Brief

In 2065, Maddie McLeod has just invented teleportation, along with her teen AI robot daughter Cassie. Under the supervision of a wealthy and powerful patron, she struggles to get the device to work. When it falls into the wrong hands, she has to fight to get it back and stop if from being used for evil - specially because Cassie’s survival depends on it.

What We Liked

Exciting technology in a dystopian future with plenty of action and intrigue, with compelling characters who are in danger. While tech-filled dystopian futures are hardly a new concept, the way it is presented here - with the main story guided by people rather than gimmicks; with timeless, universal themes - makes it a great setting, as much as the scientists make for an intelligent story. The clear, compelling protagonists and antagonists drive a narrative that builds in momentum; reaching unexpected twists when the reader can’t see them coming. The lead character, Maddie, is talented, relatable and a strong presence, but we can't emphasize enough the true revelation that is her daughter Cassie - the classic, archetypical seventeen-year-old; and yet, a robot fueled by Artificial Intelligence. They're both worthy of a large fan base and carrying a possible franchise.

Key Points:

Attractive, intelligent characters - including an AI robot teenager.
Cool dystopian world, a wide universe.
Action, danger and suspense.
A new, exciting technology.
Franchise potential.

Synopsis

London, 2065. Scientist MADDIE, 40s, and her daughter CASSIE, 17, are trying to teleport an apple. It works, but again, the apple turned to mush. They work in a lab which is part of a complex owned by someone called The Patron, and robots have taken the place of people for mundane tasks. Maddie goes out for coffee with her friend ANGIE, 30s. They are members of the Supported class and work and live in an area where the Underclass are not allowed. They are also members of the Creatives and are supported by The Patron. The news reports that a Patron named Lady Jane was assassinated by her nephew who will take her place as Patron. It’s legal to kill this way, and to take the place of the Patron who has been assassinated. Back at the lab, Cassie has an idea for the teleportation experiment - and it works. The apple teleports in perfect condition. Maddie immediately gets a call from The Patron, congratulating her and summoning her to his office upstairs. She’d worked for him for 18 years and has never met him in person. The Patron, LORD ZACHARY, is a very thin man in his 40s. In his lavish office, he tells her he wants the teleportation device ready to go immediately, but she says it will take time to do more testing. He relents. He’s upgraded her housing and given her a raise. She asks about her daughter - will she be sponsored when she turns 18? He’s coy about it and she tries to hide her anger at her daughter being used as a bargaining chip. He’s also sending her an assistant even though she says she doesn’t want one. His name is THOMAS, 20s, and he took the risk of having an electronic brain upload of knowledge to become a Creative. He comes to the lab, and she and Cassie fill him in on their project and set him to work on some mathematical issues.

Maddie has coffee with Angie, and wonders if she’ll make a pass at her. They talk about the attractive new assistant, and on the way back they see a member of the Underclass who has somehow evaded detection and made it into this part of the city. He spray paints a large black O on a wall and then is dragged away by police. Maddie takes Cassie to her monthly education meeting with JACK who says she’s his best student. Thomas comes up with a new algorithm for the teleportation machine and they’re able to teleport apples all over the room. Lord Zachary summons her again, demanding trials on animals soon. They teleport apples over bigger distances, but at a food distribution center, Thomas is nearly attacked by an mob of people wondering what he’s up to. He and Angie make a date to watch a soccer match. A live chicken is delivered to them at the lab, and they successfully teleport it to an outdoor location. Zachary summons her again to congratulate her, and she asks for frogs to teleport. They teleport them successfully. While Maddie is out, Cassie lets Angie in and shows her the device and teleports an apple for her. Maddie is very angry - their work is confidential and if Zachary finds out this could jeopardize Cassie’s future as a Creative. Cassie curses at her mother and tells her she’s going over to see a boy from class and will sleep with him. Maddie goes home that night and finds her place has been broken into and it’s a mess. The next day, Lord Zachary tells her he will assign a guard to her and Thomas. He’s okay that Angie knows about the experiment because he employs her and trusts her. He wants her to hurry with testing the smaller teleportation device she’s working on. Its base is a yoga-type mat that can be rolled up. She and Thomas call Cassie, who’s at a boxing club in the Underclass part of town. Alarmed, Maddie and Thomas take the old underground tube to find her. She’s in the ring and fights another girl, but then tries to leave with her mom and Thomas. Suspicious Underclass people threaten them and they run for a door. They get blocked by a man, and Cassie takes out the teleportation mat and teleports them back to the lab but the man comes too. Maddie admits to the suprised man, called The Blacksmith, that she’s invented teleportation. He invites her on a date and says he hopes Cassie comes back to his gym - he thinks she’s a good fighter. He has a hacked “comm patch” which is a device everyone uses to get information about each other, including which class they belong in. He learns their names from his device and leaves them. Cassie goes to another boy’s house whom she intends to sleep with for help with her school work. Thomas asks if Cassie is anorexic but Maddie ignores him. On her way home she sees The Blacksmith standing ominously in the street.

