Not Your Backup, page 25
He pulls something from his pocket, a cellophane wrapped sweet. “Do you still like caramels, dear?”
Emma stares at the offered candy; a distinct memory comes back to her. She’s six, hiding behind her mother’s skirts, following Mama’s sleek pantsuit closely. Mama had just been elected to the Council then, and it had been the first time the three of them had gone to New Bright City together to celebrate Mama’s journey toward making a difference.
It was Kingston, she’s sure; back then he hadn’t started wearing suits, just a cardigan and pressed trousers and glasses.
“Ah, yes, you must be Samantha Robledo, our new representative for the Nevada region,” Kingston said, taking Mama’s hand and shaking it solicitously.
“Serving on the Council is such an honor. But I imagine you’ll be wanting to do a single term, just to try it? And then get back to your family?”
“My wife, Josephine, and our daughter, Emma,” Mama said, introducing them.
“Hello, little lady,” Kingston said, crouching down to her height. “Would you like a caramel?”
Emma had been on a train all day, tired and hungry, and she remembered seeing the candy and grabbing it with delight.
“Say thank you,” Mom whispered.
“Thank you,” Emma said.
“Such a polite child,” Kingston said. “I imagine you’ll be a wonderful citizen one day. A great asset to our flourishing country.”
Emma barely remembers the rest of the visit; she mostly remembers tagging along with Mom to the zoo and the Museum of Select Pre-Collective History, marveling at the ancient types of transportation. She met Kingston twice more during that trip, and then forgot the strange old man.
She wishes she remembers now. Was he dead set on the presidency so early on? Had he already formulated a plan that would involve allying with a corrupt League of Heroes and resort to kidnapping and blackmail to get his way?
“Come along. We’ve much to discuss.” Kingston doesn’t wait for her, just starts walking down the hallway. He presses his hand to the wall. A disguised lockpad glows and something whirrs behind the wall.
Kingston turns and smiles and jerks his head at the opening doors. “After you.”
Emma steps forward. She’s got nowhere else to go; she might as well see what Kingston has to say. She tries to remember everything about the elevator and what she sees so she can use it for an escape later.
The elevator is all glass with a view of the sky outside. In the reflection, she notices how strange she looks, in her dirty and weatherworn clothing. Next to Kingston, polished in his suit and tie, she looks like a scared child.
Emma is determined to be anything but that.
She touches the glass; it’s cold beneath her hands. Outside, small fragments of ice streak across the glass. The atmosphere is thinner, Emma remembers. She looks up, and is it her imagination or does the bright blue of the sky look deeper, darker, suggesting the edge of space beyond? No, there’s something else, something shimmering—
“Ah, it’s quite impressive, isn’t it? New Bright City’s impact shield. The P019 event will feel like nothing more than a light rain.” Kingston smiles at her as if he expects her to be impressed.
Emma doesn’t say anything; it’s cool, sure, but all the major cities in the impact zone have been working on their own shields and preparations for the upcoming meteor event. New Bright City’s isn’t more impressive just because it’s taller.
Emma startles and almost loses her balance when the floor almost seems to drop below her as the elevator descends at a brisk speed.
Kingston gives her a patronizing smile. “Don’t be nervous, dear. We’re quite safe. I imagine it can be quite overwhelming, if you’re afraid of heights.”
“I’m not,” Emma says, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She wasn’t lying, she isn’t afraid of heights at all, unlike Bells, who gets nervous standing on a balcony. She stands her ground firmly and watches as they plunge through cloud layers. Why bring her to the top of COFAX only to take her back down?
“It’s quite a view, isn’t it?” Kingston muses casually. “Three hundred and seventeen floors, in case you were wondering. I take this elevator from my office and living quarters to the lower levels of COFAX every day. It’s humbling, to be able to see the country and the people I am responsible for.”
Emma doesn’t think humble is living hundreds of floors above your constituents, but she keeps her mouth shut.
“You were the top in your science class back at Andover Heights High School,” Kingston muses. “And you were in an accelerated college preparatory class as well, with a noted interest in aerospace.”
“So?” Emma turns her wary gaze up at Kingston. What’s he getting at?
“Even though aerospace engineering pursuits haven’t been active since the days before our great nation was formed? Such a unique passion,” Kingston says, stroking his beard. “One might say that it goes against the ideals of the Collective.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Space travel.”
Kingston steps up to the glass and looks at the sky. “Our forebearers wasted so much money trying to find the stars when we had enough trouble brewing on the ground.”
Emma glares at him. “That unique passion developed most of the technology we use and enjoy every day. And space travel is inspiring. That’s why I want to do it. To go to Mars. To learn and discover new things. And to recover the knowledge we lost. It’s useful, okay?”
“Oh, I never said that research wasn’t useful, dear. Just all those spaceships, those rocket fuels. You know we don’t have the capacity to spend so much of our resources on such fruitless endeavors that don’t benefit the public.”
Emma scoffs. “And you think our current endeavors do? I know about Constavia.”
Kingston doesn’t deny it. He merely continues gazing out the window. “Tantalum is a valuable resource, and it’s my responsibility to secure it.”
