by Patti Larsen
Beckett pulls on my arm, brings me to a halt. “She can't be alone.”
I shake my head, find myself smiling and waving back at Solo. “Of course not,” I say. “We're surrounded.”
He seems appalled, overwhelmed. As if he doubts my sanity. But I smile at him as I drop my hand, touch his cheek.
“If she wanted us dead,” I say, “she would have killed us already. Let's see what she has to say.”
Beckett nods at last, sighs, follows me while the dog never falters.
I love him. Both hims. That knowledge widens my smile as I stop half a block from Solo.
“Hello, One,” I call out. “Came home, did you?”
Her laughter reaches me easily. “You did too, Three.” She beckons, but I hold my ground. “We have things to talk about, you and I.”
Beckett is about to speak, but I raise my hand, shake my head a little. “You have someone who doesn't belong to you. I'd like her back, please.”
Solo drops her hands to her sides. “Of course,” she calls. “I'd be happy to. A little trade.”
Am I wrong? Does she not know who Poppy is?
No. Of course she does.
“You, Trio.” Solo hugs herself suddenly, surprising me. “I'll let Mother go if you'll come to me.”
I feel them emerging, Solo's army, her Crawlers of choice, coming out of the buildings around us, flooding the street, there to protect their creator and to bring me in.
“She won't do it.” Beckett's hand on my arm tightens. “She'll take you and Poppy too.”
“I know.” I sigh. “But what else can I do?”
His blue eyes gaze into mine. “You knew this was a trap.”
“I wanted you to stay behind.” I touch his cheek again. “But yes. There was no way she would let me near her, not this easily. If I go with her, maybe I can gain access to her machine. Fix it.” I drop my hand again, but wave outward before it thumps against my hip. “Fix this.”
“She won't let you.” His fingers flex, bruising me, but I don't complain. I crave the contact even though I know he can never be mine. I have a job to do. “You can't affect her Crawlers.”
“They are all adapted,” I say. “Or she wouldn't put them out here. She knows what I can do.”
What she can do. Duet.
I'm about to move, muscles bunching for motion when I feel his mind tickle against mine and my head whips around.
Don't leave me. So he's accepting his abilities at last. I'm happy for him despite the desperation of his message. I can't lose you too.
He's a distraction, I know that now. I need to shake off my feelings for him, embrace the calm. That's why it’s here, to keep me safe from my memories of the older, wiser Beckett, the one who wasn't my father, but might as well have been.
No wonder our contact felt so wrong. Beckett belongs to Poppy.
I'm just her shadow.
I can't save him now. Couldn't save him then. She killed him, I remember. Solo.
Beckett dead on the floor, body dissolving while Poppy screamed and screamed and screamed—
Solo laughs. Does she know what I'm thinking about as I look in blue eyes begging me to stay as much as his precious mind does?
“It's your fault.” I turn to her, all joy gone, dead. “The Sick. You came here, did this on purpose.”
She shrugs. “You knew that already,” she says while her troops stand silent. They know too, and don't hate her for it. For their dead world, their dying race.
Don't care.
Why should I?
“This is our destiny, Trio.” Solo begins to walk toward me, slowly, one stride at a time. “You don't think Dr. Gorman knew what we were when he created us? You think he was that unaware of what he was doing to our genome?” She stops close enough she doesn't have to raise her voice anymore, but far enough from me I can't reach her before her Crawlers get to me first. “Our perfection is too good for humanity,” she goes on. “That's why so many died when I brought them our gift.” Solo poses, artful, like the supermodels she once admired in the pages of magazines we weren't supposed to see. “If humanity is to reach its full potential, everyone needs to be perfect.”
“You're going back further.” I don't bother pretending I didn't know.
“I am,” she says. “I will build my utopia based on my advanced DNA, our flawless genome.” She pauses, again as though this is some play, she reading from a movie script. “But I don't want to do it alone.”
