Zora ran and jumped out the window into the cab. Gabriel sped off.
“Another Texa, of course,” said Milton.
“You need to tell me everything you know. Where did they go?” Ailsa asked Milton. They sat on the floor of Dr. Vernor Xemura’s office. The rain blew in through the hole left by Zora and Gabriel. The dead man sat in his desk chair. Ailsa shivered.
Milton shrugged.
“Do they have her?” she asked.
Milton nodded.
“Where did they take her? What do they want— This has to do with her power…”
Milton shrugged. “Zora wants Dr. Xemura’s company. She says Texa can enable her to control the Republic Trustees, and then she will put the world back to how it was.”
“You helped her kill Dr. Xemura and you helped her get away with Texa,” said Ailsa.
“I did it for you, Lizzy. I did it for us,” he said. “Now that he’s dead, the messages will stop. I’m okay now.”
“I have to find my daughter,” she said.
“I can help you,” Milton said. “And I fixed your device.” He pulled a device out of his pocket.
She recognized it immediately. “That’s my computer. Where did you get it?” She ripped it from his hand.
“When you died, Lizzy.”
“Why did you take me there to die? Why did you let us die?” she asked.
“I knew he would bring you back and then we could be together again, all fresh and new like before… you know what.”
A tremor ran up her back. She walked over to Dr. Xemura’s desk and pushed the chair with his body out of the way. “How does he use his computer?”
Milton ran over and swiped his hand across the front right corner of the desk. “Use his hand to do it, hurry before it gets too cold. Are you worried about money? Don’t worry, I have some.”
She brought the body back and swiped the hand. A screen rose out of the desk.
“Authentication, please, Dr. Xemura,” a voice said.
“The password,” she said to Milton. “Do you know it?”
Milton twisted his head to one side and grimaced. “I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“Milton!”
“Why don’t we just revive him?”
“He’s got a hole in his head, Milton, and he has lost a ton of blood. He’s not coming back.”
Milton screwed up his face. “Okay. I heard him say, ‘That which is yours cannot be denied.’”
Ailsa repeated the words. The screen came to life. “Track Gabriel and Zora,” she said.
“Input insufficient,” the voice said.
“There was a black taxi,” said Ailsa, “right outside this window, owned by Gabriel Xemura—”
“Gabriel Xemura,” said the voice. “Brother of Dr. Vernor Xemura, CEO of Xemura Life Sciences. Deceased May 17 of the current year.”
“What?” muttered Ailsa. “When? He’s dead?”
A photo of Gabriel Xemura appeared on the screen. It was her Gabriel.
“He revived his brother, too?” whispered Ailsa. “Who hasn’t he revived?”
A call came in. “Answer,” she said. “Hello?” She felt oddly comfortable in this office.
There was a silence. A thick male voice spoke up. “Who is this?”
“Who is this?” Ailsa answered.
“This is Alexander Nelson, President of the Republic Trust for Dr. Vernor Xemura. The nature of the call is very urgent.”
“Well, he’s dead.”
Alexander was silent for a moment. “Oh my God. What happened?” he asked.
“His resurrected brother and his assistant jammed a piece of metal into his forehead and blew his brains out.”
“Are you Ailsa Santamaria?” Alexander asked.
“Why? How do you know that name?”
“Listen, Ailsa, time is short and the Republic Trust is in danger.”
Ailsa laughed. “Go smoke yourself.”
“There’s too many of us,” said Alexander. “Too much rabble. Too many hungry mouths. And—”
“Save your bullshit propaganda, Alex. I want my daughter and I want out of here.”
“I can probably help you with that.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re all liars.”
“Just listen, Ms. Santamaria! You and your girl are responsible for the chaos that’s happening outside right now.”
Ailsa turned around. The fires were bigger now and there were more of them.
“It’s getting worse, too,” said Alexander. “We must stop it before more people die.”
“You kill people, so I should just hang up on you now,” she said.
“I can help you get your daughter back!” Alexander yelled.
