Protective Measures



  PROTECTIVE MEASURES

  Jessica Arman

  Copyright 2014 by Jessica Arman

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63324-003-2

  10: 1633240037

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The authors guarantee all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  The views and opinions expressed in this book may not be those of the publisher.

  “Remmy, 1305,” the lunch operator’s voice rang over the intercom.

  “Wonder what’s for lunch today,” Laiken said, removing a piece of his unruly black hair from his eyes.

  “Probably the same as yesterday and the day before and the day before,” Ryker answered, tying one of his black work boots.

  “I was just being sarcastic,” Laiken said.

  Ryker noticed Laiken's baggy gray T-shirt. "Why are you wearing a tent?"

  "It was the only one in the laundry room. It's the same size as yours."

  "Yeah, but compared to your tent, mine fits like a wetsuit." Ryker pulled the fabric from his skin and let it snap back.

  "The only thing that fits right are these stupid boots," Laiken said, gesturing to the black combat boots everyone was required to wear.

  "You need to bulk up, I could snap you like a twig," Ryker said, tucking his gray cargo pants into his boots.

  “Where’s Taryn?” Laiken asked.

  “Probably still in class,” Ryker said. “Her fourth hour teacher's a bitch.”

  “Language, Mr. Stills!” screeched the line monitor.

  Ryker whispered, “How the hell did she hear me?”

  TARYN WAS SITTING IN HER finance class waiting for the teacher to dismiss them for lunch. They never got out the same time as everyone else. Today they were learning about auto insurance. The rest of her class was just as agitated as she was.

  “Can we go to lunch yet?” one of the students asked.

  Mrs. Garn yelled, “Did I dismiss you?”

  Taryn grabbed her things, got up, and walked toward the door, her light brown hair flowing around her shoulders. Instantly everyone else did the same. She didn’t care that she would probably get punished, she just wanted out of this room.

  “Where do you think you are going Ms. Bicks?” Mrs. Garn asked.

  “Lunch,” Taryn responded with mischievous emerald eyes.

  “I don’t recall giving you permission,” Mrs. Garn spat.

  Taryn said, “Well I don’t recall asking for permission.”

  Everyone was obviously trying to hold back a laugh as they filed out the door.

  “I’ll expect to see you after lunch, Taryn,” Garn said.

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” Taryn left the room. She put her stuff in her locker before meeting her friends outside the cafeteria.

  “What took you so long?” Ryker asked Taryn as she walked up.

  “Oh, you know, just got into the lesson today,” Taryn responded with a hint of sarcasm.

  “Did she dismiss you?” Laiken asked.

  “No,” Taryn responded. “And let me tell you, she was pissed. I have to go back after lunch.”

  “Well, say goodbye to your pretty face for a while,” Ryker said.

  “Stills, 1390,” the announcer said.

  “Finally. I’m starving. See you guys in there,” Ryker said and went to the door.

  Taryn and Laiken had to wait for three more numbers to be called before they could eat. By the time they got there, Ryker was already finished and waiting at a long, black, slate table. He was sitting on a black metal folding chair.

  “I could only save one other chair,” Ryker said when his friends got to the table. “I guess you’ll just have to sit on my lap.”

  Laiken said, “I’d rather sit on the floor.”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Ryker said to Laiken, but he was smiling at Taryn.

  “Hopefully the chair holds up,” Laiken said with a laugh.

  "Are you calling us fat?" Ryker asked.

  "No, just you," Laiken said.

  Taryn laughed, jumped up on the table, and sat cross-legged with her food tray in her lap.

  "I'm not fat," Ryker protested.

  "You're the one who said your uniform fit like a wetsuit," Laiken said.

  "Well, we weren't all born popsicle sticks," Ryker said.

  "I'm not a popsicle stick," Taryn said innocently.

  "Shut up," Ryker said giving up.

  Laiken laughed and said, "I think we're making him self-conscious.”

  The bell sounded to mark the beginning of afternoon sector work. The morning was all classes, and after lunch everyone had to go to work in the jobs they chose. Taryn, Laiken, and Ryker were all in building, which is where they had met.

  “I guess I’ll see you guys when I’m done with Garn and her boys,” Taryn said as they split up at the doors. She watched them leave, pushing each other and laughing. She loved seeing them together, just like brothers. When the boys rounded the corner, she made her way back to the classroom.

  Before she even reached the classroom she knew something was wrong. The hallway was too empty and too quiet. She walked into the room to find most of the teachers present, and at the very back stood the master, Alloy. He was short and heavyset. His black suit fit like a second skin. He had bleached blond, slicked-back hair, and his face was always tight and emotionless. Taryn knew this could not end well. She put on her best “I don’t care” face and stood in front of the assembly.

  “Do you know why you’re here, Ms. Bicks?” Alloy asked.

  “I left class without being dismissed. Since when is that something you get involved in?”

  “That is one reason you are here, but there are many more. I have been keeping my eye on you and have found that you are a leader for some of these students—too much of a leader. They seem to think that when you are around they can get away with more. Not to mention your constant misbehavior anyway. We are going to put a stop to that.” Alloy said. He grabbed the intercom mic and made the announcement, “All students must now report to the auditorium. Please sit in your rank order, with the highest in the front.” He clicked off the intercom and faced Taryn again.

  “Now, Taryn if you would follow me to the auditorium, we can get this over with and put you back in your place.” Alloy's face sported a devilish grin.

  ALL THE STUDENTS ASSEMBLED IN the gym and sat according to their ranks. Ryker and Laiken sat in the front row because they were in the highest ranking group.

  “What’s this for?” Laiken asked.

  “Probably another video and lecture telling us why we're here.”

  “I wonder where Taryn is,” Laiken said.

  “Maybe cleaning the blood off her face,” Ryker said with dry humor.

  Laiken said, “You know she wouldn’t clean it off without letting us see it first.” But that was the end of the conversation because Master Alloy walked to the center of the auditorium with his microphone and began his speech.

  “Hello students. I have decided that the new members should see what happens when things get out of hand. We are here to suppress the acts of rebellion. I have come to the conclusion that one student in particular has been the instigator. She has given the student body the idea that they can do wh
atever they want,” Master Alloy said.

  “Uh-oh,” Laiken whispered.

  “Crap!” Ryker hissed.

  “Now, Mrs. Garn will you please bring in Ms. Taryn Bicks,” Master Alloy said. The whole room went into mumbles. Mrs. Garn escorted Taryn to the center of the room, right next to Alloy. Taryn, with a huge grin, turned and waved to the student audience.

  “I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you. No one will be following you when this assembly is over,” Alloy said facing Taryn. He turned back to the students and continued, “You all should feel honored to have the ability to see this rare event. Guards, come in.”

  “It’s not her fault we have our own opinions!” A girl yelled from the second row of builders. The whole crowd erupted in agreement.

  “It may not be her fault, but she will be putting it to an end.” Alloy turned to the girl in the second row. “And Ms. Tracker, I advise you to keep your thoughts to yourself. Guards, if you would please tie Ms. Bicks' hands, we will begin.”

  The school guards approached Taryn. She held out her arms for them to tie.

  “She's way too cocky for her own good,” Laiken whispered.

  “I’m pretty sure she's going to enjoy this,” Ryker said.

  Laiken just shook his head.

  The head guard brought out The Stick and handed it to Master Alloy, who took The Stick and continued his speech.

  “We will begin with the punishment for leaving without being dismissed, then we will move on to the punishment for Tracker’s outbursts, and finally we will finish with one Spout for each of her cohorts,” Alloy explained.

  The whole crowd again erupted, this time with anger. A Spout was the worst kind of punishment in the