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LISSA PRICE

STARTERS

You cant get them out of your head.

C H A P T E R

S A M P L E R

liSSA PRicE

STARTERS

CHAPTER ONE

Enders gave me the creeps. The doorman ashed a practiced smile as he let me into the body bank. He wasnt that old, maybe 110, but he still made me shudder. Like most Enders, he sported silver hair, some phony badge of honor of his age. Inside, the ultramodern space with its high ceilings dwarfed me. I walked through the lobby as if gliding through a dream, my feet barely touching the marble oor. He directed me to the receptionist, who had white hair and matte red lipstick that transferred to her front teeth when she smiled. They had to be nice to me there, in the body bank. But if they saw me on the street, Id be invisible. Forget that I had been top of my classback when there was school. I was sixteen. A baby to them. The receptionists heels clicked and echoed in this stark space as she took me to a small waiting room, empty except for silver brocade chairs in the corners. They looked like antiques, but the chemical scent in the air belonged to new paint 1

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and synthetics. The so-called nature sounds of forest birds were just as fake. I glanced at my frayed sweats and scuffed shoes. I had brushed them as best I could, but the stains would not go away. And because I had tramped all the way to Beverly Hills in the morning drizzle, I was also wet as a lost cat. My feet hurt. I wanted to collapse into a chair, but I didnt dare leave a damp butt-mark on the brocade. A tall Ender popped into the room, interrupting my little etiquette dilemma. Callie Woodland? He looked at his watch. Youre late. Sorry. The rain . . . Its all right. Youre here. He extended his hand. His silver hair seemed whiter in contrast to his articial tan. As his smile broadened, his eyes widened, making me more nervous than usual with an Ender. They didnt deserve to be called seniors, as they preferred, these greedy old fogies at the end of their lives. I forced myself to shake his wrinkled hand. Im Mr. Tinnenbaum. Welcome to Prime Destinations. He wrapped his other palm over mine. Im just here to see . . . I looked around at the walls like Id come to inspect the interior design. How it all works? Of course. No charge for that. He grinned and nally released my hand. Why dont you follow me? He extended his arm as if I couldnt nd my way out of the room. His teeth were so bright, I inched a little when he smiled. We walked down a short hallway to his ofce. Go right in, Callie. Have a seat by the desk. He closed the door. I bit my tongue to keep from gasping at the total ex2

STA RT E R S travagance inside. A massive copper fountain owed with endless water alongside one wall. The way they were letting this clear, clean water fall and splash, youd think the stuff was free. A glass desk embedded with LED lights dominated the center of the room, with an airscreen display hovering a foot above it. It showed a picture of a girl my age, with long red hair, wearing gym shorts. Although she was smiling, the photo was straight-on, like some full-length mug shot. Her expression was sweet. Hopeful. I sat in a modern metal chair as Mr. Tinnenbaum stood behind the desk, pointing at the air display. One of our newest members. Like you, she heard about us through a friend. The women who rented her body were quite pleased. He touched the corner of the screen, changing the picture to a teen in a racing swimsuit, with major abs. This fellow, Adam, referred her. He can snowboard, ski, climb. Hes a popular rental for outdoorsy men who havent been able to enjoy these sports for decades. Hearing his words made it all too real. Creepy old Enders with arthritic limbs taking over this teens body for a week, living inside his skin. It made my stomach ip. I wanted to bolt, but one thought kept me there. Tyler. I gripped the seat of my chair with both hands. My stomach growled. Tinnenbaum extended a pewter dish of Supertrufes in paper cups. My parents had had the same dish, once. Would you like one? he asked. I took one of the oversized chocolates in silence. Then I remembered my rusty manners. Thank you. 3

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Take more. He waved the dish to entice me. I took a second and a third, since the dish still hovered near my hand. I wrapped them in their paper cups and slipped them into my sweatshirt pocket. He looked disappointed not to see me eat them, like I was to be his entertainment for the day. Behind my chair, the fountain bubbled and splashed, teasing me. If he didnt offer me something to drink soon, he just might get to see me with my head under the fountain, slurping like a dog. Could I have a glass of water? Please? Of course. He snapped his ngers and then raised his voice as if speaking to some hidden device. Glass of water for the young lady. A moment later, an Ender with the gure of a model came in balancing a glass of water on a tray. It was wrapped in a cloth napkin. I took the glass and saw small cubes glistening like diamonds. Ice. She set the tray beside me and left. I tilted my head back and downed the sweet water all at once, the cool liquid running down my throat. My eyes closed as I savored the cleanest water Id had since the war ended. When I nished, I let one of the ice cubes fall into my mouth. I bit into it with a crunch. When I opened my eyes, I saw Tinnenbaum staring at me. Would you like more? he asked. I would have, but his eyes told me he didnt mean it. I shook my head and nished the cube. My ngernails looked even dirtier against the glass as I set it back on the tray. Seeing the ice melting in the glass reminded me of the last time I had had ice water. It seemed like forever, but it was only a year ago, the last day in our house before the marshals came. Would you like to know how it all works? Tinnenbaum asked. Here at Prime Destinations? 4

STA RT E R S I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Enders. Why else would I be there? I gave him a half smile and nodded. He tapped a corner of the airscreen to clear it, and then a second time to bring up holo-mations. The rst one showed a senior reclining on a lounge chair, the back of her head being tted with a small cap. Colored wires protruding from the cap led to a computer. The renter is connected to a BCIBody Computer Interfacein a room staffed with experienced nurses, he said. Then shes put into a twilight sleep. Like at the dentist? Yes. All her vital signs are monitored throughout the entire journey. On the other side of the screen, a teen girl reclined in a long padded chair. Youll be put under, with a kind of anesthesia. Completely painless and harmless. You wake up a week later, a little groggy but a whole lot richer. He ashed those teeth again. I forced myself not to wince. What happens during the week? She gets to be you. He spread his palms and rotated them. Do you know about computer assists that help amputees move fake hands? They just think about it and it moves? Its very much like that. So she visualizes that shes me and if she wants something, she just thinks it and my hand grabs it? Just like she was in your body. She uses her mind to walk your body out of here, and gets to be young again. He cradled one elbow in his other hand. For a little while. But how . . . ? He nodded to the other side of the screen. Over here, in another room, the donorthat would be youis connected to the computer via a wireless BCI. 5

