Recombination

by Brendan Butts

  Be smart.

  Go to hell.

  I crouched, still watching the scene unfolding on the street. The mercs were taking turns kicking Zenigra now. He was just lying there unconscious and unable to defend himself.

  Just as I was about to drop out of the window onto the plank bridge, a voice spoke from behind me.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

  I spun, almost losing my balance and falling out the window anyway, but I managed to steady myself. I looked for the body that belonged to the voice. For a few seconds, all I could see was blackness as I forced my vision to reel out.

  "Are you a Snake?" I asked. If I could get word to Zenigra's brother, he would go out and help, wouldn't he?

  "Course," the man replied.

  I finally got my vision under control and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness the man stood in, I began to pick out his features.

  Long, matted brown hair, dark eyes, about my age, and height, though somehow he seemed much older. He wore a ragged looking NeXus synth-leather trench coat over ripped jeans and a faded blue t-shirt. Wrapped around his left bicep was a green bandana.

  "My friend out there, his name is Zenigra. You've got to help him."

  "Got to?" he said as if he were really considering it.

  This was getting me nowhere. This Snake obviously had no idea who Zenigra was.

  "His brother is the King Snake," I pleaded.

  "Boss man's brother?" He stepped up to the window, and I noticed he had a pair of binoculars in his hand.

  The Snake put the binoculars to his eyes and looked out across the water at the mercs and Zenigra. I didn't try to magnify the scene on the street, fearing my consciousness would force me into action if I had to see Zenigra take more of a beating for me.

  Coward.

  "Doesn't look like the boss man from here but he did say his blood was coming for a visit. Told us to watch out for 'em. He gonna be pissed."

  The Snake inclined his head and a look of concentration came across his face. I thought I heard him mumble something to himself. He started nodding, even though I hadn't said anything.

  "What the hell man? You gunna help or not?" I asked, losing patience.

  The Snake held up his head, nodding and murmuring to himself.

  After what seemed like an eternity, the Snake snapped out of whatever daze he was in.

  "Yeah, we’re gunna help."

  I nodded, moving toward the window again.

  "Let's go then, they'll kill him if we don't hurry."

  The Snake grabbed my arm, holding me back.

  "Wait."

  "What do you mean wait? I thought we were going to help?"

  "We are." He held out the binoculars to me, "Scan that."

  I frowned and accepted them. I eased toward the window and put the binoculars to my eyes. It took me a few moments to adjust the focus, then I was looking at the mercs and their prey.

  They had stopped beating on Zenigra and now they were just standing around, watching him bleed and casting meaningful glances toward the Snake's building. Other than that, everything was as it had been when I'd looked before.

  "This ain't impressing me man, what am I looking for?"

  "You'll know it when you see it, mano," the Snake replied.

  I continued to watch. The mercs seemed to be getting tired of the stand-off and three of them were now working to lift Zenigra to his feet. Another was opening the door to one of the SUVs.

  "Whatever it is, it better happen fast. The mercs are going to load Zenigra into one of the SUV'."

  The Snake cursed. I heard more muttering from behind me and started to wonder if he had a pac-west freqman or something similar that he was using to communicate with the rest of the gang.

  "Which SUV?"

  "The one on the right."

  More murmuring.

  I turned to look at him, expecting to see a freqman walkie talkie in his hand but found nothing. A cybernetic implant, then.

  I guess it made sense. The gangers would definitely benefit from being in constant communication, and even the cheaper comm cyberware could broadcast your signal several miles these days. It used the user’s body as an antenna to broadcast the signal. I wondered what kind of network they were running. There was some cyberware that would just pick up your thoughts and transmit them when you wanted it to, some could even transmit images. Those were the more expensive kind though. The Snakes would at least be running encrypted, or anyone would be able to listen.

  "Not good. Our ace kool is still a few minutes out."

  "Ace kool?" I asked, confused.

  "Backup," he said simply.

  I watched as the mercs struggled to heft Zenigra's massive body.

