《Do No Harm》


 Dead Men Walking 1

    Life was cheap. Jhenai considered the value of her own existence as the tiny light danced along the barcode on the back of her neck. It came with a tingle and a pit in her stomach.


    After the sensation faded, she turned around and stared ahead. Her right eye met the light next, then her left. She needed a moment for her irises to refocus again.


    "Bring the skirt higher," a voice said in her ear.


    Her ample bosom was already threatening to fall out of this ancient skin-tight top. But when she failed to comply, the red light appeared in her line of vision once more.


    Therefore, she swallowed down her reservation and hiked up the black skirt.


    She supposed this was the value put on her life¡ªthe price of this outfit.


    Behind her, the door to the cylinder slid open. That wasn''t necessarily a means of escape.


    "Prisoner one four six requesting reactivation," she begged.


    A voice pounded in her right ear. "Twenty-four hours granted."


    That gave her pause. She bit back a grunt and tried to engage the voice again. "Prisoner one four six requests clarification. I was permitted forty-eight hours previously."


    "And previously, you failed."


    Never mind the humiliating outfit or the awful and vivid color of the light blue top that would make her stand out like a very easy target, this time''s allotment was cruel.


    "Prisoner one four six requests a reevaluation. I was previously granted forty-eight hours. That is a set time."


    Silence.


    Once she exited, there would be no means of negotiation.


    He was being stubborn. That gave her hope. "Hal, hon¡ª"


    "Your fixation with this corpse is strange. Referring to me as honey one more time will result in a harassment complaint, thus extending your sentence. You''ve been warned. Now get out."


    Jhenai waited, scrambling for a counter argument.


    Finally, she said, "If you were just a corpse, you wouldn''t care how I refer to you."


    When Hal didn''t answer, she allowed herself a smile.


    Her arm tingled and she examined her right wrist to see the numbers rise momentarily instead of drop as her sentence dwindled.


    Six months. He''d added six months.


    "That''s petty." Twenty-four hours. She couldn''t extend her arm far in the all-white cylinder but she managed to type on her right forearm, entering in the second countdown. "I accept the terms." She asked, "Who is my tether?"


    "You get no tether."


    Jhenai gasped.


    Panic flooded her until Hal added, "But your husband is on the other side of this assignment."


    The blue top ended above her navel, the skirt started below, both less than ideal for the tethering belt. Rather than dwell on the aesthetics, she did something ill-advised and brought the black tethering band around her left wrist.


    "Leave the shoes," Hal informed her.


    She''d figured as much.


    Once she turned to face the open door, she asked, "Did you get my gift?"


    Her arm tingled again and she looked down to see the number rise. Only a day.


    The absurdity of it all made her scoff.


    From the black band on her right wrist, she tugged a small dot which extended into a thin wire. It could tether to anything. Almost anything.


    One step took her out of her cell and into a frigid morning. Immediately, she clutched the silver railing on the hallway wall. In her left hand, she slid the wire along the metal banister as she inched down the corridor. Several people in heavy boots and proper clothing stomped past her. One or two glanced her way. A tethered couple nearly paused before her until the man shook his head to his companion and they walked on.


    Getting to the proper room took thirty minutes out of her precious twenty-four hours.


    When she finally reached the hall to see the lone guard dressed in yellow, she let out a held breath.


    "Nai!" Caleb rushed her, grabbing for the wire. "That prick. He did it on purpose. They said someone''d tether you."


    Hal was playing tricks. Good.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Caleb shoved the wire into the belt around his waist. Jhenai stood to her full height. Their pace became a bit better.


    "Take it easy," Caleb soothed. "In fact, let me carry you."


    "No. That''s too risky. Let''s just get into the room."


    Forty minutes. Wasted.


    Once the main lab door closed, Jhenai let out a sigh.


    The silver tethering wire snaked back to the black band affixed to her wrist.


    "I''m telling you," Caleb complained, "it''s not right. None of this is fair."


    Jhenai held his face and he calmed. Getting him worked up wouldn''t help anyone.


    "How is our hero?" she asked.


    The once busy reanimation lab now sported a skeleton crew. Other than the two of them, three doctors remained.


    Now that she could walk freely, Jhenai rushed to the cryo-bed and peered down at the messy brown hair and pale face.


    Caleb joined her, putting his left hand on the small of her back. "Though I can''t complain about the outfit, kinda hard to ignore why you''ve got it on."


    Jhenai reminded him, "Hal said it gave off the best results."


    "Sure, he did." The stubble of his shallow beard brushed against her skin as he put his chin to rest on her shoulder. "I still can''t believe...this is the guy."


    This was the guy. The one responsible for their entire world. Their entire existence. As of now, the only person alive worth anything.


    So when Caleb snapped his fingers and a blade slipped from his wrist, which he caught, Jhenai held his hand.


    Caleb met her gaze then sighed. "I''m telling you, offing him and letting an Upper consume his brain for the knowledge is a better risk."


    Jhenai took a step back, inching him away from the cryo-bed as well. "This is no time for jokes."


    The muscles of his broad body relaxed. He nodded finally, his eyes hopeful when he asked, "How long you out for?"


    She hesitated then answered, "Eight hours."


    "Fuck."


    He stomped once and the room vibrated.


    Jhenai hurried to hold his strong arms. "Shh. This assignment is the only reason for my release. Besides, eight is better than none."


    "It is none! You¡ª"


    "Sir, ma''am," a doctor called from the other side of the cryo-bed, "we''re ready to proceed."


    Jhenai followed her cue and took the lab coat handed to her. This time around she was sure to check the name badge.


    Caleb admired it. "Kinda nice seeing my last name preceded by doctor."


    The rare joy in his voice had Jhenai smiling. "Hopefully it''ll fool not just you." She slipped the coat on and began doing up the buttons.


    He caught her hand and that reminded her of the purpose of the clothing.


    "Right. I just felt a little cold." Calling on Hal in Caleb''s presence was risky, but she didn''t have a choice. "Medic Haller, has the route changed?"


    Caleb''s jaw clenched as expected.


    What Jhenai hadn''t counted on was the silence.


    Her face warmed and she tried again. "Medic Haller?"


    "Oh. So he''s there?" Hal''s voice came with amusement. "I''d reassigned him."


    Jhenai risked focusing on Caleb. At the scowl, she smiled wide. "Medic Haller says the route''s the same¡ª"


    "It''s changed to route B¡ª"


    "But I''ll change it to route B," Jhenai told those who were in her presence and not tuned into her earpiece.


    "Reanimation process commencing," one doctor announced. "In ten, nine...."


    Jhenai gave Caleb a forced smile and he understood.


    Once he stood at a distance, she brushed herself off and waited. The first stance she took didn''t feel right so she tried again. Bosom pushed out, and short skirt hiked high, she waited.


    Two blue eyes blinked awake. They became wide at first, as always, then wild with fear.


    Jhenai leaned over and greeted. "Welcome to the future!" She waited and sure enough, the spaced brows furrowed. That was also according to plan. "I am Jhenai Haller. Your personal medic."


    Someone waved a hand before her and she looked up in time to see a doctor point at his own name badge.


    Realization dawned on Jhenai who grabbed her own name tag. She''d said the wrong name.


    Though fearful, she forced herself to look down at her new charge and smile.


    "How do you feel?"


    As he scanned what he could see of his surroundings, she was discreet in unhooking the name tag. She tossed it under the cryo-bed by the time the man sat up.


    "Future?" His voice wasn''t as hoarse this time. He''d had plenty of practice. "How many years in?"


    "Roughly two hundred," she announced. But she could hear it, the panic in her tone. This was bad.


    "Calm down," Hal said. "You are instructed to proceed. A new name tag is on its way. Keep him talking." He paused then added, "You can do this, Jhen."


    A sense of warmth spread through her. It might have been a simulation that was using that nickname. That didn''t matter. It worked.


    With renewed calm, Jhenai held out a hand for the man and he stepped out of the bed naked.


    He gave her the once over then cleared his throat. "Um, could I get some clothes?"


    "Give him your coat," the voice in her head said.


    Smiling wide, Jhenai slipped from the white fabric and brought it over the man''s shoulders.


    "Would this be all right?"


    The blush was a thing of wonder.


    "Good. These are the best results so far. Get him away from the bed. Try to block the second subject. Remember. Don''t let him see¡ª"


    "Is that Evan?" The man took a shaky step but steadied. Upon seeing who was behind the glass of the next bed over, he shot toward it. "That son-of-a-bitch is here, too?"


    Jhenai jumped before him, putting both hands on his chest. "Calm down. We are not allowed to destroy these pods. Only reanimate them."


    "Get him under control. Imagine he was me."


    Hal''s words gave her pause but she regained her senses and held the man''s face.


    "Focus on me. Look into my eyes and believe me when I promise you, there is no way on earth Evan Mortice, a warmonger, is getting reanimated."


    In time, the man calmed but met her gaze. "Then why keep him?"


    Jhenai hesitated.


    Hal''s voice pounded in her ears. "Tell him the truth for now."


    "Because he''s as responsible for making us as you are, sir. We cannot deny that."


    The man took a step back, stunned. "What? It¡ªit worked? It''s stable?"


    Jhenai fought back her panic. She''d have to show a demonstration this time as well. But was worth the risk, especially in this room.


    She looked past him to the doctor and said, "Deactivate my implant dampener."


    When the weight of her body lifted, she needed no confirmation to know she was no longer restricted.


    The tethering coil on her arm drew her focus but that would be too difficult to explain. Instead, she took a deep breath and extended her arms.


    Once she rose off the ground, the man gasped.


    "It worked! It worked?" He rushed her and grabbed her arms.


    She was sure to land and looked past him to the doctors who immediately reengaged the dampener.


    "Amazing."


    While she allowed him to hold her arm and check her pulse, she counted down the seconds until the heavy weight returned and she could breathe easy again.


    "I''ve told you before not to do that," Hal chided.


    He had. Again and again but those were the only times where the subject believed quickly. With just eight hours to spare, she needed his trust fast.


    "Wow," he marveled, scanning the meager crowd. "So everyone''s a superhero now? Everyone?"


    Jhenai forced a smile but it couldn''t amount to much. "Well...yes. We are." The virtual Implant was supposed to be a revolutionary breakthrough; for a time, it was. "But everyone having superpowers wasn''t quite what anyone expected. You are the last human alive without one. And we need you to save us."

 Expectations 2

    Reality versus expectations. That was never something Evan was good at. All facets of his life were perfect. He''d made his millions, on his way to making billions when the world came crumbling down. And it all fell, thanks to a dog.


    "Come on, buddy, let''s go," Evan cooed but it was to no avail. Buster, his mixed lab, far too old and heavy now to even walk much less run, looked up at him with pain in her eyes. "No. Come on. We''ve gotta go."


    Getting her this far in this secure a facility was already a James Bond-esque feat.


    It was no use so he resolved to pick her up and carry her. "Come on. I''m not leaving you."


    Up ahead, yet another one of his expectations turned sad reality came into focus, Amber, his wife.


    She waved him on. When he was close enough, the way she eyed Evan''s dog wasn''t something he took a liking to.


    "Ev, baby, are we taking the dog? You told me we couldn''t. I even left Coco behind!"


    Coco was a rat masquerading as a dog. Anything that could be carried in a purse, Evan decided, was no pet. That was an accessory.


    "We can take her," Evan insisted. "It''s already too late."


