The Immortality Game

by Ted Cross

  She saw the Gsh-18 handgun lying forlornly on the floor of the lift, and she decided she’d never touch a gun again. If a mobster walked up to her now, she would beg the man to end her misery. Lifting her head, she was surprised to see the monstrous war bot clicking down the corridor away from her on its spindly steel feet. At the end of the corridor she saw two med bots whisking toward them. Too late, she thought. Much too late.

  The bots went about their jobs with incredible efficiency. She’d seen them at work before, helping the coroners at the morgue, but she’d never experienced their work with a dying patient. The closest bot quickly and carefully guided a tube into Marcus’s mouth and began respiration using a pair of thin steely arms, while the other one got plasma flowing into Marcus’s arm.

  Zoya cradled Marcus’s head in her lap and reached up with her left hand to eject the combat card. Through eyes blurry with tears she stared at it. This wasn’t the card’s fault. If it had done anything today it was to save her life several times, but in her mind the card would forever be associated with today’s horrors. By her left knee she saw the narrow crack between the lift and the carpeted floor. She held the card down to the crack and let it slide down into the dark abyss.

  Moscow

  Sunday, June 8, 2138

  11:21 p.m. MSK

  Tavik watched the view screen with a mixture of horror and fascination as the lift door slid open.

  “Here we go!” Viktor said, his voice giddy.

  There was motion in the lift, the fat American standing up, using his body to shield Zoya. Then the war bot began firing one of its shard guns, and…‌stopped. Huh? Everything should have gone off. The war bot had enough barrels to turn the entire end of the corridor into a shredded wreck in a few seconds.

  The American was down, Zoya crouched above him. Tavik was glad there were no speakers; Zoya’s silent screams were bad enough to watch.

  “What the fuck happened?” yelled Viktor. “Shoot her! Why are you standing there?”

  Tavik looked at the war bot and saw that it wasn’t obeying Viktor’s orders. It wasn’t doing anything at all.

  Every man he could see suddenly screamed simultaneously. All around him men dropped to the floor and began flailing madly, screaming nonstop. As unsettling as all this havoc was, it was even worse to see the indomitable Viktor flopping about like a dying fish. Tavik was stunned for a moment, but he understood what was happening. The American’s father! He leapt up from the armchair and shouted, “Turn off your wireless! Now! Turn it off!” He began kicking the men around him and repeating his instructions. He ran to Viktor and shouted directly into his ear, “Turn off the wireless, Viktor!”

  Viktor’s body stopped jerking. He cradled his head in his arms and moaned. Tavik stood up and looked around him. Most of the men appeared to have finally understood and had shut down their wireless, but two men were thrashing out their final convulsions.

  “What…‌what the hell was that?” Viktor whispered.

  “The American boy’s father,” Tavik said. “I told you about him.”

  “Help me up.”

  Tavik got an arm around Viktor’s shoulder and heaved him to his feet. Viktor’s eyes burned redder than Tavik had ever seen them as he glared around the room.

  “Get yourselves together,” Viktor rasped. “We’re going down to get that bitch. Then we’re going to track down every relative, every friend she’s ever had, and we’re going to fucking kill them all! You hear me?”

  The surviving men were all moaning or crying softly, but they obeyed Viktor and climbed to their feet. Tavik turned and was surprised to see Bunny still kneeling by the armchair holding the scientist, both of them looking as if they’d been unaffected by what had happened.

  He hefted the stun rifle and turned to Viktor. “Come on, let me go after her. It’s over. She’ll be no more trouble, I promise.”

  Viktor’s eyes flashed red and he glared at Tavik for a long while. “I’ll give you three minutes. After that I’m coming for her.”

  Tavik grinned and sketched a salute before heading toward the door.

  Tyoma—the Bunny Tyoma—was having trouble maintaining his mute persona. He didn’t understand anything that was happening. How was he suddenly involved with mobsters? Why were the mobsters under some sort of attack? And what could make all these vicious men squirm on the floor screaming in agony while doing nothing at all to three of them? He wanted explanations, and it was all he could do to stay silent. He had tried to move once, but his original self clutched hard at his arm and hissed at him to stay still.

