by E. R. Jess
Morgan stood upright. He started walking toward her fearlessly. Meril began slashing at him, but Morgan took both of her wrists in one hand. He squeezed. Kagan could hear the bones stress and break in her wrists.
“Stop, it's over, you got what you want,” Kagan cried.
Cavel and Dien came out of the building with Makz and Revan in tow. Makz looked at the scene, saw Eight mortally injured on the gurney in the middle of a battle. He saw Kagan with his hands out in surrender. Makz breathed, “Fuck.”
Revan gave a chortle. “I have a feeling that this is not a rescue,” he said.
Makz and Revan were loaded onto a separate hoverjet.
Morgan released Meril, she crumpled to the ground. He turned to Kagan. “You're willing to come without a fight?” he asked, his voice different, sterile and colder.
Kagan nodded. “Yes, but I don't think that's what you want.”
Morgan shook his head. He gestured to Cavel, then pointed at Meril and Mar. Dien and Cavel toted them off to the hoverjet.
Kagan breathed in a sigh of relief. He looked at Eight, lying still. With his eyes locked on Morgan, Kagan walked to the gurney. He felt for a pulse on Eight's chest, but he was gone. Kagan nearly broke down.
Morgan sheathed his knife and walked around the gurney.
Kagan looked to him, his face bloody and his eyes wet, he stepped around Eight's body and positioned himself in front of Morgan.
First Sergeant Cavel walked up to them and addressed Morgan, “Sir, we are ready.” Morgan ignored him, and Cavel asked, “Sir?”
Morgan hesitated, then answered, to Kagan, “You don't deserve the conformity you'll receive as punishment.” He turned to Cavel and said, “Load him up in the troop carrier.”
Kagan didn't resist. As he was being carried away, he watched Eight's body shrink into the distance. He was seated and restrained along with Makz and Revan in the smaller hoverjet. Morgan's men loaded themselves and Major Kellen's body in with them. Morgan stood on the back bay as the craft lifted off.
Makz looked up at Kagan, who was looking a million miles away. Makz decided to keep his mouth shut.
Revan asked of Kagan, “So, who did you used to be?”
Chapter 9: The Pull of Gravity
The hoverjets flew to the only ruined section of the City-State, a set of blocks with older buildings and torn streets. A wall once encircled the neighborhood, it had long since been torn down.
Everyone was loaded into an ancient processing station, an old conformity center. They were piled into one large chamber and held there under guard by LCS in gray plastic armor.
Sam was the first one to speak up. She went face-to-face with a guard and demanded medical help for Nanny. The guard, blank-faced, directed her to a shipping crate that was brought in after the pacifists. Another set of guards distributed rations and water to the group. Sam found a medical kit among the supplies and took it to Nanny.
Vorn meandered to Alessa, who was nursing her wounds. Vorn said, “They're feeding us. Why does that frighten me?”
“It means that we're going to be kept alive,” she said without looking up.
“You mean conformed.”
Kagan, Makz, Revan and Mar were all delivered to the same room as the pacifists. Revan and Makz had their hands bound, Mar was bound and blindfolded, with a pair of headphones on. Kagan was not tied up, he was lead personally by Colonel Morgan, who kept a close eye on him. The four of them were corralled into the center of the chamber at gunpoint. Makz and Revan stumbled in, Kagan's eyes darted around for Alessa. Mar was made to sit on the floor, where he was chained to a post by an LCS.
Jenna was huddled in a corner when one of the pacifists called Vorn over. Vorn saw how bad off she was. He brought Sam to her and against their better judgement, tended to her broken elbow and other wounds.
Omo stood by himself in the chamber, as many of the pacifists kept their distance from the strange man.
Revan helped Makz get free of his restraints, much to Makz's surprise. Revan shrugged and looked around the room, giving Makz a pitying look.
Colonel Morgan entered the Outernet via his augmented reality display and met with Elann. He argued loudly with her. He didn't believe that the Minister understood the dangerous potential of their new prisoners. None-the-less, Morgan and his men were ordered to depart, leaving a dozen UPC police to watch the pacifists. Morgan shot a dagger glare at Kagan, who didn't see it. The Colonel and his team left without a sound.
