Paradise of Lead Trilogy

  Kazimir crawls closer to Blice as the smoke fills the room from outside. "Idiot."

  "Okay. You're right. Maybe Clark knows what he's doing. He can't destroy this building, though."

  "Why not?" Kazimir asks.

  Why not? Didn't someone tell him that one time? Maybe not. "That's a good question. I think my father told me that one time."

  "Your father says a lot of things. Get on the phone with Byron and tell him to get moving. We can't keep taking hits like this. If one of those bombs goes off in the right place, this entire building will collapse."

  "The Inquisition doesn't have that many powerful bombs." Blice says as he crawls under his desk just in case.

  "But the space program does."

  "Oh, that's right. I forgot about him still being the head of that."

  * * *

  The vibrations from Byron's cell phone wake him up and he answers it. "Hello?"

  "Byron, you have to get to the space program headquarters." Blice says. "It's about eight blocks to the east of the palace. Do you know where that is?"

  "Why am I going there?"

  "You have to stop Clark. He's bombing us in here. Are you still in that crate?"

  "Yep. I fell asleep." Byron says.

  "You're hiding from an angry mob that wants to kill you and you fall asleep?"

  "I haven't been sleeping, Blice."

  The tone of Blice's voice changes. "I know. You've been up all night with Clara."

  He's doing this now? "Shut up. Don't pretend to know what I'm going through."

  "Oh, I'm sure it's so awful to screw her every night."

  "Don't do this, Blice." Byron warns.

  "What's wrong? You're man enough to sleep with another man's wife, but you're hiding in a crate when you should be killing somebody? And yes, I know you slept with Clara last night after I did. Do you know how gross that is? You're so-"

  Byron ends the call. He doesn't need this from him right now. He lies back down and closes his eyes. Let them all die. He doesn't care anymore.

  * * *

  "I have to take this call. Make sure 43 doesn't wake up. I'm sick of hearing her screaming." Damien steps away from the operating table and removes his blood-covered latex gloves with his teeth then answers the incoming call on his sensor. "What do you want, Clark?"

  "Requesting permission to destroy the Presidential Palace."

  "Who's in there?" Damien asks.

  "Blice, Kazimir, and some servants. I don't think Byron's in there."

  "Denied. We need Kazimir and Blice alive."

  "Why?" Clark asks.

  "I want Kazimir for some new experiments and I think that with enough money, he will gladly change sides."

  "What about Blice?"

  Damien steps back up to the metal table and examines the incision on Katarina's arm. "My son is . . . a special case. I'll just say that his brain is extremely expensive and important to the success of our project."

  "Blice will never go against Byron and Isidore. He's too set in his ways."

  "Oh, I know that Blice will never kill Isidore. That's not the point. I need Blice to kill Byron. God knows no one else can do it. That was one experiment I never should have attempted. At least both of them are still dormant."

  "Do they both have the omega code?" Clark asks.

  Damien collects some of the baby's blood. "Only Byron. So stop trying to chase him down. You can't kill him. It's impossible."

  "So he's immortal?"

  "Not quite. Why do you think I need Blice to kill him? Blice's dark matter is the only thing that can kill Byron."

  "What kind of crazy experiments were you doing on your children, Evans?" Clark asks.

  "Everything I did was for the advancement of the human race." Damien says as he hands the blood sample to Zach. "After W.A.N.D. is activated and the world is destroyed, you and I will be high up in space with everything we could ever need for the colonies."

  "The colonies are still years from being sustainable."

  "Not with the enhanced regeneration ring." Damien says.

  "True. But don't you need the omega code for that?"

  "Therein lies our problem."

  "Why don't we capture Byron and get the omega code out of his brain?" Clark asks.

  "Byron isn't a T.I.M.E. like Blice. The omega code is on a tiny piece of microfilm under the skin on Byron's neck."

  "Why hide it there?"

  "Why not?"

  "Your plans are terrible."

  Damien cuts the incision deeper until he reaches bone. "Deal with it."

  "So why can't Byron be killed by anything else?"

