Reanimated_Terminal Misery

by Jon State

  "The powers that be…"

  “Can you read it again?” someone else cried out.

  Ben’s mask hid his pleasure. “We will post it on the city hall tent, folks. I have assigned a group of people to read all your messages, but it will take a while even with the Alphas help. Everyone will work hard to rebuild not only our city but our lives. We will even have a shower system and plumbing. As far as homes, we will start with family dwellings. We still need volunteers for future and ongoing projects. If you need retraining, go to the employment and education tent." Ben noticed the hands but ignored them. "We will convene in a week for additional Q&A and answer the most pertinent messages. This meeting is adjourned,” Ben said, attempting to leave quickly but not succeeding.

  "Malica, I think we have just welcomed fascism into our lives, something the USC fought off for so long," Dr. Spencer said, loud enough for Ben and Ruby to hear.

  “This did not work well for Belgrade during the nineteenth century,” Malica said, boring holes into the retreating Council members.

  "They changed the Constitution we read by voting on the articles when we were not present. Those self-serving bastards," Dr. Spencer said as he and Malica stapped off the stage. He glimpsed a group of people staring in their direction.

  They approached the group. Lt. Pierce, Gonzales, Efrem, Mathew, Sammis, Aron, Johnson, and Corporal Stevens, stared at them blankly. Around them, the bustling crowd scattered out the two main doors, some still murmuring and others shell-shocked.

  “Doctor.” Lt. Pierce nodded somberly. “I suppose this is as much a shock to you as to us,” he said, shaking the man’s hand.

  “We have been left out in the rain yet again,” the doctor said. “We will have to find a way to negotiate some flexibility into this contrived Constitution and its amendments."

  “Agreed,” Malica said, adding, “The Doctor and I will convene with the Council and discuss this noticeable use of force.”

  “This is a big problem, but there is more,” Dr. Spencer said, his angry eyes scanning the friendly faces. “Mathew found other entertainment files from around the world purged, along with other data.”

  “For example?” Malica asked.

  “Mostly historical, meticulously selected to resemble corruption in the media used. ‘Two thousand years is a long time,’ Ben had said to me during our last investigation, ‘everything we have has come a long way. I’m surprised it works at all,' Ben had added. It bothered me at the time, and now I know why."

  “What are we going to do? This is insanity. We can’t create anything without the approval of the Environmental Body? Who came up with that mess?” Specialist Johnson said, his voice echoing across the oval ceiling.

  “We all agree, soon we’re going to have to make a stand. Tomorrow night, by the med tent, we’re going to build a campfire and have some of Johnson’s sour wine. It will give us time to talk it over calmly,” Dr. Spencer said.

  “Last time we lit a fire, we were told fires could cause climate change," Efrem said, his eyes seemed to capture the artificial light. “I told them we couldn’t even start a forest fire, unless the fire chased the vegetation.”

  “Worse than that, now they have people making us stay hidden from the outside world, as if we were caged animals. Maybe they have been possessed by the Bisonon,” Gonzales offered.

  “Spencer said we will make a stand and we will, okay?" Malica held out her hand. The others smiled and joined in. They held their hands atop each other for a moment. “We are fighting for freedom, full freedom. We need to gather anyone we know and bring them tomorrow tonight.”

  “To freedom,” everyone acknowledged, their hands falling away in unison.

  “Should I bring my men, Doc?” Lt. Pierce asked.

  “I’m afraid it would send the wrong message, Lieutenant, but it’s good to know their on freedom’s side,” Dr. Spencer said.

  “Can I bring the Dreamers, they have become good friends,” Malica said.

  “Definitely!” Johnson snapped, making everyone stare at him.

  “He has a thing for Adiana,” Mirra said, smiling.

  “Yes, they are very welcome,” Dr. Spencer said.

  “IT team will be there. Those guys need a break,” Mathew said.

  “As for the lost data, we’ll deal with that after we figure out how to proceed against this Constitution,” the doctor said.