  "They're going to have him in the SUV in less than a minute. How long exactly until the backup arrives?"

  "Three, maybe four. Maybe more." His voice was casual but I could make out a hint of strain in it.

  The mercs had Zenigra in the car now. The mercs that had pushed Zenigra into the car were climbing in after them. If they were planning to leave I had to do something fast.

  "I'm going out there. It's me they really want. Maybe if they see me, they'll stick around long enough for your ace kool to get here."

  I turned and tossed the binoculars back to the Snake.

  He caught them and looked at me curiously, but made no move to stop me as I climbed out the window and dropped back onto the bridge.

  I heard the mercs start shouting excitedly almost before I hit the planks.

  I made my way slowly across the planks, hoping to buy as much time as possible for the Snakes backup to arrive.

  It was easier to navigate the floating planks now that I wasn't running full out. I made it to where the planks started to be supported from below instead of floating and stopped. I was still far enough out that I could probably turn around and run back to the Snake base if I had to.

  The mercs seemed to realize this too because they made no move to approach. One simply raised his voice and addressed me.

  "You're going to come with us, kid." His voice was smooth and full of confidence. And why wouldn't it be? He was holding all the cards.

  "And if I don't?"

  "We're going to take your friend. We'll start sending you pieces of him until you decide to turn yourself over." The more he talked, the more firmly I would have put money on the fact that he was local muscle. His voice had the same accent I'd heard from the street dealers and gangers Zenigra and I had passed on our way here.

  "That's your plan?" I asked as if I thought it was as stupid as plans could get. In reality, I thought it was a pretty good plan, and would probably work if they followed through. I don't think I could deal with the guilt of having Zenigra tortured because of me.

  "Yep," the merc replied.

  "Let my friend go, and I'll go with you."

  "Come on over. When we've got you in the car, we'll let him go." Like hell you would.

  "You let him go first, I don't trust you for nothing."

  "You don't really have a choice." And I didn't. I had to keep the mercs occupied. How much time had passed? A minute? Two? Where were the Snakes?

  I moved a few planks closer. I was probably about twenty-five feet from the merc now. The waves were starting to break around me, splashing water on me. I had to concentrate on my footing a bit more. I was close enough now that the merc didn't have to shout any longer.

  "That's good, kid. You're doing the right thing here. Nobody wants your friend to get hurt."

  "You mean hurt anymore, right?" I said, thinking of the beating they had given him only a few minutes ago. I really hoped Zenigra would be okay. He looked like the kind of guy that could take a beating, especially with all the muscle augmentations. That didn't make me feel any less guilty for having left him behind. Why didn't I stop to check on him? A simple glance over my shoulder would have let me know he wasn't with me.

  I pushed the thoughts away, time for that later.

  "
Yeah, anymore. We don't want to hurt him anymore."

  I bet he wants to hurt you plenty though, and we both know that if I step foot on land right now the first thing you're going to do is put a bullet in Zenigra's head.

  Then something occurred to me. As much as Lucas wanted Zenigra dead for betraying him and running away with my corpse, as much as he wanted me dead for betraying him to Piner, what Lucas really wanted was the chip under my skin.

  "How about this? You get my friend out of that car, lay him on the ground, and drive the hell away."

  "Yeah? That's not really going to work for us."

  "Wait until you hear what happens if you don't before you go making any decisions."

  "You threatening us?"

  "No," I laughed, "I'm threatening me."

  I could see the mercs frown, it made me laugh harder.

  "See, if you don't, I'm gonna jump in the ocean and just start swimming. When I get to the point where I know I won't be able to make it back to land, I'm gonna keep going. I'm pretty strong and I bet I make it far enough out that the current drags my body to who knows where when I finally go under."

  The mercs were looking at each other, contemplating my words. I didn't think about them. Didn't decide if it was a bluff or not. Just let it ride.

  "Well?" I said.

  "You're bluffing."

  "You wanna be the one to tell Lucas when I'm not?"

