The Other Side of Truth (The Marked Ones Trilogy Book 3) (25 page)

Awkward Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It

Monday, December 17th

PATRICK

I
looked down at the ePaper
that I had found in my locker at the Temple of Kalona the day before.

You have been chosen for early inclusion into the Genetic Contingency Project. Please report to the Genetic Security Center located on the third floor of the Department of Medical Research and Development in the main embassy of Karalia tomorrow at noon, and present this to Parker Kirihara.

Parker…

It had been three weeks since Parker had collapsed, and between then and now, her and Travis had become damn near inseparable. Which had mostly resulted in me investing in a pair of really good noise-canceling headphones.

“Hey, Patrick!” someone called out. I turned around to see Shawn coming down the hall. “Oh hey, you got one too?” he asked when he reached me, and saw the ePaper in my hand.

“Oh so you’re talking to me now?” I said sarcastically as I raised one eyebrow at him.

Shawn narrowed his eyes at me. “I never
wasn’t
talking to you.”

We continued to stare each other down for a long moment before he sighed. “Fine. Look, I’m
sorry,
okay? But you really did freak me out.”

“
You
were freaked out! How do you think
I
felt?!” I snapped. “Less than a year ago I thought I was
human
. And then I find out that I’m not, and furthermore, I’m also some kinda weird fucking super-ninja.”

“And you expected me to
not
freak out about that?” Shawn asked like I was being unreasonable.

“Shawn, you believe in superheroes, time traveling guys with hat obsessions, and dragons.
You,
of all people, I thought would be cool with this.”

Shawn glared at me, his arms folded across his chest. “There is no proof that dragons didn’t exist, they could have gone extinct when the dinosaurs did,” he grumbled defensively.

“
Shawn
!” I nearly shouted in exasperation.

“Fine, I’ll admit it I was a flaming jackass, okay? There, are you happy now?” Shawn said with a reluctant huff as he looked away.

“I’m far from happy, but I’m not mad, either,” I answered as I started down the corridor.

Shawn trotted to catch up and after a few long moments he asked in a quiet, shy voice, “Can we go back to being friends now?”

I looked at him and sighed. “Shawn, we never
weren’t
friends.”

“Do you normally work here?” I asked Parker as the three of us walked down the corridor. It hadn’t occurred to me until now that I had absolutely no idea whatsoever what Parker
actually
did at The Embassy, aside from something involving labs.

“No, Kiskei just wanted me to oversee your samples personally for him. You know, because it’s kind of an—” She leaned in and added in a much quieter voice, “—an
Amurai
thing.”

“Oh.” I looked over at a long line of people against one of the walls. “Is that what all those people are waiting for?”

“Yes. They’re here to provide their mandatory genetic sample for KARA’s database.”

And by “genetic sample” she means they are going to stab a needle into them and take a vial of their blood
, Aku commented sourly within my head.

“Wait,” I said in a panic as I stopped abruptly. “You’re not going to jab a needle in me and…and take my blood are you?”

Parker looked at me with a sympathetic smile. “No needles where we’re going, I promise.”

I let out a heavy, shaking breath, and stepped onto the elevator. “Good.”

As we rode the elevator up to the third floor, Shawn looked over at me. “One of these day’s you’re going to have to tell what’s up with the needle thing. I mean they’re
just
needles. It’s not like they hurt that—”

I stared at Shawn with deadly seriousness. “Shawn, think about it for a moment. Think about
where
I lived for those fifteen years.”

Shawn looked at me curiously for a moment before his mouth dropped open, and a bit of the color drained from his face. “Dude, I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

“It’s fine, just never ask me again.”

Shawn nodded quickly and followed me and Parker out of the elevator.

Parker looked down at the stack of ePapers in front of her and started reading. “In light of the recent attacks to the Karalian Embassy, and to ensure the continued survival of the Kalodaemon race, the Chancellarius of Karalia has instituted a genetic contingency plan. In the event of your tragic and untimely death, your genetic profile will be made available to your One. As extremely valuable candidates, you have been selected to participate in the project’s pilot program.”

Parker looked up from the ePaper. “So basically, I need you to sign these,” she said as she handed both of us an ePaper and a stylus. “And then I need you to fill one of these jars,” she finished as she indicated a tray of small clear plastic cups with blue screw-on lids.

