Threader by Rebekah Turner Read Free Book Online

secure.
    â€˜Excellent.’ Allen’s fingers fly across his slate before he passes it to me. My breath catches as I recognise James and Alice staring up at me, looking young and happy. They’re both wearing white lab coats and are smiling for the camera. There’s an article below and I skim it. James Ryder was a technopath, able to telekinetically manipulate machinery through touch. Teamed with his wife, Alice Ryder, a talented threader, they worked as a team for Nanogen.
    Allen sits silent as I read about the work my parents did, from making great nanotechnology advancements, to making scientific breakthroughs that won them awards. When I finish, I pass back the slate, bewildered as to why James would have never told me about his past. I’d known Alice was a talent, after all, I’d inherited mine from her. But James had never confessed to being one and I’d never suspected. I start to wonder if Bobby knew all of this and never told me. Betrayal floats the surface of my thoughts in an oily film.
    Allen closes the slate’s screen and snaps the slim control-handle back around his wrist. ‘By all accounts, your parents were much more than their talents. They were also brilliant theoretical physicists.’ He stops with a puzzled expression. ‘Are you certain your father never mentioned anything about their time here?’
    â€˜No,’ I choke out. ‘Nothing.’
    Allen frowns. ‘I’m sure he had his reasons.’
    â€˜What did they do here?’ I ask. ‘What did they work on at Helios?’
    â€˜Extraordinary projects, I’ve heard. With your father’s knowledge of nanorobotics and your mother’s skill at threading, they made an unstoppable team. My understanding is after a time, their threading became a permanent fixture, their talents securely locked with each other. With this solid foundation, they were able to achieve the ability of complex brain-machine interfacing.’
    I try not to frown as I listen, because I don’t want him to stop and ask me what’s wrong. But I just don’t recognise the people he’s talking about as my parents and it feels more than a little disconcerting.
    I blink and try to focus on Allen’s face as he talks, big teeth flashing.
    â€˜The potential was there for great advancements in the manipulation of cybermerging of biology and nanotechnology,’ he says. ‘As well as the development of advanced generation artificial intelligence systems. Your parents were revolutionary in their thinking.’
    My curiosity doubles, but before I can pepper him with questions, he raises his hand once again. ‘I know you want answers, but you will have to wait.’
    â€˜For what?’
    â€˜For one thing, you don’t have the authorisation.’ He clears his throat. ‘But I can assure you, if you were to join Helios, there would be plenty of opportunities for you to find out more.’
    â€˜So … this is for real? I’m being offered a cadetship with Helios?’ I ask, daring to hope that my opportunity is here at last.
    Allen nods. ‘The academic year here at Helios has already begun. Normally we wouldn’t accept anyone into the cadet program at this late time, but the director of Helios has decided to make an exception in your case.’ His big smile comes back. ‘Can I assume your answer will be yes?’
    Overwhelmed, I don’t say a thing for a moment. Allen’s smile dims and I realise he thinks I’m unsure.
    â€˜Josie, here at the Helios Academy, we can offer you a tremendous amount of support with your skill. I understand your uncle had a heart attack last year. If you were to enter our program, you would be eligible for a Citizenship once you graduate into a commercial division within Galloway Industries. That means a better place of residence and access to better medicine.’ He pauses, one corner of his lips quirking up. ‘No