The Switch by Debra Kayn (desktop ebook reader TXT) 📗

by individual days. Trip took the medicine. For as long as he could remember, he'd swallowed the six daily pills each morning without question.

"We've scheduled one handler to work forty-eight hours before a new one comes in as we enter the next stage and prep the new arrivals. You're to keep two of your men in the cave at all times in case they're needed." The controller moved to the desk, picked up a clipboard, and returned to Trip, Johnny, Prez, Speeder, Keenan, and Hank. "Have you noticed any change, Seven?"

"No," said Trip.

"You may leave."

Trip walked away, going down the dark tunnel. Not wanting to chance getting caught waiting for the others within the cave, he stepped out into the daylight and stood by his Harley.

The others joined him, coming out of the darkness, one by one. He let Prez lead them away from the cave.

At the gas station, they all pulled over in the gravel patch reserved for a pit stop for truckers. He cut the engine and remained on the Harley. Understanding passed between the six of them.

They'd all witnessed changes in each other more than they recognized it in themselves. That much was clear.

It made him wonder how much control the Alpha Bio Project had over him. Everyday decisions and thoughts always seemed like his own. Sometime over the last two months, he could disassociate from what he viewed during training, bring his thoughts around to himself, and question the program's purpose.

His awareness coincided with Bonnie and her sons arriving in Avery Falls.

Originally, he believed Bonnie brought out the changes in him. Not anymore. It was all coming from him. Something inside of him had changed.

It wasn't something he'd done. It was something out of his control.

"Did you notice?" Speeder removed the pill container from his vest pocket. "He gave us different pills."

Trip pulled out his allotment. There were six in each compartment. That was the same number of pills he'd taken each morning for as long as he could remember.

"It's the colors. You and Prez have off-white ones instead of the pure white." Speeder slipped the pills back into his pocket. "I told you, man. They're doing something to us."

"Nah, it's the same." Johnny shook his head. "Nothing has changed. The program is devoted to making us superior in all ways."

"To what degree?" Trip tried to wrap his head around the thoughts the controller only viewed them as an experiment. That all the programming they'd gone through was for a purpose beyond setting up a controlled society. "The CIA built us to protect what we've created. Our abilities will never be used on others unless they switch us."

"It's been almost twenty years. None of the originals have ever been switched, while we've watched other members end their existence." Prez crossed his arms. "Let's say the Alpha Bio Project is responsible for the changes we're experiencing. Why?"

Hank scoffed. "You believe that?"

"I don't know." Prez's gaze narrowed. "When we were in there, I anticipated the shock.  I damn near could feel the pain before the handler zapped Nine."

Trip had witnessed the change in Prez's behavior inside the cave. If it was just one of them, he wouldn't be concerned. But each of them had something going on.

And, it wasn't the same changes happening for everyone.

"What can we do?" Keenan shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

"Nothing. Not yet." Trip thrummed his thumb against the motorcycle's gas tank, caught himself showing signs of frustration, and stopped. "Maybe the pills will help."

"Maybe," repeated Hank.

Speeder toed his kickstand. "I need to go and check on Trina."

Prez shifted on his Harley. "I'm due at the clubhouse."

"Wait." A thought came to Trip. "What about the others that are living here and graduates of the program? We've kept our findings between us, but should they know?"

"No." Prez looked at each one of them. "Neither the controller nor handlers have checked in on them for at least six months. They've put their care in our hands. Let's keep an eye out. Check-in with each member. We'll get together in the next few days and see where we go from our findings."

Trip nodded and started his Harley. It was only two of them who'd had their pills changed. Hopefully, they could stop the spread of whatever was happening and contain it.

Before he headed home, he rode by The Shack. Bonnie stood outside next to two men.

Her head lifted and turned, seeking out the rumble of his motorcycle. He raised his hand off the throttle to her. She followed him with her gaze.

Nothing was wrong with his enhanced vision. He'd caught the slight smile on her face before he turned and headed home.

Chapter Sixteen

Bonnie slid the fourth chair underneath the table. The rectangle shape fit into the kitchen area perfectly.

She ran her hand over the smooth, unscarred wood surface. "You know what we forgot?"

"What?" Kenny stomped his foot down on the humongous cardboard pieces that had held the furniture that was delivered earlier.

"I sold the placemats and coaster set in our yard sale before we moved." She pinned Kenny with a look. "That means no water glasses on the table until I can order a set. I don't want rings on the surface."

Kenny yelled for Zach. Her oldest son came in and helped his brother carry the packing material outside.

She opened the junk drawer, grabbed a lighter, and hurried to the door. "If you can cram that in the burning barrel, you can start a fire. Just make sure you put the screen on top. I don't want you to burn down the forest."

Tossing Zach the lighter, she watched her sons talk quietly as they completed the chore around Grandpa Gene's old, rusty barrel. They were growing up.

"Get one of the old garden hoses from the shed in case the fire gets too high," she said.

"Most of them have holes."

"That's okay. It'll still get the water from the house to the barrel," she said.

Though her mom had cleaned out the house after