Alessa saw Kagan, and she tried to get up. Her hurt body pulled her back down to the beam she was leaning against. Kagan ran over and held her up, supporting her head and pulling her body against his carefully. They stayed still and quiet. They both knew what was next. Kagan's Antikythera implant was quiet as well, it no longer fed him memories, nor did it enhance his strength and reflexes. Kagan felt weak, but not because of the implant shutting down, it was because he could not save her.
Makz looked at all the familiar faces. He didn't bother them, as they seemed beaten and exhausted. He felt similar. Revan surveyed his new prison. A chill descended over him when he realized where they were. He addressed Makz, “Recognize this place?”
“Kind of reminds me the Core videos, what's left of it. So?” Makz replied.
Revan pointed to the rows of corrals and turnstiles. Beyond that was a maze of halls. “Central Reprogramming,” he said.
Makz kicked a shard of concrete. “No one's been reprogrammed here in a long time.”
Revan studied the building. He thought back, trying to cut through two lifetimes of accumulated thoughts. “No... no they haven't. But it means something.”
Makz grabbed a canteen from a pacifist and looked at Revan with mock expectancy.
“It means that we're a special project,” Revan said, as his eyes closed in dread.
Mar sat still in the center of the chamber. Like Omo, everyone avoided him. He was tied up, blindfolded and deaf to all but a loud screech of white noise being pumped into his ears. He found it difficult to delve, but he tried anyway. He reached out and tried to grab someone's memories, but found only a vague stew of emotions and fears swirling about the room. He gave up, concentrating instead on his own memories. He started the arduous task of hiding all of his own memories and emotions. He tucked away everything that made him him, leaving a basic personality and his ability to delve memories. He left himself a truncated version of his fighting abilities, and a list of possible escape options. Either way, Mar was convinced that UPC was going to try to conform him, probably with the Antikythera, and he didn't know if his mind would survive the process.
Nosce Te Ipsum
The pacifists were under no illusion that their new temporary home was like any other they'd had in their journeys. Pacing LCS in clacking armor, dry voices whispering commands in their headsets kept them uneasy. The children were silent but panicky, as they had been through so much torment and upheaval. All of them felt it. It was many hours before anyone said a word. Kagan was in a deep sleep, one he hadn't experienced in days. Alessa leaned his frame against a beam with care and stood. She went from person to person, checking wounds and looking into their eyes. She didn't like what she saw. Sam glanced up at her as she bandaged a gash on Jenna's face. Alessa didn't want to confront Jenna, so she slipped away. Nanny was resting comfortably in a pile of duffle bags. Alessa cautiously made sure she was covered and warm.
“She will make it, just in time to be conformed,” Makz said.
Alessa didn't have the strength or desire to argue with him. She simply turned away from him, running dead into Revan. The first words out of her mouth, “You son of a bitch, no part of this isn't your fault.”
Revan smiled from ear to ear. “Sub-Minister, this is a pleasure,” he said slyly.
Alessa's face went deep red. She inhaled sharply and pushed past him.
Revan said, “So it's true. You used to be a UPC official, like me. A dizzying sensation, is it not? Those moments when you're two people at once. Three
in my case.”
Makz intervened and said to him, “I haven't heard any apologies yet, Elder. Say 'You're sorry' to the nice folks.”
At that moment, a squad of LCS burst into the room spreading out and pushing the pacifists back away from the center of the processing station. Minister Elann walked in with the wire Sen in tow.
Makz rolled his eyes.
Elann stopped and took in the sight. She saw Revan, Alessa and Mar all in one place. All of her enemies before her. And her former lover, Makz, stood embarrassed at their side. She ignored him and went directly to Alessa, who recognized her, but not fully.
Elann said, quoting Aloca's confession, “They are the ruling class of the planet. So I made a plan that was worthy of their greatness. It was called The Caelestis Project, the depopulation of the Free City. It began with the purge. The next step is the complete eradication of freedom in the City-State. And beyond that, they will extend their reach to the stars. They will reclaim humanity from the first interstellar settlers and force their wisdom upon them.”
