by Farley Dunn
He really should have spent more time memorizing the layout of the facility, or at least Level 2 where he lived. He felt so stupid, sometimes.
He could likely sprint to the elevator faster, anyway, as lately, since his track time with Christian, he was rarely out of breath, even after his most intense sessions. Long-distance runs were no longer a blip on his radar of things that seemed impractical or inconvenient.
Two people crossed the corridor at an intersection, one a dark-haired woman wearing normal street attire and carrying a sheaf of paperwork in the crook of her arm. She was talking to a man, slightly taller, who was on a handheld phone. He wore glasses and touted dark hair pulled back severely from his face. The man glanced at Garik, nodded, and looked away. The woman didn’t seem to register Garik’s presence at all.
Garik knew he would intersect people on his way, and he didn’t want to raise questions. Sunchaser. She had been furious, and he didn’t want it aimed at him. And Rodheimer? He was frightening, both in his size and his grip on power in the Tower.
At the first intersection of corridors, Garik slowed, looking carefully as he walked across, and only increasing his speed when he was sure he couldn’t be seen. Two corridors had groups of people outside, one likely a meeting on a break, with the people wearing their names on lanyards around their necks, and the other workers in paint-spattered coveralls, obviously completing a remodeling project. The name plaque beside the door had been removed, leaving discolored paint and two screw holes.
By the time Garik reached the main elevator, he was running by instinct. He heard the voices before he saw the people, could tell by scent if he were meeting one, two or more—only once surprised by a posse of eight, his sense of smell overwhelmed by sheer numbers—and found himself noting nooks and crannies for hiding and alternate routes he could take even though he wasn’t required to use them.
It was the speed that was important, his surroundings blurring into a rainbow haze, using uncanny, wolf-like senses, although to Garik, he was just in a hurry, things sounded and smelled like they were supposed to, and he was making astounding progress.
He arrived at the elevator, grateful to find one of the two unoccupied, and he inserted his passkey. When the panel lit up, giving him permission to select Basement Levels 1-5—but not the food court or the upper levels of Corona Tower—Garik balled a fist and, with his knuckles, smashed the icon for Level 5.
There was only one place Jantzen could be that Sunchaser wouldn’t think to look. He was certain he would find him there.
GARIK TWISTED the knob and fell with his shoulder against the door, trusting, hoping, but surprised to find it unlocked and sending it wide into Justin’s temporary quarters. He was surprised to find it fully lighted.
“Jantzen? Justin?” He listened, his heart alight with anticipation, willing it to slow its pounding beat.
“Here, Garik.” Jantzen, calling from deeper within.
“I knew you’d be here.” Garik pushed into the space, to discover Justin face down and stretched along the floor. He wore only shorts, leaving his legs exposed. His shins . . . spurs?
“Forgive me if I don’t look up.” Jantzen knelt over Justin, with his back to Garik, working on the prone man’s torso.
“Garik.” Justin’s arms were under his head, and he turned to look at Garik. He grimaced, and Jantzen paused, sat up, apologized, and leaned forward again.
Garik hadn’t expected this, what appeared to be surgery. Shouldn’t this be happening in the hospital, Dr. Jamie or another of the trained staff?
“The best I can do,” Jantzen said, pulling a towel from beside him and wiping his hands. “Perhaps the pain won’t be so bad.”
“What are you doing?”
“What I can.” Jantzen turned to him. “You look like you’re in a rush.”
“It’s Sunchaser.” Garik could now see Justin’s back. The swellings were larger and redder than before. A towel marked with yellow and red looked like Jantzen had been draining fluid from the wing nodules. Justin moved to sit up, placing one hand on the floor, bending his second arm joint backwards, and navigating to a sitting position.
“I’m okay,” Justin said, shifting position to try to get comfortable. He called to Garik, “What about her?”
“She’s—” He looked between the two men, sensing the moment as a slippery stone, and leaped. “She was in Rachel’s office, and Rachel wouldn’t tell her where you were.”
Justin looked to Garik, smiled, and turned to Jantzen. “Rachel hasn’t changed.”
