"Shouldn't his nanobots have repaired it? Even before today?" I ask, my palms growing sweaty. Brain damage was not a possibility I had considered, or that immersion could ever harm Ben or me. "There's no way this is happening."
"I reviewed all that, and his nanos appeared fine, performing optimally. But it was insignificant, possibly a hereditary predisposition."
My mind reels. Was that what Devan died from? Is our ability making it worse?
"Did you tell him?"
Guilt washes her face. "I did. We talked about it when you went into town. He said not to say anything to you. That he'd let you know about it."
Anger burns in my chest. "Gabrielle, you had no idea he'd be okay, but you let him go in anyway?"
"I was monitoring the problem and it seemed stable. I was certain we'd be able to avoid a situation like a cloaked virus. You two have such good instincts …" She frowns. "I didn't even consider one with the ability to be uploaded to a human."
I ache to scream at her, tell her she should have known better, but how could she when Ben was hiding the severity of his sickness from her? His instincts were dampened by hiding his problem from me, but of course Manning would install a virus in the system. He probably used a coder in information security to do it. Security has probably been upgraded immensely as of now with the impending war.
"Do you think the Trojan took our information? Our location?" I ask. Normally, that would have been something I would have checked for, but my one goal was to get Ben out alive.
"From what I can tell, that particular Trojan's function was to destroy, not to download data."
"Destroy? How are Ben and I supposed to take out the grid, then?"
Gabrielle's face falls, and I know the answer before she says it.
"Avlyn, you may be doing this on your own. If you can't, we'll have to come up with another strategy."
I pinch at the bridge of my nose as I rack my brain for a solution. None comes. Gabrielle is completely right, and without Ben, this whole thing is impossible.
"I can go in and repair his nanos like Sanda's."
Gabrielle sighs. "That was different. This is an actual upgrade, not simply a repair. If you don't code the upgrade just right, it's likely to kill him."
"My nanos are upgraded," I say remembering the last VachTech upgrade. "What if you could take mine and implant them?"
"Avlyn," she says. "Your upgrade was specifically designed for your DNA. It might take me days or even weeks to pull it apart and re-sequence it. It's possible, but not now."
I approach him as Gabrielle sits distracted at her viewer, scrolling through code. Gently, I place my hand to his shoulder and shut my eyes. No emotions, only emptiness.
Honing my energy into him, I slow my breathing. I will the real world to fall away into nothing but haze, and it's gone. The space I transport to is dark. Viscous. My heart speeds up, and I fixate on the beats to slow them.
"Ben?" I call.
No answer.
Fear wells in my chest, but I call again.
"Ben, can you hear me?"
Silence reverberates through the thick air. He doesn't seem to hear me, and I'm getting emptiness back from him.
"Take me to Ben's nanobots."
The space around me shimmers slightly.
"Ben's nanos. Immediately," I say, more forcefully this time.
Out of nowhere, the tech appears. Several of the spider-like units float. I step toward the nearest one and place my hand on it. The strong urge to repair the system and try to heal Ben takes over me, but Gabrielle said it was too dangerous. Instead, I prompt it for information. The units themselves are functioning properly, as Gabrielle said, but because of the modifications in Ben's brain from using his ability so much, it's not syncing. I scan the code and analyze the reporting file to see where it's falling short. The problem lies within a few lines of code. I think the nanos are causing the short circuit in Ben's brain. When they try to connect and heal, they're doing the opposite and damaging him further.
I can fix this. I can help him.
I place my hands on the nano to bring up the code structure, one by one changing the symbols and moving them to new destinations. As I complete each sequence, heat moves from my fingers and up my arms. Through gritted teeth, I ignore the sensation. I've felt something similar in the past when modifying code while immersed, but I know this is different. The heat grows, stinging and engulfing me like fire.
My mind spins and I fight to remain conscious.
I must complete this … for Ben.
