The Rogue Spark series Box Set

by Cameron Coral

  Doubtful.

  “Shut up, Vance,” I mumble.

  We amble toward the east tower steps, and I start to stumble and hum a song.

  A group of four soldiers trod down the stairs, checking us out. “Problem, Private?”

  Paul nods at me. “Just a drunk cadet we’re taking to a cell to sleep it off.”

  One of the soldiers, a woman, stops and stares. “She looks familiar…”

  I drop my chin to my chest and struggle against Ogre.

  “Move along, soldier,” Ogre commands.

  “Nah, my imagination,” the woman says. “Good luck with her.”

  Inside the lobby, Ogre uncuffs me and guards the door, awaiting our signal.

  Clutching me at his side, Paul assesses the lobby. “Two soldiers at the security desk. Four bots. Two getting into the elevator, then we’re clear.” He whispers, “You ready?”

  “Showtime,” I say loud enough for Ogre to hear.

  A small drill extends from Ogre’s hand, and he locks the entrance door shut.

  I struggle against Paul, thrusting my body away clumsily, playing the role of a drunk. “No man, I didn’t do nothin!”

  He drags me toward the security desk where two male soldiers observe us warily. “Drunk cadet?” one of them says.

  Pauls nods. “I could use help here.”

  “Droids,” the soldier commands. Two bots approach and produce handcuffs.

  As they get close enough to make contact, I say, “Rassvet.”

  The machines halt. Their red visors surge, then dim.

  Both soldiers’ jaws drop. “What the…?”

  “Lower your weapons. Hands in the air,” commands Paul as he trains his gun on the two desk guards.

  Ogre sprints toward two droids who stand sentry outside the elevator bank. They raise their rifles, but Ogre rams into their chests with arms outstretched, taking both down.

  I scramble toward them. “Rassvet!” One of the droids halts and surges like the others did. But the other ignores my command, reaches for his gun and fires at Ogre, hitting his shoulder.

  “Vance, what’s happening?”

  I don’t know. Maybe I missed a few. My coding wasn’t always perfect.

  Before I have time to react, the droid trains the gun barrel on my face. “Rassvet,” I say as I squeeze my eyes shut, wincing.

  I hear a buzz and the floor vibrates. Daring to open my eyes, I see the droid shake before me, then grow still.

  Ogre approaches and disarms the bot.

  It starts marching in a circle.

  “What’s happening to it?” I say.

  Ogre studies the droid while Paul secures the human soldiers, forcing them to kneel behind the desk, out of view.

  “The RD-11 model is confused. The command has defused its programming.”

  “Will it stay like this for now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Let’s get Gatz.”

  We jump into the elevator and descend.

  Thirty

  “Level one secured. Heading down to sub-level five.”

  “Copy that,” Lucy’s voice chirps from my biocuff.

  Paul and I press against the elevator wall, rifles aimed at the door. “Was it me, or was that way too easy up there?” Paul says, shaking his head.

  My stomach wrenches at the thought of screwing up this mission. Gatz’s life depends on it. “I don’t know. They don’t know we have an android helping us.”

  The elevator door slides open, and an AI voice announces sub level five. We edge out, Ogre first. It scans from side to side, turning its head. “Hold on.” The tall humanoid robot exits to the right and disables a guard droid.

  Ogre marches back to the elevator door and gives us a thumbs up. “The coast is clear.”

  “Geesh,” says Paul. “Lucy taught you a lot already.”

  My first instinct is to take control and navigate, but Ogre has the map and can deter threats way better than me. “Lead us, Ogre.”

  Paul and I follow the robot closely as it lumbers down a hallway, veering right, then left until we reach a locked door. Through a window, I glimpse Gatz tied down on a hospital bed.

  I clench my fists. Have they already hurt him? Caused more damage to his DNA? I yank the door handle, but it’s locked.

  Ogre extends the pointed drill from its hand and starts to dig into the keyhole.

  I scan around nervously, expecting soldiers or robots to attack at any moment. Paul’s right. This seems too easy.

  It’s a trap, you idiot. You’re playing right into Hunter’s hands.