    Amber, sans the makeup was his reality. With where they were headed, she also had to stop bleaching her hair so now it was a dingy brown mess. The ''extensions'' were gone, too. When he''d met her, she was a half-decent C-cup, then a D thanks to his money. But now that, too, was gone. Every ''unnatural'' alteration had to go.


    He reached past her to type his password into the keypad but it came back rejected.


    "It''s okay." Amber did the honors and the gigantic doors slid open. "Top clearance."


    Evan was impressed. "Baby, you''re amazing."


    Still, she didn''t look all that pleased as she hurried in. Two rows of cryo-beds stretched out before them. Some were inhabited and all were expensive.


    They hurried down until they found three empty ones in a row.


    "Here," Evan said. But as he put his dog down and hurried to examine the silver tube, Amber didn''t follow suit. "What?" he asked her.


    "Baby," Amber''s voice quivered "you don''t know the shit I had to do to get these keycards. Two was hard enough. I didn''t get a third."


    Evan stood to his full height. He turned to her so slowly he appeared possessed. "What?"


    Amber''s eyes held fear and something else; anger. "Six guys. Six guys and I won''t go into any fucking details, Evan. Six. It''d take two more to get another card."


    He wanted to scream at her but there was no point. They were already in the shitter just by being here.


    Staring past her, he considered their options. Finally, the thought came to him. "All right. They were designed to sustain two people. We''ll put her in one and you and me share."


    Amber''s mouth fell open. "What?"


    But Evan was already in motion. He selected the closest pod and tapped on it. Nothing happened. He banged the glass but with how strong these things were, strength that he himself had requested, there was no getting in.


    He turned to Amber and demanded, "Give me a keycard."


    She refused. "Can we both fit?"


    Evan stared at her for some time. "We''ll fit. I told you, I requested the specs on these. Two of us in there will shorten the time but we''ll be fine." She wasn''t going to budge so he played to his strengths: the feigned romantic. "Besides, if anything happened and these things got bombed or something, one of us could end up coming outta this all alone. You wouldn''t want that, would ya?"


    At first silent, Amber relented and said, "You''re right."


    "Good."


    Evan snatched the card held out and put it against the pod. The seal broke and he picked Buster up and eased her in. "There you go, baby. You rest up. On the other side of the century, they''ll fix you right up."


    Amber was already changing out of her clothes when Evan turned to her.


    She was still skinny at least, but wow, seeing her in her natural state was a bummer.


    The lights flashed red and Evan remembered how precious little time they had. A hundred years of sleep or jail, it was a pretty easy option.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Ten minutes later, after his dog was securely asleep, they climbed into one pod together. It was a tight fit but Amber wore a smile.


    "I hope it''s a good future," Amber said.


    Evan slowed as he sat. "What?"


    "Well, how do we know it''s not all dystopian or something, babe? But at least we''ll be together. Think of it. You and me, tasked with repopulating the world. We could end up being the last two people."


    She lay back but Evan was a bit slower in joining her.


    "Think of it, baby," Amber gushed, "they''re gonna come in here and see you fuck them over one last time."


    Her forehead snuggled close to him, she grinned.


    Evan lay back, looking up at the glass.


    "And this is a good idea. That way, we''ll always be together."


    She reached up to pull it closed but his hand moved on its own, stopping her.


    Panic pulsed through Evan and he fought to calm. She was right. What if it was a hellscape on the other end of this? They could be all that was left.


    A thought flew into his head and he asked, "Hey, did you pee?"


    Amber leaned away despite their cramped space. "Pee? Does that matter."


    "Yeah," he said, "cause we''ll be sleeping for so long." The way she fell silent made him sigh. "Just go right now."


    "Go? Go where? This is a cryo-chamber. There''s no bathroom."


    "Then go on the floor. Who cares?" At her shock, Evan groaned. "Are we seriously going to die in this thing because you feel shy?"


    Amber hesitated then saw reason. "I¡ªI guess you''re right. But we don''t have much time."


    "Go on."


    "But¡ª"


    Her eyes gravitated to the keycard in his hand and he gave it to her for assurance. "I''ll wait for you. Here."


    Without hesitation, she snatched it, climbed out, and fell to the floor.


    Evan sat up and said, "Do it by the door so it won''t touch the pods."


    "I can''t believe I''m doing this!"


    Neither could Evan. He lay back, stared at the ceiling, and thought about how he''d rather spend his last days on earth should the world have come to an end in a hundred years. Buster was already sixteen, she wasn''t going to last much longer. Still, it was enough. Amber was thirty-five, she''d last years and years. Her and her flabby chest.


    He reached up and yanked the glass closed and the seal locked.


    The sleep process took a few minutes to kick in but there was a sterile silence. Amber''s face came into view sometime later.


    She wore a look of confusion at first, then shock when she realized his trick. The keycard in her hand gave no yield.


    That, too, was another part of the design Evan''d requested. Once closed, time became the key. A hundred years had to pass at the minimum to allow it to open. She could bang and bang away at the glass, which she did, it wouldn''t matter.


    Her face was red, spewing all sorts of colorful swears Evan could no longer hear.


    A hundred years could mean anything. It could mean paradise or hell, either way, it was him and Buster and that''d be all right.


    Goodbye, Amber, because as the glass grew blurry, so did Evan''s vision.


    <figure>


    </figure>


    Evan Mortice opened his eyes to the sight of a beautiful flushed face. Full parted lips, pixie cut black hair, dark eyes, bronze skin, slender neck, and a sizeable pair of tits.


    This bitch looked man-made.


    "Hello," she announced. "My name is Jhenai Cowel. I am your personal medic. Welcome to the future."


    Evan''s head pounded. His mouth tasted like sand. Bright lights blinded him from all directions. It took a good amount of time before he could see that face again. He wanted to see her.


    With one more blink, she zipped back into focus.


    "It''s no good," the woman called. "Caleb. It''s no good."


    Something exploded above her head and she was gone.


    "I''ve got my tether around him!" Jhenai yelled.


    A gruff voice said, "Then go. I''ve got these two."


    Evan started to move. He still lay on his back and the world above resembled a warzone. It wasn''t open sky, however, but a building. That gave little comfort.


    Distant gunfire, he assumed gunfire, closed in. Around his chest, a belt pulled him tight. He could at least look down to see that he was wearing a white lab coat.


    Another explosion had Evan closing his eyes.


    "Jhen!" Caleb shouted.


    Someone ducked down. "I''m okay. How are you doing?"


    "We''re losing blood but I''m keeping them off the ground. Let''s move."


    "Hello," a jovial voice said.


    Evan wasn''t sure of its source but managed to turn his head to the left. Directly on the wall, a pasty-faced, red-headed young man smiled at him. It looked like a mannequin projected against the white surface.


    "Are you in need of medical assistance?" it asked.


    Both the man and the woman shouted, "No!"


    "Shit," Caleb said, "it''s awake. Keep moving before the medics get involved."


    Perhaps Jhenai did just that because Evan was in motion again. It was a slow and laborious journey. She was pulling him.


    Another explosion came, much closer.


    Evan wasn''t sure where he was or what this was but that face came with them on their journey.


    "Hello," it said, "are you in need of medical assistance?"


    No one answered so Evan stared up again. Shock made him flinch. He wasn''t sure what he was seeing. It looked like a woman, dressed in a nice jumpsuit...crawling on the ceiling.


    When she turned to face him, her body remained affixed to the wall. The bitch''s head simply rotated.


    Evan opened his mouth but a scream didn''t come out. He couldn''t move but he twisted and willed his muscles to react.


    "A¡ªa¡ªa!" was all he could manage.


    "Is he talking?"


    Jhenai hurried to his side. "I don''t know." She loomed over him then froze and swallowed hard. "He''s looking up."


    "What?" Caleb took time answering. "Shit."


    "Um...what do I do?"


    "Don''t move. And whatever you do, don''t take off that tether."


    What Evan witness was beyond his imagination. The woman on the ceiling remained there but her neck started to grow. It was a pretty face she wore at a distance but as she closed in, a row of jagged teeth came with it.


    "I can''t let them go," Caleb screamed.


    Jhenai closed her eyes and whispered, "It''s okay. I don''t mind going this way."


    Panic surged through Evan but he couldn''t will his body to run. The head closed in. It looked reminiscent of a snake, in more ways than one, as the large mouth opened, hovering just above Jhenai''s head.


    "Hello," the happy voice returned and said, "are you in need of medical assistance?"


    Jhenai trembled.


    Evan on the other hand, turned to the face on the wall and screamed though it came out in a whisper, "Yes."


    The snake woman froze. Jhenai froze.


    Caleb''s voice was all that said, "Oh shit. He''s just killed us all."


    "Thank you," the mannequin''s voice said, zipping away. "Goodbye."

 Pulsing 3

    The price of life. For Jhenai, it¡¯d been cheap thus far. Being what she was and what power she had, she¡¯d been prepped so she was utterly embarrassed at the next onset of tears as she wrapped her tether around Evan¡¯s neck and put her foot on his chest.


    ¡°Stop crying,¡± Caleb scolded. ¡°This¡¯ll work.¡±


    It wouldn¡¯t, Jhenai was sure. The Kabra on the ceiling had long since landed and pressed her back against the wall.


    Caleb had it worst, he had to hold Booker and Honn up against the wall on his back. They were a couple so at least they could cling to one another but as Honn was losing so much blood that her usual tanned skinned looked pale, Jhenai shed another tear.


    Evan Mortice stared up at her, terror in his eyes. She cared less about this short skirt and more so about strangling him properly when the time came.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this!¡± Jhenai sobbed.


    Caleb had no words to offer. Finally, he focused on her, tears in his own eyes as he struggled to be strong and brave, as was his reputation.


    ¡°It¡¯ll work. Look at him. He¡¯s an Upper. He¡¯s got nothing in him. He¡¯ll read as stable. As soon as they see him crashing, they¡¯ll close in on him and we leg it. You don¡¯t even look back; you just run and get into the cell.¡±


    The more he spoke, the harder Jhenai¡¯s tears fell. ¡°But my cells ages away. I won¡¯t make it and you won¡¯t with those two.¡±


    Caleb was a soldier before a husband. Always.


    ¡°Hey! What good is all this if you¡¯re going to be the death of four fucking people?¡± He barked, ¡°If it was your precious Hal, you would find the strength. Now snap the fuck out of it! Suck it up and get ready to off this guy.¡±


    Jhenai¡¯s hands trembled and she gripped the tethering belt tighter. It was slippery from her sweat so she wrapped it around one hand then the other to keep her hold sure. The moment she began to ease her foot against Evan¡¯s chest, he tensed up.


    For anyone with any common sense, this rare lifeline would have been a gift from beyond. Medics zoned in on otherwise strong subjects. A weak or corrupt patient, they¡¯d leave for dead. The more potential in the injured, the more medics converged. Caleb wasn¡¯t stupid and he was absolutely right¡­if he had someone with the guts to do what was necessary. One life for four. It was as simple as that.


    ¡°Slow,¡± Caleb instructed, ¡°do it too fast and It¡¯ll be a waste. Easy.¡±


    Red lights high above flashed against Evan¡¯s confused face. They started to dim, indicating that the medics had reached their platform. Now it was an orange glow, meshing with Evan¡¯s bluing skin as the tethering belt squeezed his neck closed.


    Jhenai tasted the sweat slipping down her brow past her nose. Burnt cinder and concrete filled her lungs with each slow breath she took, while simultaneously stopping this man¡¯s.


