Regress (The Alliance Chronicles Book 1)

by SF Benson

  “Don’t worry. I’ll deal with Malcolm.” My pulse sped up. He needed to keep out of my business. I followed orders. I had Intrepid. That’s all he needed to know. “Don’t concern yourself.”

  “Good.” Asher pressed his lips together and nodded. “Okay. Let's go watch some monitors. When we see someone approaching surveillance, you come back here and do whatever it is you do.”

  Asher on New Belle Isle meant Alliance members weren’t far away. Maybe I could count on a normal life with Tru sooner than later. God knew we deserved it.

  “Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice a few for the greater good.”

  —Emma Blackburn-Douglas, leader, the American Republic

  Zared

  We watched Tru on one of the monitors. Asher turned up the volume and we listened in. It started out as a dull conversation between mother and daughter. The first news flash came when Gabriela admitted having an affair with my fiendish father. I wondered if my mother knew about it.

  The second one came when Tru mentioned her biological father.

  “Ash, turn it up.”

  I listened in as Gabriela told Tru about how a man, too drunk to drive, wiped out an entire family. It was too agonizing to listen to Tru lash out at her mother. I gestured to Asher to turn it off.

  “I was afraid your girl was going to say too much.”

  “Tru’s smart.” I leaned back in the chair.

  “You, not so much.”

  I automatically clenched my fist. Once again, someone questioned my relationship with Tru.

  He glanced at my hand. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  I wouldn’t fight Asher. With our training, it would be a long, bloody mess. Not worth ruining a friendship. “You got something to say?”

  “I call things the way I see them.” He propped his foot on his knee. “You know that. And, from where I sit, you've made errors.”

  “Like?”

  “Like you had a mission. You volunteered for it. You involved a girl to get what you needed. Great idea until you fell in love with her. Then, you let your body take over your common sense. Errors. Right?”

  “What do you know?” I rubbed my brow.

  “Remember, surveillance?” Asher winked.

  “Nothing. Happened.”

  “That’s not what I saw.”

  “My father doctored that stream. I can assure you, nothing happened.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Asher leaned back in his chair. “You’re caught inside. You know, in too deep. You let this girl cloud your judgment. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “And I guess you make better decisions than I do?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “So nothing’s ever happened between you and Ko?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t say that. But, dude, there’s a big difference. I'm not caught inside. We both know our mission. We know our ranks.”

  I crossed my arms. “What does rank have to do with anything?”

  “Remember, she’s OTP.”

  “OTP?”

  “Officer Training Program. I'm a Sergeant. Intimacy between the ranks is frowned upon.”

  “So that’s it? You stick with your rules and regulations. You don’t want more than that?”

  Asher frowned. “You make it sound like I’m good with it. I don’t get a choice. Ko’s the one who wants to stick with protocol. Not me.”

  “You sound pissed.”

  “Naw.” Asher grinned lopsidedly and turned back to the monitors. “Just frustrated.”

  “Hey, this mission will be over soon, and we can all move on.”

  “Like hell.” He rubbed his shoulder. “We’ll be in the next phase. Speaking of which, you need to figure out the future with your girl.”

  “She is my future.”

  “She’s not Riza. She has no idea how to protect herself.”

  “You’re wrong there. She does a good job. Plus, I’m training her.”

  “Good. Are you two prepared for the worst?”

  I wouldn’t consider anything if it meant living my life without her. I gripped the edge of the chair. Tru was all I had left in this world.

  Asher glanced over at me. “You have to think about it. Z, I’m glad you found someone special. You deserve it. But I just don’t want you to lose your life over her. You need a backup plan. Start making better decisions.”

  “I hear ya.” I understood what Asher said. He just didn’t understand that without Tru there was no plan. My future was with her. No one would convince me otherwise.

  Asher looked up at the monitors. “You need to go. Sherman just checked in. I'll see you later.”

  I stepped into the hall and bumped into my father.

  “Dad?”

