by B. Wulf
I looked up from my sirloin steak. Only CANA could have a cafeteria, which would serve steak. Kate had taken the vegetarian option, whether for ethical or palatable reasons, I did not know.
“I’m good,” I said finishing my mouthful as quickly as possible. “Quite a lot to take in. Just eleven more months to go though.”
She smiled politely, which made me smile.
“So you’re not thinking of staying on afterwards,” she asked, “If you got the offer, I mean.”
I paused. I had gotten into the mindset of ‘just do my time, get the tick on my résumé then screw this place and get out’.
“Do you believe in what they are doing here?” she asked after I took too long pondering her question.
“No I don’t believe it,” I said, “It seems to sci-fi to be real.”
I was trying oh so hard to bring back that smile of hers, but it didn’t seem to be working. I do admit that I have a lame sense of humor. Perhaps I try too hard?
“I’m serious Fletcher, do you believe in it?”
I paused again. I hadn’t actually thought about it. Perhaps if you got past the initial horror and disgust it was actually admirable. It could end poverty, murder, war, rape; the list could go on and on. What if it was the right thing to do?
“Yes,” I said finally, “I would do it.”
Kate seemed relieved. “Same,” she said.
“So how’s your placement going?” I asked. “You got the balance stuff aye?”
“Yeah,” she replied, “It’s amazing the amount of work that goes into keeping a Synthetic on his feet.”
“I bet. Have you seen Stuart’s placement yet? He’s getting emotionally attached to two mice.”
Kate laughed, “That sounds like him. Yeah I might go check it out tomorrow.”
We ate in silence for a minute. I kept glancing across the table at her. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
“You are really pretty,” I suddenly blurted. I didn’t know where it came from. She looked taken aback so I quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I just…”
“No,” she interrupted, “Thank you. I appreciate that. You are very handsome.”
Now she was just playing with me. I’m not handsome. Well I don’t think I’m handsome. Was I handsome? I realized that I was just staring at her with my mouth open.
“I… Thanks…”
She laughed. “So Fletch, tell me a random fact about yourself. Like who is your hero?”
“My Granddad,” I replied straight away, “He carved my cane.”
She raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side in the generic ‘I’m interested’ pose. My life was so simple and so complicated at the same time.
“Tell me about your Granddad. I like hearing you talk. Especially with that accent.”
“Well,” I began, “There is too much to tell.”
“Just tell me what matters to you."
“Okay,” I put down my utensils and paused in thought. “My Granddad always used to smell like house-fire and pickled onions. He was crazy as hell. I remember when he finally got put into a retirement home he spent his final months trying to escape. One day, when I went to visit him, I saw him wearing nothing but nappies, gapping it down Piako Road. Three nurses and a grey haired doctor were chasing him, screaming their heads off.”
I paused. I couldn’t stop smiling as I thought of him. Kate kept staring at me as if willing me to continue the story. I couldn’t speak because I was lost in thought.
That man had senility and exhilaration painted all over his face. His wispy silver hair and saggy jowls bouncing about, he looked so happy. I remember waving as he passed by. That man was a legend. Screw dying in a corner. Burn out bright. Nappies to nappies and dust to dust- that’s what he told me before he died.
I turned away, desperately trying to get rid of the emotion that was enveloping me.
“You must have loved him a lot,” said Kate, “Your face lights up when you talk about him.”
I was getting insanely awkward. Deep and meaningful conversations were not my thing. “So,” I said wiping my eyes. They weren’t wet, just irritated. “What about you? Who’s your hero?”
“To be honest,” she said, “I would have to pick my great uncle Sasha.”
I nodded. “He is a good dude aye.”
“Especially with what he has been through,” said Kate.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure it’s my place to say. But to put it simply, that man should be a mess.”
“He seems so cheerful and positive though,” I said.
“Yeah, I know,” said Kate, “He plays the part, doesn’t he?”
I frowned, not following.
“It’s all an act Fletch,” she said, “He is in pain… Constantly. I’m worried about him.”
“Is that part of why you’re here?” I asked, “To keep an eye on him?”
“Yeah,” she replied, “That is a part of why I’m here.”
After that we kept talking for what must have been hours because an aggressive looking lady came over and told us that the cafeteria was closing, so could we kindly move on so she could clean around our table. I still hadn’t finished my steak, which was now cold, but we got up and moved on.
On the way back to our rooms Kate touched me on the shoulder and said, “I’m glad you’re here Fletch.”
I smiled back. So was I.
Chapter 5
“My mice have started a family. They have a son.”
All three of us sat outside, eating sandwiches and enjoying our lunch-break.
“How?” asked Kate, “They don’t technically have physical bodies…”
“They adopted,” replied Stuart, “It’s more common than you think.”
“But how?” I asked, “Did you integrate a baby mouse?”
“No, I coded him.”
“Oh very talented,” said Kate.
“Must’ve taken ages,” I said, “What’s its name?”
“Its name is Freddy.”
