That word sent a shiver along Nova’s spine. Classified.
Classified was exactly what she was there for.
“But I’m one of you now, aren’t I?” she pressed. “Why can’t I know too?”
Adrian shrugged. “We’re not even supposed to know. It’s just … I have the luxury of getting to hear a lot of things that I’m not technically supposed to hear.”
“So you overheard classified information and you told them,” she said, gesturing at Ruby and Oscar.
“It’s your first day, Nova,” said Ruby. “We’re not trying to exclude you, it’s just … it’s your first day. And what’s going on with Max doesn’t have anything to do with us.”
“Besides,” said Oscar, “we have more pressing things to deal with right now, don’t we?”
Nova frowned, recognizing the change in topic. She couldn’t help but feel irked. Though to be fair, she knew she wouldn’t have trusted herself with classified information, either, no matter how well she’d done at the trials.
She filed away a mental note for later—Find out what’s up with the Bandit and the quarantine, and what are they doing with his blood samples?
“—with this.”
Nova gave herself a shake and looked down. Adrian was holding a narrow strip of thin plastic, about the length of a ruler, but she hadn’t heard what he’d been saying about it.
“What is it?” she asked, taking it between her fingers and holding it up to eye level, peering at Adrian on the other side.
“Renegade communicator,” he said.
“Pretty much a fancy phone,” said Ruby.
“And a hip accessory,” added Oscar. He rolled back the sleeve of his uniform, revealing a similar strip of glass wound around his wrist. “High-end designers are already trying to copy it. They’ll be all the rage this time next year.”
“Fashion aside, R and D is very proud of these. Here.” Adrian took Nova’s left forearm, but hesitated when he saw the delicate bracelet. He took the other arm instead. Taking the device back from her, he started to bend it, curving it until it fit snugly around her wrist, an elegant spiral against her skin. It was so light she could barely feel it—or perhaps she was simply too in tune with the warmth coming off Adrian’s fingers to pay much attention to the communicator.
“This part will light up and sound an alarm when there’s an emergency,” he said, pointing to one end of the device. “If the call center has already designated a location for us to report to, a city map will show up along the middle here, indicating where to go. Down here,” he tapped the other end of the strip, resting near Nova’s thumb, “is how you communicate with one of us. Just press your finger here and say the name of the person you want to contact.”
“Or you can hold it up in front of your face,” said Oscar, mimicking the action, “and it will automatically start to record a video message. Very nifty.”
Nova turned her wrist from side to side, feeling the start of a grin. New tech, a new gadget. Finally, they were speaking her language.
But then a thought occurred to her that smothered that first twinge of excitement. Technology like that had to include a tracking device. Which meant, so long as she wore it, the Renegades would know just where to find her.
She had no idea whether or not they would bother to use it that way, but regardless, it made her feel like they’d just wrapped a venomous snake around her wrist.
“Thanks,” she said, trying to look appreciative. “It still hardly feels real. You know … being a Renegade.” She made mild jazz hands beside her face.
“You get used to it,” said Adrian, with an understanding smile.
“Do you?” chirped Ruby, beaming. “I haven’t yet. It’s still pretty much the most awesome thing ever.”
“Try to keep the communicator on you at all times,” said Adrian. “You probably already have a message on there with our instructions for tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Our first assignment.” Adrian’s expression brightened. “We’re running surveillance on Cloven Cross Library.”
Nova stilled.
“It’s run by a guy named Gene Cronin,” he continued. “He used to be a member of a villain gang called the Vandal Cartel, and we have reason to believe he might still be dealing in illegal weaponry, including, perhaps, the gun that Nightmare used to try to assassinate Captain Chromium at the parade.”