Advancing ((Advance Industries #2)) (4 page)

“So where is this other Comm?”

“I left it at Advance Industries, I presume it got caught in the blast I caused. I knew I wouldn’t need it anymore as we weren’t staying in your time and I re-attached my real Comm-rec.”

Gramps walks in and Gran says, “Jack give them your Comm they need to get some items. Their Comms won’t have been updated.”

“Shall I give them the clothes off my back too?” He responds.

“JACK!” Gran admonishes, “Call them a hoverride too.” She smiles sweetly at him as she orders him around and he can’t refuse. He makes a big show of sighing loudly but still complies.

Faith whispers to me, “A hoverride?”

I shrug. “I guess it’s the same as an over-rider,” I whisper back. “I wonder what other names have changed?”

She shakes her head as if trying to wrap her head around the idea how simply certain things have changed.

“Go on then you two,” Gran says making a shooing motion with her arms. “Go and have some fun!”

I smile broadly at her and resist pulling her in for a hug, it takes a huge amount of willpower. No matter how much everything else has changed my grandparents still display the same traits they had in my other time? I shudder, thinking about how awful it would have been to find them and realise they were completely different from what I’m used to. Thank God for small blessings.

“Well go on then!” Gran continues moving us towards the door. Before pushing us through she whispers in my ear, “And you spend all you like, treat your lovely lady. I’ll deal with Mr. Grumpy!” It’s too much and I can’t resist grabbing her and holding her close, she even smells like Gran. Her arm remains by her side at first but then she slowly raises one arm and pats me on the back. “I haven’t been hugged like that for a very long time,” she muses as she pulls away.

The hoverride turned out to be exactly the same as an over-rider albeit much more sophisticated, a top of the range mode of transport, sleek, shiny lines and way quicker than over-riders. The city has definitely changed, though. The labs stand alone on a separate plot, the Zones no longer in existence, no conference centre. What once were Zones, are now still houses but without the separating sections. Johnson Franks’ home is gone and I wonder where the President now lives. Kye has cheered up considerably after his breather outside and chat with his Gramps. I’m relieved when he’s in a mood it puts me on edge. His emotions directly affect mine. He’s usually so level headed and focused but he’s had a lot to contend with recently. I don’t even think I thanked him for coming after me. That’s love, right? Not just talking about getting the girl but actually doing it, making it happen. So now it’s my turn to be there for him, to give him the strength he needs to be in his time and city amidst the change we created and to listen to his woes over his grandparents. I’m consciously not thinking about my time, my sisters or Kye’s team. I have to believe everything will work out, otherwise, we’ll both fall to pieces and I want us to focus on embracing this new city. Anything to prolong the chances of going back.

The weather is beautiful which throws me. Kye’s time was always cold, almost melancholy. I lift my face to absorb the rays. I’m feeling... content? Well, as content as I can be. I hope Kye sticks to his word and gives this place a chance, if only Jonah or someone checked in with him I think he’d relax more. His arm snakes around my waist and I smile, this is heaven being together, shopping like normal people. The shopping area inhabits the streets outside as well as a huge indoor centre filled with shops of every kind. Pop up stalls lines the streets selling all sorts of knick-knacks. I’ve never seen so many out perusing the stores, Kye’s time used to be less hectic as there wasn’t a huge community. I don’t understand fully but somewhere along the lines from my time to his, reproducing became hard to achieve. But now... in this new time, there are so many shoppers it’s making my head spin.

We turn a corner and Kye halts me, holding onto my waist tighter with a firmness that makes me squirm in his arms and look up at him questioningly. He nods across the way and I follow his eye line. Across the street, a man is grappling with three AIG! “Where are the law enforcers?” I ask Kye.

“I guess we don’t exist if AIG is still the law but that’s not what I was referring to. Look again, what do you see?” He says never taking his eyes off the scene playing out. I shake my head at him and look back to the commotion. The man is flailing his arms and talking rapidly, from this distance I can’t hear what he’s saying but it looks like he’s pleading with them. His gesturing becomes more hurried, almost in desperation, and then he takes a swing at one of the guards but misses. The guard sweeps his leg out knocking the man to the floor. The other AIG are smiling, laughing and joking at this guy’s predicament. They seem to be enjoying taunting him. I wonder why they haven’t just phasered him and then I see what Kye meant.

