Ashley knew what was coming. She had smelt this gruel before. “Yes master. I tutored her on computers.”
“You didn’t do a very good job of it. She fell below her quota in the data processing division. You can apologize to her as you symbiont feeds you.”
Ashley kept the scowl from her face. She remembered the golden light that she had shared with Richard and played the game of survival.
“I am sorry, Tabitha.” The symbiont on Ashley’s belly pulsed.
Chapter Ten
Pain
“Then my husband asked where I learned that. I just told him it’s classified. He thought I was joking.” Mary settled on the data chair.
“I told you it could be an interesting perspective,” replied Nurse Malcowits.
“Disturbing. I hate having no control. You feel everything but can do nothing. You…If Zane liked it, I like it, until it’s over. In a way the memory becomes my own. I never wanted to be a man, and I’m getting a front row seat. Kate…It scares me. Suppose I am…well…Suppose it gets blurry where what Zane likes and what I like come together.”
“Oh come on. You and Jerry have been together for eleven years. I’ve seen you eye up the guys in the gym. You’re hetero as the day is long.”
“It’s just so strange. I’m going to suggest that all future monitoring be matched as to gender and sexual orientation.”
The nurse inserted the IV and started the fluid flows that would support Mary during the monitoring. “Jerry would have missed out then.”
“Too true. It’s like I have something to prove when I get home. He doesn’t know what’s come over me.”
“Is he complaining?”
Mary smiled. “He loves it, and we’re both losing weight.”
“Everything is set.”
“I’m setting my cognitive date. March, sixth twenty-thirty-seven. Activating feed, commencing monitoring.”
* * * *
Upload monitoring/ Zane Hinkly /Index 11:37/ 30/5/2032
* * * *
Dear Zane,
I know I should tell you in person, but I can’t leave. We’re fighting to save the belugas and it’s just too important. I will always remember our time together as the wonderful interlude it was, but I’ve met someone else. I’m sorry. He’s a good man and treats me well.
I know this will hurt, but now you’re free too. You can experience university life in its fullest.
Yours with fondest thoughts.
Betty Green
Zane read the message aloud and watched his tears fall onto the paper.
“Poor, Zane. I’m sorry.” Ashley sat on his bed beside him. Reaching over she took his hand.
“I…I…I thought we would be together forever. I love her.”
“Zane, she’s still young. Maybe in a year or two.”
Zane looked around him. Betty’s face smiled out from her pictures scattered around his single dorm room.
“Ash, she’s gone. She won’t be coming back to me. Let’s face it. I was lucky to have her. The only reason she stuck with me was I was in university and she was in high school. I had prestige.”
“Zane! That is so stupid. It’s not only an insult to you; it’s an insult to her!” Ashley grabbed him by his shirt and gave him a little shake, forcing him to look at her.
“Listen to me, Zane Hinkly. There are lots of girls who would be lucky to have you.”
Zane allowed a little smile to touch his lips. “Thanks Ash. You’re always looking out for me.”
“What’s a sister for?”
“Too bad you’re my sister.”
“Zane, that’s sweet. Thank you.”
“It’s true, Stanley is an idiot.” Zane brushed his palm against her cheek.
“Maybe, I…What a pair of losers we are. The Hinkly charm. My fiancé leaves me for a man; your girlfriend dumps you for a whale. What is it with us?” Ashley frowned and looked at the floor.
“Sis? You’re a number one grade-A hottie.”
“I wish other guys thought so. I’m either too smart, too committed to my work, too skinny or too flat chested. I’m just too something all the time.”
“Ash.” With a conscious effort Zane pushed his own pain to the side and reached out cupping his sister’s chin in his hand. “Give guys a chance to find out you’re on the market again. You dated Stanley since your senior year of high school. Plus you haven’t exactly put on a billboard saying you’re available.”
“It’s just Stan was well…my only boyfriend. No one was interested in high school. Will anyone else ever be interested?”
“Of course they will. High school guys are idiots. I know, I was one. You’re the best.”
Ashley blushed. “Thanks. I’m sorry, right now is supposed to be about you.”
“Hey, what’s a brother for? Besides, I’ll be okay.” Zane forced a smile.
“It’s gonna take a while though. We both know that.” Ashley hugged him. “It’s gonna be rough for the next few weeks. You need me; you know where to find me. Don’t rush into anything, rebounds almost never work, and they can get everybody hurt.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t pull a Green.” Tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
Ashley released the hug but kept her hands on his shoulders as she leaned back to stare into his face. “Where did you hear that?”
“Got started when Doc showed up for class hung over a couple of times.”
“Don’t say it again.”
“I won’t. I hope this doesn’t affect him taking me on for my master’s next year. Oh, God, that’s all I need, having to find another sponsor on top of all this.” Zane buried his head in his hands.
“Hey, she dumped you. If I know Richard, I better get ready to check out your tattoos again.”
“Ash!” Zane blushed.
“Well, it is a cute little ducky.”
“My tattoo’s a teddy bear.”