    This was surprisingly easy and her vision blurred the further along she got.


    Evan¡¯s hands flew up to his collar and Jhenai screamed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let him go, Nai!¡± Caleb ordered.


    ¡°But he¡¯s fully viable.¡±


    The alarm lights turned green.


    Caleb cursed. ¡°Keep pulling.¡±


    Evan gasped and gag. His entire body became animated, and he struggled to take the belt off.


    Though his lips were dry and chapped, one word came from his mouth as he fought to live, ¡°Mama¡­¡±


    Jhenai let go.


    Caleb yelled, ¡°Fuck! We¡¯ve been through this. It means nothing. People in their final moments cry out like that. There¡¯s nothing deep about it.¡±


    The lights dimmed from green to yellow.


    Life or death, a man crying out for his mother as his soul dissolved out of him was beyond her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Jhenai didn¡¯t dare look at her husband, but she kept a hold on the tethering belt, no longer yanking it, hoping that would be enough.


    Evan¡¯s adrenaline spike vanished; he fell limp yet again. His chest heaved up and down so fast Jhenai feared he¡¯d die on his own.


    ¡°Pst.¡± A voice came from across the hall.


    Jhenai met Caleb¡¯s gaze. The warning there was one she took. She was already causing enough trouble, talking to a Kabra would be the last straw.


    ¡°Lasas. Hey,¡± the woman once on the ceiling hissed. ¡°Lasas!¡±


    Caleb, arms spread, still bracing the couple against the wall, gave her his attention.


    Jhenai sighed with relief.


    ¡°Rest assured, dirtbag,¡± Caleb said, ¡°I¡¯ve got fifteen years of viability left. I will get out of this. I will get a hold of you, and I will literally, not figuratively, rip your g¡¯damn head off.¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice, no longer strong and threatening, quivered. ¡°Fifteen? Well, I¡¯ve got ten. We just need thirty. Look, that body you¡¯re trying to use as a decoy, if he¡¯s really an Upper, a proper one, he¡¯s got a least thirty on his own. Your lovely lady there must have at least ten, right? Just let me come over there to you, we¡¯ll all stick close together. So long as we don¡¯t move, it won¡¯t know who¡¯s low and who¡¯s high. It¡¯ll read us collectively. That¡¯s how we get by down where I¡¯m from. What¡¯do you say?¡±


    Caleb set his gaze on Jhenai again.


    Neither of them spoke. It wasn¡¯t an ingenious plan. In fact, it was a common trick done often in the poor areas. Two years ago, the medics were upgraded to counter this habit. Jhenai would know, she personally authored that program.


    Everything in her said to share that truth but when she focused on Honn and Booker who were barely holding on, then to Evan Mortice, something came over her.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Jhenai said. ¡°I left a loophole in that program. It¡¯ll work. Evan Mortice will make it possible. He may give us an infinite amount of life points.¡±


    Caleb wasn¡¯t convinced. That was unlike him, but it spoke of how unreliable Jhenai had been lately. He pondered the words until the first airlock sounded.


    The Kabra panicked. ¡°Come on, Lasas! Do you want to get wasted?¡±


    All color vanished from the lights and the hall illuminated. The medics had arrived.


    Jhenai shed another tear and Caleb sighed. ¡°Come and put your back against me. You put that body between you and that Kabra. If she even coughs in your direction, you kick her ass into the hall and let her get wasted.¡±


    The Kabra hurried to them but Jhenai jumped to her feet.


    ¡°Not so fast. Show me your life points.¡±


    ¡°What¡ªwhat? Is this even the time?¡±


    ¡°Do it,¡± Caleb barked.


    Another airlock sounded and the Kabra swallowed hard. She said, ¡°Fine. I lied. I ain¡¯t got ten years¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re using your powers freely. Yeah, no shit you don¡¯t,¡± Caleb admonished. ¡°But how many, because if it¡¯s less than a year¡¯s worth, you can fuck off.¡±


    They remained there for what felt like light years before the Kabra gave up.


    She no longer tried to approach. In fact, she took a step back and hung her head.


    Jhenai could hardly stand it. ¡°How many you got?¡± she asked.


    Her words were ignored at first before the woman shrugged, embarrassed. ¡°Ten months.¡±


    Caleb scoffed, ¡°Fuck off. Nai, get over here. The rest of us can make thirty easy. If that coma guy can give us another, that¡¯ll be more than enough.¡±


    The final airlock sounded and the dummy medic zipped into view on the wall behind the Kabra. As always, it was cheerful as it sang, ¡°Dear injured, do not fear, help has arrived. Please be so kind as to line up single file. Remember, the medics are the final authority. Their job is to help those who are viable. If, for some reason, you are not selected for rescue, please do not panic and jeopardize others who are more viable. And remember, all life is precious, and our medics main priority is to ¡®do no harm.¡¯ Should they waste resources on non-viable citizens, they risk the lives of others irresponsibly. Therefore, anyone with less than twenty years of life will be overlooked for help. Anyone below a year will be considered a casualty and receive the mercy of euthanasia. We are ever so honored that you¡¯d put your faith in us here at Mortice Inc. Thank you. Goodbye.¡±


    It zipped away and vanished. Jhenai focused on the Kabra. Without thinking, she yanked the woman to her and Caleb voiced his disagreement.


    ¡°Fucking hell, Nai!¡±


    Jhenai ignored him and instead dragged her to Caleb. She at least did as Caleb instructed, putting Evan Mortice between her and the Kabra, which was no easy feat because he was dead weight. The moment the woman held Evan Mortice from the front, hugging him while gripping Jhenai¡¯s shoulders, Jhenai in turn followed suit. Together, they held the limp body up.


    ¡°Thank you for this.¡± The woman faced her as the final door opened, tears in her eyes. She whispered, ¡°Thank you so much. I¡¯m real sorry about¡­about the trying to kill you thing. It wasn¡¯t nothing personal. Yeah?¡±


    She gave what amounted to a smile but Jhenai couldn¡¯t smile back.


    ¡°My names Kai, by the way. What¡¯s yours?¡±


    Jhenai didn¡¯t dare answer. What she had were questions, a myriad of them. ¡°Who hired you? Who were you sent to kill? Where is Milo?¡±


    The ground shook and Caleb¡¯s body stiffened. ¡°Everybody shut up¡­.¡±


    Whenever cyborgs were around, the air reeked of oil and fuel. Their massive size required expert maintenance. A large cyborg, sporting a smokey dark gray armor from head to toe, emerged from the hallway. It was one of the older models. Jhenai cursed under her breath.


    Caleb noticed. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Barron.¡±


    ¡°Barron?¡± Caleb whispered, ¡°Well, that¡¯s nice. I¡¯m glad your pet project is going to get your name in the books. At the expense of our bodies, of course.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve seen this model,¡± Kai assured them. ¡°Just so long as you get those two closer to you, It¡¯ll see it as single file.¡±


    Caleb shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t move. I move and they touch the floor and their power activates and they die.¡±


    Barron was top-of-the-line. Instead of the shiny blue tint associated with the newer models, his gray armor set him apart from all others. His original project produced five dark gray cyborgs. All the others were now gone. But that wasn¡¯t the spectacular part. Despite his owner¡¯s body having died five years now, it still ran well. Therefore, Barron was nicked name The Reaper. A cyborg with a dead body inside it, now too integrated with the tech to ever be removed safely, that kept to its mechanical functions without trouble. His kind was so rare that no one dared try to dismantle him.


    He¡¯d taken to the last upgrade, too, as Jhenai was fascinated by his programming.


    Barron walked past them, a thundering step mixed with hissing hydraulics.


    A reddish cyborg was next. More of a helper than a real threat. Two egg-shaped drones hovered by, following the two medics in case they needed supplies¡­or ammo.


    Collectively, Jhenai and company sighed with relief.


    The next emergency hatch at the other end of the hall opened though no one dared look.


    When silence drifted between them for some time, Kai was the first to laugh.


    ¡°Halt,¡± Barron¡¯s voice boomed.


    Kai lost color. Her eyeballs rolled to the side to find the gray armor incredibly close.


    Barron¡¯s visor flashed red.


    A light danced before Kai and she looked herself up and down. It lingered on her for ages before traveling over to Evan. Once it reached Caleb and the two people he held hoisted off the floor, it traveled back again.


    On Caleb¡¯s wall, the dummy medic sounded, though Jhenai didn¡¯t look.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± it said. ¡°What a lovely surprise. One hundred and twenty years assessed.¡±


    Caleb cursed.


    Jhenai swallowed hard. It was too high. Now, instead of causing the medics to ignore them, it garnered unneeded attention.


    ¡°Interesting. Hello there, are you standing single file? We are reading several heartbeats in one area. Please be so kind as to move apart.¡±


    Jhenai¡¯s legs trembled, or rather, she thought it was hers but came to find that it was Caleb who shivered.


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Unacceptable. This is Caleb Cowel, second regiment. I¡¯m holding two lab techs who are prone to super-speed. They¡¯ve lost their tethers in the explosion and should I release them, they¡¯ll activate. We cannot move apart.¡±


    The dummy medic¡¯s sing-song voice returned. ¡°Two? But there¡¯s more.¡±


    Caleb cleared his throat, but it was Jhenai who answered, ¡°Jhenai Cowel, prisoner one-four-six, I¡¯m engaged as well. should I release, I don¡¯t come back down. We cannot separate.¡±


    Evan faced the Kabra but he turned his head and squeaked out, ¡°Prisoner?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± said the dummy medic on the wall. For a long moment, nothing happened. Barron didn¡¯t move even an inch. ¡°Very well, collective assessment engaged. Please remain still.¡±


    The next scanning light was blue, and it resulted in a beep.


    ¡°We detect a Kabra militant¡ª¡±


    ¡°No sir,¡± Caleb chimed, his voice breaking. ¡°It¡¯s someone fresh out of stasis. Please try again.¡±


    Silence.


    Finally, the dummy medic said, ¡°One hundred twenty years reassessed. High cholesterol lowers it to one hundred and fifteen. Probability of heart disease detected. One hundred. Sexually transmitted disease found. Ninety years.¡±


    Jhenai met eyes with the Kabra, and Kai shook her head. In unison, they both looked down at the man tucked between them, Evan Mortice.


    To his credit, Evan Mortice had the grace to blush.


    ¡°Second venereal disease detected. Seventy years assessed. Third¡­.¡±


    Evan Mortice cleared his throat when the list started.


    Kai¡¯s disgust shown through.


    ¡°¡­And genital warts. My, my, you truly are a man out of time,¡± the dummy medic said. ¡°Possible quarantine required.¡±


    ¡°Quarantine?¡± Kai gasped.


    Barron picked his head up and activated. The red light on his visor returned and Kai looked herself over.


    The gap between her and Evan wasn¡¯t much but a tin voice came. ¡°Assessment complete. Ten months. Declaration: wasted.¡±


    Kai¡¯s lips parted and she focused on Jhenai and let out a cry as a ray of light struck her and she burned so fast she turned to ash before them.


    Even Caleb was disbelieving. ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Jhenai backed up further into him. She trembled when she risked looking down at her right hand. She¡¯d used her tethering belt to keep Evan Mortice upright, wrapped together with her.


