Skin Rebellion Read online

  “With Director Morelle’s help, Triton has nothing to fear,” President Trask gazes out from the holo with his brow slightly creased in a well-practised, fatherly way. “And with the protection our new Skin Soldiers will provide, we’ll quickly repel any and all Deiterran forces, and ensure they never threaten us again.” His job seemingly done, he looks back at the director.

  “Finally, I’d like to make a comment about the winner of the Skin Hunter contest,” says Morelle.

  The camera pulls back a little more to show the Reptile Skin standing upright on the director’s other side, with its knees bent. Its jewel-green scales glow in the lobby’s bright light, and though it’s impossible to read any emotion on its regal face, its large eyes gleam with intelligence.

  Sentin.

  I lean forward, wishing I could talk to him. He warned me about the director and said he wanted to stop her. What’s he doing by the director’s side?

  Is he friend or foe?

  “Sentin is half Deiterran, but has lived in Triton most of his life,” says Morelle. “He has become an invaluable source of intelligence, and proven his loyalty. Further questions about his allegiance will not be tolerated.”

  “Have you seen enough?” Doctor Gregory switches off the holo. “Things have been quiet since this clip aired. Deiterra hasn’t responded. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one, but I think we’re all on edge, waiting for something to happen.”

  I frown, still disturbed by that huge room with hundreds of pods. “Why is the president accepting hundreds of Skin Soldiers from Director Morelle? He didn’t want her to manufacture the Skins at all.”

  “He changed his mind, now we need them for protection.” She sighs, still pinching worriedly at her throat. “Perhaps it’s the right thing to do. Director Morelle is the only one who can defend Triton, even if I still have concerns about the Skin technology. There’s no doubt it needs more testing, but in the face of the threat we face from Deiterra, Skins could be the only viable solution.”

  I stare at her. Can’t she tell that everything Director Morelle says is a bare-faced lie?

  While I was unconscious, the director went from only reluctantly being allowed to run a contest with five prototype Skins, to manufacturing an entire Skin Army? And the president is standing by while she announces her army. No, more than standing by. He’s thanking her for it.

  Seems like Sentin was right, because the vague hints he let slip are coming true in the worst possible way. What did he tell me? That the contest was just a diversion?

  “Sentin warned me the director would start a war,” I say.

  Doctor Gregory blinks at me for a moment, then frowns. “That’s absurd. The director didn’t start the war.”

  “But what if she did?”

  Chapter Two

  Bless her, Doctor Gregory fixes me something to eat when I tell her how hungry I am. I fall on the food, trying not to shovel it in too fast. It’s good food, too. Much better than the tasteless gunk the machines spit out in the shelters.

  The doctor obviously wants to ask more questions. She impatiently watches me eat, sitting opposite me and sipping a cup of hot tea. She cleared the clutter off one of her worktables, moving all her electronic gadgets to the other table so we could use it as a dining table. I guess just because Director Morelle kicked her out, she hasn’t stopped being a scientist.

  I’ve barely swallowed my last mouthful before she asks, “Are you ready to tell me why you’re here in the middle of the night, and why you knew nothing about the war?”

  I wipe my palms down the legs of my jeans and drag in a breath. It’s time to start revealing my secrets.

  “I need to show you something first,” I say, mostly to delay the moment I have to confess to lying. “Using the Leopard Skin has changed me.”

  “Changed you how?”

  “My eyesight and my sense of smell are sharper. And I’m stronger and faster than I used to be.”

  She frowns, her gaze flicking down to my hands and back up again. “Improved eyesight is to be expected when you have a new eye implanted. Your vision must have previously been sub-par, thanks to your old cybernetic eye. And the cybernetics could have been affecting your olfactory system.”

  I get up, and walk carefully on my damaged feet to pick up a long metal bar that’s lying on her other cluttered worktable amongst the mess of electronic equipment. The bar is only a little thicker than one of my fingers, but whatever metal it’s made of is strong. I show it to Doctor Gregory. “Do you mind if I bend this?”