  Aron massaged his aching head. So many voices made him feel delirious. He watched his new friends having a good time, but his dreaded gift made him move away from them. Then he sensed other minds nearby. For a few brief moments, he had heard Ruby’s mental voice arc above all the rest. He had the urge to say something as if they could speak to each other. Was she reaching out to him? He had sensed something dreadful in her tone. He needed to get more proof. How had they known who would protest to keep them from arriving on time to the meeting? Was Ruby in on it? Was Ben responsible for the data loss? He had it in his power to answer these questions for his friends. He needed to isolate their thoughts, which in the past had proven nearly impossible, but bits of words and phrases did escape them. Finding the right range would require some planning.

  Chapter 48

  Servility

  New York Territory, USC

  August 19, 4067

  “Nice fire,” Malica said, smiling.

  Dr. Spencer smiled in return. Malica came so close he could smell her perfume. He felt her hand brush his. He smiled and handed her his tin cup.

  “Oh, yuck. This is the alleged elixir of the gods?" Malica's face crumbled.

  The guys haven't aged it long enough, plus we lack the proper ingredients, but it does have a kick.” The doctor took the cup back musingly.

  “I prefer something with less of a kick,” she said, massaging her long neck.

  “How about some juice to take away the bite?” he said, starting for the tent.

  “No, that's okay. Let’s join the others. Who is playing the guitar?”

  “Stevens. He plays well."

  “He plays very good and sings nicely, too,” Malica said, hearing him as if he were beside her.

  The voice became more apparent to the doctor as they approached. “I love the one he’s singing. I think it’s from Green Day—Time of your Life. It’s old, but true to our time. I can't believe it's all gone—the music, the art, the literature--" Dr. Spencer said turning to Malica. “It’s as if they have cut away a chunk of my memories.” Dr. Spencer rubbed his forehead.

  Malica saw the pain in his eyes. They had also erased the music she had promised to share with him. "I'm sorry, Spence," she said, taking his hand and gently placing her lips on it. “We will get it back.”

  Cheers and applause erupted as the song came to an end. Stevens steered into a song from the ancient group Extreme ‘…saying I love you…just close your eyes…’

  Dr. Spencer looked into Malica's dreamy eyes. She still held his hand and his gaze. Their eyes spoke to the strumming of the song. They kissed. It lingered. They parted to the cheers and whistles of the group. Malica smiled and fell into his arms. Dr.Spencer gestured for them to continue—or rather, to mind their own business—but he smiled nonetheless.

  They stopped the festivities long enough to discuss their situation. There was no debating, no arguing, and no hesitation once they came up with a plan. Everyone agreed. They would resort to nonstop protesting until the Council amended the Constitution. They would consider a Constitution that allowed them to adapt to their new world slowly. Mirra had spoken to the Council countless times, but they reasoned that the Constitution should be separate from any faith. They did give reassurances that freedom to worship would be at the top of the list.

  To many citizens, the Dreamers and Mirra were an inspiration. In addition, they were Mother’s emissaries whom could appease her wrath, the very thing they needed in a world such as New Earth. To many others, they were freaks created by the abomination of the land or the aliens. Tonight, however, they felt like a part
of something bigger than themselves.

  Mirra watched the Dreamers' happy faces and smiled—theirs was a hard job and a hard life. They had changed their lives because they believed wholeheartedly in Mother.

  The festivities continued, invigorated by camaraderie, and perhaps, the vigorous wine. Other sounds joined the guitar; cups tapped on armrests and the clapping of handsastounding sounds with his mouth. Some of them danced to Frankie Valli’s, ‘Swear to God.’

  “I’m having the best time since we woke up,” Malica said, following a twirl.

  “We’re going to have to make Stevens our official entertainer. Seems he knows many oldies my grandparents cherish—”

  “What was that?" Malica cut him short. She stopped dancing, and her hand went to her mouth to stifle a cry. She shied behind Dr. Spencer.

  “Hold on!” he cried to the others.

  Smiles died as everyone came to their feet. Only Lt. Pierce was armed, and his hand instinctively slid aside the holster’s security lock.

  “What’s going on, Doc?” Efrem said, popping the hunting knife’s strap.

  "He…" She shook a tremulous finger, and they saw him. Aron approached, staggering, hunched over, and bloodied.

  The group ran to him as one.

