Divided Worlds Trilogy 01 - Disconnect (23 page)

“Sending,” responded the Hub.

Zachary shivered on the staircase, moving downward with no control in his speed. Rosa’s legs trailed behind. The staircase darkened as he descended.

Hard smacks into the wall shook him more than the bullets spraying across the horizon that he could see through cracks. Two flights of stairs remained. Zachary’s neck drew inward, and then his legs gave way. He crashed onto rubble. It was over.

Eyelids fluttering, Zachary gasped above her face. “Rosa.”

He couldn’t end it.

* * *

Cold air rushed through Zachary’s head.

He sat up, catching a rubbery hand over his stomach. Another hand gagged his scream. Something forced Zachary down to lie flat. Bright light hung overhead in an otherwise dark room.

“Tranquillize him,” said a woman in grey clothes.

“He’s had too much already,” said a male.

“
Just do it
. Hurry up.”

Something pierced Zachary’s neck. A chilling freeze gripped him.

“Carell wants him,” added the woman. “Applying support-apparatus.”

A veil of darkness lowered toward Zachary.

He hoped the veil would miss.

It didn’t.

* * *

Zachary’s eyes opened to a fresh sensation tickling him. Not a single part of him ached or felt out of place.

He stood, barefooted, surprised by the aqua-coloured mist swirling around him. A perfect white, full-sleeved top covered him over trousers that felt so thin they almost didn’t exist. There were no cuts or grazes on his smooth skin.

Was he dead?

The mist dispersed a little after a brush of his hand.

Zachary cleared his throat. “Hello?”

Nothing responded.

His ears twitched at a single flute easing into the silence. It came from neither below, above nor around him. Panpipes joined the flute, then the ascending strum of a guitar and the patting of several hands as if a chorus of people hid within the mist. Zachary recognised the tune; it’d been the one that played when Rosa had danced.

If this were heaven, enjoying it without her seemed wrong.

Intrigued, Zachary ran forward, wanting to know who was playing. The melody intensified with crashing crescendos. A rush of wind halted it.

His skin prickled at the whispering wind.

It spoke to him.

“Wake up.”

Zachary awoke to a haze.

Something flapped on his left. Dagger-like stabs ran along his body as he lay on a flat bed. Blinking he saw the flapping belong to an upright drum beating in tune to his inhalations. That, and the curtains around him, and he couldn’t be mistaken. He was in the Medics Section of the
Ark
.

A woman in grey stepped out from behind the drum. “How are you?”

Zachary sighed. “I feel weird.”

A sharp twinge pushed him deep into the mattress.

“Careful, don’t strain yourself,” said the medic. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’re past the worst of it. You’ll feel a little lightheaded with the quantity of the blood we’ve transfused.”

Staying still, throbbing pain built inside Zachary’s thigh and shoulder.

“Your tissue damage wasn’t severe; it’ll heal.” She patted him on the forehead. “Don’t worry. You’re in safe hands, though you won’t need us. It seems that you have your own assigned nurse. She’s been waiting here for the last few days.” The medic glanced to Zachary’s right before leaving behind the curtain. “He’s all yours now.”

Zachary eyed the fat bandage wrapped around his shoulder, then beyond to several feet away where, on a chair, sat a girl with her knees bent up to her brow. She had buried her head, leaving only black hair flowing down her legs. Dressed in grey, she resembled a medic.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to talk to me,” said the girl.

“
Rosa
.” Zachary’s heart beat faster than the pump. “You’re alive.”

Her green eyes welled up with tears. “You mean, I’m working.”

Back ache resisted Zachary’s attempt to sit.

Rosa rushed to his bedside. “No – stay down.”

The crack that had existed on her jaw could barely be seen under light stitches. Nothing whirred in her movement as she reversed away from the bed. She was almost perfect again, except for the remorse on her face.

“Come back,” muttered Zachary.

“Why? You must really hate me. You’ve been through so much, and look at the state you’re in.” A tear crossed her cheek. “It was all my fault.”

“But you didn’t know.”

Rosa swivelled. “How couldn’t I? It’s my body.”

Zachary couldn’t be sure, but her figure appeared intact with no sudden sparks, dangerous currents or leaking black fluid. “They mended you.”

