Read Online Disruption by Jessica Shirvington - Free Book Online Page A

you helped me.’
    I nodded, expecting this, and swallowed a too-big mouthful. ‘My father turned neg. No one knew why. One day he was all good, rating ups and downs like normal – then, presto, he was a full neg.’ I shrugged as if it was no biggie, but I knew my jaw had locked tight. ‘There was no explanation, no reason, and we lost everything, including him. I know how bad it can be for an average family like ours, I can’t begin to imagine how … Anyway, it was a spur of the moment decision I guess.’ I knew that, despite the lump in my throat, I’d done well to keep my lies as close as possible to the truth. Best tactic for believability.
    ‘I thought negs were supposed to be hazards or whatever,’ he rasped.
    I smirked at him. ‘They are.’
    ‘So that means I’m … bad. Dangerous.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Even if I haven’t done awful things yet, there’s something in me that means I will.’ His voice had dropped to almost a whisper and he couldn’t look at me. I pretended not to notice.
    ‘According to the science, but if you’re asking me, I don’t really know you all that well.’
    He nodded at my answer, though clearly unconvinced. Then he glanced around, ensuring we were alone. ‘You said you could help. How?’
    As I finished the last of my hotdog, I caught him eyeing it with something new. Envy. He probably hadn’t indulged in imitation-meat products in years.
    ‘I have a question for you first.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘More of a requirement really,’ I added.
    ‘Which is?’
    I fixed my eyes on his, hiding my anxiousness. ‘I need access to one of the M-Labs, one where control data is kept.’
    Quentin’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why would you need that?’
    ‘Because there’s a chemical in there that can help me formulate a disruption to your pheromone rating.’
    His eyebrows shot up, but his tone was dubious. ‘A disruption? You mean you could change my ratings?’
    I shook my head, looking right at him to make sure he understood. ‘Not permanently, but maybe for a couple of hours at a time.’
    He threw a hand up in the air. ‘Well, how does that help?’
    ‘Because you still need to register four minimum ratings per month. By the end of this month you will have to log at least one more rating – a positive rating  – or you’ll be found out.’
    Quentin’s brow furrowed and I could sense his fear.
    I pushed on. ‘Plus, you need to be able to prove to the people around you that you can rate like a normal person. You and I both know Quentin Mercer can’t go for long with inactive Phera-tech. Too many people will start asking questions and before long you’ll be forced to activate.’
    He swallowed heavily and I wondered if he might actually throw up.
    ‘ But ,’ I stressed, ‘if you help me, I can make it so that you can have small windows of opportunity where you can switch on and be seen interacting and registering ratings. The only catch is, you’ll have to make damn sure you turn back to inactive before you clock another neg rating.’
    Quentin was silent, weighing his options no doubt. He knew I was right, but still he had to know: ‘What’s in it for you?’
    I smiled as if the question was perfectly acceptable. ‘They’ll have information in those labs about my father. I might be able to find him. I might be able to get him out.’
    ‘You want to help him escape?’ It was more of an accusation than a question. His steel-blue eyes narrowed. ‘How convenient that I’m suddenly in your debt.’
    I leaned towards him, so far into his personal space that he had to arch backwards. ‘He’s no different to you, Quentin. The only difference is he didn’t have someone to help. As for the convenience issue, I agree. It is.’ I shrugged, leaning back. ‘I’ve learned to grab opportunities when they come around. But if you’d prefer to take your chances with your family and whatever isolation unit you’re assigned to …’ I held out my hand, inviting