  He decided to pretend that everything he was seeing was just an elaborate virtual reality sim. For now. But I’d better get the full story soon or my head will burst.

  Tyoma—the real Tyoma—wasn’t confused at all. When he heard Viktor shouting about going out after some woman, he got an idea.

  «Javier, did you do that to them?»

  There was silence for a few seconds. «Yes. It didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I still see a dozen wireless signals in there.»

  Tyoma looked around the room. «You appear to have killed two of them.»

  «They killed my son.»

  «I’m…‌I’m very sorry to hear that.»

  Again silence.

  «Javier? I think I could destroy the mob boss, if I had your help.»

  «Viktor?»

  «No, no, the real boss is Lev. His body is hidden away in a sarcophagus or something where no one can get to it. I have a link here into his personal virtual world.»

  «So you link to him and I go through you to do what I just did to his colleagues?»

  Tyoma shifted uncomfortably in his chair. «Well, I suppose you could do that, but I have an even better idea, or at least I think I do. It may not kill his body, but it could be even worse.»

  «I like the sound of that. Tell me more.»

  «I need you to link me into my apartment’s computer system. I have the access codes when you need them.»

  «Done. What am I looking for?»

  «I need you to feed me my last saved game of Swords and Scrolls. I want a do-over. Wait until these guys leave, though.»

  «That won’t be a problem. Keep your friend close, remember.»

  «What are you up to?»

  «Just stay where you are and hold onto your pal.»

  Tavik fiddled with the stun rifle as he waited impatiently for the lift. With a soft ping the door slid open. He nearly peed himself when he saw all the muzzles of the hideous war bot pointed right at him. His breath came out in a panting wheeze as he slid to the side, allowing the bot to scuttle off the lift, its metallic feet clicking on the tiles.

  “Fuck me!” he murmured. He couldn’t believe he’d thought of buying one of these monstrosities for his apartment. He breathed a sigh as the bot moved by him and he practically leapt onto the lift. “One floor down and be quick about it,” he said to the lift. The door slid shut and Tavik worked to get his racing heart under control.

  He got off on the next floor and headed down the long corridor toward the crossing passage. When he got there he took a right. All the way at the far end he saw the huddle of figures. Good, they’re still there.

  He shouldered the rifle and sauntered down the hall as if he owned the place. She’ll probably try to kill me the moment she sees me. He wondered how he could approach her without looking threatening. He considered using the stun rifle on her from a distance but rejected it. She’d had chances to kill him earlier and didn’t do it.

  As he approached he saw the two med bots working the body of the fat American. Zoya was slumped in the lift with the boy’s head in her lap. She hadn’t looked up yet. Tavik slid the rifle from his shoulder and hid it behind his right leg beneath the flap of his solar coat. He drifted to a halt about a dozen meters away.

  He didn’t see a gun in Zoya’s hands, but he steeled himself for instant action should the need arise. “I’m sorry they did all
this.”

  Slowly she lifted her bruised face and gazed blankly at him. Her shoulders slumped further.

  He edged two steps closer. “I know…‌I know I work with these people, but this isn’t the kind of thing I signed up for.”

  Something rasped in her throat and Tavik wondered if it was a chuckle. “I’m not kidding. Hey, I know I act big around you all the time with…‌with Georgy, but…‌it’s all an act, I swear.”

  This time she managed to croak something legible out. “So you never hurt anyone, eh?”

  Tavik shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to do my job when it comes to people who deserve what they get, but those who don’t deserve it? That’s not me.”

  “What do you want? I don’t have the cards any more. If you want to kill me, get it over with.”

  “Kill you? I want to save you.”

  Zoya began to laugh but winced in pain instead. “Save me? There’s nothing to save.”