As I stretch for the last line of code, I wince at the pain. Quickly, I lower my finger to tap the symbol set, but before my hand reaches it, a burst of light slams me backward into the air. My body crashes into the earth. Someone seizes my shoulders and rips me back further. The immersed world is gone and the lab appears.
"What are you doing?" Gabrielle yells.
In my vision, my EP flickers on and off until static takes over the view. The static bursts into a white light and then the EP is dead. Gabrielle continues speaking, but her voice now sounds no stronger than a muffled murmur in the distance.
"Avlyn?" I barely hear her say.
With a snap, my hearing returns to full volume.
"Avlyn!"
I throw my hands to my ears, overwhelmed. A sharp prick digs into my neck and everything goes black.
~ ~ ~
I suck in a huge gasp of air and shoot up from lying flat on my back. A pair of strong hands grabs my shoulders, holding me in place. I whip my head to the side to find Meyer inches from my face, terror filling his coal eyes.
"She's up!" he yells.
I swivel my gaze around the room. I'm in the lab, but this time Ben's not here.
"Where's Ben?" I swing my legs off—I turn to see what I'm on—one of the tables made into a makeshift bed.
Meyer clutches my arm, stopping me.
"Let me go," I growl.
"Ben's fine. For now."
I swivel my head back to Meyer. "For now? What's going on?"
"Gabrielle knows more than I do." Meyer narrows his eyes in worry. "She believes if his nanos were fully operational, he could have handled it. But when you connected with him, it made his bots go berserk. He was headed toward a cardiac arrest."
"What? I ... I tried to patch his nanos." My body stiffens with guilt. "Is he okay? You said he was okay."
Meyer exhales a lengthy breath. "For now. The patch worked, but he's weak. Gabrielle did a scan and he's stable."
I sink into a slouch, relieved. "Can I see him?"
Meyer shakes his head. "He's sleeping in our room. Gabrielle says it's speeding up the healing process."
"What happened to me?"
"Gabrielle's theory is you basically crashed and rebooted," Meyer explains.
I try to activate my EP, but nothing happens. "I think my EP crashed, too."
"I guess you'll be relying on your instincts until we get it fixed, because there are no extras around here."
A soft beeping sound comes from Gabrielle's still-active screen. Meyer approaches it and taps the surface. Up pops a link.
Urgent Message for Avlyn Lark.
My heart nearly vaults into my throat at the words. Who else knows I'm here? Did Gabrielle tell Ruiz already?
I hop from the table, any dizziness I had before clearing instantly. I reach for the link, then stop, asking, "Should we get Gabrielle?"
"It says the message is for you, not her."
I click my tongue and hesitate a moment longer, then activate the message.
Place your hand to the screen for identity check.
I look to Meyer, confused.
"Well, do it," he says.
"Is it safe?"
Meyer laughs. "Gabrielle is basically you in twenty-five years without the crazy abilities. She's a systems genius. No one is hacking her unless she invited them to do so."
I do as Meyer and the message say and press my hand to the cold screen. A scan slowly run
s the length of my hand.
DNA Scan complete.
The words disappear and an older woman with straight dark hair peppered with gray strands comes onto the screen. My breath hitches. Something in me tells me I know her, but I'm unsure from where.
"Avlyn?" the woman says.
I straighten in my seat. "Yes?"
"I apologize for this being a recorded message."
I relax, knowing it's not a live vid.
"My intention was to speak with you in person, but that is no longer an option. My name is Cynthia Fisher—"
That's where I know her from. The vid I watched last month showing her and Ruiz resigning as Elorian directors over thirty years ago.
"I'm in contact with Ruiz. She's stuck in New Philadelphia and feels contacting you is too dangerous. Somehow, Manning has learned what you're fully capable of. You must not let him locate you. I would advise relocation, but I cannot provide you with any options in case of compromise. Manning may have released scouts to find you. There is no time for different plans." Cynthia pauses and looks away from the screen. She turns back to face me, and pleading lingers in her eyes. "You must evacuate from your current location with Ben immediately."
