Virtual Murder

by Jennifer Macaire

  "The others adapted to our world.” Frank Dinde shrugged.

  Andrea stared at him. “They do not live in our world,” she said finally. “They live in their own worlds. Let Madeline stay in the world she created for herself."

  "We can't do that.” Dr. Djusky shook his head. “She will find a way to escape and then every male on the Net will be in danger."

  "You don't think you're exaggerating?"

  "No. I'm sorry. If you'll just sign here, I'll take care of everything.” Dr. Djusky pointed towards the paper with the tip of his pen.

  Andrea frowned. “I'd like to ask Ms. Andrews about..."

  "Your signature is just a formality,” Dr. Djusky's voice held the faintest trace of a threat. “I am M-19's legal guardian."

  "Fine. Then do without it. You told me what you were going to do. I'm against it. I would prefer to leave Madeline alone. I think we can keep her contained, without any danger to anyone else. Monkey gave me a report, explaining how it could be done. All he has to do is lock Madeline out of the Net, and he knows how to do that."

  "How can you be so sure? M-18 is a mutant. His loyalties lie with them."

  "She doesn't deserve to be punished; she's like a child who doesn't know any better. In my opinion, she's suffered enough. If Monkey can restrain her, she can invent her own worlds and be happy there. I see no reason to go beyond that."

  "This whole fiasco has set us back weeks and countless millions.” Frank Dinde shook his head. “You know the law is right in this case, Andrea. Just give us M-19 and we'll leave you alone. We won't try to prosecute."

  "Prosecute me? Madeline? You couldn't win either case in a million years.” Andrea pressed harder with her hands, whitening the skin around her nails.

  "No, but we could make things very difficult for you,” Frank Dinde said.

  Andrea smiled. “Your threats don't work anymore. I gave up my share of Virtual Tours. If I were you, I'd be careful whom I threatened in the future. As it stands, I can make your lives miserable, not the other way around. It's true I don't have the power to protect Madeline from you, Dr. Djusky, because you are her legal guardian. But I have the power to close off large sections of the Center. If you don't want to find yourselves restricted to levels minus fifteen to minus ten for the rest of your tenure, I'd find another way to take care of this problem."

  "All right.” Dr. Djusky shrugged. He took his pen and scrawled on the document. Andrea looked at it. He'd deleted the sentence saying he intended to use shock treatment on the mutant. All they were going to do now was move the mutant into another room.

  If she signed the paper, she gave up her responsibility. But she didn't like it at all. She'd always faced up to her responsibilities, and Madeline ... Well, Madeline was part of the Center. By signing the paper she took Madeline off her list of mutants. By not signing, she would simply put off the inevitable by a few days. Dr. Djusky could easily get a court order. He didn't need her signature. In a way, he was being remarkably transparent by showing her the paper and everything he intended to do.

  Andrea looked from one man to the other. Frank Dinde stood very straight, his face contorted in his usual frown. Dr. Djusky was another matter. His look of faint amusement never failed to set her teeth on edge. Their request to move Madeline from her case in the Center to another location didn't please Andrea at all, but at least she'd obtained a small measure of protection for the mutant. Taking a deep breath, she slid her hands towards the document. She read it carefully, making sure there was nothing in it that could possibly hurt the mutants or her new company. She found nothing, so, despite her trepidation she signed.

  * * * *

  Professor Toutbon strode down the endless hallway. His long legs ate up the distance. He walked as fast as he could without actually breaking into a run. Laurel jogged at his heels, her face a thundercloud of pent-up anger. Lighting bolts sparked from her eyes. If she could, she would be screaming now, like a Valkyrie sweeping down from the heavens. Just behind her was Monkey. His face wore an expression of terrible worry. Now and then, he would stop and gasp for breath. His body still hadn't adapted to walking or running any great distance, and these hallways were interminable.

  "Are we nearly there?” he asked.

  Laurel couldn't hear him, but Professor Toutbon slowed a bit.

  "We're almost there."

  "Why was she taken so far away?” Monkey asked.

