Modified- The Complete Manipulated Series

by Harper North

  “I’m going,” I say, interrupting them. “Based on the alignment of this section of the settlement, I calculate there are four guard stations, twenty to thirty armed fighters. Adding another Noble class fighter will increase our odds of success by twenty percent.”

  Jase turns to me, eyes narrow. He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds.

  I step toward him. “Listen, you’re a great soldier, Jase, but do you know how many steps it is to that building? Four-hundred-fifty-eight, give or take a few. I can calculate it based on sprinting, if you’d like?”

  Elias spins around to face me and grins. “She’s coming.”

  Jase sighs. “Fine.”

  “Everyone is going to come,” Elias says. “Except Drape.”

  “Me?” Drape protests. “Why can’t I go? I practiced last night. I know how to—”

  “We need you to stay with the transporter,” Jase says, the firm tone in his voice making it clear it’s not up for debate.

  Drape’s expression changes, his normally happy smile fading into a tight line. I step to Drape’s side. “You need to make sure Emma doesn’t leave us here.”

  “Yeah,” Lacy chimes in. “Who knows with that one. She might ditch us and take off for the caves. Make sure she and her guards don’t pull a fast one.”

  Drape shrugs, turning to me. “Don’t get killed, okay?”

  “I’ll try not to,” I say, patting his shoulder.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Knuckles asks.

  Elias turns to the settlement. “We need to take out some of the EHC, so we can disguise ourselves in their clothes.”

  “Which’ll help us get access to the buildings,” Jase adds.

  Elias turns to me. “And be careful. We don’t need another repeat of what happened last time.”

  “We can’t have another repeat of last time,” Knuckles echoes. “If we do, there’ll be nothing left of us.”

  CHAPTER 15

  I point toward one of the operatives' patrol vehicles sitting just on the outskirt of the settlement. “I think we should set a trap.”

  “What kind of trap?” Knuckles asks.

  My mind races through options, analyzing all the scenarios. Before I can say anything, Elias pulls a device from his pocket. I move to his side, inspecting the black machine, just a few buttons and switches. “What’s that?”

  “A scrambling system.” Elias aims it at the settlement. “Emma gave it to me this morning. She’s not a hundred percent sure it will work, but if it is does what I think it should, this little device will jumble up their communications.”

  Jase takes it from Elias’ hands. He flicks it on and swipes across the screen. “That’s exactly what it does. I’ve used one of these before. It can intercept signal from devices and machines, temporarily taking control of them. I’m going to create a diversion. When you see that truck over there move. You head to the settlement. Don’t look back.”

  Elias grabs his gun. “Let’s go.”

  Knuckles moves forward. “Me, too.”

  “No,” Jase says as he extends the device’s transmitter and points it at the patrol vehicle. “You need to stay here with me and help secure the area.”

  Knuckles frowns and points me forward. “Good luck.”

  Lacy doesn’t need to be told twice before she’s racing off down the hill. Elias secures a bag across his chest and nods to Jase. I take a deep breath, then sprint after them. To get there, I leap over dried brush and skid over loose rock. There’s little cover here. It won’t take long for the ops to spot us. Down below, the EHC vehicle begins to move.

  I glance back to Jase and he gives me a thumbs up. The distraction is set. I take another breath and continue downhill to where Lacy crouches behind a small clump of brittle vegetation. I slide in beside her. Sweat glistens on Lacy’s forehead and her eyes are wide again. She pops up, and then back down. My chest tightens as I bite back worry that she might do something stupid and blow this whole thing.

  “Do you have any idea what it looks like inside the settlement?” she asks.

  I chuckle. “Lacy, my mod didn’t give me x-ray vision.”

  “I know that,” she scoffs. “But what does that big brain tell you?”

  I study the scene. “The two towers are just inside the front entrance. There’s enough cover to limit exposure. Based on Reso’s city layout, the EHC builds their structures fairly close to one another. I assume it’s to maximize efficiency. That tower’s proximity is close enough to the perimeter that once we get inside, we should only need a minute or two. If we can get access, that is.”

