Secret Value of Zero, The

by Halley, Victoria

  Meke let the cool metal of her poleax slip out of her fingers as she ran toward Trove. He stumbled backward with the force of her hug. They nestled in each other’s arms until Theria emerged from her sleeping bag. Her lips moved in indecipherable curses, then she turned back to her slumber.

  Meke felt the deep, low rumble of Trove’s chuckle. “What?” Meke asked.

  Trove released her. “Theria was just complaining about sweethearts.” He smiled as he looked down at her. “Also, she said that since I’m here, we have watch until we leave. Apparently she needs her beauty sleep.”

  Meke smiled and clasped his hands to hers. She looked up, and saw Trove looking off in the distance. “You okay?” She asked.

  He glanced down. “Yeah. We just need to get moving as soon as the sun goes up. I told Sterling that you would take a different route, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last, especially now.”

  Meke nodded against his chest.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  THEY WERE only a few hours away from Technologia. Meke could see the tips of the tall, flat-topped buildings in the distance. The buildings’ glassy sides shone in the sinking sun. The whole city glittered.

  Meke sighed, glad to leave the tall grassland behind. They could easily move among the blue-green grass that only reached their ankles, unlike the tall, dry wildness of the high grassland.

  Theria was patrolling the area. They had encountered a few Rankers who persisted in their mission to uphold Prosperon’s mission, even as the government lay in shambles. They recognized her immediately and rushed at her. They almost always had pentagons or stars on their hands, but a few Equis and Squares were Rankers, too.

  Meke shivered when she remembered their faces as they drove at her. Angry didn’t even begin to describe it. Their matted hair flew as they ran, their eyes unseeing with rage, yet they focused on her. Their cheeks tight with tension as they raised their weapons. Their lips peeled back in an ugly Zero as if the word meant evil. Of course, they never got close to her, not with her crossbow or Trove’s sword. Theria would shrug and watch, only intervening when anyone got a bit too close. “It’s fun to watch sometimes,” she would say. “With you both, I’m the safest woman around.”

  Sterling’s soldiers proved a difficult case. They had managed to avoid the revolutionaries with Meke’s help. The avoidance delayed them a day, but they managed to reach Technologia without either side capturing them.

  Meke rubbed her sore shoulder. They had to rest before they entered Technologia. They had been on the move since last night, a full twenty hours ago. Tomorrow, they would enter. Meke walked to the hill where Trove stood, staring at the gleaming city. Trove glanced back as Meke got to the top of the hill, and turned back to the view.

  “Are you sure about this? We still can go back,” Trove said.

  “You know the answer.”

  “Yes.”

  Meke studied the man in front of her. Meke could see the lines of his muscles under his uniform, despite the thick fabric. Still, his back wasn’t as straight as usual. His shoulders sloped as he squinted at the horizon.

  Meke slipped her hand into his. He smiled for a moment, but returned to his study of the skyline. She looked at the city as well. It was dense, buildings jammed next to one another so tightly that the whole thing seemed like one big mass of shining glass and metal. Meke could barely feel the people inside. Most of them huddled inside their small apartments, waiting for the whole thing to pass them by.

  Meke knew that tomorrow would bring even more unknowns. She didn’t even know if she would see Trove again. She took a deep breath. “You know that test they gave you that said that you’d be,” Meke swallowed, hoping Trove would listen, “disloyal?”

  He tensed, but he nodded. “Well, I was thinking. What if it was all a lie?”

  “Don’t start this again. It can’t possibly be lies. Look what happened.”

  Meke kneaded her palm. The idea floated around in her mind, refusing to take shape. She just knew that Trove’s worries were misplaced, but she had to convince him of that. She didn’t want to leave him miserable.

  “There used to be things called horoscopes. They would tell your fortunes, depending on what month you were born in,” she said. The furrows on Trove’s forehead deepened. “But, they weren’t really fortunes, you know?”

  “Meke, I’m not sure where you are going with this, but this isn’t just fortune-telling. This is science. They took my blood and tested it.”

