Beyond Wisdom: The Children of Wisdom, #2

By James Matt Cox

Last year 14-year-old Jason Taggart and their classmates left childhood behind. Now back in Wisdom, they struggle both with who and what they are and with the usual struggles of growing up. Unknown to the students, though, the company that created Wisdom has plans. With the perfect group with which to experiment, The Levy Project decides to test its students' social development and adaptation skills.

Jason and his girlfriend Darla Jansen are split apart. She's sent to school in Arkansas while he goes to California, ostensibly to learn more about what the company actually does.

 

All of his years in school did not prepare Jason for what he encounters. With several decades of moral, social and educational decay the schools outside Wisdom form a hostile environment in which Jason is powerless to act. Throw in drugs, loose morals and teenage hormones and it's a battle Jason may not be able to win.

 

Besides the struggle to maintain his self-discipline, Jason and the company man he's assigned to assist discover something even worse. Someone in town is messing with things best left alone. Strange and bloodthirsty Fey creatures are about and someone at Jason's school is controlling them! Now it's up to Jason to discover who, where, how and why. Failing may cost Jason his life but success may cost him everything else he holds dear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Matt Cox
• Release date: Oct 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393454137

Book preview

Chapter 0. Prologue

Warning: This book contains material that may not be suitable for younger readers.

Music thumped in the distance as Jerry Rahas approached the old warehouse cautiously. Per instructions he parked in the shopping center, made sure no one was looking and headed behind the main row. Brush covered the gate but he knew right where to look. He found it, went through and closed it carefully behind him. He twitched as he walked through several spiderwebs but they didn't deter him.

The trail opened into an abandoned parking lot behind an abandoned building. The EPA classified it as hazardous, cleaned it up and stuck the owner with the bill. He died before the lawyers settled anything and now the building sat vacant, uninhabited even by vagrants or crackheads.

The door opened to his third knock. A hand grabbed his and pulled him through. He stumbled and when he recovered his balance he couldn't help smiling.

Hey...

"Shh." The girl further silenced him by pressing her lips against his.

Rahas' heart skipped a few beats. Before yesterday he didn't even think she knew he existed and now...

Code names, baby. I'm Jilli Brand and you're, she gave him a hot look, Stud Baby.

O-okay, he said softly.

Yeah. I like it too.

Jilli pulled him in tight for another kiss, this time with tongue. Rahas felt her breasts pressing against him. She had on musky perfume and tasted faintly of liquor. His heart pounded and pumped blood to a sudden, throbbing need below his belt. After a century she broke off the kiss and pulled back a little. Blonde hair around a perfect face filled Rahas' world.

Oh yeah, she said. We're gonna have some fun when we're done here, Stud-Baby.

She moved in for another kiss, slid her hand down his back and grabbed his ass. When Rahas jumped she giggled, not breaking away, and rubbed her boobies against him again.

C'mon, she said after another eternity. Put these on.

Jilli didn't give him a choice as she slipped a pair of cheap shades over his eyes and pulled a cap over his head. She donned her own sunglasses and took out two cigarettes.

Uh...

You don't have to smoke it, baby, she said as she stuck one in his mouth. "Just... Oh yeah. Damn that makes you look stud. Just go with it. Mmm."

She lit her own, took his hand and maneuvered herself under his arm. Through no action of his own the hand she held ended up against her breast.

After a long walk through the warehouse made longer by Jilli stopping to kiss or fondle him the two of them ended up in the break room.

Rahas still couldn't believe his luck. He was ready for another dull summer filled with computers, study and impossible fantasies of finding a girlfriend. Then the hottest girl in school messaged him.

Yo Jilli baby. You got him.

Four other guys sat around a table loaded down with computer gear. The largest spoke and Rahas recognized him despite the flowing cloak and designer sunglasses he wore.

Hell yeah, Cubie. I knew my Stud-Baby wouldn't let me down. You got connection, Toe Jammer?

