The Intrepid Three, page 1
Reviews for
The Intrepid Three
“The Intrepid Three by Brianna and Matthew Penfold is a captivating science fiction adventure with profound themes woven into its intricate plot. The story’s pacing is perfectly executed, with three narratives unfolding simultaneously as the tale progresses. Each protagonist—streetwise Dez, steadfast Walter, and innocent Arabella—is distinct and well developed, possessing unique abilities. The meticulously crafted setting is so immersive that it feels as though the reader has spent years in the three realms rather than the single day the story takes to unfold. With elements of faith and mythology seamlessly integrated into a fantastical universe, anticipation for the continuation of this saga will undoubtedly build as book one concludes. . . . Readers will find themselves wholly engrossed in the distant worlds of these three teenagers.
“Filled with surprises and thought-provoking content, The Intrepid Three will delight teen and young adult readers who enjoy exploring far-off realities. With its exceptional storytelling, perfect pacing, and richly developed setting, this first installment offers a tantalizing glimpse into a wondrous world that is sure to captivate readers.”
—Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor, Literary Titan
“The Intrepid Three: Animus Revealed is a captivating fantasy adventure from husband-and-wife duo and debut authors Brianna and Matthew Penfold. This is a fast-paced, action-packed novel for young adult readers, set within three unique and different dystopian worlds. Each world is fascinating, and the book explores some of the key threats to our own humanity: the influence of big technological corporations, and the exploitation of human labour; the pervasive and invasive power of social media; and the growing wealth inequality which threatens our democracy. The characters are interesting, each from a different background with different life experiences. I look forward to reading how the characters develop and how their powers grow in the next book. The book will appeal to young adult readers who enjoy adventure, fantasy fiction, and dystopian novels.
“As the first in a planned series, this book introduces the reader to the three worlds, the three main characters, and the backstory of Pax. The book ends on a gripping cliff hanger, and I look forward to reading the next installment.”
—5-Star Readers’ Choice Review
“The Intrepid Three by Brianna and Matthew Penfold is a highly imaginative story that . . . brings a whole new meaning to our world. I love how the relatable characters, who all come from different walks of life, work together to drive the story through the chaotic battle between Author and Author’s adversaries. This interesting cast reveals that embracing differences in others can create the most remarkable friendships. . . .
“[This is] a wild showdown between good and evil that keeps you wondering what will happen next and who will be the victor. I highly recommend it to any young adult or adult who loves a fantasy story that can’t be put down.”
—Amy Raines, 5-Star Readers’ Favorite
“The Intrepid Three is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that will leave readers reflecting on the consequences of unchecked corporate power and the importance of human connection in a dehumanizing world. The well-drawn characters, vivid settings, and engaging writing style make it a captivating read. Fans of dystopian fiction and social commentary will find this book a thought-provoking addition to the genre. Overall, The Intrepid Three is a gripping and powerful read that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.”
—Margie Przybylski, Pacific Book Review
“I must say, this is a compelling fantasy novel from husband and wife authors Brianna and Matthew Penfold. . . . I had a blast with this book. I loved the characters, particularly Walter, and I enjoyed the growing threat that’s never far away from the storytelling. . . . The writing style of the authors is spot on for young adult readers; there’s plenty . . . happening all of the time, and the plot is, well, clever, and very unpredictable—the way a YA fantasy should be.
“So, I’m very happy to recommend The Intrepid Three to readers . . . who enjoy skillfully plotted, gritty novels populated with distinct and very memorable characters.”
—5-Star A Wishing Shelf Book Review, www.thewsa.co.uk
“Brianna and Matthew Penfold have created a superbly engaging work of young adult adventure that ties both science fiction and fantasy attributes into a concise and enjoyable story. I found the introduction to the different worlds and technologies interesting, especially as it provides a fair bit of social commentary by holding up a mirror to our tech-obsessed planet. The way that each character is shaped by their experiences worked well to add different personalities and unique skills to the plot. I enjoyed Arabella’s emotional journey the most, coming from a place of privilege and having to face a pretty tough reality check. Each of the characters offers something for readers to relate to. The Intrepid Three is a highly recommended read and a great addition to any young adult fan’s shelf.”
—K.C. Finn, 5-Star Readers’ Favorite
“The battle of good versus evil, light versus dark, is as old as time. Brianna and Matthew Penfold seamlessly integrate the classic theme in this riveting tale about three young heroes finding themselves at the center of momentous events upon which the fate of humanity resides. The Intrepid Three is deliciously unpredictable, strikingly relevant, but above all, an absolute belter of a novel. E- Corp seemed like a nod to Sam Esmail’s hit television show, Mr. Robot. I enjoyed the distinct backgrounds and personalities of the three heroes and their unique powers. The character of Author also brings a layer of mystery to the story that adds to its charm. Overall, a brilliant start to a new series.”