“No. What did you overhear?” Jantzen seemed pleased, but his eyes were tired.
“Everything, well, until the door closed. I don’t think it’s good. And Christian, what happened to Christian? No one knows.”
Jantzen seemed to deflate. “I was too late. He’s no longer here.”
“That’s what John said, but where? Can we rescue him?”
“Patience, Garik. Perhaps. I’m working on that.”
“There’s no time, Jantzen. Now. I promised—” Garik felt his chest tighten, and he fought his face. “I can’t let him down. He’s a part of us.”
“See?” Jantzen turned to Justin, nodding, speaking quietly as though confirming something. “Protect the pack above all else.”
“Finally, success?” Justin, in a whisper.
“It’s too early to tell. Perhaps.”
“I’m right here,” Garik barked. “Sheesh, you’d think I’m deaf.”
“Maybe not too early.” Justin chuckled, and he shifted position and groaned.
“Still painful? There’s not much more I can do.”
“I’m fine. Talk to the boy.”
Boy. Garik had bested the man in the ring, the same way Jantzen had bested him in his fight with Alyna. He tempered his irritation with his old mantra, my hands, my mind, convinced that Sunchaser’s backstabbing needed to be shared.
“Yes, Garik. What did you find out?” Jantzen made his way to the sofa and dropped.
“She’s looking for you. She talked about her brother in South Africa—”
“That again.” Jantzen leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “Halo is jealous, but she has no foundation for it. I hope this doesn’t go over your head, Garik, but she once thought we could be together, and that wasn’t going to happen. Now, anyone I get close to, she tries to undermine, part of the reason I’ve kept my distance from you.”
“I don’t get it. What do I have to do with you and her?” Garik respected Jantzen. Wasn’t that a good thing? He was so confused his head spun.
“I’m sure there’s more to it—”
“She wants in Weston’s favor. That’s the more,” Justin interrupted. “If Weston can bring her sick grandmother into the country—”
“Our DNA therapy can’t . . . isn’t designed for repair of cellular organisms. Halo knows that. It only modifies them.” Jantzen shook his head.
“Try to convince a desperate granddaughter of that.”
“Okay,” Garik wailed, no longer caring about Sunchaser’s grandmother. “Us, what are we going to do about us? If Christian’s gone, we have to get Justin out. How can we do that?”
“He’s your proof, your success. I’m telling you.” Justin stretched one foot and pushed on Jantzen’s leg.
“I can’t be a success if you two don’t help me!”
Jantzen shook his head and groaned.
― 10 ―
I REMEMBER that Ms. Sunchaser was planning on a trip to South Africa for a martial arts competition.” Garik looked up at the mirror spanning the top of the elevator, his face looking back at him, next to him the top of Jantzen’s head, and the man’s shoulders hiding the rest of his slender shape. Jantzen’s arm reached to insert his passkey to engage the control panel.
Garik’s shoulders had widened from his time in the gym with Christian. He now went alone. His moved his arms, certain his chest in the reflection had filled out. His lower body? That, he couldn’t find in the mirror.
“She seemed so normal. When I first met her, I thought she was about to eat me alive, like a bird of prey. Then, she seemed concerned that she wouldn’t do well in the competition, and she became human.”
“Yes, she can do that. I fell for it once, but don’t trust it. The human part. She will eat you.”
Garik shivered, a cold chill feeding on his self-confidence and bravado. Soon, he would have neither.
“What will you do if—” If she finds you, Garik was about to ask, but as he was speaking, the elevator stopped, the filtered and perfumed air flowing from the vents failed, the lights surrounding the top of the compartment went dark, and the backlight panel around the controls clicked on.
“Not now, Hector.” Jantzen looked up at the lights and sighed. “Focus, man.”
Jantzen’s watch dinged, and he slipped an earbud into one ear. “I’m in the elevator. I told you to wait on my signal. Focus, Hector. I told you I would let you know when to cut the power.”