“Fill them up with
what
?” Shawn asked, looking down at the jars.

“Well, um with…you know, uh…” Parker babbled uneasily, like she was suddenly extremely uncomfortable with what she had been asked to do. Her British accent becoming more prominent as she went.

I looked at the ePaper Parker had just handed me, and then at the plastic jars. And then I realized why we were here. They wanted a genetic record of us, because we were Amurai. Because we might
die
. Just like my parents.

I lowered the ePaper, and looked over at Shawn. Who was apparently still at a loss as to
why
we were here. “Shawn, this is basically a sperm bank. You fill up the jar with your…you know, your
stuff
.”

“You’re kidding me,” Shawn asked, his cheeks going a bit red, and his jaw dropping open.

“’Fraid not,” Parker said with a slight grimace.

Shawn looked at me, and I shrugged. Then without another word, he reached out to take a jar from the tray, avoiding eye contact with Parker as if his life depended on it.

He stared at the jar in his hand for a moment, and then swallowed hard. “I understand why Patrick’s here, but why me?”

“You are Amurai, which makes you genetically dissimilar to the general Kalodaemon population. As such, we really can’t let those genes die out,” Parker answered uneasily, and I began to wonder why Kiskei hadn’t just done this himself. I mean, it probably would have been a million times less awkward.

“Oh,” Shawn said, finally daring to look at Parker.

“Also, you have been consorting with a potential
chancellarius
. So…” Parker stated with a cough.

I turned to Shawn. “And by ‘consorting’ she means—”

“I know what she means,” Shawn snapped at me before he stood abruptly. His cheeks unbelievably red.

“You can use room 3B,” Parker called out to him as he slid the door open, and stalked off.

As Shawn disappeared down the hall, I looked back at Parker and we both looked at the remaining jars sitting on the tray.

“You can use room 3A,” Parker offered, her cheeks starting to turn as red as Shawn’s.

“Great, thanks,” I replied as I reached out, and took one of the jars.

Did your brother’s girlfriend just ask you to have your way with a jar?
Aku asked within my head as I made my way down the hall.

Yep.

‘Cause
that’s
not awkward at all
, Aku said sarcastically.

Trust me, the unbelievable awkwardness of this situation is not lost on me.

I slid open the door to room 3A, and then shut it quickly behind me.

Hey, do you think he has to come in here too?
Aku asked curiously.

I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want to get this all over with before it gets any more awkward.
I snapped as I set the jar down on the counter that was beside the medical table.

Aku was quiet for a moment before he asked,
So…how do you want to do this?

What do you mean?

Well, are you going to think about Nualla? Or should I…

I froze, my hand on the zipper of my jeans.
You just
had
to make this worse, didn’t you?

What? It was a valid thing to ask!
Aku stated indignantly.

Fine.
I huffed.
I’ll think about my wife, and you can think about whoever the hell you want.

I’m not sure that’s going to—

Then just shut up, and let me do this already!

I jerked the zipper down, and turned back toward the counter. As I reached for the plastic jar, there was a weird noise from above, a click from the door, and then the light turned off.

I turned toward the door.

Did that door just lock itself?
Aku asked within my head.

Yep
, I replied as I looked at the door, my anxiety rising with each heartbeat.

Do you think it’s an attack, or your brother
mossing
with something?

It could be either, really.

Aku was silent for a moment before he said,
Well…at least it’s dark now.

I put my head in my hand,
You know, sometimes I really do hate you.

A Colossal Feat of Cosmic Irony

Monday, December 17th

TRAVIS

“W
hy do you kinda look
like you might throw up?” Akiko asked as she looked up from her ever-present tablet.

“Because I
really
don’t want to sit through the Central Six meeting if this doesn’t work,” I said as I typed into the keyboard at KARA’s new main terminal station. Really, that was the reason for the angry swarm of butterflies swirling around in my stomach, but also because I had spent over a year now on the KARA Project. Long before I ever brought it to Alex’s attention, I had been tinkering with the idea in my free time. And to have her not work after all that, well…

I finished typing the last few lines of code, and let out a heavy breath. We were in a relatively tiny, nearly arctic server room. The new home of KARA’s systems. All the times before KARA had been operating off of a computer in my lab, but now, if this all worked out, she’d be living permanently in this server room.

I stared at the screen, my finger hovering over the button that would launch the program. I couldn’t fail, not this time. Not when everyone was counting on me.