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Wireless? We insert a tiny neurochip into the back of your head. You wont feel a thing. Totally painless. Allows us to connect you to the computer at all times. We then connect your brain waves to the computer, and the computer connects the two of you. Connects. My brow furrowed as I tried to imagine two minds connected that way. BCI. Neurochip. Inserted. This was getting creepier by the minute. That urge to run was coming back hard. But at the same time, I wanted to know more. I know, its all so new. He gave me a condescending smirk. We make sure youre completely asleep. The renters mind takes over your body. She answers a series of questions posed by the team to be sure everything is working the way it should. Then shes free to go enjoy her rented body. The diagram showed graphics of the rented body playing golf, playing tennis, diving. The body retains its muscle memory, so whatever sports youve played, shell be able to play. When the time is over, the renter walks the body back here. The connection is shut down in the proper sequence. The renter is taken off the twilight-sleep drugs. She is checked over and then goes on her merry way. You, the donor, are restored to your full brain functions via the computer. You awake in your body as if youd slept for several days. What if something happens to me while shes in my body? Snowboarding, skydiving? What if I get hurt? Nothing like that has ever happened here. Our renters sign a contract that makes them nancially liable. Believe me, everyone wants that deposit back. 6

STA RT E R S He made me sound like a rental car. A chill went through me like someone had run an ice cube up my spine. That reminded me of Tyler, the only thing keeping me in that chair. What about the chip? I asked. Thats removed after your third rental. He handed me a sheet of paper. Here. This might put you at ease.
Rules for Renters at Prime Destinations 1. You may not alter the appearance of your rental body in any way, including but not limited to piercings, tattoos, hair cutting or dyeing, cosmetic contact lenses, and any surgical procedures, including augmentation. 2. No changes to the teeth are allowed, including llings, removal, and imbedded jewelry. 3. You must remain inside a fty-mile perimeter around Prime Destinations. Maps are available. 4. Any attempt to tamper with the chip will result in immediate cancellation without refund, and nes will be levied. 5. If you have a problem with your rental body, return to Prime Destinations as soon as possible. Please treat your rental with care, remembering at all times that it is an actual young person. Be advised that each neurochip blocks renters from engaging in illegal activities.

The rules didnt make me feel any better. They brought up more problems I hadnt even considered. What about . . . other things? I asked. 7

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Like what? I dont know. I wished he wasnt going to make me say it. But he was. Sex? What about it? Theres nothing in the rules, I said. I sure didnt want my rst time to happen when I wasnt there. He shook his head. Thats made quite clear to the renters. It is forbidden. Yeah, right. At least pregnancy would be impossible. Everyone knew that was a side effect, hopefully temporary, of the vaccination. My stomach tightened. I shook the hair back from my eyes and stood. Thanks for your time, Mr. Tinnenbaum. And the demonstration. His lip twitched. He tried to cover it with a half smile. If you sign today, theres a bonus. He pulled a form out of his drawer and scribbled on it, then slid it across the desk. Thats for three rentals. He capped his pen. I picked up the contract. That money could buy us a house and food for a year. I sat back down and took a deep breath. He held out the pen. I grabbed it. Three rentals? I asked. Yes. And youll be paid upon completion. The paper waved. I realized my hand was shaking. Its a very generous offer, he said. Thats with the bonus if you sign today. I needed that money. Tyler needed it. As I gripped the pen, the bubbling of the fountain got louder in my head. I was staring at the paper but saw ashes of the matte red lipstick, the eyes of the doorman, Mr. Tin8

STA RT E R S nenbaums unreal teeth. I pressed the pen to the paper, but before I made a mark, I looked up at him. Maybe I wanted one last reassurance. He nodded and smiled. His suit was perfect, except for a piece of white lint on his lapel. It was shaped like a question mark. He was so eager. Before I knew it, I put the pen down. His eyes narrowed. Something wrong? Its just something my mother always said. What was that? She said always sleep on an important decision. I have to think about it. His eyes went cold. I cant promise this offer will be good later. Ill have to take my chances. I folded the contract into my pocket and rose from the chair. I forced a little smile. Can you afford to do that? He stepped in front of me. Probably not. But I have to think about it. I moved around him and walked to the door. Call if you have questions, he said a little too loudly. I rushed past the receptionist, who seemed upset to see me leaving so soon. She followed me with her eyes as she punched what I imagined was a panic button. I kept going. The doorman stared at me through the glass door before opening it. Leaving already? His hollow expression was ghoulish. I bolted past him. Once I was outside, the brisk fall air hit my face. I breathed it in as I wove through the crowd of Enders packing the sidewalk. I must have been the only one who had ever turned Tinnenbaum down, who didnt fall for his pitch. But Id learned not to trust Enders. I walked through Beverly Hills, shaking my head at the 9

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pockets of wealth that remained, over a year after the war had ended. Here, only every third storefront was vacant. Designer wear, visual electronics, and bot-shops, all for the wealthy Enders shopping x. Scrounging was good here. If anything broke, theyd have to throw it away because there was no one to x it and no way to get parts. I kept my head down. Even though I wasnt doing anything illegal at the moment, if a marshal stopped me, I couldnt produce the necessary docs that claimed minors had to carry. As I waited for a trafc light, a truck stopped with a bunch of glum Starters, dirty and battered, sitting crosslegged in the back, picks and shovels piled in the center. One girl with a bandage around her head stared at me with dead eyes. I saw the icker of jealousy in them, as if my life were any better. As the truck pulled away, the girl folded her arms, sort of hugging herself. As bad as my life was, hers was worse. There had to be some way out of this insanity. Some way that didnt involve that creepy body bank or legalized slave labor. I stuck to the side streets, avoiding Wilshire Boulevard, which was a marshal magnet. Two Enders, businessmen in black raincoats, walked toward me. I looked away and slipped my hands inside my pockets. In my left pocket was the contract. In my right, the paper-wrapped chocolates. Bitter and sweet. The neighborhoods became rougher the farther I got from Beverly Hills. I sidestepped piles of garbage waiting for pickups that were long overdue. I looked up and realized I was passing a building that was red-tented. Contaminated. The last spore missiles had been over a year ago, but the 10

STA RT E R S hazmat teams hadnt gotten around to purging this house. Or didnt want to. I held my sleeve to cover my nose and mouth, as my dad had taught me, and hurried by. Daylight faded away, and I moved more freely. I pulled out my handlite and strapped it to the back of my left hand but didnt turn it on. Wed broken the streetlights here. We needed the protection of the shadows so the authorities couldnt pick us up with one of their lame excuses. Theyd be only too happy to lock us in an institution. Id never seen the inside of one, but Id heard about them. One of the worst, Institution 37, was just a few miles away. Id heard other Starters whisper about it. By the time I was a couple of blocks from our home, it was as dark as it got. I icked on my handlite. A minute later, I caught the streaking of two handlites darting at an angle, coming from the other side of the road. Because whoever it was kept their handlites on, I hoped they were friendlies. But then, at the same second, the lights both went dark. Renegades. My stomach tightened and my heart leapt up to my throat. I ran. I had no time to think. My instinct took me toward my building. One of them, a tall, long-legged girl with a tattoo on the side of her face, caught up to me. She was right behind, reaching out to grab my sweatshirt. I pumped my legs harder. The side door to my building was just halfway down the block, waiting for me. She tried again and this time got my hood. I fell as she yanked me, and I landed hard on the sidewalk. My back hurt and my head stung. She straddled me and went for my pockets. Her friend, a smaller boy, turned his handlite back on and aimed it into my eyes. 11

