After an hour of lying about what he’d already figured out and pretending to understand what he didn’t, he made a game of the team’s pride in the greatest mega technology accomplishment to date. That’s what Fiender called Chase. “You are a bionomic number one,” the doctor said. “The firstborn of many to come.”
Chase moved ahead with the game. “A-Life versus B-Life.”
“No, son, there is no versus. Artificial life and biological life are one, at least in your case.”
“The rosebush outside my window—who made it?”
“It came to be from the processes of biology. Maybe there was a little engineering by a botanist to make the blooms so brilliantly red.”
“But it’s one for B-Life, wouldn’t you say?”
The doctor furrowed his bushy brow. “Chase, we are not here to compare the wonders of nature to—”
“And this monitor, the one hooked to my head, who made it?”
“I don’t know, Chase. I suppose some engineer designed it, and then a team of technicians manufactured it.”
“So, is that a point for A-Life?”
“No. It can do nothing but monitor brainwaves.”
“So, Dr. Fiender, it’s another point for B-Life.” Chase smiled. “It’s only use is to monitor a biological function.”
The five team members read screens and punched buttons on their VPads, seemingly ignoring the adolescent science drill. “Chase, please, no need for formalities. Call me Robert. After all, I made you. That reading on the monitor, the one you believe to be your brainwaves, is more my doing than yours. More A-Life than you know. Your brain, son, is keeping track of—”
“Of processors and nanodevices and technocytes that you put in me,” Chase yelled. “You turned me into a freak.” He pulled the wires from his head and arms, and stood to walk from the doctor and his skillful disciples with their up-to-the-minute contraptions. They were nothing but clowns with can openers.
He came to the door, but it didn’t open. He turned around.
The doctor stood there, arms folded. “Young man, you must cooperate. It’s your only option.”
Chase stood still, his eyes fixed on the man who’d taken control of his life. “Tell me about Elaine Jenz.”
“What about her?”
“When did you meet her?”
“You know when I met her. I came to repair her abnormalities after she became unmanageable.”
“Not before.”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“What happened to her during her initial surgeries? What kind of device was put in her?” Chase moved to the window and dropped into a chair. “What made her crack?”
The doctor turned to his team. “Everyone out.” The men left without question. Fiender kept his back to Chase. “What makes you think any sort of augmentation was done to Elaine prior to the time I met her?”
“She lost her mind. You tweaked her. And then she was fine. Somebody messed up in the beginning, isn’t that right?”
“Chase, tell me. How do you know this?”
“Do you think it showed up in some information reservoir you hooked up in me?”
The doctor turned around. “How do you know I hooked up any such thing?”
“Maybe because it’s working, Robert. Maybe I turned it on.”
“Information about Elaine Jenz would not come from your enhancements. Did Kerstin tell you?”
“She knew about this?” Chase wiped his hands across face. “Of course she knew. She got some half-wit scientist to work on Elaine, right? And it made Elaine go nuts. And you fixed her.”
“Something like that, yes. But the woman is fine now. I just updated a few of her sensors, that’s all. Her changes were strictly limited to personality. We made her outgoing and confident. That was the intent of the initial surgery, and that’s what the adjustments have achieved. She’s here at the estate right now. Would you like to see her?”
“What else has Kerstin done behind my back?”
“I’m sure I don’t know.” Fiender came to sit in the chair opposite Chase. “Did you really tap into your data bank?”
“No. It made sense, that’s all. Somebody messed with Elaine Jenz’s brain before you showed up.”
“But you knew about the capability. I know Kerstin told you about the night vision. What else do you know?”
“I have super hearing. I’ve used it, and the night vision, without your help.”
“Amazing.”
Chase leaned back and stretched his legs. “More like useless. Why would you do this to me?”
“To show the world what we are able to accomplish. People trust you, young man. If you show them the benefits of selective augmentation, they will not be frightened of the future. They will embrace it. The night vision and the hearing are gimmicky, yes. But people will love it. They’ll want it.”
