The Drafter
Page 133
Peris head snapped up. I thought this was to discuss what I had to offer you in exchange for asylum.
Frans thin lips pressed as she scrolled through a tablet. You thought wrong. Were going to make you normal, Peri Reed.
I am normal. Peri glanced at Silas, whose expression mirrored the surprise and horror she knew were evident on her own features. The only way to eliminate my ability to draft will leave me unable to make any long-term memories, and thats if you do it right. Pardon my concern, but you cant possibly possess the equipment or the finesse. Youll make a vegetable out of me.
Fran put on a pair of diamond-encrusted bifocals and brought her gaze back from the hazy mountains, thick with the coming rain. Your actions carry their own sins. Youre accused of the murders of Hans Marston, James Thomas, Daniel H. Parsole, Kevin Arnold, Thomas Franklin, Nicole Amsterdam, and, most recently, Samuel Smity.
Seven deaths, most of them probably people whod been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It bothered Peri that she didnt remember most of them. Taf had gone pale, and even Silas looked uncomfortable. Hans beat his children and mutilated other mens wives to convince their husbands to do what he wanted them to. I did the world a favor. Kevin Arnold was an accident. He didnt move when I told him to, and someone shot him as he went over a fence. I dont remember the rest, Peri said, ignoring the rising murmur of outrage behind her. You cant try me for something you might have made up.
Youve been linked to a multitude of corporate espionage events that resulted in massive illegal gains in the private sector, Fran continued, peering down through her glasses. I have them listed here, if you feel the need to refute them. Numerous accounts of theft or arson to eliminate records detrimental to Opti personnel several mentions of technological terrorism. Most of them involving biological warfare. She peered accusingly at Peri over the glass tablet. Were not sure what you were doing in old Russia, but Im not liking that the Korean ambassador developed Legionnaires disease the same week you were there and died of complications. Heres my favorite, though. Under the cover of installing a U.S.-friendly government, you set in power an extremist group who went on to commit a nationwide genocide, more commonly known as the White Plague.
That wasnt me, she whispered, going cold. That was Nina and Trey. She looked at Silas, seeing his empty expression. I didnt do that! But a faint memory ticked in the back of her skull, a wisp of unfragmented memory of trying to sneak frightened people past a blockade as the night lit up in a fiery hell behind them. Maybe shed been there, but it had been to stop it, right?
But even as Peri thought it, doubt paralyzed her. Had she ever been anything other thanBills tool? Had she believed everything Jack had said because hed rubbed her feet and made her dinner? Sick to her stomach, she looked up when Fran said, How plead you?
Silas stood, shoving the sudden hands off him. How can you stand there as if youve never bought a drafters skills before, Fran?
Fran covered her mic, and the tech guy jumped. I am not on trial, she hissed, furious.
Maybe you should be. Silas fell back into his chair, pushed by security.
Everything Ive done is for the benefit of mankind, Fran said earnestly, but her face was red from more than anger.
End justifies the means, eh? Silas said bitterly, and from outside, thunder rolled between the hills. You are a hypocritical elitist, Silas accused, straining against the guards hands. How dare you, Fran. Shes been used. By you most of all, turned into something she might not come back from. How dare you accuse her of this? You owe her!
Mother, this is not fair! Taf exclaimed, pushed back to the windows with Howard.
Fair doesnt enter into it, Fran said coldly as the three men kept him unmoving. Youre correct in your diagnosis, though, Silas. Theres no way she can come back from this. She is a tool. And she needs to be destroyed before she brings us all down. You either perform the incision, or you will remain in alliance custody for the rest of your life.
Peri was numb as the thunder grew and beat on her. Had she been blind to Jacks lies for three years, or had she known and gone along with it?
Uh, guys? the tech geek said, eyes on the mountains as he stood over his tablets.
I wont do it, Silas promised. Im not going to mutilate her so you can hide your guilt. She volunteered for this. Everything shes done has been for the alliance. You have a responsibility to fix her!
Volunteered? Volunteered for what?
Guys! Thats not mine, the tech guy said, pointing, and someone gasped at the massive high-Q drone hovering just outside the window. Three seconds later, a military helicopter thumped overhead. Behind it, half a dozen more rolled over the mountains. It hadnt been thunder. It was a flight of Black Hawks, no insignia marring their sleek black shadows against the low clouds as they roared overhead and swung back around. Fast and light.
Fran paled. Spinning, she turned to Taf. A house alarm began to sound, filtering up through the stairway.
Opti was here.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT
Get them to the cars! Fran shouted, hustling to the bar and physically pulling Taf to the elevator. YouFran pushed an agent toward Tafescort my daughter to a secure location. I want Reed out of here. Now! Move!
