Lair

by Carl Stubblefield

  Gus reminisced as he prepared the fish, and carried them up to the lawn area of the manor. There were a few grills set up there along the edge of the patio, and using the same method he had at his old camp, started a fire and cooked his catch. Pulling out his metal plate, he loaded up the fish. It was starting to get dark as dinner was ready.

  Remembering the Adirondak chairs his grandpa had by the dock near his cabin where they would fish, he took a similar chair from the patio and dragged it down the beach, keeping it above the high-tide waterline. There he exhaled deeply, began eating the fish, and watched the sunset, digging his feet into the soft sand.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Connected

  Day 4 10:56 PM

  10:13:40 remaining

  Gus awoke with a chill. He hadn’t even realized that he had dozed off, but the soothing crash of the waves in the distance and the relaxing setting combined to put him at ease. Lately he felt like he had been tired more than usual. He started the day great, but even though his stamina bar was bigger, he found he could settle in for a nap around the early afternoon. Looking up at the countdown, he worried if his Nth were already starting to shut down a bit. Leaning forward in the chair, he rubbed his eyes, gathering his energy to get up.

  Now that the sun had gone down, the air had enough bite to it to raise goosebumps on his arms. He grabbed his flip-flops and headed back up to the manor, hoping to get a little windbreak and rest for the night. As he looked for a place to settle in, a pylon slowly rose and a message appeared on his display.

  Initialization complete. Life-support systems online and power diverted to basic systems. Do you wish to sync now? (Y/N)

  Gus wondered what kind of place the manor was if it needed life support. “Nick?” Gus asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

  “Syncing with the manor will allow me to connect directly with the manor’s systems. Once done, you can access information about the structure and I can direct you in aspects of its capabilities. However, I will be offline for a time until the procedure is complete.”

  “But can I enter? It’d be nice to be indoors for once.”

  “Yes, but avoid doing anything of major consequence, would you?”

  “Fine.” Gus mentally pushed ‘yes’ to start the sync process.

  “CONNnnnnneeeecccctttteeed…” Nick said, his voice stretching and slowing down. Gus’ field of vision began to darken around the edges and he was hit with an overwhelming fatigue. Wondering if he had made a huge mistake, the darkness spread to cover everything and a couple seconds after his vision blacked out, Gus did too.

  Gus awoke to a sharp pain. Sitting up on the grass, he saw a small robot under his right hand. Its back was a green and black display that was slowly scanning up and down. There was a metal clasp holding his hand still, effectively handcuffing him to the little robot. The contraption had pricked his index finger and was taking a blood sample. Gus sat there confused while the robot released the clasp holding his hand and sped toward the community robot chute on the side of the building. A new message popped into his display.

  DNA and handprint scanned. Error. Discrepancy in sample from archive. Please try Admin connect again in 24 hours to access Alpha Protocols. Basic manor functions available.

  “What are Alpha Protocols?” Gus grumbled to himself. At least he could finally go inside. Making his way to the entry, he attempted the doors again. A thin black bar above the wide doorway emanated a wedge-shaped beam that scanned up and down and the door slid open with a loud pop. Gus’ clothes fluttered as air rushed past him into the building. Had there been a vacuum inside? He scratched his head in bewilderment.

  Entering cautiously, Gus looked down immediately. His unshod feet were on the plushest carpet he had ever walked on in his life! Part of the conditioning his mother had instilled in him as a child kicked in, and he worried about staining this wonder with his jungle boy feet, but the cream-colored material stayed as pristine as ever. His feet did not sink deep into the carpet, but the softness! It was like walking on Angora fur or baby kittens. Simple minds, simple pleasures.

  Atop a plinth nearby, a rectangle of iridescent metal vibrated and began to shift and move in different iterations, folding and reorienting. “Transformers, nice,” Gus remarked as the shape contorted into an antiquated-looking robot torso.

  “Welcome to Methiochos manor. You are acting for Methiochos until he arrives, I presume?” Gus nodded dumbly. “Well then, may I be the first to welcome you to the base. As you have finally arrived, standby mode has been deactivated and power from perimeter defenses has been rerouted for main systems to come online. Many systems are still offline and will need to be activated and configured and optimized to your personal specifications. Unfortunately, sensors show a disruption to the normal power grid and available energy, which will need to be rectified to fully bring the manor online.

  “More information is available at the control center. You may refer to me as Stuart if you need to contact me remotely. If you wish, I can direct you to the control center now.”

  Gus nodded again, mouth agape as he took in the grandeur of the building.

  “Splendid, let us be off!” A small blue ball appeared in the cupped hand of the steward. Lights winked on as Gus followed the ball, which bobbed in the air like a will o’ the wisp. The atrium widened out but the limited light offered by the steward and the local illumination did not reveal what was contained in the large room. The heavy smell of new paint mingled with new carpets hung in the air.

