Freak of Nature

by Julia Crane

  When they entered the unfamiliar building, Kaitlyn glanced around, taking in the new surroundings. Unlike the stark, sterile lab, there wasn’t a white wall to be seen. Lots of browns, greens, and maroon. Abstract paintings hung strategically on the walls, and a large, fanciful vase of wildflowers sat on the reception table in front of the main doors. As they approached, a curvy blonde woman rose from behind the reception desk and smiled. “Good morning. They are waiting inside.”

  “Thanks, Gracie.”

  Harrington led the way and continued through a set of massive wooden double doors and into a large conference room. There were several men and women sitting behind a long table, backs straight and all eyes solely on Kaitlyn as she entered. Many were dressed in military uniforms. Kaitlyn’s computer scanned each for identification: High-ranking officials from three different branches. Army, Navy and Air Force. ‘Caution’ flashed on her internal screen. Thanks computers, she thought, slightly annoyed. I’m well aware the situation is problematic.

  She felt oddly detached from herself. She had to accept her new fate. Whatever was in store for her, she could handle. She would handle. After all, she had been programmed and prepared extensively for this day. Her eyes strayed to Lucas and she knew she was only trying to fool herself. She really didn’t want to leave. His eyes met hers and her heart sank.

  Harrington approached the head of the table and Kaitlyn stood off to the side with Lucas to the left of her. She felt calmer by his presence. She was surprised to see that Professor Adams was not in the room.

  Mr. Harrington took to the podium. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pride that I would like to introduce to you, Kaitlyn. The first true cyborg of our time. Her skills surpass even the most seasoned solider, and with more training, she will only get better. Human nature and technology have collided, and as you can see, the outcome is spectacular. Where others have failed, we have surpassed even our own highest expectations.”

  A murmur of approval went around the table.

  “Kaitlyn, come up here.”

  Kaitlyn moved without thinking and made her way to Harrington’s side. Everyone was staring at her, looking her up and down from head to toe. Even though she was used to being on display, for some reason the people that were looking at her now made her skin crawl.

  An old man with four stars on his collar, and a scowl on his face spoke from the middle of the table. He had an arrow head patch on his right sleeve, which her scan identified as JSOC. She guessed a former Delta Force commander. “Forgive me for not taking your word, Harrington. Are we going to see her in action?”

  “Of course. We’ve put together a short film for you.”

  With the click of a button on the podium, the lights dimmed and a screen scrolled down on the right wall. Curious, Kaitlyn turned to watch along with her prospective owners.

  The film started out in the combat room. Kaitlyn easily flipped Jeff over her shoulder, slamming him to the ground. At six-foot-two, he had been six inches taller than her and outweighed her by almost one-hundred pounds. The man struggled to get back to his feet, and with one swift kick, Kaitlyn swiped his knee cap, bringing him to his knees. The man howled in pain and swung blindly, but Kaitlyn easily blocked the blow. Like an animal, Kaitlyn circled her prey. In the blink of an eye, her arms were wrapped around his neck, and he went slack. Unconscious.

  Live Fire flashed across the screen, and then there was Kaitlyn, sprinting through the woods, weaponless. Suddenly, she dropped flat to the ground as a bullet whizzed past. She crawled into the brush. Within seconds, she located the target, waited until they were on top of her, sprung to her feet, and engaged. In the blink of an eye she had the shooter’s gun in her own hands and pressed against his temple before he knew what happened. The man smirked and raised his hands. Kaitlyn lowered the gun.

  It cut to Kaitlyn at the shooting range. Fifty-five meters flashed across the screen. Kaitlyn held a pistol and fired off shots, first using only her right hand, and then the left. The target came forward and showed a small, tight circle on the forehead of the silhouette.

  Someone muttered, “Impossible.” Several heads turned her way. She was surprised to feel a flush of pleasure from their awe.

  There were a few more brief scenes showcasing her skills, and then the room went dark briefly before the lights flashed back on.

