by L T Anderson
Felix took off his glasses and tucked them in the top pocket of his shirt. “You underestimate their abilities, dear.”
Silver rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Felix—”
“And their value. They are top scientists. They have guts.”
“I’ll admit it takes guts to turn tail and run away from the best thing that ever happened to them.” Silver cracked open another bottle of mineral water. “They were elite among the elite.”
“Precisely why they are so valuable on the outside. They are among a new elite team of three, soon to be four.”
Silver sipped her water and replaced the cap. “Team of three?” She looked up, feigning thought. “Let’s see, there’s stupid Garrison.” She held up her thumb. “Then there’s idiot Dennis,” she said, holding out her index finger. She looked at her hand, then at Felix. “That’s a team of two by my count.”
“Obviously you have forgotten Ms. Peterson—”
“Ha! That’s rich! So you’ve got those two teaming up with Peterson?” She smiled and shook her head. “You’re losing it, Felix.”
Felix folded his hands in front of himself and smiled. “Remember I said there is soon to be four.”
Silver dropped her hand. “And the illustrious Dr. Yaz completes the team of four?”
Nico sipped his hot chocolate. “So anyway, things seemed to be looking up once I got the call from Will. I was glad the Three Amigos were on their way to help me out. Those guys are cool.”
Jimbo leaned on his elbows on the countertop from behind the bar next to Nico. “So what happened?”
“Well, I’m starting to relax once I know Will and them are heading to Tremayne. Then I noticed some kids—I’ve never seen them before then—messing around in one of the alleys. So I called out to them and told them they should go home until the all clear comes.”
“From what I hear, they gave you a hard time,” Dion said.
“Yeah, they did. I mean, nothing I couldn’t handle, but yeah. So basically, I had to take one of ’em down. I called for backup and had the big guy taken to the police station.”
Winter leaned against the pool table. “We should be able to handle a bunch of young pukes. What made all this such a big deal?”
“The bad happened when the Amigos got there. Adam started looking around, and he found some kids in another alley. They were throwing rocks at this lady—”
Lace looked across the room and nodded her head at Winter. “The assault victim?”
“So Adam busted them, right?” Jasper asked.
Nico shook his head. “Nah, they got away. But the lady, oh man, she was messed up. She was probably in her midforties, and she was unconscious. Looked like she got beat up pretty bad. For sure she’s gonna need some dental implants. Those kids dropped a rock on her mouth big enough to knock out a couple of teeth. Plus, I’d be surprised if she doesn’t lose an eye. Long story short, paramedics took her to Tremayne Medical Center.”
Winter tipped her chin at Lace. “Yeah, that’s the lady Dion sent us to question. She was unconscious when we got there. Doctors said they were still running tests and they didn’t know when she’d be ready to see visitors.”
“Yep,” Nico said. “That’s the lady. She was still out of it when I went to see her, too. So before I left Tremayne, Will said they were going to go try to talk to her.”
Dion glanced up at Ryker. “Guess we’ll know more when we hear from them.”
“Hey, Dion,” Krystal said. “I need to have Garrison and Dennis in here.”
Dion tipped his chin to Krystal and squinted.
Krystal held up her phone. “I’ll explain later.”
Dion nodded to Jimbo. “Make it happen, bro.”
“Come over to my side of the room, dear,” Felix said.
Silver sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine, Felix. I owe you, but I’m getting tired. Surely you have room in this place to set me up for the night.” She swiped her pumps from the floor and met the doctor at the control console.
“I have something for you,” he said, producing a small titanium container. “There is a combination on the outside. You must remember the code. I will not write it down, and you mustn’t either.”
Silver looked down at the container. “Fine.” She held out her hand.
“Now follow me around the railing here.”
Felix led her toward the multicolored teleportation wall and took her hand as she stepped down onto the platform.
“Not…too…comfortable with this, Felix,” she said, gazing at the wall.
Felix smiled and pointed to his right. “See that monitor there? That’s where Ms. Peterson is meeting with the Punks at their headquarters.”
