Orphaned Warrior (Dragon Spawn Chronicles Book 5), page 11
His mind spun with questions as the scanning machine hummed and clicked through the calibration process. Vance had allowed them out of their prison so long as they obeyed his rules. But with no guards, how would he know if they violated them? Had he literally seen Jori access his console, or did he sense it and guess? And if he saw, how?
Vance had said there were no cameras, and he’d hinted at an ability. It must be a lie or some omission of the truth, though. Regardless, Vance was monitoring him. Until Jori worked out the specifics, his ability to plan was limited. Asking the Stensons might yield some answers, but he wasn’t sure whether he could trust them. Stephen seemed nice enough but wasn’t likely to do much with his wife at Vance’s mercy.
Doctor Stephen Stenson placed his palm on Jori’s chest where the necklace would’ve been had he not hid it under his mattress in his quarters. “We’re ready now. It won’t hurt, I promise.”
Jori picked up on his sincerity but maintained his scowl as the giant circular scanner advanced over his feet like a python swallowing its prey. As it neared his torso, Zaina let go of his hand and bit her fingernails.
Doctor Celine Stenson reviewed the monitor with a relentless focus. Jori studied the strangeness of her lifeforce. It wasn’t muted like some MEGAs. It was both intense and flat, as though she had only one aspect to her personality and it shone like a quasar. His thoughts shifted to his mother’s simple-minded brother, Benjiro, which led to the reminder of what he’d lost. As much as he appreciated Zaina’s support, he wished it was his mother standing here beside him. If only the Cooperative had sent him to her rather than to an orphanage on some faraway planet.
Celine’s euphoria distracted his line of thought. Her emotions flared brighter with each incremental movement of the scanner. What is she seeing?
The blue scanning lights flashed over Jori’s chest to his head, followed by red lights that reflected a grid pattern over his body. Celine pointed at the screen, emitting excitement. Stephen leaned over and examined it. His eyes twinkled, but in a way that seemed more preoccupied with her glee than the information.
The noise of the scanner made it impossible for Jori to hear their words. His curiosity didn’t outweigh his worry that their findings would make MEGA-Man want him more.
He found it difficult to believe his abilities were so special. As the youngest of several now dead brothers, he’d often been overlooked. When his father had given him attention, it was to criticize him. It hadn’t mattered that some of his skills exceeded his older brothers’. Nor that he had a touch of his mother’s animi ability. Not even the fact that he was better at programming than their chief programmer had impressed Father.
When he came to the Cooperative, they’d scorned his abilities. He undoubtedly inherited them from ancestors who’d been genetically altered, but because those alterations had occurred before the MEGA Injunction, they’d called him a cheater. Within the Cooperative, only Commander Hapker had treated him with admiration.
The scan lights turned off and the scanner retreated to its original position at the foot of his bed. He sat up. Zaina returned to his side as Celine hurried away with exhilaration streaming off her like jet exhaust.
“What did you find?” Jori asked Stephen.
The doctor smiled, though it didn’t hold any of Celine’s enthusiasm. “Your bone density is amazing.”
Jori nodded. “My people originate from a planet with a higher-than-average mass. I’ve never lived there, but we keep our ships at a comparative artificial setting so we won’t have trouble visiting.”
Doctor Stenson’s forehead wrinkled up. “That’s wise, but how is it you’re so tall for your age? Generally, a greater gravitational force makes people shorter as well as stronger.”
Jori shrugged. Because most Toradons were both strong and tall, the same topic had interested him. He’d never found the answer, though. It wasn’t like his people had an abundance of scientists who had the time to study something that wasn’t related to violence.
Rather than speculate, he changed the subject. “What’s wrong with your wife?”
He beamed. “Oh, she gets delighted whenever she comes across interesting data.”
“Not that. I mean… She’s different.”
The doctor’s face fell. “They tried to alter her. She resisted and it caused some brain damage.”