Cut the power? Garik had imagined Jantzen as a team player, even if today had suggested he might be in the process of being voted off the team. Was he planning an insurrection? If so, Garik was totally for it. Maybe this was his chance to make a difference, to save someone, to stand up with the big boys and be counted.
“What’s happening on the main level?” Jantzen was at the panel, pushing buttons, and he inserted his passkey. The backlight panel became a viewscreen, and Jantzen scrolled through several images with a control Garik couldn’t see. They showed the area just outside the elevator on the various basement levels, into the food court, and the Tower’s main lobby. Mostly it looked normal, suggesting only the elevator they were on was compromised and not the building, itself.
“What do you mean, when can I get Justin there? I’m on the elevator, Hector. Can you give me power just to the main car? Yes, the big breaker. It may be black.”
The lights overhead flickered and came on. The air remained silent. Jantzen shrugged at Garik.
“You were supposed to be off before Hector cut the power. Now, we’re against the clock. I’ve got override control of this elevator, and I’ve cut access from the outside. The second one is still operational, but as soon as soon as it becomes obvious I have an override on this one, an alarm will sound, and this goes belly up.”
“Okay, what goes belly up?” Rescue for Justin? Garik wanted to help, but how could Justin get away? He’d never pass for human. He was growing wings, for heaven’s sake.
“I’m meeting with Kevin Lee—”
“To help Justin escape?” The elevator car swirled with possibilities. Garik had no idea the martial arts instructor knew about the goings-on in the basements of the Corona Tower.
“We hope. Our planning isn’t that far along, yet. Our first step is to see if we can get him away from the building. Every vehicle Corona Corporation has is tagged, logged, and inspected entering and exiting. We need a car no one will suspect.”
“Kevin’s.” Garik pictured the man showing up for private lessons with Halo Sunchaser, or maybe for his visits to the different recreational activities in the Tower. Perhaps he had received special permission to park in the garage.
If Kevin’s car came in or out, no one would see a need to inspect it. He was there to instruct Halo Sunchaser. What could be more innocent than that?
“I was meeting him after I dropped you off. Now, you’re with me.” The car began to move, heading up.
“That might be problematic. Kevin knows me. I’m supposed to be back in Russia.” Even as he offered the warning, Garik was calculating how he could get a message back to Marisa and one to his aunt. If they knew, if they came looking for him, he was certain he could be rescued. They would have to let him go.
“That is a problem, I agree.” Jantzen lifted his arm, placed his hand on his forehead, thinking, and he worked his jaw. “It can’t be helped now. Can I count on you?”
Garik wanted escape, not to work with Jantzen. Yet, the man had become a mentor, a friend of sorts, if in a limited way. He didn’t want to abandon what he’d agreed to help him do, but he also didn’t want to abandon this opportunity for escape. His mind raced, searching for a way to do both, to begin his escape, and to not let down the people he’d come to share his life with.
He couldn’t come up with a plan to do both.
“I need an answer, Garik, before I open this door.”
“You’re helping Justin?” A thousand needles shredded Garik’s stomach.
“Yes.” Jantzen held his hand over the door’s controls.
“And Marco, too?”
Jantzen raised his eyebrows. “If he asks, certainly.”
“What do you need me to do?” His eyes burned. He was in the cell, closing the door, and locking it after him. Why, why, why?
“Nothing. Just let me talk.” Jantzen hit the open button, left his passkey in the door, and stepped through when it slipped sideways. “Follow me.”
Garik stared at the passkey. Two feet away, and he had his freedom. Two feet away! His mind churned with images of the past months, and one kept coming to him, lying in his bed in the darkness listening to Justin say, “I’m roasted after this. You win, I lose.”
“I’m sorry, Marisa.” Garik’s eyes burned as he stepped outside of the elevator to find himself in the polished foyer leading to the pool. Through the glass door, a woman in a green suit sat to the side reading a magazine in a woven rush chair, and a man with slender legs and a round belly lowered himself into the water.
“Kofi!” Jantzen greeted the pool boy, Kofi Mandela, with a raised hand. “I believe Kevin Lee is scheduled to use the pool today.”