The mention of Ben forms a lump in my throat. Cynthia regains her composure and signs off. The screen goes blank.
"How does she know about Ben?" I ask Meyer.
"I don't know, Avlyn. But we have to wake everyone and decide what to do."
~ ~ ~
"I made no mention of Ben in any of my messages," Gabrielle says.
"Then how does she know?" I demand.
Gabrielle paces in the hall as everyone in the group, except an absent Ben, stares at her. "Your guess is as good as mine. But despite all that, Fisher's advice was sound. You're not safe here anymore."
Suspicion battles the trust I have for Gabrielle, but I don't have time for it. Trust is going to have to win out.
Meyer looks to me and I nod that I'm fine to move on. "Okay, so what are our orders?" he asks Gabrielle.
Gabrielle pinches the bridge of her nose. "Nothing was finalized, but I was able to set you up in a remote location. The fuel cells in the pod should get you there before you'll require a recharge."
"It's not the best time to travel, but I'm still headed to outside Elore," Sanda says. "I'll go tonight, too."
Gabrielle nods. "Then that leaves the three of you to get packed. I'll prepare everything for Ben."
"Already on it." Aron swings around and sprints down the hall toward his room.
Meyer touches my arm. "See you in a few minutes."
I give him a thin, nervous smile and he follows Aron. Guess Aron's coming with us after all.
"Thank you for what you've done for us," I say to Gabrielle.
"No thanks are needed."
From the lab door behind us, Gabrielle's system beeps with another incoming message. I turn to the noise and she hurries for the door.
"Maybe it was a false alarm," I suggest, clinging to the hope of it as I follow her. Gabrielle taps her computer screen and writing scrolls across the surface. It's a message from her Underground communication system.
Warning to outlying community projects: Elore has launched a full-fledged attack on New Philadelphia. Outlying communities are likely to be targeted. New Philadelphia will be unable to assist. Evacuation Procedure 2.
"What's evacuation procedure two?" I ask, a numbing chill creeping over my scalp.
"Everyone for themselves," Gabrielle says.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
My hands suddenly have no place to go and I shove them in my pockets. My fingers catch on something and I pull it out. The crushed red flower Ash gave me at the dance sits on my palm.
Sickness roils in my stomach. Everyone for themselves? What about the families, children? How are the communities supposed to know what's coming when they aren't on the grid? They won't get this message before it's too late.
If I went there, I can warn them and activate the community grid again so the message would be spread.
"How can we let Thornton know?" I ask.
Gabrielle stands and grabs for my shoulders, rotating me toward the door, the flower dropping from my hand to the floor. "I don't know, Avlyn."
"We could help them. I could help them, activate their grid system—"
"No, you can't. They're completely offline and the system is inaccessible from here. The one way to do that is for you to physically be in Thornton. It's too risky and you need to be out of here in a couple hours." She hustles me into the hall. "Go fetch your brother."
I turn to her and intend to protest more, but the expression on her face quiets me. I let out a frustrated sigh and sprint the way of Ben's room.
I activate the door and it slides back. Ben stands, slowly pulling on the top of his camo suit. His face showing the signs of exhaustion, but he's up.
"You lied to me about being sick."
"I never lied to you," he replied. "I didn't tell you."
"That's the same thing." Anger mixed with relief that at least he's alive burns in my chest.
"Avlyn," he drops heavily back into a chair, blinking blearily, as though dizzy, "you're the one who convinced me we needed to stop Manning when you got back from Thornton. I was doing what you wanted."
The anger in my chest morphs into guilt. "You seem better," I choke out.
Ben tips his head, his expression softening. "I'm sorry. A job needed to be done, and I didn't want to worry you."
"Well, you did."
"I know, but I feel better, thanks to you. Gabrielle says I have to take it easy. The abnormality in my brain is still there."