“That tantalum belongs to the people of Constavia. Just because you’re waging a war there and distracting everyone with—”
“I’d be careful with what you’re accusing me of,” Kingston says, his eyes flashing. “You don’t know what it takes to keep this great country going.”
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” Emma mutters. “The League is just a coverup.”
“Don’t be so naïve. Everything has its place. Even you.”
Kingston puts his hands in his pockets and looks out to the view as they descend into the city itself. The elevator slows as it continues past many tiers of streets with people driving and walking and enjoying their day, and then a greenway with its swaying trees rustling in the wind.
The shifting holograms bear the news of the day: Starscream punching Dynamite over and over and Sublimate flashing his shiny white teeth for toothpaste.
“Such a beautiful city,” Kingston says. “I’ve been all over the Collective, and I can say that this one is the most efficient. You can’t even see the clutter of the Unmaintained lands.”
Emma looks where the buildings end and sees the massive billboards and more glowing advertisements among the solar fields. So it’s true; people in New Bright City can’t see beyond the shine of their own world.
“You know, growing up with all these heroes, I’ve always wanted to be one. To get a taste of the power, the recognition. What would it be like to fly, I wonder?”
Emma bites back the sharp comment on the tip of her tongue. Kingston is one of the most powerful men in the Collective, what does he want superpowers for? But she can see it in his eyes, the hunger.
“Do you?”
Emma narrows her eyes. “Do I what?”
“If you had the chance, would you want to fly?”
Emma stares at him. He already knows her interests; he’s researched her. Sure, she loves the thrill of moving so fast it’d be impossible to measure, but even more she wants to discover the unknown. “I’m not a meta-human, there’s no point in even asking,” Emma says, her voice flat.
Kingston waves his hand theatrically. “Flying isn’t for everyone, of course. What about super-strength? Night vision? Any ability you can think of.” He drops his voice to a whisper; the corner of his mouth quirks up as if he’s dropping a salacious secret. “It’s possible. I can make it happen.” He taps his DED, and a hologram projects into the air between them. A man wearing a hospital gown nods at the camera, holds his arms out, and a great gust of wind blows about the room, knocking over the bed and other medical equipment. “You may know this man as Sublimate.”
Emma watches the holovid; a strange feeling wells up inside her. It’s one thing to suspect Kingston and the League had been creating new meta-humans and another to see proof.
“Like you said, science is progress. And I have the key. It’s quite simple to use a viral vector to change the contents of your genetic makeup. We’ve been doing it forever; just look at all the successful cancer treatments.”
“Yes, but—”
“And you know that space travel isn’t completely extinct. Why, I myself own a shuttle with several other wealthy entrepreneurs who do leisure flights occasionally, just a hobby, you know. We could take you up to one of the remaining stations, if you like.”
Emma gasps. “You have a shuttle?”
“Indeed, I do. The ISS Indomitable. We have a team of privately funded researchers and technicians, of course. You could be one of them, you know. Or even on the team itself; we’re always looking for smart, like-minded people.”
“I—” Emma doesn’t know what to think. The space program seemed so far away, a distant fantasy, and now it’s here within her reach.
“Sleep on it tonight. Tomorrow I can even take you on a tour of the station.”
The elevator doors sweep open, and Kingston nods to an Authority officer in the hallway.
“This way, Miss Robledo,” the officer says.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Kingston says, before she has a chance to respond.
Emma follows the officer down the hallway. He leads her to a guest bedroom; it’s clean and modern, with a window looking up toward the stars.
He locks her in.
Emma paces the room, looking for any weaknesses she can exploit for an escape. She has bobby pins in her hair, but the door is locked from the outside, and there’s no handle. The bed is bolted to the floor, not that Emma could lift it, anyway. She tries ripping the sheets and blanket, but the fabric won’t tear. Not that it would help; the window opens just enough for her to reach an arm out, so that’s not a viable way of escape.
A rap on the door startles her, and Emma drops the blanket.
“Hi! I’m Tony. I’ve brought you breakfast!”
“Uh, thanks.”
Tony enters the room, smiling at her and bearing a tray with scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit.
She takes the tray, eating quietly. She’s got nothing to lose here; besides, if Kingston wanted to poison her, he would have already.
Tony stands at attention while she eats, looking out the window. “It’s pretty cool, huh?”
“It’s already started?” Emma was at Trish’s longer than she thought. She watches the glowing streaks of light outside the shield, sparking and glowing as they enter the atmosphere, burning up.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe here. We take care of all the assets,” Tony assures her.
“Right,” Emma says, pushing the plate away from her.
“I’m so excited you’ll be joining us. You’re interested in the space program too?”
“I never said I was—”
Tony continues as if he hadn’t heard her. “The other assets aren’t so lucky, I mean, they were really rude to Kingston—”
Emma’s heart skips a beat. “What other assets?” she asks, pretending the answer isn’t important to her.
Tony laughs. “Eh, you know, it’s just League business. We’ve been pretty busy trying to keep up with all the procedures, and it sounds like we won’t have to waste time convincing them to join the League. It’s fine, more resources for us anyway.”