  “Um, ok… Whatever you say, boss,” Lacy says, peering over again.

  Elias moves in to crouch beside us. “We’re going to move soon.”

  “We don’t have all day,” Lacy snaps. “I don’t like sitting around waiting for them to figure out we’re up here. Come on.”

  I reach out to pull her back, but I’m too slow. Lacy races straight toward the moving vehicle. My eyes flash to Elias.

  “There’s no time,” he says, following on her tail.

  I scramble to my feet and chase after them. With everything on my mind—the risks we’re taking, Lacy’s behavior—I can’t focus as well as I’d like. The gun in my hand slips, and for a second I imagine it falling to the ground and going off, managing to shoot me. I skid to a stop and wipe my hands on my pants, then race to catch up.

  Up ahead, the operative’s vehicle picks up speed. The wheels screech. Dust kicks into the air. The op in the front seat yells out, but it’s too late. Jase’s distraction careens headfirst into the side of a small structure outside of the perimeter wall. The sound of crunching metal echoes around us. The little building is away from the main settlement, but that crash was loud.

  We scan the surroundings for a few seconds, but see no new movement beyond this point. We rush to the vehicle and Lacy aims her gun through the side window. The operative raises his hands, but a second later there’s a muffled pop, and the man’s head slumps to the side.

  With one hand, I cover my mouth. “You killed him!”

  “Not me!” Lacy steps back and points up.

  On the hillside, Jase’s form is barely noticeable, but I can still make out the movement of him lowering a sniper’s rifle.

  I turn back, looking at the thin stream of blood trickling down the operative’s cheek. That ammunition is pretty advanced. There’s only a small entry point. Still, his lifeless body is enough to make me cringe.

  “Come on,” Lacy urges, already moving toward the settlement’s entrance. “No time to get weepy.”

  “Wait,” Elias says. He opens the car door. The body slumps out and falls to the ground.

  “What are you doing?” I demand.

  “We’ll need this,” Elias mutters, pulling the man’s uniform off his limp body.

  I spin around, not wanting to watch how awful it is. Even though the man’s a Leech, it still makes me sick.

  When I turn back, Elias has the uniform in his hands. He shoves it into his bag. “On me.”

  I try to swallow, but my throat is dry, and for some reason, I’m stuck.

  “Come on,” Elias calls from up ahead.

  My feet are cemented to the ground. My mind spins as I try to focus on what needs to be done.

  Please don’t freeze up now, Fin.

  I take a deep breath as an operative sidesteps then heads straight for us, his gun raised. I dive behind the back of the vehicle just as one of his bullets whines past. The operative flies around the side of the vehicle, his gun raised and pointed at my head. Scenarios zip through my mind, and I calculate if there’s enough time to grab my gun, but the odds say no.

  Another shot rings out. My arms fly across my chest, searching for where I’ve been hit, but there’s nothing there. The operative falls to the ground in front of me, dead. Another headshot. I turn back to the horizon. Knuckles is waving at me far off in the distance. My hand shakes, but I wave back, jump to my feet, and race toward the s
ettlement. This time I make sure to hold my gun tightly and move carefully, scanning the area ahead and behind me until I’ve worked my way through the settlement gates to where the two towers and a series of gray buildings provide enough coverage from any open attack.

  “Fin!” Lacy calls out.

  I follow her voice to the side of a building. She and Elias hide in the structure’s shadow. She signals for me to take cover, and I quickly step back as several operatives rush past. Once they’re gone, I race to their side.

  “What happened back there?” Elias hisses, eyes searching mine.

  “An op almost took me out.”

  “You okay?” Lacy whispers.

  “I’m fine. Knuckles got him before he got me. This is taking longer than I calculated. We need to move.”

  Lacy nods and checks her weapon when two guards come out of nowhere. They’re nearly on top of us.

  “I think we have bigger problems,” Elias growls.

  “Oh, crap.” Lacy cocks her gun and steps forward first. “I’ll take the bigger one.”

