Losing Balance Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Karen Ann (K.A.) Liddiard

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission. Except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection to a review.

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Masterclass Publishing: PO Box 7214, Karawara, Western Australia 6152

  Losing Balance/ K.A. Liddiard-- 1st ed.

  Kindle Edition ISBN 978-1-922383-08-2

  Cover design by www.derangeddoctordesign.com

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Previously in Twisting Fate

  1. The first step to forgiveness

  2. Alexa on the outside

  3. Denying the truth

  4. The tables have turned

  5. Is there anything we can do?

  6. Finding perspective and forgiveness

  7. Jonathan makes his first move

  8. Weighing their chances

  9. We’re not admitting defeat, yet …

  10. When the impossible becomes improbable

  11. Testing loyalties

  12. Meeting the enemy

  13. Making a friend

  14. A tentative truce

  15. A surprising misjudgment

  16. A new plan

  17. Teaching Jonathan a lesson

  18. Jonathan is very, very unhappy

  19. Running for cover

  20. A guilty conscience too late for confession

  21. Breaking Brittany’s heart

  22. Can Reese survive?

  23. Questioning all that is trusted

  24. The unbearable truth is revealed

  25. The loss of hope

  26. Can we save the innocent children?

  27. Even if the cabal breaks, will it matter?

  28. A surprising date

  29. A sweet reunion… interrupted

  30. Fooling Jonathan

  31. Not fooling Mark

  32. Alexa won’t run this time

  33. A lifesaving offer

  34. Checking the teeth of the gift horse

  35. Testing loyalties

  36. Old friends that we’d rather have met

  37. Is Alexa free or a captive?

  38. Melissa gets a new lab rat

  39. Planning for the worst

  40. Alexa fears the very worst

  41. At least the twins are still safe

  42. Breaking Rick

  43. The worst command in history

  44. Jonathan tests Mark’s loyalty

  45. Brittany makes plans, with a little help

  46. Details, details and more plans

  47. Brittany is the key to the castle

  48. The plan succeeds

  49. Disaster crashes through the gates

  50. Honoring Brittany’s choice

  51. How do you stop a wildfire blown by a tornado?

  52. Is this the end… or the beginning?

  Finding Hope - Excerpt

  K.A. Liddiard

  1. Do we wake up the devil?

  2. Waking up to a new world

  Also Available

  About the Author

  Previously in Twisting Fate

  Alexa Dartmoor realized that refusal to accept that she was a clone was suicidal; and recognized her new destiny was to fight Jacob Scott’s plans to ruthlessly cull the planet’s population.

  Bitterness and anger at Rick Malvern’s betrayal led her into a brief affair with Tim Lewis, a Special Ops soldier employed by GenTech security. When Tim is critically wounded in a field mission; her emotional connection to him and to Rick is tested. Alexa chooses Rick before she discovers the consequences of her affair. She asks Rick to boot-up a replacement Alexa clone so that the pregnant clone, re-named Amanda, can escape GenTech for a normal family life with Tim.

  Alexa cannot see that she is twisting fate to suit her own selfish purpose. Instead she focuses on innovative new plans for moving the world toward a carbon neutral society.

  Her Alternate clones, Kate Dexter and Alison Daniels, are paired with Martin Doncaster (an Alternate of Mitch Donnelly) and Ryan Meredith (an alternative of Rick). Along with other trusted GenTech Primes, their mission is to infect key figures supporting the carbon-reliant resource industry with nanites that induce Broca’s Aphasia. While not fatal, Broca’s Aphasia renders victims unable to speak for months or years. The result is the silencing of the strongest voices denying climate change or arguing against renewable energy.

  Even though GenTech’s analysts believe Alexa’s plans will have a positive impact; Jacob Scott prepares to release a deadly virus. Neither Alexa nor her final Alternate clone, Asher Daniels, can convince Jacob to stand down. Desperate to escape from the pressure of trying to find an alternative approach, Alexa heads to Bolivia with Mitch, Tim and a field squad to assassinate a corrupt politician responsible for environmental devastation.

  The trip is disastrous. Back in Canada, Amanda loses one of her twin babies in early labour; Tim is devastated at the loss and his absence. When he tries to comfort Tim, it is Mitch’s demons that are revealed.

  After completing their mission, fate leads them to one of those demons. Tim and Alexa help Mitch wreak vengeance on a man who had tormented and humiliated Mitch’s Source. But calamity strikes when Mitch dies in a plane crash before downloading the memory that may bring him closure.

  Alexa finds another way to ease Mitch’s old wounds when he is re-booted. After twenty-five years of remorse over the critical injury of his wife and child; he accepts he cannot hold the guilt of his Source forever.

  Meanwhile, GenTech Primes who have been deploying the nanites go rogue and turn themselves in to the CIA. To divert the CIA, Rick and Alexa cast blame on their Alternates, who are forced to flee as hunted terrorists. Martin, Ryan and Alison escape south through Mexico; Kate does not survive.

