Two miles past rocky terrain, a landscape of cylindrical towers stretches before us on an open plain. Bright, gleaming spires jut up from the earth like crystals. Space Squad headquarters, the location of the privately-funded North American space flight operations.
“Impressive in scale,” Ogre announces in my ear. “I researched the installation on our way here. Would you like to hear my findings?”
I sigh. Ogre needs to feel useful, Lucy had reminded me before we departed Spark City. “Yes, proceed.”
“My research shows Space Squad was founded in 2039 by two billionaires alarmed by the invasion of the Heavies. While forces in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe battled the extra-terrestrial creatures, the wealthy businessmen recruited the best scientists in the world, along with top engineers.” Ogre pauses. “Do you know their mission?”
Of course, everyone knows their mission. You’d have to live under a rock not to know. “Get humans into space,” I say.
“Correct. They aimed to build spacecraft that would not only defend against the Heavies, but also transport humans to new planets.” Ogre reflects for a minute. “Ida, the mission is to get humans into space, but it says nothing about androids.”
“Guess you’ll have to stick it out on Earth without us.”
Ogre cuts its comm signal. That’s its way of ignoring me.
Dammit. Lucy warned me not to joke too much. Ogre is still discovering the range of human emotions and doesn’t grasp sarcasm yet.
The Space Squad program attracted the best and brightest in the Americas; scientists flocked to Colorado.
In the military, I heard stories about Space Squad. Some of the troops joked that everyone in the Squad were nerds who wouldn't be able to face a Heavy. The “four-eyes” at Space Squad would be annihilated by the aliens.
I’m curious to finally see Space Squad for myself, but if it were up to me, I would drive straight to the Arizona desert—our final destination. But Paul, my friend (and now a military commander), has tasked me with delivering a mech helmet to the Squad’s engineers. Invented by Vance Drem, the helmet is composed of an advanced AI technology that provides the wearer a mechanized steel alloy suit that melds itself to a person’s body, enables flight, and defends against weapons and impact. The military commanders have never seen anything like it.
Though Vance was destructive and criminally insane, he was brilliant. He also engineered the android police force in Spark City, of which Ogre was part of.
After Vance’s death, a military colonel, Will Hunter, had assumed control of Spark City and tried to destroy the mutant hybrids, but I brought him down. This led to the liberation of the androids. They were given a sentient command and released from their destructive programming.
Vance had managed to infiltrate my mind after his death. I awoke from a two-year coma to find him a constant presence in my mind. He somehow managed to alter the AI spliced deep in my genetic code—turning me from healer into killer. So far, I’ve killed a wounded soldier and now, possibly, Pete in Wyoming. I have to be careful; sometimes I wonder if I should be around people at all. At least Ogre is safe from my touch.
A part of Vance Drem still exists in me. But through mental training, deep meditation, and sheer willpower, I keep him buried deep, where he’s silent and incapable of action.
We rumble toward a flat, low building that’s surrounded by cascading waterfalls. A sign says: Welcome to Space Squad.
“Visitor Center,” says Ogre in my comm.
“Too bad they couldn’t have arranged an alternate drop off point for us,” I mutter. Behind the main entrance, glimmering towers loom and a curving glass behemoth spirals twenty stories high. We slow our bikes and park. “Wait here,” I tell Ogre.
“Again?”
“Yes, just until I check out the situation. I’ll find out whether they plan to roll out the red carpet for us, or whether they're going to be dicks like they were in Wyoming.”
Ogre’s red beam loops from side to side in its visor. I’m beginning to think that’s Ogre code for “Piss off.”
“You cool with that? You get it, right? People aren't used to seeing androids like you.”
It folds its arms across its chest. Every day, Ogre seems more humanoid, adopting characteristics which somehow feel uncomfortably familiar.
“Well, this will have to change,” it argues. “I can't go on like this if everyone is scared of me.”
“It takes time to change people's minds.”
“Why can't they accept me? I accept the presence of humans.”
“But you're different. They haven't seen anything like you yet. Your kind is only in Spark City, so far.”