It's me she's after then. Not Poppy. Doesn't care about our mother, our source DNA. She wants me, as she always did. But not for my abilities. She needs someone to admire and respect and follow her, someone who understands everything.
That someone used to be our other sister. “What about Two?” Duet. I'm falling back into old patterns with Solo. It's so easy.
Solo laughs with abandon. “She's been damaged, her essence tainted by that Tek blood of hers, the metal.” She holds her hands out to me, as if welcoming me into her arms. “But you and I, Trio, we could do great things together.” She pauses another heartbeat. “Sister.”
Beckett's mind presses against mine while the dog softly chuffs, his head turning around, looking back the way we came. I hear the sound of an engine approaching, know I'm out of time. The Crawlers aren't going to wait forever, and neither is Solo.
But I'm mistaken, I know that the moment I see Solo's expression change, her gaze over my shoulder, the shouts of her Crawlers, the way her frown pinches a thick line between her brows, aging her. She's older, twenty years older than me. It's the first time I see her as flawed on the outside and it makes me smile.
Until I turn and catch sight of the SUV, Duet at the wheel, hurtling toward us, my damaged sister's mouth wide open as she punches the radio, a country music song suddenly blaring as she runs Solo down.
***
Chapter Thirty
I can feel Solo's fear from where I stand, as I turn back and face her. I'm fearless myself, though Beckett jerks on my arm, the dog barking at me. Crawlers whip by like tossed dolls, ricocheting from the armored SUV as it mounts the curb and flies toward Solo, only feet from me.
From Beckett.
Solo turns, I lose sight of her as Beckett pulls on me, finally moving me back. The SUV continues its path on a wobbly angle, taking out more Crawlers as it ploughs up the sidewalk, the steps and crashes into the glass doors of the building where it finally comes to a jarring halt.
The entire vehicle shudders, green ichor running from it as it seems to gasp. And dies.
Duet. I have to save her. I'm pulling free of Beckett, trying to run but he won't let me, the dog won't let me. I watch in horror as I'm dragged away as two Crawlers jerk open the passenger door of the now silent truck and pull Duet out. She's crumpled, damaged, her precious Tek blood leaking onto the sidewalk to join the mess her creation has left behind. Crawlers are yelling, I think I am too, smoke climbing from the wreck as Beckett turns me around and pushes me into a run.
I reach for her with my mind, feel Duet, dull but alive at least. I glance back over my shoulder, see Solo round the back of the truck, point at me. She's unharmed. Duet has failed and now is in her custody. The Crawlers turn, begin their chase, but we have a good lead by now. I turn away, almost trip as Beckett jerks me to the side. Not all of the Crawlers went down under Duet's wheels.
Brick grins at me, no helmet, but dressed as one of them. He feels different to me, augmented.
“Hello, Trio.” He says. “Now it's my turn.”
He attacks, so fast I don't have time to dodge him, take his fist full to my jaw, falling back. I would have crashed to the ground if it weren't for Beckett and his hold on me. Stunned, I straighten, face Brick again.
How is he so fast?
“You can't beat me.” He leans in, making no effort to continue the attack. “She's made me like you. Perfect. I have it all.” Brick flexes one hand, his skin taking on a soft white glow before his eyes shift to animal and back again. “All of their powers, ju
st like you. And you thought you were special.”
Horror, fear, anger. Calm. I hadn't thought I needed it anymore. But it rises when I call. I ignore the pounding feet approaching, the knowledge we have seconds before we're overrun. Brick is right. She's gone the extra mile with him.
But he's nothing like us.
My foot connects with his right knee, my elbow finding the back of his neck and we're running together, the dog, Beckett and I while I curse Solo and her need for perfection.
***
Chapter Thirty One
We run forever, around the library, through the park, weaving and zigzagging, though in time the Crawlers stop their chase, turn around, go back. I have to wonder why. Can only assume Solo has other plans.
And now instead of just Poppy, she has Duet as well.
The calm fades from me as I pant to a halt near the mouth of West 43rd and 6th, the Avenue of the Americas. The name always made me smile when I was younger. Now it's just another name in another dead city.
