Peace Out (The Futures Trilogy Book 1) (4 page)

ANNA AND SCOTT

On Thursday morning, Peyton Cowing and his girlfriend, Miranda MacInnes, live webcasted their suicide. The couple was part of multiple suicide discussion groups. They posted a link to the webcast, along with their suicide note. Viewership reached over a million before the Internet service provider was notified and shut down the webcast.

Approximately 8 minutes of the suicide were shown. MacInnes, who was in her second year of nursing school, set up tubing and blood bags. The couple expressed the desire that their blood be donated to the Red Cross. Then MacInnes inserted the needles. Cowing sat on a couch, MacInnes prone with her head on his lap. They held hands and kept their eyes focused on each other. They did not speak again.

While some believed it to be a hoax, others called their local police. By the time the location of the couple was determined, they were deceased.

Their blood was not donated to the Red Cross as the circumstances of the donation were so unusual.

While the couple stated that they were Peacing Out in their suicide note, Peace Out publicist Lynn Schaffer issued a strong statement against identifying the actions of this couple with Peace Out.

“
Our hearts and prayers are with the friends and families of Miranda and Peyton. Peace Out expresses the hope that others in this situation would seek out one of our Centers or call a suicide hotline. Peace Out Facilitators are trained to identify depression and other mental illnesses. Those individuals are referred to doctors and psychiatrists who can give them the help they need. This is a tragedy that should never be repeated. This tragedy was not Peacing Out.
”

Gruesome Suicide Video Goes Viral, NBC News, 3/23/2034.

“Everything here is recorded,” Dom said. “There are cameras everywhere. The crystal storage room is enormous!” He pushed up his glasses. Anna wondered why he hadn’t bothered to get his eyes fixed. She had done it as soon as her vision stabilized. Maybe they were an affectation? To add to his nerdy cool vibe? She didn’t get it. “They have footage going back to the opening of this Center in 2033! They converted the tapes and digital files to crystal back in ‘65. It is all part of Oversight.”

“What
’s Oversight?” asked Anna. She looked back at the bar, where Patrick was ordering her rum and coke. And where was Scott?

“It
’s a division of Legal,” he said. “Sometimes they get people who claim someone was forced to Peace Out. They can show the crystal from the moment the person set foot on Peace Out property until the moment they Peace Out. It keeps everyone honest.”

“So they record more than the Facilitation sessions?”

“Oh yeah,” he said. “Not that someone is always watching. That is where the programmers come in. Spoken language, body language, and emotional recognition software can flag things for Oversight.”

“What about bathrooms?” Anna asked. “There can
’t be cameras in the bathrooms.”

“No,” Dom admitted, “But there are cameras on every entrance. My mentor was telling this story about a Peace Out Facilitator who was having a mental breakdown or something, out of control bulimic, and the computers picked up on her behavior because she changed her bathroom patterns. Oversight was able to get her in a great recovery program. She still works for Peace Out.”

“Is he telling you the bulimic story?” Patrick asked, handing Anna her drink. “That is one of Micah’s favorites. Where is he, by the way? I need to talk to him about something.”

“I saw him at the buffet about five minutes ago,” Dom said. “I don
’t know where he is now.”

“Thanks,” Patrick said. “Anna, do you mind?”

“Not at all,” she said, resigning herself to an extended conversation with Dom.

“So, today I got to watch Micah code this super complex...”

Anna zoned out completely, squeezing the lime into her rum and coke and nodding and smiling when it seemed appropriate to do so. She was nearly done with  her drink before Dom stopped talking.

“So what did you do today?” Dom asked.

Before Anna could respond, she felt an arm at her elbow. “Anna?”

“Hi Scott,” Anna said, hiding her relief.

“I was looking for you everywhere. I want you to meet Dr. Parsons. You don’t mind if I borrow her, do you Dom?”

Dom was defeated.

“Nice talking with you,” Anna said. Scott led her to the opposite side of the room. “Who is Dr. Parsons?” she asked.

“Does it matter?” he responded. “You looked like you needed rescue.”

“I did,” she admitted. “Thanks!”

“This room is awesome,” Scott said. “I didn
’t get to see it earlier. Bertha took me to sushi.”

