by T. C. Edge
Of course they didn’t move.
He idly did the same with his finger nails, trying to command them to lengthen. They didn’t. No, they couldn’t. He wasn’t the same, no longer a nano-vamp. Yet in his head, he felt the same. He thought the same, and those thoughts came with a voice - his voice, the only one he’d ever known. The voice of Mikel, the feared nano-vamp, that raspy hiss he’d use when trying to frighten; that soft, seductive intonation he’d use to relax and lure.
“But what do I sound like now?” he asked himself, speaking out loud for the first time. His voice bounced around the small room, reaching his ears. It sounded so strange. Had he really said that? Was this his voice now?
It was deeper than before, clean and crisp. Not raspy or frightening, no. Quite appealing, actually, a pleasant sound. He hated it immediately.
He thought again of his old voice, his real voice. Those alien eyes of his worked back to the mirror. He set a grimace to that handsome visage. Another thing he hated.
“I’ll have to work on it,” he said aloud, to himself. “This voice of mine. I’ll change it to my whims…”
He spoke with an intentional croak, words ending in a hiss. Better. Yes, that was better. It didn’t sound so bad that time. It sounded more like him.
He continued, for a time, to alter his expression, trying to work out how to look as sinister as possible. Before, he just had to adopt his usual look; his resting face, he’d come to discover, was sinister on its own.
But not this new face. This new face was far too agreeable when he didn’t shape it in some way. Warm, inviting, and rather too nice. That could prove useful, certainly, at some point in the future. But right now it wasn’t for him.
With some effort, however, he managed to find an expression that worked - brows lowered, plump lips thinned out and forced into a line, nostrils slightly flared into a snarl.
He nodded to himself. Yes, it would have to do. Far, far too handsome…but OK for now.
He pulled back from the mirror, moving away until his entire figure was visible. He cocked his head as he regarded himself.
He wore a light fabric of grey pants and training sweater, simple garments that did much to display his new frame. He looked strong, athletic, tall and lean. About the same height as he’d been before, but very different in body proportion and composition. Mikel’s nano-vamp form had never been that broad. He’d been slight, narrow, light on his feet. This new form felt heavier, and looked heavier too. Not burly, per se, but certainly physically impressive.
He pulled off his shirt, interested to discover what lay beneath. His pants followed, and his undergarments after that. He stood there, nude, studying himself. It wasn’t admiration, really - more like a scholar contemplating the academic properties of some old book.
He was finely carved, perfectly developed. He suspected that most of the other volunteers and recruits will have been rather pleased with this design. Mikel, however, looked upon it with a learned eye; his desire only to satisfy his intrigue.
He dressed again, getting slightly more used to himself, and began pacing around the room. He spoke as he did, testing out different voices, altering his tone. Though other, rather more exciting tests lay in wait, he focused only on this for now. Better to walk first, then run, he knew. Perhaps this was just the crawling stage…
His legs - his entire body, in fact - felt weird. Tight, like he didn’t quite fit. Given he was now in a larger body than before, he imagined that, if anything, he should feel loose, not tight. Then again, that probably wasn’t how it worked.
He’d been told, of course, that it would take some time to get used to his new body. That made sense. His mind had grown accustomed to his own specific weight, gait, balance, flow, and the limits of what he could physically do. Now, it had been ripped from his old form, and uploaded into this one. It would understandably take time to readjust.
Mikel, however, put great stock in his mental acuity. He’d adapt quickly, he knew. This body was a new vessel, and he’d soon learn just how to run it.
It started here, in this room, moving about, stretching, jumping and turning. The room wasn’t big, and not intended for this sort of thing - there were other larger spaces for that purpose, apparently - but he couldn’t resist having a go. He hurried back and forward, pacing up and down, touching the wall and back again. He stumbled once or twice, but quickly regained his footing. Within minutes, he was moving up and down at great speed, legs pumping, stretching, obeying his commands.
