The Metaverse: Virtual Life-Real Death

by William Kurth

  “Looks like he’s coming up from under the building!”

  “Roger that,” Argosi purred. “I’m betting that’s our target.”

  ***

  MD could hear the gunfire above as he quietly moved out of his pod area. He had to make two trips from his pod through the tunnel and to the bottom of the ladder below the other building. The first was to take his laptops and hard drives along with his SecondSkin case. He then went back and retrieved the tens of thousands of dollars he had kept stashed in a safe along with a handgun for just such a contingency.

  He knew it would take them some time to search the factory and even longer to discover the hidden pod room and tunnel. He hoped in the confusion that he would be able to slide away quietly. The chemical plant across the road operated twenty-four hours a day and employees, suppliers and delivery trucks continually moved around using the same road he would exit onto merging with the ever-present traffic even at this early hour.

  The nearby airport which had grown from a regional airport to a major freight one also generated a lot of traffic through this area at all times of the day. With any luck, he could just fade into traffic and disappear. There would not be any immediate suspicion drawn to his vehicle since it was leaving another facility.

  MD pushed the handgun into his waistband. Having dressed quickly, he left on his SecondSkin underneath as he did the last time he had to make a fast exit from a pod. MD had never fired a handgun or any other firearm.

  How hard could it be if those buffoons shooting up his factory could do it? MD thought as he pushed the gun into his waistband and concealed it with his shirt.

  MD went up and down the ladder, taking his computers and drives first and then the case and money in two more separate trips up it. He placed all the items in the trunk of the car then took a look out one of the garage windows.

  The bot factory was all lit up, and he could see police cars, fire trucks and ambulances in the parking lot. Bright lights poured onto the building from all sides, and he could hear the occasional boom of some explosive device. The gunfire had died out, much faster than he had expected.

  Could they have overtaken those armed bots that quickly?

  It seemed unlikely. He hoped that the bots would still be shooting and hopefully hitting and killing as many of the cops as possible to make his escape less noticeable. A tinge of fear went through him. The armed agents might soon fan out if they had indeed neutralized the bots!

  He decided that he would leave the garage lights off. He would manually open the garage door so that the light on the motor wouldn’t come on. There was probably a way to turn it off, but he didn’t have the time to check into that and would need light to see the controls.

  He didn’t want to do anything that would draw attention to himself. He would drive the car, backed in with the front facing the garage door, straight out of the building with the all the lights deactivated. Get out close the garage door and then turn onto the main road turning on his lights and going the opposite direction of the factory. Most likely the road in front of the plant would be blocked with police cars.

  MD tried to keep from shaking as he closed the hatch leading down to the tunnel in the closet and then went towards the garage. Passing the bathroom, he felt the sudden and urgent need to urinate. He decided that he should do that now so as not to have to stop for a while. His plan was to head east then south towards the coast and then down to Florida where he would hire a boat to take him to the Caribbean where he could charter a flight to Russia under an alias. Edgar had allies there that would help him.

  Edgar knew how valuable he was, and how much he knew.

  In any event, he would work those things out on the road. For now, he needed to use the bathroom.

  ***

  Argosi was standing now, leaning over the pilot who occupied the left seat on this aircraft. “Swoop in and slow to a few knots just a foot or two off the pavement I’ll step off from the ramp then take up position at the garage door. Put me down right there. Next to the building as quickly and quietly as you can!” Argosi pointed to a spot in the parking lot adjacent to the target building. “Then lift off and go get my MCT agents. They will be waiting for you.”

  Argosi had just finished a quick but tense conversation with Lt. Stuart over the command net. Stuart did not want to peel away any bodies until the bot factory was totally secure. Argosi told him that he was going in after the primary target and that if he couldn’t adapt to the situation he and the rest of his MCT would. Argosi did not have time for the overly cautious tactical commander whom he planned on relieving after a thorough post-incident review.

