‘What about that thing you zapped me with?’ demanded Tark.
‘That’s a self-defence device. You have to actually make contact with a person to use it. And we only have one.’
‘Well then, I’m going on my own,’ said Tark.
The door to the laboratory flew open and Devon came rushing in, carrying a computer tablet.
‘Boss,’ he panted, handing her the tablet. ‘You’ve got an incoming communication.’
Josie held it up and saw an image of Robbie.
‘Who are you and what do you want?’ she demanded. She was putting on her no-nonsense leader’s voice.
‘My name is Robbie and I’m your informer.’
‘What?’ Tark’s eyes widened at the sound of the voice.
‘What?’ Josie’s voice echoed Tark’s.
‘Just listen,’ said Robbie. ‘Guards are breaking into the room where Zyra and I are. We don’t have much time. We need your help with the Game. The kidnapped children are slowly gaining consciousness and a physical presence in the Game, but they are disorientated and panicked. This is causing instability in the Game environments. Mel is there and trying to calm them down.’
‘Mel!’ gasped Josie. ‘She’s all right?’
‘Yes,’ said Robbie. ‘But she needs help. We need as many of you as possible to go into the Game and help her calm the children. I’m sending you the Game coordinates now.’
‘We can’t,’ said Josie. ‘Our nanos can’t get us past the Game security.’
‘I have disabled the security,’ said Robbie. ‘You can now get in.’
‘How did you do that?’ asked Tark.
‘I am now Designer Prime,’ replied Robbie, matter-of-factly. ‘Go as quickly as you can.’
And then the communication went dead.
‘Devon,’ said Josie, voice eager. ‘Get the nanos ready.’
36: Downloading
The hole in the wall was getting bigger. Zyra could now see the drilling machine and its operator.
The hatch to the secret passage slid open. Leaving the portal active, Robbie stepped through the swirling strings of code and out of the programming zone. The display immediately took on a red hue.
‘Come on,’ said Robbie, taking Zyra’s hand and leading her to an emergency exit hatch. ‘We’ve gotta move. I’ve set the portal to overload.’
They climbed down and made their way along the maze of narrow passages. Seconds later the building was rocked by an explosion. Robbie fell against Zyra, pressing her up against the wall. Their faces were almost touching and Robbie’s strange lash-less eyes stared into Zyra’s. For a brief moment it seemed as if Robbie would lean in closer.
‘Ah, shouldn’t we get going?’ said Zyra.
‘Um … yes,’ agreed Robbie, pulling away, trying to hide the sudden rush of colour in his cheeks. ‘This way.’
They raced along the passageways until they came to a dead-end with a ladder reaching up to the ceiling. Robbie climbed up and placed his palm to the ceiling. A hatch appeared and he climbed up. Zyra followed.
They were in a white corridor, the hatch closing up as if it had never been there. They had hardly gone ten metres down the corridor when Robbie stopped and pressed his palm to the wall. A door slid open and they went in.
Zyra went cold as she remembered the room.
‘Yes,’ said Robbie, seeing her expression. ‘This is the room in which you were born.’ He pointed to the gelatinous sack in the centre of the room. ‘A new clone has taken your place.’
Zyra looked at the sack, connected to tubes and wires that disappeared into the wall. Through the membrane, she saw a human shape curled up in a foetal position, suspended in a thick green liquid. She held her breath and poked at the skin with her finger. The rubbery surface squished inwards, the displacement of liquid making the clone wobble about. Long blonde hair floated about its head. It was a replica of her.
Zyra exhaled loudly.
‘Look, I know this is a bit weird for you,’ said Robbie. ‘Especially since you were in one of these things little more than twenty-four hours ago. But we need to get a move on.’
‘Twenty-four hours?’ Zyra suddenly realised how tired she was. And hungry. And achy. She had been running on adrenaline all this time and now that she realised it, everything threatened to catch up with her.
Robbie activated a panel that slid open revealing a set of controls. He tapped at the keys and then another panel opened. This one revealed a small compartment. Robbie pulled out a jumpsuit, which he handed to Zyra.
