Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)(44)
There are a few more entries here about how wonderful this Lenore—or Nora, as he began to call her—is and how well they’re working together. Then there’s more entries detailing their plans for the Surface technology. I don’t understand most of it, to be honest. There is a complete log of the subjects they used for testing—the control groups, as well as those infected with viruses or bacteria. I can’t believe they’d injected innocent people with viruses that could very well have been a death sentence.
But then there’s a breakthrough apparently.
12.15.31–1837
We’ve done it! Nora and I have done it! The nanobots are working perfectly. All infected subjects’ blood work shows an immunity to previously deadly strains of bacteria and virus. There also appears to be no ill effect, aside from the initial reaction to the injection of the nanobots. It is nothing short of miraculous. Abby is still suspicious of the technology, since it derives from Surface technologies, but I’m convinced that they’re ready for full deployment to the population. And, to prove I’m in earnest, I’ve allowed Nora to inject me with the bots, and I’ve injected Nora. Now I’m off for a celebratory dinner with the lovely Nora.
I wonder if she likes roses.
The next entries explain exactly how Eli and Nora celebrated. For the sake of their privacy, I skim over the details, only making note that they got caught by this Abby person and how she then instituted a new law that made Eli and Nora want to leave.
But then an entry catches my attention and I slow down to read it carefully.
1.25.31–1154
Abby has officially leaped off the deep end. I can’t believe I didn’t see her madness before now. Of course, in hindsight, it all makes sense. How foolish I was! At least now Nora is safe. I forced her back to the Surface. But I came back. Seeing how Abby used our nanobots against me, I have no doubts she wouldn’t hesitate to use them against the Citizens. I could never live with myself if I left them helpless. A few trusted friends and I have developed a plan to wrest control of the city from Abby. My God, she’s demanding everyone call her Mother now. She’s drunk with power.
Our first step is to start making weapons, because I know she won’t go without a fight, but in order to make them without Abby knowing, we’ll have to split the manufacture of the weapons between several people. On top of that, there should be several teams, so if one team is discovered we still have others for backup. And each team will not know anything of the others. Location, team members, etc. Even I won’t know the details. In the meantime, I’ll start looking for a way to deactivate the nanos, so they can’t be used against us.
There are more detailed entries about what weapons he himself was making and how he’d discovered some kind of electromagnetic field or EMF around the submarine bay and how he was worried what it would do to the nanos. Because of this, he started researching possible ways to counteract any of the effects it might have and leaving more and more of the revolution planning to his closest friend … Dr. Friar.
5.12.32–2256
All is lost. There is a traitor in our midst and we’ve already lost two of our teams. The members—all of them—have simply disappeared, but I have no doubts that they’ve met their final resting place at the bottom of the sea. I will lose no more lives over this and have given the order to abort the plan and to commence the immediate evacuation of the teams and anyone else who wants to leave. I have a feeling I know who betrayed us and I can only be grateful that at this point none of the remaining teams know the evacuation plans of the others. And that I know nothing of the others’ plans, because I have no doubt that Abby knows of my plans and will stop at nothing to prevent my escape. In the case that none of us make it, I’m leaving this journal in my secret office in the hopes that someday someone will see it and learn what’s really going on here. Even my betrayer doesn’t know about my office here. And maybe someone will succeed where I have failed.
“Well,” I say finally, “apparently there was a rebellion gone wrong and the Citizens in this Sector had to abort rather quickly and escape the city.”
“That’s why there are so many weapons here.”
I nod. “That’s what it appears to be.”
“So, what did they use to escape?”
“It’s not very clear. Actually, everyone had a different escape plan and no one knew what the other was, but he used the submarines. They’re in Sector Three.” My heart does a little somersault and I press a hand to it, unsure why the thought of going there makes me giddy. “Mother keeps them hidden away.” But I spin the journal around to show Gavin what I’ve just found: a map. Another present from Eli to whomever finds the journal. I tap my hand on the book. “And we’re going to go find them and get you on one.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Failure to attend bi-yearly health exams can result in accidental erasure from the system, which could cause the cameras and turrets to mistake you for a Surface Dweller.
—SIGN IN THE MEDICAL SECTOR WAITING AREA
“Subs? Are you serious? That’s great. So, what’s the plan?” He looks as happy as a child with spare credits in the candy store. It surprises me that he isn’t bopping up and down on his toes and clapping his hands. Then he stops and his eyes meet mine. “You said I’m going to use one. You’re still not planning on leaving with me.” It’s not a question.