Page 196 of Sparktopia
“Do you understand me, Anneeta?”
Anneeta has been knocked so far off her high horse, she can’t even speak. She just nods her head at Clara as tears stream down her frowning face.
The spark disappears from Clara’s fingers, my overlay switches off, and we all let out a breath as the near-darkness surrounds us once again.
“Come on,” I say, pushing past Clara and taking her hand at the same time. I saw the door when the spark lit the place up, so we’re out of here. Anneeta follows, sniffling. Trying to get herself under control.
I pull the door open and suddenly I’m lit up with lasers.
The Versi comes out of the holster on instinct. Even before Stayn has a chance to say, “Drop your weapon!”
There isn’t a chance in fuckin’ hell I’lleverdrop my weapon. And it’s too late, anyway. Everything about how I use it is automatic and Stayn knows this. Because heknowswhat I am.
I think something, and the weapon reacts. It can even pick rounds. Flechette for moments when ya just wanna make a point. EMP for when the machines are comin’ at ya. Time disruptors when the Omega dimension breaks through the veil. And lasers when you want a former friend to understand that if he targets you, you’re gonna target him back.
“Hold your fire!” Stayn yells this. But their lasers still dance across my chest.
There is a connection between the Versi, and my arm, and my brain. A connection that was, up until last week, rather degraded. So much so that I had completely forgotten what it was like to be connected to the Versi in this way.
But a lot has changed in a week and let’s just say, my memory has now been jogged.
There’s a reason for the hair trigger that almost got me shot with flechette darts when Clara was waving the Versi around. It’s because it’s part of me. And sometimes—lots of times, actually, at least in the last seven years—it goes off without my permission. It could even be used by someone else.
But this connection I feel right now—it’s like I’m nineteen again. Like I’m in my prime. And this makes me smile.
Stayn recoils. Then starts his bargaining. “Tyse. Listen to me.”
“I’ve got no intention of listening to you. Get out of our way.”
He hesitates. Then looks over his shoulder, like he’s trying to gauge what he should do next. I do not follow his gaze. I don’t need to. The Versi knows everything happening in this hallway right now. It’s practically alive at this point.
“OK.” He puts up a hand. Lowers his weapon. “Targets off.” The red lasers dancing across my chest blink out one at a time. “There. We’re all calm here, right?”
“Some of us more than others. But I’m not fuckin’ joking with you. We’re leaving and you’re gonna forget about us.”
“Tyse.” Stayn laughs. It’s a nervous laugh. “That’s not even possible. I mean… the woman.” He nods his head to Clara. “She’s…ours. We paid for her.”
I don’t react externally, but inside, there are all kinds of what-the-fucks running through my brain. Paid for her?What?
Then a memory of the party last night.We weren’t expecting another delivery for three more months.
This is a transaction to Stayn. That’s it. She’s just… aproduct. Something bought and paid for.
“And Anneeta, Tyse.” Stayn laughs again. Like this whole idea of me leaving with these girls is absurd. “She’s our… she’s ourgod. I know you figured that out. I know how smart you are. She can’t even leave, Tyse. You’re gonna kill her if you take her out of the tower.”
“You don’t own me!” It’s a childish thing to say. But it’s comin’ out the mouth of a baby god, so entirely appropriate. “And you don’t own Clara, either. She’smine.”
It’s a risky move, but up-city Clara Birch knows better than to take that bait. She waits it out like a pro.
Stayn ignores Anneeta, unconcerned about whatever powers she may have. “We grew her, Tyse. We’ve paid for all the spark. It’s all factory direct, on the up and up. We’ve got all the paperwork?—”
“She’s not a product, Stayn. She’s a…”
He laughs. “Don’t you dare. Don’t youdare. You, of all people, know better. You’ve been to the Outlands.”
“And you haven’t,” I retort.
“But I’ve been briefed. You know there are…thingsout there that aren’t right.”