“What’s in it for you?” Ailsa asked. She pushed Dr. Xemura’s body out of the chair and took a seat. She crossed her legs and leaned back.
Alexander cleared his throat. “We restore stability to the protectorates. You get your daughter and safe passage to wherever your like.”
“What if I want to kill you bastards?”
“Listen, Ms. Santamaria,” started Alexander, “you’re legally dead. You and your daughter. You legally have no rights. And right now, rogue elements in the Xemura family with sympathies for the Rising have your daughter. They plan to manipulate her and her power to destroy the Republic so that they can gain control of it for their own ends.”
“Okay, good.”
“When they’re done,” he continued, “they will either kill Texa or lock her away indefinitely under sedation as a lab rat.”
“Gabriel wouldn’t do that!” she said.
“The late Dr. Xemura’s brother has already betrayed you, hasn’t he? Do you trust Dr. Collins?”
Ailsa was silent.
“Collins and Xemura are outside the Republic central office. I am dispatching soldiers to accompany you there, right now, to safely get your daughter back and then you have my promise that we will send you wherever you like with enough funds to sustain you for many years to come.”
“Don’t trust them!” Milton whispered.
Ailsa took a deep breath. “Bring a gun for me,“ she said. “This one’s charge is almost dead.”
The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweaty men. Ailsa stepped out of the troop carrier. The early morning air outside was only marginally more breathable. Dark-helmeted soldiers poured out behind her and surrounded her. Two approached her from the front.
“What? Let’s go,” she said to the men.
“Proper protective gear is required, ma’am,” said the one on her left.
She scowled at him. “Robots?”
The soldier took off his helmet. His jawline was sharp and covered in black stubble. His dark blue eyes pierced her. “Do I look like a bot to you?”
She smiled. Why does the Republic get the hottest men? Probably genetic engineering. “Okay, go ahead.”
He wrapped her in dark blue body armor from head to toe. He offered her a helmet.
“No,” she said. “No helmet. Now give me a gun.”
She walked up the gray, cement steps of the Republic Trust Central Office. It was a simple red brick and cement edifice. The first rays of the morning sun glinted off of the sliding doors. They refused to open.
Ailsa brought her gun up and fired. It blew a hole in the door. She fired twice more, than stepped through.
“Ailsa! Stop right there.” It was Gabriel.
She brought the gun up and pointed it at him. “Where’s Texa?” she yelled.
“Now, Ailsa, just—” he started.
“Shut up! Just give me my daughter!” She ran up to him and put the gun to his neck.
Gabriel swallowed hard. “Just relax. Ailsa. You know I wouldn’t—”
She swung the gun up and whipped him across the back with it. He fell to the floor and gasped for breath.
“Where is she!” she yelled.
A door opened behind Ailsa. She whirled around.
Texa carried her arms like a ballerina
. She turned around and gently closed the door behind her.
“Texa?” Ailsa asked. “What did they do to you, baby?”
Texa walked right past her. She did not look at her mother. She put her hands on Gabriel’s head. He awoke, stood up and dusted himself off.
Ailsa stared at them, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
Gabriel sighed. “I wanted to spare you this. Texa is not your daughter. She’s mine and Zora’s. We ran the test. It’s confirmed.”
Ailsa laughed. “That’s ridiculous. I gave—” Ailsa thought back to the moment of Texa’s birth. The memory did not come.
Gabriel cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t actually remember her birth, do you?”
“I… It’s the stress. I’m really stressed right now.” She cleared her throat. “Texa,” she said in a firm, loud voice, “we’re leaving. Let’s—”
Texa turned to her and screamed. “You killed me! You’re not my mother! Get out!” She pushed a hand forward and Ailsa was thrown down the hallway. She crashed through the unbroken glass door and continued until she hit the troop carrier she came in.
The soldier with the sharp jawline snapped his fingers in her face. His chest said, “Hanshin.” He slapped her with an icy hand.
It came back to her. “They did something to her,” Ailsa said. “She doesn’t—”
“We heard,” said Hanshin. “Your armor is wired up. What I need to know is what you plan to do about it.”