"I was able to patch your nanos, but the sudden reboot almost caused a cardiac arrest—" Tears sting in the corners of my eyes. I quickly blink them away. He's okay for now. I simply must construct a way to upgrade his tech, and he will be healed. If mine hadn't been upgraded in Philly, I might be having this problem, too.
"You shouldn't feel guilty," he says. "It was my choice to hide it."
I nod, inhaling deeply.
Ben scans over the clothes I'm wearing. "You should get your camo suit, too. Meyer said they would be best for the journey. Bring whatever else you have."
"How long until we leave?"
"Gabrielle said we must be out of here in about two hours, max."
I rush to Ben and throw my arms around his neck, the corners of my eyes burning with tears again. "I'll figure out how to fix you."
Ben sighs. "I'm fine."
I pull back from him. "I know you are. It's not just that." My mind lurches with the thought of the impending assault on Thornton. They need to know it's coming. If I ran, I could make it in less than thirty minutes. Meyer made it in that time.
Ben frowns up at me. "What's the matter?"
I look away to avoid Ben's stare, trying to block my emotions from him. "Nothing. I'm nervous about leaving."
"No, this is different." He reaches and gently moves my face toward him, staring deep into my eyes.
I yank from him. "Don't read me."
"You're headed into town. Why?"
I clap my hand over his mouth. "Elore may attack Thornton. Their grid is totally down again, so Gabrielle can't get a hold of anyone. Someone has to warn them. Maybe I can reactivate the grid network to alert any other communities."
The blood drains from Ben's face and he shakes his head, pulling my hand away. "That's not going to work. There's not time."
"I have to try. It will take me half an hour to get there."
"It's too dark, and if we lose you—" he says.
"Just in case, I'll bring my Flexx for you to track. I'll contact you to pick me up in the pod."
"This is a dumb idea, Avlyn."
"I won't have those people's deaths on my head if I can stop it."
Ben shakes his head and an overwhelming sense of confusion and sorrow reaches me. "Go now."
I hug him one last time. "I'll put my stuff on my bed.
Keep the others off my tracks."
~ ~ ~
In my room, I throw my limited belongings into a bag and squeeze into my camo suit and coat. I check the time on my Flexx and grab the stunner I brought with me from New Philly, holstering it to the side of my suit. After, I hurry above ground, luckily avoiding anyone else.
The frigid air nips at my face, but my suit provides surprisingly good insulation from the cold. Even with the full moon lighting the path, I stumble a few times. Soon the muted glow of the town's solar lights gives me hope, and I race toward them.
28 minutes
That's how much time my Flexx tells me it took to get here. As soon as I'm done, I'll contact Ben and let him know I'm headed back.
This late at night, the streets are empty. I hadn't considered I might not be able to find the sheriff. I hustle to his office and am met with a locked, old-fashioned door. No fancy automatic slider, of course, which makes it that much harder for me to break in without waking anyone else before I want to. The sheriff should be first to hear the news so he can decide what to do.
Standing at the door, I rap on the wooden surface. Hopefully the sheriff's inside.
Nothing.
"Sheriff?" I call, knocking louder this time, about ready to kick in the door.
Footsteps sound from indoors, probably from the back room. I comb my fingers back through my hair, waiting impatiently for him to come, then my racing heart nearly jumps into my throat.
I didn't change my hair color.
I close my eyes and will the nanos in my hair to shift and bring the end of a short lock forward. Blonde. As I do, the handle rattles and the door flies toward me. The sheriff stands there, ruffled hair and rumpled clothes, holding a bluish, glowing cylinder. He extends it to my face and squints. "What is— You? Why are you here?" The sheriff peers past me into the mostly darkened street, lit by the stars and the moon and a few dim solar lights. "Where are the others?"
"There's not time. I need to speak with you."
With narrowed eyes, confusion crosses his face, but he allows me to enter. I step in and shut the door behind me. The room's sole illumination comes from the glowing item the sheriff holds.
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