I took a deep breath, and pushed the button. The encircled lotus on screen flashed brilliant light-blue once, and then faded to a soft gray.

“Good afternoon, KARA,” I called out nervously.

“Good afternoon, Travis,” KARA chirped back in Nualla’s friendly, familiar voice.

“KARA, I’d like you to initiate the announcement for Protocol Ultara,” I ordered as I crossed my fingers in the pocket of my white lab coat.

“Initiating announcement for Protocol Ultara,” KARA informed me cheerfully. “Greetings, citizens of Karalia. In accordance with Section Five of the New Charter, the Department of Technical Research and Development will be initiating integration of the Kalo Automated Response Assistant. Please remain calm, and continue with your previously scheduled activities,” KARA announced to The Embassy at large.

“What’s Protocol Ultara?” Akiko asked in a quiet voice so KARA wouldn’t think she was talking to her. Though it really wouldn’t have mattered, because KARA was programed only to process sound information when addressed by name.

“Protocol Ultara tells her to fully integrate with all The Embassy’s systems,” I clarified before I looked back at the screen. “KARA, please initiate Protocol Ultara,” I commanded.

“Initiating Protocol Ultara. All currently running systems will be terminated,” KARA announced just to us.

“Wait,
what
?!” I yelped, jumping forward quickly. “KARA, revoke that order.”

She didn’t respond.

Oh this was bad. This was really,
really
bad.

“KARA?” I said hopefully.

Still nothing.

“What’s wrong?” Akiko asked in alarm.

There was a soft beep, and a sound like a swirling fan slowing down, and then with a click, everything turned off. The servers, the lights—
everything
.

“That,” I said with a sigh as I ran my hand down my face. “
That
’s what’s wrong.”

After a moment of us standing in complete and utter darkness, I heard Akiko’s shoes squeak as she shifted her weight. “How far do you think the shut down reaches?”

“The whole Embassy complex,” I answered with a sigh.

“When you say the whole…” Akiko said uncertainly as if she was afraid she already knew the answer.

“The
whole
complex. The Embassy proper, the hospital, the school, the residential buildings—all of it.
And
KARA’s set up to control everything from the electricity, surveillance, and computers, to the lights, doors, and emergency systems.”

“Wait, the
doors
?” Akiko asked in panic. “As in we’re
stuck
in this glorified closet until KARA comes back online?”

“Basically,” I admitted with a grimace.

There was silence for a moment, and then Akiko grumbled through gritted teeth, “Travis, you are going to be in
so
much trouble when we get out of here.”

“Please tell me you aren’t claustrophobic,” I groaned as I leaned against one of the banks of servers.

Silence.

“Of
course
you are, because my luck just sucks that badly.”

NUALLA

I
stepped into the elevator, and
immediately wanted to back out again. But I couldn’t, because
she
had already noticed me, and it would have been
way
obvious if I did. So I paused for only a fraction of a second before I continued on into the glass-walled elevator, head held high and proud. Ignoring the fact that my evil
doppelgänger
—turned younger cousin, was standing only a good five feet from me.

I told myself that it would be over in a few minutes, and then I wouldn’t have to see her again unless I decided to go back to Club Lunaris. The very place I had actually been avoiding since that night a few weeks ago when Travis had stayed over.

I turned away from Kira and pulled out my phone, pretending to be busily working on something important. But really I was just surfing PinIt.

“Greetings, citizens of Karalia. In accordance with Section Five of the New Charter, the Department of Technical Research and Development will be initiating integration of the Kalo Automated Response Assistant. Please remain calm and continue with your previously scheduled activities,” KARA announced in my voice shortly after the elevator doors had shut.

I let out a sigh, and rolled my eyes at the overhead speakers. I still hadn’t forgiven Travis for giving KARA my voice. Because now, in my nightmares about The Embassy attack, it was my
own
voice telling me I was about to die.

The elevator jolted to a halt, and I fell against the glass wall, dropping my phone. And then everything went dark—the elevator, the lights around The Embassy—
everything
.

I steadied myself back on my feet, and looked through the glass walls of the elevator to The Embassy beyond. Everyone had stopped, and they were looking around in alarm in the relatively dim light. The emergency lights hadn’t come on and the light streaming through the stained-glass ceilings high above wasn’t terribly bright on a cloudy day.

