Wake the Dead

by Victoria Buck

  “I’d like that, Robert. I’d like that very much.”

  23

  Back in his room, Chase fiddled with his VPad, waiting for the two hours to pass before the doctor turned him off. He knew the nurse on duty was monitoring because when he sneezed, she came in to see if he needed an antihistamine. In twenty minutes, he would try to call Mel again. Her private number waited in the memory of the VPad. He paced the floor for ten minutes and then sat by the window. The sun was nearly gone. He thought of his mother’s voice. Was it really her? Mom didn’t know Mel. Chase was sure he’d never even mentioned her. He must be mistaken in thinking it was his mom on the VPad. Five minutes and he’d find out.

  The door came open. Chase stuffed the VPad in his pocket.

  “Chase, darling, I understand you had a very productive day.” Kerstin circled the room, looking over the monitors. She stopped in front of him, put her arms around his shoulders, and kissed him deeply. “I’m very proud of you.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you again. Not like this anyway. You’re not mad about the other night?”

  “You mean about your cat reference?”

  “You were pretty upset when you left.”

  “I’m not mad anymore. And I really am proud.”

  “What for? I sat around with Fiender and talked about some ridiculous idea for a new show. I’m not taking that route, Kerstin. Why can’t we continue with Change Your Life? Think of the incredible things we could do for people.”

  “Things won’t be so different. You’ve always loved helping others, and you will do that. Just in a different format, and with much, much greater admiration. The people will worship you. You’ll like that, won’t you?”

  “You’re wrong. The fans will get no joy out of watching me pull a new job assignment out of my hat or informing a mid-level worker he’s getting a housing upgrade. They get that sort of information through their VPads every day. And I don’t care to be worshipped. Is that what you think of me?”

  She dropped her hands down his back. “I think you are a man who has always wanted to impact the world in a great way. Am I right?”

  “Maybe I’m different now.” He had to be careful with what he said, and he had to play along. “Of course, I am able to show the world exactly how great the future can be.”

  She smiled. “That’s my Chase.” Her hands came up his back, and she ran her fingers through his hair. “I’ve missed you.”

  The old feelings, the touch of her, nearly drew him in. “Me, too.” But it wasn’t right. “Only I’m kind of worn out from the day. I think I’d like to get some dinner and then turn in.” He knew the time had passed for the monitors to be shut down, and he didn’t know how long they’d stay off. He had to make that call.

  “Oh.” She let him go. “Just as well, I have plans with Robert.” She turned and picked up the bag she’d dropped on the bed when she came in. “I have something for you.” Out of the bag came a VPad. “I know they gave you one, but I thought you should have your old one. It’s got all your music in it, and some recorded shows you might like to see.” She held the VPad in front of him. Her green eyes held his stare.

  “The new one is fine.”

  “I think you should have the old one, Chase. Give me the new one, and I’ll leave this one with you.”

  “I’ve got some notes in the new one that I’d like to keep.”

  “I’d like to see those notes.”

  Chase reached into his pocket, powered the VPad, and wiped it clean with one stroke of his finger. He pulled it out and slapped it into Kerstin’s waiting palm.

  She handed him his old VPad and powered the new one. “There’s nothing on it. What happened to your notes?”

  “You know, I just remembered I sent the notes to SynVue memory. If you want them, I’ll retrieve them with my old VPad and forward them to you.”

  “You do that, darling. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “What do you and Robert have planned?”

  “Just a dinner meeting.” She came near and kissed him. “Good night, Chase.” She turned and left the room. The door slid shut.

  Chase dropped to the chair by the window. Mel’s number was lost. But he had other contacts in his old VPad. He could reach any number of people on the outside, and his mother was on speed mode. Powering up the device, he had a surge of hope.

  But the thing was wiped clean. Nothing except his music, like Kerstin said, and a few recorded shows. No access to news, no numbers except Kerstin’s and Fiender’s.