Frans thin lips pressed as she scrolled through a tablet. You thought wrong. Were going to make you normal, Peri Reed.
I am normal. Peri glanced at Silas, whose expression mirrored the surprise and horror she knew were evident on her own features. The only way to eliminate my ability to draft will leave me unable to make any long-term memories, and thats if you do it right. Pardon my concern, but you cant possibly possess the equipment or the finesse. Youll make a vegetable out of me.
Fran put on a pair of diamond-encrusted bifocals and brought her gaze back from the hazy mountains, thick with the coming rain. Your actions carry their own sins. Youre accused of the murders of Hans Marston, James Thomas, Daniel H. Parsole, Kevin Arnold, Thomas Franklin, Nicole Amsterdam, and, most recently, Samuel Smity.
Seven deaths, most of them probably people whod been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It bothered Peri that she didnt remember most of them. Taf had gone pale, and even Silas looked uncomfortable. Hans beat his children and mutilated other mens wives to convince their husbands to do what he wanted them to. I did the world a favor. Kevin Arnold was an accident. He didnt move when I told him to, and someone shot him as he went over a fence. I dont remember the rest, Peri said, ignoring the rising murmur of outrage behind her. You cant try me for something you might have made up.
Youve been linked to a multitude of corporate espionage events that resulted in massive illegal gains in the private sector, Fran continued, peering down through her glasses. I have them listed here, if you feel the need to refute them. Numerous accounts of theft or arson to eliminate records detrimental to Opti personnel several mentions of technological terrorism. Most of them involving biological warfare. She peered accusingly at Peri over the glass tablet. Were not sure what you were doing in old Russia, but Im not liking that the Korean ambassador developed Legionnaires disease the same week you were there and died of complications. Heres my favorite, though. Under the cover of installing a U.S.-friendly government, you set in power an extremist group who went on to commit a nationwide genocide, more commonly known as the White Plague.
That wasnt me, she whispered, going cold. That was Nina and Trey. She looked at Silas, seeing his empty expression. I didnt do that! But a faint memory ticked in the back of her skull, a wisp of unfragmented memory of trying to sneak frightened people past a blockade as the night lit up in a fiery hell behind them. Maybe shed been there, but it had been to stop it, right?
But even as Peri thought it, doubt paralyzed her. Had she ever been anything other thanBills tool? Had she believed everything Jack had said because hed rubbed her feet and made her dinner? Sick to her stomach, she looked up when Fran said, How plead you?
Silas stood, shoving the sudden hands off him. How can you stand there as if youve never bought a drafters skills before, Fran?
Fran covered her mic, and the tech guy jumped. I am not on trial, she hissed, furious.
Maybe you should be. Silas fell back into his chair, pushed by security.
Everything Ive done is for the benefit of mankind, Fran said earnestly, but her face was red from more than anger.
End justifies the means, eh? Silas said bitterly, and from outside, thunder rolled between the hills. You are a hypocritical elitist, Silas accused, straining against the guards hands. How dare you, Fran. Shes been used. By you most of all, turned into something she might not come back from. How dare you accuse her of this? You owe her!
Mother, this is not fair! Taf exclaimed, pushed back to the windows with Howard.
Fair doesnt enter into it, Fran said coldly as the three men kept him unmoving. Youre correct in your diagnosis, though, Silas. Theres no way she can come back from this. She is a tool. And she needs to be destroyed before she brings us all down. You either perform the incision, or you will remain in alliance custody for the rest of your life.
Peri was numb as the thunder grew and beat on her. Had she been blind to Jacks lies for three years, or had she known and gone along with it?
Uh, guys? the tech geek said, eyes on the mountains as he stood over his tablets.
I wont do it, Silas promised. Im not going to mutilate her so you can hide your guilt. She volunteered for this. Everything shes done has been for the alliance. You have a responsibility to fix her!
Volunteered? Volunteered for what?
Guys! Thats not mine, the tech guy said, pointing, and someone gasped at the massive high-Q drone hovering just outside the window. Three seconds later, a military helicopter thumped overhead. Behind it, half a dozen more rolled over the mountains. It hadnt been thunder. It was a flight of Black Hawks, no insignia marring their sleek black shadows against the low clouds as they roared overhead and swung back around. Fast and light.
Fran paled. Spinning, she turned to Taf. A house alarm began to sound, filtering up through the stairway.
Opti was here.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-EIGHT
Get them to the cars! Fran shouted, hustling to the bar and physically pulling Taf to the elevator. YouFran pushed an agent toward Tafescort my daughter to a secure location. I want Reed out of here. Now! Move!