—Pikasho Deka, 5-Star Readers’ Favorite
The Intrepid Three: Animus Revealed
by Brianna & Matthew Penfold
© Copyright 2023 Brianna & Matthew Penfold
ISBN 978-1-64663-980-9
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the authors.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The names, incidents, dialogue, and opinions expressed are products of the authors’ imaginations and are not to be construed as real.
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To Oliver, our very own little lumen.
PROLOGUE
Before time, everything was pitch-black, except for a lone bright light in the expanse. Suddenly, the light flared. Then again. On the third flare, there was a great explosion. Elements fused into the cosmos—stars, planets, and galaxies. Life sprang in the wake of the emanating wave. Remaining at the center of it all was the original light.
The light named each celestial body. One star, Calamus, the most brilliant, was plucked from its arrangement in the universe. It was chosen for a special purpose—the instrument to write the future of all humanity. The star was effortlessly fashioned into a long sliver of light resembling a pen, and the all-powerful light wrote into the darkness. Showing careful attention, the light shone over a world called Pax. Calamus was used to create the most beautiful home imaginable for the Paxians. Life expanded as flora and fauna flourished. After a long passage of time, which was only a flash for the light, it wielded Calamus again, forming the most beloved cast—people.
The light’s paramount act of love was to place a piece of Calamus in human hearts. While the light was the original creator, Calamus permitted humans to create by their will, for better or worse.
1
EUPORIA MONDAY 7:50 A.M.
The world was full of concrete, glass, and steel. In Euporia, the distant sun, a rare acquaintance, peeked only above the tips of the skyscrapers once a day. There was almost always a slight drizzle landing on the sea of bustling black umbrellas and the exhausted arms attached. The smog sat heavily on the horizon while pedestrians swarmed in and out of the skyscrapers and donned their white E-Corp uniform, black E-Corp umbrella, and black E-Corp satchel. None of the apparel was without each person’s employee identification number prominently displayed. The masses did not lift their heads, seemingly oblivious to the flocks of helicopters dropping off Management on the rooftops of each steel giant.
“Hurry up and scan your badge. It’s not like you have all day,” an unempathetic guard, only known as EC0139259, shouted his familiar greeting at the fifteen-year-old Dez. The teenager’s hazel eyes no longer held their youthful glow. Like most children in Euporia, Dez Gibbous was forced to grow up early and begin her monotonous career.
Her bland E-Corp uniform looked as though it could swallow up her skinny five-foot-eight frame, so she used an extra belt to force the unappealing garb around her slim waist. Makeup was expensive in Euporia, but even if Dez could buy some, she wouldn’t have used it. It was too much work on top of an already suffocating schedule. Her short and stick-straight brown bob was just as low maintenance as her facial routine.
Dez often wondered if EC0139259 was able to say anything else. And just like every day, she didn’t move any faster, knowing that her twelve-hour shift would be just as tedious as yesterday’s. Moving through the scanner, the Loyalty Building opened to a large at
Climbing aboard, Dez and twenty other coders waited for their daily motivational briefing. As the elevator started to ascend, a programmed holographic image of the brightly dressed CEO of E-Corp appeared on the panes of the elevator glass. The cheery voice boomed through the occupants’ employee identification numbers and paused after each to comment on their productivity ratings.
“Good morning, EC3315763.” Dez nervously listened as her statistics were read to the entire elevator, knowing she was dangerously close to being reprimanded. The voice didn’t lose its upbeat cadence while reading Dez’s dismal numbers. “You are currently performing at a 2.1, which is 0.3 down from last week. E-Corp looks forward to you improving your productivity. Remember, you are a valued member of the E-Corp team, but you are replaceable.”
Most of the other occupants’ numbers were above 3.5, a very safe tier to find oneself. The highest potential rating was a 7.0, but this was impossible to achieve. Management made sure of that with their rigged algorithm.
Productivity in the eyes of Management was the only thing that mattered. Above 2.0, managers left their employees alone, but below 2.0, managers began to take action at their own discretion. Discipline almost always meant firings, and firings almost always meant becoming a Forgotten.
The Forgotten had no place in the E-Corp world, and if a person had no place in the E-Corp world, they had no place at all. They resided stories deep below the bustling city where the only light was flickering flames. In Euporia, value was equivalent to the floor you lived on; the Forgotten lived and worked in negative numbers.
“Thirty-third floor,” chimed the elevator as Dez’s checks flushed red from embarrassment. She did not know why she felt humiliated in front of the other passengers; she didn’t know them, nor did she care to. The reclusive girl’s detachment from her peers was unspoken company policy. E-Corp frowned on friendships in the workplace, and even acquaintanceships were discouraged. Few addressed each other by name.
Nevertheless, Dez felt ashamed of her consistently low productivity ratings. She spent much of the day distracted by the deteriorating health of her parents, Ada and Leo Gibbous. Like many middle-aged Euporians, Dez’s parents suffered from Euporian Exhaustion. This chronic disease came from working twelve-hour shifts, six days a week, fifty-two weeks a year for decades. The hallmark symptoms of the disease, profound fatigue and deep depression, robbed the afflicted of any quality of life. Her parents spent their days and nights shut-in their convalescent studio apartment.