  I never found out which way the merc would have gone because right then, the Snakes’ ace kool showed up. After that, there was no more time for talking.

  The four mercs that Zenigra had injured had long since gotten into one of the SUVs, though I couldn't tell which one through the tints. That left five still outside their vehicles, plus the one I'd been talking with. They all turned to the sound of engine roar as three blacked out Holdens pulled up on the other side of the road and figures started pouring out. Even at this distance, without the aid of my enhanced vision, I could make out the green bandanas they all wore on their arms.

  The mercs, whatever Zenigra's opinions of them, were good. They were all clearing pistols from holsters. Their nail guns remained sheathed. The man I had been talking to, the leader I now assumed, began shouting orders.

  The mercs took up positions behind the SUVs and began pouring fire into the Snakes. The Snakes returned fire, some dropping into cover behind their own vehicles, some dropping to crouches or rolling away from fire.

  The SUVs proved to be bulletproof, which was good for Zenigra who was still tranqed out inside one of them, but was bad for the Snakes. They weren't managing to cause much damage. I saw several of them drop, gunshot wounds opening up bellies, thighs, and the backs of heads. One of the mercs fell from a carefully placed shot. From my vantage point on the plank, I could tell it was only a flesh wound.

  That's too bad.

  Then more Snakes were joining the fight, rushing at the SUVs from the sides. I wasn't sure where they had come from, but I was glad to see them. These Snakes didn't seem to have guns though. I wondered if they were going to just run at the mercs. I wondered how many of them would die before they overwhelmed them. Then, I saw their tactic. They were lobbing bottles and rocks at the mercs and then dropping back into cover behind vehicles and buildings. I watched the scene unfold with fascination. I'd seen vid of gang wars on the net, but it had not prepared me for this.

  The Snakes were only moderately organized, either because they had to mobilize on such short notice, or because they were only used to fighting other gangs. The mercs, on the other hand, were well trained and seemed to be keeping cool under the pressure. Regardless, they were losing the numbers battle. More Snakes were showing up now. I heard the hum of an engine and a cigarette boat skim past the building behind me, heading for the shore.

  Then, something stung me on the neck. I brought my hand up to touch the spot, wondering if it had been a bee or some sort of biting fly. My hands touched the needle protruding from my neck and it still took me a second to figure out what it was. Then I saw the merc leader standing only a few feet away on the plank bridge.

  I had been so caught up in the fighting I hadn't noticed his approach.

  Baka. How could you miss that?

  Another bite, this one on my cheek. I pulled both needles free and flung myself into the water without thinking. I caught sight of the merc’s face as I dove. He was surprised.

  The water was cold, really cold. Numbness was spreading across my whole body before I'd even fully submerged. This was nothing like what I had expected, though I should have guessed the water up here would be cold this time of year. I didn't have even a second to enjoy my first swim in a real ocean. I struck out away from the plank bridge, swimming parallel to the shore. I glanced over my shoulder to see if the merc was following me. He wasn't. Instead, he was running back along the planks, toward the shore.

  I heard the roaring of engines above the sound of the tide sloshing around me. More shouting and gunshots. More engines roaring and tires screeching.

  The numbness had spread to my arms and legs, it felt as if my whole body was tingling. I could feel my vision begin to blur and my thoughts begin to slow. All this was happening way too fast to be hypothermia and I guessed it must be the effects of the tranqs. No wonder the merc had looked at me like I was crazy. Jumping into the ocean with a face full of tranq was nothing less than suicide.

  My head dipped below water as the blackness continued to close around my vision. I struggled to stay awake, to fight against the black. My head broke the surface of the water once more, and I tried to fill my lungs with breath, but I couldn't tell if it was working or not. I couldn't feel my chest moving. I couldn't feel anything.

  The tide was knocking me around, pushing me toward the shore, but not fast enough. I dipped below the water again. Everything was dark. Light didn't seem to be reaching my eyes at all. My arms wouldn't seem to move. I kicked hard with my feet, but the undercurrent fought back just as hard, dragging me deeper.