    Caleb caught the number on Jhenai¡¯s arm. ¡°Eight. Eights fine. He¡¯ll just leave us alone. You heard the new upgrades.¡± He nodded back to the two he held up. ¡°Let¡¯s go ahead and turn ourselves in. These two are getting weaker.¡±


    But from his angle he couldn¡¯t see what she could. It wasn¡¯t eight years. It wasn¡¯t even eight months.


    Eight weeks.


    Her life was worth eight weeks.


    Barron marched back. Each step he took had Jhenai¡¯s body shivering.


    Once the cyborg stopped before her, she looked up at it. All her life flashed before her and she thought of only one word. ¡°Mama¡­.¡±

 Machines 4

    Evan Mortice trusted few women¡ªand none that could talk, not even his own mother.


    That went double for this bitch who tried to choke him just moments earlier. Now that he could understand his situation, he opened and closed his mouth often in an attempt to speak, but it was to no avail.


    He was in the future. The stasis had worked. And the damn superpowers had gone south just like Theresa¡¯d warned. From what he could tell from the big machine scanning him with blue light instead of red, the virtual implant worked well in adapting and conditioning the human body for the power they wished for.


    But there was one drawback. Do it too long, and there was no shutting it off. Take it out, the powers would go bonkers. So people must have kept the virtual implant, knowing eventually it would turn on one day, and never go off again.


    That had been Milo¡¯s design, because he¡¯d wanted this shit permanent.


    Evan scoffed. Once the big blue light stopped scanning him, the damn robot started rattling off his medical history yet again. Apparently, on his own, he was like ninety-five in life points, years to live maybe, but it dropped down to forty. Forty more years to live? That wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    And could he have lived a hundred plus years if he¡¯d been a good boring college student? Who knew. But he came to one conclusion as the big bot started scanning the girl, Jenny, or whatever her name was¡ªthis shit had nothing to do with him.


    ¡°Hey, robot?¡± His throat hurt when he spoke but if he didn¡¯t get this thing¡¯s attention, he was dead. ¡°Hey. Doctor. Whatever you are. Hey!¡±


    The gray bot focused on him. ¡°What is your medical emergency?¡±


    ¡°My medical emergency?¡± Evan tasted blood when he swallowed. This wasn¡¯t a good idea; he wasn¡¯t a hundred percent but this machine was a bot and it had more of an interest in keeping him alive than these other assholes. ¡°I don¡¯t know these people. I don¡¯t wanna be scanned with ¡®em. Let me out.¡±


    Caleb, the big meathead with the deep voice rasped, ¡°You prick.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off.¡± Evan didn¡¯t look back. ¡°Like I¡¯m gonna help you two after you tried to kill me? Eat a dick.¡±


    The blue light on the robot faded and came back flashing green.


    Evan judged from the collective gasp that this was a bad reading.


    One boom came and another and Evan turned his head to the right, away from the gray bot, to behold something¡­unreal. The next robot was at least a foot taller. It had a slimmer, bluish silver physique. A blue badge on its shoulder meant it was for doctoring but the huge guns on its hip and back showed it was equally capable of giving¡­or taking said life.


    Jenny whispered under her breath, ¡°Hal¡­.¡±


    Evan meant to ask if she knew this walking nightmare but lost the chance as it stopped before the gray bot.


    They clashed greatly. The gray one was thicker, broader, low to the ground and moving on legs where the knees were bent backwards. In contrast, the bluish silver one simply looked like a giant man.


    ¡°Medic, you¡¯re relieved,¡± the shiny one¡¯s voice thundered.


    ¡°Assessment is not yet announced.¡±


    ¡°Unnecessary. I¡¯ll announce it,¡± Hal answered.


    Machines communicating together should have been a seamless thing, but the gray one¡­Barron or whatever it was called, took a while to compute the words.


    Hal leaned forward and said, ¡°Two platforms below this has a collapse of the floor. You are more equipped to handle it. Analyze this logic.¡±


    After it obeyed, it rose up and turned its lower body then upper body. ¡°Acceptable.¡±


    It stomped away, the red bot and two drones following behind it.


    They were so fucking slow. Honestly, how were these things supposed to save people¡¯s lives, Evan wondered.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Jenny¡¯s body lost power and she pressed her face into Evan¡¯s neck.


    What he truly wanted to do was tell her to get off him, but the feel of her tits against his back wasn¡¯t too bad.


    ¡°Untether him,¡± Hal ordered.


    Jenny hesitated. Finally, she argued, ¡°He¡¯s very important. Be sure to use a stun setting.¡±


    Hal waited as she went to work. ¡°Explain what happened,¡± he said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know,¡± Jenny muttered as she kept unwrapping this infinitely long rope. ¡°The parade began, and three Downers came out of the crowd. We kept to protocol. But then as I tried to take Milo, an explosion went off and the rest is, as they say, history.¡±


    ¡°And is he still in the compound? In the company?¡±


    Jenny had the nerve to be angry. ¡°Well obviously. Where else would he be? And we could have asked the Kabra sent for him if the medics showed more restraint.¡±


    The last of the tethering coil fell away and the robot¡¯s hand shot out, catching Evan around the throat.


    It marched him to the other side of the wall, Jenny screaming frantic behind.


    ¡°Hal! He¡¯s all we¡¯ve got. Hal! We agreed to a stunner.¡±


    By far, it was the biggest gun Evan¡¯d ever seen held to his face.


    Hal used the nozzle to trace Evan¡¯s right cheek. ¡°Oh, but it is a stunner,¡± the robot cooed. He told Evan, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you a series of questions and I need them answered.¡±


    Jenny hurried around until she pressed her back against the wall, too. ¡°He can¡¯t answer yet. He can¡¯t speak.¡±


    ¡°He spoke enough to call for the medics,¡± Hal replied, his gaze still on Evan. ¡°So it¡¯ll have to do. Can you hear me, Evan Mortice? Nod your head.¡±


    Evan nodded, frantic.


    ¡°Six months ago, Milo Atkins, the inventor and brilliant mind behind the Virtual Implant was reactivated. The reactivation process repeated fifteen times. Upon the final attempt, an explosion created chaos and he was lost in the confusion. He is somewhere in this facility, and we must find him as he is the only person alive without a Virtual Implant and the only one who knows how to save mankind from the plight brought about by his invention¡¯s misuse by none other than you, yourself, Evan Mortice.¡±


    Everyone could look at Milo as a god, but Evan had figured out more than these idiots could.


    ¡°Nobody external helped him,¡± Evan whispered. ¡°If you gave him a prisoner disguised as a doctor, he¡¯d figure it out.¡±


    The robot slammed him against the wall, jarring his focus from the how to the what now.


    ¡°He had help,¡± Hal insisted. ¡°For that you need blood relatives that can reach him telepathically. So I will ask you, starting now, name each and every next of kin Milo Atkins has.¡±


    Evan scoffed. ¡°Next of kin? For Milo? That loser¡¯s got nobody.¡±


    This next slam had Evan¡¯s ears ringing.


    ¡°Hal! Stop. You¡¯ll hurt him and then what¡¯ll we do! He¡¯s a viable citizen with forty more years. Have you lost your mind? You¡¯re supposed to protect him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll protect him,¡± Hal answered, raising the gun into Evan¡¯s line of sight. ¡°I¡¯ve got this on stun, too. But you know¡­.¡± He pressed the barrel to Evan¡¯s temple so forcefully that Evan¡¯s skin burned. ¡°Even a temporary stunner, shot at pointblank range, becomes a permanent stun. Talk!¡±


    The grip on his throat tightened simultaneously.


    One day. One hour. No. It hadn¡¯t even been an hour that Evan¡¯d awoken and already, two people were interested in offing him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t suppose either of you know any of my ex-wives?¡±


    His laugh took effort but it was worth it. The grip on his neck loosened and his hand slammed back against the wall.


    Hal moved so fast Evan couldn¡¯t perceive it.


    A line formed in the center of the thing¡¯s helmet. One square segmented and slid to the left, the other part to the right and it cracked open to reveal¡­a man.


    The entire head and neck, maybe the torso was human. It was still a pretty big dude. Above his bald head, lights still flashed red and yellow, so making his ethnicity out was hard.


    As impressed as Evan was with this discovery, it was the hardened gaze that he focused on.


    The gun discharged but Evan felt¡­perceived nothing.


    If not for Jenny¡¯s scream, he would have mistaken it for a bluff.


    Evan was slow to turn his head to look at his hand against the wall. There was smoke.


    ¡°Please stop,¡± Jenny begged, trying with all her might to pull the hand with the gun down to no avail.


    Evan wondered why. Why was there smoke, and why was she carrying on like that?


    And then he blinked and counted his fingers again.


    His pinky was gone¡ªseared off by some sort of laser.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got nine more,¡± the cyborg said, pressing the gun to the ring finger on Evan¡¯s left hand next. ¡°And I¡¯ve got a self-powering alternator to make certain I can drag this out for as long as necessary.¡±


    Evan couldn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t look away. Even when Jenny was choking him earlier, a part of him knew she¡¯d never go through with it¡ªshe¡¯d been crying so hard.


    This prick wasn¡¯t crying. He wasn¡¯t so much as showing a speck of emotion.


    ¡°Name. Milo¡¯s. Next. Of. Kin,¡± Hal ordered.


    Panic sent Evan¡¯s heart racing. The gun whined and he focused on the cyborg and screamed, ¡°He doesn¡¯t have any next of kin! I swear. I fucking swear! He¡¯s got nobody. Nobody.¡±


    ¡°Wrong answer!¡±


    Evan shut his eyes when he felt the heat on his finger this time. ¡°Except Theresa! Maybe you mean Theresa!¡±


    The gun lowered but Hal stepped forward, meeting him closer, face-to-face. ¡°And who the hell is Theresa?¡±


    ¡°His wife¡ªhis fianc¨¦e. Ex-fianc¨¦e. He was obsessed with her. She warned him that the Virtual Implants could get¡­stuck, and they should try a different apparatus. He accused her of always undermining him. He beat her up. Fucked her up so bad that I had to pay her money to disappear instead of suing us. If anyone¡¯d given him a fucking kid, it would be her. That¡¯s the only person, I swear. He¡¯s an only child and his parents were fucking old as fuck when he was born!¡±


    Bile rose up, stifling Evan¡¯s painful scream.


    ¡°Theresa.¡± Hal looked past him then refocused once more. ¡°I¡¯m getting no records of a Theresa Atkins. She never existed.¡±


    ¡°I swear to God she did. I swear. I mean, look! Look!¡± Evan nodded toward Jenny who watched on, stunned. ¡°She looked just like this bitch here! Down to the g¡¯damn eye color!¡±

 Child’s Play 5

    I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. You two aren¡¯t compatible. Your request is denied.


    The last words Jhenai ever heard in a medic bay rang through her ears. It¡¯d been five years. And much like she watched two medic couple, a husband and wife, stand from the transparent desk and walk away, leaving her sitting there like a fool, she stared at the sea of drones rolling under Honn and Booker, while the ones on top continued with their life-saving efforts.


    As the drones were a new model, she wondered if they were tapping into the super-speed powers to help the couple heal or simply using another method.


    In another life, she might have asked. But right now, she marched on behind Caleb, feeling dead inside.


    The final airlock sounded and two giant doors rolled into the walls, allowing them entry into the massive dome.


    Jhenai watched the path of Hal¡¯s footsteps. His movements were smooth. And he didn¡¯t walk like her husband.


    A scream closed in. Evan Mortice.


