“I’m sure Dr. Krenzler can rid you of those occurrences. Why don't you see him for help? It’s a simple solution to a simple dilemma.”
“Because, I simply don't want to, not yet anyway. Not without knowing what they are first. I know there were others that I let them dispose of so quickly without a second thought. Looking back, that was probably a mistake.”
Val was only staring at him at this point, her eyes lost in disbelief.
“You can’t look me in the eye and say you've reported every last stray file or image you’ve ever seen.”
Now she spoke with a ring of confidence and pride in her voice, strong and free of doubt.
“I’ve had countless instances of these types of errors, and I’ve destroyed every last one of them. All I recount now is the procedure. That's all there is to know in this system, Will. You’re lucky I don't report you myself. The only reason I won’t is because I assume you'll eventually pull yourself together.”
Will felt something inside him lurch. Val’s words struck a chord deep within him, and he realized his disloyalty to Chancellor Venloran. How could I have been so foolishly misled by hallucinations? His sudden awareness made him grasp that the conversation was over, and he had to reassess whether this path was worth it.
“You’re right. I’ve been an utter fool.”
Val saw that the spirit had completely washed out of the man. He no longer looked as if he was ready to go round for round. He was the opposite of the opponent she had faced in the training exercise the other day, and she found it disturbing.
“You look like you’ve been bitch slapped, Will, and it doesn’t fit the image of my new C.O.”
“I know when I’m beat.”
In any other argument, Unit 23 would have been satisfied with this victory, but she could not bring herself to continue this charade any longer. If she did, her victory would be built on a lie. This was something she strangely could not allow. Even stranger, she assumed that she and Will had at least that much in common.
Will saw the image of smugness shrink away as Val shared.
“I did rid myself of most of my system corruptions, all except one. Not because it may mean something, but because,” she looked at her feet for a few seconds, feeling rather pathetic, “I don't know. I really don't know why I hold on to it. It’s just this man and me on a beach, and there's a sunset like this one. The man sits down next to me on that warm sand. I can feel the tiny grains between my fingers, right before he grips my hand. I do the same as I feel myself smiling. We end up kissing on that beach, but then it all goes blank.”
“I see, and I know there's no way you're willing to sacrifice that, are you?”
It wasn’t a question to cement his earlier statements, she knew, but a question based on an almost child-like curiosity.
“There's no way we can link our errors by going over them again and again. We need some kind of help, and not from Krenzler.”
“Who would we go to then?” she asked.
Will’s CPU left him helpless. He hated the feeling.
“We’re on our own.”
***
Venloran looked at the documents on his desk, reading them carefully, line by line. He made certain not to miss a single detail, while seated comfortably at his long desk. Kearney sat in a seat to the left of it. In front of the Chancellor stood Dr. Krenzler, as well as Commander Kane. All were silent as the Chancellor read on. Krenzler had a confident and collected look as he watched. Venloran's head turned slightly in his assistant’s direction.
“Are these the latest reports?” he asked.
“Just as you requested, sir,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Krenzler, I would like a synopsis of this data, please. My wife will be here in twenty minutes or so, and I'd like to get this done quickly.”
“Certainly. Two of the cyborg units check out okay. Unit 21 is the only one to report any kind of CPU complications.”
Chancellor Venloran's face changed from concentration to one of disbelief.
“Unit 21? I thought it was impossible?”
“He’s stubborn to no end, sir. As to how this keeps happening, is beyond me,” Kearney said.
“It’s like Neeson said long ago. It’s a damn shame, really.”
Kane chose this moment to enter the conversation.
“If I may say something, Chancellor,” he said respectfully.
“Go right ahead,” he said.
“Thank you, sir. What I wanted to say in Unit 21's defense is that he is unquestionably one of our best. I've worked with him for years now, and I know he would never let any malfunction slow him down.”
“Be that as it may, newer S.S.C. units should be brought in after this mission,” Kearney suggested.
“And turn our backs on a soldier who’s done so much for us?” Kane said in anger.
Venloran decided to end this.
“A soldier like Unit 21 is exemplary, Kane. All the more reason why this is so hard. He’s a walking controversy, and you know it. The war that created the UNR back in the 2040s is over, Commander. The Expansion has also come to an end. We have already subjugated all foreign opposition. The only way we can truly move forward into the next era is to let him rest. When this next assignment is over, Unit 21 will return to hibernation.”
Chapter 10 - Frivolity
April 8, 2065 – UNR Headquarters – Recreation Chamber
The Recreation Chamber was a huge parlor, its ceiling well over thirty feet high. To the left of the entrance, was an enormous chestnut bar, with an extensive polished marble-topped counter. An enormous telescreen covered most of the right wall, with a seating area located in the front of the room. In the center of it all was a series of large priceless pool tables and beneath all this was sensuous, pristine carpet.
Also found in the chamber were dual staircases with a large collection of books displayed between them. The second floor of the Recreation Chamber was home to an even more extensive library. During daylight hours, this palatial room was a mellow hangout, but at night, it became a party hall.