“Bertha?”

“Bertha Parsons,” he said. “She’s my mentor.”

“So Dr. Parsons does exist!”

“She does,” he said. “She also had to leave early for her daughter’s softball game.” Scott noticed Anna’s empty glass. “Want another drink?”

“Sure,” she said. “I
’m taking the rail tonight.”

“Me too,” Scott said.

They walked over to the bar and got in line.

“Nina set me up in an apartment with a few other interns, Dom included,” Scott continued. “That
’s how I knew you needed rescue. I’ve lived with the guy two days and I’m sick of hearing about crystal computing.”

“Ugh,” she said.

“At least the place is great,” he said. “Peace Out owns a whole bunch of apartment complexes near the beach. They keep a few open rooms for interns. The rent is pretty high, but with what they pay us and sharing rooms it isn’t too bad.”

“Are you stuck with Dom?” she asked.

“I’m rooming with another pre-med intern. Ethan. We get along pretty well. Dom’s in the other room with an engineering kid. Ty. The guy with red hair.”

“I
’m staying at my parents’ house in Pasadena. Free rent. My parents are spending the summer with my brother in France. Some language immersion program. They wanted me to go too, but I got this internship so of course I had to take it.”

“I
’m still a little surprised I got it,” Scott admitted. “I think everyone in my major applied. I submitted with open geography. You?”

“Just Los Angeles,” she said. “It was before my brother got into the language program and I thought it would be fun to spend the summer at home. I also wanted some sun.”

“Have you met the other psych interns?”

“Not yet,” she said. “Patrick and I are going to lunch with them and their mentors
next week.”

They got to the front of the line. Anna ordered another rum and coke. Scott got a glass of red wine.

“What did you do today?” he asked as they made their way back to a table.

“Patrick and I had lunch here, then we went to his office for the rest of the afternoon. He had some Facilitation meetings and two intakes.”

“What were the intakes?”

“It was a little boy with leukemia and a lady with terminal lymphatic cancer. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. The boy
’s parents were so distraught. Patrick was amazing. Just great. He was so calm. The Facilitations were easier. Two of the people were on Day 5. The other was on Day 3. It was just like a conversation with a friend. Patrick listened and asked questions. They really opened up to him.”

“Did they seem to mind you being there?”

“Patrick explained and told them that I would leave if they wanted me to. Only one person asked me to leave. I just went to seven and got an iced coffee.”

“Those are so good, right?” he said.

Anna nodded and took a sip of her drink. “So how was your day?”

“Bertha examined about a dozen patients brought in under directive,” he said. “Did you read about that big pile-up on the 405 yesterday?”

“Yeah,” Anna said. “Someone from that?”

“Two someones,” he said.

“Was it hard?” she asked.

“Not as hard as what you all do in Facilitation,” he said. “The people who come to us are already gone. It is just their bodies that are still here.” Scott finished his drink. “What are you up to tonight?” he asked.

“Not much,” Anna said. “I thought I’d go home and watch a movie. My parents have an amazing collection on crystal but they’ve also got the old formats. They even have some VHS but those are on display. You?”

“A night in the intern bachelor pad.”

“Sounds like fun,” Anna said. She wished that Scott would go ahead and invite himself over already.

“What movie are you going to watch?”

“Harold and Maude. I thought it was appropriate.”

“Never heard of it.”

“What?” Anna exclaimed. “Travesty! It was made in like 1970 or something. The greatest love story of all time. You’re interning for Peace Out and you haven’t seen it?”

“I guess that means I should see it. Would it be OK if I came over?”

“If that means I can rectify this great hole in your knowledge of classic films, then yes.”

Scott checked his phone. “The next rail to Pasadena is in twenty minutes,” he said.

“Let’s go,” said Anna. They ducked out relatively unnoticed. The mixer was still going strong.

They walked over to the station and pressed their thumbs to the scanner. The platform was crowded with people waiting to get home. The train glided silently into the station and they boarded.

“Want to sit upstairs?” Anna asked. “The views of the city are great.”

“Sure,” Scott said as the train picked up speed. Ten minutes and two stops later, they arrived.

