by Lee Davidson
“I say the system is jacked. Let’s fight it. Come on, strength in numbers, right?” I start pacing. “If we all join in, maybe something can change. Maybe the deceased can watch over their own loved ones. Why not?”
Reed steps forward, forcing me to stop. “And then what? What about us? What’s our purpose then? If that happens, then we’ve all died in vain. No thanks.”
“Yeah? How’s your purpose working out for you right now?”
Reed lunges, but Elliott catches him before his fist kisses my cheek. “You have a lot of nerve, you know that? You’re the reason we can’t block!”
“Me?” I spit back. “I didn’t make you do what you did! You all decided to be Jonathan’s puppets and I’m not taking the blame for that! In fact, I should be blaming you! I’ve lost my ability, too, and I never even agreed to your little mission.”
“Settle down. Come on, we’re all in this together.”
“Says the hippy. ‘Can’t we all just get along’?”
Willow is unenthused about Billy’s comment. “So not funny.”
Rigby pops his mouth closed to keep his toothpick from falling out. When he recovers, he half-grins and says, “It was kinda funny.”
When the tension cools, Elliott lets Reed go. Morgan and Anna step closer into the circle after having jumped back to steer clear of any swinging arms.
“Things can change around here, and we can make it happen.” I scan the faces staring at me.
Liam, Reed, Elliott, and Morgan remain silent. Billy and Lawson laugh, though Billy’s laugh is more along the lines of him thinking I’m a fool, whereas Lawson’s is more like I’m a lunatic. Rigby, Clara, Anna, and Evelynn seem somewhat interested in entertaining the idea. Owen looks like he’s…hungry? Jackson appears to have a million things he’d like to say, but doesn’t know where to begin. Willow is unreadable.
“Willow, what do you think? Can something like this be done? I mean, if we had the numbers, could we make a difference around here? Would the Schedulers listen to us?” Dear God, I’m rambling like Jackson.
“Dear God, you’re rambling like Jackson,” Willow says.
“Hey!” Jackson rebuffs, making me disregard the way that my thought and Willow’s were eerily synchronized.
Something stirs in my core and adrenaline pumps through my veins at the thought of taking on the Schedulers. I’m not sure why, but I feel like I have something to settle with them. The only thing they’ve done to me was pull me briefly from my assignment, and that was because I’d broken the rules. Still, they were wrong. I saved Meggie’s life, or at the very least, prevented her face from being bludgeoned by a whiskey bottle. “The Schedulers have to know the difference Meggie’s kids are making. We have to tell them so they’ll see.”
“It won’t change anything,” Lawson counters.
“And what about us? What will we do for a living?” Reed questions.
I shrug because I haven’t given much thought to us. Who cares, really, if our Tragedies have a better life because of it?
“Maybe we could visit our own families,” I blurt out before thinking the idea through. I barely remember my life. Would I go visit a fiancée that I know nothing about; someone I’m not even sure really exists? And then there’s my dad. Would my presence make a difference in his life? My mom, however—God, I miss my mom and would love to see her. More than that, I’d love to have more memories of her; memories that would actually stick and feel real.
Liam steps forward. “Count me in.”
Willow shakes her head. “Hold up, everyone. Grant, what you’re proposing is ridiculous. Impossible, actually.” Willow turns on her mom voice. “Listen, kid, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you’re only one person. Even if you got all the Elites in, there are thousands of Satellites who still have their ability. You’re going to have a wicked tough time convincing other Satellites of your plan.”
“We don’t need to convince all of them. If we catch the new ones just coming in, they’ll be on board. I wasn’t thrilled when I first got here. Were you? And what about the rest of you? How did you feel when you found out you were going to lose your memories?” I surprise not only Willow, but also myself with my argument because it’s a darn good one. “Willow, we could actually make this happen.”
“I’ve thought many times you were losing it, but this time I seriously think your mind has—Poof!” her hands flutter open beside her ears for effect, “vanished altogether. Do you even grasp what you’re proposing here? It will never happen. Think about it, kid. Taking on the Schedulers…it’s career suicide.”
I make eye contact specifically with Evelynn, Billy, Reed, Jackson, and Lawson. “Yeah? Exactly what kind of career do we have ahead of us?”
Willow narrows her eyes. “Dear Christ, you’re serious.” She takes over my habit of pacing the hallway, pointing her thumb over her shoulder. “The kid’s actually serious!” she blurts to Lawson.
“Just so I understand, what exactly are you proposing?” Reed asks me.
I take a minute to form my words correctly. “I’m proposing that we join together and demand more answers than we’re getting. I’m proposing that we stop being puppets in this circus and take control over our own destinies.” I take a deep breath. “I’m proposing that we start a little rebellion of our own.”