The guard who kicked the man to the floor is holding a weapon of some sort which is most definitely not a phaser. He raises it, takes aim and fires it. No pulse was released and I’m beyond confused because it makes a loud bang that makes me jump. I see the man slump back on the ground, blood soaking his white T-shirt. My hand flies to my face and I turn into Kye to hide from what I just saw. What did I just see? Why is that man bleeding? Phasers don’t do that. I’ve never seen a weapon like that before and I’ve never seen something so heinous carried out so complacently in a street full of people. I look through the cracks in my splayed fingers and no shoppers have stopped, run away or let themselves be diverted from their own business. They simply walk around the body on the floor, paying it and the AIG no attention.

Kye grabs my hand and pulls me back around the corner where he leans against the wall. His eyes are closed and he’s breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He brings his hands up to his head and locks his fingers together. His jaw is clenched and even though this is not the time I can’t help noticing how mightily sexy he looks in the pissed off stance he’s doing.

“What the hell was that?” I whisper, scared of drawing attention our way.

Kye lets his head drop then pierces me with fierce hazel eyes. “That was a gun! And... An execution!” He says it quietly but with the authority he’s been lacking for a while.

“A gun?” I question having no idea what that is.

He nods, then says, “Let’s go, I’m suddenly not in the mood for shopping!” He strides ahead of me and I have to jog to catch up.

I start walking beside him and say, “You were never in the mood for it!” Nothing, not even a crack of a smile. Sullen Kye is back! “Babe?”

He looks at me but his eyes are wide and displaying conflicting emotions. “You go back, but I really need a change of clothes, underwear, and shoes. And I’m not just being girly, look at me!” I move my hand from my neck to my legs “I can’t wear these things a minute longer, I’ll buy something you’ll appreciate.” I smirk at him.

Nope no coaxing, flirting or promises of sexy underwear will bring him back, he simply huffs and starts pulling me along the sidewalk. “No fucking way am I leaving you here to shop alone after what I just witnessed.”

“But...”

“Just move it Faith. I don’t want you here a second longer than is necessary!”

Okay then! Sullen I can deal with but angry and demanding, nuh uh!

“Kye, babe. Don’t take this out on me. What we saw was awful, I know but...”

He spins around as I’m now lagging behind him. “But what? Let’s ignore it and go shop? Really Faith?”

“That’s not what I was going to say! Stop shouting at me!”

“You can get clothes another day. We’re leaving now!” He tries to take my arm but I shrug away. I will not take orders. Never again will I be made to do something I don’t want to. I’m not his hostage, he’s not my team leader, he’s my boyfriend and I won’t let him take his frustration out on me. I do have a say, finally, I get to decide who controls my life. It’s not Advance Industries and it’s not Kye – it’s me!

“Screw you Kye. I am shopping now and I’m doing it without you. I’m happy to be in your presence again when you’ve calmed the fuck down!” I turn around and bolt down the street, praying I get away with this. He doesn’t deal with insubordinance well but I’m not trading one dictator for another. I turn the corner avoiding looking across the street, I don’t want to see that lifeless man again. I don’t want to see all the blood sticking to his top. I’ve never seen anything like that before and know the image will stay with me for a long time. I decide I don’t like that colour – red. The colour of anger, blood and the devil. I slow my steps so I can look at the shops I’m passing. I spot one that looks pretty and lady like and walk to the entrance. I stop and stare at what I’m wearing, I’m dirty and don’t fit in here wearing my t-shirt, jeans and lace up guard boots. I chew my lip wondering if I should just seize the day and ignore any staring from other customers. I need new clothes so I decide it’s worth being the butt of people’s jokes and I take a step forward. Before I can enter I’m lifted from the ground and slung over Kye’s shoulder. He slaps my arse and starts walking down the street like this is completely normal and acceptable.

“Put me down!” I hiss.

“Sorry babe, if you’re not gonna listen then I have no choice!”

“Kye, you can’t just do this, it’s ridiculous. Put me down!” I demand this time.

“Nope!” He says cheerfully, I can hear his bloody grin and though he’s pissing me off his playful side seems to be back so I let him win this round.

I can think of nothing other than my need to get Faith away from here. Guns exist, the AIG are in charge and they execute people on the street as simply as if they were ordering coffee. What is even more disturbing is the city residents seem unconcerned with the behaviour, almost as if it’s a regular occurrence. No one is even interested in the fact that I have a woman thrown over my shoulder, her delectable arse in the air. I could be taking her against her will... Well, I am but they don’t know otherwise. I just wonder what is classed as a crime here? What is the scale? Or does every crime result in the same form of punishment? More importantly how the hell did the President introduce guns back into the mix after shoot-to-kill was outlawed? This was clearly Fraser’s doing. I witnessed the stockpile, maybe that was the plan all along. Get himself named as President and overrule any laws he saw fit?

