Ada looked at me. “Eighty-five percent. You should be dead.”
“I nearly was. Then your Mother over there almost finished the job.”
The Mother, who Ada had called Emmy, made no apologies. “We’re the only ones left and I’ll be damned if I let someone walk in here and wipe out the rest of us.”
The Mothers had courage, even if I didn’t agree with their methods. “What the hell kind of weapon is that?”
“Shotgun. We ransacked the place once we were locked in. There’s a stockpile of them in the basement . . . along with a lot of other crazy stuff. Thought they might be able to break through the seal, but no luck. But let’s not change the subject. I mean, I’m glad and everything, but why aren’t you dead?”
“Nik did something to me. Or actually, to Tasch.” I looked at my hands, still smeared with blood—mine and hers. “Whatever it is, I think it saved me.”
“Computer, sample Leica’s blood.”
A fly buzzed down from the ceiling and landed on the back of my hand. Its sharp metal legs crawled over to a blue vein; then there was a sharp sting and it took off again.
“Display results.”
Percentages and data scrolled across the screen. Ada followed the stream of information carefully, nodding, but it was meaningless to me. “Now show me the blood on a cellular level.”
The screen filled with hundreds of red, puffy discs.
“That clever little clone.” Ada had admiration in her voice. “Those round thingys are red blood cells, but see these ones?” She pointed to a shape on the screen that was smaller and sleeker. Once I knew what I was looking for, I spotted more of them floating among the blood cells. “Those are the nanites Nik’s been working on—so his plants could filter out toxins. Evidently, he’s figured out how to use them on people.”
And I remembered Nik’s fist, slamming into the broken glass and dirt . . . and nanites. They must have gotten into his bloodstream and that’s why his hand healed. And when Tasch’s blood mixed with mine, they must’ve gotten into my bloodstream too. That must be why I healed so well.
“Computer, can you replicate the artificial elements in this sample?” Ada asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Prepare a sample and distribute it to Riya—the one in need of medical attention.”
“Task complete in thirteen minutes, forty-nine seconds.”
“Do you think it’ll work?” I asked, looking at Riya’s motionless grey face. It reminded me too much of Taschen for comfort.
“I’m not sure. I’ll have to figure out what kind of toxins were used, but they’ve only been in her system for a short while and her body’s still fighting. The nanites are designed for this exact thing. Then again . . . they weren’t designed for humans.”
“Edison is still out there. I think he’s been communicating with . . .” I petered off, thinking of Jenner’s delirious words. Thinks he’s talking to Earth. “I have to stop whatever he has planned.”
She didn’t even blink. “Right. All the magnetic fields are still functioning and we didn’t take out any of the tracks on the lower levels.” Ada said. “Monitors show the magflys should be up and running down there.”
She was flipping through schematics of the Dome and one caught my attention as it flashed across the screens.
“Wait. Show me that one again.”
Ada flipped back, her voice hushed. “I’ve never seen this before. I wonder what else that LOTUS code gave us access to.”
It was a map of Gabriel, recognizable and foreign at the same time. Familiar mountains ringed the valley. There were other landmarks too: Ad Astra Research Colony, with the curve of the Dome highlighted in blue. And nearby, a tiny semicircle of buildings—Pleiades Hotel and Suites. And—where the open field of the Festival Grounds was—LOTUS Corporation Air Force Base.
Magfly lines crisscrossed the desert. But there were streets as well, lined with grids of rectangular buildings. There was a red circle encompassing most of the valley and at the bottom it read, Emergency Protocol successful: 2084. 06. 20.
The fist of God.
I pushed the thought out of my mind—concentrating on getting out to Tierra Muerta and stopping whatever Edison had planned next. “Okay, show me the map to the magflys again.”
• • •
I jogged down several flights of stairs, ending at the double glass doors of a decontamination portal. This one was in disrepair—the sliding doors were opening and closing on their own. They were out of sync with each other, so I only caught little glimpses of the hallway on the other side. Damp cement floors. Dim lights. A sign above the doors read:
RESTRICTED ACCESS. LOTUS PERSONNEL ONLY. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED ON SIGHT.