“Like I said, it is a cute little ducky.”
* * * *
Upload monitoring/ Zane Hinkly /Index 12:52/ 17/6/2032
* * * *
“Doctor Robinson, I’m sorry I can’t let you have access to Doctor Green’s computer. There are classified materials on it.” Zane stood in the doorway to Richard’s office physically blocking the entry of the older man.
“I’m the dean of this department. I’ll look at whatever I damn well please.” Edwin tried to push Zane out of the doorway.
Zane dug his heels in, refusing to move. “Doctor Robinson, Richard will be back in an hour, if you’ll just wait until he arrives.”
“Richard! Is that how you show respect to your faculty advisor? You’d best be careful young man. Your Richard’s only claim to fame is the government chose him to develop the Darmuk cure. He’ll soon fall out of favor, and he is very junior in this department.
“Now get out of my way. I wish to check his files. There may be some enzymatic similarities between the cancer cure and the cell division enhancers I’m developing.”
“I’m sure Ri…Professor Green would be glad to consult with you, bu…”
”I told you to move. Don’t make me call campus security and have you expelled.”
Zane straightened. His heart was ragged from Betty. He was also shaken by things Stanley had told him when he’d tried to talk some sense into the man. His world was upside down and he’d had enough. “Doctor Robinson. I’ve had a hell of a month! I actually have an overwhelming desire to pound the living crap out of someone. You go ahead and call campus security, and, if I’m lucky, they may arrive in time to prevent me being charged with murder. Do whatever the hell you like, but you are not getting in this office while I’m able to stop you! Richard is my friend as well as my teacher, and I won’t let you screw him over!”
Edwin’s mouth opened and closed in silence. “I’ll have you expelled! I’ll have you arrested!”
“I’ll have you charged with tampering with classified government files.” Richard appeared at the end of the hall and swiftly moved to stand beside Zane.
“Doc, he—”
“I think I have a fair picture of what happened, Zane. Thank you for being so diligent. Please go and check the enzymatic production sequence on the new Parkinsons research. I wish to have a chat with Doctor Robinson.”
Zane blinked then practically raced down the hall. He paused behind the lab’s door listening to the voices.
“I want him expelled. He threatened me,” snapped Edwin.
“Edwin, shut the fuck up!” replied Richard.
“What!”
“You treated me like crap when I was your grad student. Don’t think I’ll let you abuse my students in the same way. You are going to go back to your office and stay the hell away from Zane. You will disallow yourself from any assessment board or committee that has anything to do with him, and you will bloody well leave him alone!”
“Or what?”
“Or I will have you charged with trying to illegally access government documents. My computer has classified information, you know this. The security of that information is part of the funding requirements. I’m not sure how many years the charge carries, but I’m quite certain that it’s considerably more than assault.”
Zane heard a sound like someone choking then footsteps. Zane moved to inspect a piece of equipment just before Doctor Robinson stormed down the hall.
Chapter Eleven
Recon
“We need to scout the territory.” Richard stared at a hand drawn map of the Darmuk headquarters that lay on Janis’s coffee table.
“You’re mad. Humans just don’t wander the streets,” objected Janis from her seat beside Zane on the couch.
“He has a point. All we’ve seen of the embassy is hand drawn diagrams and the original blueprints. Even if the mayor gives us passes, we should be familiar with the grounds and surrounding area, in case things go wrong,” said Zane.
“How did things go with the mayor anyway? I was asleep before you got back yesterday.” asked Richard.
“We noticed and thank you.” Zane leered at his wife.
“Zane!” Janis blushed then sobered. “I got you the appointment on the eighth, in the afternoon. That way if your persuasive powers leave permanent marks on the bastard, it’s less likely to be detected.”
“Wise decision. I do so hope I get to leave some permanent marks,” observed Richard.
“We do need to do a recon, honey,” said Zane.
“You’re both crazy. What do you want to do, march out there in your battle armor and say, ‘Hi, I’m just looking around today. No need to get up, nice mister Darmuk.’ Stupid!”
“Can you supply us with civilian clothes?” asked Richard.
“Like that would work! Zane, honey, you could pass for someone who’s worked as a slave, looks wise. Okay. No offense, I love you, but truth is truth.”
“Go on,” said Zane.
“You’d stick out like a sore thumb. You don’t walk right. You look up. Both you and Richard carry yourselves like men.”
“The Darmuks have enslaved many men,” objected Richard.
“That’s not what I mean. No one’s broke you. You believe in things. You still have hope. You still have fight left in you. It shows in how you move, how you speak. No one who’s been under the Darmuks as long as the people in Goleta move like that. Those few that can are all resistance and have learned to pretend.”
“Teach us how to move then.”
“It’s not that easy. It has to come from inside.”
“Beloved, we need to see the area we’ll be fighting in,” said Zane.
“Gods help me; I’ll try and teach you. This will probably get us all killed though. We’ll need an excuse to be on the streets.”
“The tribute processional,” suggested Zane.