  “Roger that Commander. I’ll have you down on the deck in thirty seconds or less. Ft. Smith PD is 10-4 on the sirens.” The pilot screeched over the comm as he lowered the ramp.

  “Got it. I’m going to the ramp,” Argosi replied.

  Argosi was not only the sole fully certified tactical officer on the VTAL he was the only armed one, everyone else were civilian flight techs or pilots. He had worn his ballistic tact vest and helmet, but only carried his sidearm with two spare magazines. He wished now that he had his CAR-20 along with some concussion grenades. A handgun would only have a limited effect against an Infantry bot. At least I have my helmet with its built-in night vision, comms, and integrated weapon sights.

  Argosi moved past the nervous looking flight techs who did not like the idea of being so close to the action. Especially since there were heavily armed bots down there and a VTAL already taken out of commission. He stepped onto the open ramp and felt the cool night air rushing past. The pilots had put the VTAL into whisper mode, dampening the blades and extending the engine mufflers.

  Both of those things required higher engine RPM’s to maintain lift. Argosi heard the engine whine increase slightly while the overall noise signature of the aircraft lessened considerably. Particularly to those that would be below it.

  Argosi held onto the handhold tightly as the aircraft banked sharply to the left over the chemical plant losing altitude rapidly. The G-forces pushed his feet solidly into the ramp, so much so that at that point he did not need to hold on but did anyway. The aircraft leveled out, and Argosi felt the G-forces that now wanted to push him forward, back into the VTAL as it flared and decelerated rapidly.

  Argosi listened to the co-pilot as he counted off the airspeed in knots and then the altitude in feet as per protocol for this type of insertion.

  “Forty-five and fifteen,” was the first call. Argosi found himself suddenly lit up from the lights on a truck that passed what seemed like just a few feet underneath the lowered ramp.

  Damn that was close! Argosi leaned back as the copilot kept counting off the numbers. Argosi strained against the G-forces trying to push him back up the ramp. Argosi saw the chain link perimeter fence of the property flash by just feet below.

  Time to rock and roll, Dom!

  “Twenty-five and ten, fifteen and five, ten and three, five and two.”

  After the last speed and altitude call, Argosi swung around the Port Side ramp handle so that he was facing forward. He felt the pain from his right wrist as he hung momentarily by the strap before dropping to the ground. Argosi broke into a sprint as soon as he touched down. Argosi veered to the left as he saw the VTAL pick up speed as it flew along just above the pavement before gaining altitude heading straight out.

  Within a moment he was at the corner of the garage door.

  Argosi drew his handgun, doing his customary press check and verified that he had a proper link to the weapon’s sights through his facemask, which now provided him with night vision.

  “Argosi is in place.” He radioed, realizing as he did so he did not even know what his call sign was. It had been a hectic few days since he arrived in Denver.

  “Roger that, sir. Sit tight. The bird is on final we should be there in less than five minutes.” Parker acknowledged him over the MCT net.

  “No worries, Charlie. Just make sure you guys have
rifles and grenades in case there are some bots in–” Argosi stopped transmitting. The garage door rolled up manually.

  ***

  MD flushed the toilet and began to walk towards the garage door of the small building witha few offices in the front and a garage behind it. He paused for a moment,listening to the aircraft circling over the bot factory and the sirens getting closer.

  Hopefully, they will be occupied with the activities next door and won’t see me leave. MD thought.

  MD listened for a moment. The aircraft had gotten quieter. It must be moving away from me. Time to move.

  MD cautiously looked out the window. It was quiet around his building. All the activity still centered on the Bot Factory. MD could see a low flying VTAL with its bright landing lights approaching the parking lot of the factory.