  “Bend it? I suppose not, but how do you propose to…?” She gapes as I grip the ends of the bar and force them together, my muscles straining as I slowly lever the bar into a U shape. I remember Brugan doing the same thing to a weight lifting bar when he was in his Devil Bear Skin.

  “How did you do that?” Doctor Gregory stands to take the bar from my hands. The muscles in her neck stand out as she struggles with it, testing whether she can get it to bend. Finally she gives up and puts it back on the table.

  “You believe your strength increased as a direct result of using the Leopard Skin?” she asks.

  “That’s right.”

  “The Skin transferral technology was in development for many years, and no test subject has ever displayed symptoms like yours.”

  I shrug. “And nobody else had their human body injured when their Skin was hurt, but you watched it happen to me.”

  “That’s true.” She frowns, rubbing her chin. “The director must be told about this. The changes to your physiology are far more extreme than we ever considered and transferrals must be stopped until we know more. Considering the circumstances, perhaps she’ll allow me to help with the study. I’ll need to contact her, to let her know—”

  “Director Morelle already knows,” I interrupt. And it must be true. By now Morelle must have seen the restraints I tore free from when I escaped from her lab.

  “She knows?” The doctor paces across the room, clearly upset. “I developed significant parts of the transferral technology. If a subject’s physiology is affected, I’m responsible. Perhaps the director doesn’t understand the implications—”

  “You’re not responsible. The director’s the one in charge.” I hobble back to the chair and sink down, glad to be off my feet again. “Besides, I’m grateful for the change. Without the extra strength my Skin gave me, I’d probably be dead by now. Experimented on and dissected in the director’s lab.”

  “Dissected?” She spins to face me, her brow furrowed. She’s probably wondering if I’m a liar or just plain crazy.

  My heart sinks. I’ve barely begun to tell her what’s really been going on. And if she doesn’t believe me now, how’s she going to feel when I tell her I’m not Rayne?

  “The director’s not the person you think she is.” I say. “She’s been scheming and lying the entire time. Sentin said he only entered the contest to keep an eye on her. He seems to know what she’s up to.”

  “In that case, I’d like to speak with Sentin.”

  “So would I. But he’s with the director, and she might be monitoring his calls. We should talk to Cale instead.”

  “Cale? Why?”

  I hesitate, trying to think of a good reason. I can’t exactly admit it’s because I miss him, and need to tell him how sorry I am for pushing him away.

  “He’s affected by this too,” I say instead. “He should know what’s happening. Would you call him for me?”

  “You can’t call him yourself?”

  “My band doesn’t work.” When she looks puzzled, I add, “There’s a lot more I need to explain, but it’ll be easier if I tell you both at once.”

  “But we can’t call him now. It’s the middle of the night.”

  I think of all the midnight training sessions Cale and I had, and manage a twisted smile. “Believe it or not, that’s our best time.”

  She still looks uncertain. And tired. She’s in rumpled pyjamas, and her wispy gray hair flo
ats in a halo around her face rather than being tied back in her normal bun. My heart goes out to her. She never asked for any of this, yet she’s taken me in and fed me when I had nowhere else to go. I want to tell her how bad I feel for waking her, but she’s already calling Cale.

  It takes a while for Cale to answer, and when his hologram appears above the doctor’s band, he’s tousle-haired and rubbing his eyes. His hair looks a little longer than last time I saw him, and his square jaw is dark with stubble.

  I hadn’t forgotten how handsome he is, but it hits me all over again, like I’m seeing him for the first time. Even half asleep, he’s handsome enough to suck the air from my lungs.

  He’s wearing a faded gray T-shirt that looks like the one he had on when I last saw him. What wouldn’t I give to be able to go back to that day, to tell him how much he means to me instead of letting him walk away?

  “Hello?” Cale’s voice is gruff with sleep.

  My heart is thudding, but at the same time, my throat constricts. I was afraid I’d never get to see him or speak to him again, and there are so many things I want to say that I’m not sure where to start.