I could see his lies in the election film and now more than ever I know I have to do something. Upholding the law was my life’s passion before Faith. I have to go back; I just don’t know what part I’m meant to go back to. I need time alone to think this through without Faith’s eyes burning into me, reading my deepest, darkest thoughts and softening my soul.

I have to stop letting her induce my guilt. I can’t even let her be a team player on this one because she’ll point blank refuse to listen to reason and I can’t say I blame her. I’m on my own and the first thing I’m going to do is go to work tomorrow with Gramps... uh Jack, and find out as much as I can about
this
Advance Industries.

“You going to behave if I put you down?”

Silence.

“Faith?”

More silence.

“I’ll leave you up there if you’re going to do the silent treatment!”

Still nothing. Stubborn woman. I swat her arse again to teach her a lesson, plus I love the sound it makes.

“You can’t just manhandle me when you don’t get your own way, Kye!” She mumbles.

“Oh but I can Sweetheart. I can and I will, anything to ensure your safety. If you don’t like it – tough!”

“Okay put me down. I’m capable of walking! You win. Happy?”

I slide her down my front and kiss her nose. “Ecstatic Sweetheart! You know how I love it when I win!” For good measure, I swat her arse again.

She bats my hands away trying to maintain her displeasure but I know I’ve weakened her with my boyish behaviour. Good. I’ll need her to believe my head is in the right frame of mind if I’ve any chance of investigating without being rumbled by her.

I summon a hoverride with Jack’s Comm-rec and when it arrives I hoist Faith up into it, just resisting taking a bite of that arse as she waggles it in my face. I’m sure she did it on purpose. Focus! That’s what I need to do! I can’t resist it though so settle for pinching it, that’ll teach her a lesson! She yelps and gives me a butter-wouldn’t-melt smile, then shakes it again! Temptress!

The last few weeks have been wonderful. Kye has been attentive, playful and oh so fricking sexy. He’s re-explored every inch of my body like I’m his own personal treasure map and he’s desperate to find the loot. He’s worshipped me but I can feel he’s holding back. He often gets a faraway look on his beautifully rugged face whenever he thinks I’m not paying attention. To make up for the ruined shopping trip he ordered me to shop via Jack’s Comm and have everything delivered. He’s been bonding with Jack and Lizzie and I hoped he was more at peace. Unfortunately, for him his eyes give him away, one look into them and I can see everything he’s trying to hide which is making me question myself and how much I love him.

Should I sacrifice my wants, needs and expectations in order to surrender to his? Probably! But I’ve emerged as a new woman, in charge of my own destiny. I don’t want to be forced anymore, I don’t want to stifle my feelings and needs. Can I do it for him? Maybe. Is it worth making him happy again if I won’t be around to witness and enjoy it? More than likely. So what’s holding me back? I know what he needs to do. All I need to do is tell him I’m on board and I’d see the weight dissolve from his shoulders. So why am I not doing it?

I’m sat in the garden, alone, pondering all these stupid decisions that always need to be dealt with. Kye is with Jack at his new favourite place - Advance Industries labs. I know he’s scoping them out, he thinks I’m a fool but as long as he plays nice, I haven’t the heart to tell him he’s been rumbled. Lizzie appears from nowhere or I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t notice her approach. She sits next to me and regards me with that familiar thoughtful look.

“What’s wrong Lovey?” Straight to the point. I love this woman.

“I’m not really sure.” I shrug as if that answers everything. I don’t know how to explain Kye and I skirting around our issues. Both of us acting and hoping that the other hasn’t noticed.

She nods and twirls her pearl earring. Something she does often. “He loves you very much, you do know that, don’t you?”

Wow, how perceptive is she? “I know, but... He loves you guys more. I can’t compete with that.”

“Why do you need to compete?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Maybe talking it through will alleviate some concerns. You’re obviously not making any headway mulling it over in your head.”

That’s all the go ahead I need and the words start tumbling from my mouth, “Kye believes that by coming to save me and in succeeding in doing so that that’s what caused this change. He wants to make it right but to do so we’d have to go back and do things differently. To return this time and you guys to how you were meant to be it has to be done, but by doing that Kye and I would be apart again. He’s desperately trying to work out who to save. He’s torn between the three people he loves most in the world and I’m being selfish. I want him to choose me. Not just because I can’t be without him but ... I also don’t want to go back. I don’t want to live that life again. I can’t.”