Tonight was even more boisterous than usual with the broadcast of the NBA finals. The majority of the soldiers had taken up the many velvet couches around the telescreen, while even more gladly sat on the floor. Hans and Mitch approached the bar. Mitch was startled to find the boy there waiting for them.
“What’s the cherry doing here?”
“Uh,” Cisco could only utter.
“Don’t go breaking his balls, he’s with me. Besides, I got a good feeling about the kid,” Hans said.
Mitch sat down, accepting it without much retaliation. Hans sat in between them.
“Jerry, three medium glasses, Jim Beam on the rocks, my man.”
Cisco reached for his wallet, but Hans stopped him.
“Hey, it’s on me. Your first combat situation under your belt, and I’m in a giving mood. And you,” he looked to Mitch with a smile, “I don’t think your account can take much more.”
Mitch looked down at the marble countertop, “Thanks.”
They all watched as the bartender poured the brown liquid, slowly causing the ice cubes to ascend to the top of the glasses.
“So, how was R & R?” Hans asked.
Filled nearly to the rim of the glass, Mitch was the first to take a sip.
“Clara and I are pretty much through, Hans.”
“Damn, did you at least get it in one last time? Bitch like her that’s all that matters really.”
“We spent the last few days bickering over bullshit. I didn’t know when she was going to shut the hell up. I was this close to giving her a smack.”
“And how I’d cry for her” Hans responded in a laugh, Mitch joining him.
“I don’t think you know how to treat a lady,” Cisco interjected.
Both Mitch and Hans put down their whiskey in mid-drink, their eyes fixed intently on him. Cisco looked away from their angered stares and into his glass, taking his first sip of the night. Placing t
he drink back on the counter, he licked his lips. His face remained stern.
“Yeah, man, it’s obvious. I bet it was the anniversary gift. If you really want to please her, it can’t be just a ring. Throw in a necklace, some earrings, hell the whole set. Wanna make her shit her pants? Get her parents a summer home.”
For a second, all three men sat there in utter silence, almost immediately followed by a stupendous uproar. Hans playfully punched the boy in his arm, moving him to smile.
“Damn, kid, you’re good! Damn good!” Mitch commented with a grin.
“I’m telling you, he’s the next member of our squad,” Hans added.
Mitch became quiet again in the midst of it all.
“I can’t stop thinking, Hans, would things have been different if I’d been there? A lot of civilians died because of those motherfuckers. Watching it on TV, all I could think about was getting to the fight, but I couldn’t.”
“Yeah, I accept my mistakes out there,” Hans nodded, “luckily the Chancellor made it out untouched. That’s gotta count for something.”
“When I think about it, that’s probably the reason why Clara is being so damned difficult. Soon as I received the reports, I cancelled my R & R and headed back.”
“Don’t fall for that crap,” Hans rebutted, “our duties are clear, right from the start. If she can’t take it, it’s probably best it ended, my friend.”
“No point in fighting what can’t be helped I suppose. Only one thing really matters – our service to the UNR,” Mitch said proudly.
“I’ll drink to that,” Hans said.
All three raised their glasses and finished off their beverages. Turning in his seat, Mitch eyed the game.
“Fourth quarter’s about to start.”
“Don’t tell me you put more of your hard-earned money on the line?”
Mitch stood up now, “One thing you never seem to get about me Hans is that I am first and foremost a risk-taker.”
Mitch walked away from the bar, but not before eyeing it again. He couldn’t help but notice Bia had left the Recreation Chamber. Perhaps she finally had enough and in comedic malice, he almost hoped she’d had too much fun.
“See, I told you. Stick with us and you’ll very quickly find yourself at the top. I believe in your potential,” Hans coached warmly.
“Thank you, sir. I just want another shot to prove myself. What happened out there is an embarrassment on my part.”
“Don’t be in such a rush to go into full-on combat, kid. It’s sticky business, especially on foreign soil.”
Cisco felt for a second like he was being lectured by his father. His thoughts circled back to the latter half of his friend’s statement.
“You’ve been on missions outside the UNR?”
“Of course, it’s where I hail from as a matter of fact, the town of Dresden.”
“How long were you over there for, sir?”
“I was born and raised there most of my life.”
“So you chose to move to the UNR?”
“Thousands did around the time I left, when I was just barely eighteen.”
“You saw the Great Purge in Europe then. Not that I mean to intrude, sir.”
Hans nodded, his smile becoming somewhat transparent.
“The Allied European Federation claimed Venloran had no right to turn the Middle East into the shell they now are. Right around the time the UNR ended that war, the AEF began its own cleansing. At sixteen, I was blacklisted as a UNR supporter. My father and I were both put in prison for attending a rally, and my mother was a wreck.”
“She must’ve been devastated.”
“Blind empathy breeds weakness, remember that. Because I wasn’t considered an adult at the time, I got out after a year. You know what she told me when I got home? Probably the most disgusting words I’ve ever heard in my life, and from the lips of my own mother at that. She said, ‘power means nothing to the common people, like you and me. We just live our lives as best we can. It’s a fool’s game to strive for it.’ I couldn’t stand such insanity, not even from her.”
