Anya stood smiling as she mom continued to twist and turn to random topics. “I know, Mom. This isn’t high school, you know? You ready to get going?”
“Let’s hit the road. Wait, I know you already know this, but your father and I love you very much, and we want you to have this,” she said, handing Anya a jewel-encrusted locket.
“But, isn’t this yours?”
“It is, but now I’m giving it to you. This was your grandma’s treasured locket. Look inside.”
Anya opened it, revealing a family picture. She hugged her mom tightly and placed it around her neck. “Thank you so much. I love it.”
“Well, I figured since you’re gonna be on your own now that you would like it. Maybe you could pass it down to your children one day. Be careful not to get cut with the sharp edge. Your grandma sharpened it so she’d feel safe when she was alone; it’s a big world out there, honey.”
Anya jerked the backpack onto her shoulder and followed her mom outside. Almost forgetting to pet her Shih Tzu, Jetta, she ran back and roughed up her fur.
“Don’t worry, floofy, I’ll be back soon.”
The dog wagged her tail and followed her to the door.
With her final goodbye, she walked outside and locked the front door behind her.
As she turned around to meet her mom at the car, the world suddenly changed. The blue sky and green grass remained, but all around her was a bustling station with busy people and robotic helpers scurrying everywhere. Anya felt her nose tickle as she was jostled awake by a stranger. In a daze, she glanced around and saw a group of rushing kids laughing by the fountain. They splashed each other and giggled.
Anya looked around for the disturbance and screamed as a man dressed in a surgical mask and white gloves was suddenly behind her; the mask was down by his neck and stethoscope.
“Very nice to see you’re awake. My name is Dr. Charles Stevson. I hope you enjoy your time exploring this station and I just wanted to let you know that a particular doctor you know is looking for you towards that restaurant should you wish to speak with her. Well, have a nice day.”
“Tha-thank you. You too.”
The man dressed in white turned the corner and molded with the public, becoming lost from sight. Anya rose from the seat near the fountain. I don’t remember falling asleep here. She looked around and found that it looked nothing like the world she once knew. Understandably, it was a simulated environment, and robotic and augmented technologies were only beginning to see usage on her Earth. No one paid attention to her and seemed to be focused solely on where they were going. She crossed over a cobblestone walkway and approached a cascading fountain in the center of the area. A sudden, familiar voice came from the distance. Listening, she could barely make out the conversation.
“Sir, we shouldn’t be rising up the output so much. What if it’s too much?”
“Silence, Bertram!” the man yelled out in a fury. “Just a little more and the procedure will be complete.”
Ignoring the voices, she took in the sights. The Sun sphere reminded her of downtown Indianapolis back home. Stationed in the center of the monolith, it had towering skyscrapers, bustling restaurants, unique specialty stores, and excitement all around. She felt safe knowing that the military’s primary presence was walking distance away Flying cars flew by and twirled in the air; roaring fire blasted out of the two as it accelerated higher. To her amazement, a massive robot drove next to a large office complex, planting its long arms on top and spraying water over the roof. Debris and dirt flew off and was attracted to a thick netting.
In front of her, two great machines spun. They looked like they produced energy in large quantities, but she was uncertain of their function. A system of wires and pipes rushed out electricity and liquid to each one; a flashing yellow light was in the center of the connecting platform. Next to one of them was a tall, thin woman dressed in a white lab coat with a blue pattern on her back. Anya walked over and recognized her instantly.
With a smile. “Anya, there you are. Come, over here.”
“Dr. Geier? Hi, it’s so good to see you again.”
“It’s always a pleasure. Hey, while you’re here, I would like to show you something. It’s down by the data center in the administration building past the fountain; only certain individuals can access the Mercury sphere.”
“Uh, yeah, certainly. I was just trying to find my friends.”
The woman hesitated but kept her composure. “Please come with me.”
Anya stared at the doctor, waiting for her to break eye contact. There was something robotic about the way her facial features didn’t seem to move. A voice inside her head told her to run, and that something wasn’t right, but she started to walk alongside the friendly doctor.