“My house is about a mile from here,” she said. “Are you OK walking? We can call a cab.”

“Walking is fine,” he said. They walked in silence for a bit. “Will you be walking home every night after work?” he asked.

“Worried?” she teased. “I’ll just call someone and talk to them the whole way. Besides, Pasadena is really safe, and it isn’t like I’ll be getting home super late. And if I do, I’ll take a cab. Satisfied?”

“Yes,” Scott said.

“Here we are,” she said, stopping in front of a large Craftsman with a huge oak tree in the front yard. She opened the door and dropped her keys on the little table. “Shoes off, please,” she said, slipping out of her heels. “Do you mind if I change?” she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she headed for her bedroom. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge,” she called over her shoulder. She left Scott sitting on the bench in the entryway, untying his shoes.

Anna went into her bedroom and took off her blue coat and hung it up in the closet. She threw the rest of her clothes in the hamper and pulled on a soft black t-shirt with a white print of a storm trooper. She slid into a pair of black yoga pants.

When she went into the great room, Scott was at the kitchen counter, opening a beer. “Want one?” he asked.

“No thanks,” she said. “I
’m a lightweight. Two drinks was plenty.”

“Nice shirt,” he said. “Which Episode is your favorite?”

“I’m partial to the original trilogy,” she said, “I kind of have to be, with my parents. They claim all the great movies were made before the millennium. But Episode XXI was awesome. You?”

“OK, don
’t make fun of me. Episode IX.”

“Ewoks? Really?”

“Look, I was seven. My mom wouldn’t let me have a dog. I had a stuffed Ewok named Fred.”

“How adorable.”

“Stop!” Scott protested. “I was being honest!” He gave her a lopsided smile.

Anna laughed. “I
’m going to make some popcorn. Are you OK with butter and salt?”

“Yes,” Scott said.

Anna got out the air popper. Once the popcorn was made, she put the movie on and curled up on the couch. Scott sat next to her and grabbed a handful of popcorn.

As they watched the movie, Anna became very aware of Scott
’s presence next to her. By the time the credits rolled, they were holding hands and she was leaning against his chest.

“What did you think?” she asked.

“The greatest love story of all time,” he said, bending his head to kiss her.

Yes, Anna thought as his tongue gently probed hers, Scott was a good pick. She decided to let him get to second base.

MARTY AND JENNY

I took my dad to Peace Out. The protestors were lined up fifty feet from the entrance with their signs, shouting at us.
“
Peace Out is Murder!
”
“
Commit suicide and rot in hell!
”
I remember confronting their leader. It was an older woman with a bad perm. I told her if she wanted to save a life that day we would need $1.8 million for Dad
’
s operation and more money for round-the-clock nursing care just in case he was one of the twenty percent who survive the operation. She just stared at me blankly and repeated her chant
–
that Peace Out is murder. Dad gave her the finger. He always made me laugh. It’s those people who run the charitable Enclaves. Those are the ones who really help people. Not the sign-waving crazies.

Will You Peace Out?, 2032 Academy Award Winner, Best Documentary. Interview with Kate Irick, age 65.

Marty was just sitting down to his dinner when the doorbell rang. Dammit, he thought. He ignored it.

“Mr. Lawson, it
’s Jenny,” came the muffled voice. “I know you’re there.”

“Do you have cookies?” he shouted.

“Brownies,” she said.

“Coming.” He opened the door a crack and reached for the brownies. She pulled them back.

“Can I come in?”

“No,” he said. “Besides, I gave you 20 hours. What more do you want from me?”

“I want you to let me actually help you for 20 hours.”

“When did teenagers get so damned honest?”

“Look, Mr. Lawson. I think I want to go to nursing school. This is practice.”

“In how you
’ll trick your patients with baked goods and then bully them into letting you change their bedpan?”

“I don
’t want to change your bedpan,” she said. “Wait, you use a bedpan?”

“No!” Marty thundered, “I don
’t use a bedpan!”

“I can do your dishes. I can sweep the floor. I can read you a book.”

“I can damn well read myself. I’m not blind.”

“I
’d prefer if you didn’t cuss either.”