  Maybe I'll hit the bottom and be able to walk out.

  As the blackness finally claimed me, I managed to be happy that Zenigra at least, would be saved.

  Chapter 22

  "They got 'em. Six Snakes dead, one more really dead, and they still got ‘em?"

  I awoke with what would have been a start if I had been able to move.

  "Come on, boss man. Slinky ain't really dead, he just needs a corpse clone."

  I was lying prone, surrounded by darkness.

  "Yeah, expensive ass corpse clone. You bakas. You can't even take out five mercs? No wonder we're losing turf to the goddamn EIBs." The voice had a low, rumbling quality.

  "Damn, boss, it wasn't five. There was more waiting in the car we ain't seen at first. Soon as the rest of the gang showed up, they rolled down the windows and started spraying, heavy weapons man, crazy." This voice was higher, the speaker rattling off his words with honed, street peddler articulation.

  I tried to move my left arm but nothing happened.

  "I ask for an excuse, Plex? I want a goddamn explanation."

  "That's what I'm doing, boss. Listen, we got the kid, right? He told me he's the one they really wanted."

  I listened to the conversation without opening my eyes. The words had meant little to me at first. As I drifted back to consciousness, their meaning bounced around in my head like a death ball spike sentry.

  "Yeah, yeah. So you did one thing right and I'm supposed to give you a medal or something?"

  "Nah, boss. I'm just saying..."

  "You ain't saying nothing. Shut the hell up and lemme think."

  As the voices quieted I turned my attention back to my body in an attempt to figure out why I couldn’t move. I tried to wiggle both sets of fingers, got no response. Not tied up then, so what was it?

  Oh yeah, the tranqs. At least I could feel most of my body again, even if it wasn’t responding. Hopefully, that meant their effects were wearing off.

  Someone must have pulled me out of the ocean,
or I'd washed up on the shore before I'd managed to drown myself. What a stupid move, jumping into the ocean like that.

  My clothes weren’t damp, so some amount of time had passed since I'd been pulled out of the water. I tried to lift my head to see if someone had changed me into something different while I was passed out, but the muscles in my neck wouldn't respond.

  "What you want me to do with the kid when he wakes up?" The voices seemed to be coming in from the room next door. The Snake I'd met earlier and the Boss. That must be Zenigra's brother. King Snake.

  "Keep him in the dungeon until I can figure something out."

  "Yeah, sure, boss man. No trubbs."

  "It better not be, not after today's screw up."

  I heard footsteps grow distant, then a door slammed.

  Plex let out an exasperated sigh, and I figured the King Snake had left.

  I was starting to be able to sense outlines in the darkness as my eyes adjusted to the almost non-existent light in the room. The outlines were vague and I was having trouble gauging distances. I started to focus, bringing my augmented vision online. The room snapped into focus with cat-like clarity.

  It was a rather lather room. I'd expected something the size of a cube hotel's measly appointment, but this room was bigger than my parents’ bedroom. The walls were painted white, the floor covered with blue shag carpeting. I was laying on one of three beds that jutted out from the wall opposite the wooden door I had overheard the two Snakes talking through. There was a TV pressed against the wall to my right with a sofa several feet in front of it, almost in the center of the room. A square table against the wall to my left had three chairs placed around it. I couldn't see a switch for the light fixture in the ceiling, probably it was on the other side of the wooden door.

  The mattress I lay on was bare, but in no worse condition than any I had slept on at plantations. All in all, the room was rather pleasant.

  Why did they call this the dungeon then?

  I flexed my fingers experimentally and found that I was able to move them. It was two and a half hours more before I managed to sit up in the bed.

  During that time I'd heard Plex moving around outside the door to my room. I couldn't call it a cell yet since I didn't know how the gang was going to treat me. Every now and then, I would hear the clink of metal, a loud crash, or a grunt from Plex. I spent most of my two and a half prone hours trying to figure out what he was doing out there. The rest of the time I spent trying not to dwell on the conversation I'd overheard and failing.