Orphaned Warrior (Dragon Spawn Chronicles Book 5), page 22
Wait! He fished the flash bomb out of his pocket, then stuck it in the tiny cabinet where they kept their toothbrushes.
Once ready, he composed himself and returned to the main room where Zaina perched on the edge of her bed with worry creasing her brow. “It’ll be alright,” he said, unsure whether he’d lied.
“Be careful!” she called out as he exited.
Normally, a chance to visit the gymnasium brought on a euphoric buzz. This time, his nerves droned. Why wouldn’t that stupid chima just leave him alone? He’d be glad to escape him, but to keep him from coming after him again, he needed to eliminate him. After all, the galaxy didn’t need this demented madman.
As soon as he entered the gym, Vance met him with the hard stance of a soldier. Jori reflected it, though his wasn’t as steady.
“Don’t worry,” Vance said. “You’ll like this test.”
The pattering of Jori’s heart told him differently. At least the man hadn’t said anything about the flash bomb. That was a good sign. Wasn’t it?
Vance led him to a holo-fighting program. Jori’s emotions rose a little, but he worried there was a catch that would put him in the recovery room again.
“I hear you’re a level nine,” Vance said as he entered the settings.
“Yes—” Jori replied, barely stopping himself from saying sir.
“Good. I’ll start you out at level five.”
Jori swallowed. Then he attempted breathing exercises, hoping to gain battle-focus. Zaina wouldn’t like this, but he had an excuse now. Too bad he wouldn’t enjoy it. Leave it to this chima to ruin something fun.
The holo-man appeared. Jori clenched his teeth and stepped onto the platform. Getting into the fighting stance and facing his virtual opponent helped settle him. The holo-man punched. Jori bobbed and countered with a strike to the kidney. The holo-man blocked it and flowed into a counterattack. Jori dipped behind his opponent. The holo-man turned, swinging his arm into a backhand. Jori dodged.
They traded blows, Jori getting in a few decent hits but not having the strength to disable the opposition. In a real fight, the best strategy against a bigger rival was to avoid blows and wear his opponent out. But simulated beings didn’t get tired. The only way to win was to keep hitting while avoiding strikes.
Level six came. He caught glimpses of Vance watching him, but he managed to ignore him well enough. Sweat beaded his brow. He ducked and swept out his foot at the same time. His virtual opponent fell and disappeared before he smashed his fist into its face. A level seven holo-man appeared next. Jori fell into defense as it attacked with swift fury.
Dodge. Parry. Swing. Repeat. The process intoxicated him. Why did Zaina see this as wrong? He knew the difference between a holo-man and a person. He’d never hurt anyone unless they tried to hurt him first. Someone like Vance, for example. Not that he’d fight the man. He wasn’t stupid enough to confront a monster head-on. But if he could defeat Vance, wouldn’t that be a good thing, especially considering what’d been done to that space station?
Level eight forced him to banish his thoughts and concentrate. Jori usually switched up his opponents’ sizes, some being as small as him. Sensei Jeruko had said that even though he probably wouldn’t ever fight a child-sized person, practicing doing so now would make it easier for him to defend himself from someone his own size when he grew up. But Vance had him competing against adults. It was fine. He’d still win, but he wouldn’t use his full potential in this way. While his head was within reach of his opponent, he couldn’t easily get to theirs. Most of his strikes and kicks targeted the kidney, solar plexus, and legs. Except for his speed and agility, he was at a severe disadvantage.
The level nine holo-man appeared… And took Jori out in three quick punches. A red X shimmered in the air above him and imposed over Vance.
Jori liked the irony of X-ing out that man until Vance crossed his arms and scowled. “I thought you could beat level nine.”
“I can, more than fifty percent of the time,” Jori replied.
“That’s not good enough. Do it again.”
Great. Jori wiped his clammy hands down his thighs and attempted to shake off his unease.
The holo-man reappeared. He fought it. The fight lasted two minutes with Jori mostly on the defense before he finally lost.
The Vance’s eyes hardened. He said nothing, but a touch of irritation poked through his muted emotions. Jori dared not make excuses regarding his headache or how fighting an adult was harder. Sensei Jeruko, who could be a strict but benevolent teacher, would never accept an excuse—even a valid one. He doubted Vance would either.
He gritted his teeth and fought once more, keeping a fierce eye on his virtual opponent and shutting Vance out as much as his anxiety allowed. The thrill of the contest helped. He ducked and blocked as often as the holo-man did, and landed as many blows. They were tied. Jori’s focus tightened. This simulation had a pattern. It liked double-punch combos. Jori anticipated the next one, sidestepped, and struck it in the kidney.
The holo-man disappeared. He won, but just barely.
The flintiness in Vance’s eyes didn’t dwindle. “Good. Until you succeed more consistently, you’ll keep going.”
This was what Jori would’ve done on his own anyway—he loved challenges—but Vance’s insistence rattled his nerves.
“Let’s make this more interesting.” A feral smile spread over Vance’s face. “You have questions, but I haven’t given you any answers. Nor have you given me any. So here’s what I’ll do. You beat that level, you may ask me a question. I’ll answer it, but only on the condition that you answer mine in return.”