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I dont have any money. I squinted and tried to slap her hands away. She hit the sides of my face with her open palms, smacking my ears hard. A dirty street trick that made your head ring with pain. No money for me? she said. Her mufed words reverberated in my head. Then youre in it deep. A rush of adrenaline powered my arm and I punched her across the jaw. She started to fall over but righted herself before I could get out from under her. Youre dead now, baby. I squirmed and thrashed, but she locked me down with her steel thighs. She pulled back her st and put her whole body into it. I rolled my head to the side at the last second and her st connected with pavement. She screamed. Her scream propelled me to scramble out from under her while she cradled her hand in pain. My heart was pounding like it wanted to leap out of my chest. The other kid moved in with a rock. My breath came in gulps as I got to my feet. Something fell from my pocket. Everyone stopped to look. One of the precious Supertrufes. Food! her friend shouted as he aimed his light on it. The girl crawled toward it, protecting her crushed hand against her chest. Her friend dove to the ground and snatched it up. She grabbed for his hand, broke off a piece of the trufe, and gobbled it down. He devoured the rest. I ran to the side entrance of my building. I pushed open the door, my door, and ducked inside. I prayed they wouldnt enter my building. I had to de12

STA RT E R S pend on them being too scared of my friendlies and any traps I might have set. I aimed my handlite to check out the stairs. Clear. I climbed to the third oor and peered through a dirty window. Below, the renegade thieves scurried away like vermin. I took a quick inventory. The back of my head hurt from hitting the pavement, but I had made it without any bad gashes or broken bones. I put my hand on my chest and tried to calm my breathing. I turned my attention to the inside of the building and did my usual scans. I listened as best I could, but my ears were still ringing from the ght. I shook my head to try to clear them. No new sounds. No new occupants. No danger. The ofce on the end drew me like a beacon, promising sleep. Our encampment of desks barricaded the corner, sealing off a section of the cavernous, bare room and providing the illusion of comfort. Tyler was probably already asleep. I ngered the remaining Supertrufes in my pockets. Maybe I should just surprise him in the morning. But I couldnt wait. Hey, wake up. Got something for you. When I came around the desks, nothing was there. No blankets, no brother. Nothing. What few belongings we had left were gone. Tyler? I called out. My throat tightened as I held my breath. I dashed for the door, but just as I got there, a face popped in through the doorway. Michael! Michael shook back his shaggy blond hair. Callie. He put his handlite under his chin and aped a scary face. He couldnt hold it and broke into laughter. 13

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If he was laughing, Tyler had to be all right. I gave him a little shove. Wheres Tyler? I asked. I had to move you guys to my room. Roof started leaking in here. He aimed his lite at a dark blot on the ceiling. Hope thats okay? Dont know. Depends on your decorating skills. I followed him to a room across the hall. Inside, in two different corners, the desks formed cozy, protective nooks. As I got closer, I saw hed re-created the exact arrangement of our belongings. I went inside the nook in the far corner and saw Tyler sitting against the wall, blanket over his legs. He looked too small for his seven years. Maybe it was the momentary thought of losing him, or the fact that Id been away all day, but it was like I was seeing him anew. He had lost weight since we had been on the streets. His hair needed cutting. Shadows darkened the skin under his eyes. Where ya been, Monkey-Face? Tylers voice was hoarse. I made an effort to push away my look of concern. Out. Youve been gone a long time. But you had Michael here. I knelt beside him. And it took me a long time to nd a special treat for you. A slight smile formed on his lips. Whatd you get me? I pulled out one of the paper cups and unwrapped the vitamin-infused chocolate. It was the size of a cookie. His eyes widened. Supertrufe? He looked at Michael standing near me. Wow. Ive got two. I showed him the other. Both for you. He shook his head. You have one. 14

STA RT E R S You need the vitamins, I said. Did you eat today? he asked. I stared at him. Could I get away with a lie? No, he knew me too well. You guys share it, Tyler said. Michael shrugged and his hair fell over one eye in that beautiful, effortless way that dened him. Cant argue with that. Tyler smiled and held my hand. Thanks, Callie. We ate the Supertrufes, sitting around a desk placed in the middle of the room. It served as our dining table, with Michaels handlite in the center, set on candle mode. We cut the chocolates into small pieces and joked about the rst bite being the appetizer, the second the entre, and the third the dessert. They were heaven, the sweet, thick chocolates, a cross between brownies and fudge, rich and smoky on our tongues. They were gone too soon. Tyler perked up after eating. He sang some song to himself while Michael leaned his chin on one hand and stared at me from across the desk. I knew he was dying to ask me about the body bank. And maybe more. I saw his eyes scan my new scrapes and cuts. The trufes made me thirsty, I said. Me too, Tyler said. Michael rose. I guess Id better ll up the water bottles. He grabbed our bottles, which hung on straps by the door, along with our washing pail. Then he left. Tyler put his head on the desk. The excitement of the chocolates was taking its toll. I rubbed his baby-soft hair, his neck. His hoodie had slipped off one shoulder, exposing his 15

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vaccination scar. I ran my nger over it, grateful for the little mark. If not for that, wed all be dead like our parents. Like everyone between twenty and sixty. We, like the elderly Enders, were the most vulnerable, so we had gotten vaccinated rst against the genocide spores. Now we were the only ones left. How ironic was that? After a few minutes, Michael returned with the lled water bottles. I went to the bathroom where hed left the pail. The rst week we had lived there, we had still had running water in the building. I sighed. It used to be so much easier than stealing our water from outside pipes when no one was looking. The cold water felt refreshing, even though it was November and there was no heat in the building. I splashed water onto the cuts on my arms and face. When I returned to the room, Tyler was settled back in our corner. Michael was lying in his mirror-image fort in the opposite corner. I felt safer with us all in the same room. If anyone were to break in, one of us would have the intruder from behind. Michael had a metal pipe. I had a mini-ZipTaser that had belonged to my father. It wasnt as strong as a marshals, but I relied on it. Sad how it had become my new comfort item. I sat on my sleeping bag and pulled off my shoes. I took off my sweatshirt and slipped into my sleeping bag as if I were going to sleep. I added pajamas to my internal list of things that I missed. Flannel, warm from the dryer. I was tired of always being dressed, ready to run or ght. I ached for uffy jammies and a deep, forget-the-world sleep. Michael moved our stuff over. Tyler shined his lite at our books and treasures on the desks surrounding us. 16