  MD moved to the door and using a small keychain light located the handle that released the door from the mechanical door opener. Then he pulled the door upward; it was heavier than expected but at least it rolled up quietly. MD took a quick peek outside. He could hear a lot of voices in the distance as well as the aircraft which had just landed idling on the ground in the parking lot of the factory on the other side of the fence its bright lights illuminated everything in front of and around it. He looked overhead and thought that this was a bit of good luck. He had been worried that the circling aircraft might spot him and think him suspicious. But now that aircraft was pre-occupied doing something on the ground. Hopefully having to load casualties, lots of them. MD thought.

  The coast was as clear as it was going to get he decided and turned towards the car. MD walked to the driver’s side door. He was reaching for the handle to open it manualy when he froze in terror as he heard a voice call out from behind him.

  “Dr. Maddox I presume? Or as we like to call you around the office, shit for brains.”

  MD remained frozen, although he had just gone, he felt like he had to urinate again. The fear in the pit of his stomach was palpable. He felt himself start to tremble.

  Be calm use your superior intellect to distract him. MD told himself. “Umm, I’m sorry I don’t know who you are referring to sir. Are you with the authorities? I hope so I heard a lot of noise from over there.” MD said, slowly turning back towards the voice.”

  Argosi hoped, in fact wished, that the shit-head had a weapon. He was fine ending this here, but he was a man of honor. Although he might be tempted to kill this worthless oxygen thief “just because,” he also knew that for a guy like Maddox prison was a worse fate. Argosi would not kill in cold blood. That was a line that, once crossed, makes you just like them. He also knew, or at least had to assume, that a security system was recording him at that very moment.

  ***

  MD turned, the larger man came into view backlit by the moon and other ambient light from the outside including the bright lights from next door. He wore a helmet and some sort of thick vest. Probably bulletproof along with the helmet. I’ll need to shoot him in the legs.

  Most menacing, however, was the large handgun that MD could see trained on him. The man was motionless, yet his body language resembled a lion ready to pounce. He also seemed to be alone. Probably a flunky tasked with checking out an adjoining building while the first string was at the factory. MD convinced himself.

  “Put your hands on the back of your head and interlock your fingers. Do it now!” Argosi commanded. He could see the flesh colored SecondSkin covering MD’s hands as he raised them. He knew he had his man.

  MD slowly raised his hands as he spoke. “There is no need for the gun officer. I’m quite sure that I am not who you are looking for.”

  “Shut up, ‘Mad-dox’ and turn back around. Keep your hands on your head.”

  MD’s blood boiled. How dare this stupid meatsack address him in that way!

  MD wanted to take him to task for his insolence, but more than that he wanted to kill him now. He bit his tongue waiting for the right moment and turned back around as instructed, facing away from the officer. MD heard the sound of a VTAL lifting off. He grew anxious. Was it bringing reinforcements? Would it give chase to his car? MD was in a near panic, his options narrowing. His thoughts turned to the gun in his waistband.

  Argosi did not like being in the garage alone without cover. He worried that an armed bot or bots might appear at any moment from another portion of the building. He also had not cleared the vehicle yet. Argosi silently took two steps towards MD and then one step to the right so that he would be in a different position in case MD turned around suddenly. Doing so also increased his angle to the vehicle so that he could see more of the interior. Argosi scanned it quickly. Satisfied that the car was mostly clear, he instructed Maddox to take two steps back towards him.

  MD was in a panic. He knew if the dunce got handcuffs on him there would be no escape. Now or never, John.

  MD took one step backward and then lifted his left foot to take the next. Instead of completing the step he spun to his left as he dropped his hands from his head, his right hand going for the handgun in his waistband under his shirt. MD, who had never practiced this move, was surprised when he ended up grabbing a handful of his shirt. He looked down to untangle his shirt from the handgun grip. MD brought his left hand to his shirt to help with that task, wasting precious time. Finally, he got a grip on the weapon as he pulled it from the waistband.

  MD began to pull the trigger immediately hoping that some of the rounds would hit the officer. As He looked up for his target, there was none there. Worse, no matter how hard he pulled the trigger nothing was happening.