“I’m frightened of the future, Robert.”
“Only because you have not been taught all that you are capable of. Let’s begin right now.”
“I can monitor my own body, and everyone else’s, without any instruction. Why is that? And why have I not been able to utilize the data…whatever?”
Fiender leaned forward, his eyes bright with excitement. “I wish I could tell you.” He nearly giggled. “The exoself seems to have its own ideas regarding the timing of its emergence.”
“The exoself being what was added to my…self?”
“Yes, that’s right. Systems linked to the self, extending mind and body beyond their normal capabilities. In your case, the systems monitor all your functions, both organic and augmented. But some systems are operative outside the exoself, including the Wilberton module and the sensors that allow you to control your vision and hearing. When you unlock the exoself you’ll find systems that allow you to tap into a wealth of information.”
“Those systems are more complex than the upgrades on my eyes and ears?”
“Yes, yes. I told you those are gimmicks to draw in the multitude that trust and respect you.”
“But there’s a knowledge thing, a part of the exoself that hasn’t kicked in. Something to make me wise.” Chase looked out the window at the red roses and the gray sky.
“Your ability to reason was not enhanced. The ability to store data is what is different. Wisdom is something else entirely. I’m sure I can make a simpleton smart. I’m not sure I can make a foolish man wise.” Fiender giggled again. “Give me a couple of months to work on it.”
“What kind of information?”
“Excuse me?”
Chase turned to face his creator. “What kind of information is in the exoself?”
“Useful factors that will help your followers. Assignment issues, pay scales, housing availability. That sort of thing. Facts and figures.”
Chase closed his eyes and concentrated. Hard. But nothing happened. Not a single fact or figure popped up from the exoself. “I got nothing, Robert. I don’t think like a computer. I’m not spouting off useless information.”
“It may be that the imp needs adjusting, but it’s not useless. I do not support info glut.”
“If the imp was working, would I know what an imp is?”
“Electronic implant.”
“Oh. Info glut, I get it. Information overload, right?”
“You will not be crammed with things you don’t need to know.”
“The whole thing sounds like a complete waste—filling my head with stuff accessible on any WR computer. What on earth are you people trying to do?”
“Don’t you find it fascinating that you could think like a computer?”
“No. No one will find it fascinating. It’s a stupid idea.”
“The time is coming when you will relish the capability.”
“I’d like to rest now.”
“I know you’re not tired, Chase.”
“Did you program fatigue right out of me?”
“No, I’m looking at your monitor. It indicates your responses to both physica
l and mental stimuli are prime.”
“I yanked the monitor off ten minutes ago.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re still registering.” The doctor pointed to the monitors on the wall and then pulled a VPad from his pocket. “In fact, I can leave you and still monitor your readings.” He held the device in front of Chase.
The coded readout meant nothing to Chase. But he wasn’t tired, he was wide awake and eager to understand how all this worked. And Fiender knew it—the doctor could read him. No attachments needed.
“Can you read my mind?”
“No, Chase.”
“Can you hear what I hear and see what I see?”
“Yes, if I so choose. That’s what my team did here today. The program was activated that will allow me that privilege.”
“It’s a good thing you can’t read my mind, Robert.”
“You must not despise me, Chase. You won’t survive without me.” The doctor turned toward the door. “Tomorrow we will see what can be done about the imp that hasn’t kicked in, as you say. In the meantime, try ripping some towels or bending the IV pole. Your upper body strength is greater than before. Not like Superman, but great nonetheless. Another gimmick to make the people ooh and ahh.”
The door slid wide, and the doctor lurched through before it sealed shut.
“Tomorrow,” Chase said—he didn’t care who heard him on the other side of the door. “I will learn how to unplug this monster.”
