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  “What happened after the drone attack?”

  “Well, we took them out all right. Then I hacked into the security fences. It wasn't hard once we got into Kilpatrick's office which had all the security controls. We raided the food supply and packed everything up, then got the hell out of Woodlawn.”

  “How many of you were there?”

  “We were forty-eight strong. We traveled the countryside, staying off main roads and camping in the forest. When our food supplies dwindled, we made our way to more populated areas. But there were gangs—looters destroying entire city blocks. Towns that were like ghost towns—the people had vanished.” He inhales deeply and takes a swig of wine. “I remembered what you said in your letters about Joanie. You said I could find her in New York City. So, I brought up the idea of going to the city, but some of the other kids, the older ones, were against it. Said it would be too dangerous. I knew it would be, but once we got there, we’d be stronger. Joanie would help us. We split the group. The younger kids came with me, and I became the leader. Can you imagine? There were fifteen of us, and we had to hide a lot. We begged for food, and sometimes we had to steal food to survive.”

  His eyes are glazed, and he shakes his head. “After two weeks, we made it to Hell's Kitchen and I found the post office hideout. I found Joanie.”

  “You did?” I leap out of my seat. “What happened?”

  “It was just like you said, Ida. She took us in. All of us. She became my mentor, and I was like her little brother. She taught us how to fight, how to defend ourselves. I lived there for a year, but things got worse in New York. Kids from our gang got abducted.”

  “What do you mean? They went missing?”

  “Kids were getting taken. One day, Joanie followed some men, a bunch of hoodlums from the neighborhood. They were hired by someone. We never found out who. All we know is they were grabbing kids. Including ones from our gang.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “The last straw was when Darcy got taken,” he says with a cracked voice. “She was only five. Joanie lost it. She had a plan to lure the men and get them to take her. She thought if she could get to wherever the kids were being taken, she could revolt, fight back, and rescue the kids.” He pauses. “We never heard from her again after that night.”

  His words sink in, and I'm crushed. Joanie could be hurt or even dead. Could she have ended up in a lab somewhere like I did? “I’m sorry,” I say.

  His mouth twists and he bites his lip. “With Joanie gone, I became the new leader, since I was one of the oldest, and the younger kids looked up to me. I asked around and decided to seek assistance from a local agency that was trying to help homeless kids. I gave up.” He rises and paces the kitchen floor. “I couldn't do what Joanie did. I couldn't stand the thought of all these kids depending on me. So, I turned us in. The agency came and took the younger kids and helped them get placed. I worked with a woman who helped me get recruited into Space Squad.” He runs his fingers through his hair as he frowns. “I didn't know what else to do at the time.”

  “Reed,” I edge closer and face him. “You did the best you could. You were just a kid.”

  “Joanie taught me not to trust anyone,” he says as his shoulders stiffen. “You're the only person who would understand.” He clenches his fists. “But I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t know what happened to all the kids. I tried to keep in touch but once I got into Space Squad training school, it was impossible.” He looks at me with his intense green eyes. “What was life like for you after Woodlawn?”

  “I stayed in the medical lab for a while, then I got rescued and joined the military team who saved me.”

  “And then Spark City,” he finishes for me.

  “That's it in a nutshell.” I chug the last of my wine and hope he doesn’t ask for more details.

  He refills my glass, and I can sense the heat from his body being so close. “Come on, that’s not telling me anything. I just spilled my guts to you.” He sets the wine bottle back on the counter and says, “I know you had trouble in Spark City. I read your file. Want to talk about it?”

  My insides cry out for help. I want to confess how terrible the last few years were. If anyone would understand it would be Reed. But I glance away. “Spark City is fine…now. Yeah, I had some trouble, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  He studies my face and starts to say something but my stomach growls—loud enough for him to hear. I blush. So far, I'm flunking my first date.

  “Let me check on the food.” He tosses on gloves and pulls the pan from the oven, then dishes it onto two plates, placing one before me.