  When Jacob releases the first of his deadly viruses; Rick and Alexa slip away to South America to start a life free from GenTech. Mitch is left to cleanse the mountain of evidence of GenTech’s involvement with nanite terrorism and illegal cloning technology. He gains an unexpected ally in Tim’s sister, Gillian, who has been hiding her secret identity as the Ace of Moonlight; one of the world’s top-ten most-wanted computer hackers.

  With Gilly’s help, Mitch disables the deadly implants that ensure clone compliance. He prepares to flee the mountain with Gilly, Tim and Amanda before the CIA arrive to expose its secrets.

  When Jacob refuses to wait twelve months to assess the impact of his first virus; Nate Scott, GenTech’s R&D director (another of the Malvern clones) supports Mitch’s plan to temporarily eliminate Jacob.

  With the secret cloning facility sealed off, Nate and Asher remain in the mountain to divert the CIA and plan to reboot Jacob in twelve months. The rebels flee, but tragedy strikes as Amanda dies during the escape.

  In South America, Alexa and Rick are horrified to find their implants are active. Alexa assumes Rick has betrayed her once more and he walks away, shattered by her lack of trust. She is devastated to find she is more alone than she has ever been.

  The CIA find nothing in the mountain, but believe they have caught the three GenTech nano-terrorists trying to cross the border into Canada. They are puzzled to discover the three have no memory and no ability to talk or walk. This is because they are only Skins—clones without a memory download—who were abandoned to divert suspicion from Martin, Ryan
and Alison.

  As the CIA try to understand the strange condition of the Skins and the rebels think they have twelve months before the fight may begin again; the last of the Malvern clones emerges from the shadows to take over from Jacob.

  The key players so far:

  * * *

  The Malvern clones:

  Daniel Malvern – Source – founder of GenTech

  Jacob Scott (deceased) – CEO of GenTech; responsible for implementing Daniel’s vision

  Richard (Rick) Malvern – GenTech Director of Acquisitions and Special Projects; married to Alexa Dartmoor

  Nathaniel (Nate) Scott – GenTech Director of Research and Development

  Ryan Meredith – Alternate clone of Rick; partner of Alison Daniels

  Reese Mainwaring – Alternate clone of Rick

  * * *

  The Daniels clones:

  Ashleigh Daniels – Source

  Alexa (Lexie/Ali-Kat) Dartmoor – Prime clone; married to Rick Malvern

  Amanda Dartmoor (deceased) – Twin clone of Alexa; married to Tim Lewis

  Asher Daniels – Alternate clone of Alexa

  Alison (Sunny) Daniels – Alternate clone of Alexa, partner of Ryan Meredith

  Kate Dexter (deceased) – Alternate clone of Alexa, partner of Martin Doncaster

  * * *

  The Donoghue clones:

  Matthew Donoghue – Source

  Mitch Donnelly – Prime clone, manager of GenTech Special Ops and 2IC to Rick; engaged to Gillian Lewis

  Martin Doncaster – Alternate clone of Mitch, partner of Kate Dexter

  * * *

  The Lewis siblings:

  Timothy (Tim) Lewis – ex-Special Forces sniper; married to Amanda Dartmoor

  Gillian (Gilly) Lewis – computer hacker known as the Ace of Moonlight; engaged to Mitch Donnelly

  1

  The first step to forgiveness

  “Go get dressed, wife,” Mitch begged as he walked out onto the timber deck. “Rick will be here any minute.”

  Gilly stretched sinuously as she rolled over on the sun-lounge and sat up clad in the skimpiest of bikini bottoms, a crisp white against her tropical golden tan.

  She arched one dark eyebrow high enough to vanish into her silky brunette curls and smiled mischievously, “Why? Won’t he approve of your choice, husband?”

  Mitch grinned and tugged her to her feet, “Stop fishing for compliments; you’re a shameless hussy. You know damn well I don’t share and I do not want him lusting after you. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair letting him glimpse heaven when he’ll never get past the gates.”

  She giggled and rubbed herself against him like a cat seeking petting. “How about you come help me dress?” she purred.

  Mitch ran a loving hand down her spine and cupped her butt pulling her close even though he expected his hard, physical reaction would still be on display when Rick arrived. “Go,” he growled, “Or Rick will be waiting on the doorstep for at least an hour.”

  Before Gilly could provoke him any further, the doorbell rang. She pulled away laughing as she glanced down at the instant compliment to her charms. Mitch rolled his eyes and pushed her toward the French doors that opened from their bedroom onto the deck. “Give us fifteen minutes to catch up before you come out.”

  The bell chimed again and Mitch padded barefoot across the tiles through the cool high-ceilinged rooms in their rented villa. He unlocked the colonial style wooden door and tilted his dark head in greeting, “Rick,” he said in a neutral tone, standing back to allow the tall blonde to enter.

  Rick flashed a quick smile of even-white teeth against his golden tan. His deep blue eyes searched for clues how to handle the meeting. The last time he’d spoken to his old friend, Mitch had been less than happy with him.