“Right,” Emma says, smiling awkwardly. She needs to get more information. “I can’t believe they were rude! Kingston is so— so— cool,” she manages. “Such a great leader.”
Tony adjusts his hat, grinning. “I know, right? I hope I can get powers too.”
As he’s lost in his daydream and rambling, Emma shoves her entire breakfast tray under her bed.
“I’m aiming for, like, superspeed. What do you think?” He strikes a pose, as if he’s frozen in the middle of running fast.
“Very heroic,” Emma says, giving him her most flattering smile. “So what did these rude assets say?”
“Nothing very creative,” Tony says. “You know, back in my day, coming up with great insults was a testament to good character; you can’t just curse at someone in another language and have it stick, you know, that’s just cheating.”
“Uh huh.”
Tony’s DED chirps. “All right, I’ve got to get back to my post.” He squints. “I feel like I’m forgetting something.”
“I know, right? I forget stuff all the time, especially when I’m talking with cool people,” Emma says. She’s probably laying it on a little thick, but Tony doesn’t seem to notice. “Don’t even worry about it. It was super nice to meet you, Tony, future speedster.”
Tony laughs and gestures back at her. “Kingston’s got plenty of meetings today, but I know he made room on his schedule to talk with you.” He walks to the door and turns around, grinning. “Don’t go anywhere!”
“I won’t,” Emma says, lying through her teeth.
The utensils and plate are all light plastic, but the tray, the tray is heavy, made from metal. She can use this; she just needs the right moment.
The door opens again, startling her. Emma shoves the tray under the bed and stands up.
“Miss Robledo, I hope you’ve considered my proposition.”
“You never really said what you wanted, so I didn’t have anything to consider,” Emma says. “Are you always this vague?”
Kingston laughs; he’s wearing a silver-striped suit today with a blue pocket square. “Joining the Heroes’ League of Heroes of course,” he says. “As a meta-human.”
“I—”
“I know, I know, it’s a lot to take in.” Kingston smiles at her. “Come. Walk with me.”
Emma follows him out into the hallway as more guards join them, flanking them on either side. Even if she isn’t restrained, even if she isn’t being kept in a cell, she’s still a prisoner here.
Emma counts how many hallways they pass, how many guards are stationed at each door, making a metal map of her room and the floorplan. She watches as a guard swipes their DED at a keypad and a hidden door opens up in the wall to reveal the elevator.
“And if superpowers aren’t your speed, I know the crew of the Indomitable is always looking for new recruits,” Kingston says, leading her into the elevator. It descends into a carport filled with gleaming vehicles. Emma tries to memorize as much information as possible as she and the guards follow Kingston into a sleek, gray vehicle.
They drive down a long, dark tunnel as Kingston busies himself with his DED. News stories and messages fly past too fast for Emma to read, but she catches a glimpse of Vindication and— is that Jess’ parents?
She gulps, trying not to reveal her anxiety over not knowing what’s happening outside these walls. Someone was captured, and she wants to know who.
“Here we are,” Kingston announces. “After you.”
Emma gets out of the car and looks up. And up. And up.
It’s a space shuttle, as tall as the eye can see, and it’s surrounded by bustling people, driving about on smaller vehicles, working on computer consoles.
Emma imagines herself on that shuttle, wearing a spacesuit, meeting with other scientists, bringing back the space program, going to Mars.
The picture fades, and Emma can see only Kingston grinning at her in the shuttle bay.
“What do you think?”
“It’s nice, I guess,” Emma says.
“Mr. President, the main impact will start in less than an hour; you need to be in the safe house,” one of the officials says, tipping his hat.
“Thank you. All the assets have been transferred inside the COFAX facility?”
“Yes, sir.”
They get back in the car, sitting in silence. Emma can feel Kingston staring at her, studying her. “You know, there’s no rule about being a meta-human and joining the space program.”
Emma thinks about it; he wants her to join him, join the League, go against everything she’s been fighting for.
What if she had powers? She could fight from within, right? She could take him down from the inside. Even find Abby’s dad! She’d be a hero.
Emma shivers. Maybe that’s what you’ve always wanted, a small voice says inside her. You could do it. Become a meta-human, be the hero you knew you always were— and everyone else would be able to see too.
Kingston hasn’t said what he wanted from her; it’s probably what he’s wanted since he sent that MonRobot last year. He wants Samantha Robledo out of the race.
Mama wouldn’t be President, but she’d still be on the Council. And she’d be alive and safe. Emma’s whole family would be safe. She wouldn’t have to be a fugitive anymore, eating on the run, sleeping in cars, always watching her back. She thinks of all her aunties and uncles and small cousins and everyone getting to live out their lives in peace.
And then Emma thinks about Kingston and his rows of MR-D4Rs and their ever-blinking lights. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants, which is to stay in power, and to keep using the system to distract from his own corrupt goals.
His offer makes her uneasy, even trying to fight from the inside; how easy would it be to leave once she’s in? Once she says yes, there’s no going back.