  MD felt a vice-like grip on his right wrist just behind the handgun.

  “Too complicated for you, Doctor?” MD looked to his left and up at the man towering over him.

  “You know these things have a safety to prevent ignorant dip shits like you from hurting yourself or others. Well, mostly others,” Argosi said with a smile that MD could not see through the facemask but nonetheless resonated through his words. MD felt the vice grip increase. He couldn’t hold the weapon any longer, and it fell from his hand.

  “Sorry, Mad-Dox, I can’t feel much in my right wrist right now. You remember the last time we met? What were you telling me then? Something about being in your world?

  Well now, let me be the first to welcome you back to my world.” Argosi made a circular motion with MD’s wrist, swinging it up and twisting it into a wristlock with his right arm as he pulled MD closer and spun him around so that his back was to him.

  Argosi, now behind MD, had the man’s right arm by the wrist and pinned behind his back in an armbar. Argosi grabbed MD by the top of his hair and held him upright as he pushed up on MD’s right arm quickly and forcefully, snapping the bone at the wrist and fracturing it farther up on his forearm.

  “Please stop!” MD shrilled.

  “Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it?” Argosi howled.

  Argosi blinked back images of the victims and the dead and wounded officers. He wondered if he could control himself and not rip this worthless piece of human debris apart with his bare hands. Argosi took a deep breath.

  “Fuck it.” He said to himself while gripping Maddox by the hair with his left hand and Maddox’s newly broken right arm with his right. Argosi then ran Maddox’s head and upper body through the closed driver’s side window, shattering it.

  Maddox went limp; his body lay over the top of the car door. His cut face bled down onto the seat. Argosi reached in and grabbed Maddox’s left arm and swung it around behind him. Argosi was tempted to break that one as well but thought better of it as he handcuffed it to the broken right one. Maddox was out cold and didn’t complain, not that Argosi would have cared if he did.

  Argosi left him there hanging over the door as he walked out of the garage illuminated by the bright landing lights of the VTAL lighting up the garage as it flared to a quick stop and hovered for a moment before settling down on its landing gear in front of him.

  Several officers with guns drawn ran down the
ramp circling around the VTAL from both sides and into the garage.

  “Commander, are you ok? You quit transmitting.” Parker asked, seeing Argosi standing there with the lower body of a limp man hanging out of the car window behind him, his arms handcuffed behind his back.

  “Never better, Charlie.”

  ***

  MD had a feeling of Deja vu come over him. He took his eyes from the monitor in front of him where the bots slowly burned the two BMM employees. He looked to his right to see Alex continue to give commands to the bots moving them in and out and directing their flaming tools. The victim’s screams made MD feel somehow empowered. He had worried earlier that he might not have the stomach for this type of thing. Even cutting Sullivan in half with the chainsaw was relatively benign compared to this.

  But now there was something about them. Something about doing this to another human being that appealed to him. Not the torture per se, it was more the power of being able to do it and then to present it to the world in a live stream. The screams of the two added to the theater of the event. More importantly, it added to the fear that he could hold over people and that was the best kind of power.

  Clemons’s hair disintegrated from his head as the skin of his skull burned bright red. MD thought that was a good place to pause. He waved at Alex to tell him to move the bots back and give them some recovery. Not just to prolong their agony but also to extend the show.

  Before MD could get his instructions out Alex disappeared from in front of him. MD looked to the screens and different monitors. They were all blank. MD tapped his watch trying to call Alex who to MD’s relief answered.

  “Mr. Swanson there has been a disruption I got booted out of our offices. Are you still there, in the office, sir?

  “I’m still here Alex. Do you know what happened?”

  “I do not. I am uncertain if it was an attack on us or a major crash of the system. Has the link been re-established there?”

  MD looked at the blank monitors. “No, we are down completely.” MD brought up his dashboard. “I’m concerned that they may have isolated me here, I am not able to teleport. I may need to jettison from the pod.”