Red Zone (Red Zone 1)

“I didn’t think data chip implants were that common before the war.”

“They’d taken off in the States.” He frowned, remembering. “Even the military was looking into whether they’d be an asset for their men. Seemed like everybody was vying for the latest advance, something to give them the edge. Implants were everywhere for a few years, different companies bringing out new, improved versions every few months. For a

while, it was like the smartphone competition years earlier. They all wanted to corner the market. Which made the big companies rush out their products. A lot of the first implants were substandard, and people got hurt.”

“And that’s what started the war.”

“Yep. Not everyone trusted the implant technology. A lot of us thought they were rushing things. We figured there had to be repercussions from having a mini-computer in your head. Bad repercussions, of the fatal kind.”

“It isn’t a mini-computer. Data chips are more like storage devices with communication capability.”

He arched his eyebrows at her, a look that said she was being too literal again. “The world split once the Bolivians refused the offer of cheap implants. Soon the two sides were protesting, then fighting. It got bad fast. The people who thought implanted tech was the next great advance for mankind wanted to force it on the rest of us. And the people who didn’t want it were terrified the other half would manage to force it into them. Tension was building globally. The whole damn planet was a powder keg. The fight over mining rights in Bolivia was just the match that made it blow.”

“I don’t understand.” She shifted some in her seat, still holding on to his hand. “You were in the army, working for the Northern Territory government, but you agreed with the Coalition Countries when it came to implanted tech. You were obviously against it. How could you fight for something you disagreed with?”

Striker’s shoulders tensed. “First, I wasn’t fighting for a cause. I was fighting for my country, which back then was the United States of America. The country was under threat, and I was sent to protect it. That’s all there was to it. I did my duty. Second, back then, I lived in a country that had a democratic government. One that answered to its people. I never, not once, believed that any American citizen would be forced to accept implanted technology if they didn’t want it.”

“It’s hard to imagine a government that fought for freedom of choice instead of profit. We haven’t had that sort of governance for decades.” And they might never have it again, not if the companies had their way. Not if the Freedom rebellion was squashed.

“It had its good and bad points, just like everything else.”

“So, the war started, and it became clear that the side against implanted tech was winning.” She knew this from her history books.

“Yeah. Their forces were pushing into the States. They’d taken over a chunk of Texas and were moving north. We were deployed to take the region back.”

“And then the bomb fell.”

“That sounds like it happened on its own, kind of by accident. The reality is that the big tech companies put pressure on America to drop an untested bomb, sacrificing their own military in the process. It did end the war, though.”

“But you were the cost.”

“Yeah, we were the cost.”

“And”—she took a deep breath—“while you were asleep for a hundred years—”

“Just like Sleeping Beauty.”

“—the big companies redrew the map into Territories and Coalition Countries.”

“They also ousted the democratic government and installed themselves in its place.” He glanced over at her. “Makes perfect sense. What else is gonna happen when companies have more power than government? There was no reason for them not to take over.”

“It wasn’t a coup,” Friday pointed out. “It happened over time. People just started listening to the companies more and more, and their power and influence overtook that of the governments.”

“I know, I read up on all those puppet governments you guys had until the companies got fed up hiding behind a fake democracy and got rid of them.” He squeezed her hand. “And here we are. The companies rule the Territories, and the Coalition are doing their own thing. Basically, we have a dictator in charge of the former United States, and their only concern is profit.”

“That’s why Freedom is fighting.”

“I don’t think they’re pure as the driven snow, either, bébé.”

“Probably, but who else is there? They’re the only ones fighting for change.”

“I understand, but that doesn’t mean I like how they fight. Terrorism is terrorism, no matter how you package it. People get hurt while the terrorists strong-arm everyone into doing what they want.”

“That isn’t how Freedom operates.”

“We’ll see.” He pointed to the peaks in the distance. “La Paz sits in the middle of those—if this navigation system is correct. We’re about halfway there.”

“You’ve never been there, either?”