  "Because the radiation in his body from being a M.A.G.E. triggered the nanobot security program that was in place on that microfilm and it entered his bloodstream."

  "You're giving me a headache." Clark says. "What are you saying?"

  "Byron's white blood cells are enhanced with regenerative nanobots that will keep his vital organs working no matter how much trauma they take by quickly repairing cells. They also filter out any poisons he comes in contact with. The only thing that can negate those effects is the nanobots in Blice's dark matter."

  "Okay. I understand now. You could have said that in the first place and saved me the confusion."

  Damien drills a tiny whole into the bone then picks up the syringe with the metallic liquid in it and injects it into the bone. "So there is no way for us to remove the microfilm without risking being infected with nanobots from Byron's body."

  "Are you saying that every time he's been injured and bled, that nanobots were released into the world?" Clark asks.

  "Yes, but the ones in Byron's body don't last very long outside of a host body."

  "If they are purely regenerative, then why would it be a bad thing to have them?"

  Damien turns to Xavier. "Sew this up before the anesthesia wears off. Clark, if left the way they are, Byron dies in about three years from Blice's nanobots. They are eating away at him faster than his can repair. If anyone is exposed to his blood, there is the chance of getting Blice's destructive ones. Byron should already be feeling them beginning to turn against his body."

  "Okay. Do it your way."

  23

  After the riots have been shut down by the remaining members of the police force who still support him, Blice gathers Byron and Kazimir into the Oval Office and retrieves an envelope from his desk. "I have your key cards right here for ensuring your place in the new Paradise after W.A.N.D. is activated."

  "You sure you got everyone?" Kazimir asks.

  "Of course. I double and triple checked the list. There is no way I left anyone out. See?" Blice pours the key cards out on the desk. "Here's yours, Kazimir. Here are Clara's and my little Nika's, mine, and Monroe's."

  Kazimir starts laughing and pats Byron on the shoulder. "Family: the worst people in the world."

  Blice frowns and puts the key cards back in his desk. "What's so funny, Kazimir?"

  "I didn't think even you would be so cruel. Makes me glad I'm not related to you."

  "I don't understand."

  Byron crosses his arms. "Do you want to just kill me now so you don't have to deal with me anymore?"

  What's going on? "Guys, what's wrong?"

  "Check the names on those key cards again." Kazimir says.

  Blice takes them back out and reads the names. Then he realizes his mistake. "Oh my God. Byron . . . I . . . I'm so sorry. There's no way to change it now."

  "Is this because of Clara?" Byron asks.

  "No. I swear I meant to get you one. I don't know how this happened."

  "You forgot about me."

  "No . . . yes. I forgot." Blice says. "Do you know how much stress I've been under lately? But I checked and made sure you were included."

  Byron glares at him. "Sure, Blice."

  "Please don't be like this! There's no reason to be mad."

  "Oh, really? Sorry if I'm angry that my brother forgot to save my life. It would have taken on
e second to add my name to the list, but you didn't. How can you forget about your own brother? Oh wait. You forgot about me just like you did when you were growing up here in Paradise with everything you could have wanted while I was starving and scraping to get by in the wasteland."

  "Byron!" Blice calls after his brother.

  Byron slams the door as he leaves the room.

  Kazimir shakes his head. "Is this really the way you want to get revenge?"

  "I didn't do this on purpose. Byron and I might not get along very well, but I would never want him to die, especially not this way. It's out of my hands now."

  "I see you didn't get one for Isidore either. Finally accepted his fate?"

  Blice turns to the window. "I don't want to talk about it."

  "Have you told him yet?"

  "No. I don't have the heart to. I can't do it, Kazimir. I can't see his face once I tell him."

  Kazimir pours himself a cup of coffee. "If he's still alive."

  Dread and pain sweep over Blice as he thinks about Isidore. "I know. I don't want to think about it."

  "You know how much your father hates him. What do you think he's going through right now?"