  Finally, Ogre releases the locking mechanism, and the door swings wide. I sprint to Gatz’s bed, not caring if I’m caught. I need to check he’s all right.

  He’s strapped in, but his head moves freely. He cranes his neck to regard us. As I edge closer, his eyes appear glassy and red.

  “Mmmph. Ida…?”

  “Gatz!” I lean over and hug him. “We’re getting you out of here.”

  He’s been drugged. It won’t be easy to escape with him. “Ogre, cut these straps. Gatz, can you walk?”

  “I dunno…” His head lolls. “So glad to see your face.”

  “Shhh. Don’t talk.”

  Ogre snaps the restraining belts, and we pull Gatz to his feet. Under the sheet, he’s stark naked. I glimpse his hairy chest, muscular abs, and avert my eyes before I see everything. Am I curious? Hell, yeah. But not here. Not like this.

  “Dude, you’re naked,” says Paul as he and I each take a shoulder to support him.

  “See any clothes around here?” I scan the room searching for his clothes, a blanket, anything we can throw on him.

  I spy a white lab suit on the wall. “Paul, I have an idea.” We dress Gatz in the suit, shoving his legs in, then zipping him up.

  Ogre gives a thumbs up, but Gatz frowns. “What the hell? Why’s there an android with you?”

  “I’ll explain later.” I yank a fire alarm tag. Water sprinkler drones descend from the ceiling above and spray the room in cold spurts, drenching us. The lights flicker and a blaring emergency siren wails.

  We hoist Gatz by the shoulders, dragging his feet on the ground. Down the hallway, we start for the stairwell since the alarm took out the elevator.

  As we round the corner, the heavy metal door to the stairs looms ahead.

  The door swings wide, and Tyren blocks our path.

  He holds a rifle aimed at us.

  Thirty-One

  We halt before Tyren. He greets us with steely eyes.

  Would he really shoot us? I thought I knew Tyren, but after discovering his involvement with the labs, I’ll never forgive him for his betrayal. He was lying all those years when he and I grew close.

  I tense and lurch forward, leaving Paul to support Gatz, who still can’t balance on his own. Stepping between them and Tyren, at least I’m a shield.

  “Tyren,” I say between clenched teeth. “Let us pass. Gatz is hurt.”

  He shoves me aside and fires high, close to their heads. We duck for cover, and something clatters to the ground. I spin to check on my friends.

  Paul’s mouth hangs open. He’s surprised, but uninjured.

  I spy a crashed drone on the ground a few feet away. It must have been tracking us. A trap after all. Hunter had his eye on us the whole time.

  Tyren raises his rifle, points it at Ogre. “How did…? Why is that robot with you?”

  I push the rifle barrel away. “I can control it. I found a way.”

  Tyren tilts his head, and a smile creeps across his face. “Damn, I always knew you were special.” He relaxes, lowers his gun.

  Not an immediate threat. But why is he here?

  I tread closer and realize I have the upper hand. He doesn’t know I’ve learned of his betrayal yet. “Tyren, what’s happening? Hunter tried to kill us. Tried to kill Paul!”

  He shakes his head. “I know. I’m sorry. He’s out of control. Impulsive. He flies into rages. I’ve never seen him so ob
sessed.”

  “I thought you didn’t know him until recently.”

  Tyren hangs his head. “Ida, there’s something I have to tell you. I—”

  “We don’t have time for this,” I point my rifle at him. “I know about all your lies. The labs, the experiments. I know what you and Hunter did to the hybrids.”

  He stares, slack-jawed.

  “But right now, how do we get out of here alive?”

  “Hunter laid a trap and you walked right into it. He was counting on you heading straight to Gatz’s cell. That’s why he made it easy for you. He wants to catch you trying to escape with a prisoner, catch it on film so he can play it on every media screen in the city. Turn the citizens against you and Gatz.”

  “Ogre, find the nearest tunnel we can use out of here.”

  The red visor starts spinning as the robot scans maps of the building and the surrounding underground.

  “He’ll figure it out soon,” says Tyren. “He just lost the feed on the drone. Saw me shoot it. I came to warn you. I’ve done a lot wrong, but I want to help you escape.”