Silver frowned. “And that’s real time, right?”
“Of course,” Felix said.
Silver watched the live remote images as Fred and Thomas entered Dion’s quarters. She saw Krystal greet the two as the door closed behind them.
“Amazing, your technological ability, Felix,” Silver said.
“The combination is 4-6-25. Don’t forget it.”
The blood rushed from Silver’s face as she turned to the doctor. “Felix—”
He smiled. “Time for the team to meet their fourth member.”
Silver turned to look at the teleportation screen. “Wh—”
Felix placed his hand firmly in the center of Silver’s back and pushed hard. The dim yellow frame glowed brightly as Silver passed through the opening.
Krystal motioned to the bar. “You two want something to drin—” She thought she must have blinked. Maybe her heart—or her brain—skipped a moment in time as Silver Long tumbled onto the floor in front of her.
Krystal jumped backward and whipped her 9mm pistol from the holster. She pointed the gun at the figure on the floor before the sight registered in her mind.
Winter mimicked Krystal’s stance, pistol drawn. “What the hell, Peterson?” she shouted.
Silver paused on all fours, disheveled locks of silky black hair thrown forward across her face. She looked up at Krystal before glancing slowly around the room. “You bastard, Felix,” she whispered.
Chapter 18
End of a Punk
On Levi’s orders, Changers medical technicians had prepared the VIP operating room on level eleven for Curtis Dyer. The VIP OR was equipped with highly advanced neural lace technology that was not available to regular recipients of the Change procedure.
Four attendants pushed Curtis on a gurney through a narrow hallway toward the OR. A custom mix of fentanyl and diazepam fed through an IV in Curtis’s arm had relaxed him to a state of immobility, but he remained conscious and semi-aware of his surroundings.
He smiled as his mind drifted to Krystal. Lights in the ceiling changed from sharp and clear to a blurry white glow as the technicians guided the gurney through a doorway into the operating room.
Whirring and clicking sounds blended with muted voices from several other attendants and medical assistants in the room.
“Welcome to the Change, Mr. Dyer.”
Rasmus, Curtis thought. Good. I have the best overseeing my procedure.
“Hey, buddy. I’m right here with you. Nothing to worry about.”
It was Johnny Logan. Yeah. Real reassuring.
“I want you to relax,” Xander said. “The procedure will take several hours. But you will not remember a thing when it is all over.”
Curtis felt pressure on his forearm. Someone’s hand, he imagined. He thought of speaking, but no words came. The white glow in the room faded to gray. Shadowy blobs moved in and out of his view as voices came and went in his head.
“…the static recharge system has been implanted…”
“…heartrate is good. We’re ready for deployment of the nanobots…”
Curtis unconsciously attempted to swallow. Pressure at the back of his throat produced a gag reflex. Unaware his eyes were closed, they shot open. All was dark g
ray.
“Doctor, patient cognition is at an unacceptable level.”
“Increase the sedative, please,” Xander said.
“Dude, that tube is huge.”
“Silence, Mr. Logan. Nurse, deploy the nanobots.”
The sensation of drowning overwhelmed Curtis. Flashes of bright white cut into the gray as he strained to turn his head to the side.
“That’s godawful,” Johnny said. “He’s choking on that black shit you’re forcing down his throat!”
A flash of clarity came and went. I’m in a pod! Can’t move. Can’t breathe.
“Doctor, brainwaves indicate the patient is awake.”
“Increase the sedative!” Xander barked.
Curtis gagged again. His chest heaved. Help! Someone help! He couldn’t hear his own voice as the room spun in circles. Help, he thought as the room faded to black.
Unaware of the four hours that had passed, Curtis heard Xander’s voice.
“Good work, everyone. The Change is complete. Level two security and information protocols have been embedded.”
“Dude,” Johnny said. “Levi said to load level three, not two.”
“As if it’s your business, Logan. I know where we’re headed with this man. He is targeted to be in our leader’s inner circle. I know Levi will approve.”
