As many times as Isidore has meandered around in Paradise, he hasn't viewed the city quite like this. There is a freedom here and a liveliness that until now have been overshadowed by an ominous darkness. As the children run past playing with toy guns and balloons, it is like two separate places. A few goldfinches flitter overhead as they chase shimmering blue dragonflies in the breeze. The rain did wonders for the temperature. Here it is midmorning and it hasn't hit eighty degrees Fahrenheit yet. For a region of the country that gets above one hundred nearly every day, it's a nice change of pace for most people. Isidore, on the other hand, is still chilled and holds his tan trench coat tightly around him. The golden triangle around his neck is cool on his chest and it clinks with the one that Kazimir gave him. Blice was quick to get Isidore a new insignia once they had gotten back to Paradise. So now he has his with his credentials and maximum security clearance as well as Kazimir's that Isidore hasn't had a chance to investigate. Surely there is some interesting information about Kazimir Dark's identity on there. Blice's voice breaks him out of his speculation.
"Niko, I want you to relax and get your mind off of you-know-who."
Isidore crosses his arms on his chest. "Saying 'you-know-who' when I know who you're talking about doesn't help the situation at all."
"God, you are in a mood today."
"A mood? What mood would that be, Blice?"
"Pain in the ass robot mood." Blice says with a smile.
Robot. What an awful misnomer. "Robot, huh?"
Blice puts his arm around Isidore's shoulders. "I'm joking around. Lighten up, man. Look how pretty it is today. You know that all of the plants in the production fields appreciated that rain."
"Where are the Secret Service agents and why are people not trying to kill me?"
"The Secret Service agents are undercover and all around us. Trust me, they're there. And as for people being friendlier to you? I signed some new laws and regulations yesterday. You're welcome."
"What are they?" Isidore asks.
"The Android Laws are history. Welcome to the world of humanity."
Isidore scoffs. "Humanity? Humanity is a curse."
"Oh, shut up. Don't talk like that. You can't stay depressed and moody like this all the time. I didn't program you to be a bitch."
Isidore can't help but smile at Blice.
"Wait. Was that a smile? I think I saw a smile."
Isidore crosses his arms and pouts. "Nope."
"What am I going to do with you? So ornery."
"That's what I do when I'm mad at the world."
"Well, stop it." Blice says. "There's no reason to be angry. Every guy gets his heart broken by a woman at least once. Like I said, welcome to humanity."
"I loved her."
"I know. We did all we could, but it just wasn't meant to be. You'll find someone else. You should hear the way the ladies fantasize about you."
"Really? Why me?" Isidore asks.
"You don't look in the mirror very often, do you? This is going to sound very weird coming from me, but you are sexy."
Isidore laughs. "Oh my God, Blice. I didn't know you were like that."
Blice playfully punches him in the arm. "You're on the list now, too."
"What list?"
"The list of people I have to kill in extremely embarrassing and painful ways."
"Good to know. Guess what? It was worth it."
"Besides, you're still attracted to electronics, right?" Blice asks. "Do you still have sex with technology?"
Isidore blushes and tries to avoid Blice's prying eyes.
"Tell me. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
Fine. "Yes. I was with your blender last night."
"Holy father in heaven. You know there are blades in there, right?"
"The trick is to be smarter than the blender." Isidore winks at him.
Blice doubles over in laughter. Once he composes himself, he hugs Isidore. "It has been years since you've been so talkative with me. Thank you."
"Well, maybe I only now feel comfortable being this open with you. Beating me and making me serve you as a slave didn't help."
"You're right. You're totally right."
Then he notices. "Know what? You haven't had a cigarette yet today."
"I'm trying to stop again. I know you hate it so much. Want to know another little secret? I haven't had any pills either."
"I don't think you're actually Blice McSage."
Blice finds a bench beside one of the bakeries, much to Isidore's dismay, and sits with him. "I want to be better for you and when I'm on the pills, they make me act differently and I lose my temper. I can't control it and I end up hurting you. I will deal with the withdrawals if I can get off of them for good."
This could be bad. "You are going to crash so hard later."
"That's what I have you for. You'll be there for me, right?" Blice asks.
"Of course. I was there when you overdosed and I'll be there for you now."
"So, now that we're talking . . . I need to know something. Have you watched all of your memories?" Blice asks.
"No. Even with them condensed, it's going to take a while."
"What about those fifty-eight?"
Oh. Those memories. "I haven't watched them. I don't plan on it. Sometimes the past needs to stay in the past."
"Are you hungry?"
God yes. "I can eat."
"Not apples." Blice gives him a stern look.
This is the worst torture Blice has ever put him through. "But Blice!"
"What? What do you want to eat?"
Isidore gives him a puppy dog eye look.
"Pathetic." Blice looks around then grins. "Oh. I see what you want. Caramel apples."
He laces his fingers and holds up his hands to Blice. "Please, please?"
"You're such a kid."
"Technically I'm an adult."
"Yah, barely. Mentally you're about six." Blice says. "Fine. You can have a caramel apple, but only if you eat some actual food first."