This isn't my home. Not anymore.
The others are waiting for us inside the parking garage, hunched together near the entrance.
“We tried to stop her.” Socrates hugs me. “But she went crazy, took the SUV.” He looks around me at Beckett, the dog. “What happened?” Tears form in his eyes, spill over. “Where's Duet?” Her name comes out as a wail and I hug him close, not for the first time reminding myself he's just a boy. As brilliant as he is, as intelligent and thoughtful, he's still only a kid.
I hate Solo even more as I stand there and hold my sobbing friend.
This has to end.
I meet Beckett's eyes as I speak. “We have to rescue them.”
Beckett shakes his head, gestures to Ande and Vander, both holding puppies. “We have to go.” He sounds so defeated. So lost. It's not fair.
I go with them as they retreat, Socrates pulling free of me to be alone in his misery, hugging myself in turn with no one to comfort me. The dog licks my hand and a part of the terrible self-pity eases. Of course I do. I have him.
Beckett's low cry is enough of a warning I don't run into his back, but not enough to keep us from being surrounded. Again. I'm so tired of it, of being captured and beaten and my friends threatened my anger bubbles to a boil, the volcano of my rage shredding the calm and calling up the tingle.
I surge to the front, teeth bared, feeling more animal than human. Than clone. “Just try it,” I snarl even as the rational part of me wonders why the dog chooses right then to sink to his haunches, tongue hanging out as though he's laughing at me.
He's not afraid. Or angry. And he has good reason.
Ever exits the darkness and comes to me, her Tek blood glowing in the dim light of the garage.
“Trio,” she says. “We found you.”
My rage is gone in a rush, and I'm surging forward to hug her. She returns my embrace without hesitation though her body is tight with tension, and when I lean back to look in her eyes I see her peaceful, kind face is now creased with anger.
“Tell me.” I stand close with her as her people approach, Beckett and the others coming near to hear. I look around at the twenty or so Teks she's brought and feel my stomach sink out from under me even as she speaks.
“The Crawlers came.” It's a simple statement, bold and precise, and tells me everything I need to know. But she goes on, as if she can't help herself even as I wish I could help heal her broken heart. “Not the Crawlers we know. Different. Augmented somehow.” She shudders slightly, anger flickering to fear before returning. “They destroyed everything, Trio.” Pale green tears stand in her eyes, tinting the whites until they glow. “Killed my people.” A soft sigh rises from the others. But it's not a sigh of sadness. It's full of fury.
“Ever, I'm so sorry.” Again this is my fault. Will my guilt never end? I reach for her, but she shakes her head.
“We've come to help.” She gestures at her companions, all that's left of her Teks. “For revenge.” Gone is her passivity and I can hardly blame her. “It's time to fight back.”
I nod, sadness at her loss even greater now. “It is.”
She draws a breath, as if afraid of what I'll say. “Where is Duet?”
“Solo has her.” There's no easy way to say it. I fill her in on what's happened while the Teks vibrate with need. “We have to get her back.”
“This is excellent news.” Ever's smile is grim and oddly evil, so unfamiliar on her kind face.
I find myself gaping at her. “What?”
Ever eases up a little, grasping my arm. “We can track her,” she says. “Using our blood and her implants. We can communicate with her, Trio. She may be of more help to us captive than free.”
A flush of relief rolls over me, though my worry for Duet remains. If Ever is right, not only will I be able to make sure Duet is all right, but she might be able to help us end this.
I smile a little at Ever, equally grim, but determined to make this work. “What do you need us to do?”
***
Chapter Thirty Two
I know I should be helping as I hear Beckett and Ever discuss a battle plan. I have a great deal of knowledge which could help. On the other hand, it's the same knowledge Solo has, so perhaps it’s best if I stay out of it and let them decide what to do next. Easier to sit on the ground and let the puppies use my jacket cuffs for tug-of-war.