  “Do you have a minute? We need to talk.”

  I scratched my head. “Sure. What’s up?” How long had he been outside the door? Was he listening to our conversation?

  We were halfway down the hall when Asher rushed up behind us. “Dr. Kat, sir. I just got a call. Lieutenant Bartlett is requesting you come to her office right away.”

  Lieutenant Bartlett…Didn’t Tru say something about her earlier?

  “Thank you, Sergeant. Zared, we'll talk later?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Asher waited until my father disappeared around a corner. He motioned for me to step back into surveillance.

  “You have to hurry. Your father will figure out real soon nobody called for him. I'm leaving now. Get out of here.”

  Asher’s conversation kept playing in my head. I knew my affiliation with the Alliance endangered Tru. But it was too late for me to do anything about it. Her knowledge earned her admission to the organization. Of course, Malcolm would see things differently. He would “terminate” the problem. He’d have to go through me first before that would happen. I just needed to find a way to make it work.

  Sherman waited outside my room. He ushered me inside. “Sir, we have to move now. Recruit Shepard is waiting at the rendezvous point.” He stepped into the hall.

  I fingered the black combat suit hanging in the bathroom wishing I could change my mind. I shed my jeans and T-shirt and pulled on the suit. The exoskeleton allowed me to flex my arm muscles. I put on my boots, grabbed the lightweight helmet, and joined Sherman in the hall.

  “Your father is headed this way. Helmets on.”

  I followed Sherman’s lead and took my place on the opposite side of the door. We stood at attention eyes focused ahead. In a matter of seconds, my father walked past us. The dark shield kept my identity hidden. Thank God, something went right.

  The old Dossin Great Lakes Museum off the river was our rendezvous point. Families used to come to the museum to learn about the city’s maritime history. Now, it acted as a storage site for some dusty artifacts.

  We walked down the street between a conservatory and a set of greenhouses. My eyes darted over the decrepit landscape. Sherman and I disagreed about the best way to reach the museum. I wanted to run. He said we’d draw attention. I said we should have our guns ready. He said we should keep them holstered. I shut up since it wasn’t my escape plan.

  “How much further, Sherman?”

  “Once we cross this lake, we'll be there.”

  The faded blue building with its dual cannons out front loomed ahead. It was peaceful. Too peaceful. Nothing moved near the riverfront. Even the trees stood still. The silence was eerie. My skin crawled with expectation. And then, hell erupted.

  A deafening screech filled the air. Cadets dressed in black combat gear ran from the conservatory. The heavy thud of footsteps crashing with the pavement drew near. Sherman pointed to the water. We ran. Something was wrong. Where was Tru?

  We crossed the street and met up with Asher. He was alone.

  “Where’s Tru?” I huffed.

  “Don’t worry. Change in plans. She’s with Ko. They’ll meet us.”

  I grabbed his arm. “Not cool, Asher.”

  “It’s a done deal. Let’s go.”


  I followed him, checking over my shoulder for the girls. Where were they?

  Pop. Pop. Pop.

  Firecrackers exploded behind us. I froze. Those weren’t fireworks!

  Sherman shouted, “They're firing into the crowd. It's a distraction so we can get to the boat.”

  “No! I’ve got to go back for Tru.” She was my responsibility. I got her involved in this mess. I had to make sure she was safe. What if she never left the house?

  Asher snatched my arm. “Orders are to get you on the boat!”

  The boat was in sight. We ducked behind a tree.

  “Ash, we’ve got to go back for Tru,” I yelled.

  “She’s with Ko. She’ll be fine.”

  What the hell! A weight slammed into my shoulder, knocking me to my knees. I’d been shot. The suit’s liquid armor prevented penetration. Asher glanced back before pointing to the boat. We had to leave without the girls. My heart sank.

  A white light cut through the darkening sky. Mist from the river covered us. I peered into the light and saw a Blackhawk helicopter hovering over us. A voice crackled over the loudspeaker.