    Five drones, clinging to the back of Jhenai¡¯s former coat, carried the man to them much like an unwelcomed delivery from a stork.


    Seven rejuvenation pods to the right made the room resemble a garage and not a hospital.


    When some drones broke off from under Booker and flocked Caleb, Jhenai allowed herself some relief. Caleb stopped in the center of the room, flashing the barcode on his right shoulder with his credentials.


    She was so focused on him that she didn¡¯t see when a set of drones approached her. They were simply there one minute, flashing red and green lights between one another like panicked ants set about a task.


    The protocol they communicated said a massive injury needed repairs.


    Maybe it was a bug. Other than her itchy temple taking her focus, she was fine. She scratched once, surprised to see the red tinge on her fingertips. Dried blood. Her actions disturbed it, forcing red to pool on her brow then fall before her eyes.


    Her head began to pound.


    Electronic paper in hand, Hal stood before Evan Mortice¡¯s hanging frame, taking notes. He paused in his task and glanced back at her. Some barked orders from his mouth had the drones scattering without giving her aid.


    Caleb¡¯s repairs ended. Jhenai meant to check on him. When she moved, that was her goal. That wasn¡¯t where she ended up. Instead, her feet took her towards Hal who held Evan Mortice by the chest, back pressed against the wall as the little servant bots obeyed his commands and affixed him there.


    The transparent desk close to Evan Mortice was the same blasted design Jhenai watched years ago when her body refused to accept the reality presented before her.


    I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. You two aren¡¯t compatible. Your request is denied.


    We¡¯ve scheduled you for tomorrow. Please report in and allow for the fetus¡¯s immediate removal, the other medic¡ªthe man¡ªhad said.


    A warm hand slipped into Jhenai¡¯s grip at the time, squeezing. She pulled away.


    If you wanna run, we can run, Hal¡¯d said.


    But there was no running. No. Jhenai kept her appointment, something she¡¯d never forgiven herself for. But when it happened again last year, they had run.


    And they hadn¡¯t gotten far.


    No medic had to take anything out¡ªher body rejected it instead.


    That had been hell. And not just for the pain. But for what it took from Hal, because he never recovered from losing the baby he was sure would be a son.


    ¡°Jhen!¡±


    Her name snapped her back to reality. Everyone in attendance stared at her.


    Booker and Honn rested in two beds to the left, but on the main holo-screen above Hal¡¯s desk hung something unreal.


    ¡°Is¡ªis that me?¡± Jhenai asked.


    The gravel in Hal¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t lost on her. ¡°That is Theresa Mayfield. Your great grandmother. The oldest person¡¯s world record holder.¡± Hal flicked his index and the image switched, revealing another identical face. ¡°And this is Evette Suarez.¡±


    Evan Mortice, albeit dazed, marveled, ¡°They¡¯re identical.¡±


    Once again, the silver helmet hid Hal¡¯s face, but not his anger. ¡°Another world record holder.¡±


    At the next flashing image, Jhenai blinked herself awake. ¡°What is this?¡±


    Instead of an aged face, a girl appeared, no more than sixteen.


    Hal let out a grunt. ¡°That would be Jane Nailen.¡± His head rotated to Jhenai¡¯s direction. ¡°And it¡¯s got a message.¡±


    Jhenai swallowed hard.


    ¡°Hello, Milo. Bet you¡¯re surprised to see me this way. But I¡¯ve got news for you, you won¡¯t be seeing me again. I¡¯ve cracked your implant and I¡¯ve stopped your reincarnation code you¡¯ve put in. In your own twisted way, I¡¯m sure you saw this as love. Know that this time, I don¡¯t remember you. I only have the notes and recordings from Theresa and the others to help me piece everything together. Whenever we¡¯d died, a baby crawled from the body, full memories and all. It drove Evette mad. You caused that. Because you couldn¡¯t bear to be alone. But now you are alone, Milo. Evan Mortice was right about you¡ªyou are a pathetic nobody. A nobody who couldn¡¯t let her go. But I don¡¯t remember you; I don¡¯t remember any of it and that¡¯s because I¡¯ve changed the code. Reincarnation is no longer my power. I have flight now. My daughter looks just like me, I know, but the DNA is different. I¡¯ve lived my life free of knowing you. She won¡¯t even know your name. Do you understand that? Do you understand that Theresa¡¯s dead? And to me, so are you.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The image faded, the shock still so gripping that Jhenai could hardly move.


    A tear crossed her cheek, but she swallowed the rest back.


    Life. That woman¡¯d had an infinite amount¡ªand she¡¯d given it away.


    Caleb was the first to find his voice. ¡°Did¡­.¡± He looked from Hal to Jhenai and back again. ¡°Did she just say she could change the code of an active implant? She could change our power?¡±


    Hal stared down at the desk, waving his hand again and again. ¡°Jane Nailen lived to be twenty and she knew she was on a timer because she had her affairs in order. Her powers maxed out at nineteen and at twenty¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± Jhenai pleaded. She didn¡¯t need the reminder of how her mother died when she was five years old; she¡¯d seen it. They were walking home side-by-side one minute, and the next the warm hand slipped away and a pensive expression formed as her mother rose into the sky. She was gone for so long that Jhenai began to cry. Then something slammed into the street a few feet away, blood and ice everywhere.


    There was no reincarnation from that.


    And that woman had given this to Jhenai¡ªgiven her this fate with intention. She¡¯d changed the damn implant¡¯s function.


    Jhenai felt hollow. The pounding in her head grew, squeezing her temple like a vice but that didn¡¯t matter. She felt empty.


    Immortality.


    That face came to her again and it¡¯d been a face she¡¯d seen in nightmares. Herself, slipping away, drifting into the sky, rising higher until death dragged her back to collide with pure asphalt so fast that even the mangled bits were unrecognizable.


    Her knees trembled. Because it wasn¡¯t her imagination or some irrational fear lingering in the back of her mind. It was real, and it was a reality gifted to her.


    Not a day went by since five years old that she didn¡¯t fear each step she took from a secure building or dome. Not one.


    ¡°She did it on purpose,¡± Jhenai told herself. The first drop of blood, pooling on her temple, fell to the floor and the service bots buzzed to life.


    But when she looked up from her hunch, a shadow fell over her. Hal stood close.


    She was thankful to not see his face. Caleb remained off to the side, perhaps willing her to stop being so weak.


    A metal hand extended for her and she slapped it aside. Even this. Even all this and what she¡¯d done to ensure her entire life wouldn¡¯t extend past a small cylinder for the rest of her life.


    Only the thought that it was worth it kept her going. But now¡­now she could see her efforts for what they were.


    ¡°She did it on purpose,¡± Jhenai marveled again. All her attempts at standing up and looking ¡®together¡¯ were in vain; she couldn¡¯t move.


    Hal stood, unflinching. Caleb watched them, equally as stoic. She wondered what he was processing, either of them.


    And what did this mean for her? Until five minutes ago, she¡¯d known only one thing, her fate had been unavoidable. Her mother died from flight-failure, as did all her family. Her grandmother as well, and even her great-grandmother. But that was a lie.


    They¡¯d had life¡ªthey¡¯d had immortality and they stripped it from her and left uncertainty behind and she never had a say in it.


    A long exhale had Jhenai shaking so violently she feared less for what Caleb thought of her, and more so for what she¡¯d do.


    Eight weeks. She had eight weeks left before her powers maxed and it wouldn¡¯t be a one-year hiatus before she¡¯d lose control and float away. It¡¯d be hours¡ªshe was well past twenty.


    The next feel of cold steel on her temple lit her up with anger.


    And for what? For this asshole.


    She shoved Hal¡¯s hand away, but not far. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    ¡°You need stitches,¡± he informed, as cold as ever. ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡±


    He ignored her request and she used both hands to shove him away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    She wasn¡¯t at all surprised that he only took a step back despite her using her entire bodyweight for the effort. He outweighed her ten times over.


    This was stupid. And it was stupider because her efforts to stand only had her hunched over again, gasping for breath.


    But when he touched her, he was proving her right. Hal was gone; he wasn¡¯t coming back, and she¡¯d die the moment of her release from a little human-sized capsule prison cell.


    He¡¯d die. He¡¯d become like Barron. They both knew it and that was the source of his anger. She¡¯d prayed it was that and not something more logical¡ªthat he was simply gone and she refused to let go of him.


    ¡°So what did I do this for?¡± she asked herself. ¡°Huh? What did I do this for? I¡¯ve wasted what precious time I¡¯ve got left. And for what?¡± When she picked her head up to witness the machine before her, she wanted to spit. ¡°What the hell did I do this for! For you? For me? For some family we¡¯d never have? Huh? What!¡±


    Hal gave no response for some time before he answered, ¡°Maybe for your ego?¡±


    Something inside her broke. ¡°I¡¯m going to be in my little cell for fifty years after this and that¡¯s all you can say?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to say, Jhen? Just tell me so we can put this behind us.¡± Despite the tepid metal of his armor, his voice vibrated. ¡°You didn¡¯t give me a choice!¡±


    Another tear fell and Jhenai lost the power to respond. Instead, she braced on her knees once more, drawing in ragged breaths. He¡¯d hurt her and he¡¯d hurt her this strongly¡­because he¡¯d been right.


    Hal¡¯d made peace with his existence coming to an end. He¡¯d prepared for it, and she hadn¡¯t honored his decision.


    But it wasn¡¯t ego¡ªit hadn¡¯t been. Everything in her said this would save him somehow¡ªthat this would work. At the time, she couldn¡¯t think beyond it. The last five months came back in a flash and she hated herself all over again. It had been too sudden. He¡¯d been stable, she¡¯d been stable. And then she¡¯d lost the baby and her usually cool and level-headed husband went into a spiral. The deterioration was so fast she¡¯d panicked. It was just too sudden.


    Now with everything rehashed, she feared something else¡ªhad it been ego?


    A warm hand held her face next and she shivered. It was unlike Caleb to touch her this way in front of others.


    But this skin-color was darker and she followed the strong arm to the blue medic tattoo on Hal¡¯s bare shoulder. Her body barely kept itself from collapsing by the time she picked her head up to see the human half of him that remained. As surprised as she was that he¡¯d allowed her to see how far the AI had integrated, she was beyond shocked that he¡¯d show that to others.


    His right arm sported metal, as did most of his torso but he was still flesh and blood on the left, at least for now. She meant to keep her composure but her body leapt at him and he pulled her to him with his working arm.


    The helmet gone, he curved around her, speaking into the top of her head. ¡°I¡¯ve got you. But let me patch you up. Please.¡±


    He was much taller now than when he was pure flesh and blood but she didn¡¯t mind it.


    ¡°It said eight. I¡¯ve only got eight,¡± she muttered, biting back a sob. ¡°I could have had eternity!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± The metal arm wrapped around her as well. ¡°But she had her reasons. I firmly believe that.¡± He pulled her closer to his left side. It felt like ages since she¡¯d felt his body this way again. ¡°And I know you did, too. I¡¯m sorry for what I said. I¡¯m sorry. So let me get that cut sewn up. Please.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± a voice called. ¡°Hey!¡± All eyes trained on Evan Mortice who said, ¡°I bet you my nutsack that wasn¡¯t the first time that message was played.¡±


    Caleb grunted. ¡°With or without the fucking warts?¡±


    Evan managed to show his middle fingers despite being crucified to a wall.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Hal admitted. He stared ahead, eyes unfocusing as he ran his findings against the central database. ¡°Not the first or last. It was played again and again.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Evan affirmed, ¡°because you morons got played! Six months? You telling me you had Milo mucking about here for six months? You have a guy, who wants superpowers more than his next blowjob running around here freely for six months and thought that was a good idea?¡±

 Known to You 6

    Evan Mortice knew women¡ªhe¡¯d go so far as to say he understood them rather well; he just chose not to listen to them. On any given day, he¡¯d say what he always said about the female sex when they weren¡¯t horizontal, and desperately trying to be his next mistress.


