Code, p.22
Code, page 22
“I might not be able to fight like Coco and Momo, but I’m as smart and useful. I wish everyone would stop looking at my size. Sometimes being small has its advantages. Also, I can heal them if they’re injured. That’s pretty powerful.” She crossed her arms with a huff, a dramatic way to close her statement.
Jo exchanged questioning glances with Momo and Coco, but when she turned back to Marissa, she said, “Okay. You’ve made your case. And you’re right. Sometimes being small does have its advantages.”
Marissa beamed. “Debra and you have told us, even the small among us can make a difference. We just have to believe. It’s about time us small people helped the big people.”
Momo raised her hand. “I second that. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell Rhett.”
Jo slumped on the bottom cot, tired and worn. Marissa joined her.
“I know, Momo.” Jo sighed and raked a hand through her hair. “It’s really difficult for us grown-ups. We should be protecting you, not using you as weapons.”
Coco squeezed her blanket like a teddy bear. “But times are different. If we don’t get out there, there might not be a future left for us.”
Jo twisted her lips. “You’re right. Debra and I took you away from ISAN to give you a hopeful future, but as long as ISAN exists, you’ll never be safe.”
“No matter how far we run, ISAN will be after us,” Momo added.
“So we might as well work together.” Marissa raised her hand. “Every ability matters.”
Jo looked between the three of them. “From here on out, I promise to treat you all like grown-ups, but you can’t do everything like an adult.”
“Oh, darn.” Momo snapped her fingers. “There goes drinking and swearing. What I love to do most.”
They shared a giggle.
“Let’s take a vote as grown-ups do,” Jo said when laughter died. “Since Momo is the captain when I’m gone, and Coco is second-in-command, the three of us need to vote if Marissa can join us.”
Marissa frowned, but held up her chin.
“I say, yes.” Momo gave her a thumbs-up.
“I say, yes, too,” Coco said.
Jo smiled. “I say, yes, so that makes it unanimous. Marissa, you’re in.”
Marissa’s eyes gleamed as she clasped her hands together.
This wasn’t how grown-ups operated, from what Momo had witnessed. They demanded and ordered people around with one leader in charge, but this way was fun and fair.
Jo got off the bed and shuffled the blanket to the side for Marissa. “It’s time for bed. We’re leaving after breakfast.” She smiled at the girls and said, “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” they all said in accord.
Momo liked making Marissa smile and having her on their team, but at the same time, she missed Bobo. The three of them had done everything together. It felt like Marissa had replaced him.
Bobo wasn’t physically here, but she felt his love.
You will always be remembered ... in our hearts and in our memories. Renegades forever.
Chapter Thirty-Eight — All Together
Ava
I paced in my room. Anxious. Worried. Payton had told me Mitch, Lydia, and Russ were coming last night. Had they spent the night at the compound or had they left? I had asked him to monitor my mother’s whereabouts so when the time came to escape, he would know where she was. He had a glider on standby. We just needed an escape plan.
Payton entered my room and I didn’t know whether to be happy or panic. “What’s happening?” I asked.
“I don’t know, Ava, but Mr. Novak told me to bring you to the meeting.”
Payton’s voice was soothing like always, but it held a slight edge. He worried too.
I expected to be escorted into a room with a table and chairs, but Payton took me to an empty room. Mitch, Lydia, and Russ were twelve feet from Novak, Gene, and Justine. Seven guards stood behind the agents, and another eight guards were behind Rhett and Cleo to the right of Gene. None were bound with cuffs. Where were the rest of my friends?
My heart rate kicked up, fear pounding against my ribcage. What was Novak up to?
“Ava is here,” Novak said. “Our group is back together.”
Mitch, Russ, and Lydia only looked at me with stoic expressions as I stood next to Novak, Payton beside me. I tried not to look at Rhett and Cleo.
Six young assassins sauntered in with Zen. Not just any assassins, but...
“Roxy.” Justine raised her voice. “What’s she doing here?”