  “Stand down, traitors!”

  I glanced at Sherman. He shook his head. We kept moving. I reached the boat first and threw my legs over the side. Before I got my feet under me, the boat rocked violently. A loud blast penetrated the air, knocking Asher on his butt. Sherman rose a foot in the air and landed on his back. Blood spilled from his mouth. The young cadet didn’t move. Asher got to his feet and shoved me toward the cabin.

  The armed boat sped away from the shore. Another boat pulled out after us. I leaned against the side of the cabin. If I remembered correctly, we were about five hundred feet away from the border. Riza soldiers fired upon us. The rebels on board returned fire. Seconds later, the Riza boat came to an abrupt stop.

  I removed my helmet and turned to Asher.

  He pulled off his helmet. “International waters, dude! We’re home free!”

  Where the hell was Tru? I knew Ko would keep her safe. I just needed to know she was okay.

  “Hey, Z,” Asher shouted above the boat’s engine. “Your girl, she's fine. Ko will get her to safety.”

  “Where we headed?”

  “Safe house. We'll get clothes, food, new IDs. We'll lay low until we make contact.”

  “Can we get word to Ko?”

  “Negative. We did what we had to. If we stayed any longer, we’d be next to Sherm.”

  I knew he was right, but it didn’t stop me from worrying. The last time we were separated, Tru got her shoulder dislocated. What would happen to her this time?

  “Death is the great equalizer.”

  —Benjamin J. Salk, leader, the American Republic

  At the last minute, Ko changed the plan claiming to be concerned about my safety. I knew better. Ko was cocky and thought she was the one person capable of doing a job right.

  Late afternoon a couple of faction guards exited their posts and led me to the trees surrounding the tennis courts to change into the close-fitting black combat gear.

  “Not a bad fit for a civilian.” Ko wore the same suit.

  “Where did you come from?”

  She waved her hand in the air. “Never mind that. We have to meet the guys.”

  “Where’s Zared?”

  I should have kept the question to myself. Ko gave me her ‘let me set you straight’ look. “In order to get out of here, I need you to focus. Stop worrying so much about Zared.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Excuse you?”

  “Tru, your safety depends on your being clearheaded. If you’re worried about Zared, you’ll make mistakes. None of us can afford that. Understood?”

  I bit my bottom lip. “Fine.”

  Ko took in a deep breath. “One more thing.”

  The muscles tightened in my face. “What else?”

  Ko’s eyebrows squeezed together. She swallowed hard before saying, “You have to promise you’ll do everything I tell you to do. As far as anyone is concerned, you’re Riza and I’m your superior.”

  My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I am. You can’t question anything I say. Understood?”

  “Ko—”

  “Understood?”

  I kicked the dirt. If she asked me that question one more time, I’d scream. “Yes.”

  “And Tru, I know it will be hard, but if things go wrong, you can’t show any emotion. It’s the quickest way to get discovered.”

  I crossed my arms. “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “No physical displays of emotion. I need you to be strong.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t promise that.”

  She touched my arm. “If you want to stay alive, you’ll figure it out.”

  Ko just asked me to do the impossible. It shouldn’t have surprised me. We were best friends, yet she felt the need to improve me. She probably figured I’d fall apart at the first sign of trouble.

  “It’s important that you wear your helmet the whole time. I’ll let you know when you can remove it.”

  I rolled my eyes and put it on.

  Ko donned her helmet and motioned for me to follow her. Other cadets in combat gear walked from various points around the island. We blended into the sea of black clad bodies headed for the meeting site. This was a risky maneuver. What if one of her superiors stopped us?

  Up ahead cadets were going in and out of a large building, the conservatory. Before we made it to the stairs, a statuesque African-American woman stopped us. Her nametag read Commander Bartlett. The name was familiar. She looked like a Purebred, a single race individual and a rarity within Riza’s hierarchy.