“Yes Lovey, that was complicated. Have you actually sat down together and tried to work this out? Surely there’s a loophole. And if not... he’ll choose you. As much as I believe his tale I know nothing about him. I never saw his first steps, days at school. If he needs to let us go to keep you he has my blessing if that’s what he needs.”

“That’s what I mean when I say you guys I mean the other versions of you. The ones that did witness those things. The Grandparents that brought him up and that did know him. He’s breaking over this, he hides it well but I can see it. I can
feel
it and I’m doing nothing to ease the pain.”

“Talk to him dear. Tell him what you told me. Stop hiding your feelings from each other. Lay it all out and work together to find a solution. If I know anything after being married all this time it’s that two heads are always better than one. I bet he’s in knots over how this is affecting you just the same as you’re worried how it affects him. Put your heads together Lovey.” She pats my arm, gives me a small smile and walks away leaving me staring at her back. Wise woman.

I rise from the seat ready to join her inside when Kye comes barrelling around the corner nearly knocking me over. He grabs my hand and starts walking to the front of the building.

“Where are we going? What’s the urgency?” I ask as I’m dragged along behind him.

He takes my face in his hands and brushes his lips against my ear, whispering he says, “Not here Sweetheart. Follow me. Trust me.” His warm breath against my ear has my insides quivering. How does he do that?

He’s acting strange again but I’ll always follow and trust him. How could I resist that husky voice? If there’s a reason he can’t tell me here, then I’ll wait. He starts leading on again and I realise we’re heading to the beach. It’s starting to get dark and I wonder why we have to go there now.

“Kye we aren’t allowed on the...”

“I don’t care!” He says and continues pulling me. He’s in a crazy rush and anticipation prickles. Oh no has he made a decision? We walk down the grassy mound, across the pebbles and reach the sand. I’m much more reluctant now I’ve reached that conclusion. He stops and looks around probably checking we’re alone before pulling me to the right.

“Jonah made contact!” He whispers.

“WHAT? That’s great!” I beam at him.

“The team are going to meet us here, clue me in on what went down!”

“Why so hush, hush and secretive? This is totally secluded!”

“Something doesn’t feel right, he sounded... worried!” He rubs the nape of his neck and pulls me over to a spot partially hidden by large boulders. He sits me down but remains standing, still scanning the beach. He’s edgy and his nervousness starts transferring to me.

“Babe I’m sure they’re fine, they made it back. It’s probably a shock to the system. We’ve had weeks to absorb the change, they won’t have and it’s bound to make them jittery.”

He simply nods in response. Looking every which way for an imagined threat. I hug myself, I’m not dressed for the cold and the worry worming its way into my bones is not helping.

“Stay there,” he says and starts wandering away. He cuts such a forlorn silhouette. I stand to see where he’s going, is this a trick? Is he just going to go back? No goodbye, nothing that would make it harder, just abandonment? I shake away the niggling doubt when I make out a figure walking to him in the distance. I can’t make out who it is but pray that it’s Jonah. They hug and my relief is huge – no threat! They start walking back towards me and a delighted smile breaks free when I see it is Jonah. Where are the rest of the team?

I run towards him and hug him tightly. Jonah was never a favourite of mine, we butted heads more often than not but still... he’s one of us. He only accepted my place on the team after many heated discussions with Kye. He knew what would happen, he predicted that I’d soften Kye, make him lose his edge and make bad decisions. We don’t dislike each other but we’re never going to be best friends. He stayed behind to save my sisters and I’ll see him in a new light for that alone. I’ll be more understanding of his gruffness, abruptness, and short tempered ways. He holds me at arm’s length, offers a tight smile then sits next to the boulder. We join him and I’m dying to bombard him with questions. I start fidgeting with my need to know what went down after we left, how the other men are, how my sisters are, how Fraser escaped. I don’t know where to start.

Kye places a hand on my jiggling knee, his way of trying to calm me and get me to stop.

“When did you get back?” Is what comes out, civility beating my burning need for knowledge.

“A few hours ago. We went our separate ways to find our families and let them know we’re back and safe. I quickly realised something was wrong. I... I can’t find May. The others Commed me with similar stories and of relatives having no idea who they are. It wasn’t until I calmed enough to think rationally instead of emotionally that I thought about you guys and if you made it.”

“Where are the others?” Kye asks.