  The door was locked. Professor Toutbon knocked once, twice, then nodded to Laurel. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of brand new keys. Her deft fingers separated them as she looked them over, then she nodded decisively. She slid one into the lock and turned it. The door swung inwards.

  * * * *

  M-6—Mahler

  There is something wrong in the Center today. We mutants are restless and pressing against the glass walls of our cases. Mutants who haven't moved in years are shifting now, lights flashing on their consoles as they search the Web for something, or someone. There are two empty cases now. M-18 and M-19 have been taken away. Monkey is living in the real world. Madeline is a prisoner in an empty room.

  Not so empty, after all.

  Dr. Djusky and Frank Dinde have decided to punish her.

  * * * *

  "Wake up, Madeline! We're here to speak to you."

  The voices are blurred, muffled by thick glass and clouds. I open my eyes. Where am I? These past weeks have been so strange. I was taken from my home in the dark vaults and transferred down endless corridors. The room I ended up in had so much light it blinded me for many days. My eyes took a long time to adjust. Dr. Djusky says it's part of learning to live in the real world. Soon he will let me out of my case and I will be able to live in that warm, sunny paradise I saw in my dreams.

  Was it part of a dream? Some days I'm not sure. I'm anxious to leave my case and walk among men, like M-18 does. Is my sister there? Will I see her? My heart is pounding so hard it hurts. I want my sister.

  I also want to see Monkey. What a funny name. I wonder if he will be here today.

  "Is she awake?"

  The voice is louder now. I smile.

  Dr. Djusky and another man lift the top of my case off. Clouds escape, obscuring the harsh light. In the misty surroundings, I feel suddenly exhilarated. I want to move, to stand up and stretch my body, but I cannot. Perhaps all these years of inaction have stiffened my muscles. I will need to take it slowly at first.

  A face appears in the mist. It is Dr. Djusky. “Hello, Madeline,” he says. Mr. Dinde, a man I've seen a few times before, is standing nearby.

  I want to reply, to use my voice, but again something is wrong. I move my lips, force air into my throat, but all that escapes is a strange croaking noise.

  Mr. Dinde is staring at me. His hands creep up to his face and he grabs his mouth. How strange. How very strange. He is backing away, his eyes as round as marbles.

  Dr. Djusky is talking to me. I try to listen, but my ears are not used to such clear sounds. There is no more mist now, cushioning me. He is saying something about how I was misguided by the Virtual World. He is saying something about not having any idea of reality. He says I need to understand.

  I do, at least I think I do. My beauty killed the men. They couldn't handle my perfection. I will be careful from now on. I will choose my lovers with care and go gently, slowly, at first. I hope he understands what I am trying to say. I wish he would plug me into the console again. I would tell him in an instant all he needs to know. Where is my sister? When will she appear?

  Dr. Djusky is shaking his head. Apparently, I don't understand. He will help me see. He nods wisely.

  "You will see, Madeline,” he says, “what the real world is really like."

  I am confused now. I have seen the real world.

  Something flashes. A light blinds me, then it flattens and turns to silver.

  "A mirror,” Dr. Djusky says.

  He holds it over me so I can see. The lab assistant takes the other end and st
raightens it. An image appears.

  * * * *

  Laurel didn't hear the screaming. She wasn't knocked backwards by the sheer agony of the cries. In the room, brightly lit with halogen spots, two men held a full-length mirror over a glass case.

  Monkey's knees buckled, icy sweat popping out on his forehead. The sounds of anguish made him moan. He held his hands over his ears.

  "What is going on?” cried Professor Toutbon.

  Dr. Djusky nodded to his assistant. “That's enough. I think she understood.” They lowered the mirror to the ground.

  "Understood what?” Professor Toutbon flinched as another scream split the air. He hurried towards the glass case, his face tense.

  "She is unhurt,” Frank Dinde said stiffly. “We never touched her.” The Net man wiped sweat off his forehead. For the first time, he appeared shaken.

  "You didn't have to do that.” Professor Toutbon knelt by the case and leaned his forehead against it. “Put the top back on and fill it with the clouds. Can't you see she's having trouble breathing?” His voice was filled with a terrible pity.

