have on hand—double bonus. Drs. Carson and Zhang along with Jim McGinnis excitedly promise a prototype to test in a couple days.
The problem is, I’m worried we don’t have a couple days. DES hasn’t found any signs of Jarren. Not in the Q-net or his physical location. It’s not a surprise his hideout is…well, hidden. DES only has access to satellites and messages from people living on the colony planets—all of which can be wormed. But I’d hoped they’d spot the clusters he’s been using.
I use my extra time—'cause let’s face it, it doesn’t take Beau and me long to test the barricade—to train extra hard. When Jarren attacks, I’m not going to worry about my aim. Oh no. Mr. Orange Light is mine.
You’d think with all the physical activity, I’d sleep well at night. But I toss and turn. Each night gets worse. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who said to Beau that we’d be neck deep in looters in seven days. So here it is, the night before day seven. Exhausted, I stare at the ceiling, willing myself to sleep.
Except my heart is acting like I just ate four pudding cups. It’s thumping out: Gotta be ready. Gotta be ready. Gotta be ready. In double time.
The desire to crawl into bed with my parents pulses through me. When I was little and something scared me at night, I’d sneak in under their covers. I doubt Radcliff would appreciate a midnight visitor. Imagining his reaction, I huff in amusement. Then I give up and go into the kitchen. Maybe a warm drink will help. I brew a cup of one of those flowery weedy type teas that are supposed to make you sleepy. I take a sip. Ugh. Needs sugar. Lots of sugar.
Sitting on the couch, I spot Radcliff’s portable on the table. I access the chapters on how to deal with a combative prisoner—yet another fact-filled assignment from my training officer. I wonder just how much of these lessons will stick with me. Once a situation goes sideways and the adrenaline kicks in, I find it hard to believe I’ll be able to maintain a clinical detachment. Sipping my tea, I spend the next couple hours reading. And the dry protocols do what the tea could not: I fall asleep on the couch.
Jarren invades my dreams. No surprise as he’s been a frequent visitor of late. This time he’s standing in the hallway on the other side of the door to our unit.
Come out and play, Little Worm. It’s been so boring without you, Dream Jarren calls.
Go away.
It’s too late for that. I’m coming for you. The door opens and he strides in. He holds out a hand to me. Let’s fly!
No. I’m not supposed to. DES—
Is handling the situation? You do realize I’ve been building my network for years and they’ve no clue what I’m doing? They’re not a threat to me. His tone implies they’re more a threat to me. Actually, they’re quite useful as I’ve learned a few things. Jarren gives me a significant look. What started as a dream just veered into reality.
His sly cat-ate-the-mouse smile turns my blood into ice. We’re in the Q-net. And I’m communicating with the real Jarren as if we’re worming together like we used to do back on Xinji. Did my dream self inadvertently reach out to him in the Q-net or did he come looking for me? And, more importantly, does he know it’s me or think I’m some other wormer? All scary questions.
I panic. Go away.
He sighs. You’re no fun, Lyra…or should I call you Ara?
His last words render me speechless and confirm he’s well aware of who I am despite not seeing me in the camera feeds.
You can change your name, but you can’t hide from me. See you soon. Jarren leaves.
Without thinking, I follow him. Well, I track him. I zip through his breach, cut through a number of clusters, and dip toward the star roads—they call to me. Ignoring them, I focus on Jarren. But his trail is gone. Where is he?
And then the Q-net says, HERE.
And I about faint from the shock. But I’m too busy falling toward a planet. It’s bright yellow and a desert covers sixty-eight percent of its surface. The other thirty-two percent is carpeted by forests. Tall green trees with big canopies of leaves spread out over the rolling landscape and effectively hide Jarren and his thugs from the satellite’s cameras.
The planet is Yulin.
Fifteen
2522:236
Oh my stars!