  “Ogre, how’s that tunnel location going?” I face Tyren. He’s risking everything. “If Hunter finds you—”

  “I can’t…I don’t care. I’d rather die than know my actions led to you being killed or captured.”

  Ogre lurches forward and points a mechanical arm just as the red emergency siren ceases and switches to a blue flashing light.

  An AI voice echoes over loudspeakers, “Emergency. All guards to stations. Prisoner escape. Seal all access points.”

  I train my rifle on Tyren. “We’re taking you as our hostage. Help us pull this off and maybe things will play out well for you. Grab Gatz’s shoulder and help Paul. Now!”

  He grimaces but does as he’s told.

  “Lead the way,” I tell Ogre. The bot jogs down the hall and we follow. I hang at the end of the line, scanning behind us for any more surveillance drones.

  Ogre guides us through several turns, and finally we arrive at a heavy steel portal. I try yanking the circular hatch to gain access, but it won’t budge. “Ogre, can you open it?”

  The android steps forward, grasps the wheel, and twists it easily.

  “That’s a handy sidekick,” mutters Tyren.

  We crawl into the opening one by one. Paul goes first, and just as Tyren hoists Gatz up, a fleet of drones round the hallway corner.

  The devices scan the corridor. Spying us, they surge forward.

  I aim my rifle and fire multiple rounds. A few of the drones crash to the ground, but others zip and curve, missing my bullets.

  Paul pulls Gatz through to safety.

  “Get in fast,” I yell at Tyren. The drones regroup and surge forward, unleashing a wave of bullets at me and Ogre.

  I answer with another round, aiming high to try to take out as many as possible. Ogre staggers back as bullets catch his steel armor.

  “Ogre, you’re hit.”

  The android advances on me and shoves me into the portal, shielding me from a barrage of gunfire. “Deliver Lucy a message.”

  I climb to my feet inside the hatch.

  Ogre points a thumb up as it raises a gun in the other hand. “Good luck, friend.” The robot slams the portal door shut and seals it.

  We’re safe inside the tunnels for now.

  Just beyond, in the hallway, the sentient android battles the enemy drones. The sound of bullets echo against the walls.

  Thank you, I think as we scramble through the tunnels leading toward the river.

  Thirty-Two

  We’re close. Nearly free. For the first time, I have hope that Gatz will be safe. That maybe we’ll be together. But Vance is a constant reminder, an iron shackle I’ll never shed.

  Scrambling through the dark tunnels, I lead the way. Paul and Tyren half-carry, half-drag Gatz. They sweat under the strain.

  “How is he so heavy?” grunts Paul.

  “Wait,” whispers Gatz. “If we stop and rest, I can walk soon. I feel like I’m regaining my strength.”

  “No time.” I push forward, wanting to put as much distance between us and Hunter’s forces as possible. Then we round a corner and meet a dead end.

  “Where are we?” asks Tyren.

  “Not sure.” I tilt my ears to the ceiling and study the tunnel walls. The portal where we escaped had been dry. Now, water drips in long rivulets down cracks in the stone.

  “We’re close to the river,” says Gatz.

  I nod, picturing a map in my head, calculating the turns we made, the fork in the path we chose. “Just a little further now.” We travel a quarter mile until we reach ankle-high water.

  “Any signal yet?” Paul asks.

  None of our biocuffs connect in the tunnels. Steel grating construction must block communication signals.

  Ahead, the faintest light streams down from the ceiling. “Hey, up here.” I sprint toward a manhole. “Tyren, lift me up.”

  Paul supports Gatz while Tyren boosts me onto his back near the opening. I raise my wrist and flick the cuff. “Lucy, can you read me?”

  Static.

  “Lucy, come in.”

  Above ground, the familiar sound of beeping horns greets us. I shove my hands through the iron grating and try to push it so we can climb out, but it won’t budge.

  Lucy’s voice bursts from my comms. “Hey! Report on the situation. We’re worried.”

  “We’re safe. In the tunnels, underground close to the river. Under a street, but I can’t tell which one. Lock on our location and come get us.”

  “Roger.” A moment passes. “We got you. On our way.”

  Tyren gently bends to let me climb down.