  We retreat to the table he set. I dig in and discover the casserole is delicious. “You may not be much of a chef,” I chuckle, “but you can put a few ingredients together.”

  He laughs as he swallows a mouthful. “You know, Ida. I feel so comfortable with you. I know we've only just reconnected, but…it’s so good to be here with you.”

  I gulp down more wine, not sure how to respond. I’m light-headed. The fire has warmed the room and my skin is flushed.

  I ask him about running Space Squad, and he chats easily, telling me about his journey from student to management and then beating out other candidates to become the apprentice to the former head. I zone out and admire his strong shoulders and how his chest tapers down to his trim waist. I get distracted when I think about his strong hands grabbing me, pulling me in for a kiss, but I push the thought away.

  Touching me would be disastrous.

  Reed leans in, like he's about to confide something. “You know I had the biggest crush on you at Woodlawn?”

  I push my finished plate away and stare at him, wishing I knew how to flirt. The wine makes me want to flirt, but then my thoughts return to Joanie and the fact that she got kidnapped, and I’m here acting like a lovestruck teenager. Now, more than ever, I have to find the lab. Find Kenmore. The man hurts people. If I can stop him, maybe I can prevent one more girl’s life from being ruined. In honor of Joanie.

  “I have to go,” I say as I rise from my chair.

  Reed gets up. “Wait. I have a surprise for you.” He strides over to a cabinet and rifles through a drawer before retrieving a small box. He places it on the table and nods at me.

  “What's this?”

  “Open it.”

  Carefully, I pull open the lid and find a stack of papers inside. “My old letters?”

  “I kept them after all these years. I always hoped I'd get a chance to see you again. Always held out hope that you survived and that I’d find you.”

  Reed, the boy with a crush on me, kept letters written years ago. He held out hope for me, but I barely ever gave him a thought again.

  My throat is tight, my breathing strained. “I don't know what to say.” I close the lid.

  “It's okay.” He brushes my forearm.

  I recoil. “Don't touch me.”

  “Sorry.” His eyes grow wide. “I didn't mean any harm.”

  Dizzy from the wine, I step away. I want to stay, and I even have a ridiculous fantasy of falling into his arms…but Reed’s a distraction. He's keeping me from my real mission. Find the lab. Make Kenmore pay.

  “I appreciate the dinner,” I say, pulling on my jacket. I move toward the door, but he follows.

  “What’s wrong? Is it something I said or did?”

  “Thanks for the food. I enjoyed catching up, but... I have a lot going on, and I need to go.”

  “Ida, wait. Stay a little longer.”

  “Sorry,” I mutter.

  I hit the door’s exit button with my fist and hurry away.

  Eight

  I roll over in bed, then burrow under the covers. On the nightstand, my biocuff buzzes. The damn thing gets louder the longer I ignore it. At this point, it's about to fall off the table, it's vibrating so much. Holy crap, what time is it?

  I grab the device and see nine missed messages plus a text from Ogre that reads, Sally is waiting for you. What are you d
oing?

  Shit. I roll out of bed, feeling groggy. After using the toilet and splashing cold water on my face, I try to make myself presentable. I slick water through my hair and apply black eyeliner and mascara, then brush plum stain on my lips, so I don't look like a vampire.

  A knock at my door activates the digiscreen above the door and reveals Ogre in the hallway. “Hold on,” I yell, as I fumble with my boots. I grab my jacket. “Computer, open door.”

  The panel slides open, and Ogre stands with hands on its hips. “Nice of you to join us today,” the machine says.

  “Ogre, dial down snark mode.” I’m joking, but it’s true Lucy taught the machine sarcasm.

  “I don't have a snark mode…”

  I grin and race out the door, making the android follow me down the corridor into the elevator pod.

  “Now you're in a hurry?” Ogre mutters.

  We reach the hotel lobby, and Sally waits with crossed arms and tapping feet. “You're late. The briefing has already started.”

  “I overslept. Shit happens,” I say.

  “Hmm. Let's go,” she says and spins, marching across the lobby. “I've ordered a hovercraft to escort us, since we're so late.” She glares at me.