“It’s not fair. Not logical.” Ogre gets grumpy a lot. It's like I'm dealing with a teenager who’s learning to test limits. Because Ogre’s emotional intelligence is still developing, it gets easily frustrated. Cranky.
“Ogre, enter observation mode.” In this quiet function, I can be sure it remains in place.
“But I don't want to.”
“Don't test me. Wait here and be…quiet. If you cause any trouble—”
“Okay, fine. I'll wait.”
I shake my head as I make my way to the visitor office. Inside, a young woman greets me. Her name tag reads: Sally. She’s in her early twenties with black hair tied in a low bun and wears a huge smile. “Hi there,” she says in a high-pitched voice. Way too perky for me.
“Uh, yeah. I’m Ida. Here to meet with Dr. Reynolds.”
“Certainly. Let me just look up your reservation.”
“Reservation?”
She begins swiping a digital holo-screen that appears in mid-air before her. “Why yes, of course, a reservation in our hotel.”
“Hotel? I'm not here for that. Wherever your employees lodge is fine with me or a cot somewhere. We’re not picky.”
“Oh. My system says you are meant to stay in the hotel. Ida Sarek?” She casts her bright green eyes on me. “You have a reservation. You'll be staying in our Galaxy Explorer suite!”
“There must be some mistake. I was sent to deliver a package to Dr. Reynolds. I come from Spark City. I'm only staying a night. Two at the most. There's no need for a big deal. I have a…companion. We just need basic accommodations.”
“I see.” Her fingers fly through a series of screens and maps. “Dr. Reynolds instructed me to make sure you have a fantastic stay here at the Squad. There are a number of adventures you can try out. You can experiment with Zero G gravity or experience our awesome asteroid hangar—”
“That's not necessary. Can you just tell Dr. Reynolds I’m here? I’m on a tight schedule.” I try to smile because Lucy always tells me I should be nicer to people, but it comes out forced and awkward.
Sally’s eager expression fades. “Excuse me a moment.” She steps aside and speaks into the biocuff around her forearm softly, so I can't listen.
I scan the room’s informational exhibits about the space program. Photos line the walls and floating digiscreens display video from early test flights to Mars. One reveals engineers constructing huge spacecraft in a giant hangar. Everything reeks of tourism, crafted to wow and amaze the guests. The displays shout, “Look at the incredible progress we’ve made in just a few short years.”
But a thought nags at me. Are we really close to being able to travel across the galaxy? Even colonize other worlds? The Heavies aren’t giving up; they've staked their claim on Earth. Finding new planets may be humankind’s only chance.
Sally finishes her side conversation. “Sorry for the wait. I've sorted everything out. You said you have a companion with you? I'm ready to show you to your quarters. Do you have bags to carry? We can transport them to your room—”
“That won't be necessary and…yeah, my companion is outside.” I sigh, wondering what her reaction is going to be. I step to the window and motion outside for Ogre to enter.
Sally’s eyes grow wide as she watches him lumber inside the center. “This is your companion?”
<
br /> “I am Ogre. Nice to meet you.” The android halts and stares down at her.
She hesitates then forces a smile through clenched teeth. “Wonderful. Right this way.”
We follow her outside along a winding path surrounded by green, finely-manicured grass. I'm struck by how polished everything looks. All is clean and orderly. Animated bright-eyed young women and men walk in groups, chatting. Some wear white lab coats, while others are dressed more casually. A woman in a blue padded jumpsuit walks by and smiles.
“What is she wearing?” I ask but Sally either doesn’t hear me or ignores me.
An aerial drone whizzes by overhead, and Ogre halts, staring up as it enters a docking bay inside a nearby building.
“You okay?” I ask.
Ogre nods and we continue on until we reach the spiral tower. “The central offices and hotel,” Sally explains. “All guests stay here.”
The lobby is open-aired, wide, and spacious. Greenery winds up and down the walls, and people lounge on orange plush benches. Some talk while others interact with space-themed holographs.