  Tavik let the rifle slide to the carpet as he surged forward and dropped to his knees next to the American’s body. Ignoring his protesting ribs, he held his arms out to Zoya. “You’re still alive. Whatever they’ve done, you are still alive. They’ll be coming for you any minute now. Come with me. I’ll get you someplace safe.”

  Her answer was whispered so softly he barely heard it. “Go away, Tavik.”

  Tavik let his hands drop. He considered his options. She’s on the lift. I could step in and order it to take us down to my car. But Viktor wouldn’t forgive that. He’d kill me. Fuck!

  He looked at the med bots. “Hey, shouldn’t you be moving this guy, getting him to a hospital or something?” If they could get this corpse moving, perhaps Zoya would go with them. The bots ignored him and continued with their work. Why are they bothering? He’s not coming back.

  He turned to look down the corridor, expecting to see Viktor and his gang at any moment. Desperation kicked in as he turned back to Zoya. “I’ve got a nice dacha I’ve been building out near Zagorsk. Beautiful woods, a stream, couple of dogs. You’d love it there. Let me get you out of here and you can rest as long as you like. Come on, Zoya!”

  Zoya gave no sign that she had heard anything he said. She continually caressed the pale cheek of the American.

  Tavik stood up and marched back to pick up his rifle. Fuck her. This is why they say the virtual mates are better. I’m going to be the best lieutenant Viktor’s ever had. I am going to run this place one day!

  “Time’s up,” Viktor said and waved an arm at his men. “Let’s go.”

  Bunny Tyoma breathed a sigh of relief that the mob boss failed to notice that he hadn’t joined in with the mass of armed men. He looked down at his original self, who squeezed his arm harder and mouthed the words, Stay still.

  The massive doors at the end of the room slid open and all hell broke loose. Tyoma barely had time to register the spidery hulk of the war bot before all of its guns opened up. The ten mobsters had no chance. Within moments their bodies were shredded by a hurricane of steel. The noise of the guns firing and the screams of the men hurt Tyoma’s ears. The stench of blood and excrement filled the air.

  Silence filled the room.

  Tyoma examined himself but found no holes. The only blood he saw was the fine mist that seemed to cover everything, and that didn’t belong to him. I can’t believe I lived through that. He looked at Original Tyoma and saw that he was likewise unharmed and gazing in wonder at the horrific scene.

  Bunny Tyoma took it all in. The unmoving war bot. The mangled corpses of the gangsters. The furniture of the room shredded everywhere except where the two Tyoma’s grasped at each other.

  “Well,” said Original Tyoma. “That’s it then.”

  It occurred to Bunny Tyoma that there was no reason he had to remain mute now. His voice came out as a rasp. “I hope so.”

  Original Tyoma looked at him, a wondrous expression on his face. “One last thing to do and then we can go home. Well, I suppose the military might show up and keep us for questioning, but if we get this done quickly enough perhaps we can slip out of here.” He snapped a zip cable into his slot and slid the other end into one arm of the chair. “Be back soon,” he said, and closed his eyes.

  Moscow

  Sunday, June 8, 2138

  11:59 p.m. MSK

  The wizard Xax peeked out from behind the boulder at the cave entrance. The dark hole was at the back of a small rock-strewn ravine in a wall of crumbling limestone. He glanced over at his three hirelings.

  “You’re sure that’s it?” he whispered.

  The slender red-haired woman with all the knives nodded and leaned close to him. “It’s as they said it would be. It must be it.”

  Xax stared back at the cave mouth. “Doesn’t look so bad.”

  There was an odd stench here, something Xax couldn’t place. Little grew other than some patches of brown grass.

  “What the hell is this?” said a man in a burgundy robe who looked suspiciously like a movie star from long ago.

  Xax chuckled. “You look really out of place in this scene.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Lev shouted. “You can’t do this. I control my environment.”

  “It’s just a game, Lev,” Xax said. “Relax and have some fun with it.”

  “How did you get past my firewall? Viktor, are you doing this?” There was a note of panic in Lev’s voice now.

