Fractures in Stillwater

David "Davy" Rice and his wife Millie are living a life of uneasy privilege, thanks to Davy's unique ability to teleport ("jump"). Their marriage is under strain: Millie wants children, but Davy, haunted by his abusive childhood and the dangers of his power, resists. Their argument is interrupted when Davy is summoned for a covert errand by his NSA handler, Brian Cox. Millie, left alone, reflects on her dependence and isolation, and the cost of living in Davy's shadow. When Davy fails to return, Millie's frustration turns to fear, and she is forced to confront her own agency and the possibility that something has gone terribly wrong.

The Snatch and the Trap

Davy is ambushed in Washington, D.C., drugged, and kidnapped in a violent, well-coordinated operation that leaves his handler dead. The attackers are ruthless professionals, and Davy's teleportation is neutralized by drugs and, later, physical restraints. Meanwhile, Millie, desperate to find her husband, experiences her own first, accidental jump—teleporting herself to safety in a moment of mortal danger. This revelation opens a new world of possibility and peril, as she realizes she may share Davy's gift, and that she is now a target herself.

Waiting and Wandering

Millie is caught between helpless waiting and frantic action. She is surveilled by the NSA, who are both protectors and jailers, and she is forced to go to ground as the threat to her becomes clear. Her search for Davy leads her into the underbelly of D.C., where she enlists the help of the homeless and marginalized, and forms a bond with Sojee, a mentally ill woman Davy once helped. Millie's journey is as much internal as external, as she confronts her own fears, limitations, and the reality of being hunted.

Chains and Conditioned Reflexes

Davy awakens in captivity, chained and drugged, subjected to a regime of physical and psychological conditioning. His captors surgically implant a device in his chest that punishes him with excruciating pain and loss of bodily control if he attempts to teleport beyond a defined area. The implant as leash and weapon is controlled by a radio signal, and Davy is forced to submit to a series of humiliations and punishments designed to break his will and train him to respond reflexively to the threat of pain. The experience is dehumanizing, and Davy's sense of self and agency is eroded.

Millie's Awakening

Millie, driven by necessity and emotion, learns to control her newfound ability to jump. She experiments with the mechanics of teleportation, discovering that it is tied to sensory memory and emotional intensity. Her growing mastery allows her to evade surveillance, travel the world in search of clues, and ultimately to take the offensive. Millie's journey is one of empowerment, as she transforms from a dependent spouse into an active agent in her own right.

The Box and the Bomb

Davy's captors, led by the enigmatic and ruthless Lawrence Simons and his operative Hyacinth Pope, escalate their demands. They use the threat of harm to Millie and Sojee to force Davy to perform covert operations, including the delivery of mysterious cases to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Davy deduces that the cases are bombs, intended to trigger a geopolitical crisis. Using his growing understanding of his power, he thwarts the plot by teleporting the bombs to a remote Australian beach, where they detonate harmlessly. This act of defiance marks a turning point, but also brings the full wrath of his captors upon him.

Street Angels and Shadows

Millie's search for Davy leads her to the streets, where she leverages the networks of the homeless and disenfranchised. She uncovers key witnesses to Davy's abduction and the murder of Brian Cox, and follows a trail of clues that point to a shadowy private security firm, Bochstettler and Associates, and their connection to Simons. Millie's empathy and resourcefulness allow her to gather intelligence that the authorities overlook, and she becomes a force to be reckoned with in her own right.

The Pit and the Prisoner

Millie captures Padgett, one of Davy's kidnappers, and imprisons him in a remote desert pit. She oscillates between compassion and ruthlessness as she attempts to extract information about Davy's whereabouts and the fate of Sojee. The psychological battle between captor and captive mirrors the larger struggle between agency and victimhood, and Millie is forced to confront the darkness within herself as she resorts to increasingly harsh measures.

The Web Tightens

The true scale of the conspiracy becomes apparent, as Millie and Davy realize that Simons' organization has infiltrated government agencies and uses surgically implanted devices to control its operatives. The web of surveillance, coercion, and violence is vast, and the stakes are global. Davy and Millie's efforts to resist and subvert their captors put them in ever greater danger, and the line between heroism and complicity blurs.

Twinning and Tunnels

Davy, through experimentation and desperation, discovers the ability to "twin"—to exist in two places at once, creating a persistent portal between locations. This breakthrough allows him to circumvent the limitations of his implant and opens new possibilities for escape and sabotage. The mechanics of teleportation are revealed to be more complex and powerful than previously understood, with implications for energy, matter, and the very fabric of reality.