“Making their way here as we speak.” He hunches his shoulders and bows his head. He looks so lost that I grab hold of his hand. This is my fault. He had no need to leave his wife to come for me, he did it for Kye and look how he’s rewarded. He must hate me. I feel a guilt so enormous that I feel sick. My mouth starts watering and I swallow down the excess saliva too quickly which starts off a coughing fit.

I excuse myself. I need to walk off this guilt and I’m sure they’d like to talk without me present. I have to get away from Jonah’s defeatism. It’s so uncharacteristic of him that I feel worse, look what I’ve reduced him to. That great hulk of a man looks broken and I know that feeling. His wife doesn’t exist in this new time, another thing that’s my fault. For God sake, will I ever get anything right? Will my life ever be simple? How many people have the fate of a city’s happiness in the palm of their hand? I guess it’s time to give in, do the right thing. Admit my selfishness was uncalled for and put others first again. The fate of so many versus my own fate trumps everything, right?

I start trudging back to the men, my heart heavy. Am I really going to volunteer to do this? Will Kye agree? My stomach starts churning again and I take some deep breaths trying to curb the uneasiness brewing within. It’s pitch black now, only the stars to light the way. I stop to stare up at them and ponder how small I really am in the grand scheme of things. So why do I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders?

I turn quickly when I hear sand being kicked up behind me. My heart starts racing. This beach is a forbidden territory and although Jack is the watchman I don’t want to chance a face to face with an armed AIG. I don’t know if it’s patrolled and I definitely don’t want to end up like that man from the shopping expedition. I can make out a group all advancing on me and try to find a place to hide – there is nowhere!

I summon my inner strength and brace myself for what’s about to happen when a hand reaches out and pulls me forwards. Then I’m being hugged, it’s fleeting and oh so confusing until I’m released and look into the face of Trask!

“Oh my God!” I squeal and fling myself at him again.

“Alright, calm down Girl!” He says, his familiar grin directed at me.

I reluctantly leave him be but my face can’t hide my delight. My friend is back; I didn’t even realise how much I missed him until now.

“Where’s my man?” Trask asks.

“I think you mean
my
man!” I correct and grab his hand to pull him to where I last saw Kye. I look back at the others, they look noticeably glum so I offer a quick, “Hey guys, I’m so glad you’re back.” Then keep walking.

“Hey, Faith?” Callan says from behind me.

“Yeah?” I throw over my shoulder.

“What’s with the favouritism? He gets a hug and we get ‘hey guys’? What’s up with that?” He teases.

“Aww did you miss me, Cal?”

He shrugs. “Meh!”

“You need some love?” I tease some more.

“Well I did risk my life for you, you’d think you could stretch to a kiss!” He taps his cheek, grinning mischievously.

“Back the fuck off Cal! You’re lucky I’m relieved to see you or you’d be eating sand right now!” Where the hell did Kye sprout from? I wince a little at the aggression in his tone, we were only messing around, getting acquainted again as a team. Talk about overreacting.

“Kye we were joking; you know – winding each other up? Banter?” I tell him.

“This is the perfect time for banter isn’t it? I’ll talk to you later; you know not to encourage them!” He turns around and starts walking back down the beach. What the hell is wrong with him? How could he yell at Cal and
me
for something that was clearly innocent?

I yell at him, “Yes it’s the perfect fucking time for banter you arsehole! They’ve just got back to find their time is messed up so some light humour is definitely needed!” He stops walking but doesn’t turn around and I see his shoulders slump. “When did you undergo your sense of humour bypass Kye?” I continue.

I hear the men chuckling behind me.

“Just the entertainment I needed!” Callan says rubbing his hands together.

I spin back to face him and pin him with warning eyes. “Cal, know when to end it okay?”

I walk to Kye and rub my hands over his shoulders. He hasn’t moved since he stopped. He’s rigid so I walk around him till we’re face to face. His head is hung low so I move it until he’s looking at me with remorseful eyes.

“Babe, what’s going on? I knew you were jealous but you never overreact like that. Talk to me.”

“I’m sorry Sweetheart. I ... I just... I can’t do this anymore. Jonah just told me what happened after we left. I have to go back!” He says it quickly as though he’d chicken out otherwise and then looks down at the floor again. He starts chewing his gum. Now’s as good a time as any I guess.

“Okay!” As soon as the word leaves my mouth I feel easier about the decision. This is what he needs. He’s never this tense, he can usually appreciate the fact that I’m fitting in with his team, that we rib each other constantly. That blow up shows me the extent of his living in limbo. He’s decisive, as team leader he has to be, so having no definitive plan has played heavily on him and that’s because I practically begged him to drop it.