“May the City-State ever rise,” Alessa said, amazed at her own words.
“It is coming back,” Elann said softly, “Your Delver is powerful. Aloca, I saw you out in the desert, wandering for food, and I felt sadness, not joy. You tried to destroy my mind, but I did not find pleasure in your downfall. You are family.”
“I don't know you,” Alessa whispered.
“Don't you?”
“It was people like you that made me what I was,” Alessa said, looking back to Kagan's sleeping form, getting flashes of the purge in her mind.
Elann pulled herself close to Alessa's face. “You killed, you burned a city to the ground. And these people, these pacifists, you hoped that you could save them, save yourself. You don't have a soul to save. Anything that you think is a soul, we created. The rest is shame. Tell these people, tell them why their homes were destroyed in the purge. Explain to them why they have to be conformed.”
“Because we are the ruling class of the planet,” Alessa said to the inside of her eyelids.
“Because we are the ruling class. And you are destined to be so again. All of your people will get what they sought. Peace. A home. You did what you set out to do. You've saved lives. For once, you created something instead of just destroying,” Elann hugged her like a friend. Alessa stood helpless.
Revan sighed through his nose.
Elann walked to him, her guards raised their guns. “No,” she said, “he's an old man. All the fight's gone.”
“How's work?” Revan asked jokingly.
Elann gave a small smile. “Remember what I promised you, on Ilios?”
“My memory's not what it used to be.”
“I promised that I would continue your work, Revan. And I am glad that the conformity didn't take in you, you deserve better than to be a number in an office. You will get a gift few dream of.”
“I know the game,” Revan said to Makz, “She means something horrible.”
Makz was not laughing for once. He looked at Elann steadily and coldly. To Revan he replied, “Of that I am sure.”
“Makz,” Elann began, “I'll spell it out for you, since you're stupid. I'm going to wipe all of your minds with my Antikythera devices. Your clear minds and healed bodies will be transported to a distant interstellar colony, where your body will be filled with new memories. A new person will inhabit your body. You will become templates for UPC officials.”
“What I always wanted,” Makz said, humorlessly.
Elann held his hand and said, “I know. And I know you tried to do your best. UPC wants more than your best, lover.” Elann turned and shouted to her men, “Get the equipment in.”
Mar's senses lit up. He could feel a focus of memory. Someone he had delved before was nearby.
Elann pulled off his blindfold. She looked into his eyes and recorded a memory in her own mind. She then put her fingers to her temple as she removed Mar's headset.
Mar hesitated at first. He delved her memories, finding only a phrase, “You left my mind in shambles. I was able to fix the damage you did. You cannot be conformed, even with Antikythera, I'm guessing. I'm guessing that your mind is all ready for the worse. My special LCS are prepared for any of your memory attacks, so go ahead. Mar, UPC doesn't need you anymore. Your abilities are a novelty. You get a bullet in the alley.”
“Elann,” Makz said, “One last go, you, me, some Pulse and we'll see where the night takes us?”
Elann spun on her heals and gestured to a guard. He put a rifle butt to Makz's head quickly, but not fast enough, Makz was able to grab the LCS's gun arm and spin him around to the other way. A second guard shoved a taser bayonet in the small of Makz's back and he arched it in pain. Makz then elbowed that guard in the stomach plate, but his blow was weak. Another guard tasered him and he hit the flooring.
“As I said, stupid.”
Makz, doubled over in pain, said, “Elann, come on. Look at these people. They're not trouble. Let them go find their home in the wasteland.”
Revan put his hand on Makz's back. He shook his head at him.
Elann turned and left the room without another word.
Alessa clenched her fists and looked into the woman's back. She felt bones rattle, her skin crawl. She was feeling something new. She wanted to murder that woman, and she almost tried.
The View from Here
Revan sat cross-legged in front of Mar. He pulled off the memory-reader's blindfold and headset. Mar's eyes stayed closed. Revan said, “I don't imagine there is much left in my mind to cull, so go ahead. No surprises left for you to find. You shook all the presents, peeked under the wrapping.”
