“You look the same,” he says. “No. I mean to say, you still look fierce, only older.” He scrambles for words, shaking his head. “Better… still beautiful.” He pauses, blushing. “Did I just say that out loud?”
Behind me, Ogre steps forward. “Ida, I’m sensing your elevated heart rate and increased body temperature. What is the problem here?”
“Ogre, enough!” I make a mental note to talk to him later about randomly broadcasting my biostats. “I knew Reed when I was younger. When I lived in New York.”
“Oh,” it says. “Is he a friend?”
“I think so.” I look expectantly at Reed and catch him staring at Ogre. His smile is gone.
“I should have told you it was me right away,” he says. “Sorry. I knew it was you when I saw your name on the comm from Commander Hunter. Then I looked you up in DefenseNet and found your military record and ID. I wanted to surprise you. I bet the last person you expected to be running Space Squad was me.”
I cram my hands in my pockets. “Yeah, I didn't expect to see you again. That's for sure.”
“You were the one who inspired me to join Space Squad. You wrote to me about it in one of your letters, before I had to leave Woodlawn. I know there's a lot to catch up on. And we will…catch up.”
He gazes at me in a way I didn't expect. I'm uncomfortably warm in my leather jacket and gloves. His stare is intense. “I trust you have the mech helmet, safe and sound?” he says.
I nod carefully. “You have to be very careful with it—"
“Absolutely. Paul briefed me on how it works and made sure I understood the security protocols that must be in place.” He nods to a woman standing near the entrance where we came in. I hadn’t noticed her. As she approaches, Reed says, “Meet my head of security, Stephanie Davis. Steph, this is my dear friend, Ida.”
She smiles warmly. “Hello, Ida.”
“Hi.” I’m relieved to see a woman in charge of security.
“If you feel comfortable, you can hand over the helmet to Stephanie. She’ll transport it to the secure site.”
I glance back and forth between them. This is all happening so fast. I’ve only just met Reed again, but this was my assignment. Hand over the helmet. The quicker I get it over with, the sooner I can leave. I reach into my bag and pull out the helmet, offering it to Stephanie. An armed guard approaches with a large case. Stephanie wears gloves and carefully places the helmet inside the case and they lock it.
“Will that be all, Dr. Reynolds?” she asks.
Reed gazes at me. “Ida, do you have any questions for Stephanie?”
I shake my head and then watch as they leave. “They seem very professional,” I mutter.
“They’re the best of the best,” he says, smiling. An alert sounds on his biocuff and the device on his forearm lights up. “I have an investor meeting. Have you settled into your quarters? I had them prepared especially for you—the very best we have. Times really have changed since Woodlawn. I can't wait to catch up with you these next few weeks.”
“Weeks?” bellows Ogre.
I'm confused too. “We're here only two days. I was told that's enough time for you to analyze the helmet and we could be on our way.”
“Hmm, there must have been a miscommunication,” he says. “When I made arrangements with Paul, he said you’d stay for two weeks as my engineers study the mech unit.”
“But I have to get to Arizona.”
Sally appears in the corner and beckons Reed.
“I have to run,” he says, “but we'll talk over this soon. I'm booked solid the rest of today, but I’ll give you a personal tour tomorrow morning. Show you the campus, give you the VIP treatment. How does that sound?”
“I guess—”
“Great! See you at 0900 tomorrow. Meet me here.”
He strides out of the room, leaving us.
“Was that what humans call ‘weird’?” Ogre says.
“Yeah. Definitely weird…but in a good way. I haven't seen him since I was seventeen. He's changed...a lot.”
“Your body temperature rose 2.3 degrees when he said you were ‘still beautiful.’ Is that normal human behavior upon meeting an old acquaintance?”
Ugh. No use hiding anything from Ogre. “I was just surprised to see him, that’s all.”
“Why?”
“He was just a kid I knew. After Woodlawn, my life changed drastically, and we wrote a few times before I got shipped off to war. I never expected to see him ever again.”
“Did you forget about him?”
“I…guess I did. I underestimated him.”