“Your decision, man.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dr. Rasmus announced. “Curtis Dyer is now a Changer. Get this man out of the pod and into recovery.”
Chapter 19
Destination Demo
Curtis stood in front of the floor-length mirror in his new quarters in the Underground City. He eyed his naked body and smiled. “Hmm, I kinda like the bald look.” Keeping his eyes on the mirror, he turned to one side and flexed. “Yeah.”
He turned around to survey the room: Soft-gray walls outlined above and below with indirect blue lighting. A fully equipped wet bar in one corner. A nice, modern, blue leather sofa with chrome trim, a matching love seat and chair, and a large glass coffee table. A huge desk sat in one corner facing the room.
He glanced into the bedroom. “Might as well get dressed.” He smiled again. “Although it’s a shame to cover up such a killer body.”
When he reached the bedroom, he opened the top dresser drawer and retrieved a pair of microfiber undershorts. He started at a tone from the ceiling speaker and looked up. What th—? The tone sounded again, followed immediately by a knock on the door. “Oh shit,” he whispered.
Curtis hurried through the living area to the door and swiped his hand over a panel on the wall.
“Dude, looking good!” Johnny said from the corridor outside. “You’d best get dressed. We’re about to head out.”
Curtis moved his hands to his hips. “Head out? Where?”
Johnny stepped past Curtis into the room, and the door swished shut. “Tremayne, my friend. We’re gonna view the new SOUL Chybrid children in action.”
“SOUL what?”
Johnny looked around the room. “Damn, dude. They got you set up nice.”
Curtis relaxed and smiled. “Yeah, I like it. I could really get used to the Changer lifestyle—”
“Well, get used to it dude. You’re in it for the long haul.” Johnny swiveled to Curtis. “Get dressed, get dressed, man. Time’s wasting and the boss is waiting.”
“Oh.” Curtis hurried into the bedroom and finished dressing. Jeans and a T-shirt, just like I like it, he thought. He glanced out into the living area, then back into the closet. Hmm…sport coat, too, I guess. Since Logan looks a little dressy.
“All right, I’m ready,” he said, stepping into the living area.
Johnny shook his head. “That’ll never work, dude.”
Curtis smoothed the lapels on his sport coat. “What? Is the coat too much?”
“The coat’s fine. It’s that face.”
Curtis glanced at the mirror behind the bar. “What, should I do my Mohawk? I kinda like being bald. I think I look more sophis—”
“We’re going to Tremayne, Dyer.” Johnny wasn’t smiling. “You can’t be seen looking like yourself. You’re missing, remember? You want people asking questions? You want to be found?”
Curtis dropped his hands to his sides. “Well…”
Johnny turned toward the door. “Whatever, man. Just look like someone else before we get there.”
Curtis followed Johnny to the door and out into the hallway. “I got time, right? It’s all the way to Tremayne. Southern Cali to Central is four hours, at least.”
Johnny strode quickly through the wide corridor. “We’re taking the Hyperloop. We’ll be there by daybreak—that’s less than an hour. Best get changed.”
Curtis walked swiftly to keep up Johnny’s pace. His mind raced. This would be his first public change to alter his outward appearance. “Got it,” he said.
Levi turned to greet Xander and Angelica as the two stepped off the elevator into the Hyperloop terminal. “Where’s Logan and Dyer?” he snapped.
“I thought they’d be here,” Angelica said.
“Agreed,” Xander said.
Levi checked his cell. “Well, you two are right on time.” He glanced at the open door of the hyperspeed train. “Which means they’re late.”
An adjacent elevator door swished open. Curtis and Johnny stepped out and strode toward the waiting trio. Levi frowned and tapped his wrist, even though he wasn’t wearing a wristwatch.
“We’re ready, Leader,” Johnny said.
Levi glanced past Johnny at Curtis. “He’s not.”
“He’ll change on the way, sir,” Johnny said.
Levi turned and moved onto the train. The others followed and seated themselves.