I hurried down the hall, found the exit, and climbed on the magfly Ada had waiting for me. The doors slid shut behind me and it took off. All I could see was the black blur of the magfly tubes, but just as soon as we picked up speed, we were slowing down again.
Then I was gliding into a bright room—the magfly automatically slowing as it traveled through the usually busy Salvage Hall. There were bodies everywhere. Citizens strewn across the floor like scrap. My heart stopped as I spotted Sarika’s face in the sea of corpses. Eyes open. A look of rapture on her face.
I tried to open the doors of the magfly. Prying at them, pounding on the button, but nothing happened. Then the magfly jerked into motion again. I was rushing down the tunnels and then out under the night sky.
The trip that would’ve taken days to walk took minutes. Ada had programmed the magfly to stop a mile or so away from the Indigno camp—we weren’t taking any chances. And when the magfly finally slowed, I was grateful to climb out of the nightmare into the empty darkness of Tierra Muerta. I let it wash away what I’d seen.
As my boots sank into the sand, I turned instead to the stars. They were old friends and I clung to their constancy—as if I could walk the bright ribbon of light that unfurled across the sky. Tonight had already cost me so much and I didn’t know what more was waiting for me at the Indigno camp, but at least the stars were still shining.
As I neared the clusters of boulders outside the camp, I thought I saw another shadow moving in the dark. I pulled my knife from my boot, but by then, the shadow was gone. I still hadn’t seen any sign of Edison. Maybe I’d guessed wrong. Maybe he’d already been here and left? I gripped my knife tighter, almost hoping that was the case. Wishing I could be spared this confrontation.
I crept around the boulders, and remembering how the Indignos had posted guards up in the foothills, I glanced up. But the moon was bright and it threw a hundred more suspicious shadows across the landscape.
Then my foot caught on something and I went sprawling. I managed not to shout, biting my tongue in my effort to keep quiet. It was only scraped hands and bruises but I stayed down, feeling around for my knife. My hand hit soft fur instead.
“Please. No.” I couldn’t face losing another friend tonight.
I crawled over the wet sand. And there, lying in the grit, was Jaesun’s dog. The pup’s tongue lolling out. A gash across her belly.
CHAPTER 47
WHATEVER WAS LEFT of my heart hardened against Edison. I buried my hand in the pup’s fur. “You didn’t deserve this.”
I was answered with a low whine. The dog managed to open her eyes, though I could only see the whites. “Oh, pup!”
She whimpered and gave another pitiful whine. It was a mournful, agonized cry and I raised my knife—steeling myself to end her suffering. But I didn’t have it in me. Not after this night. Not after the terrible things I’d already seen and done.
Kneeling there, I let my head drop. Let myself grieve for just a moment. I was exhausted, my body ached, and my hands burned from my fall. I ran my fingers over my ripped palm. It was already starting to scab over a little, the nanites working fast. And I had
an idea.
I winced as I sliced my palm with my knife. A dark red line welled up and I made a fist. Blood seeped between my clenched fingers—dripping down my hand—and I let it trickle into the dog’s wounded underbelly.
She whimpered, straining to lift her head. I scratched her chin. “I know, pup . . . it hurts. I know.”
Then she slumped back to the ground again. Eyes shut. Was it enough? Was it too late, like with Tasch? Or had the pup just passed out?
I pushed myself to my feet. I’d done all I could. Well, not everything—I added the pup to the list of things I would make Edison pay for.
As I came over the crest and descended into the small valley, the lights of the Indigno camp greeted me. I didn’t see anyone moving around down there, but I could hear the hiss of the radio. And in the center of camp—where the bonfire had been—sat a smaller version of the shuttle we’d found in the sand dunes.