At her appointment with Jack the next morning, they discuss Cassie. She was given to Maddie at age six by Lord Zachary and Jack says she is outperforming all of the other non-humans. Cassie is an AI robot, called an ACE (Authentic Child Experience). Jack tells her that Lord Zachary plans to terminate ACEs when they turn 18. Maddie is horrified. Her mind goes over the possibilities of escaping somewhere with Cassie, or blackmailing Lord Zachary with her work. She teleports a frog to a surprised colleague named MICHAEL who is far away in Cardiff. When she tries this with three other European colleagues farther away, they get dead frogs squashed against their walls and are none too pleased. RHONDA in Paris reveals she is also working on teleportation for Lord Zachary. Maddie is pissed. She gets a call from the police - Thomas was found dead in Rome, smashed against the Coliseum. He had no record of a flight to Rome but must have teleported from Rome to London. Maddie pretends she doesn’t know how he could have gotten there. When she tells Angie, Angie kicks her out thinking his death must be related to her work. She tells Lord Zachary about Thomas’s death and he coldly responds that he’ll bring back the body and see to his family. He tells her about the “rules” he is operating under. He has a competition with others of his ilk - to assign their best Creatives tasks that seem impossible. Human immortality, cures for cancer and the common cold, human flight, telekinesis, and telepathy. She conveys her anger that this is just a game to him. He scolds her for her insolence, and goes on to explain that he was born into immense wealth after the global financial crisis when corporations took over the government. All he has that is interesting to him is this competition. Maddie receives a call from The Blacksmith. He warns her that a large gang is trying to steal her teleportation device. He says he’s concerned because he likes her. She teleports another frog to Cardiff where it materializes unharmed. Cassie thinks the dead frogs - and Thomas - were teleported with a vector that cause them to be smashed against walls. She goes over ideas to fix the problem with the teleporter but is stumped. Cassie solves the mystery - the long distance teleports send things at a high speed because of the earth’s rotation.

The Blacksmith calls her from his gym where Cassie went to train - she’s been kidnapped by a group called the Gang of Four who call her and tell her to bring the teleportation device to Piccadilly Circus and they’ll tell her where Cassie is being kept. The Blacksmith picks her up in a Lamborghini that he “borrowed” from Lord Zachary. They find Cassie, but are confronted by thugs led by... Angie. She takes the device after a scuffle and let’s them all go. Jack and Lord Zachary had come to find Cassie, and they go back to the lab with Maddie and The Blacksmith. Zachary surmises that Lord Garth is behind it all since he’s rumored to have nefarious dealings, and this is confirmed by a news message that he has been killed, smashed against the wall in some far away place. When they get to the lab, Angie appears and shoots Lord Zachary dead. Angie takes over his empire, as is the law of assassination. Angie has been using the teleportation device to murder people, and Maddie wants it back. With Cassie and The Blacksmith, they go up to what was Lord Zachary’s office where Angie now resides, and confront her. She won’t give back the device, and has a guard with her. After a scuffle, Cassie, Angie and her henchman teleport...somewhere. Dazed from the fight, Maddie wakes up in her office where Jack is. She has no idea where to find Cassie, and takes over in Lord Zachary’s office, making sure no one actually sees her. Cassie calls finally - she teleported to Lake Michigan where the impact of using the device for such a long distance killed Angie and her henchman. She swam to shore, unaffected physically since she is a robot.

The Blacksmith tells Maddie he wants a relationship with her, and she agrees but says she wants a relationship with Jack as well and The Blacksmith agrees to the arrangement. So does Jack. Cassie and Maddie call the Chief Inspector to report Angie’s death by Cassie, who will become the new Patron. She vows to end the class disparities.

About The Author

Kevin Berry's work is known for its high stakes and dramatic action. He's won multiple writing awards and has met with critical success.