STA RT E R S I know. That was nice of him. He aimed his lite at a toy dog. Just like before. At rst I thought he meant like at our home, but then I realized he meant how we had had it the previous day. Michael had made a point of arranging our possessions exactly as we had had themhe knew how precious they were to us. Tyler pulled down our holo-frame. He did this every few nights, when he felt particularly sad. He held it in his palm and cycled through the holosour family at the beach, us playing in the sand, our dad at target practice, our parents at their wedding. My brother paused at the same place he always didan image of our parents on a cruise, taken three years ago, just before the ghting started in the Pacic Ocean. The sound of their voices was always hard for me. We miss you, Tyler. We love you, Callie. Take good care of your brother. The rst month, I cried whenever I heard their voices. Then I stopped. They sounded hollow now, like nameless actors. Tyler never cried. He continued to absorb their words over and over. This was Mom and Dad to him now. Okay, enough. Time to sleep. I reached for the frame. No. I want to remember. His eyes pleaded with me. You afraid youll forget? Maybe. I tapped the handlite on his wrist. Remember who invented this? Tyler nodded solemnly, his lower lip extended. Dad. Thats right. With some other scientists. So whenever you see the light from it, think of it as Daddy watching over you. 17

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That what you do? Every day. I stroked his head. Dont worry. I promise. Well never, ever forget them. I traded the frame for his favorite toy, his only toy now, a small dogbot. He tucked it under his arm and it went into soft mode, lying just like a real dog. Except for the glowing green eyes. I put the frame back on the desk above us. Tyler coughed. I pulled his sleeping bag up around his neck. Every time he coughed, I struggled not to hear the clinic doctors words echo in my mind: Rare lung disorder . . . Might heal, or not. I watched Tylers chest rise and fall, and heard the labored breathing of sleep take over. I crawled out of my sleeping bag and peered around the desks. Michaels handlite glowed against the wall. I threw my sweatshirt over my shoulders and padded over. Michael? I whispered. Come on in. He kept his voice hushed. I entered his little fortress. I liked being there, surrounded by his pencil and charcoal drawings, his art supplies lling every nook. He drew city scenes, interpreting our landscape of empty buildings, friendlies and renegades, complete with handlites and layered, ragged clothes, water bottles slung across thin torsos. He put down his book and sat up with his back to the wall, motioning for me to sit next to him on his army blanket. So, what happened to your face? I reached up to my cheek. It was burning. Does it look bad? Tyler didnt notice. Only because its so dark in here. I sat cross-legged facing him. 18

STA RT E R S Renegades? I nodded. Yeah. But Im okay. How was that place? Weird. He went silent. His head hung down. What? I asked. Michael raised his head. I was worried you werent coming back. I promised, didnt I? He nodded. Yeah. But I was thinking . . . what if you couldnt come back? I had no response to that. We sat a moment until he nally broke the silence. So, whatd you think of it? Did you know they insert a neurochip in here? I pointed to the back of my head. Where? Let me see. He touched my hair. I told you, I just went to check it out. I saw the concern in his face, his eyes soft with kindness. Funny, I hadnt really noticed him much when he lived down the street from us. Strange that it had taken the Spore Wars to bring us together. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and felt something. A paper. I pulled it out. Whats that? he asked. The man at the body bank gave it to me. Its a contract. Michael leaned closer. Thats what theyre going to pay? He snatched the form from my ngers. Give it back. He read the contract. . . . for three connections. Im not doing it. Good. He paused. But why? I know you. Youre not scared. 19

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Theyll never pay that much money. Its unreal. Thats what tipped me off. How do they get around the law, anyway? Hiring Starters? I shrugged. They must have some loophole. Its pretty much off the radar. You never see any ads for it. He was right. The only way I knew about it was from that guy who used to live on the rst oor. He probably makes money for every Starter he brings in. He wont be getting any from me. I rested on my side, leaning my head on my hand. I dont trust that place. You must be tired, he said. That was a long walk. Im beyond tired. Tomorrow, lets go to the loading dock and see if we can get some fruit. His words faded, and my eyes felt heavy. Next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and he was smiling at me. Cal, he said gently. Go to bed. I nodded. I stuffed the contract back into my pocket and returned to Tyler. My body melted into the sleeping bag. I set my lite to sleep mode. It glowed softly. Winter in Southern California wasnt brutal, but it was going to get too cold for Tyler. I needed to get him into someplace warm, a real home. But how? This was my nightly ritual worry. Id hoped the body bank would be the answer, but it wasnt. As I drifted off to sleep, my lite turned itself off. My sleep was shattered by the screech of the smoke detectors. A bitter stench lled my nostrils. I felt Tyler, near me, sitting up and coughing. 20

STA RT E R S Michael? I called out. Fire! he shouted from across the room. The time on my handband read 5:00 a.m. I felt for my water bottle and opened it. I reached into the drawer above me and pulled out a T-shirt. I splashed water on it. Hold this to your nose, I told Tyler. Michaels lite broke through the smoke. Lets go! he shouted. I locked arms with my little brother. Our handlites partly penetrated the smoke as we all crouched over and made our way to the door. Michael put his hand on my back, guiding me to the stairs. Smoke clouded the stairway. It seemed to take forever, but we made it down. My legs were rubbery by the time we made it outside. We stepped away from the building, worried about ames and falling debris. In the darkness of the early morning, we saw other friendlies coming outtwo we knew and three others who must have been on the lower oors. They were staring at the building in shock. I spun around. Wherere the ames? I asked. Wheres the re? Michael said. Is that everyone? a man yelled. Yeah. I saw an Ender, maybe a hundred years old, approaching. He wore a crisp suit. You sure? The Ender looked at the friendlies, who nodded. Good. The man raised his hand and three more Enders wearing construction gear walked forward. One construction man ripped off the tape that covered the lock on the side door. Another used a hand tool to post a notice. The suit gave us a copy of the notice. 21