  “We don’t have time for this,” Xax said and caught the eye of the huge baldheaded fellow with the crisscrossing scars on his face and the rusty mace. “What do you say, Surly? Lead the way?”

  Surly scowled and grunted, which was about as articulate as the man got. He slid around the edge of the boulder and stalked toward the lair entrance.

  The red-haired woman, Telia, readied a pair of throwing knives and followed.

  The last of Xax’s companions, a nearly blind old man with a rusty voulge, grinned and said, “Go on, sorcerer. I’ve got your back.”

  “Thanks, Lovash.”

  “Hold on now,” whined Lev. “I’m not doing anything until I get an explanation!”

  Xax gave an exaggerated sigh. “Look, it’s just a game. There’s always an exit from each level. Look around. See any other exits than that one?” He pointed at the cave entrance. “You don’t want to play the game, fine, let’s get through the exit and back to your nice cozy study.”

  “Tell me who you are,” Lev demanded.

  Xax looked at Surly again and gave a small jerk of his head. Surly grinned, grabbed Lev by the neck of his robe, and began hauling him toward the cave.

  “Wait, stop! You can’t do this!”

  Surly stopped at the entrance to the cave and held Lev there. Lovash said, “What do you think is in there, boss?”

  “I have an idea,” Xax said. When Lev turned wide eyes to him, he added, “A nice study, I imagine.”

  Telia slid to one side of the cave mouth, two knives at the ready. “That’s not the impression you gave us before, wizard.”

  Xax approached Lev and clapped a hand to his shoulder. “Be a sport and scout the place out for us, eh?”

  Spittle flew from Lev’s mouth as he shouted, “Fuck you! Fuck the whole lot of you!”

  “Shouldn’t speak that way to men with weapons,” Lovash said and prodded Lev’s belly with the tip of his voulge.

  Surly grunted and heaved Lev through the pitch black entrance. Xax heard Lev tumble and slide and the “oof” he made when he struck something hard.

  Telia looked at Xax. “Do we follow him?”

  Xax shook his head.

  There was sobbing from the darkness below. “What’s happening to me? What’s…‌what’s that noise?”

  Xax smirked at his companions. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He turned and walked away.

  Moscow

  Monday, June 9, 2138

  12:19 a.m. MSK

  Tyoma stared down at himself lying in the arm ch
air and didn’t know what he should be feeling. However uncomfortable it made him to have to stare at himself—the real version of himself—he didn’t dare look away, because the room around them was a much greater horror. So much blood. Everywhere. So much. Stop thinking about it!

  He concentrated harder on himself, his face looking slightly off given that he wasn’t looking at it through a mirror. A small war was going on inside his mind. A tiny part of him wished his original self was dead and gone, because the universe felt disjointed when there were two of him in it. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly why it had to be that way, but it was there regardless. Yet he couldn’t deny that most him was excited at the idea of having something much closer than any twin had ever felt. He had a true companion now. Someone who would understand everything he felt and enjoy every passion and hobby just as much as he did. At least at first. He realized that the two of them would become two different individuals, even if only slightly. They would make some different choices and take some different paths. Their experiences in life would diverge and they would become their own persons again. A sense of relief coursed through Bunny Tyoma’s mind and his headache lessened.

  Original Tyoma’s eyes flickered and opened. A grin spread over his face. “That was fun. I’ll have to tell you about it later. We need to get out of here.” He pulled the cable from his slot and sat up in the chair. “Good God, it’s a mess in here.” He put a hand to his throat as if he might retch. He caught sight of Viktor, lying like a drowned puppy against the wall. He’d seen enough horror vids to know that the bad guys had a tendency not to stay dead. It didn’t look like that would be a problem in this case—the war bot had all but torn Viktor’s body to pieces. Even the silvery mask was shattered.

  “It’s a horror,” Bunny Tyoma agreed.

  “You’re going to have to carry me.” Tyoma indicated his knee.