Whatever Roxy was thinking behind that scowl of hers, it wasn’t friendly. The other assassins’ expressions hadn’t changed since I entered, as if they only had the one. I recognized a few as those that had supposedly defected. I had forgotten their names, but not their faces.
Then horror reeled through my mind. Instead of killing Roxy, Novak had made her, and the others, compliant by erasing their memories and lobotomizing them. I felt sick. More than that, we were outnumbered.
My pulse raced. Palms sweaty. Something bad was going to happen.
“Let me tell you why we’re all here.” Novak stood between Rhett and Zen. “We’re going to finally put an end to this ridiculous rebel group. But first, we need to get rid of a traitor. It has come to my attention that Councilor Chang sent a spy to my network. I’ve known for a while but I waited for the perfect time. And this is it.”
Novak walked toward Russ, stopping several feet from him. I couldn’t breathe as I screamed inside my head. Novak shifted to Mitch. Mitch stiffened, but held up his chin.
Novak raised his gun to Mitch’s skull.
“He’s no traitor.” Rhett’s word pushed through gritted teeth. “Your source is an idiot.”
“You’re right, Rhett,” Novak said. “He’s not the one. Here you go, Mitch. Don’t look so worried.” Novak handed Mitch the gun and took his position next to me.
“What do you want me to do with this?” Mitch seized it with a trembling hand.
“I want you to shoot the traitor.” Novak’s lips spread into a wicked grin.
“Who’s the traitor?” Mitch lowered his weapon.
“You know who it is. Shoot her, or I’ll shoot Rhett.”
One of guards jabbed his gun on Rhett’s back.
“No.” I growled. “Don’t do this. Please, I’ll do anything.”
Lydia paled and took a stumbling step back.
Mitch gave pleading eyes to Novak. “She’s innocent. She’s—”
Russ took a step forward. “You’ve got it wrong again, Novak. I’m the traitor.”
No, Russ. What are you doing?
Novak scrubbed his face in annoyance. “You shouldn’t have said that, Russ. Now I’ll have to kill you too. Mitch, prove to me you’re no traitor. I’ll let everyone free if you shoot Lydia in the head.”
Mitch clenched his jaw and raised a shaking hand, aiming the weapon at Lydia’s head. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured.
Would he? My heart squeezed. He wasn’t a fool to believe Novak would let us go, right?
“It’s okay, Mitch.” Tears streamed down her lovely cheeks. “You would expect me to do the same. Thank you for being so good to me. Perhaps in another life, we could have more time together.” She fixed her eyes on Novak with hatred enough for all of us. “You’re a monster. I don’t regret anything I did for Councilor Chang or for myself. You might have won this battle, but you won’t win the war.”
Good for Lydia. She tipped her head like a true leader, staring death in the eye. Such bravery. But she killed me with her declaration for Mitch. She was in love with him, and he loved her. When had this happened?
My heart thundered.
“On the count of three, okay?” Mitch’s voice cracked, his hand steadier, eyes fixed with resolve. “Close your eyes, babe. One ... Two ... Now.”
Lydia headbutted the guard beside her and stole his weapon. She shot at the person on the other side of her, crouched low and took out another guard, while Russ jabbed the soldier holding him hostage in the chest and knocked him out.
Mitch turned to Novak and fired. A click went from Mitch’s gun, but Novak didn’t fall. The gun wasn’t loaded.
“Stop or he’s dead,” Novak commanded.
Lydia and Russ halted as two guards jabbed guns against Mitch’s skull, one on each temple. Mitch’s effort was a good attempt, but it would go nowhere while Novak was still standing. He had too many soldiers.
“Oh, Mitch.” Novak clucked his tongue and pulled out a gun from behind his waistband. “This is how you do it.” He pulled the trigger.
Novak shot Lydia in the chest.
Justine screamed. I covered my mouth to keep from doing the same.
Oh, God. Lydia. I’d never known she was on our side. She was always nice and gentle, keeping an eye out for us.
Mitch got on his knees, cradling her, burying his face in hers. “No! Lydia.”
“Don’t worry. You can join her.” Novak shot Mitch in the back.
