False Future by Dan Krokos Read Free Book Online Page B

too.”
    “Yeah, um. I was about to ask you for help. I just feel weird…undressing myself.”
    “Rhys. You undress yourself every day. At least I hope you do.”
    “Right, but it’s me! He’s him. But me. I—please?”
    I can’t help but smile. “Okay, let’s go.”
    R-34 is awake when we come out of the bedroom. He sees my suit and the badge under my throat. His eyes go wide, and he grits his teeth. “Ninety-six, where are you?” he calls.
    “In here,” she says from the bathroom. “Don’t do anything stupid.” Rhys said the same thing to me only a few minutes ago.
    Rhys goes through the same process I did of removing R-34’s suit, and I help, keeping a firm grip on whatever limb is free at the moment. “Sorry about this, pal,” Rhys says. “Hey, what do you call that cool car of yours we stole?”
    “We call them…” He doesn’t finish, as if he just remembered he’s not supposed to volunteer information.
    “Do we really have to go through this every time we ask a question?” I say.
    “ Thorns. They’re called Thorns.”
    Rhys and I share a look, and then we burst out laughing.
    “Thorns…” I barely get it out. “Roses…”
    Our laughter catches. Noble starts laughing over his maps. Sophia is giggling on the couch. R-34 is looking at the floor. I can’t stop; I can’t breathe. Tears are streaming down my face. It’s not even that funny, or funny at all, now that I think about it, but I can feel the tension coming out of me in waves.
    Rhys speaks between gasps. “You guys—are so lame.”
    R-34’s cheeks are red. “I didn’t come up with the name.”
    Slowly, we get ourselves under control. It felt good to laugh, but now the absence of that laughter is almost painful.
    “All right,” Rhys says, wiping a tear away. “So what are those jets called? Stamens?” He laughs again, but there’s no feeling behind it this time. The moment has passed.
    “They have some technical name, but we call them Axes. Because they’re flat and rectangular, like an ax. Is that funny?”
    Maybe, but I’m done laughing.
    “And the weapons?” I say.
    R-34 continues while Rhys slips into his armor. “We call the rifles RAWs—Rose Assault Weapons. They fire iridium rounds that transfer their kinetic energy to the target without going through them, essentially vaporizing the target, depending on the material. If you accidentally shoot yourself on max power, you will die.” He takes a shuddering breath. “Each RAW is coded to our armor. If you’re not wearing it, you can’t fire one.”
    “Why don’t you tell them everything!” M-96 shouts from the bathroom.
    “I’m trying to keep us alive!” he shouts back.
    “You’re doing a good job,” I tell him.
    We do a last-minute check. Rhys looks good in red. He shakes Noble’s hand, but Noble pulls him into a hug. They pat each other on the back a few times like guys do. “Got a plan?” Rhys says.
    “Oh yes,” Noble replies. “I plotted a course through the city that should keep us off the main avenues. If Peter’s hiding, we’ll find him.”
    Sophia hugs me again. “I’m glad you’re back. Being the only girl around here…”
    “Sucks,” Rhys offers.
    “Yes,” Sophia says. “Very much.” But she smiles to show it doesn’t really.
    “I’m glad I’m back too,” I reply, though technically the jury is still out on that one. I guess I can’t be mad I’m alive. “You feeling okay now?”
    She sniffs. “Yeah. Thanks for not letting me fall to my death. I won’t let them catch me off guard again.”
    If only she could control it. I nod anyway.
    Noble gives us earpieces small enough to be nearly invisible. “Touch these to activate them. Don’t use them inside the Verge, in case they’re tracking radio frequencies. After you’re out, check in with us to see what’s going on.”
    “Will do,” Rhys says.
    “Is there anything you can tell us about East?” I ask him.
    Noble scratches his beard again. He shrugs. “I