  Commander Bartlett clasped her hands behind her back. “Cadets, training starts in five minutes.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ko saluted.

  I returned the gesture.

  The woman stepped aside and waited for us to go up the stairs. Our plan didn’t include attending the meeting, but we didn’t have a choice.

  We filed behind the bodies into a hot, stuffy room and stood along the wall. Ko shuffled back and forth trying to see around the crowd. I smiled. For once, my height gave me an appreciated advantage.

  I glanced up at the old clock on the far wall. Ko tapped my hand and gestured to the door. We inched along the wall. Sweat pooled around my neck, but I couldn’t risk removing my helmet. A breeze from the door crossed my body. Almost there. Damn! A deafening screech reverberated in my helmet. Who set off the alarm? Ko grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the exit.

  We ran out the front door along with everyone else. I looked to my right. Three figures ran toward the waterfront. It had to be the guys. They would reach the boat before us. We wouldn’t catch up. Too many bodies blocked our path.

  I wouldn’t give up hope. The street was visible.

  Pop, pop, pop.

  Gunshots? Who was shooting and why?

  Suddenly, a white light cut through the darkening sky. A large helicopter hovered over the guys. A voice crackled over the loudspeaker.

  “Stand down, traitors!”

  They kept moving.

  Boom.

  The smaller body sprang into the air. Time stood still. Everyone stopped and looked toward the water. The body landed on the ground and didn’t move again. It wasn’t a nice thought, but I hoped it was Sherman. Two larger bodies were onboard the boat. Please be Asher and Zared.

  Ko gripped my arm. “We have to stop.”

  “Why? We have to catch up!”

  “If we keep going, we’ll end up like Sherman. Don’t panic. We’ll find another way.”

  I watched the armed boat speed away from the shore. Another boat soon followed. Shots were exchanged. The shooting lasted mere minutes. I side-glanced at Ko. Were the guys safe?

  “Remember what I said, soldier.” Ko said. “No emotion. No tears.”

  I bobbed my head up and down. The boat continued down the river, and we were left behind. How the hell would we get off the
island?

  Bodies pushed past us headed away from the waterfront. The smell of blood hung thick in the air. I turned my head and saw recruits lining up in front of the conservatory. I looked over at Ko. She lifted the visor on her helmet.

  “No matter what happens you have to stay strong. Any sign of emotion will give us away. I don’t care if they put a gun in your face. You better say a silent prayer and look straight ahead.”

  “Ko—” Did she say someone might put a gun in my face?

  “No questions. Stay strong, soldier.” She lowered her visor.

  My stomach churned.

  The cadets moved into two parallel lines. Ko nudged me into a spot in the rear line.

  “Soldiers, we had an incident here today,” Commander Bartlett barked. “Two very dangerous traitors escaped. And someone within our ranks was responsible. Whoever you are, you will be found out and dealt with. Death is the only option for traitors. All traitors.”

  Were my eyes deceiving me? It was Eden standing next to a woman who resembled her. They were two different sides of a coin—one side chocolate-colored and the other the color of warm honey.

  “I am Lieutenant Eden Bartlett-Shepard, head of CHA security on the island. I am extremely disappointed with your conduct today. Riza soldiers are to maintain social order. How can you maintain order when you have disorder within your own ranks? I am not as tolerant as your CO. I prefer swift, efficient discipline.”

  Eden snapped her fingers and a man in a black suit walked away from the crowd.

  The woman beside Eden had the same nose and cheekbones as my bitchy sister-in-law. Was this the aunt she told my mother about? Did Ko know this?

  The man returned with my mother, forcing her to her knees. I rocked slightly. Ko tapped my hand in an attempt to steady me. My stomach rolled.

  “There is only one way to deal with traitors. Sometimes it takes drastic measures to make people do what’s right.”

  The man placed a gun in Eden’s outstretched hand.

  “Now, let’s make this easy.” She cocked the pistol. “This woman will die right now if those responsible do not show themselves.”