  "My father will try to break him." Blice says. "If I've learned anything over the past few years about being his owner, I have learned one thing. Isidore Williams never breaks. There is always a fiery passion coursing underneath that submission. I've never truly had control over him. He gives me control, but if he wanted to, he could fight me and win. That's the thing about him. He will obey every order I give him until he feels I don't deserve his servitude. But if I tell him that I am disappointed or angry because he didn't, then he becomes submissive again. He wants the best for me."

  "You have my wife to thank for him not being just some robot slave." Kazimir says.

  Blice turns back around to face him. "Your wife?"

  "Has Isidore told you about his teacher he had when he was a little boy?"

  "Yes. She was killed because she installed a free will program."

  Kazimir pulls out another robotic caterpillar and sets it down on the desk where it explores stacks of papers and Blice's coffee cup. "Indeed. I'm the one who made that program and gave it to her to install. I couldn't have my invention being forever treated like some mindless animal. So I had her give Isidore the program. Then he could have a choice to either go on living the life of a slave or to rise up and take his freedom. Now I know what he chose."

  Blice sits down and watches the caterpillar. "What did he choose?"

  "He chooses to be your slave because he loves you. You are the single most important thing in his life. That's not just because of his conditioning or your programming. You don't realize the power you truly have over him or how indebted to him you are. The dynamics of an android and owner relationship are unlike any human one. I'm sure that if we gave Isidore the ultimate decision right now, to be his own man and live life as a free human or to continue wearing that slave collar and belong to you, he would choose to be yours, Blice."

  "I guess that's true." Blice picks up the caterpillar. "Why do you keep making these things?"

  "I'm perfecting my ultimate project. Do you like them?" Kazimir asks.

  "I thought Isidore was your ultimate project."

  "Well, with the way things have been developing lately, I have taken my research in another direction. Think of it as life preservation for those who have already died."

  * * *

  "Wake up, 42." Zach says as he kicks Isidore in the chest. "I didn't give you permission to sleep."

  Okay, so that really hurt. Isidore sits up and rubs his chest where he is certain a bruise is forming. So it wasn't a nightmare. Isidore really is still stuck in this hell. He feels terrible. He must have not been asleep for long. Clara is still asleep, but they don't seem to care about her being asleep. Isidore gets on his knees and remains silent as Zach taunts him by eating pancakes. He's so hungry, but he can't do anything about it.

  "Awe, you look hungry." Zach says as he holds out his fork with a bit of pancakes on it.

  Bastard.

  "These are so yummy. If you're a good boy, I'll let you lick the plate."

  Isidore has to be a good boy. If he can do this, he at least has the chance of getting on Zach's good side . . . if he has a good side. Surely a child can't be this evil. What is he thinking? Three days without food must be taking a toll on his mind. Then he is forced to watch Zach drink an entire glass of orange juice. Isidore is so dehydrated. The headaches are nearly crippling and he knows that if he doesn't get something to drink soon, he will die. He's been giving what little they've been given to Clara. She needs it more than him. Even though Isidore is still hurt over what she did, he can't let an unborn baby suffer more than it has to. Zach's giggling voice brings Isidore's thoughts back to the present.

  "Do you want to see your daughter?"

  What? Yes. Absolutely yes, more than he wants an entire bucket of water right now. He has to know that she's safe. He looks up at Zach. Maybe he can see the desperation in Isidore's eyes.

  "I'll have my brother bring her in here." Zach says as he places the plate that is sticky with maple syrup in front of Isidore and walks out of the room.

  It is at this moment that Isidore sees an opportunity. He waits until he knows Zach is gone before picking up the plate. Ceramic. He turns to Clara and whispers to her. "Clara, wake up."

  "What is it?" She asks weakly.

  "They're bringing Katarina in here. Can you fight?"

  "Not with my hands bound like this. I can't use my magic, either."

  "I have an idea. We're not going to die in here. I swore to you that I would save Katarina and I aim to make good on that." Isidore goes over to what remains of Yuri and unpins him from the table. There's not much left. He holds it up to his ear and listens. There's still something working inside. Hopefully it will be enough. It has to be enough. They don't have any other choice. Isidore whispers to Yuri. "Do this for me, friend. I will never forget you, Yuri."