  Everyone stared at Kaitlyn with renewed interest. Even the stoic older gentleman in the middle sat up in his seat and seemed impressed.

  “How do we know this is not doctored?” a stern-faced brunette woman asked. Her hair was pulled up so tightly in a bun her eyes were slanted back. Kaitlyn wondered if it gave her a headache. She wasn’t in uniform so Kaitlyn had no idea who she was representing.

  “You’re welcome to watch her in the field. I just wanted to give you a quick glimpse into her potential. Ladies and gentlemen, what we have seen here only scratches the surface. She can sense targets before they even become a threat. Her body temperature controls itself in any environment. The list goes on and on. I don’t want to give away all her secrets until we know for sure there is interest.”

  A woman from the end of the table spoke up. “Oh, there’s interest all right. What’s the downside?” Kaitlyn blinked at the questions and waited for his reaction. She had never thought of the downsides herself. Surely, there must be some.

  Harrington paced before them for a moment. “Really, the only downside is perception. Society is not ready for something of this magnitude. She would have to be kept top secret.”

  “Well, that’s easy enough,” the woman replied. “Who would want to risk such a gold mine in the public eye anyway? We would keep her locked away until needed.”

  Kaitlyn tensed up. So she had her answer: yet again she would be locked away. Only this time, there would be no Lucas or Quess.

  “So.” Harrington clapped his hands together, rubbing them. “Where should we start the bidding?”

  “Not so fast.” Said the surly man in the middle of the table. Kaitlyn’s scan calculated him to be the most dangerous of the crew despite his age. A person doesn’t get to his level with out being a threat. “A video might be good enough to catch our attention, but we need to see her in a real environment before we talk money.”

  “Very well. You can use my compound to set up any scenarios you wish. I assure you that she will pass with flying colors.”

  A tall, slim man in his mid-forties stood up. He was wearing an Air Force uniform, and the name on his tag said Fenderson. “I would like to speak to the subject.”

  Harrington nodded to Kaitlyn, and she stepped forward.

  The man directed his question to her. “What can you tell us about yourself?”

  “My name is Kaitlyn. I am programmed to be efficient and deadly. I follow orders without hesitation.” She stood with her hands to her sides, motionless, and spoke in a monotone voice.

  Nods of approval went around the room. Like Harrington they also wanted a mindless robot. The thought caused her to clench her hands into fist.

  Another woman, with short grey hair, spoke. “I think she would have a hard time blending in. She sounds like a robot. With her looks she will draw a lot of attention. Some missions might require she interact in public, even if on a limited basis.”

  “We’ve been working on that. We have installed a slang chip and facial recognition program so she can mimic emotions when needed. Which brings up another issue. If you are interested, we would like our main programmer to stay involved.” He nodded towards Lucas.

  “He’s not much more than a boy. We have our own people,” one of the men said curtly.

  The old man nodded. “I’m afraid the only way we could agree to this project is if we have complete control. Once she left this compound, everything would be in the black. Top secret, even to you. If you and your team were involved there would be an increased risk.”

  “Not acceptable,” Harrington said firmly. “My team is to remain with Kaitlyn or there will be no negoti
ations.”

  “Do you really want to be the ones to take responsibility if something went wrong?” another man asked. “If the subject is handed over to the government, you will not be responsible for any of the backlash. What you’ve done in creating your cyborg is illegal. By handing her over to us, you would be free and clear of any legal recriminations were knowledge of her existence to hit the media.”

  “I don’t give a shit about backlash,” Harrington said. “She was my vision. And pardon me for not quite taking your word. The government has been known to throw people under the bus when it suits their needs.”

  “Then you would be seeking another buyer.” The older man in the middle folded his hands calmly in front of him on the table. Outwardly he appeared calm, but his heart rate had increased substantially. Kaitlyn knew he was bluffing. But he seemed to be in charge of the show. Everyone else remained quiet.