Bet your sweet ass on that, J-B. One of the others looked at Rahas. We got a hot boost to the Subway wireless, Stud. You think you can do us a solid?

Still unbelieving, Rahas turned his mind to technology with some difficulty. Toe Jammer vacated his chair and gestured to it. When Rahas sat down Jilli straddled his leg facing him. She made it harder to concentrate by nuzzling his ear.

Crap, said Rahas. Why'd you need me? I mean, like, you did most of the work already.

Yeah, said Cubie. We did the easy part. The rest is up to you.

Rahas felt a spike of pride at that. What they wanted wasn't hard but maybe it was for them. He closed his eyes, breathed in Jilli's perfume then started to work.

Are passing grades okay? he asked. I can give you straight A's but that might smell a little bad.

I want an A in Chemistry, said Toe Jammer. Past that I don't give a shit. What about the big ones? That's what bothers us the most.

Them? Hah. Rahas worked the computer and before long, success.

I slipped the local edits into the school backup, he explained. The next progress reports won't show it but your final grades will. I put the backup priority at negative one.

Shit, said Cubie. Won't that, like, make it totally ignored?

Rahas smiled. "That's what the manual says but it's an integer flag. Neg one sets all the bits on. That means it looks like ignore but acts like priority top-infinity. The archiver uses unsigned values."

Jilli pressed herself against Rahas' leg and rubbed on it. Then she tightened her thighs against his.

Dammit, Brain-Baby. Keep talking like that and you're gonna make me cum. She grabbed the cigarette out of his mouth and put it in hers. Shit. I hope you got some smokes, Shotgun. Stud-Baby's gonna run me out of 'em before we even get naked.

Rahas blushed at that. The screen flashed as the edit completed and he noticed something.

Hey. Would you all like some bitcoin? It looks like the school has an EBC account tied into the state headquarters.

Hell to the yeah, said Cubie. You da man, Stud-Baby. Hit us, Shotgun.

While Rahas tapped the EBC account and diverted some of it Toe-Jam lined up shot glasses and filled them. As soon as the transaction committed Jilli took one glass and put another into Rahas' hand.

Bottoms up, Stud-Baby, she whispered. I'm horny as hell and I wanna fuck you raw.

Rahas gasped from more than the harsh liquor scalding his throat. Jilli made him do a second shot and pulled his face into her chest.

***

Rahas woke to a splitting headache and the sound of chanting. He tried to move and found his hands and feet bound. He tried to yell and discovered duct tape across his mouth. Fear flooded him.

Did you really think you were cool enough to hang with us? asked Jilli. Ass-dork. Just so you know I'm gonna go home, take a shower and let Cubie do what you wish you could.

Rahas mewled as Toe-Jam and Shotgun grabbed his arms and dragged him forward.

A chalk circle glowed in the middle of the floor. Dim at first, soon it filled the dingy, dirty room with pulsating green light. A wisp of shadow rose from the middle of the circle. As it grew it took form. By the time its head reached the ceiling it had malevolent red eyes, a fiery maw, two long arms ending in jagged talons and two smaller ones with fists clenched.

Rahas renewed his struggle as the thing reached for him.

Chapter 1. A Day At School

C'mon, Jase. Don't be a dick.

Jason Taggart looked across the table at his best friend Leon Reed. His almost-former best friend, actually. The two of them and a small group of others, all students of Donald J. Trump High at the time, thwarted a terrorist attempt to kidnap President Barron's daughter. Jason thought he lost Leo when one of the gunmen stitched a row of bullets across his chest.

To make the day even worse, the students learned that they weren't ordinary students nor was the world as simple as they believed. The Brolly Corporation, itself a front for a much larger and more shadowy organization, created the town of Wisdom Arizona as a desperate experiment. Jason and his classmates represented its successful culmination. Since they started school the teachers trained them to higher mental, physical and emotional standards than any other school in the world.

