“Hopefully not. That would be a waste.”
“So, a labor camp then?”
“I’m going to make sure the disciplinary board knows the full extent of what happened. The fact that Jeremiah Lange was known to traffic in humans and illegal firearms will help your case. His death could be reasonably considered self-defense.”
“But not Brother Larry’s?” I asked.
“That one is a bit more complicated. It happened in his home, there were two of you, no witnesses or prior history of violence from Brother Larry, though we’ve long suspected that he also trafficked in humans and other illegal goods. But your honesty in telling me what happened will shine a favorable light on your case. There is also one other thing you could do that would demonstrate your commitment to law and order.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Simple fact, we need more soldiers, Joshua. We’re understaffed here as it is. The work is taxing and dangerous. Not everyone is cut out for the service, and you have a lot of skills that we find desirable.”
“What would that mean for my case?” I asked.
“As a United Forces service member, you’d be granted clemency, and any and all crimes would be pardoned.” Crenshaw slid the recruitment pamphlet across the table toward me. I knew what it said already, had memorized every detail along with the map. “I’d like you to consider joining the United Forces of America,” she said.
Cipher would hate it, would tell me not to sign my life over to an imperial force whose mission was to stomp out the little guy.
They’ll change you,he’d say.
They’ll use you as fuel in their ravenous war machine.
You’ll hate every minute of it. Kitten, don’t do it.
But Cipher wasn’t there. He was fighting for his life in the lab, thanks to my own inability to protect him. I’d sworn to never leave him alone, and I never would by choice, but I had to do what was best for both of us. I had a better chance of surviving the service than a labor camp, and part of me believed I needed to atone for my sins. Cipher would be safe and when he recovered, he’d be free from any repercussions. He could return to our compound and take care of our family. It was only five years…
I’d second-guess any decision I made, especially one this important, but at the end of the day, I had to be able to look at myself in the mirror and like the person I saw staring back. Cipher would understand. I’d make sure of it.
THIRTEEN
CIPHER
“Hello?”I called out.
The room was dark but not pitch black. I heard the quiet hum of machinery and what sounded like the steady cadence of a heart monitor. Smooth white walls, an IV in the back of my hand, a clean white cast on my arm, something stuck to my neck, and leather cuffs around my wrists. I was wearing a hospital gown and nothing else. One of my legs was missing.What the fuck?
“The fuck’s going on?” I called again.
“Hello, Cipher.”
Cipher?Was that my name or theirs? I searched the four corners of the room, but I couldn’t make out where they were hiding. It was all just stark shadows and ominous medical equipment.
“I’m speaking to you via intercom. My name is Dr. Aparna Godara,” the voice said.
“Where’s my leg?” I asked.
“That was a previous injury, I’m afraid, but your prosthesis is in the chair in the corner of the room.” I glanced over to whereshe’d directed me and immediately felt comforted by the sight of it. Maybe she was telling the truth–about that at least.
“Amputations are quite common these days and judging by your scar, I’d estimate you’ve been an amputee since you were about fifteen years old?” the voice said.
That sounded kind of right, maybe. “I’m Cipher?” I asked. The name did sound familiar.
“That’s what your friends called you. We were also able to track down your birth name, Nikko Kanemoto.”
Nikko Kanemoto.That name felt jarring, part of a painful past. Did I have parents? I must have, but they were dead now, I knew that for certain. And my sister…Aiko?Aiko was dead too. The grief of losing them–and especially her–washed over me, stealing my breath for a moment, but I couldn’t dwell on that right now. I had other things to think about.
“Where am I?” I asked because I still had no idea why I was here or how I got here.