“Yes, Mr. Hefferly. After his session with Ms. Sunchaser. He hasn’t yet arrived.”
“Have you heard why?” Jantzen seemed surprised.
“Ms. Sunchaser had business this morning, and she scheduled Kevin a half-hour late. Garik? Is that you?” Kofi smiled broadly. “We were told you had returned to Russia. I’m glad to see you back. If you wish to use the pool with Kevin, I can offer you a suit. You have filled out. Perhaps a larger size than last time?”
Garik didn’t know how to answer, and he turned to Jantzen for help.
“Yes,” Jantzen said. “For both of us, if you don’t mind, Kofi. Thank you, and yes, a larger size for my friend.”
“Give me a moment while I retrieve them.” Kofi stepped through a narrow door and it closed after him.
“We’re swimming?” Garik’s thoughts were entangled in running away, finally free; and following through on his responsibilities to those in the research program. And swimming? What had happened to urgent?
“Kofi needs to think so. He’s returning. Quiet.”
“These should work.” Kofi offered Jantzen two towels and two suits.
“Thank you.” The couple still lounged by the pool, and Jantzen said, “We will wait on Kevin in the changing room, and Kofi?”
“Mr. Hefferly, yes?”
“I’m leaving that elevator locked open. I know that’s unusual, but this is special. Please see that it’s undisturbed.”
“Certainly, Mr. Hefferly.”
Jantzen nodded for Garik to follow, and they entered the changing rooms. The space smelled comfortably clean, with the odor of mangos filtering through the air. When the door closed, he set the suits and towels on a counter and dropped to a bench. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“So? What now?” Garik’s muscles told him to run. His head said the elevators had him trapped on this floor. Perhaps with Jantzen’s . . . then he remembered Gunther Diehl resetting the passkeys with Marisa’s thumb on Halo Sunchaser’s. Jantzen’s wouldn’t work for him even if he could get to it before Jantzen could catch him. He also remembered the night of the fight between Justin and Alyna. When Justin had gone for blood, Jantzen had evaporated and been acr
oss the games room before Garik could blink.
It wasn’t likely that Garik could outrun the DNA-enhanced man.
“Kevin’s cooperation is key. Maybe this is good, you being here. He knows me, but even more importantly, he knows you from outside, and—”
“You haven’t talked with him?” Garik was appalled. He was trading his freedom for a possibility? “I thought you had this sorted out with Kevin, whatever it is you’re planning.”
“Nothing is ever sorted out, my young friend, and this?” He looked around the inside of the changing rooms. “Opportunity, that’s all. I didn’t intend to involve you, not until after I spoke to Kevin, and perhaps not then. I might be creating more trouble for myself than I expect, and I expect a lot. Weston will be furious.”
The door flew open, startling the two men, and Kevin called out, “Garik? You in here?”
“Yah!” Garik grinned, surprised at the warmth in the words. He expected to be a nonentity to the man. He’d only known him a short time before he had disappeared.
“Hey, you moron. I just get to know you, and you vanish for months. How’s Russia?” He grinned. “Mr. Hefferly, did you know this guy refused my invitation to train at Ai Kee!?”
“That’s nice, Kevin.”
“Have you seen Marisa since you’ve been back? She must be thrilled. Man, you leaving took it out of her. I hope you’re back for good.”
“Yeah, about that, um, Kevin,” Garik started, looking to Jantzen. The mention of Marisa was a knife.
“Kevin, before you and Garik get too touchy-feely, I need to ask you a very big favor. Are you parked in the garage?”
“Sure, Mr. Hefferly. Ms. Sunchaser validates my parking. Is that okay? I was assured it would be fine on the days I give her lessons here at the Tower.”
“Will you rent me your car for the night?” Jantzen pulled out his wallet. “Any amount.”
“Rent you my car . . .” Kevin frowned. “Why?”
“My reasons, and if you’re worried about damages, I’ll guarantee it’s returned in perfect condition. If any damage occurs, and you can be the judge, I’ll have it repaired to your satisfaction.”
