In the year 2163 a corrupt World Government controls everything on our planet and beyond.
Sixteen year-old Sierra has been so caught up in her own world of saving animal test subjects and her father’s disappearance, she hasn’t paid much attention. When she finally finds his location, she and her friend set off on a covert interplanetary mission to rescue him, she begins to see the corruption first hand.
Discovering that her father has been on the front lines secretly trying to save human test subjects inspires her to join a revolution. But she is afraid of the collateral damage of hurting the people she loves. Will she find the strength to make a deal with the mad scientist Cromwell to save not just her friends and family but everyone?
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Then the vulture does something else completely unexpected. It rubs its head against my hand. Despite my consternation, I do the only thing natural when an animal shows affection this way. It did just save me. I pet it, not like a dog tousling the fur, but like a cat, stroking down so that I don’t ruffle its feathers. The black eyes study me and I swear its beak opens slightly as if showing happiness. I’ve always wanted a pet, but Mom believes they’re full of germs. I wonder if this is what it would’ve been like.
A snap sounds about twenty feet away. I look up to see that Rigled has released the chain whip from his belt. Luckily, the Vortex government has banned guns. I surprise myself by moving to stand between Rigled and the vulture. My brain seems void of all common sense, as if adrenaline has taken over my thoughts. Before Rigled can make another move, I hear the strong flapping and fluttering of the vulture flying off.
“Why did you interfere? I had the beast within my reach,” Rigled yells at me.
“She just saved me. She wasn’t going to cause any harm,” I answer.
As I spot the vulture flying off, its head turns around and issues a nasty hiss in Rigled’s direction. When I turn back, I see two guards in front of me instead of one.
Excerpted from Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen, Copyright © 2021 by Stephanie Hansen. Published by Fire and Ice Young Adult Books.
Ends September 22, 2021