  She raises her weapon, shoots, and misses. The guard charges at our group. Before I can raise my weapon, the larger of the two guards grabs her by the wrists, spinning her around. She has no time to fire on him as she staggers and falls to the ground.

  “Back away from her!” I yell, my gun now trained on the guard’s head.

  Instead, the guard kicks her hard in her side. She cries out and clutches her middle. My adrenaline sores and I tighten my grip on the trigger. The man takes a step toward Lacy, his weapon aimed at her.

  “Put it down!” Elias demands, saving me from ending this man’s life.

  The guard, now cornered, hesitates, but slowly lowers the device. “If you shoot us, you’ll never get out of here alive,” he growls.

  The larger guard kicks Lacy in her side again, but this time she lets out a fierce growl and rolls away, leaping to her feet. The guard takes aim, but Lacy pulls her trigger first. The bullet pierces his chest, but she shoots three more times, until the man falls face first in a heap on the hard ground.

  The smaller guard’s eyes widen. He raises his radio to his mouth again, and Elias fires. A single bullet cuts through the man’s head, and he falls to the ground.

  “We’ve got to move faster, before a hundred more of them are on us,” Elias says.

  Lacy leans down and swipes an access card from the guard she just killed. This settlement must not be as advanced as Reso. Lucky for us, or we would need a hand for the scanners, not that Lacy wouldn’t be happy to cut one off for us to carry along.

  Elias pats down the smaller guard’s pockets until he finds another card, then swings his gun onto his back and begins to pull the uniform off the man’s body. Blood has soaked the sides of it, but hopefully the dark colors of the fabric will conceal the evidence.

  I swallow and move to Lacy’s side. We remove the other op’s boot and slide his uniform from his body. Lacy unzips the top portion of the uniform and slides it off the man, then slides her arms into it.

  The uniform jacket transforms before my eyes, shrinking to fit Lacy’s form. I turn to spot Elias slipping out of his clothes and putting the smaller guard’s uniform on. I take the man’s pants and hand them to Lacy.

  Elias reaches into his bag and pulls out the other uniform. “Here,” he says, tossing it to me.

  I grab the top and slip it on, then the pants. In a second, the overly sized clothes shrink to match my proportions perfectly.

  “Help me with the bodies,” Elias says, dragging the smaller guard to a space between the buildings.

  Lacy gestures at the other guard. “Grab his feet.”

  Lacy places her hands under the guard’s arms and drags him while I lift his feet. We dump him next to the first guard. I estimate he weighs about two hundred and sixty pounds. A few days ago, this would’ve been impossible.

  With that done, I’m sweating buckets. The heat is stifling. Even inhaling a full breath is a chore. I wipe my forehead with the bottom of my shirt, desperate for a drink of water, but there’s no time for that. Lacy ties back her hair with a band, then tosses me one. I do the same. Elias also smooths out his appearance until we all look a bit less embattled.

  “Move quickly,” Elias says. “Don’t make eye contact with anyone unless you have to.”

  I nod, and the three of us make our way between structures as we head to the tower. We spot two operatives and a plant worker, discussing something. Worry gnaws at me. I try to walk calmly, holding my gaze firmly forward.

  “Possible breach,” I overhear one of the operatives say.

  “You!” a woman with glaring green eyes barks at me as we try to pass. Does she know I’m not one of them?

  “Yes?” I say hesitantly.

  “We need all guards back at the front gate. Something’s going on.”

  I nod and pretend to follow her as she darts ahead.

  “What are you doing?” Elias whispers, drawing up to my side.

  “Trying to blend in,” I say.

  He gestures in the opposite direction of the gate. “The tower’s just there.”

  I look up. It’s only a few yards away. My heart pounds in my chest as I quickly follow him up to the tower. Lacy raises her access card and swipes it through the system. A second later, the doors slide open and we hurry inside. Cool air cascades over me, flowing over my sticky, wet skin. I relax beneath the central air system, grateful to be out of the chaos going on just beyond the doors.

  Elias points to a double-sided ladder that leads to the top of the tower. “The communications system should be at the top.”