  Mitch did not intend to make Rick too welcome, too fast. He turned and allowed Rick to follow him in silence. Mitch’s lips twitched with suppressed amusement as he sensed Rick’s unusual lack of assurance. He paused in the kitchen, saying over his shoulder, “Beer?”

  Rick nodded, glancing around with little interest as he knew this was an anonymous rental not Mitch’s home. “Please,” he murmured.

  Mitch pulled two beers from the refrigerator and kept walking out onto the deck. Once again Rick followed without speaking.

  Mitch lowered his substantial length into a chair at the end of the timber table and Rick dropped into an adjoining seat, which creaked in protest. They could both see out past the bright aqua sparkle of the plunge pool, above the fence to the tumble of old and new houses that clung to the side of the hill over the turquoise ocean.

  They opened their beers and took a steadying drink. Mitch’s calm stare met the wary deep blue of his longstanding friend and he sighed, “I hate to admit it, but it is good to see you. I can’t remember the last time I had three months straight without you pissing me off.”

  Rick exhaled with relief, “Yeah, I missed you too, buddy,” he said. He stared at his hands clenched on his drink and gave a twisted smile, “I’m not expecting you to forgive me, Mitch; but I’m hoping you understand why I did it.” He looked up, anxiety radiating in the fine tension lines around his eyes.

  Mitch drank again and then shrugged in resignation, leaning back and pushing his long black hair out of his bright green eyes. “Yeah, I still think you’re an asshole for running out and leaving me to get everyone else clear. And yeah, you should have fucking told me what was going on before you did it but I’ve moved on, I’m not brooding. Let’s leave it as you owe me.”

  Rick held out his hand, “No problem. I owe you and I won’t forget that.”

  Mitch clasped Rick’s hand in acknowledgment and then gave his own twisted smile, “To be honest, it wouldn’t have made much difference if you’d been there. It might have been harder to cope if Lexie had been there when Mandy died.”

  Rick choked on a swig of beer. “What happened? How’s Tim?” he gasped.

  “Tim’s dealing with the fallout,” said Mitch as he gazed into the distance over the Caribbean blue. “It was an accident just as we were leaving the mountain. We wanted to avoid the Canadian Security team convoy, so we headed out the back way; up over the cliff. Mandy wasn’t keen on heights but given she’d jumped out of planes I never thought it was such a problem. Despite the safety ropes, she panicked and smashed herself into the rocks. Broke her neck.”

  “Did Nate refuse to boot up a Skin?” asked Rick, with a hardness in his voice and eyes that did not bode well for his Alternate if he had refused a new body for Mandy.

  Mitch flicked a glance at him, pleased that Rick’s first reaction was to protect them. “Nate can’t help at the moment. We took out our Skins before we left the mountain. Every Scott-Malvern, every Daniels, every Donoghue and every Lewis clone.”

  Rick gave a silent whistle. “Ouch.”

  Mitch nodded, “It was Nate’s price. He wanted our full commitment. No backup. He’d help if we risked our lives for real.”

  Rick frowned, “But the Sources are safe? And the memory maps weren’t destroyed?”

  “Yes, it’s technically possible to resurrect us. But it was up to Nate whether he kicked off the Process just for Scott-Malvern Alternates or if he included the rest of us. He hasn’t shared his decision so for the first time in twenty-five years, I’m feeling my mortality.” He gave a slow smile, “Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I’m not regretting my choice yet.”

  Mitch sighed as he added, “And to be fair to Nate, he doesn’t know Mandy’s dead.”

  “Why didn’t you tell him? Maybe I can convince him to start the Process for a Daniels clone.”

  Mitch shook his head, “Not my decision. If anyone has the right to over-ride Mandy’s wishes, it’s Tim. I’m not sure he wants to do it and I’ll be damned if I’ll ask him to make that call.”

  “But Mandy wouldn’t have wanted to die or have Jamie grow up without a mother,” said Rick with a puzzled frown.

  Mitch was staring out over the ocean.
“Mandy left a bunch of ‘In the event of my death’ letters in her pack. She told each of us she didn’t want to come back; that she accepted the will of the universe and if she wasn’t supposed to live to see her son grow up, then so be it.”

  Rick looked stunned. “Grow up?” he murmured. “Is he even crawling yet?” He stood and walked to the edge of the balcony trying to absorb the idea. He shook his head as he turned back, “Didn’t she consider how much she’d hurt Tim; how bad it would be for Jamie if he ever found out his mother chose not to be there for him?”

  Mitch shrugged, “Husbands lose wives they love every day. Children grow up without their mothers or fathers. It’s not what anyone wants, but it is normal. GenTech’s ability to resurrect us is not the natural order.”

  “Why not say we shouldn’t get in a plane because we don’t have wings and aren’t meant to fly?” said Rick.

  Mitch shrugged and pulled a folded envelope from the pocket of his dark green polo shirt and held it out to Rick. “Mandy left this for you. Perhaps she’ll explain it better.”