Reverence

by Joshua Landeros

  The upload link is on the table, so what is it he has? Maybe a weapon, but she realized it was far too small for that. It’s that ring. Gabby should have felt more cautious about this, but another feeling was stronger, and she now realized why she felt this way.

  “Do you want something, or is this your facility’s excuse for security?” he asked without ever looking away from the small treasure in his hand.

  Gabby nearly flinched at the abrupt question, but she held herself together. She knew she should have let him be, should have just shut the door behind her, but something beckoned her back, and she stepped into the room. This surprised Will, who rather quickly put the ring away. Gabby searched for words.

  “I just wanted to ask you something.”

  “Don’t bother me,” he said angrily, “I don’t have time for pointless shit. Just tell me when Dr. Neeson is ready to speak with me.”

  Gabby felt her own anger spike.

  “Don’t you get it? My father is very ill!” her voice grew noticeably quiet, “I’m not sure if he’ll recover this time.”

  Will took off the red bandanna he’d worn for so long and threw it on the bed out of spite.

  “It appears that he may be in critical condition.”

  “You know?” Gabby gasped.

  “I, as you all often put so eloquently, am a cyborg. I can clearly see the flaws and the weaknesses in others. I am not specified in terms of medical procedures, but Dr. Neeson is obviously struggling internally.”

  Gabby could no longer hide it. There was no point.

  “My father has lung cancer. It took me a while to accept that. When the Chancellor relieved him of his position and branded him a traitor, he also cancelled his treatment. Without help, it keeps progressing,” she stopped herself, feeling so empty all of a sudden.

  She honestly wanted to cry, but again, concealed her feeling. Looking at the stoic being in front of her, she couldn’t allow herself to show weakness.

  “His loyalty to the Chancellor was obviously not important to him. He clearly chose what mattered to him most.”

  “Will, your daughter, your wife, they can see the truth. Why can’t you?” she exclaimed, her eyes watering despite her straight face. “Are you really that blind to the reality of things? Anyone who doesn’t bend to Venloran’s will pay the price. My father gave every bit of what he had to the cause, my brother too. Everyone’s suffering because of that bastard!”

  Will’s face remain unchanged for the most part. Gabby no longer considered whether or not he cared, or if he thought everything she said was utter bullshit. He was going to hear what she had to say.

  “My brother and Halsey both served the UNR loyally for years yet were sent to one of those work camps for speaking out against my father’s termination. When that happened, I came to realize the same thing they all had: that we were fighting to keep something alive that shouldn’t exist.”

  “I remember bits and pieces of the initial regime, before the republic was born. I read about all the groups that tried to stage their own military coups. So many people trying to burn down their own country. Before the UNR everything was in shambles.”

  “And what might your point be?”

  “That a solution was offered, but it was not forced upon anyone. A government can never run without the cooperation of the people and its armies. Everyone embraced it, and we have flourished ever since.”

  “Not everybody. You generalize people. Maybe that’s your problem.”

  “And what complaints have you then?”

  “I grew up at the Academy, was there for most of my life, but my brother and I got to visit our father every weekend. Those days are the one I cherish the most. He would show us images of a different country. One where people had the power to change things and freedom used to have meaning behind it.”

  “I see. You find it displeasing that in this society the unproductive are forced to work, the useless are terminated, and the social parasites, both homebred and foreign, are permanently cut-off? I had no idea your little band was so idealistic.”

  “We want that liberty back. Power belongs in the hands of the people.”

  “Didn’t you learn? You fools never had the power, only an illusion of it. Venloran only removed the blinders. Your insurrection seems to be a brand of denial I’ve seen only in the insane.”

  Will couldn’t help but smile at his assessment and how blind they truly appeared to be. His opponent stood firm however, ready to continue.

  “The UNR stands upon a foundation of people who are now dead. Anybody who refused to submit was executed like an animal. That’s not who we are.”

  “What’s next? Are you going to lecture me on how only God has the right to take a life? I don’t buy that type of shit.”

  “Sounds like you used to believe, Will.”

  “I stopped caring when I realized God doesn’t praise the righteous or punish the wicked. That’s been left to us.”

  “I still believe because I like the idea that after we spend our whole lives getting our asses kicked, we attain something after we die.”

  “How quaint.”

  Gabby was tired of being Will’s amusement.

  “How do you really feel about what you are?”

  Will’s smile and nonchalant tone disappeared.

  “I guess you’re asking how I feel about death. Do I feel I should have as accepted my fate as God’s will on the battlefield that day? As a true man would, in sickness and in death?”

  Gabby felt taken aback slightly. Maybe she’d pushed him too hard.

  “I didn’t mean–”

  “You did, don’t be coy. Truth is I don’t think we will ever really know if there’s a heaven or a hell. Maybe I was denied heaven. Maybe I defied God by continuing my existence here. I’m not sure if I’m truly the definition of immortality, but I’ve been told that I will walk this earth for many centuries to come.”

  “But your family won’t.”

  Will paused.

  “Wow. You’re backing me into a corner. I often contemplate my former life, but I know so little, fragments really.”