Zaina gasped. “I-I’m sorry. That’s horrible.”
Her dismay matched Jori’s own. “I thought you said they wouldn’t alter anyone by force.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t always the case.” He sighed. “After what happened to her, we stopped forcing people to undergo alterations—well, people deemed too important, anyway.”
Jori swallowed. “Will she be alright?”
“Oh yes, thank goodness. The procedure affected her amygdala, but I’m told by sentio-animis like you that her quality of life doesn’t seem diminished. She may not enjoy the same things she used to, but her love of biology is the same.” He wore a nostalgic smile. “She’s a genius. I’m a damn good biologist, but she’s always running circles around me.”
“That’s sweet,” Zaina said. “But sad at the same time. She seems detached.”
Stephen’s expression turned down. “Yes. Very much so.”
Zaina reached out and touched his arm. “Will she ever return to normal?”
“No. Probably not.”
Jori detected the man’s loss and warmed at his genuine love for her. An ache formed in the back of his throat. “Have you ever tried to escape?”
Stephen bobbed his head. “We did—once. It didn’t go well.” He locked eyes with Jori. “Don’t cross Vance. He has a way of knowing things and he’s highly intelligent.”
Jori shivered. “What do you mean? Can he actually see what someone is doing without cameras?”
“I’m afraid so.” The doctor glanced about, emitting nervousness. “He can see the future,” he replied carefully.
“Impossible,” Zaina said.
Jori almost choked. “See the future? Like premonitions?”
“Sort of. There’s a theory that explains it, and we’ve tested it.”
Chusho. “Does that mean the future is set?”
“No. Not exactly. The future is fluid. I believe he sees the most likely.”
Jori wagged his head, trying to understand how this was possible and how in the hell he’d defeat someone who saw what he did before he did it. “How far into the future?”
Doctor Stenson cleared his throat. Fear wafted off him. “It’s probably best we not talk about this.”
Jori wanted to push but decided against it. If Vance was watching right now, the doctor might get in trouble. There must be another way to figure out his limits.
A scream echoed from the back of the room, startling the doctor into a panic. The man whirled about and took off into a sprint. Jori hopped down. No one stopped him as he followed, not even Zaina who matched his hurried pace.
A pulsing beep resounded, overriding all other sounds in the facility. Jori rounded a tall medical machine and halted. The room opened up to an organized cluster of over a dozen beds occupied by people who had tubes, wires, and IV lines stuck all over their bodies. He had sensed a few unconscious people back here, but not this many. More than half had no lifeforce at all, meaning they were either dead or living machines.
“Oh my God,” Zaina said in a hushed tone.
The doctor and others in white coats bustled around a bedridden man with robotic arms and legs. Stephen Stenson reviewed the monitor by his bed, then hurried away.
Jori intercepted him. “What is this place?”
Doctor Stenson flicked his hand at the beds with a harried expression. “This is where we create and maintain MEGAs.”
Jori heated. “This is Vance’s idea of evolution? They’re machines!”
The doctor huffed out of his nose. “Agreed.” He sidestepped Jori and darted to what looked like a master computer.
Zaina covered her mouth and held her stomach. Jori tried to swallow but horror clutched his throat. Maybe these people had opted for this, but did they realize they’d lose their humanity in the process?
This is insane!
18 – Benevolence
The cityscape ambled by in an endless maze of people and shops. The exotic architecture and the purple cloudless sky added an element of adventure to her excursion. Zaina Noman jogged on the treadmill, trying to distract herself with the virtual scene surrounding her. If not for the ache in her body reminding her of the stress she carried, it might’ve worked.
No, that wasn’t true. Although the digital creation was realistic, right down to the city sounds and the synthesized odors from the passing restaurants, she couldn’t forget where she was. The virtual people surrounding her didn’t have any obvious augmentations, but she imagined them anyway. A simulated man she passed with his hands in his pockets could be hiding a mechanical hand like Rodrigo’s. The woman wearing a hat might be covering computer ports.