  Yuri manages to move his antenna in response.

  "Save your strength. We're counting on you." Isidore hides Yuri in the pocket of his jeans and kneels back down before Xavier enters the room carrying Katarina. At least it's not the completely demented one. Still, he can't be left alive.

  "Isidore, do you want to hold her? She's doing okay. I stole some of my father's painkillers and gave them to her so she's not in too much pain." Xavier steps closer and lays Katarina on the table. "If I remove your handcuffs, you have to promise not to use your magic or attack me or anything, okay? I brought you some water."

  It's a trick. He knows it's a trick. This will make his plan even more effective. He wonders if he can speak around this one without being hit. When he does speak, his voice is dry and weak. "Xavier, may I speak?"

  "If you're quiet."

  "What would it take to get you to unlock the front door to the bunker?"

  Xavier looks around nervously. "You can't say things like that. If Damien finds out-"

  "I don't care what Damien does. We're dying in here. Clara is dying. She's pregnant."

  "Really?"

  "Yes. The longer she's kept in here and treated like this, the higher the chance she'll lose the baby. You don't want that, do you? It's a fully human baby, not an android. It's not mine."

  "A human baby? Don't tell my brother, okay? I can't let you leave, but I can bring her food."

  "That's not enough. She needs medical attention."

  Xavier glances at Clara then back at the door. He unlocks the handcuffs and slips the key in Isidore's pocket. "Our secret. Now, at midnight, the front security lock will be disabled for five minutes. That's all the time you get. I will leave it unlocked, but it automatically locks after five minutes. Do you understand?"

  Isidore rubs his wrists where the handcuffs have bruised. "Thank you, Xavier."

  "Your protective gear is in the first locker on the right, closest to this room in the hallway. Don't forget th
at you only have five minutes. If Damien or Zach catches you trying to escape, he will kill you both. You can't take Katarina, though. They will be doing more experiments on her tonight all night long." Xavier hands him a bottle of water then goes to Clara and helps her drink.

  After drinking the entire bottle, Isidore goes over to his daughter and picks her up. She's unconscious and pale. A long row of crude stitches runs from her hand and up her arm. Have they been feeding her? Her skin is feverish. "She's sick."

  "I've been doing all I can."

  "I know. Thank you for that." Isidore says.

  "I'm not really like my brother. I don't want to be here doing this."

  "Come with us."

  Xavier shakes his head. "I can't."

  "Why not? Your coat has an Inquisition insignia embroidered on it. Are you an inquisitor?"

  "No. I work for the Inquisition as an android hunter. I'm a T.I.M.E."

  "A T.I.M.E.?" Isidore asks. "Clara and I are both T.I.M.E.s. Have you ever blown up anything without even touching it? I can teach you."

  "I've done it before. My dad taught me."

  "Your dad? Damien?"

  "Yes."

  Whoa. "He's a T.I.M.E.?"

  "Why is this surprising to you?" Xavier asks.

  Now that he thinks about it, it's not really that surprising. He had his suspicions that Vladimir was. "Why don't you just destroy the electronic lock?"

  "Too much noise. He'll hear it."

  Someone steps into the room. "I'll hear what?"

  The voice chills Isidore to the bone. He can feel his presence now. How much has Damien heard?

  "Xavier, what is going on?" Damien asks. "Why did you remove their handcuffs?"

  The boy bows to his father. "I was only trying to-"

  Damien slaps Xavier hard across the face and he drops down to the floor. He stands over him. "I heard everything, boy. 42, I suggest you put the baby down and get back on your knees."

  Isidore spots the plate on the floor a few feet away. He's not going to pass this chance up. They're getting out of here and he's taking Katarina with him. Isidore puts Katarina back on the table then walks in front of Damien and kneels down. He locks eyes with Xavier as he reaches out for the plate. In one quick movement, Isidore slams it on the tile floor where it breaks. Grabbing a sharp hunk of ceramic, he lunges at Damien and knocks him to the floor. "Now, Xavier!"