Rising Tomorrow (Roc de Chere Book 1) by Mariana Morgan (essential reading txt) 📕

‘Ms Moretti, I understand that what you have seen and learnt today is at odds with everything you have ever known, but we have no reason to lie to you,’ he said, giving Ingram some time to compose herself. ‘Major Toscano has plenty of other stories to share with you, having lived in the slums all her childhood and having served nine years in the military as a Leech, two of them in front-line aircombat.

‘Although I myself lived an extremely privileged life, I have also seen my fair share of just what the corrupt System is capable of. We are at war for the survival of humanity the way it was intended to exist. All humans deserve the same chance to live. The world nearly disintegrated in the mid-22nd century and the Great Collapse wasn’t accidental. We lost too much, we sacrificed too much, to let anything like it happen again. This world has enough resources to permanently fix the two-tier System and introduce the good that the World Government intended to stand for. We need your help and your expertise. Not just your dry knowledge and grudging support. We need you to care.

‘I realise that everything that has happened to you in the last week has turned your life upside down. I understand just how close you came to losing your own life in the slums. I am truly amazed by how well you’re coping. And I wish I could tell you it’s all over now, but I can’t. We still need your help.

‘What I can promise, however, is that you are safe in Roc de Chere, and when this is all over, I will find a way to put you in protective custody. I will arrange for a new identity and you will be safe.’

Eloise stared at him with an intensity that could almost be touched. Odd, but somehow, somewhere, she had just felt a hint of what it meant to be alive for the first time ever. Almost as if all the amazing adventures she had played in VRPs had been a dream, and this was the real deal. It sucked. Oh, but it sucked a million times over, and yet it was real, and despite all the stress and anxiety and the nausea, it almost felt wonderful. Liberating. She could actually make a real difference.

She nodded, slowly at first, processing what he had said, and then faster as she reached her decision.

‘How can I help?’ she asked, barely able to recognise her own voice. It sounded sure and determined. Not resigned and frightened like it had last night.

The tightness in her chest was still there, but now it was almost a comforting presence. It seemed to be spurring her into action, offering protection and mental comfort.

‘Two things for now. First is the adult VRP, and the two playback recordings. I know Tilly ran her own analysis of them, but I would like you to double-check it for anything that could lead us to who used it and where. And in the case of the adult VRP, who modified it. And second’—he really did not relish having a conversation with Eloise about needing to blow up her home, but he couldn’t avoid it any longer—‘Commissioner Wagner’s people have intensified their attempts to break into the Chandler N-Suit Research Base and we have to—’

‘Incoming call,’ Tilly announced, interrupting him. It was odd that despite having the choice to say whatever she wanted, Tilly voluntarily reported events just like the old system. These days, there was that little touch of emotion, a subtle flourish she added, as if she were winking, pleased with her mischief. This time she sounded unbelievably proud. ‘MIS encryption. O’Haress, Megan.’

Gonzalez was out of his armchair before Tilly even finished, heading into the security room at a run. Eloise stood up instinctively and seemed ready to follow, but Ingram grabbed her hand. She was curious too, but the colonel deserved some privacy. They could view the recording later.

And maybe, just maybe, Eloise didn’t need any more painful reminders right now of just how brutal the System really was.

CHAPTER 29

Roc de Chere

Lac d’Annecy

Afro-European Alliance

Monday 27 April 2725

DAY 8

‘Megan!’ Gonzalez said before his bottom had even touched the seat.

He greedily swept his eyes across the screen, taking in every tiny detail of how she looked. The woman fidgeted slightly under his inquisitive gaze, but remained quiet until he finished and nodded to her with a smile.

‘Sir.’ The petite blond smiled back. ‘It’s good to see you.’ Her left eye was covered with a dirty dressing and she looked like hell. Her face was gaunt and ashen, showing her exhaustion from the events of the last few days, but there were no overt signs of mistreatment. ‘Transferring files now,’ she added, and Gonzalez reached automatically to accept the incoming transmission.

His brain whirled. The dressing over her eye was clearly a nano-dressing. On the one hand, it was comforting to know that her injuries had been taken care of properly; on the other, if someone like Wagner had decided a nano-dressing was required then the injury must have been serious. And if Megan had benefited from nano-tech to treat her eye, there was no telling what other injuries and bruising might have already been fixed, or how severe they had been in the first place.

Megan waited until the transmission pinged as delivered, chewing on her lip in thought, deciding where to start. And then the thoughts organised themselves in her mind.

‘Among the files you will find a detailed map of Wagner’s residence,’ she began. ‘Well, one of his residences, the one he is currently using, right in South Lyon. The man likes his routines, both at home and at work. Inside his bedroom, on a hand-carved chest of drawers, there is a shallow bowl next to an ancient vase. He always puts his wrist-comp and jewellery in it when he has a shower. His bedroom is on the second floor and faces