  Malica stopped and cocked her head to focus her hearing.

  “Aron, what happened?” Gonzales reached him first and aided the man to the ground. “Dr. Spencer!” he called out.

  The doctor examined the deep lacerations throughout Aron’s face and body. His clothes hung in strips as if flayed with a razor. Rivulets of blood oozed from his chest and abdomen.

  “Get him to the tent. Careful,” Dr. Spencer said.

  “Ruby—Ruby reads mind…. Watch out…for her. Alpha and Monster…" His eyes rolled back. A bloody gash extended his lips into a half grin, exposing red teeth. He spat blood spasmodically at his friends.

  “Johnson, awaken Charlie and get us ready.

  Specialist Johnson sprinted off.

  “Doc!” Lt. Pierce called.

  Dr. Spencer saw it in Lt. Pierce's bug eyes. He spun to see a giant multi-legged plant slinking toward them; its multiple long beak-like mouths protruded from flexible gray necks.

  Lt. Pierce let the .40 caliber chatter away. The rounds cut into leaves and bit into the stem. A foul-smelling spray rained from the five-yard, snake-like torso, but the creature seemed unaffected.

  Something snapped close to the lieutenant’s cheek. Only then did he notice the many wipe-like threads slinking from the creature’s underbelly. Like rubber bands, they shot out to meet any opposition, then recoiled back with a snap.

  Another weapon erupted, dividing the creature's whip-like appendages.

  Corporal Stevens, Mirra, Sammis, and Dr. Spencer carried Aron away from the creature’s path.

  Everyone scattered.

  Sergeant Gonzales had fetched his Z-9. He slapped another mag into the chamber. The creature seemed weakened.

  Efrem went in dodging one whip and slashing at another, trying to reach the creature's flank. A lash slipped through, and he felt the hot tentacle saw through his back. He managed to sever it, then ducked and rolled as he hacked away at the sharp, needle-like arms. He vaguely felt the second and third strike across his legs. He had to chop at a more massive limb twice. He hoped the others would start shooting again. He felt tired, deadly tired.

  “Efrem, get outta there!” Lt. Pierce said, his voice shrill. He slapped his last magazine in and concentrated his fire on the most significant head.

  Sergeant Gonzales heard a click. “You out?”

  “I’m out. Damn it!” the lieutenant answered, retrieving his M-Tech blade and readied himself to work in close quarters with Efrem. “It’s dying. Concentrate what you have left on the largest head!” he told Gonzales.

  A zipping sound cracked overhead, and two red beams cut into the whipping creature.

  Lt. Pierce watched as an Alpha shot through the creature’s underbelly, ignoring the whips as they clanked harmlessly off its chrome armor. The Alpha soared away caring Efrem’s large frame to safety.

  The creature shrieked and made a high piercing sound as it staggered. Gonzales felt as though the monster trumpeted into his skull. He watched the thing topple, its lifeblood streaming from its numerous wounds. It hit the ground with a loud whoosh. It shivered and went limp when Gonzales emptied the clip into the torso for good measure.

  An Alpha landed beside him. “Alpha 34 at your service,” it said evenly.

  “Is the Doc checking Efrem?”

  "Charlie 4 said he would be fine. However, the whip-like appendages introduced a paralyzing agent into his bloodstream," Alpha 34 informed.

  “Where were you guys? This thing just pranced in here.” Sergeant Gonzales said, through tight teeth.

  “We were sent to retrieve enough plumbing to address our current and future need,” it said, in a modulated tone. We heard the disturbance and came at once.

  “All of you were on the other side of the clearing?”

  “Affirmative,” the Alpha said.

  “How about the security Alphas?” Gonzales asked, slinging his Z-9 across his back.

  “Councilwoman Ruby Patel said it required all our rank. She said the engineers wanted to have the plumbing laid out before starting the foundations,” It said.

  “This thing is dead, Sarge. Let’s check on our guys,” Lt. Peirce said, running toward the med tent.

  “Alpha 34, secure the wall’s perimeter in case we have another uninvited quest,” Gonzales ordered.

  “Yes, Sergeant,” it acknowledged and soared away.