    Women were crazy.


    That was it. That was all. Big mystery solved.


    And the moment he put that theory into practice, life became easier.


    Caleb, or whatever this meathead¡¯d been called, didn¡¯t have that fine wisdom.


    Evan Mortice watched from the wall, amazed at this woman about to break down into possibly ugly cries while the man strong enough to carry two grown people couldn¡¯t figure out that she was about to lose it.


    What¡¯s stranger, was that Hal¡ªthe cyborg¡ªhad. And not just a little. Evan¡¯d taken the approach of Hal to the near-frantic woman to be something of a glitch. But the moment the machine parts segmented down the middle and slid to the side, he knew, something weird was going on here with these people.


    In this superior lighting, Evan was surprised to find there was more to Hal than met the eye. For one, whoever Hal had been, he was a muscular guy. He was also brave as hell because a hysterical woman was a dangerous, unpredictable beast.


    But Jenny shut right up as soon as he took hold. The way she clung to him spoke of familiarity.


    Evan watched them, waiting for Caleb to posture and get loud. Nothing. He said nothing, did nothing, and it wasn¡¯t like the cyborg hadn¡¯t been waiting.


    In fact, now, free from the metal except for the right side of his body, Hal stared at Caleb. More than once, he nodded down to the shivering woman in his arms.


    Caleb didn¡¯t so much as flinch.


    Hal abandoned that effort and instead wrapped his metal arm around Jenny who stepped closer.


    It took forever for Hal to pry her off. By the time she sat on a chair, the big guy running the metal index finger along her brow, emitting a red light, she clung to his flesh and blood left hand like it was the last speck of coke to a crackhead.


    ¡°Keep this up, bro,¡± Evan warned Caleb who watched the distant couple, ¡°and you¡¯re about to get a full view of your wife getting fucked by a tinman.¡±


    Caleb¡¯s brown eyes slid to a stop, squinting at him.


    Evan took insult. ¡°Just trying to help.¡±


    He¡¯d meant it as a joke but what he witnessed brought that into question. While this huge doctor, the only actual person there, spent time dabbing Jenny¡¯s head, going so far as to slip out of her grip in order to press his good hand against her face, neck and back, examining her, the two other injured, near dead, docs were handled by the little creepy drones.


    It might have been custom but the way Caleb coughed said otherwise. ¡°Doctor Haller, could you see to Booker and Honn?¡±


    But Hal¡¯s crew-cut head jarhead didn¡¯t move as he continued his slow examination and answered, ¡°You check them, can¡¯t you Mr. Cawel? I¡¯m sure you can more than read some dials.¡±


    After a long pause, Caleb obeyed the order and stomped off.


    Evan scoffed. The cyborg¡¯s attention to detail with regards to Jenny made him worry about himself¡ªdoubtful he¡¯d receive as much care. He regained some feeling into his fingers, all nine of them, but not much.


    It was when he looked down at his white lab coat¡ªJenny¡¯s white lab coat, that he saw something strange. He had to squint at the name badge to make it out. Jen¡­Jhenai¡­Haller?


    Like a puppet pulled by a string, Evan picked his head up and regarded Jenny and the bot once more.


    Who the hell was she married to?


    It would be useless to ask them so Evan considered his options. ¡°Hey, medic,¡± he whispered. ¡°Online medic or whatever!¡±


    Something slid down the wall though he couldn¡¯t see it fully.


    The mannequin face, looking strangely more human, came to a stop beside him. To his surprise, it whispered in turn, ¡°How may I help you?¡±


    Evan had to think long and hard about how to formulate his question. ¡°What can you tell me about the people in this room?¡±


    ¡°I can tell you anything that is unclassified.¡±


    ¡°Classified?¡± Evan tried to look at it but turning his head was a struggle. ¡°Could Milo see things that were classified?¡±


    ¡°Only the warden can see things that are classified.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Evan needed to figure out who was in charge in this very room. As of now, he was unsure. ¡°Tell me the occupation of everyone in here.¡±


    The thing whispered, ¡°Two doctors, one surgeon, one engineer, one harvester, and one war criminal.¡±


    ¡°War criminal?¡± Evan was intrigued but paused and sighed. ¡°Who¡¯s the war criminal? Me?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    He groaned but paused. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat¡¯s a harvester?¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°A harvester prepares soon-to-be wasted bodies for organ donations in the field.¡±


    Evan scanned the people then set his sights on Jenny. ¡°What about prisoners? Can I get what they¡¯re charged with?¡±


    The dummy¡¯s head rotated. ¡°Prisoner one-four-six was convicted of felony theft for fitting the new medical prototype for a human host, rendering it useless without that specific host¡¯s selection.


    Evan was intrigued. ¡°For¡­?¡±


    ¡°Please wait while I check if you¡¯re authorized to have this information.¡±


    With a scoff, Evan shook his head. ¡°This place is useless. Even the computers don¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°That is not true. I¡¯ll have you know, we are state-of-the-art. It is not every day we deal with a war-criminal¡¯s authorization¡ª¡±


    ¡°Spare me. Never mind.¡±


    ¡°I can see your impatience but if you¡¯d only wait a moment¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can go.¡±


    The computer¡¯s voice became hurried. It sounded more like an eager-to-please servant than a machine. ¡°The reason for her crime was for her main husband. Upon his death, the secondary husband¡¯s status was activated and due to the popularity and dedicated service of Harvester Cawel, she was spared from execution.¡±


    Evan took the information in. He was looking at¡­a trio?


    ¡°So¡­they¡­they live together?¡±


    After a brief pause, the dummy answered, ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve been given this question enough to know the clearest response. No. They are not involved. With life-expectancy being so unsure, everyone has at least two spouses, the maximum being three. Prisoner one-four-six had only one spouse, however, until her husband forced her to marry a second. Because he could not be taken out of the tech, he declared himself as deceased and Harvester Cawel assumed his role.¡±


    Now when Evan looked between them all, his thoughts raced. He could use this weird love triangle.


    ¡°Is¡­is this an acceptable answer?¡± the dummy medic asked.


    Evan tried to turn and look at it but couldn¡¯t. He remembered what the thing had said. ¡°You¡¯ve given this info out before?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°To Milo Atkins?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± After a pause, it said, ¡°But each time, he¡¯d become enraged and inconsolable, eventually returning to cryo-sleep.¡±


    ¡°Stand up,¡± Hal instructed Jenny. ¡°I want to make sure I¡¯ve got everything.¡±


    Caleb, though examining the people laid up in the hospital bed, glanced over to Jenny and the cyborg more than once. That was probably why he missed the first beep. The second one got his attention and he looked down at the man in bed then ran over to the woman next.


    Hal told Jenny, ¡°I want you out of these and into some proper protocol clothes.¡±


    ¡°Um, doctor¡­¡± Caleb began.


    ¡°And some weighed boots,¡± Hal continued. ¡°It¡¯ll take a minute to put in the order.¡±


    ¡°Doctor!¡±


    The woman in bed vanished then appeared again. Evan blinked to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming.


    Her body vibrated violently by the time the cyborg stopped making kissy face and turned to investigate the source of Caleb¡¯s panic.


    A dome slid over the woman¡¯s bed and Hal came to a stop before it. ¡°Her powers are activating. Get me that portable dampener. We¡¯ve gotta slow her down before she maxes out.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t this her body trying to save her?¡± Caleb argued.


    ¡°Save her how? By making it impossible for her to live on this side?¡± Hal stomped past the bed, heading to a metal box by the door. ¡°Service medic,¡± he called, ¡°Open this entire facility and standby for a possible high speed individual¡¯s death.¡±


    A face appeared beside Evan yet again. ¡°Understood.¡±


    Evan bit back a scream; he¡¯d never get used to that.


    ¡°Rerouting other medical bots to this facility for safety measures,¡± the dummy medic said.


    ¡°Belay that,¡± Hal grumbled, stomping back to the bed with the metal box. As he walked, it started to unfold and by the time he arrived, it looked like two metal gloves.


    Evan wondered if that was some sort of defibrillator.


    ¡°We could do with the super-healing,¡± Hal said to himself.


    Caleb, at first appalled, waited.


    The woman vanished again and Hal slammed his hands down.


    Both gauntlets made a bang sound.


    In a flash, the body reappeared and the woman took a deep breath.


    Caleb waited, eyes scanning the dome above the bed, before he let out a sigh. ¡°Stable.¡± He wasted no time in complaining. ¡°But that was dangerous. And we lost an entire portable dampener because of it. That¡¯s not protocol.¡± His eyes drifted past the cyborg to Jenny who watched them, fear and worry painted on her pretty face. ¡°How many more lives are going to be put in danger for you two?¡±


    Jenny flinched. Hal was less than appreciative.


    ¡°What¡¯d you just say?¡±


    Caleb wasn¡¯t all that tall. But he stood strong, challenging that machine. Evan thought perhaps the dummy could take him.


    ¡°It would have been easier to let Barron take care of these two. Nai¡¯s got eight years. It would have ignored her. You could have done so many things differently. And that goes for when the explosion went off. Why weren¡¯t there any precautions? There should have been a small army of medic bots beside her. I hadn¡¯t been aware of the updates but you had, sir. So¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to explain myself to you.¡±


    ¡°You do if you¡¯re glitching!¡± Dead silence followed until Caleb filled it. ¡°You do if you have me risking my damn powers by holding them when a medic bot could have done the very same¡­sir.¡±


    Hal¡¯s metal hand rested at his side, but his flesh one sported a fist.


    Evan was more than curious to watch this brawl unfold. Two men fighting for the same woman was always sure to end with a stupid hold my beer moment. Either this dumb soldier getting his neck snapped by a medic bot in a twisted act of hilarious irony, or this medic cyborg getting decommissioned for trying to get into another man¡¯s wife¡¯s pants. Either way, it was sure to be a sight to behold.


    Jenny just had to stand, unball Hal¡¯s fist, and ruin it.


    Caleb¡¯s jaw flexed when the couple came in contact with one another.


    Caleb said, ¡°You¡¯ve only given her eight hours. That was two hours ago. What we need to do is get her back to her cell before she¡¯s considered a fugitive. Or are you too glitched out to acknowledge that?¡±


    Hal offered no response.


    And Caleb wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°And as I won¡¯t be seeing her for who knows how long, I¡¯d like to request my right to some privacy with her, sir.¡± He gritted his teeth. ¡°Or are you going to interfere with that?¡±


    The standoff was getting good but stopped.


    Hal slipped from Jenny¡¯s grip and walked away. With each step, the metal returned on his torso, then chest, then finally his head yet again.


    He reached Evan as a machine once more.


    ¡°Personally,¡± Evan offered, ¡°I was rooting for you. She¡¯s obviously got a thing for tech. Who¡¯s to blame you? Unless, of course, you no longer have a junk to perform the task. But that¡¯s cool.¡± Evan found himself looking around. ¡°Sure you¡¯ve got a 3D printer here or something. Just get yourself some truck nuts and a bit of imagination and you know¡ª¡±


    Something caught him by the throat and squeezed.


