Alienation by Jon S. Lewis

Author:Jon S. Lewis [Lewis, Jon S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Book, Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, ebook
ISBN: 9781595547545
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2012-01-03T05:00:00+00:00

:: CHAPTER 28 ::

There was a set of double doors at the top of the stairs, but the glass was tinted so they couldn’t see inside. Colt looked for a doorbell or some kind of buzzer, but he couldn’t find anything.

“Just knock,” Danielle said, but before he could raise his hand there was a buzzing sound and one of the doors clicked open.

They walked into a foyer that was at least the size of the gymnasium back at Chandler High. The floor was covered in marble tiles, and the glass panes along the ceiling were streaked with condensation from the snow. There was no art on the walls or even an exit sign over the doors. In fact, there was no decor at all. It was sterile. Lifeless. Intimidating.

On the opposite end of the room was a reception area where a soldier stood in full combat uniform. He wore a ballistic vest and had a M4 Carbine that hung from a strap slung over his shoulder. The tag embroidered on his chest read Hayden.

“Um, hi,” Colt said. “We were wondering if this is where we’re supposed to go . . . you know, for the CHAOS Academy?”

“Names, please.” Hayden’s voice was rich and dark like his skin.

“I’m Colt McAlister, and this is—”

“I know my own name,” Danielle whispered. She threw her shoulders back and stared the man straight in the eye. “I’m Danielle Selena Salazar. Do you need to see my invitation?”

“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “Stand by for full body scan.”

“Excuse me?” Danielle asked.

“Initiate sequence 3-5-Alpha.”

Two metal spheres rose from behind the counter, each about the size of a bowling ball. Somehow they flew across the room until one hovered over Colt’s head and the other was directly above Danielle. Apertures opened, bathing them in green light. A moment later they were looking at holographic replicas of themselves. They were green and slightly translucent, like an x-ray. And they were spot on.

“What’s that hanging around your neck?” Hayden asked.

“It’s just something my grandpa gave me,” Colt said, fingering the tarnished surface. “He wore it when he fought in World War II.”

“So it’s true?” Hayden asked, his face stern and his voice measured. “Murdoch McAlister is your grandfather?”

“Yes, sir,” Colt said.

Hayden smiled. “You’ve been the only thing people around here have been talking about for weeks.”

Colt wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Me and the fellas, we were impressed with what you did at Trident. You really went toe-to-toe with one of them lizards?”

“It’s not like I knew what I was doing,” Colt said. “I just got lucky.”

“Ain’t no such thing as luck,” Hayden said. “But you know that already, don’t you?” He started to say something else, but he must have thought better of it. “Now, are either of you carrying a cell phone, camera, or any other type of recording device?”

“I left mine in the van,” Colt said.

“My phone is in my purse, but—”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to leave that with me,” he said.

“How am I supposed to call my parents?”

“You’ll have to work that out with your commanding officer.

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