20
Chase spent the evening wondering if he really had a huge bank of WR resources inside his head. What would happen when he figured out how to turn it on? Would he know everything about everyone? Would he be the one to decide who moved up and who got booted out of the system? Would he find Mel?
Somewhere between revulsion and curiosity, he found the switch. He knew the number of people assigned to the job force—86,676,331. Wait—332. Somebody must have just gotten their assignment. He found no access to the names or locations of workers. No record of Mel’s reassignment. Maybe with a little training he’d be able to get more information.
He knew how many people were scheduled for reassignment. A figure of how many workers were in need of a housing upgrade came to mind. He thought about the village and wondered where Larin Andrews lived now. Chase didn’t have trouble with too much data popping into his head all at once. It came orderly, slowly. Once there, it was available for instant recall. But what was the point?
As he processed what came from the exoself, he played a game with the staff. He found he could go without blinking, so he stared at the faint outline of the window for hours on end, his night vision turned off. He controlled his breathing to make it inaudible. The only sound was the occasional bump or whisper that came from the hall. He waited, wondering how long it would be before someone came to check on him.
Of course, they knew he was alive. They probably knew exactly what he was doing. No one came.
Somewhere between a list of houses available in the outer regions of the Pacific Island Territory and a tedious catalog of reassignment opportunities, a record of seemingly little consequence came to mind. Chase knew the number of the main branches of the Underground Church in each territory, along with the names of major cities where a branch existed. Some main branches listed one or two sub-branches. He wondered if Mel and her friends were aware the WR knew so much, and he questioned what the government planned to do with the information. And why on earth would they put it in his head? Were they going to use him to eliminate the organization?
After a while he stopped running the current of the system, and his mind wandered. He figured he was getting tired, and the exoself was giving him a break. He thought about Elaine Jenz, about her personality alterations—surely something she’d wanted. But if they could do it to Elaine they could do it to anybody. They could alter the core of anyone they chose.
He broke his stare at the dark window, turned on his night vision, and pulled a VPad from his nightstand drawer. His old VPad was gone—too many outside contacts stored there. This new one was clean, and he couldn’t communicate outside SynVue Estate. But he could make notes and record data, and prompt the nurse’s station. Or Kerstin or Dr. Fiender. He typed a message on the small screen. He didn’t send the memo to anyone, but simply held it in front of his eyes.
I’M RUNNING DATA NOW. EVERYTHING IS WORKING.
In only a minute a nurse—a big woman with a gruff voice—came through the door.
“I see your data bank kicked in. I’ll call Dr. Fiender in the morning.”
“So you’re the one invading…” He checked his attitude. “You’re the one watching my monitors tonight.”
“Yep. Don’t see why. You spent three hours staring at nothing. Didn’t even blink.” She snorted. “Kind of creepy.”
“Did you know the data was streaming before I told you?”
“Nah, I don’t know what’s going on in your head. I only know what the monitors tell me.”
“Which is…”
The woman huffed. “Vital signs, activity, sight, and sound, that sort of thing.” She turned for the door. “And I can tell you’re wearing down. Get some sleep, Mr. Sterling. You can’t go forever without blinking. Let the lids fall.”
Before she was gone, Chase’s eyes were begging shut. He drifted into dreams of numbers and meaningless data.
****
“Chase, come look at this.”
“What is it, Mom?”
“Some sort of sea creature. It looks like a jellyfish. Ever seen anything like it?”
“Nope. But I don’t think it’s a jellyfish.”
“I suppose it isn’t. I mean, it has the face of a man. A mad scientist, I’d say.”
“You’re right, Mom. It must be a—”
Chase’s eyes flew open. Sunlight glimmered through the filtered glass. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Does anyone out there know I just had a nightmare? Fiender? You look good as a jellyfish.” Chase threw back the covers, put his feet on the floor, and went to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on his face, he replayed the comforting sound of his mother’s voice. Even a bad dream wasn’t so bad with her in it. He looked in the mirror.