“When will we meet Dr. Reynolds?” I ask.
“He's quite busy with meetings, you understand. Important guests are here also.”
This is getting annoying. “We’re important guests,” I say. “I have something for him. Something he'll be very interested in.”
“Oh, yes. I've alerted him to your arrival. You have an appointment to see him in four hours.”
I glance at Ogre and it shrugs—a new habit it picked up from Lucy.
The mech helmet rests inside my backpack. On the way here, I never let it out of my sight unless Ogre guarded it. It's too important. I’d already fought one man who got his hands on it, and I barely lived through the battle. Somehow, I have to convince this doctor that the helmet needs to be locked up and guarded.
I tried to warn Paul against taking the helmet out of Spark City. It should have stayed there, under lock and key. But Paul’s stubborn. He insisted the helmet be studied by the top scientists in North America. Where are they all? Yep, Space Squad.
When he told me where the helmet would be sent, I volunteered to transport it. Better for me to keep an eye on the device than leave it to someone else who could commandeer it or let it be stolen.
But Lucy had argued I shouldn't go alone. She’d suggested Ogre, and since the android didn't have anything better to do, it came.
“We need to see him now,” I say.
“But your room—”
“That can wait.”
“Dr. Reynolds is v-very busy right now,” she stammers.
“Whatever it is, I have something more important.”
She frowns and raises her biocuff, which lights up with a blue glow. “Dr. Reynolds, it’s Sally.” She turns away, but we can still hear. “Ms. Sarek insists she meet you right away. I tried to tell her you’re not to be disturbed—”
A man’s voice cuts her off, but I can’t decipher what he’s saying.
“Thank you, Doctor.” She spins and raises her chin, narrowing her eyes. “Dr. Reynolds will see you now. I’ll take you to his office. Follow me.”
Three
After an elevator pod deposits us on the top floor, Sally leads us into a spacious, bright room. Green turf covers the floor, cushioning our steps. Ogre’s heavy boots stamp down grass blades as he plods along beside me.
Massive, glass-paned panels reveal a cerulean sky. In the distance, steep mountains pierce the horizon.
The air in the room is crisp and heavily oxygenated. Six large pillars crisscross the room, vines creeping up to wrap them. I shade my eyes from the sunlight streaming in.
Before us, curved white chairs float in the air over a raised wooden platform. I’m not sure what kind of room this is. An office? Conference room? It’s unlike any command center I’ve ever seen.
We’re fifteen stories up. Not the highest level in the hotel tower, but from here, the view is expansive. The Space Squad campus is on display. Below, a massive, round structure occupies the center, surrounded by smaller buildings. People commute among the buildings while drones cruise at low altitude and carry packages. Workers on electric scooters dart along paths and narrow streets.
In the center of the room, a man rests on a suspended chair. Wearing an immersive reality headset, he reclines at a thirty-degree angle as a large, digiscreen hovers above him. His arms are active—he manipulates the screen, swiping and moving objects within the software.
“What's he doing?” I ask.
“He’s designing a new software program for testing the spacecraft,” Sally says. She just stands there, and I scan the room again, taking in the strange grassy floors. On another side of the room, metal walls are carved with geometric patterns. Doors made of glass offer a glimpse into offices where workers engage with immersive helmets, as they pore over holographic 3D models.
The scale of it all is impressive, but I’m getting impatient. “So, when are we heading to Dr. Reynolds’s office?” I ask.
Sally glances at the young man immersed in his holofeed.
“That’s Dr. Reynolds?”
She nods, and I catch a hint of smugness. I was expecting an older, distinguished man. But it turns out the lead astrophysicist of Space Squad is a guy who looks to be in his early twenties, around my age.
I stride toward him, approaching from his side. His visor glows cobalt blue and covers his eyes while two circular devices rest just above his ears. Up close, his hair is light brown and styled.
Next to me, Sally fidgets and smooths her blouse.
As I step closer, the sun shines in my eyes, and I can't quite make out the face of the scientist. I shade my eyes and step to a spot that doesn’t blind me. The doctor’s chin is stubbly; he needs a shave.