Cybernetics rarely bothered her. Even on her homeworld where enhancements were highly frowned upon, some people in her neighborhood still had them. But a few of the ones here were so machine-like, she wondered whether they were alive at all. It made her skin crawl.
She plodded along on the treadmill, barely going faster than a walk. Her muscles worked, but only begrudgingly. Determined to do at least twenty minutes, she pressed on for the last three.
Time dragged as though she trudged uphill while towing a bus. When the timer finally went off, she nearly collapsed.
Her legs wobbled as she looked for Jori. He wasn’t here with the cardio equipment. She didn’t find him on any of the ball courts either. Nor was he in the weightlifting area. When she found him, her mouth fell open. The boy rammed his fist upward into a holographic soldier’s jaw, then threw two more punches in quick succession. He followed up with a spin and an elbow jab to the back of the soldier’s skull.
The holo-image faded. Jori turned, caught her staring, and his eyes popped. He scrambled to turn off the machine. His head hung as he approached. “I—I was just exercising.”
Her shock wore off and she snapped her hands to her hips. “Is that what you call it?”
“I-I… Yes, ma’am.” He glanced up at her with a furrowed brow. “It’s not real.”
“I thought we decided you should take a new path?”
Jori returned his chin to his chest. She waited for him to make an excuse, but none came. She chewed her lip and contemplated the best way to handle this. Making him ashamed of his heritage was the last thing she should do. He needed guidance.
She knelt before him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He refused to meet her eyes. She preferred her charges look at her when she spoke—it told her they were paying attention—but she didn’t insist this time. “You are a remarkable young man and you have so much going for you. I understand that back home, you probably felt the need to fight. But that life is behind you. You don’t need to fight any more.”
The boy’s gaze flicked up with a spark. “Are you sure? They’ve taken us prisoner.”
She shook her head. “They haven’t hurt us, or even threatened to hurt us. I agree they shouldn’t hold us against our will, but fighting isn’t the answer.”
His brows tilted angrily. “Then what is? How do we get out of this mess?”
“We wait. And we pray the benevolence of these people will change their minds into letting us leave.”
“Benevolence?” Jori spit. “You haven’t met Vance.”
She suppressed a shiver. There was definitely something off about that man. “You may be right about him, but you can’t fight him. Somehow, we have to reason with him.”
Jori scoffed. Zaina squeezed his shoulder. “Listen. I don’t have all the answers. But there must be another way. Violence begets violence.”
Jori swallowed. “I wasn’t using the holo-program because I enjoy violence. It’s only exercise.”
She wanted to say that knocking a man out, even a virtual one, wasn’t proper exercise, but that response wouldn’t contribute to his understanding. “I get it. You’ve needed to defend yourself. And you’re only doing what you’ve been taught. I’m not accusing you of being violent. I’m just saying there are other ways.”
The boy’s throat bobbed as he agreed. “I’m sorry.”
Zaina embraced him. “Oh no, dear. You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault.”
He pulled away. She wondered if that had sounded patronizing, but she didn’t know how else to word it. He wasn’t to blame. It was this crazy galaxy and the overwhelming doubt that humanity would ever overcome its flaws.
*****
A doleful cloud followed Zaina Noman all the way to her quarters. It was one of those heavy grey clouds that took up the entire sky and dribbled a chilly, bone-aching mist. She dropped onto the edge of her bed and massaged her forehead. Guilt wriggled through her. She wasn’t sure whether it was because she had allowed Jori to remain at the gym by himself or because of their conversation. She’d believed him when he said he wouldn’t commit violence, but she still feared for his future. How many children from abusive families had she seen repeat the cycle? Well, she wasn’t that old, but a few too many.
Some might see it as irresponsible to leave him there just because she had other plans. But he had too much energy to spend. Besides, it wasn’t like he was alone. Although the complicated jumps and flips he’d performed on the gymnastics mat had piqued her worry, plenty of others were around to get him help if he needed it.