He stopped, having done at least fifty circuits, each quicker than the last. He didn’t pant or feel out of breath. His breathing, in fact, was entirely normal, as if he hadn’t exerted himself at all. He smiled. Hmmmm, a good start.
He did a few more physical tests in order to examine his balance, coordination, and other motor functions. For the other recruits, these would be tested by actual scientists prior to them being signed off. Apparently, they needed to be able to grasp these basic functions before moving onto the next level of testing, where their true abilities could be assessed. Only after that would they be able to go on active duty.
Mikel, of course, wasn’t a recruit. The rules didn’t apply to him, and though Martha had asked him if he’d wished to be assessed, he’d passed up the opportunity. This was something Mikel could do on his own. Something he wanted to do on his own. Figure out this body, make it bend to his will. That was the challenge, and the joy in this. He didn’t need, or want, any guidance or aid.
So far, it was going rather well.
But there was something pressing in his mind, something he needed to test. Something that no other recruit here needed to worry about. Things had moved so quickly that he’d barely had time to think about it until now. He’d studied his new face, body, voice. He’d quickly learned how to move in this shell, running, jumping, performing some minor acrobatics to test balance, coordination, and strength.
But now…now he needed to find out if his urges were truly gone.
He moved to the door, and tapped loudly on the window. He could see Martha out there, in conversation with her bodyguards, who’d brought him here right after his procedure. His mind had been in something of a haze then. That haze had fled. It was time to discover the truth.
Martha looked over, and stepped quickly forwards from the hall. She opened the door up as her bodyguards stepped in behind her.
“Yes…Mikel,” she said, looking at him in a strange way. It must be quite odd for her to call him that. To call this young man that name.
Mikel didn’t answer. Instead, he turned those dark blue eyes of his, like pools of deep water, up towards the Ravens standing to Martha’s flanks. They regarded him differently too. That contempt, that hatred and disgust, was now gone, replaced by an intense curiosity.
Mikel shut his eyes, his nostrils flaring. The three ahead of him seemed to realise what he was doing. No one spoke or interrupted him. For a few long moments, Mikel breathed in deep, drawing in all the scents he could.
Some were powerful, pulled in, analysed by his enhanced senses. Martha’s perfume was particularly pungent. The two Ravens carried their own masculine odours too. From down the corridor, the smell of flowers wafted, roses set upon a corner table. Others were filtered through, his new, highly advanced odorant receptors rivalling - no, bettering - what he’d had before as a nano-vamp. A hundred scents, jostling for his attention. Some powerful, others weak. But all detectable.
Except…
No nanites.
Mikel opened his eyes, smiling. An odd thing happened then - the two Ravens, and Martha Mitchell, smiled in return. They reacted as one would when smiled at by a young, handsome man. That was something Mikel would have to get used to…
But there was a far bigger picture being painted. A glorious, wondrous work of art. Mikel’s nostrils flared and he drew in those scents, but couldn’t smell the nanites sweeping around through the Ravens’ blood. The scent was gone, detectable only by nano-vamps. Something he…wasn�
�t anymore.
“It worked then?” asked Martha, looking at him. At this light in his brand new eyes.
Mikel nodded, a smile hovering on his face, his eyes distant, imagining a world of possibilities.
“I can’t smell them,” he said, that voice of his so damned nice. “The nanites…they’re gone.”
“And…the hunger?”
Mikel’s smile beamed wider, a gorgeous sight for those who looked upon him.
“It’s gone,” he said again. “It’s all gone. The hunger…the desire.” He looked at the Ravens and laughed. “I have no desire to feed on you anymore,” he said, shaking his head. “My suffering is over.”
The Ravens almost laughed too. That might have been the most bizarre thing of all. Ravens - nano-enhanced - sharing a joke with a nano-vamp about feeding on them. Former nano-vamp, at least. Such a thing had never happened before.