I turned quickly back to the elevator door panel, and jabbed the emergency call button a few times, but nothing happened. I stared at it for a moment in horror before my hand shot out to jab the button a few more times.

No! No this isn’t happening!

I jabbed the button a few more times in rising panic, but nothing happened.

I stepped back from the panel, my hand shaking a bit. It was like a bad dream.
No, not this.
Anything
but this. Please, gods, anything but this.

As I stood there trembling a bit, I finally remembered that I wasn’t trapped in the elevator alone. No, in what was a colossal feat of cosmic irony I was trapped in an elevator…with
her
.

Seriously, what the
frak
, universe?!
Don’t I
already
have enough fuel for ten lifetimes worth of nightmares without this crap piled on top?

As slowly and nonchalantly as possible, I turned to look at her. But Kira wasn’t looking at me, she was looking out the glass wall of the elevator at the main floor of The Embassy. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.
It’s going to be okay.
I said over and over again in my head until I almost believed it.

I leaned against the glass wall of the elevator, my boot resting against its surface, and texted Travis.

Today 12:37 pm

Nualla Galathea

Let me guess you broke something didn’t you?

A few minutes later my phone dinged.

Today 12:42 pm

Travis Centrina

Yeah I just had KARA integrate with The Embassy’s systems. Which she apparently took to mean, “shut everything down first.”

I rolled my eyes at the phone, and huffed out a sigh. My phone dinged again, and I looked back down.

Travis Centrina

Sorry. Where are you stuck?

Nualla Galathea

The main Embassy elevators.

With Kira I might add.

It was just adding insult to injury that I was trapped in here with quite possibly the
last
person on earth I
ever
wanted to be trapped
anywhere
with.

A ding ran out much quicker this time.

Travis Centrina

Wait, seriously?! OMGs I am soooo sorry.

You owe me big time Travis.
I typed into my phone, jabbing the screen as if I could infuse the text with how truly pissed I was.

Name it and it’s yours
, Travis texted back almost instantly.

A small smirk spread across my lips as I thought over what I should make him do as punishment. Maybe spend a whole week—a whole
month
—stuck wearing plaid pants. Red and green plaid pants. The smirk burst into a full grin when I thought about how much he hated the uniform pants he had had to wear when he was in high school.

Movement caught my eye, and I looked away from my phone. While I had been texting Travis, Kira had slid down the glass wall to the floor. And even though her face was turned away from me, watching the chaos in the lobby, I somehow felt like I was the one
truly
being watched.

“Well
you
seem right at home,” I stated sarcastically.

“I’m used to being enclosed in small glass-walled rooms,” she replied without looking at me.

I just stared at her, caught off guard by the emotionlessness in her voice as she told me she was essentially used to being a prisoner. That, and the fact that aside from a slight accent to her words, her voice was an even better copy of my own than KARA’s was.

Kira finally looked back at me, and snorted out a bitter laugh. “Oh
come
on, like you didn’t know we were raised in labs and test rooms,” she replied derisively.

When I just continued to gape at her open-mouthed, her expression shifted to uneasy nervousness, and she looked at the ground. “Or apparently you
didn’t
.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t believe you,” I said tonelessly. I
did
believe her, deep down. But I couldn’t bring myself to admit it out loud, because that would make it true.

“You think I give a
moss
what you believe, Arius?” Kira said with cruel eyes. She didn’t call me
cousin
or even
Nualla
and I wasn’t sure if that upset me more than if she had.

“You can’t make me feel sorry for you, so don’t even try,” I challenged stubbornly.

“I don’t need
your
sympathy,” Kira spat savagely.

“You tried to
kill
me!” I screamed at her.

“I
know
!” she shouted back as she slammed her fist against the glass wall, making the thing quiver slightly. “Do you think I
forgot
that? Do think I could
ever
forget what it was like? To be screaming inside my own head. To feel myself holding the gun—feel my finger on that trigger—and not being able to do
anything
about it! To watch someone I loved drop to the ground, and know it was
my
hand that pulled the trigger!”

I just blinked at her in stunned shock. “But I thought they always had control over you—over that side of your mind,” I said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

All the fight seemed to leave Kira in an instant, and she slumped against the glass, her face turned away from me. “Not always.”

It was that one simple statement that held so much back behind it, that made me start to question.