“Patch collected you from the Tower.” Rosa’s tone brightened. “You must have told him a lot about me. He brought us both back to the
Ark
.”

“Is he okay?”

“Not really. He keeps complaining about the generators not having as much oomph as a fully-loaded Bombay.”

Zachary dropped the brief chuckle. “Did they look after you?”

Nodding, Rosa stroked her arms. “I don’t know who I am anymore. Whose parts are in me? They did the best that they could, but I won’t be able to do the things I used to, like eat and drink.” She gave a severe, long, drawn-out sigh. “They’re the least of my worries.”

“The medic said you’ve been waiting for me.”

“Just to check that you’d be okay.”

Adjusting his position so that his back was up against the pillow, Zachary said, “Is that it?”

Tears flowed down both Rosa’s cheeks. “What do you want me to say? That things can be like how they were.” She laughed onto the back of her hand. “I don’t even know how they were before? All I know is what runs in my programme.”

“You’re different.” Zachary winced at the tight sting in his thigh. “Did Carell explain the RNA process to you?”

“That doesn’t change what I am. You’re human, I’m not.”

Zachary glared. “Part of you is human.”

Rosa pinched midair. “A small part.”

“It’s better than nothing.”

Rosa approached the bed. “When they switched me on, I thought I was in heaven. Everything felt new. I wonder if the rest of me is waiting for the missing part.” She rubbed her head

Zachary let his pulse quicken. “Rosa, I still like you.”

Rosa shook her head. “How can you?
I’m an android
.”

“And?”

“And? Don’t you get it? We can’t work. I’m not real.”

“
You
are.” He watched her quivering lips. “Androids don’t cry, but you can.”

Zachary knew that many faced with this dilemma would run from the lie they’d believed in, but how could he blame Rosa for actions beyond her control? Ahead he saw a girl; a girl he’d travelled through the pipes of
Galilei
and fought an army to reach. So what if she was a creation of metal, modelled by people, made to look perfect? If the
Centurion
attack had never taken place, would Rosa have grown to look the same? It didn’t matter. She was here and still tugging at his beating heart.

“I don’t want to have anybody else around me but you,” said Zachary.

Rosa’s eyes twinkled as her hands lowered. “Do you mean that?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

“But, do you
mean
it?”

Zachary heaved in a lungful of air. “Didn’t we agree that we wouldn’t argue over answering questions?” He grinned at her raised brow. “Of course I mean it.”

On the bed, Rosa edged to within a foot from his face. “All I thought about, while you slept, was would you still like me?”

Zachary touched her warm hand. “I don’t care what anybody says.”

Rosa leaned close. He took over, wrapping an arm around to bring her to his neck. Her hair smelt like fresh air. Stroking Rosa’s back, Zachary felt her forehead rise up. It wasn’t hard like metal, but soft.

“I can hear your heart,” she said, glimpsing his lips. “Thank you, Zach, for being there.”

The tip of Zachary’s nose nudged against hers. He let Rosa advance. Lifting her upper lip with his, they kissed. Every second felt more real than he’d imagined it to be.

She flung her head back. “I’m still an android.”

“You’re still Rosa. I,” he wanted another kiss, “love you.”

The medic woman appeared in a rushed state, pulling the curtain all the way along the railing. She paused at their embrace. “Sorry. I’m not entirely sure you should see this, but as it was because of your bravery, I think you should.”

In the distance a screen on the wall activated. Medics gathered alongside injured protesters. Confused heads turned and noticed Zachary. One by one, they nodded in appreciation. On the screen, a man stood behind a pedestal. Further serious-looking men flanked him.

“Turn the volume up,” said a protester. “There’s interference on the Confederation’s feed.”

Zachary grasped Rosa’s waist. “The module. Did they accept what I sent?”

“All of it,” she replied. “The Confederation’s been in contact with Carell. Assayer is in upheaval. It’s better to be underground than up there.”

“Is Sokolov –?”

“We think so. They haven’t found him. Hadrian Tower’s a mess.”

Zachary stroked her hand. “What about your parents?”

“Patch hacked a network to show definite activity at their home.” She pressed on his lip. “I’m not going back to them. It’s better this way.”