"But if I'm a robot, I don't need food so I can eat whatever I want, right?"
Blice hasn't stopped smiling for five minutes. "I've missed this. This is the Niko I know. It's so good to have you back."
"I'm working on finding myself again. Just don't get so harsh with me when I make mistakes. I don't mind following your orders and doing whatever you need me to do. I honestly enjoy it to a point. It makes me feel useful."
"You don't know how happy that makes me. Before we get some food, I need to talk to you about some stuff. I invited Prime Minister Leblanc of Common Ground to meet with us next Monday. We need to have everything perfect. If this meeting goes well, we could ease the tensions between our two countries and not have to go to war. Of course, I will ask him about the attacks and see if Common Ground was in any way involved."
Isidore rests his head on the wall behind him. "They weren't. I can tell you that right now."
"How do you know that?"
"I just know. The blame was placed on them. Except for that one that Alexi informed us of with the paratroopers. Other than that one incident, I think Damien is responsible for everything else."
Blice leans back against the wall as well. "You know as well as I do that without evidence, no one will listen to you."
"That's why I'm working on it. I will find evidence. You didn't sign that shoot on sight order against Kazimir, did you?"
"Not yet. I'm not going to do anything rash like that without definitive proof."
"Thank you for that." Isidore says.
"I want to be the best leader this country has had. Mindlessly killing people isn't the way to do that. And before you ask, what I did to those rebellious inquisitors was a different case. We found their transmissions that were recorded about trying to kill me. There was no doubt who was involved with that." Blice puts his hand on Isidore's knee. "How are your legs? How much has the dark matter spread?"
Oh yeah. He had almost forgotten. "I honestly don't know. I've
been trying to forget about it. I don't want to lose my legs, Blice."
"Roll up your pants and let me see."
Isidore does and looks away. He doesn't want to look at it.
Blice gasps. "No way. Niko, they're almost fully healed. The dark matter is vanishing too. I guess your genetically engineered skin is more durable and resistant to it. I am so happy that you aren't human."
"Um . . . thanks?"
Four women are talking between themselves rather loudly close by. Isidore ignores them at first until the subject changes and he knows something isn't right.
"What a shame. She was still so young." One of the women says.
"She must have been overcome with grief after losing her husband."
"They were always so happy together. I could tell she wasn't doing well at the funeral."
"I'll be right back, Blice." Isidore gets up and goes over to the group of women. "Excuse me, ladies."
They bow and smile at him. The one in the purple hat rubs his arm. "You are such a cute little computer. I wish I could take you home with me."
Wow . . . that's not okay. He pulls away from her. "Actually, ma'am, I overheard your conversation and it piqued my interest. Do you mind telling me who you were talking about?"
"Maria Thompson, Agent Seth Thompson's widow. She was found dead this morning with a syringe in her arm. She missed her husband so much that she committed suicide to be with him. It's quite romantic. That poor baby, though. It's truly a tragedy."
The short woman in green covers her mouth as she speaks. "Rumor has it that our hero Damien Montgomery used to be engaged to her. Poor soul, losing his ex-fiancé and his partner within days of each other."
Yes . . . poor Damien. Could he have something to do with this? Some twisted and sadistic crime to kill off Seth's baby? Isidore can only hypothesize, but there are plenty of motives. What if Damien went to her house and tried to get back together with her but she wouldn't have it? Another possibility is that he staged the entire thing and it was part of some huge elaborate scheme that he's been working on for years. But why? What could he possibly gain by killing off everyone who cares about him? Did he lie to make it look like Common Ground did this instead of him so it would start a war? Surely not. From what little Isidore has been able to uncover and overhear about W.A.N.D., he knows it isn't finished yet. There's no plausible reason for Damien to incite a war that could go against the very project he has spent years developing. No. That can't be it.
Isidore turns to leave. "Thank you, ladies."
One of them gives a tiny scream and they begin whispering amongst themselves. Then the youngest one, a year or two older than Isidore, runs up to him and grabs his arm. "Sir, are the rumors true?"
He looks at her brown eyes that are wide with excitement and anticipation against her smooth dark skin. "What rumors?"
She leans in close and whispers into his ear. "You are an android so your body is . . . different from a human's right?"
Where is she going with this? "I guess. Why?"
"Is all of you like a human man?"
Not this. Looks like Blice was right. For a minute, Isidore thinks about how he should answer. This is beyond private and it makes him blush even more. He looks over at Blice who is giving him a thumbs up. So what does he do? Isidore will give Blice something to be proud of. Isidore puts his hand on the small of the woman's back and pulls her close. "Baby, no human has anything on me. I was made to be as close to perfect and pleasing as possible." He draws her face closer to his and kisses her.
The other women squeal and clap their hands as the girl goes back to them to no doubt tell them her exciting little bit of information. Isidore grins. Okay, so maybe not so little.
Blice stands and claps his hands. "Look at you. Told you that you are quite the ladies' man. What did you whisper to her?"
"You don't want to know."
"You can't do something like that and then not tell me."
This is getting awkward again. "She asked a question and I answered it."