“Like the Synthetic?” asked Kate, “You better hope he doesn’t find out. He might think you're mocking him.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t look like the kind of guy who appreciates a joke,” I added. “Is the mouse a Synthetic?”
“No,” said Stuart, “He is blue.”
Kate’s eyebrows rose. “Have you ever thought that you might be spending too much time with those mice, Stuart?”
Stuart shrugged. “He’s only two-dimensional at the moment but I’m working on it. It keeps me occupied. This is our last week before we rotate labs anyway. When do we find out where our next placement is?”
“Not a clue,” said Kate.
Stuart looked at me and I shook my head.
“As long as I don’t get coolants like you got, aye Staggers,” said Stuart.
“You can’t make friends with low silicate inhibitor fluids,” I said while nodding.
“It does sound tedious,” said Kate, “At least I get to watch robots fall over.”
“Actually?” asked Stuart, turning to her, “You watch Synthetics fall over all day?”
“Nah, no Synthetics,” she replied, “Just the bodies. No ones home. From what I gather, Frederick is the only Synthetic so far. But there may be others. CANA is worldwide so you never know.”
We lapsed into silence. Stuart started grinning.
“What?” I asked.
“Just thinking,” he replied.
“Thinking about?”
“They should have selected four interns instead of three.”
“And why is that?” asked Kate.
“Because,” said Stuart, “You two have already paired off. What about me?”
Kate laughed.
“Whoa, Staggers bro, how red can you possibly get?” laughed Stuart, “I’m just playing with you.”
“Embarrassed are we Fletch?” said Kate with a slim smile.
“I… Um… No? It’s just the sun. I burn easily.” In truth I
had fairly tan skin and was not prone to sunburn.
“And within a matter of seconds,” quipped Stuart.
“I’m sensitive,” I said back.
“Good on you Staggers,” said Stuart, “Chicks dig that in a guy.”
“So you’re feeling left out Stuart?” cut in Kate, “Is that why you’ve been so quiet lately.”
“No, of course not,” said Stuart, “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
“I think we all have,” I said, “I wonder when we will get to meet a Synthetic face to face.”
“We might do more than just meet them,” said Stuart looking at his phone, “Right, better get back to work, it’s one o’clock. Have fun in your labs you two lovebirds.”
I saw Kate smile as we all walked back inside.
***
Later that day Stuart approached me while I was working in the labs.
“Staggers man,” he said, while giving his hair a flick, “Cole says he is going to take us out sightseeing finally. About time huh.”
I dropped what I was doing and stretched.
“Yeah I could use a break,” I said, “Are we leaving now.”
“Yup,” replied Stuart, already heading off, “Kate and Cole are waiting.”
***
Cole dropped us off in a company car and then left, saying that he would meet up with us later for a coffee. He was always busy with something. Stuart was playing at stereotypes by photographing everything.
“Kate, plant a big kiss on Stagger’s cheek,” he said.
We were taking a picture from the Lincoln Memorial, looking out over the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Memorial in the background.
“Now that’s a profile picture right there,” said Stuart before handing me the camera, “Now get a few of me and Kate so I have something to send home. I’ve been giving them pictures from image search for the past month.”
“Better get the pictures before the sun goes,” said Kate, throwing her arm around Stuart who was half a head shorter than her, “Forecast said a storms coming.”
I glanced behind me and saw a row of dark clouds on the horizon.
“Smile guys,” I said, turning back to them.
After spending a few hours wandering around we met up with Cole, had a coffee and then headed back to CANA. If we had looked closely at the photographs, in the background of nearly every photo, we would have seen the same man, wearing dark glasses and talking on his phone.
***
We arrived back at CANA just after dark. Cole left us at the door and went to return the car while Stuart said his goodbyes and headed straight up to his room.
Kate and I stood in silence as we waited for the elevator. I contemplated grabbing her hand but decided it wasn’t the right moment. The bell of the elevator arriving awoke me from my reverie and we stepped inside. I hobbled into the back and Kate pushed the button, but she didn’t choose the sixth floor where our living quarters were, she chose the roof where the swimming pool was.
She noticed my confused stare and asked, “You keen?”
“But I don’t have my togs or a towel.”
“Don’t need them. I just wanna see the city lights. That storm is coming. It could be cool.”
“Yeah,” I said shrugging, “Why not?
***
The elevator door opened, revealing a stormy night. The pool was overflowing, and the moon's reflection danced across the thrashing water. Chunks of the city appeared powerless, leaving patches of darkness across the cityscape. The Washington Monument was still visible through the thick haze.
“You still sure you wanna go out there?” I was almost yelling.
We hadn’t left the shelter of the elevator yet.
“Of course Fletch,” she laughed and took my hand, “You coming?”
I was afraid, but then I was always afraid of something. Why not be fearless? Why not live a little? Even if that just meant going out into a rainstorm and getting a little wet. I let Kate lead me, limping along, to the waters edge where she paused, gave me a cheeky look and then pushed me in. I laughed, grasped her arm, and dragged her in with me. I heard a muted splash from under the water as Kate followed me in, both of us fully clothed. When we surfaced I yelled at her above the thunder, “What are we doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious Fletch?” she laughed, “We are swimming in the rain.”
