The Modified (The Biotics Trilogy, #1) (2 page)

He flashes me a smile. “Good to hear.”

Joey and Dylan were close friends. No, I take that back, he’s actually been more like a brother to us. Due to a lack of a relationship with his parents, he spent many nights over at our house to escape the craziness that was his home life. Joey took Dylan’s death just as hard as I did, and we’ve grown much closer because of it.

Joey’s never really cared about school, and his focus has always been on joining the military. At the age of twelve he shaved his bright red curly hair down to just a little fuzz on his head, and has kept the style ever since. Of course his father beat him for doing so, but Joey was always strong and never changed himself to fit what others wanted him to be. I admire him for that. 

I, on the other hand, have spent the majority of my life focused on preparing for my future. I was even looking into colleges by the age of eleven. Getting good grades and securing my way into a state university with a full-ride soccer scholarship was at the top of my priority list. Joining the military never even crossed my mind. I especially never thought I’d be drafted into it, since I’m a girl and all.  The United States has implemented the draft several times before, but never on a scale like this. I remember how I used to feel in school when we’d talk about past drafts. I didn’t quite understand the need for them, but now I do. I may not agree with the overall idea of forcing someone to do something, but I’m ready. I’m ready to fight. Besides, it’s not like we have a choice.

“Hey, looks like they’re going to start.” Joey’s voice wades its way into my thoughts.

Since we’re sitting in the nosebleed section of the stadium, we can barely make out the faces of the people on the stage. We have to resort to staring at two giant screens that frame either side of it. As a man dressed in a black-and-gold Allied Federation uniform approaches the microphone, his face appears on the screens. He seems cold and stoic.

“Welcome to the state of Maine’s Allied Federation draft.” He speaks in a rehearsed manner without any emotion in his voice, causing me to shudder. “We appreciate your cooperation during this tough time, and ask that you be patient throughout the assignment process. We will be doing this according to the color associated with your seating section. Line up in front of the stage when your section is called. And again, the Allied Federation thanks you.” The man finishes with a salute. As his face leaves the screen, I look down at the ground and see that our section is orange.

“What’s your dad doing here?” Joey’s excited tone causes me to jerk up and look at the screens again.

“I have no idea,” I reply as Joey gives me a confused look.

“He doesn’t look very happy,” Joey comments as we both stare at his image.

“No, he doesn’t.”

My dad stands there looking a little more ragged than usual, with his face covered in stubble. His hair is longer than it was when I last saw him eight months ago. He came home one day after work, packed a bag, and told us that he had begun working on a top-secret project, and didn’t know how long he’d be gone. The phone calls to the house have been sparse and they only came in about once a month, if that. We all miss him terribly, and though he looks worse for wear, I’m so happy to see him. I wonder if he’s here because of his project.

My dad taps on the microphone before he begins to speak. “H-hello everyone,” he stammers. “My name is Dr. Wyatt Grayson, and I’m the head scientist for the Allied Federation’s Research and Development division. I’m here to announce the names of two special draftees who performed exceptionally well in the preliminary evaluations.” He pauses and looks bothered by something. He glances over his shoulder and his body language changes. It almost seems like he’s trying to convince someone to stop him from saying what he’s about to. Sighing, he turns back to the microphone and opens up a piece of paper that he’s holding in his hand. “So, without further delay, it’s my duty to announce that…Joey Reilly and Kenley Grayson are the top two Maine draftees. If you’d please stand and make your way to the stage, we can continue with the assignments.” He stumbles back away from the microphone and hurries off stage.

I turn to Joey and his face looks as shocked as I feel. We’re both speechless.

“Will Kenley Grayson and Joey Reilly please report to the stage immediately?” another man in a Federation uniform speaks into the microphone. His voice echoes loudly throughout the quiet stadium.