The Vineyard Fortress

Millie traces Davy to a fortified mansion on Martha's Vineyard, owned by Simons. Using her skills and powers, she infiltrates the house, evading security and surveillance. Disguised as a maid, she orchestrates a daring rescue, freeing Sojee and preparing to extract Davy. The tension between stealth and confrontation reaches its peak as Millie navigates the labyrinth of the enemy's lair.

The Maid's Gambit

Millie's rescue of Davy is a masterclass in improvisation and courage. She uses disguise, pepper spray, and her teleportation ability to neutralize threats and free the captives. The escape triggers a cascade of chaos: Davy, using his twinning ability, floods the mansion with seawater, destroying the infrastructure that powers the implants and scattering the conspirators. The boundaries between victim and victor, order and chaos, are obliterated in the maelstrom.

Flood and Freedom

The destruction of the mansion and the disabling of the implants mark the collapse of Simons' control. Davy and Millie, battered and wounded, escape with their lives and their freedom. The aftermath is bittersweet: many of the conspirators are dead or incapacitated, but the true architects of the plot remain in the shadows. The cost of victory is high, and the trauma of captivity and violence lingers.

Aftermath and Reckoning

Davy and Millie work with the FBI to bring the surviving conspirators to justice, but the reach of Simons' organization and its connections to power ensure that many escape accountability. The legal and moral ambiguities of their actions—kidnapping, vigilantism, and the use of lethal force—haunt them. The question of whether true justice is possible in a world of hidden power remains unresolved.

The Price of Power

Davy and Millie, now both teleporters, realize that their abilities are both a gift and a curse. They are targets, not just for Simons' remnants, but for any who would seek to control or exploit their power. The necessity of secrecy and vigilance becomes a permanent condition, and the possibility of a normal life recedes.

Simons' Endgame

Davy and Millie confront Simons, only to discover that he, too, is a puppet—controlled by the same implant technology he used on others. In a final act of defiance, Simons triggers his own death rather than be interrogated. The true architects of the conspiracy remain hidden, and the cycle of power and control is revealed to be deeper and more insidious than they imagined.

New Beginnings

In the aftermath, Davy and Millie retreat to a remote cabin, determined to build a new life together. The trauma of their ordeal lingers, but so does the hope of renewal. Millie reveals she has stopped taking birth control, and they contemplate the possibility of children and a future free from fear. The story ends on a note of cautious optimism, as they embrace the unknown together.

Characters

David "Davy" Rice

Davy is the world's first known teleporter, a man shaped by childhood trauma and the burden of extraordinary power. His ability to "jump" anywhere he can visualize has made him both a target and a tool for government agencies. Davy is deeply conflicted: he craves safety and connection, but is haunted by guilt, fear, and the legacy of his abusive father. His journey in Reflex is one of endurance and resistance—he is captured, tortured, and conditioned, but ultimately refuses to become a weapon for others. Davy's psychological arc is marked by the struggle to maintain agency and morality in the face of dehumanization. His relationship with Millie is both his anchor and his vulnerability, and his eventual breakthrough in teleportation mechanics is as much a triumph of will as of power.

Millie Harrison-Rice

Millie begins as Davy's wife and confidante, a therapist by training and temperament. Her initial role is supportive, but the crisis of Davy's disappearance forces her into action. Millie's psychological journey is one of awakening: she discovers her own capacity for teleportation, agency, and even ruthlessness. Her empathy and resourcefulness allow her to navigate the dangers of the conspiracy, form alliances with the marginalized, and ultimately rescue Davy. Millie's development is marked by the tension between compassion and necessity, and her transformation from dependent partner to equal and independent actor is central to the novel's themes.

Lawrence Simons

Simons is the architect of the conspiracy, a man of wealth, power, and chilling detachment. He is both puppetmaster and puppet, using surgically implanted devices to control his operatives while being controlled himself. Simons is a study in the banality of evil: urbane, polite, and utterly ruthless. His psychological profile is marked by a lack of empathy, a fixation on control, and a willingness to sacrifice anyone—including himself—for the sake of power. His ultimate fate is a testament to the self-destructive nature of absolute control.

Hyacinth Pope

Hyacinth is Simons' chief operative, a woman as much victim as villain. She is a killer, conditioned and controlled by the same implant technology she uses on others. Hyacinth's psychological complexity lies in her simultaneous agency and enslavement: she chooses to be a weapon, but is also a product of coercion and trauma. Her interactions with Davy are charged with violence, sexuality, and a desperate search for connection. Hyacinth's arc is one of self-destruction, as she is ultimately undone by the very system she serves.