  The usually calm Harrington’s jaw was clenched, and a flush rose to his face. “Fine. I believe this meeting has reached its end. When you are ready to be sensible, you know how to reach me. I don’t think I have to remind you there are other potential buyers. Out of loyalty to my country I gave you first chance.” He turned on his heel and strode from the room. Kaitlyn and Lucas followed close behind.

  Harrington slammed the door open with a thud.

  “Those arrogant jackasses. She is mine! They cannot expect me to hand over something I have put my heart and soul into and just walk away.”

  “I thought you expected this.” Lucas raised an eyebrow.

  “I know, but when we are so close to handing her over, I can’t do it. I need time to think. Make sure those fools make it off the compound.”

  For the first time, hope rose in Kaitlyn’s chest. Maybe Harrington would find a way to keep control. Which meant she could keep Lucas.

  “Why didn’t the others bid?” Kaitlyn asked confused.

  “It wasn’t a bidding war. All the branches work together for SOCOM, so it would have been a joint project. Harrington never planned on giving anyone a chance at you. He just wanted them to offer the maximum amount of money. Harrington is a lot of things, but he’s not a traitor to his country.”

  Kaitlyn let the info sink in. If the government officials didn’t change their minds, what would become of her?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kaitlyn sat on her bed with her arms wrapped around her legs, lost in thought. She’d been in the same position for over an hour—since she returned from the meeting—but had barely noticed the passage of time.

  Back and forth emotions pulled her in different directions. Could Harrington convince the buyer to allow Lucas to be a part of the package? If not, she’d be starting a new life all over again. Her sensors picked up on Lucas down the hall, moving quickly in her direction, but she was too worried to care. Soon, she could be gone. He was probably coming to take her away now.

  Lucas rushed into her room without bothering to knock. “We have to get you out of here, now.”

  Kaitlyn jumped to her feet. She noted the black rucksack in one hand and a pile of clothing in the other. “What happened?”

  “Harrington caved. He’s willing to give you over as long as he gets credit for you. I really thought he would stick to his guns on this. You should have heard him the other night. I know he doesn’t want to give you up, but he thinks it’s the only option.”

  She glanced up at the camera.

  “Disabled. For now. Hurry, Kate. We don’t have much time.” Lucas handed her the change of clothing. “Put these on.”

  “Where will I go?” she asked, clutching the all-black clothing to her chest as she stared at him.

  “As far away from this place as possible. I have money saved up. You can start over.”

  “Start over? Without you?” It felt like someone was pressing on her chest and she couldn’t breathe.

  “It’s for the best. They’ll turn you into a killer, Kate. I can’t stand the thought of that. I’m not going to let it happen.”

  Kaitlyn dropped the pile of clothes on her bed. She stepped forward, cupping his face in her hands. His eyes were wild. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  She rose on her tiptoes to kiss him in an attempt to calm him. And for a moment, his heart rate slowed. The rucksack he held hit the floor with a thud, and he pressed his body against hers. As the kiss deepened, he grasped her by both arms and pushed her away.

  “Kate, don’t you get it? Either way, you leave me. They will never allow us to be together. They want someone with no ties, no emotions. Now that I know you can feel, I can’t allow them to do this to you. I don’t care if I lose my job or get sent to jail.” His gaze swept across her face as if he was drinking in the sight of her and he plunged his hands into her hair. “I can’t let them have you.”

  “Where would I go? I don’t exactly blend in,” Kaitlyn murmured, her hands resting on his chest, her mind filtering through all the information.

  “You can blend in, Kate. You just have to wear long clothing to cover what we’ve done to you. Don’t get in long conversations with people. Keep to yourself.”

  “It won’t work, and you know it,” Kaitlyn said. “You’re shaking, and that’s why.” She covered his hands with her own. “There is no way out of this for me. I should just go, Lucas. It’s not worth you getting in trouble. It’s too big of a risk.”

  “It’s my risk to take. You have to try. Please, Kate.”

  She bit her lip, scanning her mind for options. “Do you have a plan?”