‘The clone is now ready. So a signal will have been sent to the corresponding exit card in the Game. The first Game entity will begin to download soon. I’m going to leave you to take care of her, while I go to the next clone. Is that okay?’
‘Sure.’ Zyra’s voice was flat.
‘I’ll be back with my clone as soon as I can.’
Zyra continued to stare at the cocooned clone after Robbie left. Then she started to pace up and down, eyes still glued to the clone. She was not sure how long she had been watching it before she saw movement. It was a slight spasm at first, a twitching arm. But soon both arms and legs were convulsing, and then stretching out, pushing against the membrane.
The clone’s fingers tore through the rubbery substance and thick green liquid spilled out onto the white floor. Zyra jumped back instinctively. She continued to watch from a distance as the figure thrashed about and coughed up more liquid, adding to the green puddle she was lying in.
Zyra dropped the jumpsuit and cautiously approached. ‘Hello,’ she said tentatively. ‘Hope! Is that you?’
‘Yes, dammit!’ gasped the clone. ‘It’s me.’
Hope threw up all over Zyra’s feet.
‘Thanks,’ said Zyra.
Hope opened her eyes and squinted up at Zyra. And then vomited again. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and struggled up onto her hands and knees.
‘Here, let me help you up.’
Zyra held onto Hope’s arms and Hope shakily got to her feet. She almost fell over as a downpour of warm water cascaded from the ceiling, drenching them both. Zyra quickly put an arm around her shoulders to steady her. Moments later, the water ceased and a blast of warm air dried the room.
‘Come on, let’s get you dressed.’
Zyra walked Hope over to the jumpsuit and held it out for her. It was at that point that Hope finally registered the mirrored wall.
‘We really do look the same, don’t we?’
‘Yep,’ agreed Zyra. ‘I’m still not used to looking like this.’
‘Oh … I could get used to being young again,’ said Hope, admiring her own reflection.
‘Get dressed,’ said Zyra, shaking her head in amusement. ‘We’re going to have company soon.’
Just as Hope sealed up her jumpsuit, Robbie and another clone entered.
Hope and Zyra stared at the perfect young version of John Hayes.
‘This is Galbrath,’ said Robbie.
‘Oh you’re kidding me.’ Zyra turned to Hope, hands on hips. ‘You know our history, and yet you chose him as number two?’
When Zyra and Tark had been playing the Game – and even when they first became Outers – Princeling Galbrath had a knack for being trouble.
‘You said to choose the people I trusted most and who I thought would adapt best,’ said Hope. ‘And this is him. The third Galbrath since you left. The most trustworthy and resourceful of the lot. He is his own person. So get over it!’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Galbrath, extending his hand.
Zyra shook it warily.
‘We don’t really have time for all this chit-chat,’ said Robbie. ‘We’ve got more clones to awaken, and we need weapons.’
Zyra looked from Hope to Galbrath. ‘More clones. How are we going to keep track of who’s who? We’re all going to look the same.’
‘I had already considered that,’ said Robbie, holding up a thick black marker. ‘I’ll write your names on your
jumpsuits.’
37: Calming Down
Tark materialised beside the containment tank, right in front of a screaming boy. He put his arms around the kid in an endeavour to calm him down.
Seconds later, Josie materialised. She immediately scanned the people around her.
‘Mel!’
Mel looked up from the young girl she had been comforting. ‘Oh goodness me. Josie!’ She enveloped Josie in a tight hug. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. ‘I never thought I’d see you again.’
‘Can’t get rid of me that easily,’ Josie whispered in her ear.
Devon appeared right beside them.
‘Wow!’ He stared around the room – at the people, the ghostly apparitions and the gigantic tank.
Mel released Josie. ‘What are you doing here? How?’
‘We’ve been sent to help you,’ said Josie as three more rebels materialised. ‘We’re here to try and calm these kids down before they destroy the Game.’
Mel nodded. ‘Well, get to it.’