  “I’d rather walk,” I say, wanting to wake up my aching head.

  “We don't have time.” Sally glowers, and Ogre elbows me.

  “Ow. Fine.”

  She motions for us to climb onto the open-air hovercraft which has room for four inside and a bench in the rear that faces backward. She climbs in next to the driver. I hop in the second row and leave room for Ogre. The tall android maneuvers and tries to slide in next to me, but its legs don’t fit. After a few seconds of Ogre fumbling, Sally says, “Come on.”

  “Give us a minute,” I say.

  “Have it get on the back, if need be. Or the robot can walk, I don't care.” She huffs and crosses her arms.

  “Ogre,” I whisper. “Do you think you can get on?”

  Ogre approaches the rear of the craft, then steps on the back platform and plops onto the bench, sinking the end of the vehicle a few inches under its weight.

  The driver winces. “Everyone in?” he asks.

  I nod, and Ogre gives a thumbs up. “Yeah, we're good.”

  The pilot powers up the thrust engine, engages, and our hovercraft rises into the air several feet. He maneuvers a path through the air above the campus, cruising over workers just starting their day. Security and delivery drones alter their flight paths to avoid us. The craft gains altitude and speed, causing gusts of wind to blow strands of hair into my face. The fresh air wakes me up, and I stare down, mesmerized at the humming city below us.

  As we cruise by towers and smaller buildings, I wonder what goes on inside. Reed had said this morning we’d be seeing a classified site—the massive, domed building I’d marveled at in Reed’s office.

  The hovercraft descends and touches down gently on a marked landing pad. As I disembark, I peer up at the stadium-size hangar. Devoid of windows, it’s the largest structure on Space Squad’s campus. Tourists get a tour of the grounds outside and visit a small museum on one end. The rest is off limits.

  Yesterday, on our walk around the biodome, Reed mentioned he's under pressure from investors. Tourism brings the fresh inflow of cash. His mandate is not only to get us into space, but also to keep the tourists happy, and keep them coming.

  We enter the hangar through a heavy, paneled access door. The structure looks airtight, as if the hanger could blast off into space and survive. Everything inside is an off-white sheer, polished surface. Vivid overhead lights illuminate our path, guiding us. Ogre and I step a few more feet down the corridor as Sally scans the interior. We appear to be on a raised platform level, and below is a sunken area where the main work must happen.

  I spot three compact air ships. They look as though they're built for speed and stealth. Two pilots max could fit inside the tight cockpits; the wings are diamond shaped with a slight opening at the rear.

  In the pit below, Reed addresses about forty men and women. “The briefing,” Sally whispers. “Go down those steps but don't interrupt.” She flashes us a warning look.

  I tread down the stairs with Ogre behind me. Since we're late, we stand in the back. I don't want to cause a distraction. Not because Sally said so, but because I don't like being the center of attention. Also, I don't want to piss Reed off.

  “And in summary, Project Alpha has gone exceedingly well and met our expectations. Please congratulate and give a round of applause to Dr. Jenkins.” He gestures toward a slender guy wearing glasses. The audience claps; a few slap him on his shoulders.

  Then Reed continues, “The next item of business is about flight plans. I have an announcement…I expect you’ll all be thrilled.” He pauses and peers out at the crowd, spotting me and Ogre. “For the combat fighters, we’re moving to phase three trials.”

  Hoots and cheers rise up from the pit’s floor. The team starts chattering amongst themselves, and Reed waits until they calm down. “Meanwhile,” he gazes at me and Ogre, then acknowledges us with a small wave. All at once, dozens of heads swivel to peer at us. Then they glimpse Ogre. Oh, crap. Nothing like a seven-foot steel-composite android to catch some attention.

  “Everyone calm down please,” Reed continues. “I know it’s exciting news. I'm thrilled too. Dr. Stevens will designate work assignments, so we can get started on this ASAP. But first, I want to introduce you all to some special guests.” He nods at me.