Sojee Johnson

Sojee is a homeless woman with schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia, a figure on the margins of society. She is both a victim and a witness, possessing crucial information about Davy's abduction. Sojee's psychological resilience and capacity for connection make her a key ally for Millie, and her survival is a testament to the power of empathy and solidarity among the marginalized.

Brian Cox

Cox is Davy's NSA handler, a man caught between duty and compassion. He is one of the few authority figures who treats Davy as a person rather than an asset. Cox's death is a catalyst for the novel's events, and his final message to his family underscores the human cost of the shadow wars waged by those in power.

Padgett ("The Monk")

Padgett is a mercenary operative, skilled and ruthless, but ultimately expendable to his masters. His psychological profile is marked by professionalism, adaptability, and a willingness to do whatever is necessary. Padgett's fate—betrayed and killed by his own implant—illustrates the expendability of those who serve power without question.

Anders

Anders is an NSA agent tasked with monitoring Millie. He is caught between his duty to the agency and his empathy for Millie and Davy. Anders' arc is one of increasing disillusionment, as he is sidelined and ultimately suspended for refusing to betray his conscience. He represents the possibility of integrity within corrupt institutions, but also the cost of such integrity.

Becca Martingale

Becca is an FBI counterintelligence agent, persistent and pragmatic. She is one of the few law enforcement figures who believes Millie and pursues the case despite institutional resistance. Becca's psychological strength lies in her skepticism, adaptability, and refusal to be cowed by power. She serves as a bridge between the protagonists and the world of official justice.

Simons' Organization

The true antagonist of Reflex is not a single individual, but the system of control, surveillance, and violence embodied by Simons' organization. Its operatives are both agents and victims, controlled by technology and ideology. The organization's psychological profile is one of paranoia, compartmentalization, and the relentless pursuit of power at any cost.

Plot Devices

Implant as Leash and Weapon

The surgically implanted device is the central plot device, serving as both a literal leash and a tool of psychological conditioning. It enforces obedience through pain and the threat of death, and is used to control not only Davy, but all of Simons' operatives. The device is a symbol of the dehumanizing effects of power and the reduction of individuals to assets or liabilities. Its presence drives the plot, shapes character decisions, and raises questions about agency, consent, and the limits of resistance.

Twinning and Persistent Portals

Davy's discovery of "twinning"—the ability to exist in two places at once and create a persistent portal—serves as both a plot twist and a metaphor for divided identity. This device allows for new forms of escape, sabotage, and connection, and challenges the boundaries of self and space. It is used to subvert the limitations imposed by the implant and to orchestrate the destruction of the enemy's infrastructure.

Psychological Conditioning and Operant Training

The use of operant conditioning, punishment, and psychological manipulation is a recurring device, both in Davy's captivity and in the training of Simons' operatives. The narrative structure mirrors the process of breaking and remaking the self, and the tension between agency and submission is central to the story's emotional impact.

Foreshadowing and Parallelism

The novel uses foreshadowing and parallelism to draw connections between Davy and Millie, captor and captive, victim and perpetrator. The structure of the narrative—alternating between Davy's and Millie's perspectives—underscores the themes of connection, separation, and reunion. The use of recurring motifs (chains, boxes, pits, water) reinforces the sense of entrapment and the longing for freedom.

Moral Ambiguity and the Limits of Justice

The plot is driven by moral ambiguity: the protagonists are forced to commit acts of violence, deception, and even torture in the name of survival and justice. The resolution is partial and fraught: the true architects of the conspiracy remain hidden, and the cost of victory is high. The narrative structure resists easy closure, leaving the reader with questions about the nature of power, the possibility of justice, and the price of freedom.

Analysis

Reflex is a high-concept thriller that uses the mechanics of teleportation as a metaphor for trauma, agency, and the struggle for autonomy in a world of surveillance and control. At its core, the novel is about the fight to remain human in the face of dehumanizing power—whether that power is wielded by governments, corporations, or the ghosts of one's own past. The story's dual protagonists, Davy and Millie, embody the tension between vulnerability and resilience, dependence and self-determination. Their journeys—marked by captivity, awakening, and reunion—mirror the psychological processes of breaking and healing, and the narrative's structure reinforces the themes of connection and separation. The use of technology as both leash and weapon is a prescient commentary on the dangers of reducing people to assets, and the novel's refusal to offer easy answers or total victory is a testament to its moral complexity. Reflex ultimately asks: What does it mean to be free, and what are we willing to risk for that freedom? The answer, the novel suggests, lies not in power, but in the courage to resist, to connect, and to hope.

Last updated: May 10, 2025