Though disgusted and horrified at first, Jason and his companions soon changed their minds. The terrorist attack ended in a battle with an actual vampire, a creature they all believed only existed in books, movies and video games. Nor were vampires the greatest or even only threat against humanity. Jason's education gave him nightmares regularly.

Okay, he said. He took a breath and whooshed it out. One-point-five ounces. One hundred twenty proof. That's...

Just under an ounce, chimp.

Becky, Jason's older sister, tried to sound blase about it. Her behavior made a liar out of her. Ever since her not-boyfriend Garrett Kelley pulled the bottle out of the bag she smoked like a chimney and didn't even correct a misplaced strand of her always-perfect hair.

It's okay, Jason.

Darla Jansen, the girl Jason secretly considered his girlfriend, reached out and stroked his arm. Normally comforting, the fact that her hand shook blew that out of the water.

Fine, said Jason. He picked up his shot glass. Uh, fuck vampires.

Lois Roberts, who went to great effort to attract Leo's attention, scowled at that.

Fuck the bloodsuckers, said Garrett.

With that he tossed the liquor into his mouth and tried to look cool swallowing it. Jason coughed as the corrosive fluid burned its way down his throat. Becky looked like she wanted to and even Leo looked uncomfortable.

That was awesome, said Lois, barely. She slapped her glass on the table. Let's do it again.

The second shot didn't hurt, thought Jason, only because the first one numbed his throat. He reached over and hugged Darla because she looked ready to cry. That was the reason. He convinced himself of that.

That was nasty, said Leo finally. I don't think...

The door slammed open and everyone jumped. There with the light behind him stood Coach Nick McDonald, a man who made DJT's brutal Coach Thad angelic by comparison.

"That's right, Reed. You don't think. None of you sorry sacks of flab do. On your feet. Now."

Jason's head swam as he struggled through the obstacle course. It gave him trouble enough under ordinary circumstances. With almost two ounces of alcohol coursing through him it was even worse. He almost ran past a skill station. McDonald's voice echoed inside his head even though the man said nothing. Jason donned eye and ear protection, clipped the holster to his belt and turned away from the target.

The buzzer blared and Jason jumped. His reflexes didn't, though, and when his ears settled down he had the target in sight. He fired as soon as it started turning. His pistol, a .38 revolver with a medium barrel, kicked back. He took longer than usual stabilizing afterward but still got all the shots downrange before the target turned.

Twenty-seven, called the spotter.

Shit, thought Jason. He aimed small and thought he missed small or not at all. The tiny particle of his brain that was still sober cringed for him. When his father found out he would not be pleased. The next skill station happened after several pegboards and a rope climb. One of the older students waited with the lashed bamboo bundles they used for armor-less kendo.

***

Jason dragged himself into the commissary, got the largest coffee they had and sat next to Kelly Hall and Bobby Bradley.

You look like crap, said Bobby.

I feel like crap, said Jason. Anybody else back yet?

Kelly shook her head. I'd offer you a smoke, Jase, but I know you don't. How many shots did y'all get?

Two. One-twenty proof.

We got two at one hundred, said Bobby. That sucked.

Why does anybody drink that shit? asked Jason. I mean, like, voluntarily.

Lois sat beside Kelly and reached for her cigarettes.

I think my head's gonna split open. Lois added an obscene amount of sugar to her coffee. How'd we do?

Still out, girl, said Kelly.

Hang on. How did you two get here before everybody else?

Because we screwed up, said Bobby. I totally couldn't make the first swing. After the third time I fell Coach told me to hit the showers.

I scored, like, five at the first shoot station, said Kelly. I don't think Bobby and I are gonna make it after all. She sighed.

It's okay Kel, said Bobby. You know we got good jobs at Brolly. Guaranteed.

"The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources."

Kenneth Williams, known to his students as Dr. K, sat beside Bobby.

Sun Tzu, said Jason automatically. Huh? What does that have to do with today?

As soon as Trump High and Reagan High dismissed for the summer their teachers began spending time at Lincoln.