“But why?” I shouted.
“What a dumb question,” she said, splashing me in the face. “We don’t need a reason.”
I smiled and ducked under the water. The world was colorless and mute under the water. It was peaceful. I opened my eyes to see Kate’s face through the haze. We surfaced for air. Her mascara was running like obsidian tears, lips trembling from the cold. She took my hands. Hers were white and blue and purple and white. Mine were just white.
“Fletch,” she shouted, “I think I’ve figured something out.”
I was intrigued. I still didn’t know Stuart’s secret, or who the man was that was following us, or even who the other people were on the screens in the conference room. Come to think of it. I didn’t know what the hell was going on with anything.
“It’s a secret though,” she continued, “I had to take you up here where no one could hear us.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“I think you’re a good person. I like you.”
I was stunned. I couldn’t speak because I thought if I said anything then I would wake up from this dream.
She kept staring at me, looking more and more vulnerable with every second.
Finally I said, “Well I think you’re beautiful.”
“Beautiful aye? Is that a step up from pretty?”
“Well I think lots of girls are pretty.” She shot me a disapproving look. “But,” I continued, “I only think one girl is beautiful.”
And then I kissed her. In the pouring rain, under the stormy sky, I had my first kiss with the most beautiful girl in the universe. Suddenly the internship didn’t matter. None of it mattered.
***
After coming down from the roof, we stood, soaking wet, outside her room. She was shivering, holding her shoes in one hand.
“You look so cold,” I said.
She smiled, “Yeah I better get warmed up?”
“There is always sharing body heat?” I said with a grin, “Just joking.”
“Oh really Fletch?” she said, “Just joking?”
Chapter 6
The next day I woke up with a smile on my face. That entire morning I wandered around CANA in a state of contented euphoria. I hadn’t got much sleep the night before, but I felt refreshed and ready for anything. That is, until Cole came and found me. He told me that Sasha wanted to see me as soon as possible. I felt like a naughty school kid being summoned to the principal’s office.
I sat in the waiting room with his secretary for a couple of minutes before being allowed in. Limping through the doors, I realized that I was not afraid. Usually I would be shaking by now in apprehension, but I was strangely calm. The internship no longer mattered to me. The freaky metal guy on the screen no longer mattered. Kate mattered.
“Fletcher!” exclaimed Sasha, “It is good to see you. Do take a seat.”
Judging by the tone of his voice, I wasn’t in trouble.
“How have you been Fletcher? Things have been rough this past week.”
“Best few days of my life,” I said nonchalantly.
Sasha looked taken aback but then brightened up considerably.
“I’m glad to hear it Fletcher. It is good to see you making the most of things. So you are probably wondering why you are here?”
“Um yup.”
“Cookie?” he said, offering me an iced biscuit from a little tin.
“Cheers.” I took one.
Not bad. Trust Sasha to have cookies.
“I have already talked to Stuart,” he continued, “and I’ll get around to Kate next. Each of you is being sent to a CANA operated research facility f
or a month. It’ll give you a bit of in the field experience. The locations of these facilities must be kept secret for security reasons, but I can tell you that you can look forward to some fresh snow, and not American snow.”
“And Kate’s going as well?” I asked, “And Stuart?”
That was more of an afterthought.
“No,” said Sasha raising one bushy eyebrow, “You are being sent to separate research facilities.”
“Oh…”
“Is this okay?”
“Yeah it’s fine. You’re the boss.”
Hell no, it’s not fine!
“Good to hear,” said Sasha taking a bite from a biscuit, “You will leave in a week, on the twenty first. I’m sure it will be a fascinating excursion for you. You even get the added pleasure of having Cole accompany you.”
Oh joy.
***
“Gutted that you have to go.”
The two of us were sitting on a crusty bench atop a footbridge. Kate was leaning forward, both hands gripping the bench, looking out across the steady stream of traffic. The wind swept her hair across her face. She didn't react.
“You should have pulled some strings,” I joked, “You are family.”
“Huh, I wish. Are you sick of this internship yet?” Kate asked. Her knuckles were white and purple. Her face was ashen. It wasn't even that cold. She better not cry. I couldn’t handle crying.
“I am sick of the internship, but I’m still liking the interns,” I said with a smile, “Where are they sending you?”
“Just up north or something. Canada maybe, or Alaska.”
“So you don’t get to go overseas?”
She shook her head.
“I am, I think. Well he was hinting at it.”
“I'll miss you,” said Kate quietly.
“Same,” I replied.
“You're so romantic Fletch,” she joked.
“Sorry then,” I was starting to perk up, “My heart is already consumed by such an agony over our impending separation, that I cannot find the appropriate words to express it.”
Kate laughed, a real laugh. I was stoked. It tore me out of reality to a place where there was just Kate. No CANA, no Frankensteins and Synthetics, no worries.