“She doesn’t want me anymore.”
“They brainwashed her, ma’am,” said Hanshin.
“Her powers have—” she started.
“We know, Ailsa!” said Hanshin. “But the situation is active. What is your plan of action?”
“Well, tell me what else you know!” she yelled. “How did they do that? How do I undo it?”
Hanshin shrugged.
“Well, can you ask somebody?”
Hanshin just stared at her with dead eyes.
Ailsa rolled her eyes and stood up. Her back ached and her steps slowed. She stepped through the now larger hole in the doors.
“Texa,” she yelled down the now-empty hallway, “I love you and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I killed us. We were both so sad all the time and they were uplifting our protectorate. I didn’t want you to feel that pain. It wasn’t fair to you.”
A dozen soldiers came in behind her.
“It’s about time you guys made yourselves useful,” she said to them. “Follow me in. I’m going to do whatever—”
“Put the gun down and lay down on the floor,” said Hanshin.
Ailsa turned around to glare at them. “What the—”
They aimed their guns at her. She looked down at her chest. A dozen red dots orbited her heart.
Zora appeared next to Ailsa. “They answer to us now.” She took Ailsa’s gun and pulled her towards the wall.
Ailsa sat down against the wall. I’ve been the best mom I could. I’ve done what I can. Everyone is against me.
“Well?” asked Zora. She tapped her foot. “You have a couple options. We can kill you right here or you can take a flight out of the Republic right now. We’ll give you some coin. Head to Jamaica or Barbados for a while.”
“And do what?” Ailsa whispered.
Zora shrugged. “Find a man again, a real man. Enjoy the beach. Just stay away from the Republic and our truce will remain in effect. Texa will be safe.”
“So,” asked Ailsa, “you control the Republic now? And the Gards?”
“Gabriel and I have inherited his late brother’s corporate holdings and his Republic trusteeship.”
Ailsa glared at her. “Then why do you need my daughter?”
Zora looked down at her with amusement. “You know why we need Texa. She’s my daughter, by the way. I switched the egg when we genned her. It’s her power. She’s the experiment that succeeded.”
Ailsa looked at her quizzically. “I don’t believe a word you say.”
Zora’s eyes darted to and fro.
“That’s why you have personal control of the Gards now,” said Ailsa. “It’s my girl.”
Zora smiled. “Influence is what you call it, right?”
“She’s my daughter,” said Ailsa. She stood up and grabbed Zora’s throat. “She doesn’t look like you. She doesn’t love you! She’s my girl!”
Zora scratched at Ailsa’s arm. Blood welled up from the deep gouges in her skin. Zora fell to her knees. She waved her arms wildly for the Gards to take action. Ailsa tightened her grip and locked her other hand on the back of Zora’s neck. Zora gasped for breath.
Gabriel ran out of an office and separated them.
“Just go, Ailsa!” Gabriel said. “There’s nothing you can do here. I will make sure they don’t hurt her. Just get out, while you can. You have no idea of what’s coming now.”
Hanshin grabbed Ailsa’s upper arm. “Let’s go, ma’am.” He marched her out.
Ailsa jerked her arm away from him. “I can walk on my own, thank you!”
A memory sparked in her mind. Dr. Xemura was outside the cage and she was in it. ‘She depends on you. You are the foundation.’ That’s what he said.
Hanshin handcuffed her and pushed her into the troop carrier. “Where will you go?” he asked.
“Did you forget that we were working together?” she asked.
“No. I remember.”
“Then what has changed? Ask yourself, what has changed? Why are you—” she started.
He waved his hand to silence her. “My orders changed.”
“Your orders are wrong! They’re going to separate me from my child.” She squinted at him and her voice broke.
“It’s not my responsibility.” He slammed the doors behind her.
Ailsa took a deep breath and focused on Texa. She focused on the current between them. No. No. No. She turned it off.
Ailsa listened. She pushed on the door and it clanged open. She looked out. The soldiers sat on the ground. Some reclined in the street.