I should make you tell me, said Williams, sipping his coffee, but this one's free.

Before he could continue Darla and Becky sat down. Darla grabbed Jason's hand, pulled his arm around her and leaned into his shoulder.

One thing you kids have to understand is that you're not agents yet, said Williams. I always had trouble with the ring swing. I never got through on the first try and sometimes I crapped out on the third. Jason, Becky and Graham shoot better on their off days than I did at my best. Even now Darla could probably out-score me with a bow.

But... You're an agent, said Darla.

I am. I'm a part of Planning and I had to fight hard for this assignment. So did Thad Rowlings. Do any of you think I could take him down at unarmed combat?

Jason was too stunned to answer. Coach Thad had a last name?

Sure you could, said Becky. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's how smart each one fights.

Williams chuckled. "Try saying that like you mean it, Becky. I'll tell you right now I can't. Thad spent eight years in the Marines before we recruited him. He's a well-oiled, finely-honed fighting machine and he's one of the best. The only people who beat him regularly are Colonel Donnahue and John Taggart.

My point is this. Of all the human limitations the physical ones are the hardest to develop. It's a lot easier to learn and track the bloodlines and common territories of the major vampiric patriarchals than it is to fight down one of their members.

I want Technology, said Bobby.

Then be ready to work your brain off getting there, said Williams. You're off to a good start but only that. You still need to work on your physical training too. Protection represents the best fighters and tacticians we have but when you're five agents against a darkling Fey full of blood magic, well, everybody has to swing a sword otherwise you won't survive.

Jason thought hard on Williams' words. Besides Protection, Planning and Technology the company or organization or whatever had the Command department. By what he and the rest gathered no one trained for Command. After final graduation Command stepped in and took whoever it wanted.

Ellen Owens walked in and sat down. She had a large coffee and a tea strong enough to qualify as such. She took one of Kelly's cigarettes, lit it and coughed. Jason and Darla looked at her.

Yeah. I'm starting today. She had tears in her eyes. I fucking hate Wisdom and Coach Thad and Coach McDonald.

Kelly put her arm around Ellen's shoulder and hugged hard.

Don't worry, hon. You finished it. Bobby and I didn't.

Chris Parker and Logan Junior Jr. joined the table.

Fuck this shit, said Parker, not bothering to try being quiet. I was looking forward to getting drunk at senior prom. Why'd you have to ruin it, Dr. K?

It's in the job description, grinned Williams.

The door opened and the last two from the course came in. Drew Barnes, his face a mask of pain, leaned on Leo's shoulders limping. Logan rushed over to take Barnes' other arm and help him to the table.

Fucking assholes, said Barnes. Those butt-fuckers at the Infirmary told me to debrief first. What the fuck? Debrief what?

Your overall performance on the course and how you felt about it, said Williams. Coffee up and smoke 'em if you got 'em. Lunch is on me after we're done.

***

Jason sat with his arm around Darla as the sun sank toward the mountains. After lunch they attacked their classes with energy somewhat renewed. Their obstacle course evaluations ranged from poor down to utterly abysmal but he didn't care.

Lincoln High followed a class format similar to the other two schools in Wisdom but with longer periods and higher requirements. One of their instructors informed them they'd gradually transition into more college-like classes. They kept the high-school format because the students were familiar with it. Jason noticed less formality with the instructors. Everyone knew what lay in their future and everyone at Lincoln approached it the same way.

Fortunately the school did still preserve some other aspects of high school tradition. They had their Spring Dance, albeit much smaller. Jason danced with Darla and for that evening nothing else existed. He took turns dancing with the others too but having Darla in his arms felt like nothing short of heaven. Then, when the dance drew to a close, they slipped outside to kiss under the moonlight.

What'cha thinking so hard? asked Darla softly.

Life. You. Me. You and me.

Wow. She cuddled closer. I was thinking about Fey classification and how you know for sure before they're dead and analyzed.