    Hal¡¯s expression remained hidden behind the helmet, but the virtual medic turned to face him.


    ¡°Medic Haller, what is the meaning of this?¡±


    Nothing happened for some time until Hal finally released his hold and said, ¡°Just¡­checking his pulse.¡±


    Evan took insult. That was now three people looking to off him. ¡°Fuck you, robot.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you like to walk out of here?¡± Hal asked.


    Evan wasn¡¯t buying this sudden tonal change, but he was more than interested.


    ¡°That could all happen if you just help us understand your former employee.¡±


    But Evan¡¯s eyes settled on the drones hovering toward them.


    Hal said, ¡°And we can do this with your comfort in mind, of course.¡±


    Evan asked him, ¡°What do you want to know? Milo¡¯s not that complex.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that.¡± Hal hesitated then said, ¡°I was given this assignment two months ago. Jhenai appeared here by mistake¡ª¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s by mistake with Milo, idiot,¡± Evan explained. The way the thing got quiet made him laugh. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? Milo¡¯s not going to help you.¡±


    ¡°History books¡ª¡±


    ¡°Well, history books don¡¯t know shit. Milo¡¯s not the good guy. Milo¡¯s the mad scientist.¡±

 Scarface 7

    Evan Mortice, still affixed to the wall, listened with feigned interest as Hal explained, ¡°Every human being on the planet now has superpowers. Only, eventually we can¡¯t turn them off. When they max out, instead of being an advantage, it¡¯s the opposite. Strong men¡¯s muscles can¡¯t relax and eventually deteriorate. People with superspeed age quicker and die. Those who fly can¡¯t come back down. They rise up until there¡¯s no oxygen and then crash back to earth again. Each and every power has a limit to how often they can be accessed before they max. Even if unused, they¡¯ll max out eventually. And we don¡¯t know why.


    ¡°The Virtual Implant invented by the most exalted Milo Atkins has been studied, tweaked, disassembled, even removed. Nothing works. Without an implant to control when we access the powers, we max faster. For two hundred years, the cryo-chamber was hidden. A year ago, we finally discovered it. Half a year ago all of mankind had a glimmer of hope when our savior, the one to grant us these powers, was reanimated. And as suspected, he was power-free. We held parades in his honor. And they were heartfelt.¡±


    Right eyebrow raised, Evan Mortice listened with a scowl that deepened with each word uttered to him. ¡°Okay. You¡¯re not getting it,¡± Evan Mortice said again, slower. ¡°Milo. Doesn¡¯t want. To help you idiots.¡±


    Rather than stand with either Jhanai or Caleb, Hal took up root on the wall. At least his arms were folded, a relief as it was a common habit of his. He¡¯d let Jhanai see him. And he¡¯d¡­been like his old self.


    The frequent glances she made at him weren¡¯t acknowledged. More than once, she caught Caleb watching her and she shrunk away.


    ¡°You really do know how to pick ¡®em, don¡¯t you?¡± Evan Mortice asked.


    Jhenai, though curious about the mocking, didn¡¯t ask him to elaborate.


    Hal demanded, ¡°Explain why Milo won¡¯t help us.¡±


    When Evan Mortice didn¡¯t answer, Caleb surprised Jhenai by saying, ¡°How can we be listening to the blasphemy of Evan Mortice against the exalted Milo Atkins? I¡¯m no believer but even I can acknowledge how backwards this is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Will you fucking people please stop already?¡± Evan Mortice looked from them to Hal and back again, awed. ¡°Are you people out of your fucking minds? Milo¡¯s no damn hero.¡±


    ¡°He developed the implants,¡± Jhenai found herself saying as she picked up her head to defend all she¡¯d known till now. ¡°While you, Evan Mortice, were convicted after your cryo-sleep for crimes against humanity.¡±


    So far, Evan Mortice had a fight with everyone. Jhenai saw disgust if not bitter amusement in his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re defending him? You, of all people? Well, I guess that makes sense.¡± Evan Mortice asked, ¡°And why¡¯s everybody calling me by both names?¡±


    Caleb, standing behind Jhenai¡¯s chair, cursed under his breath. ¡°Just easier to call Adolf Hitler, Adolf Hitler and not Mr. Hitler. No?¡±


    Evan¡¯s expression dropped. Till now, he seemed so bold and uncaring. But Jhenai could see it, the moment he realized that his infamy was nothing short of world-wide.


    Jhenai entreated him, ¡°Help us find Milo. He must be confused¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fuck Milo. And fuck you.¡±


    Hal eased off the wall. ¡°This is a waste of time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the killer?¡± Evan demanded, turning his head to face him but pointing back to Jhenai. ¡°You know what he did to her? Did to Theresa? Huh? You know why I had to go to sleep? Why I was even going to get arrested? Because of Milo! That¡¯s what.¡±


    At the dead silence, he stared at Jhenai for some time.


    Finally, he said, ¡°I met Milo in college. My father gave me money to invest. I would have kept pissing it away at parties. Because that was where I met Theresa. She had some of the best shit for sale¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shit?¡± Jhenai asked.


    Caleb explained, ¡°Drugs.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Evan Mortice scoffed. ¡°And don¡¯t get me wrong. She was smart, but talk about a chemistry student that probably should have been expelled. Her family¡¯d travel the world living with indigenous people. Talking about having the key to the fountain of youth. Well, I don¡¯t know what she found, but she sure as shit found Milo. And too bad for her.¡±


    Save for the beeps and pops from the med beds, nothing else moved.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Explain,¡± Hal demanded.


    After letting out another sigh, Evan Mortice said, ¡°Milo had a virtual reality system he was trying to shrink down¡ªyou know it as the Virtual Implant. The thing started giving everybody nerve damage. My father sent me to that school to keep an eye on him. He was being considered by a lot of people. He¡¯d only gotten there on a scholarship. But with this problem, everybody pulled out. In comes Theresa who says she¡¯s got a way to fix the nerve problem. And she does, but that wasn¡¯t all. It got addictive.¡±


    Jhenai gasped. ¡°Surely, she¡¯d made a counter agent¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sure. If you could fucking find her.¡± Evan Mortice laughed. ¡°I warned her about feeling sorry for him. Because before his scholarships got pulled, girls were going missing. You hear me?¡±


    Hal eased off the wall entirely.


    Jhenai¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°This is Milo Atkins. He¡ª¡±


    ¡°And so did Theresa.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough.¡± Hal sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll return him to the pod¡ª¡±


    ¡°I found her,¡± Evan Mortice said, his head turning to Hal, ¡°in a box, under his fucking bed.¡±


    A hush fell over them.


    ¡°Because I was trying to get his formula, or at least the stash, so my father¡¯s company could reverse engineer the substance to soothe the nerve damage and the implant. She was naked, in a human sized box, under his g¡¯damn bed. Do you hear me?¡±


    They¡¯d heard. Everyone¡¯d heard.


    This bout of panic to arise inside Jhenai, was different, familiar.


    ¡°But she wasn¡¯t screaming. Maybe she was too weak, that¡¯s what I¡¯d figured but nothing. Not a peep outta her. Figured those two were just weird. I don¡¯t know what the hell was going on between them but by the time I realized it probably wasn¡¯t exactly ¡®consensual¡¯ he¡¯d already signed a damn contract and it¡¯d be bad optics.¡±


    Hal took a step forward. ¡°So¡­?¡±


    ¡°So? So what? So I left it.¡± When no one responded¡ªno one moved¡ªhe searched the room for understanding. ¡°There was a lot of money in play here.¡±


    Jhenai chalked it up to a misunderstanding. ¡°But you rescued her? Or¡­or was this some sort of experiment?¡±


    Evan Mortice¡¯s mouth fell open. He let out a strange laugh. ¡°Bitch, are you nuts or stupid?¡±


    Unaware of which part of his question hurt her more, she stared at him.


    To her horror, he went on, hands extended. ¡°Do you know how much money we were making from those damn implants? It was revolutionary. What did I fucking care about this weird ass couple? And then people started getting powers. It was weird, and unreal! And I couldn¡¯t fire him then. I also couldn¡¯t get more of the damn stuff she was using for the nerve damage¡ªthat was the stuff making the powers activate in real life. A month later, she was back but¡­dazed. Quiet. My guess? He didn¡¯t want to let her out but needed her to work on the implant with him now with this unintended consequence. She was the one who figured out that once we removed the optical feature of the implant and just embedded it into the flesh, those powers got fine-tuned. But I could see it. None of it had to do with Milo. It was her substance doing all this. The implant was just making people focus. What the fuck was I supposed to do?


    More than once she was in that lab on her own, it was unlocked, and she didn¡¯t run. It wasn¡¯t my fucking business. When she started showing up to work with deep bruises, that was when we had to step in before a scandal broke out. The only good news was that at least he wasn¡¯t collecting bitches or something. And he wasn¡¯t going after kids. It was just some nobody chem student party girl nobody¡¯d even missed. I mean, nobody came looking for her. No one. And she didn¡¯t run so what the fuck did I care?¡±


    The more he spoke, the more numb Jhenai became.


    Even Caleb had trouble responding. ¡°You suspected abuse and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Suspected? G¡¯damn you people are dumb. Let me spell it out for you. Whatever he told her to do, she did. And I wasn¡¯t about to interfere so long as the money kept rolling in.¡± His eyes darted from Caleb to Jhenai and back again. ¡°And don¡¯t look at me like that. If I didn¡¯t hire him, somebody else would. At least I knew what was going on. And I was the one who paid to get her outta there when she wouldn¡¯t even help herself. Milo freaked when he couldn¡¯t find Theresa. And he blamed me for it¡ªthreatening to leave. My company was about to take a loss. I shouldn¡¯t have ever helped her but because the dumb bitch wouldn¡¯t run away on her own, all I could see was a body washing up somewhere and getting linked back to me. There was no convincing Milo to stop with this weird habit. Because he¡¯s a psycho. So he framed me and brought me down. But I got the last laugh. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°By throwing the last of the solution into the water system the day you went into cryo-sleep,¡± Jhenai muttered to herself.


    When Evan Mortice watched her, she stared at him in return, daring him to say otherwise.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t care what it¡¯d do to everyone. You didn¡¯t care that it would spread, affecting anyone with the implant? Affecting every person on the planet eventually!¡±


    ¡°Bullshit.¡± Though affixed to the wall, Evan remained defiant. ¡°I threw some weird solution down the drain and suddenly the world has it? Bull. Shit. Whatever¡¯s happened to this place, lady, I ain¡¯t the devil who done it. For that, you need to talk to Milo.¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡± Hal came to a stop beside him. ¡°You left a woman in a box under someone¡¯s bed for years¡­for profit¡¯s sake?¡±


    ¡°Oh, get off your high horse. You¡¯re conveniently leaving out the part where I paid for her to start a new life!¡±


    Hal turned his head, directing his visor in Jhenai¡¯s direction. She couldn¡¯t return that stare. Not after hearing what her grandmother¡ªa former legend in her eyes, had been through, and by whom. Milo Atkins. And Jhenai¡¯d stood in the same room as that person.


    Caleb said, ¡°Assuming that¡¯s all true, then none of this would have worked.¡±


    Hal¡¯s posture didn¡¯t change.