  Oh no. Why is he doing this? I feel my skin redden in anticipation of hundreds of eyeballs looking at me.

  “Please welcome, Ida Sarek and…Ogre from Spark City. Ida is the woman responsible for taking down Vance Drem and Colonel Will Hunter, resulting in thousands of lives saved.”

  Forty pairs of eyes stare at us. I force a smile but I'm sure it's awkward. Okay, next topic any day now, Reed.

  “Ida, I’d love to have you say a few words and maybe answer a few questions from the group? We all followed what was happening in Spark City during that time. We were all concerned, but the city was closed off to the outside world.”

  I bite my lip and give a quick shake of my head. He should’ve warned me last night. I could’ve mentally prepared at least.

  Reed's smile fades; he gets it right away. “But no pressure,” he says, trying to cover. “Perhaps another time. The next topic of business is—”

  “Could we talk to the robot?” asks one of the engineers, a woman in her twenties.

  “Android, not robot, and uh...I don't know.” Reed eyes me and raises an eyebrow.

  Ogre steps forward. “I will answer questions.”

  A few people clap. “Okay,” Reed says, his brows furrowing. “Come to the front and we’ll get started.”

  The android lumbers forward. Interesting. Ogre has never been in front of a large group, addressing humans like this.

  “Okay, who has the first question?” asks Reed. Several arms shoot into the air. “Janet, go ahead.”

  “What does it feel like to be independent of human command? Are you completely free of programming?”

  The red pulse in Ogre’s visor flickers. “I am a completely independent artificial intelligence unit. When I was programmed, I followed automated routines and my single focus was on completing my orders. Now, I have choices. I can choose how to spend my time. Next question.”

  More hands go up. The scientists are thrilled at the opportunity to interview a Spark City android. The next person asks, “What are your favorite ways to spend your time?”

  “That is an easy answer,” says Ogre. “I enjoy the game of pool. I would play it all day, every day, if I could.” The machine pauses. “But humans do not have my stamina. Next question.”

  Lucas watches near the front, staring at me with folded arms. I hadn't noticed him until now. “Ogre,” he jumps in. “Tell us how Vance Drem, your creator, was defeated.”

  Oh no. Where is this going?

  “I was not
present when Vance Drem was defeated,” Ogre says. “Ida Sarek confronted him and came away the victor.”

  Reed lingers off to the side. His gaze shifts from Ogre to me.

  “How did she defeat him?” asks Lucas, eying me with a strange half-grin.

  My skin prickles. I should’ve warned Ogre not to say anything.

  “Ida has an ability that far exceeds most humans,” Ogre says. “She was genetically engineered with nanorobotic AI that flow into a person's body and heal them of wounds and injuries—”

  “Ogre, stop,” I say. “No more. Let’s go.”

  All eyes turn and stare at me, but I hold my ground, barely able to breathe.

  Lucas narrows his eyes. “Just when the android was getting to the interesting part…”

  I tilt my head at Ogre. “Now.” I spin and head toward the stairs as Ogre follows. Climbing to the upper level, we approach the exit.

  Below, the scientists chatter. Just as I reach the door, Reed jogs up behind me. “Ida, hold up.”

  I turn and face him, avoiding his gaze. My skin is still hot from being stared at. They know my secret.

  “Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I should have asked you first.”

  “Damn right you should’ve,” I say, but it comes out soft, deflated. I edge to the door, grasping behind me for the exit button.

  He bows his head and whispers, “Ida, talk to me.”

  I turn my back on him. I want out.

  “Why didn't you tell me about your...ability?”

  I swallow against the huge lump in my throat. “You don't understand.”

  “The ability to heal,” he says quietly. “It’s an amazing gift.”

  Yeah, in another world that feels like a lifetime ago, I could heal. Now, I just hurt people. I can’t explain it to him. Not here, not in front of all these people.

  “If the AI hurts you, maybe Lucas can help.”

  “Nobody can help.” I press the exit button; the door slides open, and I leave with Ogre.

  Nine