She shouldn’t be concerned. He was old enough and seemed mature enough to be trusted on his own for a while.
With that decided, she entered the sonic shower. It felt good but not like a proper one with hot running water. God, how she missed those.
By the time she changed into nice clothes, the door chimed and sent her heart fluttering. “Enter,” she said, then put on her best smile.
A well-poised man returned the expression and bowed. “My Lady.”
Major Abelard Blakesley wasn’t the most handsome man in the galaxy—she wasn’t a fan of beards—but his charm made up for it. He held out his hand and she automatically grasped it. With an easy gentleness, he lifted it to his lips and kissed the top.
Her cheeks burned. No one had ever treated her like this before. It was like out of a romance sim, only her reservations hindered her ability to enjoy it. However, he’d help pass the time and it’d keep her mind off the fact that she was stuck here. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have a high-ranking friend on this ship.
“So what will we be doing today?” she asked, wondering what else there was to do on a ship full of people who could just plug in for entertainment.
“I’ve arranged a lovely meal in the upper lounge,” he said.
She remembered the spot and wondered whether he had sensed how much she’d favored it during their tour. She didn’t ask, though. They exchanged idle words along the way, with him taking such a keen interest that she suspected his genuineness.
When they arrived, she fell even more in love with the small lounge area. The flowering plants were the same, but this time the wall screen portrayed an ocean colored pink, purple, and orange by the setting star. A single table sat in the center. The beauty of the table settings almost surpassed the scene behind it. Two tall candles—real ones—illuminated the gorgeous bouquet of bright yellow and soft cream flowers set between them. The maroon plates were embossed with gold-leaf designs along the rims. Gleaming silverware rested beside them. A large silver platter held a meat-like substance surrounded by bright vegetables that were undoubtedly fresh rather than fabricated.
He pulled out her chair and invited her to sit. She was so stunned that it took a moment to snap into movement. She eased into the padded dining chair with a synthetic wood-carved back. “This is all so amazing.”
He sat across from her and entwined his fingers. His eyes peered into hers and lit up with admiration. “Such a lovely lady as yourself deserves the best.”
She shook her head and blushed. Suspicion rose again, but she couldn’t imagine why he’d go through all this trouble just for her. She’d never considered herself ugly, but neither was she beautiful enough to warrant such attentions.
Despite his obvious wooing, she didn’t need a relationship right now—especially not while trapped here on this ship.
“Thank you,” she said, hating how lame the words sounded compared to his generosity.
His smile appeared modest, but she swore it contained a hint of gloating, too. His smart blue uniform reminded her of a male peacock. So did the way he held himself upright and moved his hands when he talked, as though caressing silk.
He leaned in. For a moment, she thought it was because he wanted a kiss. The lift of his brows hinted at something else, so she bent forward as well.
“I left a message for your boss,” he whispered. “I couldn’t leave him a way to return it, but I’m sure he’ll receive it.”
She placed her hand over her chest. “Thank you.” This time, her words came out with more appreciation. It occurred to her he might be lying, but he seemed so sincere.
The meal began well enough. Their conversation was mostly one-sided as he asked more about her life than she did his. Not that she didn’t want to know, but he kept turning it back to her. She liked sharing, yet her anxiety increased. Although he probably held motives behind his charm, she wanted something from him too. If she asked for it and he agreed, she might feel obligated to give in to him. And if she didn’t fall for his charms, she’d be the one taking advantage. The thought of either made her stomach sour.
But she’d promised herself she’d help Jori. The boy had seemed troubled after her tour with Blakesley the other day. Then his misery increased after they’d summoned him for more testing. Even though he appeared more energized in the gymnasium today, his eyes held a haunted dullness that caused her heart to clench.
She set down her fork and cleared her throat. “I’m worried about your boss.”