The man from the Confederation continued. “Plans to rectify the shortcomings of
Galilei
’s administration are considered greater than the advantage to be gained. The devolvement of standards aboard
Galilei
troubles us. No other Base has undergone such travesty and disorder. It is reminiscent of what history teaches us about the Old World. Please understand the predicament we face with overturning events.”

With a glimpse to his side, the man on the screen made a single nod. He leaned forward. Wrinkles dug deep under his baggy eyes. “We have sent codes to
Galilei
to enforce our remedial solution. Sometimes the weaker of the species must allow the strongest to make their mark. Minds dominated by disorder have no place in the Integrated Confederation. I beg that you will forgive our action and seek to live amongst yourselves in the world you’ve created.”

A screeching noise rang around the Medics Section. Then, the screen switched off followed by the lights and every machine. A yelp echoed from the exit slopes.

“A shortage,” said Rosa.

Zachary heard silence take over from the humming sound that had been present on the other side of the wall behind his bed.

“Nothing’s working,” said a man. “Everything’s off.”

“What about the generators?” cried a female.

Feet rattled along the floor in every direction. In terms of severity, this was far worse than a shortage.

“Zach,” whispered Rosa. “What have they done? I’m scared.”

“I’m here. I’ve got you,” he said, clinging to her waist.

In absolute darkness, amidst the alarm of protesters rushing to escape, Zachary understood the Confederation’s actions. They wanted to wash their hands of the disgraced Base and leave it to rot, like the House of Representatives had before with a certain half. What better way to send a warning than to force
Galilei
into Underworld.

Zachary whispered, “We’ve been disconnected.”

Thank you for reading my debut novel.

Writing takes a lot of dedication, sacrifice of time, and head banging on the desk. I hope that I satisfied you, but I won’t know unless you spend a few minutes adding a review. It’s the comments, the highs, the lows, the great bits, and the slap-in-the-face groan parts that will help me evolve as a writer.

Give me a few minutes, and I’ll keep going.

Please revisit the site of purchase and add a review.

In 2340AD, 16-year-old Zachary Connor survives by scavenging in the Wastelands of Underworld. His miserable life changes when he finds a rare Intercom with the recording of a girl; the first Overworlder he has ever heard. It peaks his curiosity, making him want to know her, though he knows that to be impossible aboard the
Galilei
Research Base.

During an opportunity to sneak-away visit to Overworld, he meets 16-year-old Rosa Kade, a beautiful girl living a sheltered life. When she accuses him of stealing her Intercom, Zachary is insulted by her offensive view of Underworld. Out of guilt, Rosa gives him a new Intercom, to sell for his own needs, and orders him to wipe out the contents of the Intercom.

Zachary cannot follow her order. He is drawn to Rosa, wanting to keep in contact with her. He begins to feel for her, something that he’s never felt for anyone before. This intensifies with each precious conversation Zachary has with her. However, his happiness is crushed when Overworld’s Army led by General Masim Sokolov attacks Underworld. Devastated over his dad’s death, Zachary escapes to Overworld.

Zachary meets Rosa, who left her home to find him. He finds solace with her. In the midst of a skirmish, Overworld protesters seize Zachary separating him from Rosa, who is taken captive by Sokolov. In the protester’s mid-world lair, Zachary learns that Sokolov has been extracting ribonucleic acid (RNA) from Overworlders who died nine years ago. He is even more troubled when he discovers that the RNA influences the capabilities of androids – all with the ultimate aim of colonising Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

In an attempt to rescue Rosa, Zachary joins the protesters and battles his way to Sokolov’s headquarters. Sokolov reveals Rosa as the RNA influenced android of a girl who died nine years ago. Fearing for Zachary, Rosa electrocutes Sokolov, and damages herself in the process. Zachary attempts to save Rosa, but his wounds weaken him. He collapses with her in his arms.

Zachary awakes to find he is recovering in the protester’s lair, and that Rosa has been repaired. Although they are different, their understanding of one another is very real and that is what binds them. They need each other even more when power inside
Galilei
is switched off reducing the Base into darkness.

Disassemble: Book Two of the Divided Worlds Trilogy (June 2013)