CHAPTER 18: BLACKRIDGE ISLAND
The train doors opened.
Mercer stood surrounded by men and women wearing formal clothes.
Not soldiers.
Investors.
Clients.
People who had purchased future bodies.
“Welcome to Blackridge,” Mercer said.
Claire looked at Lily.
August’s voice was still inside her.
Then she looked at Mercer.
“How many of you are there?”
Mercer smiled.
“Enough.”
The clients watched the children with the casual interest of buyers examining property.
A woman approached a twelve-year-old girl.
“She has my eyes.”
The child stepped backward.
The woman laughed.
“She will adjust.”
Claire Vale raised her pistol.
Security guards immediately aimed at the children.
Mercer lifted one hand.
“No violence near the inventory.”
Claire’s anger nearly overwhelmed her.
“They are not inventory.”
“Every body is inventory to time.”
Adrian moved in front of Lily.
“You want me.”
Mercer studied him.
“I want what you were created to become.”
He ordered the group taken to the central chamber.
The city inside the mountain was enormous.
Medical laboratories.
Memory-storage vaults.
Living quarters for clients awaiting transfer.
Schools where children were trained to imitate strangers.
Claire saw a boy practicing an elderly politician’s signature.
A girl repeating the memories of a woman who had died before the child was born.
Lily squeezed Claire’s hand.
“Don’t let them give me another mother.”
Claire knelt.
“You only have one.”
They entered a circular theater.
A black door stood behind the operating platform.
Adrian recognized it.
“This is the room.”
Mercer ordered him restrained.
Claire fought, but guards separated them.
Richard shouted toward Mercer.
“You wanted a Vale body. Take mine.”
Mercer laughed.
“Your body is already failing.”
Richard stopped.
Claire looked at him.
“You’re sick?”
Richard avoided her eyes.
“Cancer.”
“How long?”
“Six months.”
He had discovered Claire while believing he had little time left.
Mercer placed metal sensors around Adrian’s head.
“Your emotional history with Clara makes you stable.”
Claire struggled against the guards.
“Adrian, listen to me.”
His eyes found hers.
Mercer connected himself to the second chair.
The machine activated.
Lily screamed.
Every light in Blackridge went out.
Helena’s voice filled the chamber.
“August.”
Mercer opened his eyes.
A woman stepped from behind the black door.
She looked like Claire, but older.
Richard whispered, “Helena.”
May you like
The woman looked at him.
“You married my copy.”