  “I’m sorry to wake you,” Doctor Gregory says. “I’m with Rayne. She thought it would be okay to call this late, considering everything that’s been going on.” Then she glances at me. “I’m going to expand the range so Cale can see you, okay?”

  Cale’s soft brown eyes turn suddenly hard. “That’s not Rayne,” he says in a flat, hostile tone.

  I drag in a loud breath, my gaze flicking between him and the doctor.

  She gives him a puzzled frown. “What do you mean?”

  “Her face and name were broadcast on b-Net. She’s Milla Scully, and she’s wanted for murder. She killed the real Rayne and took her place. You shouldn’t believe anything she tells you.”

  Chapter Three

  The doctor eyes widen and she gets slowly up from the table, staring at me as though I’m about to bite her.

  I stand up too, meeting the doctor’s gaze as my stomach turns itself inside out. “I didn’t kill Rayne. I swear I didn’t.”

  “Why should we believe you?” Cale’s tone gets even harsher. “You’ve already proven you’re a liar.”

  “Please, just hear me out. It’s true, my name’s Milla and I took Rayne’s place. But I didn’t hurt her, and I hated lying to you both. I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was afraid of being kicked out of the contest.”

  “Why would you take Rayne’s place?” Doctor Gregory asks in a breathy voice. She isn’t moving, but the muscles in her legs are tense, and her scent gives her away. She’s preparing to move quickly. Maybe to shut herself in the bathroom, to lock herself away so she can call the police again.

  I put my hand out to her, speaking fast. “Rayne and her boyfriend came into my shelter one night. I had no idea who she was, I never even spoke to her. But I saw they were being targeted. You can’t just walk in to a shelter wearing clothes like they were and expect to walk out again.” The words tumble out quickly. Though I’m terrified they won’t believe me, it’s a relief to finally admit the truth. “Two men attacked Rayne. They stabbed her. I couldn’t do anything to stop it, though I tried. I swear I tried. Somehow, I was left holding Rayne up while she died. Her blood was on my hands and the announcement of her being chosen for the contest was on the holo.”

  Doctor Gregory still looks wary, and Cale is silent, his lips pressed into a line so hard that looking at him breaks my heart.

  “I stole her band,” I admit. “It was a split second decision, a crazy thing to do. I regretted it as soon as I’d done it, but it got me into the contest.”

  “If you didn’t kill Rayne, it would be easy to prove.” Cale’s tone hasn’t softened. “The security cameras must have shown who really did it.”

  “The place was crowded. If the cameras even worked, chances are they wouldn’t show anything. That’s if anyone cared enough to watch the feed.”

  “Convenient,” he mutters.

  “I was arrested. The stompers let me go because there wasn’t any evidence. Because I didn’t kill anyone.” When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “You know me, Cale. You’ve come to know me better than anyone. Do you really think I could kill someone?”

  He stares at me in silence, his eyes narrowed. Perhaps he’s trying to decide whether to call the stompers and turn me in.

  “Listen,” I say desperately. “There’s more going on than you know. Director Morelle knew I wasn’t really Rayne. She called me by my real name, then told me she was keeping my secret because she wanted me to compete.”

  “I was wondering how you could have deceived the director,” says the doctor. “None of this makes sense, but I find it hard to believe she wouldn’t have known your real identity. She was strict on security. I doubt anyone could fool her for long.” She sounds thoughtful rather than afraid, and her muscles have relaxed a little. Hopefully I’m making progress.

  “Director Morelle wanted to study me, to use me as a human guinea pig. She let Cale and I train at night, then tried to run tests to figure out why my human body was wounded when my Leopard Skin was hurt. After the contest, my body was a mess. Her doctor injected me with something to keep me knocked out for days, so I could heal before she started her experiments. That’s where I’ve been all this time. Lying unconscious in a laboratory, waiting for her to cut me up into little pieces.”