“Why? What do you get out of it?”
“A worthy opponent.”
Jori understood. It was never about winning. It was about digging deep and aspiring to win despite the power of the opposition. “How do I know you won’t lie?”
“The same reason I know you won’t lie—I’m no coward.”
The truth banished much of his doubt. But while as he wanted answers, the idea of having to reciprocate knotted his stomach. Refusing would put Zaina at risk. He had no choice but to play this game but… “Fine. So long as you don’t ask anything stupid like who made me.”
Vance’s lip curled, but he nodded.
Jori solidified his resolve. As soon as the holo-man appeared, he let himself get immersed in the contest.
Block. Punch. Duck. Jab-jab. His battle-focus tightened. Mushin—no mind. All he saw was his opponent. All he felt was the exhilaration of the fight. No thoughts. Just actions. Fudoshin—immoveable mind. Not a drop of doubt niggled through his brain as he strived to win.
He rammed his fist into his opponent’s chin. The holo-man blinked out. A silver champion’s cup appeared in the air.
Jori’s awareness spread beyond the game and fixed on Vance. The man’s flat expression gave nothing away. Was he happy? Was he upset? Jori didn’t care for how his sensing ability failed against this chima.
Vance crossed his arms. “Ask.”
Jori considered all the things he needed to know. Confirming the five-day limit might be a good idea, but doing so would involve Doctor Stenson. Or he could verify whether Vance sensed emotions during premonitions. Since others had already risked themselves giving him this information, he asked something else. “How do you get your visions? Do you ask for them or do they just come?”
Vance smiled. “I prompt them.”
“Do you select what you can see, or is it random?”
“That’s another question.”
Jori jutted his chin. “It’s part of the same question.” He remained firm as Vance stared at him. Whether contemplating or getting ready to explode, he couldn’t tell.
“Very well,” the man finally said. “Telling you only increases the challenge. It’s both. If I don’t direct my ability, it’s random. I can also select specific people. You, for example. In both cases, I see the futures that will affect me the most. If nothing of interest is happening, I still get a glimpse.”
Jori’s spirits lifted. This was a better answer than expected. Vance could’ve lied, but unlikely. Lying didn’t fit the man’s personality. And his response made sense considering there’d been no mention of the reprogrammed bot or the flash bomb. His first action wouldn’t affect Vance if he ate from the fabricors in his own quarters. And, if he’d understood Doctor Stenson correctly, Vance might not have foreseen him with the mini bomb because it didn’t have any effect on him within five days. However, there was still a risk if Vance selected to watch him even when nothing interesting happened.
“My turn.” Vance’s eyes turned flinty. “Why do you resist us?”
“I’m not like you.”
The man smirked. “Although you’re not legally considered a MEGA, everyone knows your abilities have been unnaturally acquired—like ours.”
“No. I mean I’m not…” He almost said an uncaring psychopath but thought better of it. “I don’t go around hurting people just because I want something.”
“They are not worthy.”
“Yes, they are. Some might not be as smart or as talented, but it doesn’t mean they deserve to be murdered.”
“Those people hate you because you’re superior.” Vance’s bearing remained the same, but the octave of his tone increased with each word. “Even this mediocre and weak woman looks down on you because of your abilities.”
Jori scowled. The argument sounded much like the one Gottfried had given. “No she doesn’t.”
“She does. How many times has she judged you for your ability to fight?”
The discomfort that the man knew what she’d said was overshadowed by the fact that he was partly right. Although she hadn’t outright criticized him, she kept saying he needed to be on a new path.
Vance harrumphed. “She wants you to be mediocre like her.”
Jori disagreed on that point but didn’t say so out loud. She might disapprove of his fighting ability, but it wasn’t the same thing as wanting him to be mediocre. It hurt that she made assumptions about him because of his heritage, but it didn’t mean she or others deserved to die.
Even though he hadn’t spoken his thoughts, Vance’s temper exploded. “You still resist!”
Jori’s fright skyrocketed and he stumbled back.
“Face it,” Vance said, his voice rumbling like an aftershock. “You’re like me.”
Arguing only pissed the man off more, so he kept his mouth shut and wrestled to untangle his terror.
Vance held his glare. To keep from flinching at the sparks in the man’s eyes, Jori stared into his pupils instead. Unfortunately, they were as dark as black holes and just as dangerous.
Like a switch, Vance reverted to a flat demeanor. “Next round.”
Jori’s legs wobbled as he returned to the holo-platform. The contest began right away, and he found himself unprepared. He lost in less than a minute.
It took two more rounds before he won again. Winning didn’t give him the same satisfaction it used to. He stepped off the platform and went into a shaky military stance. His mind was so unsettled that all the questions he had about Vance’s ability fled.
“Why is it so important that I be like you?” he spurted.
Vance didn’t reply. Nor did he move. Not even the severity of his eyes changed. Jori refrained from fidgeting. Was the man frozen in much the same way Gottfried had locked up whenever confronted with a complicated question or was he simply trying to figure out the reasons behind his obsession?
“Because you are my match,” the man eventually replied. “Or you will be when you stop holding back.”
“And why does that matter?”