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Michael read it. No trespassing. Premises under new ownership. They smoked us, one of the friendlies said. You must vacate the area now, the suit said in a calm but authoritative voice. When no one moved, he added, You have one minute. But our stuff . . . I moved toward the building. I cant let you back in there. Insurance liability, the suit said. You cant keep our property, Michael said. Squatting is trespassing, the Ender said. Im warning you for your own good. Thirty seconds. My heart sank. All we have left of our things is in there. If we cant go in, please just bring our stuff out. He shook his head. Theres no time. You have to go. The marshals are on their way. That made the other friendlies run. I put my arm around Tyler and turned to go, but something made me stop. The man in the suit already had his back to us, but the construction man saw us and nodded to him. He turned. Please. Our parents are dead. My eyes burned with tears. The last pictures we have of them are inside that building. On the third oor, end of the hall. Could someone just give us the frame? Even if they have to throw it out the window? He paused for just a moment, as if he was considering it. I wish I could. But I cant. Sorry. He turned his back. I had never felt so hollow inside. It was hopeless arguing with him. More than a hundred years separated us; he could never understand what we had gone through. Callie, its okay. Tyler pulled my hand. We can remember them without the pictures. We wont forget. 22

STA RT E R S Sirens blared. Its the marshals, Michael said. Run! We had no choice. We ran into the darkness of the early morning, leaving behind the last physical links to our family and to the life wed lived together just a year ago.

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CHAPTER TWO

We raced up the street, away from the marshals sirens. I glanced back just long enough to see the silver hair and steelgray uniforms rushing out of their vehicle. Michael scooped Tyler into his arms, and we ran as fast as we could. We ducked down a narrow walkway between our old building and another abandoned ofce building. We heard the marshals chasing us, but we were out of the walkway before they made it to the entrance, so they didnt see which way we turned. They had guns and a hundred-plus years of experience, but we had young legs. We hid in a long row of bushes in the courtyard between the buildings. They were dying and scratchy but still full enough to hide us in the darkness of the hour. Good thing wed staked out hiding places when we rst moved in. I pushed aside branches as Michael put Tyler on the ground, and we huddled together. The marshals came out of the walkway. I peered at them 24

STA RT E R S through a hole in the bush, watching their movement. One headed left. The other came right toward us. Tyler made a sound, that wheeze that was always followed by a cough. I felt the hair on my arms rise. Michael slipped his hand over Tylers mouth. The marshal was approaching. Had he spotted us? He crouched and edged closer, his gun drawn. My heartbeat echoed in my ears. I gripped Michaels shirt and pressed my cheek to his shoulder. The marshals hand groped through the leaves in front of my face. He was so close I could smell the oily scent of his gloves. I held my breath. Hes over here! the other marshals voice called out. Then the sound that made our spines tingle, that electronic, arcing crackle, broke through the cold night. ZipTaser. Excruciating screams followed the crackle. They ripped through us, making our teeth hurt and our souls ache. The leaves shook as our marshal ran off. I pressed my face to the hole in the bushes to see. A boy lay on the ground, facedown. His screams were giving way to moans. One of the marshals slapped autocuffs on him and turned him over. I recognized him as one of the newer guys in our building. The side of his neck was burnt black from the ZipTaser. That happened if they held it too close or the gun was turned up too high. They did it on purpose, to brand us. He started yelling as they ran a strap around his cuffs and across his chest, begging them to leave him. They ignored his pleas, tilting him at an angle and holding a strap over their 25

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shoulders to drag him behind them. The boys heels scraped the ground, and every bump was punctuated with a scream. It was like theyd snared an animal. They were cowards, conducting these raids in the dark of night, out of sight of any softhearted Enders who might intervene. Inside the safety of our leafy cover, we hugged each other in a ball. This kept Tyler warm, kept him from coughing, and kept any of us from making the slightest sound. Every scream made us inch. If only wed had a few more friendlies, we could have jumped on the marshals backs, biting, punching, scratching, until the boy could get away. The screaming faded as they all entered the walkway. Then we heard their car start. They were leaving, satised with one capture. They had bagged their prize, and it lled their daily quota. But they would return tomorrow. Tyler nally released his cough, which led to wheezing and more coughing. We crawled out of the bushes to get him off the damp ground. Michael removed his sweatshirt and put it over Tylers so he had a double layer. They huddled together on a low concrete planter while I paced. Now what do we do? Michael asked. Weve lost our sleeping bags. And my ZipTaser. I swallowed hard, remembering the marshals weapon. And our water bottles, I said. And anything else we saved, scrounged, or built. My words hung in the cold night air, the nality of it all too overwhelming. Then Tyler came up with his contribution. My dogbot, he said. His lower lip jutted out, but it quivered as he struggled to 26

STA RT E R S pull it back. It wasnt just a toy, or his last toyit was the last toy given to him by our mom. If I had been a better person, I would have confessed that I understood, that I was devastated over losing our parents pictures. Those were memory triggers, gone forever. Our old lives, the ones wed had just a year ago, were history nowundocumented history. The last cord was cut. But I kept it inside. Falling apart wasnt an option. Whatre we gonna do? Tyler asked. Wherell we go? He went into a t of hacking coughs. We cant stay around here, I said quietly. Theyll come back tomorrow with more men, now that they made a score. I know another building, Michael said. Not far, twenty minutes. Another building. Another cold, hard oor. Another temporary place to squat. Something inside me broke. Draw me a map. I shed in my sweatshirt pocket and pulled out the contract. I ripped off a quarter of it. Why? Michael asked. Ill join you guys later. I handed the paper to Michael and he started drawing. Wherere you going? Tyler asked, his voice hoarse. Im going to be gone for a day or two. I looked at Michael. I know where to get some money. Michael glanced up from his map. His eyes locked with mine. Cal. You sure? I looked at Tylers tired face, his sunken cheeks, his baggy eyes. The smoke had made his condition worse. If he went downhill and didnt make it, I would never forgive myself. No. But Im going anyway.

