‘What do you mean?’ asked Keagan, staring at 55-A-2.

‘You are not very bright, are you?’ replied the clone. ‘All the little distractions you and your friends provided have allowed me to step in and take over. It was not very hard, since there was no one person in control to begin with.’

‘What about the teaching machine?’ asked Eone, still standing next to Keagan.

‘You mean 47-G-2’s absurd scheme?’ She was gloating now. ‘I knew about that all along. I let her set it up. It was ideal. Our city, our people, have never been as perfect and identical as they would like to believe. Physically, maybe … because anyone with a physical different was removed or dumped. But in here?’ She tapped a finger to her head. ‘We are all different in our own minds. I am. I have always wanted power – dominion over others. That is why my clone group ended up in charge of security. I spent my time telling those black-clad grunts what to do and how to do it.’ She paused for a triumphant smirk before continuing her rant.

‘Your teaching has shown people that what they were secretly thinking was correct. Now that they are all confirmed individuals, who all think in different ways, they are going to need someone to control them. Someone to be in authority. Someone to hold the power. I will be that person. I will have ultimate control over who lives or dies; over who is removed. With the way the teaching machines have now been set up, I could even control what everyone thinks. And as for the Dumping Ground – it might be time to flush out the impurities.’

Keagan was amazed that the clone lifted a hand and clenched it into a first, like some would-be villain in a bad movie. It almost made him want to laugh.

‘What makes you think they’ll let you have that power?’ he asked.

‘So, you can ask intelligent questions.’ 55-A-2 gave Keagan a smug look. ‘Because I control the security. I am one of two security supervisors and sadly 55-A-1… fell down some stairs when the lights went out.’

Keagan’s mind was reeling. They had been on the verge of victory, but now things were worse than ever. Their actions – his actions – had helped this power-mad clone and her villainous schemes. This world would have been better off if he had never found his way to it.

‘Aaarghhhh!’

The scream made everyone turn. Befour was struggling again. He had managed to kick the clone with the cutting equipment. The blue flame flared brighter as the equipment went skittering across the floor, making others jump out of the way.

Coach tapped Keagan on the arm to get his attention, then touched his head and mouthed the words, ‘Still connected.’

If he was still connected to the learning network, maybe Keagan could tell the people of the city what 55-A-2 was up to. All he had to do was focus and concentrate. Perhaps he could still help the people of this world.

Keagan made eye contact with Eone, then closed his eyes. In his mind, he went over what 55-A-2 had just told them. That she was planning to seize control and have power over life and death. He allowed his anger to flow through him, focusing on the need to resist. He concentrated on the right of everyone to make their own choice, and did his best to radiate those thoughts and feelings as he had done with his other memories.

Eone stepped in front of Keagan, hoping to stop 55-A-2 from noticing what he was doing. Instead, her movement drew 55-A-2’s attention to it.

‘Move!’ demanded 55-A-2. When she saw that Keagan’s eyes were closed, she guessed what he was up to.

‘You!’ she snapped at Coach. ‘If this individual teaching centre was damaged, would the rest of the teaching network still be usable?’

‘Yes,’ he answered automatically.

‘Excellent. So I can stop this brat and still have the system for my own use later. Your advice was invaluable.’ She turned around and called, ‘Security! Here. Now. Destroy this equipment.’

Keagan screwed up his eyes tighter and backed into a corner. But it was impossible to shut out all that was going on around him.

Reluctant to leave Befour, whose struggling was increasing, only a few security clones came running to 55-A-2’s command. But as they left, it gave Befour the upper hand again. He swiped at his opposition, knocking several of them over.

Keagan focused on thoughts of choice and freewill; of resisting dictators rather than following blindly those you disagreed with; of stopping 55-A-2.

56-T-1, who had been standing alongside Coach the whole time, now sprang to action and locked the door, stopping the security clones from getting through. He gave Coach a nervous smile, who responded with two thumbs up.

‘The window!’ shouted 55-A-2.

The clones hesitated.

‘Use the window, you fools.’

Two of the security clones clambered past the jagged remains of the glass, and stood to watch Keagan.

‘The controls,’ screamed 55-A-2, her voice getting hysterical. ‘Smash the controls!’

Eone moved to block their path. ‘No,’ she begged. ‘Please. You don’t have to follow her orders if you feel she is wrong. You can do what you want to do. You are individuals.’

Again the clones hesitated. They looked from Eone to 55-A-2, to Keagan. Then they crossed their arms and moved aside.

‘Useless,’ fumed 55-A-2. ‘I shall do it myself.’

But before she could climb through the window, mechanical hands grasped her shoulders and pulled her back.

‘Let go!’ she screeched. ‘Let me go!’

Befour, taller than normal in his mech-suit, lifted her up off the floor. The clones that had been fighting him stood by and watched.

‘I disagree with what you are doing,’ he said. ‘I will not be controlled by you or anyone else.’

Coach and 56-T-1 let out a spontaneous cheer.

Keagan opened his eyes. ‘Did it work?’

Eone grinned. ‘See for yourself.’