  But he could get the number for the Brooklyn office just by running Mel’s WR assignment code. He thought the data bank into operation and ran the number. The name and main office number of the Brooklyn office came up. He typed it on the VPad. No answer. He’d try again tomorrow during business hours.

  But tomorrow they’d be listening.

  If his replicated heart could have skipped a beat, it would have.

  ****

  Fiender came to Chase’s room at noon the next day. The doctor had a warning—Chase was sure of that. But he gave it as a matter of conversation. “Kerstin had the COP added on her VPad, and she told the staff to make sure it remained activated,” he said. “Isn’t that nice, Chase? She cares a great deal for you.”

  Chase wanted to ask what she knew, but he didn’t dare. There would be no more calls to Brooklyn. “Yes, of course she does. Is she watching all the time?”

  “As much as she wants,” Fiender said. “But she has to sleep sometime. If you want to do anything in secret you’d better know when she takes her nap.” He laughed. “Just kidding, Kerstin, if you’re listening. Don’t want to get the young man in trouble.”

  “If I’m in trouble, you’re in trouble,” Chase said.

  The doctor got a look of panic, but he shook it off quickly and laughed again. “Funny, my boy. No one is in trouble.”

  “Yeah, just kidding.”

  “Now, let’s get to work on your recall program,” the doctor said.

  “I didn’t know I needed a program for that. I have an excellent memory.” Chase moved from the bed to the window. He placed his hand flat against the glass.

  “Really? What did you have for lunch today?”

  Chase glanced at the tray holding an empty plate and wadded napkin. “That’s easy, I just ate. Grilled chicken, a baked potato, salad, chocolate cake.”

  “You got cake? I didn’t see any cake in the cafeteria.”

  “Sorry about that, Bob.”

  “Think about your lunch. Picture it in your mind. Do you see it?”

  “What’s the point of this?”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes, I can see it in my mind.”

  “Take a picture.”

  “Huh?” Chase plopped down on the chair beside the window, and the doctor grabbed the desk chair and sat in front of him.

  “Snap a picture of the memory using your exoself.”

  The memory of the lunch held his concentration. He pictured the tech carrying it in and placing it on the table by his bed. The tech left the room, and Chase looked at the tray. In his mind, he held that image. And he knew, somehow, he’d recorded it.

  “OK, did I do it? Did the exoself save a picture of my lunch?”

  The doctor held his VPad for Chase to see. The picture from Chase’s mind appeared on the screen.

  Chase jumped from the chair. “How on earth did you do that?”

  “I didn’t do it. You did. Do I really need to explain the science, Chase? The fact is, you can store and send images. Not only still images, but moving ones. Show me your lunch as you ate it.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Give it a try.”

  He closed his eyes and pictured his lunch as he consumed it. His hands held a knife and cut the chicken. He lifted a bite on the fork. He pictured the whole experience. After a moment he opened his eyes and looked at Fiender.

  The doctor lifted the VPad. “I have a record of you eating your lunch.”

 
“Why would you want that, Robert? Why would you want to see what I did twenty minutes ago instead of what I’m doing right now?”

  “That is the question.”

  Chase stared at the man’s confidant and calm expression. “I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t you see, Chase? You ate lunch already, but I can watch you eat lunch now. Isn’t that interesting?”

  “Yes, it’s interesting. And weird, and creepy. And pointless.”

  “No, son, it’s very useful.” Chase realized the man was trying to tell him something without actually saying it. He wiped his hands over his face. “Yes, it would be very useful, I’m sure, for something.”

  “In time you’ll understand more about the exoself.” Fiender turned to leave. He stopped at the door and placed his hand on the nightstand. “Pay attention to what I tell you, son.” His finger tapped once. “You have everything you need to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.” Then he tapped four times. “Do you understand?” He tapped two more times and his hand rested there for a moment before he powered the door open and left.

