Program Erin

by Alex Fall

  An alarm in my mind went off. I knew Reggie would be hard to convince. If I answer wrong, this could take a turn I don't want it to. “Ideally, no.”

  “Ideally?” He repeated, again with doubt.

  I cleared my throat. “The drug only works if it's injected. I'm certain the Dwellers will be all for it, and maybe some of the Greaters. But other Greaters won't want to give up their power so easily.”

  “Sounds a little like you. No offense.”

  My eyes glared into his with full power. “Some taken. And need I remind you that the people in Lenburg are still human, while I on the other hand have been altered on a biological level?”

  Reggie cast a look of surprise, but it was quickly turning into discomfort from my glare. “Altered? Like not entirely human?”

  “Look, I don't want to talk about me. We're going to go try and do something noteworthy, and we could use you.”

  Reggie broke eye contact and shifted. He appeared to be chewing on his own tongue as he halted in conversation. “I don't think I'm going to go. The combat is...not what I want to do, I guess.”

  “What?!” I half shouted. “I'm aiming not to kill anyone. I've gotten away from that! What do think I've been training for the last two months for?”

  Again, I received the look of doubt. “Can you guarantee you won't hurt anyone?”

  I closed my eyes, rubbed my temple, and sighed, sensing the conversation heading where I didn't want it to go. “The cure uses a base not unlike adrenaline. If I give a bunch of superpowered, aggressive people adrenaline, then no I can't guarantee I won't have to hurt someone. But even then I can handle avoiding murder.”

  Reggie paused once more. “I don't think I'm going to go.”

  I clenched my fists. “Reggie, you have to go. I know my methods bother you, but Keegan has taught me a different way.”

  “Is that supposed to mean something?” He asked once I stopped talking.

  My nostrils flared and my fists tightened. “Reggie, this is an order.”

  “I resign from my position.”

  A sense of defeat swept over me and it made me mad. I looked down as I searched for something else to say, but he was drawing on a provision that I had agreed to long ago. And to add to it, I thought of Vick. It certainly didn't help.

  “That was brave of you,” I muttered after a moment. I heard Reggie swallow nervously. “Fine. I accept your resignation.”

  With little more acknowledgement than that, I left the scene. Though I was thoroughly chilled, my cheeks burned from anger and shame. Fine! I don't need his help. I'll do this without the Board, without Keegan, and if I have to, without my own crew. I have been given a mission and no one is going to stop me from carrying it out.

  When I finally finished traveling the streets, I made it home late in the night. My flightless home was waiting for me, warm as ever, but my recent lifestyle had begun to show on the inside. It was dark and cluttered, growing more untidy as I had ignored the need to clean up. To add to it, Sharon isn't the most organized person either. I stepped over a box and shut the airlock. Warmth flooded into the room, which triggered my routine of going to bed. I did little more here than eat and sleep. My body has learned that when it feels the warmth this late at night, it's time to rest.

  As I began pulling my layers off, I heard movement in Vick's old room (now Sharon's room.)

  “Sharon?” I called out.

  “Ma'am?”

  “When did you get back?”

  “A bit ago.”

  “OK. I'm going to bed, but we need to talk tomorrow.”

  “Yes ma'am.”

  I felt that unusual tension between us again. Is it just me? Am I imagining this? “Did you eat?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Three meals today?”

  “...I don't know.”

  “Sharon. Get up and eat.”

  No answer. Fatigue was eating me up and I was uncomfortable communicating with Sharon. I moved to my room and locked the door. The bed called to me, so I barely stayed awake long enough to change clothes then fall into it. As I drifted into unconsciousness, I noted that the message light was blinking again. Also, I noted that Sharon doesn't talk to me face to face very often anymore. Just now she hid around the corner. I'm not looking forward to having a talk with her tomorrow. And then there's Keegan…things would much easier if you were here.