“I’m happy for you, Mikel,” said Martha, looking at the handsome young man. “Perhaps you’d wish to change your name now, go by something more…appropriate?”
Mikel considered it. Change my name? Leave Mikel the nano-vamp behind?
He shook his head. No, something had to remain of him. It was his mind still in this strange body. He would keep the name. Use it…only when needed.
“You can continue to call me Mikel,” he said.
“Suit yourself,” said Martha. “It seems as though you’re getting the hang of things quickly enough?”
“Oh yes, nothing to it really,” said Mikel. He could hear his voice. He sounded almost affable.
“So, you’re ready for some more advanced testing? Or…would you prefer to leave?”
“Leave?”
“Yes, leave the facility. You’re free to go whenever you choose. Kurt and Rick will escort you back across the MSA border into the neutral zones. You’d need to be knocked out during the ride, of course, so you don’t know where we are. I apologise for that, but it’s important that this location remains a secret.”
“Oh, I understand. And your secret is safe with me. But…I think I’d prefer to stay, for a short time at least. Get used to my new body.”
“Your choice, Mikel.”
“Thank you. I…”
Damnit this conversation was far too pleasant. He needed to growl more, hiss more. Why wasn’t he doing that sinister look he’d practiced? And why were those damn Ravens still smiling at him!
He turned his eyes down briefly, and tried to affect a more dangerous look. It didn’t seem to have any effect but to raise a few bemused eyebrows. He’d have to practice more, get better at acting the part. He’d never had to act before. It all just came so naturally.
“So, I assume my stored consciousness has been erased?” he said, putting on that growl. The Ravens glanced at each other, smiling. Mikel’s fists clenched by his sides in reply.
Time, Mikel, and patience. You’ll learn quickly, don’t worry…
“It will be taken care of, Mikel,” said Martha.
“Soon, I hope. I won’t leave this facility if any part of me remains. When I go, I’ll be taking all of me with me.”
Martha raised her hands, nodding.
“Of course, of course. All will be handled in due course. Now, about that testing? There’s a training hall across the level, so much bigger than that stuffy little room. You’ll be able to express yourself better in there, test your limits a little bit. Shall we?”
Martha seemed rather intrigued herself by the idea. Or, maybe she was just keen for Mikel to get what he needed from this place so she could get rid of him. The latter sounded more likely.
He nodded, and they began moving across the hall and down a corridor. Mikel took the space in as he went, making note of anything interesting. That was difficult here. The entire place was dull as a convent with its uninspiring shades of grey and uniform structure. There weren’t any windows, either, that he’d noticed. Odd, that. But then again, probably not. If this place was such a secret, no doubt it was built into the mountainside or underground in order to remain out of sight and more tricky to track via satellite imagery.
Mikel had to give it to these people, though. It was an impressive operation, it had to be said. To have done all of this under the noses of LA and New York; well, that was worthy of high praise indeed. The entire process since he’d arrived had also been extremely efficient, everything so well run. If Mikel was ever to serve a faction here on this godforsaken continent, it would probably be the MSA. He had a soft spot for the underdog, and was excited by the prospect of what was to come.
Vengeance, he knew, was in the air around here. It was so powerful he could almost smell it. A collective response to years of abuse; the day when a cowering child finally stands up and becomes a man. The MSA had found their father’s gun, and they were prepared to use it. Chaos, Mikel imagined, was going to follow soon.
And oh, he loved chaos.
Eventually, after navigating the dull tunnels of this place, they came upon a foyer, with a number of linking doors. There were people in the foyer, many dressed in the same grey tracksuits as Mikel. Other synthetics, he quickly realised.
They were hard to miss, looking almost identical as they did. They sat in seats, speaking with men and women with tablets who took notes, tested reflexes, asked questions. What a peculiar sight it was. Everything about this day had been peculiar.