  “Is it? Is it really?” Meke turned, blocking Trove’s view of the glimmering city beyond them. “The fortunes worked because the fortunes were so vague that whatever happened, people thought that the fortunes predicted it.”

  “Meke, I hardly think that’s the case here. This test was quite specific about what I would do, and it was right.”

  “Because you think it was right.”

  “No, it was a result of a genetic test. It’s science.”

  Meke huffed. She didn’t think much of this kind of science. Science couldn’t predict the future. “Was it really? How do you know that?”

  Trove didn’t move for so long that Meke gave up and returned to staring at Technologia. Finally, he looked at her, face blank. “I don’t know how I know. I just…believed it.”

  Maybe, just maybe, he could forget this. Meke sighed as she grasped his hand to her chest. “Trove, I’m just saying that all this fuss about your genetic destiny may be fake. You’re here because you want to be here. You chose it.”

  “Maybe.” He rolled his shoulders back and stood straighter. “Now, let’s talk about how we’re going to do this.”

  Meke felt a new tension replace the old one. All thoughts of the Ministry had fallen away as she spoke of fortune telling and destiny. Now was the time to think about the man behind these walls. She would meet Lucio Donner in a few hours, and end the whole thing. The thought of the end cheered her, but it was a faint joy compared to her pounding nerves. Still, she had to face this man. Something deep and unseen told her that things started and ended with this man. Meke straightened her spine and looked back at Trove.

  “Okay, let’s talk.”

  Trove told her all about how the Ministry and the Rebel forces were laid out. Both sides stood at a standstill. Sterling’s Equalists surrounded the Ministry with Lucio Donner, along with a few of the remaining Elite Forces, cocooned inside. So far, the Equalists hadn’t found a way into the glass fortress.

  Barbara Kasher, the commander of the Equalists outside of the Ministry planned an attack tomorrow morning. A hundred Equalists would barrel through the doors and extract Lucio Donner and the others. As Trove explained, it sounded easier than it was. Ten years ago, Lucio had installed throughout the Ministry secret pathways with steel doors and impenetrable security codes. The few Equalists that had made it inside hadn’t returned. None of the Equalists knew how the Ministry worked, or why their soldiers hadn’t returned. Nobody was eager to attack the deadly building.

  Meke knew then, despite what Trove said, that she was doing the right thing. One life for a hundred, maybe more. Maybe that would repay the debt that she owed.

  The difficult part was persuading Barbara to let Meke walk into the Ministry. Sterling had sent out strict orders to send Meke back if they found her.

  “She’s a practical woman. I think you have a chance with her,” Trove said.

  “Are you sure? Sterling’s orders will be pretty specific.”

  “Well, it’s our best shot. I’ve worked with her before. She hates losing lives unnecessarily.”

  “Sterling won’t be happy with her.”

  “Let her worry about that. You can’t get through without her say-so. So, we’ll approach her and convince her. Then—” Trove stared at his hands. “Since Lucio Donner wants to see you, I suppose he’ll let you walk in. Then, you’ll…” He shrugged helplessly. “I don’t even know what he wants with you.”

  Meke stared at the last few rays of the sun sinking past the horizon. “I
don’t know either, but does it even matter?” she asked.

  “Of course it matters. If he just wants revenge, then you have no chance. If he wants something else, then you have a chance.”

  Trove’s hard truth made Meke’s cheeks lose any remnants of warmth. He was right. Lucio Donner could want her dead or alive for any number of reasons. If he wanted her dead, then she would be dead. No escape plan could reverse that. If he wanted her alive, then there was hope.

  “Let’s go ahead thinking that he wants me alive.”

  Trove’s fists clenched for a moment as his shoulders tightened. His shoulders relaxed, but his face remained tight. “Fine. Let’s do that.”

  Meke and Trove devised a plan where Trove would communicate with her from outside the walls. Meke would distract Donner when the attack came. Easy.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  Barbara Kasher stood eye-level with Meke. Her short blond hair hung in wisps around her face. A bold square shone from her hands. Her eyebrows rose as her gaze swept Meke’s body. She glanced at Trove, and spoke.