Curtis stepped in after Johnny and selected a seat at the rear of the car. He gazed around the interior of the tube-shaped vehicle and marveled at the technology. He felt like he was on a spaceship. As he watched the door close and lock in place, the forward movement was immediate. Curtis’s head involuntarily pushed back against the headrest as the Hyperloop accelerated. He closed his eyes and concentrated on changing his appearance.
Krystal strode swiftly across the open expanse of the Punks’ compound in the early morning hours the day after her reunion with the group. Recent rain and plunging temperatures gave way to the dreaded tule fog overnight. The previous day’s wind was nonexistent. Sodium vapor lights on posts lining the concrete walkways fought in vain to penetrate the haze.
Her ears prickled at the sound of gritty footsteps behind her. She stepped off the sidewalk and backed away until the concrete faded into the mist. Long stride, she thought. Tall. Confident. Her timing was perfect when she moved back to the sidewalk and thrust her hand into the path of the oncoming figure.
“Whoa, shit!” Ryker said. He skidded to a stop and grabbed Krystal’s wrist. “Scare the hell outta me, girl!” He loosened his grip as Krystal stepped in front of him.
“Funny,” Krystal said. “But that wasn’t my intent.” She glanced toward the depot, squinting through the fog. “Where you headed, anyway?”
“Breakfast. Same as you, I’m assuming.”
“Yeah, I got my appetite back today.”
“Fog sucks today,” Ryker said. “And it’s freezing out here.” The pair walked toward the Depot more by instinct than sight. “Fred and Thomas breakfast guys?”
Krystal smiled to herself. “They’ll both eat pretty much any time.” She looked up at Ryker. “But, yeah. They’re breakfast guys.”
“What about our new addition?”
“Silver?” Krystal cringed. “I guess, Ryk. I never made it my business to care about her. I still don’t…not really.”
Ryker swiped a thumb under his bandanna, clearing a stray lock. “Yeah, you guys have some history. I get that. What’s Dr. Yaz say about it? If he’s as smart as you say he is, he sent her for a reason.”
“I only spoke briefly with him about it. I know she’ll
be an asset—if she’s actually on our side.”
Ryker nodded toward the door to the Depot. “Well, I guess she’s a breakfast person.”
Krystal watched as Silver flung the Depot door open and stepped inside. “I guess.”
When the pair reached the Depot entrance, Krystal stepped in front of Ryker and grabbed the door handle.
“Wait.” Ryker placed his hand over hers.
Krystal glanced up, and her eyes locked on his. When she felt his skin through fingerless gloves on her wrist, she stepped back and shoved both hands into the pockets of her duster. “What?”
Ryker raised both hands in a no-foul gesture. “Whoa, Krys.”
She gazed out into the thick mist, then back at the door. “You said ‘wait’ and then I said ‘what.’ So, what?”
“All right. I was about to say I think we need to start with a good attitude here.” He paused and leaned around to view her face. “Okay?”
“I gotta be honest, Ryk. There’s gonna be some big-time tension for a while till she proves herself to me. I know you guys are all enamored with this new girl—”
“Ha!” Ryker smiled. “I’ll admit she’s hot. But it takes more than looks to win any of us over.”
“That bugs me. The fact you even mention her looks.”
Ryker shrugged. “Guys are visual beings. Always have been.”
“And you see that first?”
“We’re getting off track here. But yeah, I noticed she’s a beautiful woman. But that doesn’t affect my loyalty to us—the Punks. And it doesn’t affect my judgment.” He grasped her shoulder and turned her to face him. “First and foremost, it doesn’t change your standing with me.”
Krystal leaned her back against the exterior wall of the Depot and folded her arms across her chest. It felt frozen against her back, but she stayed, unflinching. “Might as well clear the air here. Where do I stand with you, Ryk?” She tipped her chin up. “Where do I stand with any of you?”
Ryker matched Krystal’s stance. “I’m gonna go deep here. Three months ago, you were a good, solid commander with the Punks. You were working your way up. Today, I’d put you at the top.”