“The training hall is just through those double doors, Mikel,” said Martha, pointing to the entrance ahead. “All of this is just procedure for our soldiers, to make sure they’re transitioning properly. As I told you earlier. It’s obvious enough, however, that you don’t need any special attention.”
“No,” said Mikel, still quite taken by the sight of so many synthetics, all looking so similar to him. He’d been unique once. He’d have to make sure he became unique again.
“Right. Well, go through the doors, and have a little play. I’ll be watching through the glass.” She gestured to another door, that apparently gave access to some viewing areas, presumably designed for further assessment.
Mikel nodded and stepped forward, heading for the hall. Synthetics eyed him as he passed, looking similarly quizzical as he must. Did they know what he was, what he truly was in his head? Oh, they could put him in this body, but that wasn’t going to change him.
No, death was still his greatest ally, his soulmate on this earth.
They shared a bond, unbreakable, unending.
And this body, this powerful new body, was only going to strengthen that bond.
Mikel smiled at the thought, and stepped through the doors.
93
“He’s picked it up faster than anyone, Mrs Mitchell,” murmured a small bald man with a toad-like demeanour. “Highly impressive. Few take to it so well.”
Martha looked through the thick glass wall which ran along the entire left flank of the training hall. She was stood in a corridor of sorts, many technicians, assessors, scientists in attendance. And Kurt and Rick of course, standing stoically behind her.
Through the glass, which could only be seen through from this side - to those on the other side, it appeared as a mirror - half a dozen synthetics were currently in training. The hall, while large, could only really accommodate that many at a single time. Given the miraculous things they could do, they needed space in which to work.
There was another issue, of course, which limited the hall’s capacity - they all looked alike. Occasionally, a couple of them would test their speed, rushing around the hall in a frenzy and blur of motion, at such a pace as to confuse Martha, or anyone else, who might be watching on. By the time they’d slowed to normal, human pace once more, it had become quite hard to know just which was which.
Martha’s interest, however, was in Mikel specifically, whom the toad-faced assessor was currently gushing over. Those bulging eyes of his, rather too large for his oddly-shaped skull, made him look perpetually amazed.
By the manner in which Mikel had performed, that was fair enough.
As soon as he’d entered the hall, the now former nano-vamp had proven himself frighteningly adept in this new body of his. The synthetic clones were, technically, identical, but somehow their ability to fulfil their true potential depended on the particular mind, the consciousness, that drove them. Mikel’s was, apparently, keener, sharper, and more swift to pick things up than the others. Not by much, in certain cases, but certainly the best they’d witnessed to this point.
“Where did you find this marvel?” queried the squat man, gazing out as the young, handsome, version of Mikel sped towards a wall at great speed, kicked himself a dozen feet up it, reached the handholds positioned up there, and climbed to the summit of the room without breaking a sweat. He then clung on, thirty feet up in the air, before leaping backwards, performing a somersault, and landing back down at the bottom of the hall in a perfect dismount. “Staggering,” whispered the man.
Martha looked at him. What was his name again? Randolph or something. It didn’t much matter.
“You don’t know?” Martha asked, looking down at the assessor. Yes, he really was that short.
Randolph shrugged.
“Should I?”
Martha chuckled, shaking her head.
“You’re going to be very disappointed,” she said. “This is Mikel, the now former nano-vamp who retrieved the data for us. He is, unfortunately, not going to stay long.”
Unfortunately. Hell, she really did play the role well. Really made it sound like she was into all of this.
“Oh, drat,” exclaimed Randolph. “What a terrible pity. He’d be a tremendous asset out there. Only a half dozen or so have shown the requisite control as yet to be signed off for missions.”
“Is that…bad?” asked Martha. “It’s hardly been any time at all, Randolph…” She inspected his reaction to make sure she’d gotten his name right. No reaction. Good. “Have some patience, man.”
“Well, President Chase is quite adamant that we find at least a dozen combat-ready synthetics as quickly as possible. Preferably more, she says. Do you not…know her plans?”