  Trove nodded, his mouth moving in words that they had already agreed on. Trove made the scenario sound very simple. Meke would go in, and one way or another, Lucio Donner would come out. Barbara’s foot tapped in a furious rhythm as Trove spoke. Her blue eyes never left Meke, who wished that she could say these words herself. At least Trove would do these words justice.

  As Trove finished, a smile spread on Barbara’s sun-roughened face. “So, you may save us a lot of trouble. You’re a fool, but I won’t turn away a helpful fool.” Meke kept her hands by her sides. Fool she may be, but she was her own fool. “Go ahead. Don’t expect me to rescue you. We’re going in tomorrow, no exceptions. I’m not going to wait around for someone to deliver Lucio Donner wrapped in a pretty bow.”

  Trove looked away, jaw clenched. He inhaled deeply before he signed her words for Meke.

  “What about Sterling? I’m sure he has ordered you to send me back,” Meke asked.

  “Oh sure, he has. But, you know, wars are messy things. e-comms get lost. Miscommunications happen, and I’m a busy woman.”

  “Fine. If I can, I’ll get the job done,” Meke said, watching Trove to see if he said her words. He did, through stiff lips.

  Barbara’s foot slowed its tapping as she crossed her arms. “What?” Meke asked, bristling at the renewed inspection.

  “I don’t know if Lucio Donner will really surrender because you came along. No offense intended, but I can’t imagine why he would do that.”

  Barbara dusted her hands on the front of her uniform. After she cleared her uniform of any speck of dirt, she squinted at Meke. “You know, maybe we can get something good out of this,” Barbara said.

  Meke inclined her head, waiting for the so-called goodness. “If you get a chance, kill the man,” Barbara said, her eyes solemn.

  It took a second for Meke to realize who Barbara was talking about. Strangely enough, it had never occurred to Meke to kill Lucio Donner. She had only wanted to see him, confront him. Have others see him for who he was. Nobody could do that if he was dead.

  “But, why?” Meke asked, feeling slightly stupid.

  Barbara’s eyebrows met in the center of her forehead, then smoothed. “You’re more naive than I thought. Him,” she jerked her head in the Ministry’s direction, “we’d be better off without him. We need to start over clean.”

  Meke imagined a hand sweeping away all remnants of Prosperon. A fresh start. That made sense in her mind, but something deep within her insisted that it didn’t make sense.

  Barbara shrugged. “Well, regardless, we’re going in tomorrow. If you’re still around then, you’d best get him in place and get out of the way.”

  Meke watched as Barbara nodded and turned. Her body melted into the crowd of milling soldiers around them.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot how direct she is,” Trove said, frowning at the crowd.

  Meke shook her head. “No, she’s right. This may all be a hoax. A scheme to buy time.”

  “You won’t reconsider?”

  “How can I? He could be telling the truth.”

  Trove swore, but Meke just wrapped her arms around him. It took a few moments for him to return the hug. This wasn’t the time to argue. Enveloped in warmth, Meke allowed herself to forget about what would happen.

  Before she was ready, Theria approached to lead her to the Ministry.

  “I’ll be outside, so keep an eye out for me, okay? Meanwhile I’ll take care of Tooth,” Trove told Meke.

  All Meke could do was nod and sneak in a second hug and a pat on Tooth’s head. Theria didn’t even roll her eyes. Meke turned and followed Theria without a glance back. She had to believe that she would return. They weaved through the crowd of soldiers on the streets a few blocks away from the Ministry. As they reached the edge of the crowd, Meke had to stop to stare at the Ministry.

  She already knew how large the Ministry was, but nothing could’ve prepared her for the sight of it. It was the tallest building in the entire city, so tall that Meke could only feel the edge of the building, not see it. The Ministry’s sides were shiny glass, so shiny that she couldn’t see in. There didn’t appear to be a door anywhere, but she could feel the faint edge of a door in front of her, even though her eyes were telling her that the surface was completely smooth. She knew that the rooms beyond the walls were empty, but she could feel some bodies deep inside.