  Soon they arrived at an elevator and the door opened with a *skiss* noise reminiscent of Star Trek. Gus mentally approved the designers’ attention to detail. Though this structure was not designed for him, it really felt like it was! Once in the elevator, the glass-walled car slid upward and broke out of the semi-darkness to a panoramic view of the island. Gus sucked in a breath, seeing the beautiful swath of beach but from much higher. The car slowed to a stop and before it rose into another circular room, the beach was at least a thousand feet below. Gus removed his hands from the glass, slowly turning to see where Stuart had taken him.

  He had been in various vehicles and headquarters of supers in his henchmen days, but this was impressive in different ways. He could tell that the decor was from what he had seen in movies from the late Fifties or Sixties, but they housed screens and panels that he doubted existed in that time frame. The ball floated toward a control area and rested in a receptacle above a main console, which flickered to life. He saw the screens wink on and run through some boot sequence as it checked systems and loaded files. Gus meandered to the window and looked out. They appeared to be similar to the oval windows Gus had seen before, but that area must be lower and on the other side of the structure.

  “Sir, if you are ready, we can continue…” the steward invited. His voice seemed to be British to Gus’ mind, and he wondered how Nick and this A.I. would get along. Also, he wondered how such a small little thing could speak with enough volume to hear, until he realized that it was communicating through the nanite connection in his ears.

  “Do you understand verbal commands?” Gus inquired aloud.

  “Yes, the system has a sample of your voiceprint and will respond to commands to a limited extent. I see you have not unlocked Administrative access at this time. Perhaps later. Until then I will be happy to assist you with whatever I can.”

  The blue orb floated again and went around a couple consoles to hover at a panel with multiple sockets and slots. “When you and Methiochos are ready, have him use this panel to scan his handprint. A DNA sample will be taken at that time as well. This being done, he can unlock Admin access and designate your proper level of clearance. Please familiarize yourself with the controls.”

  Gus looked at the array of panels and scanners. Along one wall, he could see monitors displaying views of the island springing to life. Another bank showed various scans and the lifeforms entering and exiting a certain area. Yet another was labeled facility management. Gus l
ooked at the different menus on this screen and began to see that the manor was much bigger than he had initially thought. There were all types of specialized structures in the building, from labs, to manufacturing, and even training facilities. All of them were grayed out except for some basic systems. When Nick came back online, he would have to investigate further.

  Wanting to experiment more with the control schemes, but not wanting to commit to anything without Nick’s advice, he resisted the urge to explore and change settings. His mind was getting foggy from the late hour and his eyes began to feel dry and itchy. Gus still felt tired even though he had been unconscious much more than normal lately. He began to worry about how he would be able to function if this weariness became worse. Maybe his Nth were offline right now as well? Or had limited function without Nick’s organization? Or if he had a concussion from when the creature had thrown him. Weren’t you supposed to avoid sleeping in cases like that? Before he could wind himself up with worry, he found himself asking Stuart something, almost unbidden.

  “I think I’m done here. Could you show me somewhere I can sleep?”

  “Certainly. I will show you to one of the executive suites.” The blue ball lifted out of its resting spot and floated toward the elevator.

  At the same time they were headed to the master suite, forces were mobilizing elsewhere on the island.

  ###!###

  The time had come. The being that the Dark Nth called The One began sending out mental commands to his minions. There were many different types, and it took some doing to keep them fed and maintained. Fortunately, he had retained some abilities from the life before which allowed him to take care of his brood. Unfortunately, as he became more aware, he recalled that he could create no new minions to bolster his ranks—if any were lost, they were gone, and if there was anything that angered The One, it was the loss of power in any form. So much had been lost. But The One had fought, and he had created a bulwark to limit the control the Dark Nth could place on him. Finally, he could reclaim what was his.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Building, a Mystery

  Day 4 11:05 PM

  10:13:31 remaining

  Dark memories faded in and out of the life before. This was not how things should be. The transport. The attack. The crash. Barred and corralled by his own creation.

  Many things had been lost; the anger and focus had been refined and made it easier to resist the Dark Nth’s probing attempts to ‘correct’ him. He had never needed anyone to guide him in the past. He did not need it now. Revenge would be had.

  This was not chance; he had been sabotaged. So much time had passed. But he would find all the corrupted branches, teeming with rot. They would be burned. Then the trunk. Then the roots, if any remained. The Dark whispered to him.

  At first, he refused to believe, but there was no other way. Betrayal. Covetousness and avarice. Jealousy. So petty. But The One could be petty too. They would see what they had wrought. How did the Dark know so much? Ebb and flow. Preparations had been made. Then improved. Could the Dark be trusted? But it knew. It gave but did not ask. That was different. Now was the time to move. The One sent the Slow out first. They would clear the path. They were the least valuable and hardest to control. He could feel the tendrils of connectedness finally unwinding after years of being huddled in a tight knotted mass. If these perished, it would be less he would have to feed. Contempt. They depended on him from the life before, they depended on him now. Parasites. But necessary. Or not. Time would tell. The One had waited so long. He would wait no more.

  ###!###

  Gus awoke and sat up. Sleeping in a bed made a world of difference. The stiffness and achiness he had experienced the last couple days were gone. A little disoriented, he groggily asked, “Nick, ya there, buddy?”