We slowly rise from our seats and begin making our way toward the stage. My feet feel like they’re encased in concrete as every step seems to be heavier than the last. I can feel everyone staring at us as we walk by. I look up at the large screens on either side of the stage and there we are, large as life, walking down the stadium stairs. Whispers begin flowing through the crowd as we pass by them, row by row. My stomach sinks and I stop dead in my tracks. I peer up at my face on the screen again, which has been blown up to building size now, and freeze framed on the left side screen, with Joey’s face on the right.

Joey takes my hand. “Come on, we’re going to do this together, all right?”

I’m finally able to take my focus off the screens and look at him. He stands there anxiously waiting for my reply. I nod and let him lead me to the stage, which feels like it takes an eternity to reach. The man standing at the microphone says something, but it sounds muffled to me as my mind is trying to process what’s happening.

Standing there on stage, I turn to look out at the thousands in attendance. The bright lights shining in my eyes make it hard to focus on anything.

“Let’s have a round of applause for the top two draftees from your state,” the man calls out to the crowd. A subdued ovation follows, though I don’t really expect anything more than that, given the nature of this whole thing. It’s not something really worth celebrating.

“Now, if you two would follow these officers, they’ll escort you to the debriefing area.” The man gestures to the two armed Federation guards standing off to the side. They make an intimidating pair, each carrying the latest version of plasma rifle, and wearing full helmets so we can’t see their faces.

The two guards lead us through one of the back hallways of the stadium. The walls are made of dark grey cement giving the corridor a very cold and confined feeling. As I watch the fluorescent lights overhead reflecting on the shiny red floor, a million questions flood my mind. The biggest one being, where’s my dad?

We stop in front of a bright white door at the end of the hall. I look over at Joey and he gives me a reassuring smile while squeezing my hand. I’m so lucky to have him here with me since we’ve been through so much together. He’s definitely my rock.

One of the guards sharply raps his knuckles on the door and it opens, revealing my father. Releasing Joey’s hand, I throw myself into my dad’s arms, and for one split second I feel truly safe.

“Dad! It’s so good to see you. We’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. You have no idea,” he whispers in my ear. Pulling back from me slightly, he looks over my shoulder at Joey. “It’s good to see you too, Joey. I wish it was under better circumstances though.”

Joey nods. “Yeah, me too.”

“So, what’s going on here? Why were we singled out like this? They’ve never done this before, right?” I ask, confused.

“Come into the room so we can talk in private, okay?” he states and then dismisses the guards with a motion of his hand.

My father’s weary sigh keeps me from asking more questions as I follow him into the room with Joey right behind me.

We take a seat in the chairs across from my dad who sits behind a large metal desk. “Would either of you like something to drink?” he asks, pointing to a pitcher of ice water and three glasses sitting on the corner of the desk.

Ignoring his failed attempt to stall the conversation I blurt out, “Come on, Dad, why are we here?” While staring intently into his brown eyes, he dodges mine immediately.

Combing his hand through his shaggy light brown hair, something he does when he’s nervous or upset, he leans back in his chair and shakes his head. “It’s not easy for me to tell you this…but you’ve been handpicked to be a part of a special project.”

“A special project? Is this the thing you’ve been working on?” I ask him directly. He nods slightly and begins to pour himself a drink. I look over at Joey, who shrugs his shoulders, and then I turn back to my father. “What’s this project?”

“First, I feel I must point out that once you know the details, you must go through with it. Otherwise, you’ll be detained indefinitely. And believe me when I say you don’t want that. Nor do I want that for you,” he explains and then takes a big swig of his water.

“How would they know you’ve told us if we don’t say anything?” Joey asks.

“The walls have ears, dear boy,” is all he says.

“Why is this so secretive?”

“This is the largest undertaking the Federation has ever funded, and unfortunately, that’s all I can say until you agree to be a part of it. I don’t want to endanger you by telling you too much. Just in case you want to try and back out,” he replies.

 I sit there, not knowing what to say. I had so many questions before entering this room, and though some were answered, now new ones have taken their places. I pour myself a glass of water and take a sizable gulp as my throat suddenly feels like it’s full of sand.

“I can try and convince the Federation to choose two other draftees, but-”

“I want to do it,” I blurt out, surprising him.