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By the time I entered Beverly Hills, it was 8:45 a.m. The shops were still closed. I passed a handful of Enders wearing heavy jewelry and too much makeup. Modern medicine could easily extend Enders life spans to two hundred, but it couldnt teach them to avoid becoming fashion donts. The plump Enders opened the door to a restaurant, and the aroma of bacon and eggs teased my nose. My stomach growled. Those rich Enders acted like theyd forgotten there ever was a war. I wanted to shake them and ask, Dont you remember? No one was winning the Pac Rim sea battles, so they threw their spore-head missiles at us? And we used our EMP weapon, which crashed their computers, their planes, their stock markets? It was a war, people. Nobody won. Not us, not the Pac Rim countries. In less than a year, the face of America changed to a sprinkling of Starters like me in a sea of silver-haired Enders, well off, well fed, and oblivious. They werent all rich, but none of them were as poor as we were, because we werent allowed to work or vote. That nasty little policy had been in place before the war, with the aging population, but it had become even more of an issue postwar. I shook my head. I hated thinking about the war. I passed a pizza place. Closed. The hologram in the window looked so real, complete with bubbling cheese. The fake scent blasts taunted me. I remembered the taste, the hot, sticky mozzarella, the tangy tomato sauce. Living on the streets for the past year meant I was always hungry. But I especially missed hot food. When I reached Prime Destinations, I hesitated. The building was ve stories tall, freestanding, covered with silver-mirrored panels. I looked at my reection in them. Tat28

STA RT E R S tered clothes, smudged face. Long hair hanging like tangled rope. Was I still there, somewhere, under all this? My reection vanished as the guard opened the door. Welcome back. He wore a smug grin. While I waited at the reception desk for Tinnenbaum, I noticed two men arguing in a conference room off the lobby. One of them, facing the open door, was Tinnenbaum. The other man I could see only from the back. He was taller and wore an elegant black wool coat. Only a few inches of his silver hair protruded from his fedora. He slapped his gloves in one hand several times and then hit the table with them, making Tinnenbaum inch. Tinnenbaum moved to the left, out of view. The tall man glared at a glass case of electronic equipment. I couldnt make out his face in the reection, but I got the feeling he was staring at me, as if he had a clearer view than I did. The hair on the back of my neck rose with a prickle. He appeared to be sizing me up. Why? At that point Tinnenbaum came out of the room alone, closing the door behind him. He came over to greet me with his trademark freaky grin. Callie. I hoped wed see you again. He shook my hand. My apologies for making you wait, but that was my boss. He motioned toward the conference room with his head. Its okay. He must be important. You could say hes Mr. Prime Destinations himself. He spread one arm. This is all his baby. I followed him into his ofce and sat on the other side of his desk while he tapped at his airscreen. To my right was a framed mirror. Observation window, I imagined. 29

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So who did you say referred you? he asked. Dennis Lynch. And you know him from where? He was a classmate. Before the war. Tinnenbaum continued to stare at me, as if I should say more. After the war ended, I ran into him on the street. He told me about this place. I didnt want to admit that Id met Dennis squatting. Tinnenbaum knew I was a squatter, but I wasnt going on record with it. He seemed satised. And what sports are you good at? Archery. Fencing, swimming, riery. He raised one brow. Riery? My dad knew about guns. He was in the Science Corps. He trained me. Hes deceased, I assume. Yes. And my mother. He eyed my clothing. I assume you have no living relatives? Of course, dummy. Would I be living on the street if I had grandparents? Right. He nodded and thumped the desk. Well then, lets see just how good you are. I didnt move. Unless you have any questions? he asked. I had to ask. How do I know I wont get caught? For working? He smiled. Look, were not hiring you. Youre donating services, not working. You couldnt be working when youre asleep. He laughed. So the generous payment we give is a stipend, not a salary. He pushed his chair back and stood. 30

STA RT E R S Dont worry. This is a mutually benecial situation here. We need you as much as you need us. Now lets go see what you can do. Mr. Tinnenbaum introduced me to an Ender named Doris, who was assigned to be my personal mentor. She had the silver hair of an Ender but the body of a ballerina. She dressed in typical Ender fashion, retro clothing with modern touches. Her suit was classic 1940s, but a power belt cinched her tiny waist. Rib removal, no doubt. She took me to their gym and tested me in fencing and archery, as well as in general strength, stamina, and gymnastics exercises. They werent going to take my word for it, in case some Ender had her heart set on winning a fencing competition. We were left with only the target shooting. That was one thing they werent set up for, so we had to go to a shooting range. Tinnenbaum and I got into the back of a limo and rode for twenty minutes. Trapped in the small space, he coughed and wrinkled his nose, then held his handkerchief to it. Im sure it was from my eau de street life. We were even, because I couldnt stand the fake scent of his cologne. He didnt even look at me, but instead read his mini-airscreen the whole way. But I got Tinnenbaums attention once we were on the shooting range and the Range Master pushed a rie into my hands. The motion shoved me back, back to three years ago, when I was thirteen, when my dad had done the same thing. I had protested that the rie was too big and heavy for me. I didnt want to admit that I was scared and would rather have spent my time with him shing or hiking. Cal Girl, listen carefully, my dad had said. 31

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Whenever he used his special nickname for me in a serious way, it got my attention. Theres a war going on, he continued. You must learn how to defend yourself. And Tyler. But the wars not here, Dad, I said. At that time, the war was mostly being played out in the Pacic Ocean. But my fathers answer made it clear he knew what was to come. Not yet, Cal Girl, he said. But it will be. Two years later, the Spore Wars would change us all. While Tinnenbaum watched with a skeptical gaze, I straightened and brought the rie into position. I shut one eye and used the other to line up the digital sight on the target, an outline of a man. Then I shut both eyes and quickly opened them. The sight was still dead-on. I breathed in and squeezed the trigger. The bullet pierced the red circle in the center of the forehead. The Range Master said nothing. He nodded for me to shoot again. My next bullet went through the rst hole. Tinnenbaum stood completely still, staring at the target as if it had to be some trick. Other shooters, all Enders, stopped their practice to watch me hit the same spot, every time. We continued the testing with a variety of guns, so I also impressed them with the number of rearms I could handle. Thanks, Dad. On the drive back, Tinnenbaums nose wasnt so wrinkled. He angled his minis base so I could read the airscreen. It displayed my contract. I skipped to the important parts: three rentals and the payment. The money would be enough to pay for an apart32

STA RT E R S ment for a couple of years. And to bribe an adult to sign the lease for us. That amount. Its the same as before you tested me. Thats right. Shouldnt my skill level have bumped me up to a higher stipend? Why not go for it, I thought. His smile faded. You drive a hard bargain. For a minor. He sighed and typed in better numbers. Hows that? I remembered something my dad had taught me to ask. What are the risks? I said. What can go wrong? No procedure is without risks. However, weve taken every precaution to protect our valuable assets. Meaning me. He nodded. You can be assured that in twelve months of operation, we have not had a single problem. That wasnt a long time. But I needed the money more than I needed a better answer. What would my dad have said about this? I pushed the thought out of my mind. The hard part is over, Tinnenbaum said. The rest is as easy as drifting off to sleep. My brother could be warm every night. A real home. And wed have it after only three rentals. I touched the airscreen and my ngerprint appeared on the contract, sealing the deal. Tinnenbaum gazed out the limo window, trying to look casual. But I noticed his leg had an uncontrollable nervous twitch. When we arrived back at the body bank, I wondered if Mr. Tinnenbaum would introduce me to the tall man from before. But we never saw him. Instead, Tinnenbaum handed me off to Doris. 33