  “Let’s broadcast this message and get out,” Lacy says. “There’s something creepy about this place.”

  Lacy’s right. The circular tower is dark and cold. A series of landings circle the tower in rows, the ladder cutting through them as it leads upward.

  The access console for the main system is deep inside. That’s not an option, but Jase said there would be a secondary uplink junction up top that shouldn’t be as heavily guarded. I grab the bottom rung of the ladder and look up. It’s probably ten floors to the top. That’s not a problem for me, though. I’ve been climbing my whole life.

  In no time, I’m up three floors up with Lacy and Elias trailing right behind me. Just as I reach for another rung, I feel a shock pulse through my back. I scream and nearly fall.

  “Fin!” Lacy shouts.

  Dangling by one hand, I reach up again and grab on. Once I’m rebalanced, I turn to see EHC ops climbing up fifteen yards below.

  “Take cover,” Elias shouts as he tries quickly to descend the ladder to the section right below us.

  A flash of white light penetrates the dark room, hitting Elias. I scream as I watch his body jerk back and fall to the floor, where he lays motionless.

  My eyes flash to Lacy. Her face is tight as another current of light crosses the room and hits her side. She falls back, her legs still wrapped around the bar, so she’s left dangling upside down.

  I quickly move down and try to grab hold of her. Another flash nearly hits me. I swing wide and land on the back side of the ladder, then continue to work my way down to Lacy, but I’m not fast enough.

  Once more, a bolt of electricity charges through the air, hitting me square in the chest. The scent of burning flesh and hair lingers around me. My grip loosens, and I’m falling.

  When I open my eyes, there’s a sharp pain in my side. The room pulses, a dull ringing sounding in my ears. A hand reaches toward me, and I’m powerless to stop it. My body has rolled over until I’m on my back.

  A man looms over me, emerald eyes glaring down from an otherwise emotionless face. It’s the man from Mason’s outpost, the man who’s already nearly killed me once, and now, I guess, the man who’ll be finishing the job.

  CHAPTER 16

  A needlelike pulse beats against my temple. I raise my head and groan, remembering just enough to realize I’ve been caught. I draw in a long, steady bre
ath as I try to move my hands, but they’re stuck. More than that, my whole upper body is fixed to a chair which must be bolted to the ground.

  “What do you want?” I call out to the darkened room. It’s a stupid question that I’m sure no one is going to answer.

  Heat rises up my chest. I shift back and forth, trying to loosen the strap’s grip on me, but it’s useless, and leaves me wincing at a shooting pain in my ribcage. I must have fallen three floors to the ground before that thing—the Aura operative—was standing over me. Did he carry me in here? Hurt me? I scan myself for blood. There’s none, but my stolen EHC jacket is gone, along with my gun.

  I grit my teeth. There has to be a way out of here. Shoving aside my pain, I scan the dark, cold room. A single chair sits on the opposite side of the metal table a few feet in front of me. My eyes flit from wall to ceiling—there’s nothing here, but…

  I squint to get a better look, and my stomach clenches. I’m not alone.

  “Let me out of here,” I growl.

  The figure from the corner of the room unfolds their arms and straightens, reaching over and flicking on the overhead lights. My eyes burn at the sudden illumination, but I can now make out the figure as the Aura op. His emerald eyes stare down at me, flat and lifeless. Slowly, he walks toward me, and my spine stiffens against the back of the chair.

  “Did you bring me here?” I ask. “Because you should’ve just killed me.”

  The Aura op pulls over the loose metal chair, its legs screeching on the ground. He stops and sits directly across from me, staring, as if he’s a robot waiting for a command to speak.

  “Are you going to answer me?” I demand, twisting again to no avail. Instead, the band tightens around my wrists and shoulders and burns into my skin. I steady myself and stare directly into the man’s eyes. If this is going to be a showdown, he’s going to lose.

  After a few more seconds, he opens his mouth. “My name is Talen X-94.” His voice is emotionless.

  “Where are my friends?” I demand. “Take me to them.”

  He ignores me. “I’m from the Aura division, enhanced level four—”