No one in the area gave them any attention. All the Septunians went about their business with glassed over their eyes and busy faces. Some were pointing and typing in midair, using their optical computerized phones and systems to guide them. After crossing the busy intersection, they turned left and continued down a well-worn sidewalk.
“Let’s use the right side, so we don’t have to walk,” said Janice Geier as her heels clanged on the metallic surface. Anya followed anxiously, not yet used to the automatic sidewalks.
“What do you want to show me in the Mercury sphere?”
“Something we’ve just been told of. It’s regarding your friends. The entrance is coming up quickly. Make sure to step off the walkway by the scanner.”
Anya wiped the sweat from her forehead and stared up at the artificial sun. It mimicked it so well that she almost forgot she wasn’t on Earth. She stepped off at the scanner, and it pulsated twice. A green light blinked signaling her permission to enter. There were armed guards stationed at every door; some patrolled around them, and they too didn’t seem interested in their presence.
A tall, black man approached them and saluted the doctor.
“Just passing through, Septune Commander Gilbert. I’ll report to you as soon as we have our results.”
“Affirmative.”
The man left, and Anya listened to his footsteps through the wide-open building. Raising her eyebrows, she turned around watched him leave behind another door. What was all that about?
The doctor signaled for her to follow and opened up a sealed off room down a narrow hallway. She flipped on the lights, and the room came to life with a persistent hum of fans and electronics. Massive terminals and holographic displays flipped on and extended out to meet them. A voice came through a speaker on the screen.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND RANK.
“Dr. Janice Geier, Executive Medical Supervisor.”
GOOD AFTERNOON, JANICE. ACCESS TO ALL SYSTEMS GRANTED.
Anya watched as she typed on the holo-display keyboard and soon saw a profile come up with her picture and attributes. She studied in and was shocked that her whole life was on the screen. Even her parent’s and other relatives had their names recorded on the screen. The profile changed and four others appeared that made her tremble; each one having the word “deceased” in big, bold letters.
“I’m sorry to say this, Anya, but we have to tell you this. I was told this morning by Commander Gilbert that all of your friends have been killed. Also, this world isn’t real, and we’ve been lying to you from the start.”
“Ex-excuse me? What did you just say?”
“Your time on this planet was a well-crafted simulation, and your friends were killed by the native inhabitants this morning. We did all we…”
Anya was speechless and just stared at the doctor, not hearing a word she was saying. She started to back away from the computer and wanted to bolt out of the door. Grabbing hold of her neck, she gasped when the jeweled locket wasn’t there.
“Anya, if you’ll just come with me to the medical bay, Dr. Charles Stevson can take a look at your health.”
She spun around and saw the man with the white coat and surgical mask, this time around his mouth. Blood covered
his dirty scrubs, and sharp medical tools were in each of his hand.
“Anya, my dear, just come with us and we’ll keep you safe. Don’t be afraid,” he said with a twisted laugh, walking closer to her with each step. The scalpel in his left hand flipped and twirled with glowing plasma on the edge.
The two doctors tried to grab ahold of her but missed as she ran out of the data center. An alarm sounded, and the door in front of her collapsed with a slam, blocking off all escape. Her breath was heavy against the stale recycled air. Dr. Geier produced a small plasma gun from her pocket and held it at the ready. Her kind demeanor was now replaced with the same maniacal smile as the psychotic surgeon. They had her backed into a corner like a frightened puppy clinging to its life.
“Please, stop this. This can’t be real; they aren’t all dead. Dr. Geier, you helped us before. Why are you doing this?”
“We were never your friends. You were only tools for us to conquer this world. Now do us a favor and give up. There’s no escaping this.”
They grabbed and pulled on her clothes, ripping the sleeves of her purple uniform. In a matter of seconds, she was subdued and struggled to move. With a swift thrust, she smashed her elbow into Janice’s face, causing her to drop the gun and fall over. The surgeon shuffled to gain control, but Anya got the upper hand. Her teeth gnawed onto his hand as he tried to push her face into the ground.