She stepped out onto the street. A hot, dry wind blew dust into her face. Above her, aircars streamed in four lanes each way. She nudged one of the soldiers with a foot. He did not react.
She walked into the Central Office and opened the door to the room where Gabriel had been.
Zora jumped out at her and landed on Ailsa’s neck. “What did you do!”
Ailsa hit the floor and Zora got on top of her. She landed punch after punch to Ailsa’s nose. Blood spattered over Zora’s face.
“I had them,” Zora yelled. “I had the Republic. I was going to stop it all, the cleanings, the oppression, I was going to force sharing and provide education for all. What did you do?”
Ailsa smiled through the blood and a swollen left eye. “I almost believe you.”
Gabriel ran into the room holding a dark screen. “Zora, I lost control! I’m locked out!”
“Damnit!” Zora rolled off of Ailsa. She kneeled and massaged her forehead.
Ailsa got up and ran into the room Gabriel had just exited. “Texa! Texa!”
Texa stood up from behind a table. She stared at Ailsa. Her eyes were unfocused and her face slack.
Ailsa ran to her. She fell to her knees and hugged Texa tight. “What did they do to you, baby?”
Ailsa ran her hands over Texa’s body and through her hair. She stopped at the nape of her neck.
Her hand caressed a smooth, metal ball that protruded from Texa’s neck. She grabbed it and pulled.
Texa screamed.
Ailsa grabbed Texa’s hand and pulled her into the other room. “I want it out now!”
“It’s a more advanced version of Vernor’s control chip,” said Gabriel. “It won’t cause any permanent damage.”
Ailsa squinted at him. Tears streamed down her face. “I don’t care! I want it out now!”
Gabriel shrugged and turned.
“Can’t you please just get it out of her. She won’t help you anymore. We will—”
Zora stood up. “Why doe
sn’t she work anymore? What did you do?”
“We have to get out of here,” whispered Gabriel. “He’s going to make his move and then it will be too late. We’ll take them both. We’ll figure it out.”
Zora nodded. “Texa, come,” she said.
Texa followed her.
“Come with us,” said Gabriel to Ailsa. “Help us keep her safe.”
“You drive,” Zora said to Gabriel. “Texa and Ailsa, in the back seat.” They exited the Republic Trust Central office and climbed into a Guardian aircar.
Gabriel hit the start button but the engine did not respond.
A shadow fell over them. Gards descended on ropes outside the car and trained their guns on Gabriel. Dr. Xemura appeared behind them.
“Out of the car,” he said.
Gards opened the four doors and they all piled out.
“You have gravely disappointed me, Zora,” said Dr. Xemura. He approached her and jammed his finger into her chest. “I offered you a position of trust.”
“Which you used to further intimidate me,” Zora said. “You involved me in coercive human testing. You used my work to initiate this program of mass population control. So save your sanctimonious violation of trust bullshit! You violated mine first.”
Dr. Xemura felt the back of Texa’s head. “Yet I see you did some coercive human testing and control of your own.” He cocked an eyebrow.
Zora crossed her arms.
“And you, Gabriel? Have you forgotten that we are brothers?”
“Hello, Vernor,” said Gabriel. “I’m glad you’re alive. I just want you to stop hurting people.”
“And you, Ailsa, my dear,” said Dr. Xemura, “we are reunited.” He turned to a Gard. “Take them to the Celtic Sea lab. ”We’ll soon have our lives back on track,” he said to Ailsa.
“You will not!” Ailsa said. A Gard grabbed her. She ripped her arm away from him.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” Dr. Xemura said. “I will restore your memory and we will be together again. You have suffered for this crazy experiment long enough. There is enough data now, I think.”
Ailsa turned to Zora and nodded. She closed her eyes and felt for the current. Yes. She forced herself to relax and become open to it again.
“Knock them out, Texa! Knock them out, now!” yelled Zora.
Defiant, She Advanced: Legends of Future Resistance Page 23