  “Of course. But, Kate… I can’t know where you are. If I know, I will look for you. I can’t lead them to you. They’ll watch me, they’ll watch all of us once you escape.”

  Escape. The word sounded so foreign to her. She reluctantly stepped away from his warm embrace and tugged off the clothes she wore. She could feel Lucas’s eyes on her as she dressed in the black pants and pulled the long sleeved black shirt over her head. “What about the GPS?”

  “I’m going to fry it. They won’t be able to track you. As long as you stay out of the limelight.”

  “Limelight?” Kaitlyn frowned.

  Lucas smiled sadly. “Just don’t get caught.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, as if he only had a moment left to live. It literally took her breath away.

  “I still don’t know how you do that to me,” she said against his lips, stealing one more kiss.

  He brushed a strand of her hair out of her face. “Whatever you feel is magnified by a thousand for me. God, I’m going to miss you.” His voice was hoarse.

  Kaitlyn opened her mouth to argue such a thing was not statistically possible, but something overrode the reaction. She realized without having to be told that he was just being sweet. But was it her computer that recognized the sentiment, or the real Kate?

  “Kate, I’m going to do something I should have done a long time ago. I hope you can forgive me for all I’ve taken from you.”

  “Lucas don’t say that, none of this is your fault. You were just a pawn in Harrington’s game.”

  “Shh.” He pressed his finger to her lips. “Turn around.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m giving you your past back. Memories of your old life.”

  Kaitlyn’s breathing hitched and she paused in the act of turning to look at him seriously. “My real life? Human life?”

  Lucas nodded. “I programmed it so that your memories won’t hit you for thirty minutes. That should give you more than enough time to get off the compound.”

  “But how? I thought they were gone…”

  He closed his eyes, pained. “Not gone, Kate. Saved to a hard drive and taken away from you.”

  “They saved my memories?”

  Opening his eyes, he said, “No. I did.”

  Kaitlyn couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping. “Do they know?”

  He shook his head.

  “Why would you save them?”

  “Because I cared abou
t the girl you were before you came to us.” Before she could ask another question, Lucas went on. “I can’t take you through this time. I need an alibi once they realize you’ve escaped. It will give you more time. I’ll have to sound the alarm when Harrington sends me to pick you up, and I find the room empty.”

  Pivoting on the balls of her feet, she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in for one last kiss. The thought of never tasting his lips on hers again made her feel hollow. “Thank you.” A small part of her was annoyed that he had her memories the whole time, but she pushed the thought aside. He was risking so much for her.

  Once they broke away, Lucas looked at her sadly. She wondered if his heart was hurting as much as hers. “Let me implant the chip to override the commands. I wish I had known you then, Kaitlyn.”

  Kaitlyn hesitated, and then slowly, she turned around. He pulled down her shirt and kissed her neck. There was an audible click and she felt a pinch as something was inserted into her mainframe.

  “Okay, it’s done.”

  She turned to face him, and he handed her an iPhone. Kaitlyn had never seen one before, but it would be easy enough to figure out.

  “There are maps on here and access to information. The phone is not traceable. If you need information, double click on the round button and speak into the phone, asking it what you need.”

  Kaitlyn looked at him like he was crazy. “You want me to talk into the device, and it will answer me?”

  “I know it sounds silly, but it really works.”

  “Where am I going to go?”

  “I-I don’t know. Just trust your instincts. Remember, try not to draw attention to yourself. Harrington will not stop looking for you.”

  “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

  “It’s the only way.” He whispered. “Don’t underestimate the guards, Kate, they know what they’re doing.”

  She shot him a look. “I’ll be fine. I’m quite efficient, thanks to IFICS.”

  Lucas looked down at the floor. A flush of red covered his cheeks. “I’ll still worry about you. Every day.”

  Kaitlyn reached for his hand and entwined his fingers in hers. His hand was large and warm in her own; it felt so natural. How could she walk away from him? And Quess?