  Theria turned to her and handed her a handheld.

  I have to take your weapons now. They won’t let you bring in anything.

  Meke shrugged off the crossbow and her poleax. Even though they weighted close to nothing, she still felt their absence. Her back felt exposed, vulnerable. Theria handed her a handheld,

  It was a pleasure working with you.

  Theria held out her hand for Meke to shake. Her grip was firm, but not crushing. Not a single flinch tempered Theria’s grip. With a swift nod, Theria retrieved the handheld and the weapons, then receded back into the crowd.

  Meke squinted at the building; the sun’s reflection blinded her eyes. The mirrored glass reflected a small image of a woman standing alone at the edge of the crowd. It took Meke a few seconds to realize that it was her reflection.

  Meke pushed off her left foot and walked toward the Ministry. The building was only a few meters away, but Meke felt every pulse beat, stretching out time. Meke stopped, her boots’ tips only a few millimeters away from the glass wall that stretched high and wide.

  Nothing happened.

  Meke stood there so long that the base of her feet numbed. The building remained motionless and impermeable. She couldn’t feel anything moving beyond these walls, either. Perhaps they had changed their minds. Relieved or not, she couldn’t decide how she felt. She had come all this way for nothing, risked everything for…nothing.

  Meke turned on the balls of her feet when a door opened. A bare black room with low lights reflected on the floor opened up for her. Meke could see the bodies moving beyond the room’s walls, but she couldn’t tell who or what they were.

  She walked in.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  MEKE STOOD in the middle of an empty room as the door closed behind her, blocking the light from outside. Cold air swept across her skin, raising goose bumps.

  The room was bare except for her. The walls and floors, and even the ceiling, were smooth, shiny black. Even though the walls were black, Meke felt as if she had returned to the institution. Both places had the same functional emptiness, only holding the necessary items. Right now, the only necessary item was Meke.

  She squinted, trying to feel beyond the walls, feel who were watching her. Warm readiness filled her fingers. If someone came out, she could deal with them. Her fingers turned cold as her sense stopped at the walls. She couldn’t feel beyond the room’s walls.

  Her heart pounded. Had her sense failed her all of a sudden? No, that wasn’t it. She could still feel everything in the room, just that her sense ended abrupt
ly at the walls as if someone had cleaved it. The walls began pressing onto her, mocking her with their solidness. Any sense of readiness had disintegrated. Meke’s eyes flew around the room, trying to anticipate any intruders.

  Nothing happened for so long that Meke lost track of time. It could have been hours or minutes since the doors closed behind her. She couldn’t tell. Time ceased to have any meaning as her mind fell into exhaustion. As her brain slowed, a door opened behind her, a gaping maw in the wall.

  Before she had time to turn, she felt a pinch in her arm and blackness engulfed her.

  ◆ ◆ ◆

  Meke felt her senses flood her as wakefulness greeted her rudely. She squinted as pure white light assaulted her vision. The walls still stood fast, a stolid barrier to her. As her senses adjusted, she felt a man sitting in the corner.

  He was a short, slight man. His collar gaped as his white button-down shirt overwhelmed his body. His large, sharp nose reminded Meke of a vague, nebulous memory that her brain couldn’t reach. She had seen this man before.

  His wavy brown hair shifted as he looked up. The corners of his eyes crinkled. “There you are. I was beginning to think that they’d given you too much of the tranquilizer.”

  Meke blinked, not knowing who the man was or how this stranger knew sign language. He didn’t just know how to sign, his fingers weaved in and out, forming effortless words.

  Meke sat up, feeling the strangeness of her surroundings. “Who are you?” Meke asked.

  A smile grew on the man’s face as he leapt onto his feet. “Excuse my rudeness! I’m Lucio Donner. I suppose you’ve heard of me before.” He shrugged before he offered his hand. With numb hands, Meke shook his hand.

  This man shared the features of the man in the docs. Yet, he looked different, smaller somehow. She knew that Donner was well into his thirties, but the man before her looked fresh-faced and cheerful, hardly a picture of a man under siege.