“Damn isn
’t cursing. And I don’t care what you prefer. You know what? Keep your brownies.” He shut the door.

“My mom made pork tenderloin for dinner,” Jenny said, peering through the mottled glass. “There is a lot leftover and some roasted potatoes and green beans. I could bring some over. I know she would let me.”

“What do you want?” he asked.

“I just want to do my volunteer hours legitimately,” she said. “I might run for office someday. I need to have a clean record.”

“I’ll be dead before your run for office. No one will ever know.”

“I
’ll know.” Jenny paused. “If you won’t let me in, then I’m going to mow your lawn and rake your leaves. I’ll wash your car.”

“Fine,” he said. “Go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Marty said.

“OK,” Jenny said. “Do you still want the brownies?”

“Yes,” he said, opening the door. He hesitated. “Does the offer of dinner still stand?”

“I’ll go get it right now,” she said, handing him the brownies.

Marty took the brownies into the kitchen. While he waited for Jenny, he put saran wrap on his microwaved dinner and put it back in the fridge. Turkey bits and gravy would wait for another meal. He heard a knock on the door. Jenny was holding a loaded plate in one hand and a rake in the other.

“Here you go Mr. Lawson,” Jenny said, handing him the plate. “I’ll get the plate back from you later. Actually, I asked my mom if it would be OK if you came over for dinner tomorrow and she said it would be. She’s making salmon. Do you like salmon? She’s a really good cook.”

“I
’m busy,” he said.

“Doing what?” she asked.

“The Falcons are playing.”

“My dad is a big football fan,” she said. “He always has games on, even during dinner.”

“I’ll think about it,” Marty said. Jenny’s mother had invited him over for dinner several times after Diana died. He turned them down and after a while the invitations stopped coming. Diana was the one who knew all the neighbors, not him.

“Dinner is at 6:30,” Jenny said.

“Thanks,” Marty said. He shut the door and went back to his chair. He lifted the foil off of the plate and took a whiff. Heavenly. When he finished, he went to the window and peeked out the blinds. Jenny was shoving a pile of leaves into a large black garbage bag. Two full garbage bags were out by the trashcan. She stopped to wipe some sweat from her forehead. Nice kid, he thought. He vaguely remembered her ringing the doorbell on Halloween some years back, dressed like cowgirl. She had politely declined the Snickers bar, citing a peanut allergy. Compared to her brother’s bucket, Jenny’s was practically empty. Diana had given Jenny an apple. Josh had been allergic to eggs, Marty recalled. Vomit like you wouldn’t believe.

Marty sighed and went to the kitchen. He put some ice in a glass and filled it with water. He went to the front door and opened it. “Hey,” he called.

“Hi!” Jenny said. “How was dinner?”

“Really good,” he said. “Tell your mom thanks.”

“I will,” she said. Jenny started raking more leaves.

“Want some water?” Marty asked, holding up the glass.

“Sure, thanks,” Jenny said, bouncing over to take it from him. She drank about half of it and set it on the little patio set on his front porch. “I’m almost done. I’ll stop when it gets dark.”

“Don
’t wear yourself out,” he said.

“It
’s good exercise,” she said, turning back to the leaves. “Thanks for the water.”

“You are welcome,” he said. “Thanks for doing this. My back isn
’t what it used to be.”

“No problem at all,” she said.

Marty went back into the house and logged onto his Fantasy Football League. Jason16 was on. Marty wrote to him.

FalconsFTW: Are you in high school?

Jason16: Yes. Y?

FalconsFTW: Do you have to do volunteer hours?

Jason16: 200 to grad.

FalconsFTW: How many have you logged?

Jason16: 100 so far. I pick up trash at parks with Keep Atlanta Kleen.

FalconsFTW: Thx for the info. Falcons r going to kill the Rams tomorrow.

Jason16: Coach B needs to use Mayweather more.

FalconsFTW: What r u talking about? Owusu’s got a great arm.

Jason16: u need more than a passing game.

Marty chatted football until Jason16 begged off, claiming he had homework to finish. Marty peeked through the blinds again. Jenny had finished raking and was hauling the last bag of leaves to the trashcan. He backed away as she came back onto the porch to finish the glass of water.