"She asked about your abnormally large android-"
Isidore holds up his hand. "Shut up, Blice. It's flattering when women talk about it. It's creepy when you do."
"Sorry. I should have warned you about that rumor. But I guess it's not a rumor if it's true. Oh, don't give me that look. I've seen you naked more than I ever wanted to."
"And now I'm changing the subject. Did you know about Maria?"
"Seth's widow?" Blice asks. "Yes. I heard this morning. Sad story."
"Do you know what was in the syringe?" Isidore asks.
"Not yet. The crime scene is off limits and is being analyzed right now by the police force."
"Let me know when you get that report. I want to look it over." Isidore asks.
"Sure thing, buddy."
30
"Your first step in becoming my partner and an agent in the Outlander Force is one that you will need to continually come back to and refine. Combat training." Damien swipes his key card through the blue hologram outside of the metal door.
It slides open and Byron follows him into the large black room where some sort of monitors line the walls. "What is this place?"
"The virtual combat simulator. Not bad for being in the basement of the technology center, right? Here's how we're going to do this. As my partner, you will be responsible for my life and safety. I will be responsible for your life and safety. Got it?"
"Okay."
"Your strength and quick thinking in combat are what you need to be focusing on. Let me handle the more delicate matters." Damien holds up his hands and a pulse of electricity sparks around his fingers. When he touches it to the monitors, there is a small burst of energy and the lights go out.
"What did you do that for?"
"I can't have you getting in the way of my plans, Byron. How can I know whose side you are truly on? Do you want what's best for Paradise or are you still clinging to your wasteland upbringing? I can't have you dragging me down and holding me back. I am finally the hero I always wanted to be. Didn't you see the people cheering for me and smiling? They love me."
Byron's hair stands on end as Damien's footsteps echo around them. He reaches out to open the door, but the electronic lock has been activated and without electricity to power it, it is stuck. What is Damien going to do? This room is soundproof and no one will hear whatever goes on down here. "Are you going to kill me?"
Damien doesn't answer.
Just as Byron calls his flames to life in order to illuminate the room, something cold and heavy snaps shut around his wrists. His heart begins to race as his magic fades then goes dormant. "Damien, these are lead, aren't they?"
"Indeed. We are going to practice you defending yourself without being able to use your magic."
"Or the ability to use my hands? What the hell?" Byron asks as he backs up against the wall. Then the chilling sound of a gun being loaded fills the emptiness.
"You have to be better than my last partner." Damien says. "Let's see how you do with real bullets."
So he is going to kill him. Byron should have seen this coming. "What? You're going to shoot at me? We can't see anything."
"Learn to predict where my shots are going to go. Or face a quick and definitive fate. I think this room will make a good grave for you, Erikson. And tantalizingly ironic. A M.A.G.E. who can make fire dies in the darkness."
The sound of the gun goes off and Byron falls when the bullet hits leg. He crawls to get away from his attacker as his heart pounds in his chest and in his ears. He knows he can't escape, but his body won't let him stop trying to survive. He reaches out one last time as something heavy hits him between the shoulders.
Damien grinds the heel of his boot into Byron's back and three more shots ring out.
* * *
The cold air hits Isidore's skin as a shiver running down his spine wakes him up. Four men in white coats surround the bed and hold him down. He tries to kick at them, but they are stronger than he
is. As he struggles, they strip his clothes from him. Another group of men moves nearly everything out of the room and removes the sheets from the beds. Then they all leave and lock the door from the outside.
Where is Blice? His bed is empty and it looks as if he never came home. Where has he been all of this time? When they are living in the same room, it should be easier to find him. Something is terribly wrong and he can sense it in the air.
Isidore curls up in the middle of his bed and holds his legs to his chest. What was that? Damn, it's cold in here. Why did they take his clothes and blankets? He's shivering in the darkness and listens to the shouting and screaming echoing in the hallway. It's Blice. Something crashes and Blice screams some more as an alarm goes off somewhere out in the city. Isidore goes to the door and pounds on it until a man's voice snaps at him.
"Stop hitting the door or we will have to tie you down."
"I dare you to try. Let me out of here. You can't do this."
"We are under orders from the president to not let you out of this room for three days." The man says.
"Three days? You're insane. I didn't do anything to deserve this. Let me out! Where is Blice?"
"He will be here shortly."
Isidore gives up and goes back to the bed. Blice is still yelling and cursing down the hall. Other voices join his now and they are trying to calm him down. Footsteps approach outside the room and the door opens.
Blice enters the room and the door shuts behind him. He tosses Isidore a pair of boxers. "Sorry about their roughness."
"Why did they take my clothes?" Isidore asks as he dresses in what little he has.
"You've been placed on suicide watch."
"Suicide watch?" Isidore asks. "Why?"
Blice clears his throat and slips some pills into his mouth. "It's mandatory and a precaution in situations like this."
"What's going on? You've been crying."
"Nothing."
"No. You can't lock me in here, strip me, and act like this if there's nothing wrong. I heard you screaming."
Paradise of Lead Trilogy Page 49