“That might work, but it will have to be to one of the original Darmuks, or the lower ranks will just steal the tribute and kill us.”
“Why not his bleeding majesty himself, Tannal?” suggested Richard.
“Okay, but you’ll have a bit more acting to learn. Have you ever seen a failed bio-ram unit that survived?”
“No.”
“Think lobotomized eunuch.”
The next day Richard shuffled along the street, barely lifting his feet, eyes focused on the ground in front of him. He caught himself straightening and deepened his slouch, at the same time he opened his mouth and forced a vacant expression onto his face. The torn and battered business suit he wore stank of sweat and other things less savory. Despite the warmth of the day he wore a tuque pulled down so it almost covered his eyes.
A scream sounded to his right. He jerked around to look.
“Stop that,” hissed Janis. “Look down; it’s none of our business.” She was dressed in her tattered overcoat. The ragged legs of her jeans showing beneath it and a pair of running shoes held together with duct tape and string covered her feet.
Richard grit his teeth and ripped his eyes away from the scene. A girl, of maybe fourteen, was being held to the ground by a creature that looked like a cross between an aardvark and a gorilla, while a man-like beast, with snake scales and oversized cobra fangs, tore at her clothing.
“Keep moving,” Zane ordered needlessly. He wore a tattered, filthy T-shirt and jeans. The patch over his eye was hidden by a filthy red bandana. His left foot was bare while his right was in a decrepit sandal. The imbalance gave him a limp.
“Shhh,” whispered Janis.
They moved on, carrying the large roll of carpet towards the embassy. Few humans occupied the streets. Darmuks of all descriptions passed them. Once in a while a truck rolled by carrying troops towards their new assignments. At other times a scream would echo against the buildings and the Darmuks would laugh.
When they reached the lane that led to the embassy’s parking lot a corpse came into Richard field of view. It had been a man, tight skin stretched over protruding bone. The corpse was naked and the skin had split, maggots crawled in the wound. Richard prepared to step around it.
“You three?” demanded a harsh voice.
They froze.
“Yes, My lord,” replied Janis, her voice a mere whisper.
The source of the voice approached them. It was Gorilla-like, except the head was grossly elongated.
“Who do you serve and what is your business?” he addressed Richard.
“Honored Lord, if it pleases you, he is mute,” Janis rushed to intervene.
“It pleases me not, human. Is this one also mute?” The Darmuk waved a massive hand at Zane.
“Yes, honored lord. They were honored to become elements of the great bio-mind, but failed at the challenge. It has left them without reason.”
“Whose favor do you curry with this offering? What is your business?”
“I seek the favor of Captain Tannal, Chief General of the Darmuk force. Command unit of the star faring mother ship, glorious sovereign of—”
“Silence. I know Tannal’s rank and titles. Now answer me, why do you seek his favor? What is your business?”
“We come to give this carpet in tribute at the capital, most honored and glorious one. My daughter is ill, and I hope to be granted medicine to see to her healing.”
“Human, I should kill you for speaking to me, but I am constrained to let you pass. I am sullied by your presence. Go.”
The creature stepped to the corpse’s side. As Richard watched it casually began picking maggots from the wound and putting them in its mouth, the way a human might snack on raisins. There was a chewing sound and some
thing wet and slimy hit his cheek. It was all he could do to keep from brushing it away. They moved on, coming to the three meter, wire link fence that now surrounded the embassy and its grounds. Darmuks of all descriptions, some armed with guns, moved purposefully inside the enclosure. Standard streetlight poles, each topped with a small windmill in addition to the light fixtures, rose about the area so that even at night it would be fully lit.
Oh, Gods and Goddess all, no wonder none of the air strikes worked, thought Richard as they passed over a pulsing roll of living matter. The stench rising off it made him stagger, and it took his entire concentration to maintain his feet.
“Steady,” hissed Janis.
“Richard?” whispered Zane.
“Shield. That elastic membrane the surveillance photos showed enveloping the embassy during the air strikes. It could prove useful,” he explained as he forced himself to take a deep breath. The air was thick, tainted with a sulfur stench blown in from the steel works.
They moved to the back of a line of downtrodden humanity that carried various items to the front gate. A group of Darmuks resembling a cross between a human and a bloodhound took the tribute and inspected it. When the items passed inspection humans, wearing clean, blue coveralls, carried the goods into the embassy.
Zane examined the compound. This was his area. Richard was the biologist, he the warrior, a calling thrust upon him. He longed for earlier days. He remembered eating lunch with Betty, Ashley, and Stanley in the park across from his high school. He knew the park was now a litter of temporary barracks for Darmuk troops.
He thought of Betty and the years they’d had. Even their break up was a memory of life and humanity.
Involuntarily he felt his gaze drawn to a gibbeted skeleton above the embassy’s main entrance. Above it in Darmuk and English letters was a single word. “Traitor.” He wished he didn’t know who it had been, but he did. His mother had been one of the first resistance members captured. She’d worked in the embassy as a cleaning lady. The smell of the bomb she’d carried had been detected despite her perfume.
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