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Wait till you see what Doris has in store for you. He grinned and then disappeared down the hallway. Its time to begin your makeover. Doris icked her wrist like she was my fairy godmother. Makeover? Doris eyed me from toe to head. My hand instinctively touched the end of my stringy hair, as if to keep her from chopping it off. You dont think were going to present you like this, do you? I pulled my sleeve over my hand and wiped my face. She reached for my arm. Youre one lucky girl. Were going to give you a free makeover, top to bottom. She examined my hand. Her nails glowed with a dazzling iridescent polish that reminded me of an abalone shell. Mine looked like Id dug through tar at the beach. We have a lot of work to do. Doris put her hand on my back, guiding me toward a set of double doors. Youre not going to recognize yourself when were done with you. Thats what Im afraid of. The rst station was a human car wash. I stood naked on a raised, revolving platform and held on to a bar hanging above my head. Tiny goggles protected my eyes while bittersmelling chemicals blasted my entire body. The sh-eye goggles made everything a little more surreal than it already was, including Doris watching me through an observation window. Large foam pads taller than my head pushed out from curved panels, moving closer and closer until I thought I was going to be smothered. But I held my breath as the squishy material conformed to my body and scrubbed it top to bot34

STA RT E R S tom. Finally, it stopped and pulled back for the last step, a high-powered water stream that sprayed from every direction and hurt like needles. I passed through a small chamber lit only by blue lights, and then a hot, dry one. In the last room, which looked like a doctors exam room, two Enders wearing protective suits scanned me for any bacteria. I was judged to be a clean palette and was whisked off for a series of beauty procedures. First up, laser treatments. This Ender team said it was just to clean up my freckles and teenage skin, but it took a long time. They wouldnt let me see the results, but they assured me I would be pleased. I could see that they had completely healed the cuts on my hands from ghting. Next up, manicure, pedicure, and, as if I werent clean enough already, a full-body scrub. It hurt at eleven on a scale of one to ten, like they didnt want any original skin cells left. Then Doris led me to a small room to meet their in-house hairstylist. She was the rst Ender Id ever seen with hair that wasnt all white or silver. Hers had streaks of purple, and it went straight up in spikes. I tried to pass on the haircut. Dont be silly. Doris leaned on a counter, drumming her nails with increasing speed. Shes not going to give you a buzz cut. Youll still have your lovely long hair. Itll just be styled better. Give you some layers. I let the spiky Ender put a cape over me, but the fact that she refused to let me see a mirror hardly inspired condence. When she was done, enough hair lay on the oor to make a cat. I was dying to see the results, but no one seemed to care. The nal torturer was a makeup artist named Clara, who spent over two hours brushing and rubbing color into every inch of my face. She lasered my brows and attached new 35

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eyelashes. Doris picked out some clothes for me to wear, and I changed in a small room with no mirror. Before I could even look at myself, I was rushed to another room, where I had to stand against a wall and pose for the camera. I tried to smile like the red-haired girl in the hologram Tinnenbaum had shown me. I dont think I succeeded. When I left the holo room, I was mush. I didnt feel made over, I felt run over. Are we done? I asked Doris. For now. What time is it? Late. She looked as tired as I felt. Ill show you to your room, she said. Here? You cant walk home at eleven p.m. looking like that. She leaned against the wall and drummed her nails. I put my hand to my face. Was I that different? Havent you heard stories of rich men kidnapping pretty girls? she said. I had. Those are true? Oh, you bet theyre true. Youll be safe here. And refreshed for tomorrow. She turned. I followed her clicking heels down the hallway. I dont even know what I look like, I said under my breath. Moments later, I was lying in a real bed. With sheets. And a cloud-soft comforter. I had forgotten the luxury of a clean bed, how sheets felt slippery against your skin. It was like oating in heaven. I couldnt keep my hands from touching my face. My new skin was so smooth, it reminded me of when Tyler was a 36

STA RT E R S baby and I would pet his big pink cheeks. My mother had said Id wear them out. Tyler. I wondered what he was doing. Was the new place Michael found safe? Did they have blankets to keep them warm? I felt guilty lying in this plush bed with a trillion pillows. Although the room was just another part of this large facility, it was made to look like someones guest room, with a full pitcher of water by the bed, next to a vase of daisies. It reminded me of our old guest room, which my mom had decorated with such love. I looked at the food theyd left beside my bed: potato soup, cheese, and a variety of packaged crackers. I was almost too tired to eat it. Almost. I ate the soup and the cheese but saved all the crackers to bring to Michael and Tyler, later, when I nally got released. It wasnt until I woke in the morning that I realized that the one thing missing in this imitation guest room was a window. When I parted the pair of calico curtains hanging above my bed, all I saw was wall. I went to the door and put my ear to it. I could hear only the hum of an ofce building. I tried to open it to peek outside but it was locked. My heart sped up at the thought of being trapped. I took a couple of deep breaths and told myself the door was locked to protect me. I was wearing the white pajamas that had been on the bed the previous night. I opened the closet to look for clothes but saw my reection instead, in a full-length mirror on the inside of the door. I gasped. I was beautiful. It was still my face, with my mothers eyes and my fathers 37

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jawline, but it was so much better. My skin glowed with a awless sheen. My cheekbones were more pronounced. This was what money could do. This was what every girl could look like, if she had endless resources. I got closer to the mirror and looked into my eyes, still smoky from yesterdays makeup. I hadnt had makeup on for a year. What would Michael say when he saw me? I focused my attention on the closet. One garment hung inside. A hospital gown. Doris unlocked my door and came in, wearing a belted pantsuit and a too-sunny smile. Good morning, Callie. She examined my face. Sleep well? Great. They did such a nice job on you. She scrutinized my skin and then leaned against the wall. She did that drumming thing with her nails, which was beginning to drive me crazy. Dont worry about your makeup. Well have it redone later. Follow me. My stomach growled. I noticed the dinner tray from last night was gone. When had that happened? Doris? She stopped. Yes, dear? Are we going to have breakfast? I asked. Oh, honey, youll have a feast later. All your favorites. She stroked my hair. No one had done that to me since my mother died. It hit a trigger point for me, and I felt my eyes getting moist. A lump formed in my throat. Doris leaned closer and smiled. 38