Mar opened his eyes and gave Revan a blank look, as if an out-to-lunch sign hung around his neck.
Revan, perplexed, asked of the room, “What's with this guy?”
Kagan grudgingly went over. He eyed Revan up and down and scoffed. “I can't believe it was you who put us all in such mortal danger. You're not much to look at,” Kagan said to the ex-Minister.
Revan pursed his lips and laughed inwardly. “Pleasant. Now could you wake Mar up, big tough warlord.”
Kagan knelt down and looked at Mar. He slapped his face lightly. Mar responded with a little shock, and looked at Kagan as if he'd never seen him before. Kagan's eyebrows raised. “I don't know, but I don't like it.”
Revan slapped Mar harder. Nothing happened. “Worth a shot.”
Makz strolled over. He said gleefully, “Oh, are we taking out our aggressions on this person? I would really appreciate a round or two.”
Kagan scratched his head. He said, “It's like he's gone into hiding.”
Meril pushed Sam aside, who was bandaging her wrists. The outcast said, “He's protecting his mind. He assumed he'd be conformed. There's something like a basic operating system controlling him now.”
Revan kicked the floor and eyeballed a nearby LCS. He said quietly, “I was hoping he could help us out. Coward.”
Meril's eyes burned with anger. She stalked up to Revan, but was cut off by Kagan. She stopped short of running into him.
“We're all in the same trouble here,” Kagan said to her.
“No,” Meril corrected, “We are going to be conformed, Mar is going to be killed. I envy him.” Meril went off to her get her bandaging finished.
Revan looked at Makz, who was less than surreptitiously making escape plans in his head. Revan threw his hands up and left, saying, “You're all doomed and I'm not sure if I care.”
Kagan sat on the floor next to Mar. He looked into his face, looking for something. He whispered to the Delver, “Eight, I know you're alive in there. What can we do?”
Mar mouthed something, some silent words. Kagan tried to listen closely, but no breath carried them. “Mar,” he said, “wake up and help us, dammit.”
Omo walked to the two of them. He was looking at the ground and stuttering before any words left his mouth. “Kagan,” he began, “I wanted to say I was sorry. I f
ucked up.”
Kagan ignored him.
Omo shook uncomfortably. “The men, the people who wanted you dead are gone. I was confused. They said that you were dangerous.”
“I was,” Kagan said quietly.
“What can I do?” Omo began to ask.
Kagan grabbed him by the shirt and said in a loud whisper, “You can use your power to take out these guards, you dumb shit.”
Omo began to choke up, “I can't, I can't control it. I'd hurt your friends.”
Kagan growled and dropped him.
Omo crumpled to the floor.
Alessa came up and put a hand on Kagan's shoulder. “Kagan, he's a child,” she said.
“I know, but I can't stand that he can live while people like Eight had to die.”
Alessa squeezed his shoulder, then went to Omo. She held his face before helped him up. “This is not an easy world to live in,” she said to him soothingly.
Omo dried his eyes and sat upright. He looked at Alessa and smiled. She returned the smile and patted him on the arm.
Kagan gave him a long look and considered apologizing.
Alessa said to Omo, “We've all done horrible things in our past. Some things we had to do, others, we don't know what motivated us. If it's important to you to try and fix the bad memories, then you can start by doing good things. Helping deserving people. Showing support.”
Omo fought to understand and use what she had said, but his mind wasn't up to the task. What he did understand was close to Alessa's original sentiment. Save others, save yourself. Omo gave a thank you, then walked off by himself.
Alessa looked at Kagan, who was looking intently at Mar. One thing she remembered while she was conformed was an odd warning from her parents. They told her to not to ask for anything. Her parents told her never to wish, never to pray. They discouraged her from asking the cosmos for anything, neither trivial nor profound, because the universe had a way to manifest things. Alessa remembered praying for Kagan. She asked the universe to save him, no matter the cost. She got what she wanted. She considered asking the universe to help him again, to help all of them.