The Torrent (The New Agenda Series Book 4) (19 page)

36

A
light flickered in
one of the rooms somewhere deep within the lower levels of the Administrative Building. A room that nobody living knew existed. The server blinked to life and began spewing instructions to a nearby computer. The digital panel illuminated with a diagram of a human anatomy, and areas of the body began to flash from blue to green. A heart rate monitor blipped onto the screen, along with a list of vitals calculating in a running tally.

Along the wall, a square panel opened and a horizontal container came forward. The screen continued displaying strings of code, while the container shifted from its horizontal position to upright. The cabin door lifted to reveal a stasis chamber. Inside the pod, a man’s body floated in blue liquid. The information dashboard above the chamber went from flashing red lights to a solid row of green. More information displayed and the beeping grew louder. The blue liquid began draining from the pod, and the cords attached to his body unlatched, causing him to jerk and twitch. Another panel opened, securing the man into a glider chair. Then the cabin opened and the glider moved from the stasis chamber into the room.

The glider connected to the computer and more instructions spewed out. After a few moments, the man’s body thrust to life and he gasped for air. He stared at the monitor, his eyes adjusting. When the stream of code finally stopped, he was able to step out of the chair to his feet. He grabbed a towel from the stack on the shelf and dried off, then wrapped it around his waist to cover his nudity.

Clearing his throat, he spoke for the first time. “I’m alive.”

“Good afternoon, Chief Morray,” the computer announced.

“I made it back in one piece.”

“Yes, Chief Morray. All vital signs in your new biometric body are well and you have integrated fully.”

“Well done, I must say.”

He stood before a mirror, admiring the reflection staring back at him. He had been successfully uploaded into Phoenix’s body: the body Dickson had created and kept safely stored.

“It’s a perfect fit,” he said.

“Would you like to include your status into the main records system?” the computer asked.

Morray took the chair and smashed the desktop monitor to pieces. Then he picked up the chair again and smashed the server until it was completely dead.

After he was sure there wasn’t evidence of a digital trail, he exited the room and walked down the dark corridor to a door. He needed to get to the presidential suite on the top floor of the Administrative Building to find some clothes and figure out his next steps. But when he got to the lobby, he went to the front windows and stared outside to the city. The rooftop panels of the Seattle City Center had been removed.

“Stay where you are!” a voice shouted from behind.

He turned around to find two guards aiming guns.

“Can we help you?” one of the men asked.

Morray wasn’t sure if these guards were Faraday’s men. He played dumb to draw out more information.

The other guard, a stocky ball of anger, glanced at his partner. “I knew opening that section in the wall was a bad idea. Now we’re gonna have to deal with stray natives slipping inside whenever they want.”

Morray remained silent, letting the men do all the talking until he could deduce what was happening.

The more compassionate of the two came forward. “You hungry? Is that why you’re here?”

“Looks like he could use some clothes.” The stocky one laughed.

Morray looked to the floor, pretending to be scared and timid.

“Those attacks really messed things up for you all out there, but that doesn’t mean you can be comin’ into the city for handouts. You got that?”

Morray nodded and mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

The kinder guard eased back. “Look, I can get you something to wear and some food, but then I’m driving you back out, okay?”

“Thank you,” he said.

The man took Morray to an office, where he found a pair of brown pants, a shirt and a wool hat. He gave him a few protein bars, which Morray gobbled up in seconds. His new body was famished and needed to fuel up. He looked around at the computer screens, trying to figure out what was going on inside the center.

“Time to go,” the guard said.

They left the building and walked toward a Jeep parked in the front. A woman with long auburn hair sat behind the wheel. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled, her brilliant green eyes glittering in the pale afternoon light.
Ava Rhodes.
Morray jumped back a little, pulling down his wool cap to disguise himself better. Hopefully Ava wouldn’t recognize Phoenix’s face, they had only met briefly. He swallowed a mouthful of excitement, grateful she had made it back into her beautiful, flawless body.

“Hope everything’s okay at your camp,” Ava said politely.

“He was hungry,” the guard spoke for Morray.

“I wanted to see the Inside. Why is the roof opened?” Morray asked.

“Not that you’d understand, but we’re shutting down the mainframe today,” the guard explained. “Anyway, President Strader wanted to make sure we had some natural light in this son-of-a-bitching thing. Looking out for the ones staying behind.”

Not only was Ava back, she had the title of president and convinced the council to shut down the mainframe. She worked fast. Morray had stellar timing. If the network had been shut down any sooner, he wouldn’t have made it back to Phoenix’s biometric body. Dickson would be wiped clean once the mainframe was gone. Shame their partnership had to end that way.

But the strongest always come out on top.

Morray stared at the passing city as they drove toward the eastern wall. He liked knowing that Ava was living in the city center. When they arrived at the wall, the guard got out and opened the gate. Morray was surprised by their lack of security. Maybe Ava assumed they no longer needed protection. With the mainframe gone, the threat of Morray and Dickson no longer existed.

The guard helped Morray out of the Jeep. Ava waved goodbye. Foolish woman … He’d be back to collect his property.

The guard walked with him to a dirt path. “Now just because I helped you, don’t go telling your buddies. This is a one-time deal. Got it?”

“You know what’s funny?” Morray asked.

“What’s that?”

“Not that you’d understand … but Ava should have known she could
never
get rid of me.” As he turned to leave, he heard the cock of a gun. He whipped around.

Ava stood a few feet away, aiming a shotgun. “Never say never.”

BY SIMONE POND

THE CITY CENTER – Book I

THE NEW AGENDA – Book II

THE MAINFRAME – Book III

THE TORRENT – Book IV

VOICES OF THE APOCALYPSE SERIES - SHORT STORIES

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simonepond.com

Simone Pond is an award-winning author of dystopian fiction. Her current series includes The City Center, The New Agenda, The Mainframe and The Torrent. She also has a short story series titled Voices of the Apocalypse, which is the precursor to the New Agenda series. Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier.
The City Center
was the recipient of a gold medal in dystopian fiction from the Readers’ Favorite Awards.

Acknowledgements

I never get tired of thanking the folks who help me, how could I? There are so many supportive people in my life that it’d take pages to list them all… First, I must thank God for constant guidance, comfort and the gift of writing. Thanks to my husband, Peter, for your devotion and brilliant mind. My phenomenal editors: Scott Tipton (who always has the best last words) and Carmen Erickson (who is an excellent teacher and magician with words). To my eagle eyes, Bill Emmett, Kat Deloian, and Nadine DeBlasio. Special thanks to Emily Wibberley, my author friend and confidant – I love our weekly writing and venting sessions. A exceptionally enormous shout out to my pre-readers for the continuous support and being the first people to read my words and give honest reviews – you guys have stuck with me through the entire series and I adore you! Thanks to my family and dearest friends who have helped me along the way. And a most sincere thanks to my readers – you all make writing so much more fun! Thank you for loving words as much as I do.