He chuckled. Y'know we can still graduate, get jobs with Brolly, get married and have our honeymoon in Phoenix. I bet we could get a good price on the honeymoon suite.

She giggled. Among other things the organization behind Brolly owned the Best Western hotel chain. No one wanted to tell the students but after they returned to the company base at the Best Western Metro in Phoenix it was pretty obvious. Hugh Evans, ostensibly a Brolly rep, informed Jason that every Best Western location had secure communications with Brolly and most of them had at least minimal equipment and facilities. Evans implied that Brolly owned far more but, of course, supplied no details.

Yeah. I guess. She stayed silent a moment. But we can't. I can't. Like, I still have nightmares about... about...

Me too. Every night, every one. But none more vivid than the first man he killed.

Darla shuddered. It's like I said, though. I mean I can't, like, not do anything when I can. You know? Like Abby. I'm totally glad she and Melvin got together. Even if he doesn't go into agent training he can still protect her. I mean, she can't do what we do, you know?

Yeah. I kinda feel the same way. I don't ever want to kill anyone, ever. I sure as hell don't want to fight a vampire even though they're not really human. But, like, I can do it. We can do it. We can do it better than regular people. He shrugged. I can't just, you know, sit back and do nothing.

Yeah. Me too.

But I can still think about it. You know, you and me and our kids. Walking by the lake.

So you're thinking about sex again.

As many times as he heard it Jason still blushed.

It's okay, baby. I do too. She grinned, wrinkled her nose and turned herself even hotter. Just not all the time like you do.

***

Ken Williams looked at his screen. Besides himself, Joanne Wickett and Andrews, the head of Planning, he had Amanda Taggart and all three other department heads.

So how was the first round? asked the Chief.

About what we expected. All of them performed above baseline given their likely department choices. Bradley and Hall failed the course. They were pretty torn up about it but I doubt either of them will try out for Protection.

Donnahue scoffed. "Hell. We'll take both of 'em. We're not that picky."

All of them were really hard on themselves, said Williams. Barnes wasn't happy about debriefing before he got his ankle fixed. We may not keep him.

Think again, Ken, said Amanda. "The infirmary staff offered him the full range of anesthesia. He refused everything but a local and every time the pain broke through he cursed the coaches, teachers, and administrators all the way up to you, Chief. He'll do it just to show all of us fuckers he can."

There's still the original issue, said the Chief. Phoenix was a mixed success. I'm not counting the President's wife and daughter. That's an unqualified success. Thompson in Whitewall said POTUS and the entire family were thrilled. There were lots of questions.

Thompson can handle them, said Andrews. By all the observations our kids stood out even when they weren't staring at the locals. There were some awkward interactions.

Donnahue scowled mightily. There was nothing awkward about how they took down that Drac and his crew. Hall and Owens didn't find out what they could do 'till after they were cuffed. Once they got over the first-time shakes they jumped right in like seasoned pros. Hell. They killed a fifth-generation vampire. They didn't even know they existed. They fought him, fought his prime minnie, distracted him, staked him and burned him. What the fuck's awkward about that?

Calm down, Don, said the Chief with a hint of smile. No one's disputing their effectiveness in combat. We need to improve their social skills. No one's disputing that either.

I'm guessing you have a plan, said Donnahue.

An idea, said Andrews. A way to show us how to develop a plan. We can't go large-scale with it but maybe it will point us in the direction of what we need to do.

Maybe?

Maybe. The likelihood is high. Any way it ends up we'll have good data.

Andrews sent the others her data.

This is bullshit, said Donnahue. This is bull-fucking-shit. You're asking for a shit storm. You know that, right? He had more words but he mumbled them.

The Chief waited patiently until Donnahue ran out of steam.

Our projections are favorable, Don, said Andrews. At worst they'll lose a few months' training. That's assuming they don't maintain discipline and that will be good information as well.

Donnahue clenched his jaw. Fine. I suppose it could be worse. Do you have all the details mapped out?

Not yet, said the Chief. "Andrews wasn't sure how bad