“I do too. I’ve always wanted to serve, and if this project will give us a better chance of surviving the war, I want to take the risk,” Joey interjects.

My dad seems to be bothered by how quickly we answered his question. His eyes dart back and forth from me to Joey, with a frown fixed on his mouth. “Are you two…absolutely sure?” he struggles to get out. “Because once I tell you about this, there’s no turning back.” I can see in his eyes he wants us to change our minds. 

I look over at Joey, whose eyes give me the answer I need, and then back to my dad. “Yes.”

“Well…I can’t say that I didn’t try. I won’t lie to you two, this isn’t going to be easy. I honestly can’t even imagine you going through with it,” he says, sounding concerned.

“More dangerous than fighting in the war?” I ask.

“Unfortunately… yes,” he replies bluntly.

“Dad, can you please be straight with us? What’s this project? I mean, since we’ve already agreed to it, you’ve got to tell us now, right?”

My dad lets out a heavy sigh before he begins. “The Federation is choosing five draftees from each of the eight geographical regions in the United States, and then 40 others from each of the five remaining habitable continents as well. They want to modify you through the use of nanotechnology in order to mold you into enhanced soldiers.”

“What do you mean 'enhanced soldiers'?” Joey chimes in.

“In a nutshell? Super soldiers. Basically, you’ll receive a series of implants, that I’ve developed, which will modify your biological composition, leaving you with enhanced abilities. You’ll be changed forever.” He stops, almost seeming like he’s mulling something over. I stare at him with anticipation for what he’s going to say next, but he dodges it to take another drink of water. After setting down the glass, his focus returns to us. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but the implants are fused with the essence of a Bringer.”

“A Bringer!? We’re going to have part of those things put inside us? You’re right, that is crazy,” I reply, completely shocked by what my dad just said. “I won’t have any part of those things inside of me! Those things killed Dylan. Does that not bother you at all?”

“Of course it does, Kenley. And trust me when I say that I hate this as much you do, but the Magnus project is the last hope we have in the war against these creatures. I told you this wouldn’t be easy. There’s nothing I can do now though. You have to go through with it,” my dad says with eyes full of sadness.

“You can’t be serious. How is any of this even possible?” I hear Joey ask, but my eyes are still affixed to my father’s.

He breaks eye contact with me and looks over at Joey. “We’ve had some major breakthroughs in bio-modification research, and this project was born because of it. I can assure you that all of this is one hundred percent true. And sadly, you two will see that firsthand very soon.”

 “I’m so not looking forward to telling Mom about this, especially after all she’s been through.”

“No. You can’t tell her, or anyone else for that matter. This is top secret. If they trace any leak back to you, they’ll hunt you down and…well, I’d rather not think about what they’d do to you.”

“Got it, don’t tell anyone,” I reply seriously.

“All we need to tell your mom is that you did well enough in the preliminaries to land you a safe desk job. I hate the fact we have to lie to her, but with what happened to your brother, and me being gone for so long, I don’t want to put her through any more stress.”

“I hate lying to Mom too,” I say and then pause. “I know you guys wanted me to throw the preliminaries so I’d be safe for two years, and then go back to a normal life. But ever since Dylan’s death, life has been anything but normal, and I want to fight. There’s too much at stake not to,” I say, failing to keep the sadness from my voice.

My dad leans forward with his elbows on the desk and his hands clasped. “I knew you wouldn’t purposefully fail the tests. To be honest, I wasn’t surprised when the Federation wanted you two. You’re perfect hosts for the implant.” He reclines in the chair and rests his hands on his chest. “You’re right though, we did want you to be assigned a desk job, but this is your life, Kenley. I guess I’ll have to put my feelings aside. As much as I hate the idea.” He wearily pushes himself up from his chair and makes his way to the door. Opening it, “All right, you two. You better get on home. You’ll receive your assignment papers through the mail within the next couple of days or so. These papers are very important as they contain the location you’ll be meeting with the three other draftees from your region.”