27. It’s protocol
My intestines are in knots on my way to meet Jonathan in the courtyard. I just want to get to the Y hall and attempt, once again, to rally the others to join in my plan. For the past week, Elliott has been trying as hard as I have to get the group to at least consider the idea of going up against the Schedulers. Liam has been the only one to bite so far, but I think we may have won Evelynn over after training yesterday. She’s probably only entertaining the idea because of her frustration after an hour and a half of failed blocks. Regardless, I’ll take anyone I can get on my side right now. I’m thankful—and shocked— that both Liam and Elliott are willing to help, especially since they still have their blocking abilities.
Opening the massive carved door, brightness hits me and my eyes narrow. I walk down the stone path, meeting Jonathan beside one of the giant landscaping pots halfway to the vacant field, and wondering why he wanted to meet me here. “What’s up?”
He takes a slow breath. “Hello Grant. Thank you for coming.”
Looking closer at his face, it’s not just tiredness there; it’s something more. I swallow, recognizing the look. Meggie had it during the burials, as if she was finally realizing her children and mother were gone. I’m so grateful that her kids have been coming back every day. I hope to never see that dead expression on her again.
“Jonathan?” I ask, becoming worried.
His hand appears from behind his back with a book and he smiles. Not one of those friendly type smiles, more of a smile of…pity?
“Your service as a Satellite is complete.” He grips the book with both hands. “Welcome to the Legacy program.”
When the statement roots in my head, all the air rushes from my lungs. I can’t imagine the look on my face: shock, pain, anger? Ironically, Jonathan’s expression is saying all these things.
He avoids eye contact when he says, “This is your Legacy book. Everything you need to know about the Satellite you will be mentoring is in here. Also included is information about Programming, which you will begin in a few days. This will be the last book you’ll receive, signifying the close of the Satellite program for you.”
“Programming?” With a million thoughts swarming in my brain, mostly of Meggie, I spit out the one thing that seems to be the least relevant. “I just got here. I’ve only had two assignments. Who will I even be reuniting with?”
He swallows. “No one.”
“No one?” I start pacing. “What about Meggie? What will happen to her?”
“Another Satellite will be placed on her assignment. You should feel proud of how you have helped Meggie. She has reached a point in her he
aling where an Elite is no longer necessary.”
I’m not sure why my blood is pumping so quickly, or why I’m losing control of my emotions. Without my ability, I should have known this was coming. Isn’t this what I want: for Meggie to be protected? No, I’m panicking because I want change. I want Meggie’s kids watching over her.
“I didn’t help her to heal. It was her kids. You have to see that!”
He takes a deep breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why are you—?”
“Grant, please—”
“You sent her kids, I saw—”
“Enough!”
Hurt, I stumble back at his tone.
His voice and expression soften. “As I mentioned, in the coming days you will be meeting the Satellite you are to mentor and will also begin Programming.”
“Why am I going through Programming if I’m not reuniting with anyone?”
“It’s protocol.” Jonathan scratches at his short beard. “I’m really sorry, Grant.”
I can’t come up with anything more to say.
“The others have been told as well.”
“The others? Why would you tell the others I’m being pulled from the program before telling me?”
Jonathan doesn’t answer, but acts as though I should know something he’s not saying.
“You don’t mean—the other Elites are becoming Legacies, too?”
Jonathan gives me the sympathy look and I feel like an idiot for being surprised. Of course the others would be pulled from the program as well. None of us can block.
“How Jonathan? Tell me how this happened.” My anger spikes. “I want to hear you say it!”
“It seems that protecting Tatum with your block…” he trails off. “Your ability is stronger than we have ever seen.”
“Was,” I correct. I feel lightheaded. It isn’t that I hadn’t believed the others, but more that I was holding out hope that they were lying, that this really couldn’t have been my fault.
Jonathan’s eyes move across the field to the mountains far in the distance. “This program is losing a significant amount of talent.”
I begin pacing. “I’ve ruined six lives for a girl I don’t even know! The fact that this place steals our memories is bogus! Would it have really mattered if I remembered my life? Would it have really affected my purpose that much? The Elites wouldn’t have been forced to break our connection by that asinine group block. I wouldn’t have destroyed the others’ abilities with my block. They would all still be OK!”
My heel pounds against the stone as the new reality sets in. “The Elites are going to hate me.”
“Don’t blame yourself. We all had a part in this. The others were willing participants.”
I can’t think of anything else to say, so Jonathan stands silently beside me for a long time. At one point he puts his arm around me and squeezes my shoulder, but this does nothing to console me. In fact, it makes me angrier.