Mitch thumped sideways beside her, blood pooling around him. He looked in utter shock as I was. Mitch couldn’t move, but he was alive.
Rhett tried to break free from the guards, cursing. Zen and Cleo looked horrified. I jabbed my elbow at the nearest guard’s throat and flipped over the next one, but Roxy pressed a Taser on my skull.
Justine gripped her father’s arm, shaking him, and raised her voice in disgust. “Why did you shoot Mitch?”
Novak pushed her off. “Too many have deceived me. They thought they would get away with it. I have eyes and ears in and out of ISAN.” Novak sauntered over to Russ, who was held by guards on both sides, and whacked his head with the butt of the gun. Russ dropped next to Mitch.
“No!” I screamed from the top of my lungs. I’d thought Novak was going to shoot him.
Everything happened so fast, I couldn’t process it. I couldn’t breathe. We would all die if I didn’t do something. Mitch and Lydia were still breathing. But I was helpless without my power. Even if I brought down some of the guards, Novak had a gun, and six assassins trained like Roxy, not to mention Justine and Gene.
Novak shifted and raised his weapon toward Zen. No. Not Zen, too. Rhett and Cleo could be next.
“No. please.” Cleo stood in front of her father. “Don’t hurt my dad. I’ll do anything.”
“Does your daughter know, Zen?” Novak said.
“Know what?” Cleo said.
Zen shook his head, pleading for understanding with his eyes. “I did it to keep you safe, Cleo. If I hadn’t done what I did, ISAN would have taken you from your mother and me.”
“Is that why your wife ran?” Novak placed his gun to his side. “You should have told your wife about Cleo’s power. You killed your wife. Not ISAN.”
Zen crinkled his facial muscles, rage in his tone. “I will take blame for my wife’s death, but I will never feel guilty for what I did for my daughter.”
“What power?” Cleo shouted, gripping her father’s arm.
“You were born special like your friends,” Zen said, his voice low. “I created a serum, CHB20, to suppress your ability. The protein drink.”
“What’s my power?” Cleo asked, her blue eyes darkening. “You should have told me.” Tears pooled in her eyes, her lips quivering. “I can’t believe you did this to me. All these years. You had plenty of time to tell me. You had no right.”
“Please, Cleo.” Zen gripped her shoulders. “You were so small. ISAN would have ruined you.”
“You know now, Cleo,” Novak said. “When you find out what your gifts are, do tell. I’ll welcome you with open arms. I would never be ashamed of who you are.”
“Go to hell,” Cleo spat. “I would never side with you.”
“Very well, then. Now that Zen has confessed, say goodbye to your father.” Novak aimed and fired.
“Nooo!” Cleo screamed, an ear-piercing sound that shook my bones.
Her scream got louder and louder, shaking the walls and everything around us. I had to cover my ears. Everyone else did the same, crouching. I felt a stab to my chest from her scream, some kind of vibration shooting through me. Had she gone any longer, she might have killed us.
Zen should have been dead on the ground, but the bullet had veered a sharp turn, hitting a guard behind him. Cleo’s scream, like a magical force, blocked the bullet from hitting its mark.
Her gift. She moved objects with her voice.
When Cleo stopped, she went pale, and her eyes rounded. For a second, the room went silent.
“Well, that was awesome timing, Cleo,” I said.
One of the guards thumped Cleo’s head, knocking her unconscious, Novak fired at Zen. Zen collapsed to the floor. Everything happened so fast. It felt like a dream. I couldn’t process it all.
Novak frantically glanced about and checked something on his chip.
Was that fear I sensed?
“Roxy, have your team take Rhett and Ava to the main lab,” Novak barked. “Put them on the ROM machine. The rest of the prisoners can stay here and die in the explosion. Our facility has been found. The timer has been activated. This place is going down. Gene and Justine, get your mother and meet me at the escape pod.”
ROM machine. No! Novak planned to erase our memories.
Roxy and the assassins grabbed Rhett and me and dragged us out of the room.