“Assault machines.” Ever points at the cars around us, at the Crawler vehicle they stole to drive here. It's a large army truck, plenty big for her small group. We've retreated farther into the garage, hunkering down with a clear view of the exit, but lots of cover. If this were any other city I'd be worried about Shambles or even Brights, but not in Solo's city. She's made sure of that.
“Only one?” Beckett shakes his head. “What good will that do?”
Ever shrugs. “We brought more things with us to help. And our blood added to these machines gives us a powerful advantage.”
They are discussing the end game. The end. Do they expect to survive a full attack? Surely they aren't so foolish. I need to know what's going on inside that building first, before we go any further.
“Duet.” I speak up, look up, see them watching me. “We can't do anything until we talk to my sister.”
Ever nods immediately. “You're right.” She gestures, two Teks obey, running to the back of their truck to bring out what looks like an old ham radio, something out of the dark ages. But it's wired with green ichor and hums with a life of its own, increasing my confidence in its capabilities.
Ever gives me the small handset. The black plastic triangle sits perfectly in the palm of my hand, vinyl cord hanging over my wrist as she turns on the radio. My thumb twitches over the call button, heart beginning to race at the thought this might work.
It's a moment of fiddling before a low hum comes from the speakers and Ever nods to me. “Speak to her, Trio.”
My hand trembles, the call button stiff as I press it, mouth suddenly dry. “Duet.” I have to clear my throat before I can try again. “Duet, it's Trio. Can you hear me?”
“Trio.” Her voice emerges from the speakers and I almost collapse in relief. But as she continues, I realize I have little reason to rejoice in her survival. “TrioTrioTrioTrioTrioTrio—” She breaks off as though she'd been stuck in some kind of mental and vocal loop. “Three.”
Tinny. Distant. But worse, worse than how far she is, how distorted, she no longer sounds human at all.
“Hurts, hurts so much, hurts.” Duet rambles in her dead, toneless voice. “Pain, Three, pain all the time and all the way and all over and over and over and over—” Another loop cut off. My vision swims, tears trickling, but I can't bring myself to wipe them away. “Need you, seed you, feed you. Dying, Three. Kill me.”
“Duet.” I can barely whisper into the handset, clutching it with both hands. “I'm sorry.”
“Trio.” Silence. “Love you.”
Beckett takes the hand set from me, gives it to Ever, pull
s me aside. I let him, only because I can’t move on my own, not while my fury clamps my lips together, my terror making everything sharp edged. The two emotions twine around each other like best friends, pounding away at my need to act, so powerful they hold me immobile.
I can’t bear to think about what Solo is doing to our sister. And yet, I can’t stop thinking.
I’m forced to listen as Ever tries to coax her to talk, but Duet just babbles, hums, sings in that horrible, empty voice free of emotion, free of everything she used to be. Ever finally shuts the radio off with a grief-laden look on her face.
“She can't help us.” She sets the hand-piece down before turning to me. “She's too far gone, now.”
“Will she give us away?” Beckett sounds angry, but I know it's not at me or Ever or even at Duet for the possibility.
“Maybe.” Ever looks down at her hands, one glowing green and metal, the other human. “She's lost.”
But no, I don't believe that. As long as my sister knows me, knows my name, she'll never give me up.
Never. Determination surges, shoves fear and anger aside. I can’t let my sister down. It's my responsibility to return the favor.
***
Chapter Thirty Three
I'm finally with them, done staying outside their plans. I have to act and sitting here pretending I'm in the way isn't doing Duet or Poppy any good.
We fill Ever and the others in on what we can, Socrates taking over in places, Vander in others when I stumble over memory. Beckett is oddly quiet, holding my hand, and Ande too. He's taken up my place with the puppies and I feel a moment of real sadness for him. He's lost his reason for being. His train.
He needs a new one. “Ande,” I say suddenly. “Can you help Ever and the others with the refit of the truck? This is exactly your expertise.”
Ande looks up like I've offered him a treat he can't refuse. Has he been worried we don't want him around without his train, because of his leader's betrayal?