I stuck my knife back in my boot and pulled out my scope to get a better look. I recognized the aged metal. The markings on the door. This wasn’t a version of the shuttle . . . it was the shuttle. Only it’d been taken apart and cobbled back together into a smaller machine.
Two wings jutted out on either side of a tiny cockpit. The engines that’d been close to the sides of the shuttle before had been reattached so they were sitting at the ends of the wings now, pointing down. Food replicators and stacks of storage drives were piled around an open door. I heard voices, and Edison came into view, wearing an isolation suit.
Then Nik, without one.
Dammit. Back in my bedroom, I’d told Nik where Edison was headed. Of course he came out here. I should’ve guessed. No matter what’d happened, Edison was still Nik’s brother.
They were arguing as Edison loaded up the shuttle, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Pulling off my boots and socks, I crept through the maze of tarp-covered ruins. Rocks dug into my soles, but my bare feet were silent and sure of the ground beneath them. Then I was only five or six meters away. I crouched behind a crumbling wall, assessing the situation.
The shuttle was sitting in the middle of the central clearing. In addition to the small cockpit, there was a second compartment where Edison was stowing supplies. You could access the compartment from either side of the shuttle and Edison had both doors open as he loaded up the ship.
“. . . and I already said, I’m leaving.” Edison carried a food synthesizer to the shuttle.
“But that’s what I’m trying to tell you—you don’t have to! The nanites can allow us to survive outside the Dome,” Nik said.
They were completely absorbed in their debate and I realized this was a much better situation than I could’ve imagined. I ripped open my hem—pulling out the pouch of explosives. Nik was the perfect distraction. But I’d still have to sneak around to the other side so I wouldn’t be seen.
“Don’t you see?” Nik touched Edison’s arm. “This is what we imagined all those years ago. We can start over! We can fix Gabriel!”
All the tents and buildings faced this central area and I retreated back into them—winding through the camp. Working my way around to the far side of the shuttle. I was terrified of making a noise, but I concentrated on the heft of the bomb in my hand. Letting it steady me.
“But this is bigger than we ever imagined.” Edison’s voice drifted through the Indigno camp. “You have to come with me! We owe it to ourselves to do this together.”
I reached the other side, the rebuilt ship sitting between me and the brothers now—only a few meters away from the wall I was crouching behind. From this vantage point, I could see Edison on the far side, framed by the open doors of the compartment. And there was a look on his face as he loaded the final bits onto the shuttle—one I couldn’t quite place. Doubt? Regret?
Then he plastered a wide smile on his face and he turned to Nik. As soon as Edison’s back was to me, I scurried across the open ground to the shuttle—stashing the explosives behind a stack of drives. Pulling the detonator out of my pocket.
“These people are desperate for technology and those nanites of yours are exactly what they’re looking for. I mean, look at what it’s already done for you . . . I assume that’s why you aren’t wearing an isolation suit?” There was a false casualness to Edison’s voice as he asked his last question.
And hearing it, I froze—half in, half out of the shuttle—danger prickling at my neck. If Nik had come straight out to Tierra Muerta, then he had no idea about Edison’s Decontamination Protocol. He had no idea what his brother was capable of. But I did.
If Edison wanted Nik to come with him—wherever he was going—it could only be for one reason. The nanites inside Nik’s veins.
Nik was going to get himself killed. He was going to get us both killed.
I pocketed the detonator and eased out of the shuttle. Edison’s back was still to me, but he’d moved to his brother’s side, so now I could see both of them through the doors. I tried to get Nik’s attention.
“But our people need this technology too!” Nik gestured toward the shuttle and his eyes went wide when he saw me there. He recovered quickly and managed to keep talking. “Are you telling me that Earth is more deserving than them?”
Edison let out a bark of laughter—a dry, humorless thing. “That’s the thing, Nikola . . . the joke’s on us. We’re already on Earth.”
CHAPTER 48
“I KNOW IT’S IMPOSSIBLE to believe . . . it was for me at first too. But somewhere on the other side of those mountains”— Edison turned, pointing to the ridge behind me and I dove out of sight, hoping I was fast enough—“there are people.”