My fingers tingled and the blueprint of the facility flickered in and out. I felt a soft wave of heat rising to the surface, starting from my toes and up my spine.
Something had happened when Cleo screamed. I believed she’d brought down the sonic barrier.
Chapter Thirty-Nine — Novak’s Machine
Ava
“You don’t have to do this. Come with me,” I said as Roxy and two other assassins dragged me to the next room.
Roxy slammed me to a chair. Across the room were four empty cells with see-through glass barriers.
I could have fought her, but with a gun pointed at Rhett’s head, and without the ability to draw on Helix fully, I had no chance against six assassins.
“Ava. Why aren’t you stopping her?” Rhett asked as the three other girls held him on the hub twelve feet from me. He tugged and pulled with no success. “What’s going on?”
“Because she can’t,” Roxy said through clenched teeth, clasping the metal chains secure around my wrists.
When she slapped a button on the panel beside me, metal straps tightened around my ankles, then something anchored around my head. I yanked at the straps, but it was useless.
“Listen, Roxy,” I said. “Novak did horrible things to you and to your team. You remember them, don’t you? They’re all dead. Novak took away your memory to make you less human.”
“I told you to keep your mouth shut.” She raised her gun to strike me.
When I craned my neck to the side, my hair falling over half my face, she pulled back with a blink as if recalling something. Novak entered and broke the spell.
“Girls, step aside.” His steps were swift as his eyes were focused on me. “We need to hurry. When I’m finished, I’m going to need your help carrying them to my pod.”
“If you let Rhett go, I won’t fight you, I promise,” I said.
Novak inputted commands on the control panel on my chair and said, “You should have made that offer days ago, Ava. It’s too late.”
“What are you going to do to us?” Rhett had lost the will to fight. I heard it in his weary tone.
Novak glanced at Rhett, then back to me. “I’m going erase your memories and lobotomize you both. I’m tired of your betrayal. It’s time to fix this problem.”
“You hear what Novak is going to do, Roxy?” I said. “He did that to you. I know you can hear me. Help me. I can free you.”
“She doesn’t need your help,” Novak said coolly, no ounce of anger from my threat. “She’s happy to serve me. As you will be. In a few minutes, you both will become mine.”
Roxy’s stoic expression and lack of argument told me I couldn’t count on her. She was far too gone. She belonged to Novak.
This couldn’t be the end.
I had been coaxing Helix as I tried to buy time. Under normal circumstances, Helix came to me fast, but it had been slumbering too long, and it was taking time to charge to full capacity.
Novak didn’t know my powers were coming back. He had no idea Cleo’s scream had broken the sonic vibration. Or did he? He had frantically checked his chip.
“Would you like to say any last words to each other? Make it quick,” Novak said. “After the procedure, you won’t remember one another.”
“Rhett. I’m sorry. Novak created some kind of sonic wave to inhibit my power and there’s nothing I can do about it.” I needed Rhett to know that my lack of effort wasn’t from being scared or loss of hope. And I wanted Novak to think that I believed he still controlled me. “I’m so sorry. I failed us.”
“It’s okay, babe. Remember what I said to you, you can forget memories, but you can never forget emotions. I will always love you. And Novak is wrong. I will never forget you. Even if he takes out half my brain, my heart won’t let it. You’re the best thing in my life. You are worth every gamble I took to find you.”
“Rhett should have stayed away from you,” Novak said, his face hovering near mine. “He is the reason you became weak. He made you wander off from the course I had set for you. You let the useless emotion get in the way. This is your fault, Ava. You should have been stronger.”
I growled and spat in his face. Spittle dripped down from his cheek. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it away.
“I’m going to forgive you for that because you’re my daughter. You and your brother are everything to me.”
His profession of love repulsed me. “You’re a hypocrite.”
Novak cringed, the lines on his forehead deepening. “You don’t understand.” He stormed to Rhett’s control board.
“How can you live with yourself after all you have done?” I said.
His eyes held no mercy as the veins on his neck twitched, and said with a lethal calm, “It doesn’t matter what you think of me. After this is over, you will obey.”