  “Yes!” shouts Paul and starts to dance in place.

  “Don’t count your chickens,” I say. “This isn’t over.”

  “Who’s coming for us?” Tyren asks nervously.

  “Lucy and Pilar.”

  “I-I…the hybrids will punish me after finding out what I did to them in the labs. Let me take my chances down here. I’ll find another exit.”

  “No way.” I shove my hands on my hips. “I won’t let any harm come to you. You’ll get a fair trial. Hunter will, too, if he surrenders. And you helped us escape. That’s got to count for something.”

  “Where are you going? Section H? You can’t go there. Hunter is planning to…”

  Gatz’s ears perk up. Paul stops fidgeting.

  “Hunter has drones armed with missiles,” Tyren continues. “He plans to use them on Section H in a coordinated attack.”

  I slam Tyren against the tunnel wall. “You bastard! When were you planning on telling us?”

  His mouth twists in a grimace. “I’m sorry. I thought Paul must have known.”

  Paul’s forehead wrinkles. “Whoa. Hold up. I knew my uncle had drones…but I never thought he would use them on anyone in Spark City.” He searches our faces. “I thought they were for the Heavies. In case they attacked, and we needed to defend the city. Honest to God, I never thought…”

  A noisy buzzing assaults our ears, and a blast of hot wind forces its way into the manhole opening. We duck as the heavy iron cover is ripped off by Pilar’s commandeered street sweeper. Lights shine down, and a ladder descends.

  I hold it steady. Grabbing Gatz’s arms, I wrap them around Paul. “Can you hold onto him?”

  Gatz nods. “Yes.”

  I gaze up as they climb aboard the hovering sweeper.

  “Come on.” I extend an open hand to Tyren and help him to his feet. “Up you go.”

  “What about…?”

  “I don’t know yet. Just get out of here. That’s step one.”

  He ascends the ladder, and I follow.

  Lucy slams her fists on her chair after we tell them about the missile-enabled drones. “What the hell are we going to do?”

  Pilar scowls at Tyren, then draws her pistol. “I say we waste him right now.”

  “No!” I step between them and shove her toward the r
ear of the vehicle. “We need him. He knows Hunter and he knows the technology.”

  She snarls and holsters her gun.

  “Pilar,” Gatz says, “you have to go back to H and evacuate our people.”

  Her eyes grow wide. “That’ll take a day at least—”

  Gatz leans against his seat. “We can do it in a few hours if we go now and get people moving.”

  Pilar’s whiskers tremble as she chews her lip. “Dez, steer us to H, ASAP.”

  Taking a seat, I force a breath in and out slowly, trying to calm my nerves. Hunter wants to destroy Section H—exterminate the hybrids. But why, after he played a hand in creating them?

  I close my eyes and picture the yellow rose. I want to find Alkina. She might understand. Suddenly, I’m in the carnival tent again. I stare at the miniature model of Spark City spread in front of me. I tremble as my eyes travel over the heaped piles of rubble where Section H once stood.

  “No!” My voice echoes, but nobody hears. “Gatz?” I shout. “Where are you?” But he doesn’t answer because he and everyone I love is gone.

  Is the detonation inevitable? Am I seeing the future?

  I can’t let Section H be destroyed.

  Thirty-Three

  “Stop the vehicle.” I lunge toward the cockpit.

  Pilar glares at me and jumps to her feet. “What the hell?”

  “I need to get out. Go face Hunter.”

  “That’s madness,” she says. “He’ll kill you.”

  Everyone stares, waiting for my reaction. The pilot slows our advance.

  “Keep going,” says Pilar.

  “Hold on. Hear me out.” But she doesn’t listen. “Stop the sweeper. For one minute?”

  “You have thirty seconds.” She waves a signal at Dez to hover.

  “I have two things that Hunter wants. I have his second in command. I’ll lead Tyren into the building at gunpoint. He ought to be useful for getting inside and getting an audience with Hunter.”

  “That’s a ridiculous plan,” Gatz interjects.

  I raise a hand in warning. “I’m not done. Second, I have the weapon he wants.” I reach under a seat and pull out my backpack. Unzipping it, I reveal the steel alloy helmet.