  Part 30

  I twitched in my sleep and sat up halfway, bracing myself with one arm. My breathing was escalated. I dreamt of him again. Keegan got lost in a field of grass. He had to rely on me to make it out of the field. But the closer he got, the harder it was for him to hear my voice. Then some animal was after him. I was trying to yell for him to run, but he couldn't hear. I woke before I saw him die. It's always the same with my dreams when he's in them. Something tragic is about to happen, or he's about to leave, but I always wake up before the terrible event happens. I can't face it. I don't want to.

  I went ahead and roused myself from my bed. This world is dark and gray. Keegan somehow made everything more vibrant and alive, but now that he's gone...well, the world is tasteless. I dragged myself across my room to a pile of unfolded but clean clothes. I picked through them until I donned something sufficiently warm. I must clean up today, it's imperative. I also need to talk to Sharon. Yay…

  I actually bothered to handmake make breakfast this time. I used to do this all the time back when I had a crew and a schedule. My life fell apart when Keegan left, not to mention when the Board found out about Vick. I couldn't even face them. I just had to accept that they pretty much chained me down and put me away. There might have been some legal punishment if it wasn't for higher authorities. I deserve it though.

  “Are you cooking?” Sharon asked.

  I flinched when I realized that not only was she awake but that she was also right next to me. “What? Yes, I am.”

  “You're about to burn the eggs.”

  What? I looked down to find she was right. Did I really space out that hard?

  “Why are you making so much food?”

  “I was trying to make some for you too.”

  “Oh.”

  Silence fell between as I hurried to not ruin my own breakfast. The problem was once breakfast was done, we still sat there in silence. Sharon wasn't eating. I didn't feel comfortable with the tension.

  “When did you wake up?” I inquired.

  “When you were making noise in here.”

  “...sorry.”

  I glanced over at the cello. It's about time to practice, but I have to talk to Sharon first. How do I even start this?

  “Sharon.”

  “Ma'am?”

  I sighed and straightened up. “I'm going back to Lenburg tomorrow.”

  That caught her attention. She looked up with wide eyes. “What? Why?”

  “To fix the city. I told you awhile back I was going to.”

  “You're going to kill them, aren't you?” she asked pointedly. It hurt my insides, but I maintained my composure.

  “No. I've worked on not doing that anymore.”

  “You've given me a different answer every time I ask you,” she noted. “Why are you lying to me?”

  Honestly, I was taken aback. “What? I'm not lying to you!”

  “I know I'm not that smart, but I can tell what you do for a job!”

  “Sharon! I don't kill people for a job!”

  She stood and backed up a step. “But you've killed people before! I heard your people talking about it, and I heard at the camp why you got in trouble. You killed people and knocked over that building!”

  I felt myself becoming aggressive. “I just told you I don't do that! I even saved your life, remember that one?”

  “You burned me! I saw your spots when I woke up!”

  “What?!” I yelled in disbelief. “That was a Benevolent that did that! I saved you from HIS damage!”

  “I told you, I'm not stupid!” she yelled back. What the? Aggression?
This is new from her, even though it's diluted by her fear of me. Unfortunately when I'm aggressive, other aggressive people make me worse. Today was no exception.

  “Shut up, stupid little girl! You were drugged, in pain, and halfway asleep! I had to drag my nearly dead body and your corpse across the complex to save you! And since when do you have an attitude? Is that your new friends talking?”

  “They told me you killed people too!” she stated, completely ignoring my remarks. She had gravitated to the keeping room before the air lock. We were now yelling across the ship.

  “How would they know what I do or don't do? They never even knew Lenburg existed! They didn't know you existed before you came!”

  “They care about me!”

  “Is that what this is about? You think I don't care?!”

  “You don't care about anyone!” She seemed frightened to say so, but her new found defiance was driving her to be more senseless than normal.

  “Excuse you, ungrateful brat! I worked my butt off to save you and a lot of other people!” A part of me cried in guilt to Keegan over this whole conversation.

  Sharon finally revealed a hidden feeling of hers in response. “You made Keegan leave, didn't you?!”

  My anger sparked. I literally swiped a pan of the counter and onto the floor as I began to move toward her. “Why the *cuss* would I make him leave? He's the only person who gives a *cuss* about me!”

