by L T Anderson
“Got that right,” she said.
“Not to put any damper on this enthusiasm,” Dion said, “but keep in mind, the physical battle against the Changers is only half of what we’re up against. We’re not slinging bullets at SOUL Chybrids.”
“I have to agree,” Krystal said. “We’re gonna need something special to counter the technology and brainwashing the Bystanders are experiencing.”
Ryker motioned to a waiter. “The Changers are changing things fast, that’s for sure. But I’m with you from the standpoint of banking on Felix. We’ve got nothing better from a technology angle.”
“Well, there’s Drew and Sydney,” Krystal said. “It’d be nice to get more Bystanders on our side.”
“We gotta get Fred and Thomas healthy,” Jimbo said. “We need them, too.”
Dion held up a hand. “I agree. But first things first. We need to get ourselves entrenched in Bystander territory again. We need them to rely on us again. Like they used to.”
“And we do that by?” Krystal said.
Dion took a sip from his water glass. “I’m glad it was you that asked, Krys. We start by pushing the Changers back out of Tremayne. I’m putting you in charge of the operation. Including our troops and the reinforcements, you’ll have at least 15,000 armored vehicles and their related personnel at your command.” He held out his fist and looked around the table. “Well?”
Every Punk at the table landed a fist in the center, touching Dion’s.
Felix walked quietly into Fred and Thomas’s room in the infirmary. He pulled a chair between the beds and sat down. The two patients were barely conscious.
Fred rolled his head to the side and managed a weak smile. “Hey, boss.”
Felix smiled. “My friends. I have been experimenting at night with some new formulas to help you. I have something that is only temporary, but it should work to keep you alive until our conversion chambers are complete. I have stopped the simultaneous assembly on all four and have dedicated our resources to accelerate the process for two chambers at this time.” He looked back and forth between the two Rogues. “These are for you, as soon as they are ready.”
“Felix,” Thomas said. “One.”
“Excuse me?” Felix said.
“Dedicate the resources to one chamber. For Fred.” Thomas stared at the ceiling. “I was serious when I told you I don’t want to go on.”
Felix scooted his chair closer to Thomas’s bed. “My friend. We need you. We must defeat the technological stranglehold the Changers are gaining over the world.”
“It’s just me, Felix,” Thomas said. “I’m tired. My heart isn’t in it. I hate the Changers, and I wish I had never been a part. I’ve absorbed so many innocent people in my life. I have to suffer this. I have to go. It’s my payback.”
Felix reached into his lab coat pocket and retrieved two injectors. “One of these is for you, my friend. It will pull you through until the conversion chamb—”
“No, Felix,” Thomas said. “It’s my choice.”
Felix reached out and touched Thomas’s face. “I see Mr. Geezer has duplicated Krystal’s mark on your faces. You look different.”
“And I feel different,” Thomas said. “I will not die as a Changer. I will die with the face of a Rogue.”
Chapter 51
The End of the Beginning
Rudie sat shotgun in an armored Lenco BearCat at the top of a freeway on-ramp in Topeka, Kansas. He tapped the face of his cell.
The answer on the other end was immediate. “Hey, scab rocket! You ready to move?”
“Ready than you’ll ever be, Jazzie. We got business in Cali.”
“Got that right,” Jas said. “Hey, which way you guys going?”
“I-70 far as we can. Then we dropping onto the 15 down to Barstow and north up their asses to Central Cali. How ’bout you?”
“I-78 from Gotham, the center of the universe, over to Allentown. We’ll hook up with I-70 south of Pittsburgh. We’ll be winging it when the 70 ends. See who gets there first, scab boy.”
“You got tolls that way?”
“Are you kidding me? We got Punks in every booth in the route and green lights all the way.”
“Same, same,” Rudie said. “I’m in the first wave, baby. We got at least a day’s head start on you.”
“All right, Rudie. Drive safe. See you there!”
“That you will, Jazzie. That you will.”
A caravan of 250 vehicles sped westbound on Interstate 10 through the Southern California desert. The vehicles were an eclectic mix of Mercedes, Bugattis, Teslas, and McLarens, intermingled with an array of pickups and vans, econo-boxes and electric motorcycles.
Ivan Duncan speed-dialed Felix from his small quarters in the Underground City.
“Hello, Ivan, my friend.”
“Hi, Felix. The first wave is on its way.”
“Excellent. They will be here in a matter of hours.”
“True. They’re all pretty much leaving the Underground at their own pace. Some of the best are in the first wave, though. So that should help.”
“Yes, yes. We need some fast assistance on the reversal chambers.”
“How are Fred and Thomas?”
“Not good, my friend. They are barely holding on as the chambers are nearing completion. I am holding onto hope, Ivan.”
“Okay. Hey, Felix. One more thing. I don’t know if it’s going to affect how you operate there or not.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“We’re hearing rumblings about a change in our leadership at the City.”
“Are you referring to Levi?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t see how that could happen. And who has taken over as the Changers’ leader?”
“I don’t know. We’re barely fourth-level security clearance.”
“I see. Well I guess we will find out soon enough. Is that all?”
“For now. We’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, my friend. Goodbye.”
The top echelon of Changers assembled quietly in Levi’s executive conference room. The new leader sat at the head of the table and gazed intently at the other three.
Dr. Xander Rasmus broke the silence. “First, I must express my congratulations. I did not think this day would come so soon.”
The Changers’ new leader stood to address the group. “Thank you, Xander. The first order of business will be to convey my order of authority. Until further notice, my second-in-command is Mr. John Logan. I expect you all to respect this decision and report to me through Mr. Logan.”
Johnny smiled his usual full-toothed, top-to-bottom smile.
Silver slammed her tablet on the conference table. “Bullshit!”
Ryker and Krystal stepped into the Hangar from the Punk compound.
“Dion’s assignment of you to lead the Punks for this operation was pure genius, Krys,” Ryker said. “There was really no other choice.”
“It’s a big responsibility,” she said. “I feel good about it, though.”
“Well, you finally got buy-in from Jim and Winter. That’s saying a lot.”
Krystal glanced at Little Man in the steel cage. He was gripping the bars, his face pressed against the steel. The boy was smiling.
Krystal stopped. “What’s the word today, kid?”
“We got a new leader…We got a new leader.” He swung his hips in motion with his chant.
Krystal crossed her arms. “Is that so?” She tipped her chin up. “Who’s the new leader of the Changers, Little Man?”
“It’s your boyfriend…it’s your boyfriend…it’s your boyfriend…”
Her skin turned cold as the blood rushed from her face. Her legs were weak, and she felt Ryker’s hands under her arms. Her mind raced as the room swirled in front of her and she heard Curtis’s voice. “I love you, Krys. I did it for you.”
The Face of a Rogue