  Monkey stood, frozen, in the doorway. His eyes showed their whites, like a spooked horse. Laurel stood near the glass case, her face twisted in horror and fear.

  Inside the case, Madeline writhed and her mouth opened and closed, screams tearing her throat. Her face reflected all the terror she'd experienced as she suddenly came face to face with her own reality.

  She was not a beautiful woman. Her face was nearly intact, except for the missing nose. But her body was a bloated sack where dark organs showed against transparent skin and blue veins traced squiggly paths. She had no arms, and only two twisted stumps instead of legs.

  Her eyes were wide open, a deep, frosty plum color, and completely demented now.

  "Why?” whispered Monkey, his hands pressed against his stomach. “How could you do such a thing?"

  "I think we can take her back to the vault now.” Dr. Djusky collected a sheaf of papers and nodded to his assistant.

  Frank Dinde shook his hand. “It was an enlightening experience, Dr. Djusky.” He nodded to Professor Toutbon, still rooted to his spot, and left the room. “I'm looking forward to seeing you again, M-18,” he said as he passed.

  Monkey swung his head around. His eyes were haunted. “Goodbye, Mr. Dinde,” he said, Professor Toutbon's lessons coming automatically to his lips.

  Afterwards no one spoke. The mutant was transported back to the vault and hidden once more behind thick clouds. She was plugged into her console again, but it did no good. She was never to communicate with anyone again. Three days later, she was dead. She managed to twist around and around in her case and strangle herself with thin wires.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It is time to explain myself—let us stand up.

  What is known I strip away,

  I launch all men and women forward with me into the Unknown.

  ~Walt Whitman, Song of Myself

  * * * *

  Mitch watched as Digby inserted the needle in his arm. The new program was ready; he was the first to test it. Monkey had worked for months developing it, another Virtual World. A Japanese client had ordered it, and it took place in the American West in the late 1800's. It was complete with wild horses, cowboys and campfires under a star-spangled sky. Coyotes howled at the moon, and Mitch returned after three days, swearing he was going to become a cowboy and live on a cow farm.

  "They're called ranches.” Sally handed him a cup of tea and checked his pulse for the third time. “Your heart rate is back to normal. It was a bit slow coming out of your sleep. I wonder if it was a physical reaction to part of the program."

  "The program was incredible,” Mitch said. “Monkey, you're a genius!"

  Monkey ducked his head and blushed. “I would like someone besides you to go on a trip. I mean, someone who's never gone."

  Dr. Djusky, present as an observer, cocked his head and peered at Monkey. “Do you mean someone like me?"

  Monkey scratched his head and laughed childishly. “Well, maybe someone like you. Have you ever taken a virtual trip?"

  "No. Perhaps I shall someday.” He nodded curtly and strode off.

  Mitch didn't think anything about it until Dr. Djusky went to see Andrea and booked himself a trip on her Virtual Tour.

  * * * *

  Dr. Djusky smiled at Digby as he tapped the glass syringe. Digby didn't return the smile. He was concentrating on the yellow liquid. Nearby, lying next to Dr. Djusky, was Monkey. He was humming softly, looking out the window at the bright sky. In the distance, a lone cloud was slowly being shredded by the wind.

  The voyage was to last three days. Monkey was taking the trip as a guide to show Dr. Djusky the tropical paradise Virtual Tours offered to their clients. He seemed pleased about his job, even joking with Mitch about it.

  Digby could see Mitch and Sally leaning on their elbows on the ledge of the plate-glass window outside the sending room. It felt odd not seeing Mitch on the couch, but since Mitch had become his assistant, he didn't have time to be a guide.

  Digby pressed electrodes against Dr. Djusky's skull. A thin, silver shunt ran from an electrode in his ear to the machine. He checked it in time to see Andrea come around the corner, her arms full of papers. She saw Mitch and Sally leaning against the glass. Andrea hesitated, then joined them at the window. Her eyes were on Monkey, though. Laurel drifted by. She signed hello to everyone. Digby waved at her. He liked Laurel and he, Laurel and Carlos often talked together until late at night. Now she looked worried for some reason. Digby took a light pen out of his pocket and wrote in the air so all could see. “Everything is fine. Houston, we are ready for lift off!” The words glowed bright blue in the air before fading, but Laurel's expression was still strained.