Now I pressed my back flat against the wall of the shuttle—the cold creeping through my thin dress. Earth?
Edison was insane. He must be.
Then an image came into my mind—the bottle of wine Edison had shared with me that first night. The valley and vineyards of California.
That bottle had felt important. Familiar somehow. And now I understood why . . . I had recognized that ridge line. That picture on the bottle had been of our mountains. Our valley.
“Think about what you’re saying.” Nik’s voice was strained—trying to understand what Edison was telling him. Trying to figure out what to do about me. “If there were other people on this planet, we would have seen them . . . seen some sign of them.”
“Not if they’d abandoned us here. Not if we wanted them to forget. Remember . . . remember when we realized that Red Death was a hybrid . . . that someone had made it on purpose? Tell me you didn’t guess at least a little of the truth that day. We made that virus. Well, not us, but the Dome’s scientists, hundreds of years ago.”
“That’s what the underground laboratories were for . . . that was LOTUS.” Nik was putting the pieces together—faster than I was.
Edison nodded, keeping his eyes on his brother as Nik paced a little to the left, effectively angling Edison away from me.
“You’re looking at ground zero!” Edison gestured dramatically at the valley around him. “Ad Astra wasn’t some utopian planetary colony. It was a prototype. Scientists living and working inside the sealed environment, studying food replication, terraforming, swarm robotics—but it was all just a front for the real work.
“Red Death was the crown jewel of the LOTUS Corporation’s biological weapons division. The scientists couldn’t wait to show off their creation to headquarters in Washington, DC. But they underestimated it.” Edison flicked his head at the shuttle. “The crew was already infected by the time the plane even got off the ground.”
And I remembered the broken orange cases Suji found inside the shuttle. No, not shuttle—I corrected myself—Edison said plane.
“And how did the LOTUS Corporation reward their loyal employees for creating such a stunning success?” Edison asked. “By bombing the hell out of this valley and hitting the Dome’s self-destruct b
utton.”
I thought of the date of the first Decontamination Protocol. 2084. That’s where Edison got the idea. From my hiding spot, I clutched the detonator hard—the prongs biting into my palm.
“But they survived,” Nik said, the whole picture unfolding in his mind. “The scientists sealed in the isolation labs . . . the Citizens in the valley . . . they survived. No wonder we could never break into Ad Astra’s computer system. They locked themselves out on purpose. The only way to keep the LOTUS Corporation from coming back and finishing the job was to stay invisible.”
“What can I say? Life wants to live!” I could hear the glee in Edison’s voice. “But when we discovered this plane, we rediscovered the access codes . . . though it took me a while to figure out how to use them. Turns out they’re activated by proximity keys. Brilliant!”
And I thought of Lotus’s necklace—unsealing the Lab, turning off the Decontamination Protocol.
“But once I finally got the codes working, the whole Dome simply laid itself bare. Nik, you should’ve seen it. Everything we’ve ever tried to change or fix or understand for the last fifteen years was there! Schematics, data files, maps. All right at my fingertips!
“But Ad Astra had kept its secrets well. According to the files, after LOTUS Corporation declared this whole area a dead zone and started shooting anyone who tried to get in or out, the survivors made a pact. They threw away the passcodes to the LOTUS computer system and radios—anything that would connect them to the outside world—and they made up a history that would keep them safe. This valley”—Edison spread his arms wide—“bombed and crushed and abandoned, became Gabriel. Anyone who protested—inside or outside the Dome—was deemed Corrupted and exiled to Tierra Muerta.”
“And the next generation grew up safe, listening to stories about how their ancestors had journeyed across the stars to the planet Gabriel. Brilliant.” Nik echoed Edison’s admiration. He sounded awestruck—caught up in the story Edison was weaving. “And Ad Astra Colony became a lone settlement on an infected planet. The perfect cage for people who had no choice but to stay trapped.”
Lotus and Thorn Page 36