  “Your wife was one of us for some time, but she found it became harder and harder to manage her dual life. Your daughter was so young, yet so eager to fight. Your son, well he was just a boy during it all. Your wife didn’t want to feel the force of the law if her treachery was discovered, so she resigned before she up and left.”

  “She severed all contact for the children’s safety?”

  “Yes, and relocated her family. She’d been in so deep, but for the sake of her family she sacrificed her position, everything.”

  “And now nobody knows where they are, at least you guys. Why didn’t she come see me?”

  Hurt lingered in his voice.

  “She said she had. By the time she finally was allowed to see you the operation was complete, and you were no longer…you. She never said it, but I think what drove her to fight in the beginning was the fact that she didn’t want others to go through what she did.”

  “It’s funny,” he said somberly, “I have only the faintest idea what they look like. I wouldn’t even recognize them if I walked past them. I’m sure I have become dead to them.”

  “No, don’t ever think like that! You can never do that! They love you, just as you love them.”

  “But I never knew them.”

  Gabby couldn’t take this any longer. It was beyond her endurance to listen to such words. She sat on the mattress next to Will. What was left of the mattress was flattened even further by her added weight.

  “Will,” she said, placing one hand on his shoulder, the other on his cheek. The cyborg had goose bumps growing from the sensation of her soft palms.

  “This is what you are now. But this is only a small fragment of who you have been. Our lives are short, but when we strive for something, for a purpose, suddenly life becomes so much more meaningful.”

  She removed her hands and Will felt the warmth from where she’
d touched him, feeling his scar. He realized ironically that the hira-shuriken would leave a similar scar on her face in the years to come. Gabby picked up the upload link cable off the table, holding up his left arm like a doctor. She pulled back his sleeve and focused on his wrist.

  “Before joining my dad and my brother, my main focus was on applied sciences. Between Alex and my dad, I picked up quite a bit, including a lot about cyborg anatomy,” she said as she brushed her fingers on the underside of his forearm. Near the elbow, she stopped and pressed down on the skin. With that, the flesh split open exposing the neoartium plate. Using her other hand, she lowered one end of the cable link into the crevice, attaching it to the plate. The cable recoiled until it was no longer visible, and as Gabby released her pressure, the ‘wound’ sealed right back up.

  “I’ve always had this router link in my left arm?”

  “Yes. The First Fifty all had them. Venloran later realized it gave you too much free range in the archives, so the feature was done away with in the rest of the 144,000 cyborgs. As for you and the rest of the First Fifty, your units were revised.”

  Will pulled the sleeve back himself, before looking at Gabby again.

  “You people seem to know more about what I am than I do myself.”

  Gabby smiled, realizing the attempted humor. It was a much-welcomed remark.

  “Somewhat. A lot is left up to you. But I do know a few things: Your wife, her name is Julissa. Your oldest is your daughter Zaneta, and your youngest would be your son, Damien. She said you’d suggested the name for him.”

  “Zaneta? What does that mean?”

  “God’s Gift.”

  A smile formed on Will’s tired face, but quickly faded as he began to speak.

  “Your forces in the past were led by Joseph Halsey. You appear to know him personally.”

  “Yes, but that was when he was head of the–”

  “The Crimson Angels, I know. Since his capture the group fell apart.”

  “He was our connection with many of the other regiments. He took many secrets with him, as his capture was so sudden. And we have no way of knowing where he is, or if he’s even alive.”

  “Oh, he’s still breathing, don’t worry. He’s at UNR Headquarters, prison level three, cell No. 0219.”

  Gabby gasped, bewildered, “Why would you tell me that?”

  “Sorry, it must’ve been a mistake on my part. Please, forgive me,” Will said, a slow smile spreading across his face.

  Gabby grinned back at him.

  “Well, I should be going now,” she said as she began to stand up.

  “I understand. Gabriella,” he said with a pause, “thank you, really. For everything. It means a lot to me.”

  “Don’t thank me. You have the right to know.”

  Gabby shut the door behind her leaving Will to his thoughts. Julissa, Zaneta, and Damien. There was also Bryan, Luis, and Valerie. They had been cast off to a corner of his mind since his arrival. What of all of them? Will slouched on the floor and picked up his bandanna.

  Chapter 21 - Dogs

  April 17, 2065- Fonzworth Military Outpost, Norfolk 0700

  The UNR security guard walked through the long grass that came up to his knees. The white sandy beach was only a few feet away and the roar of its crashing waves soothed him. The facility faced away from the beach, but the soldier was glad that tonight his post was here in the rear position. As a breeze passed through, the grass swayed beautifully, and sand blew his way. The soldier looked up as he noticed an amber light that shined on him briefly before it dimmed and started to flicker.

  “Sergeant Grimes,” acknowledged the soldier, who then noticed the lights along the sides of the facility and its concrete walls were all flickering, “we havin’ power difficulties?”

  “Yes, private, continue your patrol as usual. Technicians are working on it as we speak.”

  “Right, sir!”