  Digby was finished. He took his place at the console and smiled at Dr. Djusky. “Have a nice slip."

  * * * *

  Monkey twitched a bit, then his eyes closed and he slipped into a deep slumber. On the console behind him, the lights blinked to life. He was in the virtual world, on the dock, waiting for his client.

  The sun was hot. It burned his shoulders and sweat trickled down his temple and neck. Above him, the sky was like a blue porcelain bowl cupped over the islands. There were no clouds, only the blinding sun. Light sparkled off the waves, dazzling his eyes. It danced off the aluminum masts of the sailboats, reverberated off the pale, glittering sand, and reflected everywhere.

  Monkey reached into his pocket and drew out a pair of sunglasses. He put them on and cocked his head. His fair skin would burn in this climate. He reached again into his shorts and came up with sunscreen, which he applied lavishly. All the while he kept an eye on the horizon, waiting for the boat.

  While he waited, he searched the sky. Every now and then, a bird screeched and he craned his neck to see it. A pelican attracted his attention. He peered up as it flapped through the sky, but he couldn't see it well enough. He reached into his pocket, pulled out binoculars, and spent a while watching the bird, a smile across his wide mouth. It wasn't a pleasant smile.

  If Mitch could see him now, he wouldn't recognize his friend Monkey. The hair was still a riot of bright, copper curls and his face had the same features, but they were put together differently, somehow. There was an assurance, an arrogance that came from being in his element. He was at home, here in the virtual world. Even his stance was different. He was standing with his legs apart, his arms crossed on his chest, a sword hanging from his belt.

  The boat arrived on time. Dr. Djusky stepped off the plank onto the cement pier. The light blinded him. He screwed up his eyes like a mole and smiled. “Monkey! I made it!” He laughed like a child. “What an incredible experience. I should have done this years ago! Where do we go now?"

  Monkey put out his hand. “Dr. Djusky, I presume? This way, please."

  Dr. Djusky grasped Monkey's hand.

  There was a shift in the scenery. The sun suddenly disappeared behind a dark cloud. T
he light faded as if someone had turned a switch. Beneath their feet, the cement gave away to rocks. Dr. Djusky tripped on a boulder and landed on his knees, skidding on slippery shale.

  "What happened? I didn't think a tropical storm could...” he faltered, raising his head and looking around. “Hey, where are we? This isn't the Caribbean!"

  Monkey was standing a ways away, his hand on his sword. He wasn't looking at Dr. Djusky; his eyes were searching the gloom in the distance. His sunglasses were on the ground. Deliberately, he stepped on them.

  "Answer me, M-18. What is going on here?” Dr. Djusky got to his feet and brushed the dirt from his knees. “Look at this. I cut myself! When I get back to the Center, you'll hear about this."

  Monkey glanced at him then smiled. “You won't be going back, doctor."

  "What do you mean?” He snapped his head around. “What was that noise?"

  "Did you ever hear the story of Prometheus, doctor?” Monkey hefted the sword in his hands and looked at it critically. “It's a story about a god who makes the king of gods angry. He is chained to a cliff where an eagle comes and rips his liver out each day. Of course, he's a god, so he doesn't die. He simply suffers."

  "What are you babbling about?” Dr. Djusky sputtered. His eyes widened. “Look out behind you!"

  Monkey pivoted gracefully, and with a smooth movement, cut the head off a six-meter cobra. “That was just a small one,” he said, prodding the body with his toe. He cocked his head. “Where was I? Oh yes. Well, in this world, you are a god. You cannot die. You can suffer, though, and believe me, when you're eaten by an iggabit you suffer for years. It takes that long for your molecules to reconstitute themselves."

  "An igga-what?"

  "Iggabit. They are large man-eating plants. That gives you the advantage, you realize. They can't run after you. You'll have to learn how to avoid them and how to recognize their many forms. One looks so innocuous...” he chuckled. “Well, I must be going. I'd leave you this sword, but it's mine. I forged it myself. Maybe you will learn to do the same."