“Whore, you’ll regret that,” he said as he kicked her hard in the stomach.
Anya cried out as the steel-toed boot rocked her ribs and chest. He kept kicking over the over until she reached out and twisted his foot underneath him. With a crash, he tumbled onto the floor. She struggled to get up and found blood pouring out of her mouth. He was suddenly on her again with the scalpel poised to strike. Without thinking, she grabbed ahold of her chest and found the locket resting where it hadn’t been before. She broke the chain and stabbed the sharp end into the surgeon’s left eye. Writhing in pain, he fell backward. The room suddenly vanished all at once, and her sight was replaced with a terminal screen.
SYSTEM_BOOTUP_INITIATED…SIMULATION…PROGRAM TERMINATED…DISRUPTION…ERROR…607…RESTARTING: ROSE_CYBORG_BETA_1.010.14
Her senses went completely inert while the false reality broke down and the terminal populated with data and lines of code. With a snap, her vision returned and the room was empty. A computerized announcement went through the facility.
WARNING. UNAUTHORIZED EXIT OF PATIENT ROOM 2. SCANNING FOR POTENTIAL THREATS. WARNING. ALL MEDICAL PERSONNEL PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
She tried to move, but was strapped vertically on an operating table; her arms were free but bloodied and burnt. Flashbacks plagued her of what happened, and her memory was foggy. She remembered passing out from the chemical assault from Sergeant Nocturne. When she came to, William had her by the neck over the snowy mountain peak. On her arms were cuts, dried blood, and deep gashes. With blood covering her hands, she checked her chest and abdomen: metallic parts, bulks of long wires, and a gel-like residue were all over her chest. Looking down, she saw the gel concentrated over a gaping hole on top of her heart; the substance pumped to the rhythm and was clearly visible. The alarm blaring all around her stopped, and the lights in the room went black; standard backup reserves came on and the machinery hooked up to her body continued to run. Anya started to panic, and the holographic console began beeping rapidly. A cloudy red liquid traveled down a transparent IV and entered her system, temporarily soothing and preventing her from fainting from the shock.
“Brenda. Brenda, are you here? Oh, God, this is bad. Azek’zander?” she said with defeat.
She tried once again to break free of her restraints but found she had no strength. She touched the wires connected to her chest and started to cry. I’m gonna die here. I’m gonna die. Chills ran up and down her body as the cold air brushed up against her like the cold hand of death. She felt completely helpless. A shadowy figure entered the room, carrying a lifeless body. The man threw it against the wall, approached the console, and started typing on the computer. The stench of alcohol and blood permeated off of his aging body. He got close to her, and she could see a devilish grin below his mustache.
“Hello, Anya. I hope you enjoyed the simulation. I’m going to turn off your pain reliever so you can feel the torment I felt when you tried to gauge my eye out. I want to hear you scream. But remember, no one can hear you scream, not even way out there amongst the dark matter.”
“Why are you doing this? Who are you?”
“So curious aren’t you, dear? My name is Dr. Charles Stevson, and I saved your life. When we found you at the base of the mountain, you were already dead. Broken bones, ruptured lungs, and deep gashes; Dazshra did a number on you and your friends. We saved all of your lives, and it was my choice on how to repair you. Although, technically you were never alright to begin with.”
“That spirit did this to me? What do you mean?”
“The cancer deep down in your cells was never truly gone. Computers can tell such convenient lies, can’t they? I made sure they did. Enough talk. Your procedure is only half done. Your new body will be a glorious work of art, and you will make a fantastic weapon against the Teracians. Now hold still.”
Before the razor-sharp plasma scalpel could cut into her flesh, a loud crash came from the other room. Stevson scowled and left to investigate, running off down the hall. Anya pulled at the restraints and struggled, but she couldn’t break them. Panic ensued, leaving her with nothing to hope for.
A distant voice screamed. “How dare you try to break your equipment. Give me that knife. Give me that…damn bitch.”