We trek back to our quarters. Staying longer was not part of the plan. I need to get to the desert and find answers.
Most of all, I need to find Dr. Kenmore and make him pay for the genetic experiments he performed on me and who knows how many other innocent people.
Yet, finding Reed after all this time is incredible. I'm intrigued by what he's built here.
He knew me when I was young.
Before the lab changed me forever.
Four
Sally takes us to the hotel tower. A huge atrium fills the lobby, overflowing with tropical trees, brush, and exotic flowers.
“What is this?” Ogre asks. “My sensors indicate the humidity here is 72.4%.”
Sally strides just ahead, glancing back at us every few seconds. “Yes,” she explains. “This is a replica of the Amazon rainforest. We find our guests enjoy exploring the creatures and habitats of places now extinct.”
Beside me, Ogre starts to limp.
“Hey, what's wrong?” I whisper and elbow him.
“Humidity is not compatible with my body armor.”
“You can control the individual climate of your room,” mutters Sally.
Ogre grunts. Lately, the android complains more and more. I hope it’s just a phase.
After several corridors and a high-speed elevator pod, Sally leads us to the end of a hallway, before a tall, high-tech door. Sally commands, “Open,” and the door slides to let us pass.
I step inside, Ogre behind me. The gray and white room is compact and resembles the inside of a spaceship. The main feature is a low, flat bed. On the far side, a large rectangular window allows in daylight. Underneath it, rest a corner modular desk and chair with a fern decorating a shelf just above.
I venture across the polished white floor. There's a machine I don't recognize on the far wall. It looks about the size of a shower stall, only shorter. A stool rests in the center of the compartment, and two holes protrude from the wall underneath large pipes connected to the wall. “What’s this?” I ask. A sign on the machine says, Vitality.
“A Vitality machine,” Sally says off-handedly. She approaches the machine and pats the side. “Dr. Reynolds invented it. It's a restorative…Well, like a shower, but even better. You just press this button on the side, step in, and take a seat on the stool as a calming and relaxing gust of energizing particles soothes you.”
“Seriously? Reed invented this? What ever happened to a good old-fashioned shower and tub?”
“The doctor invented it, yes,” she says and presses her lips into a tight line, obviously annoyed. “You should try it. It's refreshing.”
“What do you think, Ogre? Does it work on androids?”
She raises her eyebrows and considers. “I suppose—”
“I will not be stepping into that contraption,” says Ogre. “Humidity. Not optimal for the areas where my organic parts meet cybermesh.”
Sally clears her throat. “Is the room to your satisfaction?”
“Yeah,” I say. “In fact, it's way more than I expected. I would’ve been happy with the basic accommodations.”
“Well, Dr. Reyn—Reed, since you and he are on a first-name basis, specifically requested these quarters for you.”
I gaze around the room and wonder for a second if it's bugged. Can Reed be trusted? I knew him long ago, when we were kids, but that doesn't mean he grew up to be a nice pers
on. I need to keep my guard up, be careful.
“Where do I lodge?” asks Ogre.
Sally hesitates. “Oh, I just assumed you would stay with Ms. Sarek. Dr. Reynolds didn’t expect a…companion.”
“I will most certainly not,” it says. “Though I am constructed of wires and circuitry, man-made steel and organic tissue, I require privacy.”
“Ogre just needs something the size of a supply closet,” I say. “Do you have a place like that?”
“A closet?” Ogre hesitates and considers. “If a room is available, I would prefer that. Do you happen to have any rooms with a pool table?”
I roll my eyes. Here we go again. Ever since Lucy taught Ogre how to play pool, the android has been obsessed and asks about it everywhere we go.
Sally starts to tap on her biocuff. “Let me check room availability. It's a very busy weekend.”
“If there’re no rooms, we can be roomies, Ogre,” I say with a grin as I clap it on the back.
Like a moody teenager, Ogre crosses its arms. The last thing I want is the android staying with me. It's bad enough we're together 24/7 on this road trip. It needs its privacy, and so do I. But it's fun to tease.