Each of the rebels went to the nearest child, hugged them and explained what was happening. Josie hung back with Mel, her expression a mix of eagerness and dread. ‘Any sign of …’
Mel shook her head sadly. ‘Not yet.’
38: The Rebellion
Zyra, Hope, Galbrath and three other clones marched along a white, featureless corridor. Each of them carried a test-tube filled with clear liquid. Robbie had said that it was the best he could do under the circumstances with limited resources. Zyra also carried a second test-tube, its liquid tinged a murky blue.
They approached a corner and Zyra held up her hand. They slowed down, creeping up to the end as quietly as they could. She led the way around the corner and threw the first of her test-tubes. It hit one of the guards in the chest. As the tube shattered against the armour, the liquid vaporised. The noxious fumes had overcome the guard before he even had a chance to raise his arm.
Hope did not do so well. Her test-tube missed its mark, hitting the second guard in the leg. Galbrath threw his tube as the guard raised his arm and fired. The burst of energy from the power-glove seared past Hope’s ear. Galbrath’s tube shattered on the guard’s arm. He managed to fire off one more burst before sinking to the floor. The energy harmlessly scorched the ceiling.
‘Aim’s a bit off,’ said Zyra. She strode towards the wall between the two guards.
‘I’m still not used to this body,’ complained Hope. ‘It doesn’t move like I used to in the Game.’
‘You’ll get used to it,’ assured Zyra. She unstopped the second test-tube and splashed the blue liquid onto the wall. It fizzled, revealing a door.
Zyra and the clones walked in and a light came on, illuminating a mini-arsenal.
‘So this is a scientific research establishment, is it?’ said Hope, looking around in awe.
‘The Designers have other motives,’ said Zyra, looking around at the rows of shelved weaponry. ‘There,’ she pointed, finding what she was looking for.
She picked up a stubby silver gun. It was light, with a plastic feel and looked more like a toy than a weapon. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s get these back to the others.’
‘What about those?’ asked Hope, pointing to some more heavy-duty weaponry on the other side of the room. ‘Or these?’ She indicated a shelf of power gloves.
‘These are the ones Robbie said to get,’ insisted Zyra. ‘Sonic stun guns. Energy weapons are no use. The guards’ armour absorbs energy bursts.’
Hope was obviously not happy with the situation, but grudgingly scooped up an armful of stun guns. The others did the same.
‘What about these?’ Hope stopped by a shelf with some old-fashioned handguns.
‘No good,’ said Zyra. ‘The armour’s also bulletproof.’
Hope waited for Zyra to head off, then snatched up a black pistol. It reminded her of the weapon she used inside the Game. Even if it didn’t work on the guards, she might get the chance to shoot a Designer.
***
Zyra and her Outer clones met with Robbie and two more clones in the corridor outside the birthing chambers. Zyra read their nametags – Vislor and Nyssa. The names meant nothing to her.
‘I’ve left one of the Outers in charge of reviving the rest of the clones,’ said Robbie.
‘That would be the Professor.’ Hope glanced at Galbrath. ‘I knew it would be good to bring a scientist along.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Robbie.
‘So, you’re coming with us?’ asked Hope.
‘Unless you happen to know your way around this facility, you are going to need me,’ said Robbie. ‘Plus I will need to get to another programming portal.’
Robbie explained the Game’s growing crisis to Hope as he led them through the endless white corridors. They did not meet any guards along the way. In fact, they hardly saw anyone at all. The two technicians they did run into retreated quickly at the sight of a group of clones with stun guns marching along the corridor.
‘Okay,’ said Robbie, coming to a stop. ‘We’re in the core research area.’
Zyra raised her stun gun and fired past Robbie’s head. An oncoming guard crumpled to the floor.
‘Good reflexes,’ said Hope, approvingly.
‘Thanks.’ Zyra lowered her weapon.
‘There will be more of them just around the corner,’ said Robbie. ‘And they are bound to have heard that shot.’
Right on cue another guard came running around the corner. Hope shot this one.
‘How long will they be out?’ asked Hope.
‘A couple of hours,’ said Robbie.