  The soldier relaxed and prepared to circle his given perimeter, but felt the need to look up, back at the flickering lights. The periods of blackness were quickly stretching from small bursts to almost thirty seconds at a time. As he stared up at the lights though, his eyes faltered. For a moment there, he could’ve sworn he saw the silhouette of a man on the edge of the roof. He looked back at the beach, assuming it was obviously the tech team at work. As the soldier looked up at the sky, he noticed that despite the fact there were a few areas of pinkish orange hues, the sky was growing more cloud filled. Damn, probably means it will rain later on. Suddenly, the lights gave out completely, each and every last one of them. Dumbasses. Lousy dumbasses.

  Simultaneously, a black shape leaped off the roof of the facility, landing directly behind the soldier, some twenty feet below. As the soldier turned, he felt a quick blow to his collarbone area, and all he could do was fall. His body had literally become dead weight. Before the incapacitated soldier hit the ground, Will grabbed hold of him and threw him over his shoulder along with the other soldier he already had on his back.

  Will walked further into the courtyard of the facility, to a large willow tree gently laying the soldiers against the thick tree trunk. Two of Jacob’s soldiers immediately tied them up with the rest of the UNR troops. Sergeant Grimes could only look on in anger as his men were bound together, though he did not dare do anything with the woman holding a pistol to his head. Will collected the intercoms from the last two soldiers and smashed them, before walking over to the small group of men and women. He spoke with no urgency in his voice:

  “The power’s finished and all outer defenses are now gathered. Backup power will slow them down. We move now.”

  “Hold it,” Jacob ordered, turning toward the Sergeant.

  Will steeled himself to be patient. Even with his injured arm, the lieutenant vainly deemed it necessary to be present during the mission. Personally, Will didn’t care if it was a wounded wolf’s attempt to keep up with his pack, or if the lieutenant simply did not trust him. Either way it was a possible hindrance to the mission.

  Jacob approached the Sergeant, looking down at the man.

  “Let him up,” he said.

  Gabby, keeping her pistol aimed at his skull, helped the soldier, who undoubtedly had a hard time getting to his feet with his hands cuffed together. “Get us in there, understand? Any funny shit, we kill your boys and leave you for Venloran,” Jacob said.

  Sergeant Grimes knew he was hard pressed to try anything, looking over at his unconscious men. Then he met Will’s eyes.

  “You, Unit 21, you would watch these dogs kill your fellow soldiers?”

  Gabby struck the Sergeant in the back with her elbow as Jacob punched him in his face. The man’s legs buckled for a moment, but he was able to straighten himself up. Will turned away, looking instead at the whip-like branches of the willow tree. Gabby grabbed Grimes by his hair as Jacob grabbed him by his chin.

  “Last chance, asshole.”

  “Sgt. Grimes, come in, over. We’re having a problem with the system. How’re things out there?”

  Grimes swallowed some of the blood in his mouth.

  “We’re in a black out I think. I’ll be coming in to assume my quarters.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jacob watched as Gabby, Alex, and the others followed the Sergeant to the main door. With the outer cameras down, they freely entered the building. Alex waited for their commander at the door.

  “Jacob, hurry up!”

  Jacob walked over to Will who was still facing away from everyone.

  “I think it’s better you stay out here, all right? Watch our asses and if we get company, head straight for the truck. We’ll follow right behind.”

  “All right then,” Will said, as Jacob left to catch up with the others.

  ***

  The storage facility held only a large office and a lounge. Other than that, it consisted of only one long corridor. Two soldiers lay unconscious and tied to a chair, while one was up against a wall, laying still and wishing he’d complied
with Lt. Neeson. Alex opened the computer and inserted his own upload link cable. A soldier appeared out of the blackness of the hall, just as the power switched back on.

  “There are at least thirty storage rooms, Lieutenant Neeson,” reported the soldier. “Any idea which one we’re looking for?”

  Alex didn’t even look away from the computer, “Only storage rooms B5, B7, and E2 have our working weapons. The others are useless to us.”

  “Good shit, Alex, we’ll be right back. You know I expect the download to be done by the time I get back, right?” Jacob asked.

  Alex laughed, “Don’t patronize me, man. The download will begin shortly and it’ll only take a few minutes.”

  “Hot damn! Gabby, cover him. We’ll keep you posted.”

  “Yes, sir!!”

  Jacob and the others left down the hall, and Gabby checked the windows. No movement at all, but despite her composure Gabby’s heart was racing, so fast she felt almost sick. Alex knew his first priority was to separate certain files into a particular section for Unit 21, just as, or more important than everything else.

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” Alex said as he worked, “in just a few minutes, we’ll have access to their security system, base locations, operation schedules, work camp areas, we’ll have it all.”

  Gabby smiled, “My father will be proud. Our regiment will go down in history as the ones who brought down the Chancellor.”

  “And for starting a civil war, need I remind you,” Alex added, He always looked at a topic from all its angles, something he never failed to do. Some called it pessimism. He called it realism.

  “But one that will end quickly. The world will strike along with us, and things will be as they always should be: equal.”

  Alex meanwhile had already selected the necessary files, and was busy adding them to his device. The download was currently at twenty percent.