RECYCLED
Survival had become a way of life since Co-opComm first launched VADER.
Thirteen years had passed, and yet, Abby remained . . . she and the others
prevailed where many had surrendered. And died.
Abby is tired. Tired of running and hiding. Tired of struggling, tired of fighting. Ultratron has a new secret weapon—a better, improved version. And the government-sponsored company has a new target, a more heinous plan.
Traveling to Chicago, the heart of the current regime, they come face-to-face with a new threat—or is it? Who is this mysterious Riley, and what does she know about the St. Louis compound? And how? Shadowy inhabitants arise from the depths of the city, but are they friend . . . or foe?
But Abby has only one objective: to defeat the government. Regardless of the cost.
Abby is tired. Tired of running and hiding. Tired of struggling, tired of fighting. Ultratron has a new secret weapon—a better, improved version. And the government-sponsored company has a new target, a more heinous plan.
Traveling to Chicago, the heart of the current regime, they come face-to-face with a new threat—or is it? Who is this mysterious Riley, and what does she know about the St. Louis compound? And how? Shadowy inhabitants arise from the depths of the city, but are they friend . . . or foe?
But Abby has only one objective: to defeat the government. Regardless of the cost.
RECYCLED
Prologue
Jules followed the river as far south as she could see it. When she reached Canton, just to the north of the town itself, she came to the spot where they’d crossed less than a week ago. The muddy water of the Spoon River still churned and burbled, the banks were crumbling and soft. She sat down beneath a tree, resting in the shade, and contemplated her
strategy.
Quiet, serene, and confident in her assertions to her family, Jules was now faced with the task of making some hard choices.
She could, as she’d stated to her mother, continue on to St. Louis. Mario was there, after all, and she really did want to be with him, to help him build his vision for the city, for his family. But…
There was David. Somewhere out West. Somewhere, that was the key. She knew where he’d been headed, but of course there was no way to know if he’d actually gone there, or even he was still alive. Maybe…
Jules kept going ‘round and ‘round, leaning first one way and then another; which direction, which choice, where to go
first.
Finally, she stood up, brushed off her jeans, and started walking. Either way, she’d be going to St. Louis. By the time she arrived, she’d have decided which course to follow, to stay or to go. Plenty of time to think.
Jules followed the river as far south as she could see it. When she reached Canton, just to the north of the town itself, she came to the spot where they’d crossed less than a week ago. The muddy water of the Spoon River still churned and burbled, the banks were crumbling and soft. She sat down beneath a tree, resting in the shade, and contemplated her
strategy.
Quiet, serene, and confident in her assertions to her family, Jules was now faced with the task of making some hard choices.
She could, as she’d stated to her mother, continue on to St. Louis. Mario was there, after all, and she really did want to be with him, to help him build his vision for the city, for his family. But…
There was David. Somewhere out West. Somewhere, that was the key. She knew where he’d been headed, but of course there was no way to know if he’d actually gone there, or even he was still alive. Maybe…
Jules kept going ‘round and ‘round, leaning first one way and then another; which direction, which choice, where to go
first.
Finally, she stood up, brushed off her jeans, and started walking. Either way, she’d be going to St. Louis. By the time she arrived, she’d have decided which course to follow, to stay or to go. Plenty of time to think.