“I want to talk to my mother,” he said. “Do you hear me?”
Back in his room, he did a few morning stretches. He looked at the IV pole next to his bed. He didn’t know why it was there—he’d not been hooked to it for days.
“OK, Fiender. Here goes nothing.” Grabbing the pole, he turned it sideways over one knee and readied himself to bend it in two. Nothing happened, except that he hurt his knee, and he thought something snapped in his back. “Crap. That hurt.” He dropped the pole and turned to look at the door. “Are you listening?”
Lifting the pole again, he sparked a couple of processors to life—he wasn’t sure how. This time the pole bent easily. Well, as the doctor said, he was no Superman, but the metal stick bent nearly in two before his strength gave out. “Somebody come get this piece of junk out of my room.” He threw the pole at the door. “And get my mother on my VPad!”
He knew losing his temper was a bad idea as soon as he’d done it. “Sorry about that. I’m just feeling a little cooped up in here.” He walked to the window and sat in the chair. “Besides, the doctor told me to see if I could bend the IV pole. Well, yes, I can.”
Sunlight came in brighter now. “Wait a minute,” he said. He searched his mind. No, his exoself. “Twenty-seven minutes past eight.” He had a built-in clock. He deliberated on the strength sensors again until he was certain they were disabled. He purposefully unhooked himself from the newly found time piece. His night vision and hearing enhancers rested in the off mode. With little effort, he disengaged the WR data bank. “I’m turning off my powers. Can you hear me now?” He slumped into the chair and grinned. “If you can hear me, get somebody to bring me breakfast. I still have to eat, you know. Soy bacon and a poached egg. And some apple juice. And a bagel with strawberry jam.” Twenty minutes passed b
efore curvy scrubs came through the door. The young blonde carried a tray. It held everything he’d requested.
“I see you heard me.”
“Actually, I had the audio turned off or I would have been here sooner,” the girl said. “I saw the text on the monitor when I walked by my desk.” She put the tray on the small table beside him. “Enjoy your breakfast, Mr. Sterling.”
“What about my other request?”
“To call your mother?”
“Yes, get her for me. You can’t possibly have a reason to keep me from talking to my own mother.” Chase picked at the bagel and then licked the jam from his finger. “Does she know about the new and improved me?”
“I really have no idea, sir. I’ll make sure Dr. Fiender knows you want to speak to her.”
“I’d like to see Elaine Jenz.”
“She left the estate this morning.”
“Didn’t even tell me good-bye. Or did she even know I was here?”
“Again, sir, I have no idea.”
“How about Patty? Is she around?”
The tech straightened the blanket on Chase’s bed as she spoke. “Patty got reassigned.”
Chase sat straight in the chair. “When did that happen? I just talked to her a couple of days ago.”
“I have—”
“No idea.” He nodded. “Thanks for breakfast. What’s your name?”
“Shane.”
“Know any of Patty’s friends, Shane?”
“No, sir. Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
She gave a shy smile before exiting. Chase leaned back and moved the plate to his lap. Patty was his only hope of getting in touch with Mel. Why was it that everybody who could help him disappeared? He grabbed a strip of the fake bacon and bit off a chunk.
21
“What did you mean when you said I look good as a jellyfish?”
“Don’t you know?”
“No, Chase. If I knew I wouldn’t be asking.”
“Then you can’t see my dreams.”
Fiender laughed. “You dreamed I was a jellyfish? Tell me about it.”
Chase wondered what the multiple screens surrounding him with codes and flashes meant. He’d finally left his room, under what seemed an unnecessary presence of a security force. They took him to Dr. Fiender’s new laboratory at the estate. The armed men entered by waving their security tags in front of the door and left the same way. This was just a new cell in the same old prison. It’d only been a week since he woke up a new man. Seemed like forever. “I’d rather not tell you about my dreams, Robert. They are all I have left of my privacy.”
Wake the Dead Page 9