STA RT E R S Its just that you cant eat anything before your operation. I stared at the ceiling as they wheeled me on a gurney down an endless hallway. I had pushed the procedure out of my mind, but now it was here. I hated needles, hated knives, hated being put under and having no control. Maybe they knew that, because they had already started me on some tranquilizer. The pattern on the ceiling began to melt until it was blurry. Tinnenbaum had made the surgery sound simple. But I had overheard the surgeons when I was in pre-op. It was going to be complicated. I was too woozy to remember the details. The Ender nurse, trim and handsome, smiled down at me while he rolled my gurney. Was he wearing eyeliner? This was crazy. I was a wimp who got sweaty palms just waiting for a vaccination. And there I was, volunteering to be operated on. My brain, no less. Probably my favorite body part. No one ever complained about a fat brain. No one ever accused their brain of being too short or too tall, too wide or too narrow. Or ugly. It either worked or it didnt, and mine worked just ne. I prayed it still would after the surgery. We came to a stop. I was in the operating room, baking under the bright lights. The nursehis name tag read Terry patted my arm. Dont worry, kitten. Think of it like the little microchip we put in our pets. Bing, bang, and its in before you know it. Kitten? Who was this Ender? I already knew it was 39

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beyond microchipping. Arms rustled about me. Someone placed a cone over my mouth and told me to count backward from ten. Ten. Nine. Eight. That was it. I woke up in a bed in what felt like seconds. Terry, the nurse, stared down at me. How you doing, kitten? My head was like cotton candy, all fuzzy and limitless. Is it over? Yup. The surgeon said it was a thing of beauty. How long was I out? I felt myself moving slowly as I looked for a clock. All I saw was a white haze. Not long. He took my vitals. Does anything hurt? I cant feel anything. Thatll wear off. Let me get you upright. He raised the top half of my bed and I began to feel a little clearer. My eyes focused. I hadnt been in this room before. Where am I? Your exchange room. Get used to it. Its where youll make your exits and entries. It was a small room with one window that looked out on a hallway. To my left, a panel that had to be a one-way mirror. Several silver cameras, one on the ceiling, two on the walls. To my right, a tall Ender with black eyeglass frames and long white hair sat at a computer. Thats Trax, Terry said. Were in his domain now, so hes the king. Trax raised one hand. Big effort. He may have been an Ender, but once a geek, always a geek. Hi, Callie. I raised my hand too. I noticed there was a plastic medical bracelet on my wrist. Hi. 40

STA RT E R S Trax pointed to various icons on his airscreen. So, Callie, what do you want for lunch? It had been a year since someone had asked me that question. I ran through my favorites in my head: lobster, steak heck, even pizza would have made me happy. Would it have been pushing it to ask for caramel cheesecake? Before I could say a word, Trax grinned. So how about we start with lobster bisque and then a steak pizza? With caramel cheesecake for dessert. My mouth fell open. But how Dont worry, were not mind readers. Food choices are easy. We ran your cerebral input against a small database and scored the hits. I dont know if I like that. Its okay. What your brain likes doesnt really matter. Youre going to be asleep. We just need to make the clear connection between your brain and the renters. And this proves we have a connection from you to the computer. Your neurochip works. Yay. He twirled his index nger. Do they ever fail? I asked. Do computers ever fail? Trax laughed. Terry patted my shoulder. I saw he had black nail polish. Dont worry so much, kitten. Just enjoy the ride. Back in my little guest room, I sat at a table, wearing a robe. I ate the lunch they had ordered for me. It killed me not to be able to share this feast with Michael and Tyler. I was nishing the cheesecake when Doris came in. See? I told you wed feed you. Get enough to eat? Im ready to explode. Cant send out a rental without a full tank. I wondered if I saw a bit of sadness in her eyes. If so, she 41

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shook it off. She opened the closet and pointed to a hanger with a casual pink top and white jeans. Underwear was also on the hanger, a modest polka-dotted bra and panties cut larger than I usually wore. You can put this on when youre done eating. Remove everything, including that. She pointed to my handlite. Will it be safe? I wrapped my other hand around it. Your belongings will be locked up securely. Who picked the clothes? I kept my voice even in case Doris had. The renter always dictates the wardrobe. Clara will come in here to do your makeup and brush out your hair, and youll be ready for your rst rental. Now? She nodded. Itll just be for a day. We always do it that way, sort of a dry run. To make sure it all goes as planned. Who is it? She folded her arms and looked as if she were reaching back for a speech shed given before. We maintain complete condentiality. Better for them, you, and us. Its cleaner this way. We do screen our renters very carefully, so rest assured, this is a lovely woman. If shes so lovely, introduce us. Dont worry. They sign a contract too. They cant do anything with your body thats off-limits. No sports that are not on the accepted list, no car racing, skydiving, none of that stuff. She put her arm around me. We do have your best interests at heart. All you have to do is relax and collect your money at the end. Youll see how easy it is. Ive had some very happy girls go through here. Some of them come back to see me. And youll be one of them. 42

STA RT E R S One last question. I saw a man talking to Mr. Tinnenbaum who I havent met. When? The day I got tested. Tall, a long coat and a hat. She nodded and lowered her voice. Hes the big boss. The CEO of Prime. Whats his name? I asked. We affectionately call him the Old Man. But dont ever repeat that. Now stop thinking so much and be happy. Easy for her to say. It had been a long time since Id been happy. A long time since life was just lip gloss and music and silly girlfriends. A long time since my biggest concerns were whether there would be a test or if Id forgotten my homework. I was aiming for more like safe, free, and alive.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Text copyright 2012 by lissa Price Portrait of a Spore copyright 2013 by lissa Price cover photograph copyright 2013 by Shutterstock All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Ember, an imprint of Random House childrens books, a division of Random House, inc., New york. originally published in hardcover in the United States by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House childrens books, New york, in 2012. Ember and the E colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, inc. randomhouse.com/teens Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at RHTeacherslibrarians.com The library of congress has cataloged the hardcover edition of this work as follows: Price, lissa. Starters / lissa Price. 1st ed. p. cm. Summary: To support herself and her younger brother in a future beverly Hills, sixteen-year-old
callie hires her body out to seniors who want to experience being young again, and she lives a fairy-tale life until she learns that her body will commit murder, unless her mind can stop it.

iSbN 978-0-385-74237-5 (hardcover) iSbN 978-0-375-99060-1 (glb) iSbN 978-0-307-97523-2 (ebook) [1. Science fiction. 2. brothers and sistersFiction. 3. orphansFiction.] i. Title. PZ7.P9312St 2012 [Fic]dc23 2011040820 iSbN 978-0-385-74248-1 (trade pbk.) Rl: 5.0 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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