  “He didn't care about you! He cared about me!”

  I can't believe we are having this conversation. But...it explains a lot. I loomed over the frightened child who by this point was pulling herself down to be ready for defense in case I hit her. “You don't know anything about Keegan!”

  Sharon stared for a moment more then broke gaze to stare at the ground. “Yes I do,” she mumbled.

  “Then you would know that Keegan cares about everyone! He didn't abandon us, he was taken from us! He tried to be your dad, he tried to be my boyfriend!”

  Sharon snapped to attention. “No he didn't!”

  I held my hand up, and questioned sarcastically, “Who do you think got me this ring?”

  Sharon closed her lips and returned to staring at the ground once more.

  “Keegan doesn't hurt people. I know I did at one time, but he helped me get over that. I'm almost certain he talked to you about some stuff, am I right?”

  Sharon shifted but kept her eyes on the floor.

  “Am I right?” I repeated louder.

  Sharon nodded.

  I took a controlled breath in through my nose and knelt down to Sharon's level. I produced Keegan and Elly's magic cure and held it up. “See this?” Sharon shifted again, then checked the vial for 1.4 seconds before returning herself to the floor. “Keegan gave me a job before he left. He wants me to fix Lenburg. This is how he wants me to fix it. If you really know who Keegan is, wouldn't you do what he asked?”

  Sharon's bottom lip quivered a little, but she seemed to restore control as she nodded again.

  “All I'm doing is what Keegan asked me to do. And he specifically asked me not to kill anyone. Now I'm going regardless of what anyone says. Are you coming with me or what?”

  “...He asked me to…”

  “He? Keegan?” Sharon nodded. I stood. “We're leaving tomorrow. I need this place clean before then. ”

  “I'm sorry…” Sharon mumbled.

  I stalled after I picked up my pan. “...me too.”

  Cleaning was arduous. I didn't like it. I doubt Sharon did either. Though most of it was just clutter, at lunch time I found an excuse to escape. I still needed a pilot and access to some things that were ordinarily off limits. Lori had arrived to diagnose and repair my ship. Fortunately for all of us, she was awfully quiet about it too. With her there to keep Sharon company, I began my search of the expanded crew.

  First up was a pilot, a guy I heard about named Tetsuro Rios. I've been monitoring this guy for a little while, and although I don't know much, I do know he frequents a restaurant in Palimus. That's not too far away I suppose. I “borrowed” a small aircraft and made a straight line there. Even at this rate, it still took forty minutes to make it to the city and another six minutes to find a spot to park. This restaurant of his was in a busier district than most. Nonetheless I trotted there with purpose, wrapped up tightly to combat the cold. No one made signs of noticing me and no one immediately noticed my entrance into the eatery. This place felt modern and Oriental. Watercolor pictures lined the walls and folded red floral paper covered the lights, but hyper colorful accent lighting hid behind the decor and walls. Even a small fountain in the middle shifted with pale blue colors. I scanned the tables for my target when a young man approached. It's unusual for the Host to be male. However, I do note an unusual amount of female customers. How quaint...

  “Hello Miss, welcome to Sakura Grove. Will you-”

  “I'm looking for someone, Tetsuro Rios. Is he here?”

  The guy shrugged. “I wouldn't know for sure. I'm pretty new here.”

  “I'm going to go look around and make sure,” I commented in passing. The guy nodded and returned to whatever it is he does for a job. Quickly I noticed my target on the side of the restaurant, eating by himself. Interesting, lonely, and yet convenient. A waitress passed nearby with a drink, so I stopped her.

  “What is this, wine?” I pointedly questioned.

  “Um...yeah? It's fifteen year riesling.” Her sassy voice tugged at my irritability.

  “Good.” I snatched the glass off of her tray and strode towards my guy. “Put it on my bill, this one is mine.”