  “You’ve been in a coma?” Cale asks. Am I just being hopeful, or has a tinge of worry crept into his eyes, softening his anger a little?

  “I didn’t know the war had started, but I’m sure the director is behind it, pulling the strings. And there’s something else.” I catch the doctor’s gaze. “I think Director Morelle’s using a Skin herself. She must have made one in secret. I don’t know whether she’s using it all the time, but if she is, who knows what she really looks like?”

  The doctor frowns, shaking her head. “That’s not possible. Realistic humanoid avatars are illegal.”

  I say nothing, keeping my eyes on hers. After a moment, she sinks back into her chair.

  “It’s possible,” she admits. “I was the lead scientist on the project for years, until she started edging me aside. I couldn’t understand why she was pulling me away from my work for other, less important assignments. Like taking care of the contestants. I’m the last person she should have given that job to.”

  “You must be too honest,” I tell her. “Maybe she has other scientists who aren’t.”

  “We shouldn’t be talking so openly over the network,” says Cale. “It’s not secure.”

  “Will you come over here?” I ask. “We could talk in person.”

  “How can either of us trust you now?” His anger flares again, his eyes so cold they sear though my chest and deep into my heart. “And what makes you think Doctor Gregory will let you stay in her house when she’s just found out you’re wanted for murder?”

  The doctor blinks several times, her hand resting against her cheek. “Well, I don’t know.”

  I let out a breath, trying not to let my dismay show. Cale’s right. Of course the doctor won’t want me here after Cale’s revelations. “I can find somewhere else to sleep. But would it be okay for me to come back tomorrow so we can talk some more? We’re the only people who know what’s really going on, and nobody else would understand what I’m talking about.”

  “What about your injured feet?” asks the doctor. “Do you have anywhere else to go?”

  “I’ll be fine. Plenty of dark corners in Old Triton I can hole up in.” The idea makes my stomach flutter with nerves, but I give her a reassuring smile. Before my Skin changed me, it would have been too dangerous for me to consider sleeping outside. But I’m a lot stronger now, and anyone who decides to bother me will find I’m tougher than I look.

  Cale makes a sound like clicking his tongue on the back of his teeth. “You can’t sleep rough.”

  “That’s right,” agrees the doctor. “If you’ve nowh
ere else, you’ll have to stay here. May I have your word that you’re telling the truth now?”

  “I promise I am. In fact, why don’t you test my blood?” I offer her my arm, sweeping my gaze over the equipment on her cluttered workbench. “I probably still have the drugs the director gave me in my system. It’ll prove I’ve been knocked out and that part of my story is true.”

  She shakes her head. “That’s not necessary. And I suppose if you intended to murder me, you would have done it by now.”

  “I’ve never killed anybody.” Why is it that when I say it out loud, it always sounds like a lie?

  “I’ll drop by first thing in the morning to make sure you’re okay,” says Cale. For a moment I think he’s talking to me, then I realize he means to check on the doctor, probably to make sure I haven’t killed her in her sleep. Does he really think so little of me now?

  I might deserve his suspicion, but it still makes my heart ache so badly, I have to turn my face away to hide the tears that prickle the backs of my eyes. When we trained together, it was the way Cale trusted me that brought down my barriers. I hate that I’ve lost that trust.

  Since moving to the shelter, there’s only been one other person I could really depend on. Tori’s my best friend, and means as much to me as Cale does. But she was moved to another factory, and I may never see her again.

  Now I’ve lost Cale too, and it was my own fault for not telling him the truth a lot earlier.

  “We’ll see you in the morning,” agrees Doctor Gregory. She disconnects the call and turns back to me, her expression troubled. “It’s late and we could both use some rest,” she says. “I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

  I swallow hard, trying to shift the lump in my throat. “Wait. I know I have no right to ask you for any more favors. You’ve already done a lot more than most people would. But if I don’t speak to Ma, I won’t be able to close my eyes. Would you please call her for me? I need to know she’s okay.”