‘That’s not very long,’ complained Hope.
‘We don’t need long,’ assured Robbie. ‘We just need to get to Designer Alpha. She controls the guards. Besides, there are not that many of them. This is a research facility. So the only guards are her personal retinue.’
‘Right,’ said Zyra. ‘Let’s go then.’
Stun guns at the ready, they strode around the corner. A barrage of energy bolts made them duck back. There were two guards ahead, standing by the wall at the end of the corridor.
‘That’s the entrance to the main lab,’ said Robbie.
‘And those two are going to be more difficult,’ said Zyra.
A clone pushed past and threw himself out into the open, firing continuously as he shoulder-rolled across the floor and jumped to his feet. The two guards slid to the floor, unconscious. ‘If each shot is worth a couple of hours of downtime, then these guys will be out for days,’ quipped Galbrath, smug grin firmly in place. He flexed his arms. ‘By the way, I love this body. So much more versatile than what I had in the Game.’
‘I can see why you wanted him along,’ Zyra said to Hope.
Robbie placed his hand against the wall. A door slid open and a volley of shots made them scatter. Within seconds they were returning the fire.
One of the Outers was thrown back as a blast of energy hit him in the shoulder. Another crumpled to the floor, clutching her leg. Zyra had no idea who they were. She couldn’t see their names.
They continued firing blindly through the door until there were no more returning shots. Zyra picked herself up from the floor and cautiously approached the doorway. The unconscious body of a guard lay on the floor, surrounded by broken equipment.
‘All clear,’ she called back.
The others followed her in, the two injured Outers supported by their comrades. Within moments of entering, Hope and Galbrath had their stun guns trained on the workstations.
‘Hands up!’ demanded Hope.
Slowly, three people in lab coats rose from behind the desks, arms raised above their heads.
‘So where is Designer Alpha?’ Zyra asked.
‘In her programming portal,’ said Robbie. He pointed to the far wall.
‘Right,’ she said, taking command. ‘Hope. Galbrath. And … the rest of you. Set up a barricade in front of the door in case we get any more guards. Send one of the clones to collect
the rest of your group – they should all be downloaded by now. And get the two injured clones up onto the table over there.’
‘They have names,’ said Hope, pointedly. ‘We are not just clones, thank you very much.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Zyra, rubbing a hand across her brow. ‘We all look the same. And everyone is facing the wrong way for me to read their names.’
‘Yeah,’ said Hope. ‘I think I prefer being me, even if I am getting old.’
‘You,’ Zyra turned to the technicians. ‘Look after the injured … people.’
Everyone set off to do his or her appointed tasks. Robbie led Zyra to the far end of the room and placed his hand on the wall. A door-sized rectangle glowed briefly, but did not open.
‘She’s in lock-down.’
‘So what now?’ growled Zyra.
Robbie smiled. ‘I’m Designer Prime.’ He placed his hand on the wall again. ‘Override security system.’
The door opened up. Robbie and Zyra pushed into the room. It looked identical to the other programming portal. Designer Alpha stood in the centre of the room, the portal controls and displays active around her.
Designer Alpha whipped around, code flying across her display. Her eyes locked onto Zyra. ‘How did you …’ Then she turned her attention to Robbie. ‘You! You’re just a clone, a robot.’
‘No,’ said Robbie, stepping forward. ‘I am a person in my own right. And I am now Designer Prime.’
‘Impossible!’ spat Designer Alpha. ‘Robert is, or was, Designer Prime. And he was irrelevant even before he died.’ She turned her attention back to the floating lines of code in front of her.
‘Close portal,’ said Robbie.
The controls and displays around Designer Alpha winked out of existence.
‘Impossible!’ Her voice was a harsh, strangled whisper. Her eyes were filled with hate. ‘I am the Alpha. I am the one in charge.’
‘Not anymore,’ said Zyra, pointing her stun gun. ‘Over here.’
Designer Alpha reluctantly walked over to Zyra as Robbie took her place in the centre of the room.
Gamers' Rebellion Page 14