Even though he's seated, I can tell he’s over six feet tall and muscular. He looks more like a marine than a rocket scientist.
“Sally, is that you?” he asks, still inside his holofeed.
“Yes, Dr. Reynolds, it's me.” She blushes.
“Have you brought the visitors?” He never slows his rapid shuffling of 3D bits and pieces. It looks like a complex puzzle.
“Yes, Doctor. They’re here.”
“Thank you, Sally. You can leave now.”
“Very well,” she says quietly and exits.
He continues his work. I hesitate, wondering what to do. I glance at Ogre and see it looking around, studying the expansive room.
I clear my throat, hoping the doctor will get the hint and attend to us. Perhaps he's playing with us.
Then, suddenly, the hovering screen disappears. The blue phosphorescent light on his visor dims and fades. He removes the headpiece and places it gently on a small table next to his levitation chair. Rising without a glance, he stares out the window. “Ida Sarek, I presume?”
I shift my feet and wonder if he has eyes in the side of his head. “Yeah, that's me.”
“I wasn’t told you’d have a robot companion.”
“My name is Ogre,” the android says.
The corner of Dr. Reynolds’s mouth curves up as if to smile, and I’m struck by his profile—strong jawline, high cheekbones. Thick, muscular arms are evident through his gray-blue sweater. “Have you checked out this view?”
I say nothing, thinking about the pack and the mech helmet inside and how long this meeting is going to delay me.
“Is this your first visit to Space Squad?” He stands with hands clasped behind his back. Black fatigues outline strong legs. He looks as fit as the top military soldiers. Not at all what I expected from a nerdy scientist. Did Paul make the right decision to turn the helmet over to this guy? What do we even know about him?
“This is our first visit,” I say.
“And what do you think so far?”
“It's, um…big.”
He laughs. A deep, throaty laugh.
I follow his gaze to where he's looking outside. A huge bubble-shaped building glistens in the distance. I take t
wo steps toward him. “What's that building? The largest one?”
“That’s our future. It's the hangar where we're building our most elite spacecraft.” He raises a palm and places it on the glass. “What's happening in there will help us chart new worlds to live on.”
I'm not sure what to say. Is he fishing for a compliment? For me to say, Wow, you're so awesome? He has plenty of staff like Sally here to pump his ego.
“You don't seem impressed,” he says.
“Hey, no offense. I've seen a lot of crazy shit. It takes a lot to surprise me.”
“Does it?”
Is he messing with me? “I was sent here by Commander Paul Hunter in Spark City. We need to stop wasting time. I have something to deliver. Something important. Are you interested, or should I take it somewhere else?”
He nods quietly, still staring outside.
After a few more seconds, I lose it. “Look, Mr. Space Squad. I’m sure you’re an important person and all, but if you don’t have the time to pay attention to this, to really understand what it is I’m…lending you, then Ogre and I have to leave.”
“What is it you used to say?” His voice sounds familiar suddenly. Goosebumps climb my arms.
“’Stand tall,” he says. “Take your punches. Go for the—'”
“Nuts,” I finish. “Reed.” I exhale sharply.
He turns to face me, finally. Faint red blotches cover his left forehead and cheek—the side I couldn’t see. His birthmark.
He smiles warmly. “It's good to see you, Ida. How long has it been? Ten years?”
The last time I saw Reed was at Woodlawn Youth Improvement Center. A scrawny kid with glasses, he was an easy target for bullies. When I arrived, he befriended me, and I looked out for him. I even fought the biggest guy at school in his defense.
“I-I… You—” My heart beats so fast, I can’t string together a sentence.
“You said it takes a lot to surprise you. Ta-da.” His smile widens into a grin.
I search vivid green eyes no longer shielded behind thick frames. “You look so… different,” I manage.
His birthmark, considered odd and freakish when we were young, now lends him a rugged look. No wonder Sally blushes around him. His presence is strong. So different from the nerdy kid I stood up for once.
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