Brenda!
Tools rattled off of a table, and the doctor yelled out in pain. She waited, hearing nothing but silence. The body next to her rose and Azek’zander limped over to her. She wiggled with nervous energy, praying that he would find a way to release her before the doctor returned. He put his hand over his mouth, and she tried to calm down. Azek found a discarded plasma pistol and sunk into the shadows next to the door.
Returning to the room, Stevson said. “You try to help someone, and they don’t appreciate you. Stab my leg with a knife. I’ll make her pay for that.”
He entered the room and took a deep, harsh breath. “Now then, where were we, Anya? What! Where did he go?”
The Teracian reappeared beside him, and shots rang off one after another, dropping Stevson’s body to the ground. The lights suddenly returned, revealing the cyan Teracian. His right arm was severely injured with cuts and deep slices running with warm, blue blood.
With short breaths, “Everything’s gonna be alright. He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
Azek’zander dropped the gun, limping over to her. The plate covering his mouth had been torn, and the pale white lips on his face were caked with blue blood.
“Azek, what’s going on? Where’s Brenda and Sergeant Nocturne?”
“They’re both here in the rooms downstairs. Brenda is recovering the best she can, and the Septunian is in a coma. Dazshra regained control and destroyed the facility back at the Purtarian Mountains. This is the Slaughman Research and Medical Center, located northeast of that containment pod.”
“Can you help me get down before I lose my mind?”
She saw the injured Teracian look her over and shake his head, “You being hooked up to those machines is the only thing keeping you alive and you are in no condition to move.”
In a frantic, stuttering tone, “How bad is it, Azek?”
Azek’zander searched around the room and found the console next to her. He quickly read over the procedures completed and took a deep breath, “Let me put it this way, and I apologize if this is a lot to take in, but I don’t think you’re entirely human anymore. Your eyes are synthetic, there’s a hole in your chest with aerogel, one of your arms and legs were replaced, and you were scheduled to have the A.I system fully integrated into your brain. They fixed up your broken bones, and replaced a few of your organs with artificial o
nes.”
“No…no, no you’re wrong. I-I’m not human anymore? No, not possible.”
“Anya, you need to calm down. Your blood pressure is going up drastically. If you don’t calm down, I’m going to have to sedate you.”
“Where’s Brenda? Find me, Brenda, now. Azek, do something right now!”
The young Teracian closed his eyes for a moment and started typing away on the holographic console. A permission screen came up, and he yelled at the screen. “C’mon, damnit. Of course, you need a password.” With a rip, the side of the computer’s latch flew off, and he got to work repositioning the wires. The computer screen changed to blue, gaining him full access.
“I can send more medicine your way, but you have to calm down. I have something that might just work,” said Azek’zander as he watched the IV fill with a red liquid. Anya’s eyelids sunk and her heart rate and blood pressure decreased.
“Is she gonna be okay, Azek? Brother ruffed her up pretty bad,” said a young voice from the Teracian’s mind.
“I told you earlier, that was not the brother you remember. William is locked away in that fiend's mind, but he may yet break Dazshra’s binds.
Anya dazed in and out of consciousness until the medicine was fully integrated into her system. She opened her eyes with a smile, “Cody, it’s good to hear your voice again. How are you doing, little man?”
“I’m doing fine right now. Anya, can we get William and the rest and go back home? I don’t like this world and just wanna go home.”
“Once this is all over, we can all find a way to go back home; don’t worry, buddy. Thank you, Azek. Thanks for not letting me die in here. That man, that surgeon you killed, was a horrible human being. They had me in a simulation that felt real, and I almost didn’t make it out.”
“The horrors of these people will be a burden on all other species in the universe if they’re left to leave this planet. I am ashamed that I ever trusted them. I’m lucky that monster didn’t get his hands on this,” he thought as he pulled out a small bright yellow crystal shimmering in the cold, barely lit room.
The Gauntlet of Possession (The Teracian Chronicles Book 1) Page 20