Sally's face brightens. “There’s one room...but.” She smirks. “It's a very pleasant room, I can assure you.”
“Bigger than a closet?” asks Ogre.
“Yes, a real room. Would you like to see it?”
Ogre nods and Sally leads us down the hall to a door that’s only four feet tall.
“Well, this is it,” she says. “Door open.”
As the barrier slides open, we peer inside. It's a child's room, the ceiling only five feet high. Decked out with astronaut-themed decor, brightly painted stars and planets adorn the walls. The bed comforter depicts a giant, craterous moon.
“Wow, Ogre,” I say. “Looks like the perfect room for you.”
“But...I don't fit.”
“You'll just have to bend over,” I say, stifling a laugh.
“I do apologize for the inconvenience,” she explains, “but all our other rooms are booked. We have a convention happening with many families and VIPs in attendance.”
Ogre bends at the waist and gingerly steps into the room. It begins to explore the room and squats on the edge of the bed, testing it out. Made for a child, the bed groans and sinks under Ogre’s weight. It trains its visor on me, and the red light spins rapidly, signaling annoyance.
I can't hide a grin. I raise my biocuff toward it and snap a photo. “Send to Lucy,” I command my comm device.
“You think this is funny,” says Ogre.
“I do, I'll admit it. Hey, Sally, thanks so much for showing us to our rooms. I need to catch up on sleep, and I'll leave Ogre to do whatever it’s going to do inside this tiny room.”
Before they can say a word, I make a beeline for my room, lock the door, toss my backpack on the desk, and plunk myself on the bed. I pull my combat boots, socks, and leather jacket off. My body aches from riding.
I lean back, rubbing my temples. Reed. I can't believe he’s here. After so many years, we encounter each other again. He was so weak, I never thought he’d survive. He’s okay. Not only that, he turned out to be incredibly strong, beyond anything I’d imagined.
I'm bone-tired but restless. I rise and rummage in my bag, rearranging my few belongings: two tee-shirts, another pair of jeans, and a few essentials. I pace the length of the compact room, exploring digiscreens that control the moisture, air quality, and ambient noise. Finding a switch that dims the room and showers stars across the walls and ceiling, I imagine myself inside the cabin of a spaceship as I trace the curved surfaces of the sofa and table.
Reed chose this room for me. My stomach does butterflies when I think about him. It’s the shock of seeing him after so long. It has to be. At Woodlawn Youth Improvement Center, he was just another kid who got picked on. When I stood up for him, he latched on to me like a lost puppy, following me around, asking me questions, and not wanting to leave my side.
The day I was “adopted,” (actually I was abducted), I remember the look on his face—full of sadness for me, but also hope that someone was getting out. If he only knew what I went through after leaving Woodlawn.
But I know he went through a lot, too. Not long after I left, news of the Heavy extraterrestrial invasion broke, people panicked, and the Woodlawn staff stopped showing up. Reed had no choice but to escape. I want to know about those years after Woodlawn.
The other weird thing is he expects us to stay for two weeks, but I only have two days I can spare. I need to get to Arizona and search for the medical lab where I was imprisoned. Finding the lab’s last known location is the only way to locate Dr. Kenmore, the man responsible for my kidnapping.
Kenmore doesn’t know what’s coming. I’ll track him down and squash him like the bug he is.
I realize I'm grimy after days of travel. There's a small bathroom compartment in the corner of the room with a toilet and sink. I eye the Vitality machine.
I approach the strange, square cube with its high stool behind the glass door. I press a button on the side to see what’ll happen. A hissing sound precedes a puff of steam. At least, I think it’s steam. A vapor rushes out of the two holes in the wall. The compartment turns cloudy, and the stool disappears. I place my fingers on the glass, trying to slide it open, but it won't budge. “Computer, how do I take a shower?”
A British-sounding AI voice responds. “Welcome, Ida Sarek. On behalf of all of us at Space Squad, we hope you enjoy your accommodations. During your stay with us, you might be interested to know about our amenities—”
“Save it. I just want to take a shower. How do I do that?”