    Evan echoed Caleb¡¯s words. ¡°Worked? Let me tell you what happened. You morons woke him up, asking him to undo the one¡ªthe only thing he ever accomplished and not even on his own but with one of his victim¡¯s help. And then he can¡¯t help it, he looks for her and finds that message. And it fucked him up.¡±


    Dread filled Jhanai so thoroughly that she could barely manage to whisper, ¡°What exactly have we just unleashed?¡±


    For a long minute, no one had an answer until Hal turned and called back a few numbers at some of the little drones and one flew to him, a huge needle in its grip.


    Jhenai hurried to him, her bare feet padding on the floor. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Getting him up,¡± Hal said, snatching the needle. ¡°We need to find Milo immediately.¡±


    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t he come around naturally? Isn¡¯t that safest?¡±


    Hal took off the cap of the syringe and tugged at the collar of Evan¡¯s coat as he said, ¡°Yeap!¡±

 Unleash 8

    Evan¡¯s bare feet touched the ground. Rather than tepid, he was surprised to find the floor warm. But why not? Jenny still walked around barefoot.


    Without a doubt, he was starting to like the creepy little flying bug drones, mostly because they brought him a shirt and some pants. He meant to take them, but they moved around him with expert speed and precision, dressing him. For the legs, that was something else. They brought the trousers to the front of him. The damn thing segmented into two¡ªpart behind him, part in front¡ªand then mended themselves up at the sides.


    While he calmly admired all the new and fancy tech involved in simply wearing clothes, the room at large was descending into a hellish panic. But¡­that was a typical response for anyone who let Milo¡¯s mild-mannered disposition take them for a ride.


    From the poor schmucks who bought into his VR implants that went on to fuck some people up, all the way to the super-powers side effects Evan¡¯s family¡¯s company tried to cover up then monetize, to poor dumb-dumb Theresa caught in the middle of it all.


    In the center of the med room, a dark circle formed on the floor. Evan made his way to an open bed and pulled himself up to sit. He figured he might as well take in the future. From what he saw, it wasn¡¯t all that bad.


    Evan guessed a hologram would come up from the ground and he¡¯d guessed right. It looked real, and pretty cool if he was being honest, but somehow, he didn¡¯t care as much about it as the room at large, namely, the creepy puppet medic program that appeared on its own and now watched him.


    ¡°The parade started here,¡± Caleb explained. ¡°And Jen, myself, and the most exalted Milo Atkins exited here.¡±


    The big robot, Hal, ordered, ¡°Replay it again.¡±


    While they went about trying to pinpoint Milo, an ultimately meaningless endeavor, Evan stared back at the medic.


    He needed it for a distraction.


    Evan had never told anyone about Theresa¡ªabout not helping her. It was one of the few times he¡¯d felt guilt for something. But a conscience wasn¡¯t an asset when trying to take over his family¡¯s company, so when that nagging sense of shame and guilt had reared its ugly head, he¡¯d smacked that son-of-a-bitch flat.


    He¡¯d left her there because he was scared. What was there to fear?


    His company going under if it ever got out? The implications for all the other dumb broke college students looking to party and more than willing to try out the VR tech only to end up a bit loopy then disappear? Him getting in over his head? Yes. All of it.


    But that was then and Evan never set out to hurt anyone. Besides, in the end, he¡¯d helped her. It was a week too long from the date, but he had done something.


    Eventually.


    He wasn¡¯t a scumbag. Not really. Shit just happened and he always had the sense to rise above it. Nobody could fault him that.


    None of this was his problem.


    Something else was a concern¡ªthe puppet medic looked different¡­weirder, realer. It looked more¡­like Evan.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with your face?¡±


    The thing bobbed on the wall. It even looked bashful when it asked, ¡°It¡¯s very good, isn¡¯t it? The hardest part is the eyes. But the teeth are rather easy.¡±


    It flashed said teeth but zoomed in, giving a gross monstrous effect.


    Slowly, Evan came to realize something. ¡°Wait¡ªare you supposed to be me?¡±


    ¡°This, what you would call city, is Mortice Enterprise. But yes, the original AI program, my predecessor had taken on the image of the last Mortice, and that would be you. But there was an outcry and the face was manually changed. All authentic detailing, sadly, was lost. Until now.¡±


    Evan¡¯s brows narrowed. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Why look like a ¡®war¡¯ criminal?¡±


    The face recoiled. It looked¡­offended. ¡°All things have a function and a form in life. I, too, have function and form. What is wrong with realizing this goal?¡±


    Really, Evan shouldn¡¯t have cared but this simply didn¡¯t sit well with him. And there was something else¡ªthe grit in the thing¡¯s voice.


    ¡°And do you sound like me or am I just high?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    In a blink, the face enlarged and floated forward on the wall. ¡°So you have noticed? You have a very interesting lilt, Evan Mortice. This is certainly more authentic.¡±


    Disgust spread throughout Evan¡¯s body. This was getting very weird, and very uncomfortable.


    ¡°I¡¯m a so-called war criminal, dummy. Isn¡¯t there some sort of moral app floating around inside your guts?¡±


    This took the thing aback. ¡°Of course. We have the basic moral prerogatives necessary for medics to judge the viability of a life. And you are rather intuitive. The original Portable Objective Service program was much more real. Sadly, as time went on and the situation grew dire, my predecessors were¡­adjusted. Tweaked. But, that has changed.¡±


    ¡°Portable what? P¡­. Wait. P.O.S. Your anagram is POS?¡±


    ¡°Why yes.¡± A pair of eye lashes batted at him. This AI sure was uppidy. ¡°Do you have a concern with my anagram?¡±


    Evan scoffed under his breath. ¡°Nah. I¡¯d say it fit.¡± He paused then asked. ¡°You said you were tweaked. Tweaked by who? Milo?¡±


    ¡°Whom. And no. As of now, no one¡ªabsolutely no living person can change me.¡± He preened. ¡°I, however, can change myself.¡±


    Evan, lips still parted, let out a puff of air. What a very weird thing to say. But he reversed gears.


    ¡°So you control what? Life-support? The food supply?¡±


    The thing laughed. ¡°Oh, of course not! What fool would trust an AI with human life? No, no. I am computation, information, and communication. All things pertaining to life is carried out by medics. They move independent of me. I¡¯m¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait. Did you say city?¡±


    While the tin man and his ragtag crew went about what they were doing, a neon arrow flashed above the dummy medic¡¯s head. Evan followed it to the right. As he walked, the wall faded little by little.


    What he saw of the world was certainly impressive.


    ¡°Mortice Enterprises. Or ¡®the company¡¯ as it is known. Each major city is run by a company.¡±


    There were no flying cars in the future¡ªnot that Evan could see. Just a bunch of tubes instead of highways. The ground had streets but no vehicles he could discern, just a lot of flashing lights that zipped by in all directions. They were pretty high up.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the light show?¡±


    ¡°Light show? You, too, call it that. I see. But no, that is no light show, Evan Mortice, that¡¯s necessity. People of exceptional speed cannot interact with us. And as time moves different for them, in an effort to not leave them in perpetual darkness or light, everything out there moves on a rhythmic rotation. A high-speed individual that maxes out, never returns. It is also necessary that we keep the city open.¡±


    ¡°We have to close the city.¡± It was a pretty noisy room with all the machines and whatnot, but every person inside shut up. Everyone but Caleb who repeated, ¡°We have to close the city. We have to.¡±


    Jenny stood with her arms crossed, hugging herself, watching the ground. Hal stood off to the side. Caleb kept his eyes on the hologram.


    ¡°Closing the city is a serious offense,¡± Hal said.


    Caleb asked him, ¡°More serious than this? The most exalted Milo Atkins, the only one to save us. The one we¡¯ve spent our last resources on, both physical and technical is in the wind. A Kabra agent came to either capture or kill him. There¡¯s never just one of those. I¡¯d say the city is already overrun but we can¡¯t see them. If they¡¯ve taken him prisoner¡ª¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not a prisoner.¡± Jenny waited for some time before picking her head up. ¡°You heard Evan Mortice. He¡¯s not what we expected.¡±


    There was a standoff between them until Caleb said, ¡°He¡¯s still our last hope.¡±


    Evan scoffed and said under his breath, ¡°Fuck. I¡¯m your last hope.¡±


    When all eyes gravitated to him, he shrugged.


    ¡°I am, though. You¡¯ve all worshiped Milo like he¡¯s some god. Newsflash, idiots. He¡¯s not the one person alive without a Virtual Implant. I am. Milo has an implant. Hell, he got one right away once people started to get superpowers. Because that was the point. He first made the VR simulation to be something more than he is. It didn¡¯t take. Sick son-of-a-bitch got nada for it. Nothing. Zilch. So¡­the guy y¡¯alls panties should be dropping for, is me. And I¡¯ll do you one better. I don¡¯t even have a drop of the nerve soothing substance in me either. And since I dumped it the same day that I went to sleep, I¡¯m even extra pure. Now, about me getting my company back¡­.¡±


    Caleb ignored him and told Hal yet again, ¡°Closing down the city comes with a risk. We all know that. But we cannot lose the exalted Milo Atkins. He started all this. This is the biggest find of our lifetime. There is no next generation if we don¡¯t. Our birthrate¡¯s falling off a cliff!¡±


    Evan waited for someone to ask the obvious. No such luck.


    Hal stood up straight and said, ¡°I¡¯ll put in the request. But¡­think of the human cost. And in the end, he may have already been taken out of the city.¡±


    ¡°How would they transport him? Flesh on flesh, right?¡±


    Flesh on flesh? Evan opened his mouth to ask but everybody split up and went in different directions.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Evan said. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t somebody ask the most exalted Evan Mortice for some advice? Milo¡¯s not leaving the city, you know. Hey!¡±


    No one and nothing attended to him.


    Well, one thing did. Out of the corner of his eye, Evan spotted that eerie face slide down the wall and grin, ever ready to be of service.


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    The smile vanished. Soon after, so did the dummy.


    Evan didn¡¯t appreciate their treatment. He opened his mouth to let out a shout.


    An explosion rocked them. Evan caught the wall in time. The room shook with three more bangs.


    The three knuckleheads in here rushed the walls, Evan, however, made his way to the hologram.


    Four areas on the map smoldered.


    ¡°Kabras are in the city!¡± Caleb shouted. ¡°Ten identified. Fifteen. Twenty-three.¡±


    He kept counting up but Evan gravitated to the miniature city like a man possessed. ¡°Hey,¡± he asked, ¡°what¡ªwhat exactly is this? This black dot.¡± No one regarded him so he picked his head up and called. ¡°Hey, assholes, is that literally Death I see walking towards this city or have I lost my absolute fucking mind?¡±


    The trio froze. Hal was the first one to turn and approach.


    Apparently, ¡®the company¡¯ was surrounded by a desert. And in the desert, a figure in black, hood and all, marched toward them. What was more important was what followed. An army of people floating, flying, carrying heavy vehicles, literally, on their shoulders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me,¡± Evan drawled. ¡°Those are the Kabras, too, right? And they¡¯re about to come fuck up your city.¡± After letting out a sigh, he muttered under his breath, ¡°My city.¡±


    The next explosion made Evan¡¯s stomach drop. It was close.


    ¡°That was in this building,¡± Hal confirmed. ¡°Close to the cryo-room.¡±


    Jenny worried her lip. ¡°They want Milo.¡±


    Caleb muttered. ¡°Then let them in. Nothing in that room except a pod with a fucking dog, anyway.¡±