Cisco didn’t respond this time. Hans meanwhile had another drink.
“By the time I came back to my homeland, I was a soldier for the UNR. After that, I never looked at that place in the same way again. The UNR is my home, now.”
“Did they ever release your father?”
“Never got the chance. The guards failed to act when other ‘nationalist’ prisoners killed five pro-UNR men.”
***
Luis readied himself for sleep, at least the cyborgs’ version of slumber. He would enter a dreamless, death-like state of sorts, though his sensors were still active in the case of any surprise. Luis sat down on his bed, the frame crunching under his weight. Just as he was getting settled, there was a loud knock on his door. He sighed in annoyance. This isn't the time.
“Who is it?”
To his surprise, he heard Bia's soft voice.
“It’s me.”
“It's open. Come right in,” he said, not bothering to open the door for her.
She walked in, shutting the door slowly behind her. Her black hair was dripping onto a towel she had around her neck and hung off each shoulder. Her face was also wet, studded all over with droplets of warm water. Clad in her gray tank top and slim-fit cargo pants, her alluring physique was no mystery. The cyborg hardly took notice this particular evening, though. He saw her stunning face, could even smell the scent of her apricot body wash, but he did not concentrate on these things for long. For once, Luis’ eyes shied away from hers, his voice lacking its usual confidence.
“I hear there’s quite a celebration going on tonight. The only reason I can think of as to why you’re not out enjoying yourself is because you’re too lame to be invited.”
She laughed in return, trying her best to ignore the awkwardness of the hug. Ever since she’d come back, she hadn’t him the least bit of hope of being this close to her, and yet tonight he didn’t seem to give a damn. Bia noticed a difference in Luis' face as well, but couldn't place her finger on it. Or maybe it was simply that he did not have that armor on, only a muscle shirt and sweatpants.
“Very funny, asshole. I’ve had my fun for the evening, so I showered up and decided to head off to bed, thank you very much. I just wanted to stop by and see you. I never did thank you properly for what you did the other day. I hate to admit it, but you saved my life.”
“Don't mention it.”
“No, I feel indebted to you. Your bravery was commendable.”
“Well the situation seemed to call for it. A heat of the moment decision, I guess. The Chancellor chewed me out pretty good though, him and Kane. I was lectured about my less than standard actions.”
Bia stepped closer, wiping some stray strands of her hair out of her face.
“Is that what has you down? If it makes you feel any better, I appreciate it.”
“Bia, I've come to terms with how I handled the situation out there. My orders were clear, but my performance was far from admirable.”
Bia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Where was the cocky and self-assured man she knew? Her smile faded and she put her head down.
“So, you regret what you did? I see…”
At any rate, he was a cyborg, perhaps nothing more. She had felt it before she made the decision to come into the room, but had thought that of all the cyborgs, Luis seemed to be the one most human. Bia also remembered how she’d treated him, with her sudden interest in foreign assignments, and her lukewarm return. She saw now that she’d sown these seeds.
“No, that’s not it. I would never let anything happen to you. If I had to choose again, I'd choose you without hesitation.”
Bia looked up at him, taking that in. That was a bold declaration, to put her before the Chancellor, and a dangerous way of thinking. It was too much, and maybe Luis had gone too far. Contrary to what she thought, she didn't feel so tense. Bia could feel her acceptance of the statement, and she felt c
omfort hearing it. Their lips met slowly. Luis nearly lost himself in the moment, but he broke the kiss.
“What is it?” she asked. He’s acting as if this is the first time. But, there was another time, on that mission a couple of months ago. That time it had been an exploratory kiss after the excitement of a completed assignment, but the excitement hadn’t been anywhere near enough to keep Bia interested. In fact, she knew as well as he did that their initial affair had left both feeling rather uncomfortable.
“I know where this is going. Farther than we've ever gone. Are you sure this is what you want? Me? What would the others–”
“I don't give a shit what the others think. All I want is you.”
She smiled, even though Luis was still feeling quite uncertain about it all. She threw him a very smug look, which surprised the cyborg. Bia sure knew how to drive it out of him. When she spoke, it was in a taunting manner.
“This is your first time, I get it.”
“What?”
“As a cyborg, I mean. I'm positive that you're capable, and surely you’d done it before the procedure.”
Luis suddenly felt out of place, “Yeah, I'm capable of--I presume–”
“So what are you then, Luis? Just scared?” she went on as she drew close to him.
Bia finally saw that cocky look she was so used to on his face.
“You would be so lucky.”
They began to kiss again as they did that one night, a night she’d tried to forget ever since it happened. He broke away and kissed her goosebump-covered neck, which felt so warm against his lips. Bia rubbed his massive shoulders before removing his shirt. Luis sat down on his bed. His palms began to sweat as she finally took off her shirt, and let her pants fall to her ankles. If Luis had one word to describe what he was feeling, he would have to go with intoxicated. The feeling only intensified as the stunning woman seated herself directly onto his lap. Luis’ hands gripped her tall, slender legs, clutching her delicate skin with vigor. Bia swept her arms around him, interlacing her fingers behind his neck. For a moment, the two only stared at one another.
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