  ***********************************

  “Aron’s in a coma. Efrem is slowly coming around. Johnson’s running tests on the toxin. Charlie 4 has closed nearly all the lacerations Aron and Efrem suffered. The teeth on those whips were razor sharp—they nearly dug an inch into the skin. Aron lost about forty-five percent of his blood, and either the lack of oxygen or the toxin has placed him in a coma. He came to us too late..." The doctor gave a deep sigh. “Aron may be facing brain damage--if he survives. ,” Dr. Spencer informed the Council.

  "What prompted the attack?" Ben asked the eyewitnesses.

  “We were not there. Aron came to us injured,” Lt. Pierce said.

  “Why were the Alphas sent to the other end of Terranova?” Sergeant Gonzales asked, his words laced with contempt.

  “They were sent to perform a task humans could not complete. We have compromised the Empire State's integrity. Therefore we need the Alphas to finish the extraction process. The plumbing removal project was moving too slowly, and we need the plumbing before we lay out the foundation," Councilwoman Ruby replied.

  “Really?” Funny thing is, I spoke to the Alpha you spoke to, and he claims you said the engineering department needed this task done immediately, but the engineering department said you said it had to be done. What’s the disconnect here?” Gonzales felt his face grow hot.

  “Young man, what are you implying?” Ben said, eying Gonzales over his eyebrows.

  "We have our first get-together, and you sent all the security alpha's away. You sparsely staggered human security along the wall. I even found two Alphas smeared with the creature's blood, and the curious part is they didn’t tangle with the creature. What about it, Councilors? Oh, and Councilman Greer, do you want me to call you ‘old man’ next time?” Gonzales said, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

  “I apologize for being condescending, Sergeant. I sure hope you are not insinuating that anyone here had anything to do with this tragedy. If you are, then I sure hope you have secured some proof. We haven’t had an incident in nearly three months. This is why the Council Construction Overseers decided to complete the plumbing project, utilizing all the Alphas. Twenty-five human security guards have been enough in the past to guard the East Wall. As for the confusion over who said what—this has been on the table for a while, but we kept putting it off until last week when we had a section in t
he Empires State’s wall collapse, this made it a priority. The deployment coincidentally happened during your gathering. As to why some Alphas were smeared with the creature’s blood? Many Alphas helped to dismember the shrub to bury it," Ben stated and leaned back waiting for the rebuttal.

  Gonzales looked to his friends for help.

  “Why didn’t the guards see such an enormous creature go over the wall?” Malica said.

  “We are not sure how it got by,” Ben confessed.

  “Ben, I think I’ve come to know you quite well these past few months…” Dr. Spencer paused and began writing. “I think I know what you’re thinking, without having to read your mind.” He saw Ruby flinch as he passed her and turned to Ben again. Aron had said she reads minds, and he trusted Aron. “Why do you think this happened?”

  Ben remained pensive for a moment. “I didn’t see it happen.”

  “Indulge us. Let us have your suppositions." It was Dr. Spencer's turn to lean back, his deadpan expression revealing nothing. He noticed Councilwoman Ruby’s tight visage.

  “Very well. After speaking to the eyewitnesses, I think several things infuriated the alien entity who rules this world: the artificial fire, the alcohol, and the music of a deplorable era. These beings or whatever they are, have no time for human folly.” What did he write? Ben squinted trying to guess what Dr. Spencer wrote. "What do you have there, Spence?"

  Dr. Spencer purposefully strode from his chair to the dais, and held out the sheet, bypassing Ben and Ruby. He handed the sheet to Councilman Lincoln, the Australian mathematician.

  "Why me, mate?" Lincoln Barns asked Dr. Spencer but glanced at Ben.

  “Why not? Just read it,” the doctor said.

  “Lincoln looked at the contending parties and feared the hard look he got from the soldiers.

  “The man’s shoulders dropped even lower, pronouncing the hump on his back. “Very well. It reads, ‘Your group infuriated the aliens running this world, and they want it to stop—no music, alcohol, or dancing. We have been given another chance, and this planet has no tolerance for human stupidity. That’s all.” Baffled, Lincoln handed the sheet back to Dr. Spencer.