>   "Ford couldn't answer that," I said. "It sounded like a no."

  She stood from her swivel chair. "These damn people," she said, shaking her head. "You should do something about that." She reached out and grabbed my water bottle from the desk, and took a swig. "Follow them, maybe? Find out what's going on..."

  I nodded. "Maybe I will."

  A cough escaped her lungs, pressed out quite violently. It interrupted the flow of the conversation, as I looked at her curiously.

  "Becs, you all right?"

  She nodded and, before I even knew what the problem might be, took another gulp of my water, as though trying to wash something down her throat.

  Then she looked at the bottle with a frown. "Tastes...weird," she said, coughing again. "Have you put something in this?"

  My eyes widened briefly.

  Yes, I had.

  There was Rest-Less in that bottle...

  I rushed over quickly, and grabbed the bottle off her, pulling it away. "It's just...stale," I said. "It's been sitting out a while."

  She eyed me in a funny way, and then coughed again, sitting back down into the swivel chair. I watched her for a second as her eyes widened and blinked heavily. She was an energetic person as it was, and this would only exacerbate that. She'd probably keep me up all night now and distract me from my work.

  That was my first thought - that she'd be an annoyance and nothing more.

  My second, however, was rather different. It was one of panic and fear.

  Because within a couple of moments, her movements had begun to grow more erratic. She started fidgeting in the chair, not knowing what to do with her hands. Her eyes continued to blink furiously as she pulled off her glasses and dropped them on the floor, unable to keep hold of them. Her skin began to turn pale, her limbs shivering all over.

  I rushed in and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Becs, Becca! Are you OK?"

  She shook her head weakly. "I...I feel...I feel weird, Paige." Her voice trembled, as her body continued to shiver more rapidly. Her breathing was quickly growing out of control.