Since my Satellite career is ending anyway, I figure what the hell. “Ending so many human lives is unfair enough, even if there is a purpose for it. At least let us protect our own families. I know you sent Josh and the girls. If you could see how much they’ve been helping Meggie…why can’t it be like this for everyone?”
Jonathan pushes the book against my chest, forcing me to take it. “I suggest you begin your reading. Good luck.” With that, he’s gone, leaving nothing but the door swinging closed behind him.
Epilogue
Landon, seated along the elevated portion of the double-tiered circular desk, addresses Jonathan. “Just as we suspected, the Elites have gathered.”
Holding the attention of Landon and one hundred and sixty-four other Schedulers, Jonathan crosses his arms in the center of the sunburst on the patterned tile floor. “Not surprising, now that they have become Legacies. Excuse me for sounding crass, but I don’t see how this is a threat to our program.”
“Two other Satellites are on board as well.”
Despite Landon’s increasing panic, Jonathan remains calm. “I am unconcerned with Liam’s and Elliott’s involvement.”
“Do you realize what this could do to our establishment?”
“You’re giving Grant much credit. As I recall, you doubted him and his abilities not long ago.”
“His disregard for the rules is dangerous. He has jeopardized this program on two occasions. I do not doubt his abilities, only his motives, which is why myself and the others are in agreement that we should not disregard what he is proposing.”
“The Elites are upset, but the action you’re proposing is unjust. Grant is a Legacy now and has earned his right to complete Programming,” Jonathan says.
Landon stands, putting his hands on the desk, and leans forward. “Returning his memories will only give him more motivation. Certainly even you can see that.”
“I dislike your tone, friend.” Jonathan’s expression hardens. “Legacies deserve to have their memories back after all they have done for this establishment. To say otherwise is treacherous.”
“He’s right. We cannot keep something of Grant’s that is rightfully his.”
Landon straightens and looks down to his left. “Wynn, to stand by and do nothing would be irresponsible of us. What Grant is proposing—”
“Exactly. Proposing. Nothing will come of it,” Wynn says.
“You cannot be certain of that,” Landon argues.
“I agree with Landon,” a voice says from the right side of the circular desk.
“Me, too!” another voice shouts, causing the disruption to elevate.
In a matter of seconds, the room is flooded with the chaos of arguments until Wynn is the only person still seated at the desk. The volume of the Schedulers increases.
“It’s unsafe…”
“You can’t keep those from him…”
“Something must be done…”
“He’s dangerous…”
“He cannot be allowed to have his memories—”
“You’re not keeping his memories!”
Jonathan’s booming voice silences everyone. The Schedulers, one by one, sit back down in their seats, until Landon and Jonathan are the only two in the columned room who remain standing.
“You seem to be in the minority, my friend.”
Jonathan’s voice is as sharp as Landon’s. “We are finished here. The Elites will continue with their Legacy program, Grant included. If any of you disagree enough to stop that, then I say good luck to you.”
Jonathan pivots in the starburst and walks toward the seeded-glass doors.
“We will not allow this!” Landon yells after him. “Grant Bradley will not have his memories back,” he says under his breath.
A small grin plays on Jonathan’s face as he shakes his head and pushes the doors open.
To be continued…
Acknowledgments
I am very thankful to those who continue to cheer me on in this venture. I am honored, humbled, and astonished by the encouraging feedback Satellite has received.
To: Linda, Mary, Wendy, Sherry, Shelly, Pat, and Joao who have been patiently waiting for the release of Elite, and who have continued to ask when they can get their hands on a copy, I’m elated to finally be able to answer that question!
A giant thanks to my editor, Debi. You were highly recommended by two of my most trusted friends and did not disappoint. This book could not have been what it is without you. Your time and efforts are enormously appreciated.
Kelli and Lacy, you both have a true talent for catching typos and I’m grateful to have your extra set of eyes in this project. And to the fastest beta reader ever: Robert, your advice and professionalism are top notch. Thank you.
Alec, Ben, and Will, you are the loves of my life and my motivation for completing projects like this one. I am so lucky God has entrusted the three of you with me. May your dreams always be within reach. Dan, we survived
yet another novel. Two down, one to go.
And to Heather: all I can say is, you’ve done it again. Thanks for making life awesome!
About the Author
Lee lives in Missouri with her husband and three sons. She received a BFA with a Graphic Design emphasis from Lindenwood University. She spends her days as a graphic designer for a billboard company that makes having a day job not so terrible. When Lee's not hanging out with her boys or conversing with her dog, Dixie, she's likely with her BFF or driving somewhere with her favorite playlist cranked up. Satellite, Lee’s first novel, was selected as a quarterfinalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. Visit www.leedavidson.net for social media links, book updates, and more.