  “Not at all, Robert,” Chase said to the door. With his privacy completely gone, Chase wasn’t sure he could maintain the attitude expected of him. But he had to if he wanted to avoid losing his will. He wouldn’t let them steal that.

  He turned off the exoself, to the best of his ability. With his own meager intelligence, he replayed the doctor’s words. He considered the tapping on the nightstand. Once, then four times, then twice: 142. Maybe. But so what? A code? A password? Chase settled by the window for a long afternoon. He pulled out his old VPad and prompted his collection of classical music. A soft rain fell against the window, and the rose bush turned its blooms upward.

  He hoped Kerstin shared the sight and sound—she hated classical music. The cat that lived outside the estate appeared on the other side of the window. Its black fur and green eyes melded with thoughts of Kerstin.

  But the cat was more welcome in his mind than the woman.

  24

  Days passed with little to do but search the new highways in his mind. Chase found everything from the gross profits of every corporation in the WR to a list of the best restaurants in China. He even found a trail of information that told where to get a meal if you’re out of the system. That baffled him. How did the system know what was going on outside itself?

  By the end of the week everything moved into rapid mode. Preparations were made for the interview with Larin. Chase got a haircut and manicure. Kerstin, much to Chase’s surprise, agreed to take the trip to Fiender’s lab. Five days before the scheduled SynVue news special, Chase was moved, again under heavy guard, to the underbelly of the estate and loaded into a dark limo. Kerstin and Fiender were already in the center seats. Chase took his place behind them. A security agent with a readied laser rifle sat beside the driver.

  Even the air felt different outside his prison. He wanted to pull open the door of the limo and run. He didn’t for fear the laser would catch him. They could just shoot a hole in him and patch it again. The limo pulled right up to the doctor’s globejet, and in the dark of night, Chase climbed the familiar steps.

  Kerstin came behind him, the doctor after her, and the armed guard entered the jet last. Just like last time, Chase didn’t see a pilot. The attendant was a young man this time. He seemed shocked to see Chase. Kerstin pulled the man aside and whispered something.

  “Robert, who flies this thing?” Chase asked.

  “An EP345.”

  Chase stood from the seat he’d just taken. “That sounds like the name of something not human. Am I right?”

  “A robot is less likely to crash a plane than a human. Relax, son. And buckle your seatbelt.”

  During the flight, Kerstin and the doctor laughed and drank. Chase held tight to the armrests. The doctor glanced at him occasionally. Kerstin seemed intent on avoiding eye contact. Soon, she demanded the flight attendant play a movie on the retractable GrapheVision. She insisted Chase watch the film from 2005—an alien flick—and she went to the rear of the jet, turned her back to the screen, and pulled out her VPad.

  Chase endured the movie while Kerstin giggled at her ability to watch it through his eyes.

  “It’s amazing, Robert. How did you come up with this?”

  The doctor sat near her, but faced the GV, watching through his own eyes. “I designed the program for military use, Kerstin, not for your entertainment. It would be very useful in certain situations to know what a spy sees and hears. No risk of monitoring systems being discovered.”

  “But it’s also useful in allowing us to monitor the spy,” she said. “Or in this case, the product of our creation.”

  Chase turned in his seat.

  “Darling, I can’t see the movie if you look at me.” She turned to face him, tilted her head, and adjusted her barrette as she saw herself in the VPad. “Watch the movie, Chase.”

  He stood and walked to her. “I am not your plaything. I’m still a person with rights. And I shouldn’t have to stare at some boring old space movie if I don’t want.”

  “He’s right, Kerstin,” Fiender said. “He’s not a techno-gadget. Let him be.”

  The plane wavered a bit, and Chase grabbed the nearest seatback. He dropped into the seat and shut his eyes.

  “Fine,” Kerstin said. “Chase, what’s wrong with you? It’s just a little turbulence.”

  He opened his eyes to find her sitting across the aisle. “I don’t like flying—you know that. But it’s not as bad as being treated like a toy, Kerstin. Please, just show me some respect, would you?”