Dez stepped out into a sea of cubicles. The scent of hopelessness filled the stuffy air. Her tiny workstation was crammed in the back corner, which would be tolerable but for the blacked-out windows. E-Corp deemed views of the outside world a distraction and waste of company time, thus decreasing productivity. Dez placed her fingers on the keyboard while a bright flash of light scanned her fingertips. The monitor opened automatically to the previous day’s repetitive task.
“Ugh.” She let out a stifled, exasperated sigh. Dez knew that she must code five superfluous new E-Corp products for the website before leaving for home. All of this work had the potential to increase her productivity to only a 2.5. If she wanted to get to a 3.0, Dez would have to code at least ten new products within the next twelve hours. Dez wondered if she was doomed from the beginning.
In Euporia, E-Corp determined everything, even a person’s fate. All children were tested at the age of thirteen with the PLACE (Personal Labor Aptitude Calculator Exam), to determine their station in the world. Each child was marched into one of the many E-Corp testing centers for a fifteen-minute imaging brain scan. During testing, one child after another was wheeled on a gurney into a narrow and dark imaging machine, converted from an MRI scanner. While in the claustrophobic tube, an E-Corp scientist read aloud a series of hypothetical scenarios involving management, technology, and ethics topics.
As each child answered the questions, various regions of the brain produced different colors for the E-Corp scientists to measure. Children testing primarily red were deemed to have leadership characteristics and were sourced into Management, while children testing primarily blue were deemed to have technological skills and were sourced into Technology. Five percent of the time, children tested primarily yellow, which indicated neither management nor technological aptitude. Being deemed useless to E-Corp, they were sent below the city to live as Forgotten. To maximize productivity, most other tasks in Euporia were performed by automated machines.
Dez grew cold and her heart raced as she thought back to her testing day. The last scenario she was presented still haunted the world-weary fifteen-year-old. “If your mother was about to be sent underground to the Forgotten, would you (a) try to buy her position back, (b) hack her records to fabricate her productivity ratings, or (c) ask to take her place,” read the cold scientist.
Dez answered, “I would—”
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
As with all the other questions, Dez was not able to finish her response before the machine recorded her answer. “Thank you,” interrupted the scientist donning a perfectly pressed white lab coat. “Your answers were registered, and you will receive the results of your scan in forty-eight hours. You must report to your assignment within one day of receiving your results.”
In retrospect, Dez should have known her answers would lead her to Technology. She was not callous enough to place in Management, and she imagined the brain scan revealed this truth. Dez also attributed her rejection of the harmful system designed by the monopoly to her parents. Unlike most adults, her parents lived open-eyed to the reality of E-Corp’s oppression.
Many parents lived within the unchallenged, rigid rules of E-Corp and taught their children to follow suit. Apps controlled by the company were commonly used to arrange marriages. These apps were particularly popular because most people did not have time to date due to their grueling work shifts, and socializing at work was forbidden. The apps supposedly calculated the risk of a couple’s offspring testing red, blue, or, God forbid, yellow. An individual uploaded the results of their childhood brain scan, and the app matched that user to another user with the highest likelihood of producing Management offspring.
Matched marriages were not the only way to source children into Management. Many guardians hired expensive E-Corp “placement coaches,” sometimes spending a year’s wages, to train their children into beating the impending brain scan. Dez’s parents refused to buy into either of these carefully manufactured scams, apps or coaches, as they knew both measures were manipulated to create employees for their dominion. Even with this knowledge, Dez’s family, like all Euporians, were still vulnerable to the dangers of the greedy behemoth.
E-Corp was formed nearly a century ago. Over that time, the giant perfected control and apathy. Through shady business dealings, financial ruses, and labor exploitations, E-Corp pushed out all other corporate competition. Everyone was now dependent on E-Corp as they were the main manufacturer, seller, and employer in Euporia. The small Euporian government did nothing to regulate the large enterprise. Management had infiltrated the administrations long ago.
Dez’s computer screen flashed bright red; she had not pressed a key in five minutes. This was another one of the daily motivational reminders implemented at the workplace. Of course, there were no managers actually on the floor to motivate, but their presence was always felt. Rotating cameras lined the ceilings, and every computer’s camera was permanently activated. Dez wondered if there was anywhere in the building safe from Management’s eyes. Sometimes, she would make goofy faces in the bathroom mirror, hoping to remind the managers, and herself, that she was just a kid.
Her fingers hurriedly dashed across the keyboard as she began coding. Each techie was expected to enhance the E-Corp website product page with cheap, everyday items. The only competition for the massive conglomerate was the Forgotten-run black market. Rebellious citizens of Euporia would risk their lives and livelihoods to buy a wide range of higher quality products from the black-market vendors. Dez understood E-Corp’s interest in productivity was really about controlling consumers and increasing profitability. Premature obsolescence was the name of the game for the massive company. The more often things broke, the more often they had to be replaced.