The AI pauses. “I will be happy to accommodate your request. Please remove your clothing and step inside the Vitality machine.”
Hmm. I'm not sure about this. “What’ll happen inside there?”
“A mixture of water, steam, and ionic particles will cleanse your body and leave you feeling pure and fresh after just thirty seconds.”
That sounds weird, but I have no other choice. I pull off my jeans, underwear, and shirt, then step inside. “Okay, I'm ready.”
“Please remove your gloves,” the computer says cheerfully.
I'd forgotten them. The black leather and carbon fiber are practically my second skin. Peeling them off, I stare at the prosthesis on my left hand that replaces my missing middle, ring, and little fingers—a daily reminder of my run-in with Colonel Will Hunter.
After the gunshot wound healed, I resisted transplants that would have restored functionality. Surgery would have been life-threatening to anyone operating on me.
So, I went myoelectric instead. A leather bracelet holds the exoskeleton device in place around my wrist and palm. Thin, titanium fingers stretch down my hand. Silicone fingertips provide added grip, and electrodes sense when I want to move.
Gloves hide my injury, and admittedly, it’s easier to get along with the prosthesis. Lucy thinks my new digits are badass, but they remind me of Vance Drem’s cold, steel hands; I’d rather not see them.
Removing the device, I place it on the ground just outside the Vitality machine’s door. The tinted glass panel slides shut.
“Please sit on the stool.”
Here goes, I think, as I take the seat. Suddenly, a hot vapor rushes out and surrounds me in seconds. It feels like steam, then water droplets cascade all around me, drenching my body. Something else grazes my skin. It's almost like brushes extend from the wall and caress me.
After a few more seconds, the water and steam stop, and a light emerges and bathes me in a soft, yellow glow. It's surprisingly warm, like I’m resting in a sunny spot on a beautiful day. I close my eyes. Sally was right, this is…refreshing.
I'm instantly mellow and calm. The particle array must be designed to relax my muscles. After about thirty seconds, the yellow light disappears, and a cloth robe emerges from a compartment inside the machine. I grab it and slip into it as
the glass door slides open.
The AI says, “Vitality session concluded. Shall I prepare your dinner?”
At the mention of food, my belly rumbles. “Yes, I'd love some steak and vegetables.” My body craves protein. It's been ages since I worked out, and I wonder if there's a gym. I'm sure there is, since Reed has thought of everything.
“Preparing steak and vegetables.” In another corner, a high-end food printer powers on. No expense spared here. I bet Space Squad is making a killing on all these tourists.
I chow down on the meal, savoring every bite. The steak is cooked perfectly— a tinge of pink in the middle and juicy tenderness all around. It doesn't surprise me. The hotel is expertly planned—an amusement park rather than an official, secretive space operation.
I check my biocuff, surprised to see it's already 2100 hours. Usually, I'm a night owl, but the trip has taken it out of me. I'm exhausted. I tap on my cuff, “Message Ogre.” The device lights up and after a moment, Ogre’s face appears on screen. “Hey. What are you doing?” I ask.
“Analyzing the weather patterns for our journey south.” The android reclines on the bed even though it doesn't require sleep. Instead, Ogre recharges by going into a standby mode. “Will we be departing in two days’ time as planned?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Think so? Doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“Can it, Ogre.”
“Can what?”
“Ugh. That means be quiet,” I mutter.
“Can it…interesting. I’ll have to add it to my lexicon.”
“I’ll do my best to get us out of here. It seems there may be some negotiation required.” I stifle a yawn. “I’m beat. Catch you in the morning?”
“Affirmative.” Ogre’s screen snaps off.
I take off my cuff, gloves, and titanium fingers, then rub my left wrist. At night, I let the skin on my hands breathe, since they’re nearly always covered by my prosthetic device and carbon fiber gloves.
I prop myself against the headboard, then close my eyes and take a few measured breaths, inhaling deeply. Meditation is important. I use it to train my mind like Alkina, the medicine woman who brought me out of my coma, taught me before she died.
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