  “I’m watching the movie without you, aren’t I? I’ll leave you alone. For now.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I know you could break me in two, darling. You wouldn’t, would you? I don’t want to make you mad.”

  “I know you’re not afraid of me. You’re not afraid of anyone.”

  She smiled in her catlike way. “You’re right, I’m not. But the strength sensors are as unnerving to me as the crypt offloading program is to you.”

  “I don’t intend to ever hurt anyone with the enhancements that have been forced on me.”

  “You’re such a good boy. Going to keep the world safe, are you? Like some kind of superman?”

  “I don’t intend to do that, either,” Chase said. “I only want to—”

  “What, Chase? What do you intend to do with your powers?”

  “You tell me. You and Fiender made me. What do you plan to do with me? Besides entertain yourselves.”

  “Robert’s plans are his own. My plan, as always, is to make money for SynVue.”

  “Of course. What about your personal plans? Darling.”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Why do you want to watch my every move?” he asked. “It’s awful, you know. I can’t go the bathroom without you, or someone, watching.”

  “There is one thing I fear, Chase. I fear you’ll run. But if you do, I will find you.”

  He would run if he got the chance. But he knew that wherever he went his own eyes would give him away.

  ****

  The ride to the Helgen Institute was uncomfortably quiet. Fiender occasionally mumbled and shook his head. Kerstin stared out the window at the black desert. Chase wondered if having them both near might give him the opportunity to know when he wasn’t being monitored. If they were both busy, he might have the chance for another call to Mel’s office. Not that the doctor cared. At least, he wouldn’t have cared a few days ago.

  The limo pulled through the gate, and the doctor sighed. “It’s good to be home.”

  “Do you really live here, Robert?” Kerstin asked. “It’s an awful place. So glum.”

  “Wait until you see the inside before making such a judgment, my dear.” Fiender had his hand on the door release before the luxury vehicle stopped. “It’s a place of miracles.”

  “I have the miracle I need,” she said, and she turned her gaze to Chase. But her eyes were c
old.

  The limo came to a stop and the doctor leapt from the warm leather seats and met a waiting associate in front of the first brick building. The men hugged and whispered, and the man Chase had never seen walked to him, a look of amazement on his face. “You look much better than the last time I saw you,” he said.

  “I’m sorry. Have we met?” Chase extended his hand.

  “I was on the team that restored you. I have to say, I thought there was no hope. You were a dead man. But now you are a living, breathing wonder.” The guy’s blue eyes sparkled in the light of the solar shafts surrounding the dark compound. “I’m Dr. Frederick Davis. My friends call me Dave.”

  “Dave,” Chase said. But he wasn’t sure he could call one of Fiender’s cronies a friend. Inside the building, Fiender introduced Chase to a number of other scientists. Chase remembered only a few of them from his first visit. Kerstin seemed acquainted with almost all of them, though a couple of men came alongside her to state their names and specialties.

  Fiender reveled in his accomplishment as his peers circled Chase. An older woman with a shrunken posture and wrinkles on top of wrinkles grabbed hold of the collar of Chase’s striped shirt. Before he could stop her, she unbuttoned the shirt and looked over the repair.

  “I did this,” she said. “I made the skin and welded you together.”

  Chase took a step back. “Oh, well…thanks. You seem pleased with the outcome.”

  “It looks like it was grafted from your own organic skin, doesn’t it?”

  “It’s, um…You did a fine job.” Chase buttoned his shirt.

  “How does it feel?”

  “Like skin. I didn’t know it wasn’t my own until someone told me.”

  The lady came closer and lifted on her toes to bring her face close to his. “Guess how old I am.”

  “I’m not very good at guessing people’s age.”

  “Guess,” she insisted.

  Fiender laughed. “Go ahead, Chase. And be honest.”

  Chase looked at the doctor and then back at the old woman. “OK. You must be about eighty-five.”