  “Deepest apologies, Gus, that was… intense. From the initial designs of this complex, I underestimated the complicated scope of this facility.”

  “What did you find out?” Gus asked and headed to the shower. Gus started the water, letting the warmth spread over him, exhaling as it not only rinsed off his accumulated funk, but drained away the tension he had been carrying around from struggling to survive. He started attacking the grime caked on his skin, beginning to feel human again as Nick explained.

  “This complex spans fifty-three floors, thirty-three of which are above the surface, and the remainder extend into the core of the island.”

  “Dang, that’s huge!” Gus looked up from focusing on scrubbing his feet, wide eyed. The bottoms were so black it looked like he had walked on charcoal. He attacked them again with a brush as Nick went on.

  “It runs primarily on geothermal energy, but this is not as active as it should be, as far as I can determine. Most sections of the facility are offline as a result, but there are directories that show the titles of facilities that can be accessed. The system will not allow some of these to be unlocked until your stats and skills increase.”

  “What is this,” Gus threw his arms up, frowning, “it’s not just a power issue, but most of the facility is locked?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. Basic functions are enabled though, so you should not have to worry about shelter anymore.”

  “Well, at least there’s that.” Gus slumped his shoulders, admitting to himself that even simple shelter was a huge improvement in his life. Hard to complain when he was in a hot shower on an island resort just for him. Am I always so pessimistic? Gotta work on that, no one likes a Debbie Downer.

  “So what can you tell me about the guy who built this place?”

  “This facility was commissioned to be built by a super named Anders Bergstedt, AKA Methiochos. His powers appear to be related to healing, both himself and others. He also has a matter manipulation sub-skill which assists in reforming lost limbs or replacing biological material—"

  “Aren’t healers fairly rare among supers?”

  “Yes, they often progress slower in leveling than more offensive based supers, so few have the patience to pursue this evolution of skills, although those who do become much more powerful at higher levels, and have an increased lifespan.”

  “Sorry for interrupting, go on,” Gus turned his attention to the gunk buried under his fingernails.

  “The facility was completed forty-four point three years ago, but was never claimed. Service robots have been maintaining the grounds ever since. Manor records indicate that Methiochos accessed the facility controls remotely from the island, then disappeared shortly thereafter, including activating the bio-stasis field and security protocols. There is no mention in the quantum server of the manor at all. The data I have comes from internal records of the manor itself. No nemeses are listed in his file.

  “It would seem that something happened to Methiochos on arrival to the island—”

  “If he was already here, on the island, why didn’t he claim and activate this structure which was to be his new base? I don’t buy it that a healer would be killed so easily. Since it sounds like nothing can get past the bio-stasis field, and you said he turned it on from inside, then where is he?” Gus stopped cleaning and looked up, trying to puzzle out what had happened.

  “He did activate a few systems personally, but they were odd choices for his first acts on the island. Possession of first generation Nth seems to be a requirement for proving leadership and claiming the facility. Even though all supers are Nth-integrated, you have most likely been classified as an officer, as first generation Nth are not typical of the rank and file.”

  “You keep saying first generation, what does that even mean?”

  “The first Nth that seed a planet’s hosts are referred to as the first generation. They have the most ability to adapt and offer a variety of abilities as they have not specialized to a specific host biology. Future generations are derivatives of these Nth. This means that Methiochos is one of the first supers to get powers on Earth.”

  Gus’ throat closed again, making it difficult to pull in the steamy air as
he connected the dots of the only things he knew. Zombies. A missing super boss. A healing-super no less. Was he killed shortly after arriving on the island? And if he had been, what would Gus have to deal with? Couldn’t life be easy for a change? He rubbed his temples and pinched his eyes shut. He had to work to keep from imagining strength-based zombies. What could a luck-based zombie do? His stomach soured and he hurried to change the subject, his go-to move when uncomfortable. Just avoid it.

  “Are there any supers that don’t have any Nth?” Gus found a twig in his hair he hadn’t noticed as he lathered up. A flipping twig!

  “Not yet. Human evolution would have eventually developed these abilities, but it would have taken millennia. Nth accelerate these natural tendencies and make the transformation possible in a short time by modifying their hosts to tolerate and alter the forces and reactions that generate their abilities. Whether they know it or not.”

  Gus once again had a hunger pang, stronger than usual, distracting him from the conversation.

  “What does the database show in terms of clothing and food?” His empty stomach alternated between nausea and hunger.

  “There is a mess hall, but there are no current food stores, although there are orchards on the property, as you have seen. The majority of food stores were most likely to be shipped in later, after the bio-stasis field was lowered. The only prepared food available is within food dispensers. These can be accessed for only 50 FP, and come stocked with energy bars, but more complicated foods require the mess hall to be enabled. Other areas such as various labs and the Foundry are similarly completed, yet unstocked and non-functional. Uniforms are available, as they were necessary for the workers. Garment manufacture is totally automated and upgradeable. There are the general barracks, but I see that you have already found an executive suite.”