  “Hey! You can't-”

  I turned around and pulled off my hood and scarf in one motion. My eyes undoubtedly caught her attention. “Yes, I'm Erin De'mus. No, I'm not in a good mood. No, you can't have any autograph or pictures. Now shoo.” I returned to my target audience while the stunned waitress stood in disbelief. I approached the man from behind, but he was reading something so his alertness was probably off anyway. “Fifteen year Riesling?” I offered.

  This guy looked up and around for the origin of the comment. “Hm? I didn't…” He stopped and squinted upon seeing me.

  “Take it anyway.” I invited myself to take a seat across from him. We had a short stare down. “A bit lonely eating by yourself, isn't it?”

  “Yeah...are you...are you actually Erin De'mus?” He asked with sincere confusion.

  “What kind of question is that? Yes I'm Erin!”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, sorry. I just thought maybe someone was pulling a trick on me. What uh...brings you here?”

  I raised an eyebrow at him before continuing. “You do. I need to talk.”

  “Okaaay….first of all, my name is Tetsuro.” Though reluctant, he offered his hand. Tetsuro appeared to be a strange mixture of ethnicities. His eyes and mouth were smaller like Oriental but he possessed the large jaw and tan skin of Latins. He didn't seem the physical type though. If nothing else, he was smaller and thinner so I likely don't have to worry about him being winded if he actually has to get up and run. His face was intent, but it may just be the way he looks. He doesn't strike me as a super observant person. I just hope he's what I'm looking for.

  “I know. Enough with the handshake. Look, you're a pilot. You were trained at Danes, though why you didn't get a better course is beyond me. I need to hire you.”

  “Wait, whoa whoa whoa...I don't think you want to hire me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because...it's me. I'm not that good.”

  “Is that why you didn't get a better school? Are you a washout?”

  “No. What, why are you asking me? There's tons of other people.”

  I rolled up my scarf and put it on the table. While he was making his comeback, I was eyeing the wine. “Yeah there are. Do you have a job?”

  “Yes…”

  “As a janitor.”

  “It works. Um...I'm a little uncomfortable with this...discussing my personal life stuff,” He admitted with a c
ringe.

  “Hm...do you have a girlfriend?”

  “Still discussing personal life stuff here…”

  “I'm just trying to figure out why you're not willing to take up my job offer.”

  “Cause you're Erin De'mus! I mean...it's like joining an army, and I'm not an army...guy.”

  I picked up the glass and gulped the wine down, setting back on the table with a fair amount of force. Hm...wine is pretty good. It's no sleep pill, but it warms me up. “The word you're looking for is soldier.”

  “Yeah, that. I'm not one of those.”

  I leaned forward and rested my head on my hand. “Do you know what I do for a living?”

  Tetsuro held a blank look for a moment. “No I guess not.”

  “I make a difference in the world.”

  “That sounds cool...and kind of vague.”

  “I will pay you a large sum of money to be my pilot. You don't have to be a soldier, just fly my ship.”

  Tetsuro gulped. “...how much money?”

  “How does thirty five thousand sound?”

  He gulped again. “For...how long?”

  I smirked out of confidence and feeling of victory. “One to three months. If it goes beyond that, we can renew our agreement.”

  Tetsuro leaned back in his chair and looked around at his surroundings. “Let's just say I went, when would we have to leave?”

  “Tomorrow.” Tetsuro choked at my reply.

  A waitress suddenly appeared by my side and cleared her throat. “Ms. Erin, shall I take your glass?”

  I glanced up at her. “I'll take the rest of that bottle.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Of the wine I had. I'll take the rest of that bottle. And some shrimp dish. I don't really care what it is, I just want some shrimp.”

  “Oh….kay. I'll get that in.”

  The young man leaned in and whispered “Tomorrow?! I can't leave tomorrow!”

  “Why are you whispering?” I asked. Mmmm...I feel that tingling from the alcohol. It feels so good, but I'm going to feel so bad tomorrow. I hate not being normal.

  “Because this is crazy!” He whisper shouted. It was hard to hear him over the music.

  “Forty thousand.”

  Tetsuro paused. “I can't leave by tomorrow.”