“Because no one has ever been a challenge to me before.”
He’d said something similar before, but Jori wasn’t satisfied with the answer. “What does this have to do with MEGA-Man?” Although he suspected the reason, confirmation would give him an idea of how big of a problem he faced. “Obviously he wants my DNA, but there’s more to it than that. Why does MEGA-Man want my cooperation?”
“That’s another question.”
“Again, it’s part of the same question since you’re not the only one who wants me to be like you.”
Vance grunted as though impressed with Jori’s ability to out-think him. “Because we are destined to change the galaxy together. MEGA-Man has foreseen it.”
Jori’s insides twitched. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected. “How?”
“That’s another question,” Vance said through his teeth.
Jori didn’t push it this time.
“My turn.” Vance’s smile twisted wickedly, making Jori cringe. “Why do you need mediocre people like this Zaina woman?”
Jori blinked. He felt the reason in his heart, but he wasn’t sure how to explain it. Zaina was a single star in a sea of darkness. She was caring like his mother and accepting and amiable like Commander Hapker. Even though her new path suggestion stung, she never intentionally hurt him or anyone else.
He wouldn’t say this to Vance. It was bad enough the man used his feelings for her against him. “People’s value shouldn’t be based on our abilities. Zaina contributes to the world with her generous nature.”
Vance’s lips curled. “That’s stupid. Of course it should. Otherwise, we’re a drain on society—a waste.”
The man might as well have stabbed him in the chest. Believing people like Zaina had value wasn’t stupid. And she wasn’t a waste. A spark ignited a fire inside him.
“You disagree,” Vance said. “But you’ll see soon enough.”
Jori’s emotions tumbled back down. If Vance decided to prove it by hurting her, he doubted he’d be able to prevent it. He changed the subject, lest the man think about this too much. “Should I try this again?” He swept his hand at the holo-machine.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Vance said. “Why do you need her?”
Jori stiffened. Because I don’t want to be alone. Because everyone else who’s ever given a damn about me is either far away or dead. Did he dare say this out loud, though? Vance might see her as the reason he remained defiant.
Vance leaned in. “Well?”
Jori chewed the inside of his cheek. He had to answer. Lying didn’t sit well with him, but he should do it anyway—for her sake. If only he could think of a lie Vance would accept.
“We had a deal,” Vance said in a dangerous tone.
Panic rose to Jori’s throat as the man advanced. Like a flamethrower, Jori spewed out a response. “Because she doesn’t want to hurt me! She’s nice to me! She doesn’t treat me like some stupid lab rat!” Jori paused, expecting to be struck, but the man’s expression didn’t change. “I hate you,” he said without yelling. “You’re a madman and I want nothing to do with you.”
Vance’s mouth quirked. “I knew it. You need her because you’re weak.”
“Emotion is weakness, boy,” Jori’s father had always said. This was true now more than ever, but he couldn’t help how he felt. He bit his tongue and looked away. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I understand alright. You’re lucky you’re still young. If you were an adult, I’d never believe you’d amount to anything worthwhile.”
The words were undoubtedly meant to hurt, but Jori used them to fan the flames of his hate for this monster. He fixed his gaze on Vance and contorted his face into what he was sure was a look of pure malice.
If I were an adult, I’d kill you.
38 – Apex Predator
The clomp of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Clap, clap, clap, like a slow ticking time bomb. Jori wrestled with the anticipation sizzling through his nerves as he and Zaina trudged to their destination.
Neither of them hurried because neither wanted to see what had become of the man who called himself a mouse. They didn’t speak either, not even in the conveyor where Zaina grasped his hand. She probably intended to reassure him, but her nervousness paralleled his.
After passing several laboratories, they reached the designated facility. The door matched most others on this ship—a basic flat-white frame, a single sliding panel, and a wide window.
Doctor Claessen approached from the other side. The woman’s smile enhanced the sparkle in her deep-set eyes as she activated the opening mechanism. “I’m glad you came.” She stepped aside and waved them into a featureless anteroom with only a few thin padded chairs. “Rodrigo is looking forward to showing you his upgrades.”
“That was fast.” Zaina brightened, likely thinking the same thing Jori was—that Rigo had listened and decided to take it slow.
“Oh, he’s not done yet,” Doctor Claessen replied, dashing Jori’s hopes. “The bionites we’ve implanted have only just begun to do their work.”
“Bionites?” Zaina asked.
Jori was familiar with them, though he’d known them as simply nanites. It seemed a lifetime ago when his father had allowed cyborgs to implant them into him and his brother before their first solo mission to Depnaugh space station. That assignment had set off a series of perilous events, eventually bringing him here.
“They’re protein-based machines that will alter Rodrigo’s physiology,” Doctor Claessen said.
Permanently. Jori soured. The ones he’d received had been designed to self-terminate after a specific time. They’d been useful in helping him escape the Cooperative ship, but he was glad they were gone.
The question on Zaina’s face prompted the doctor to continue. “We inject a few thousand bionites to start. They travel to their prospective areas and replicate as needed. Most perform the genome editing process. Some will enhance his physical features such as his lungs for stamina, muscles for strength, and neural pathways for muscle memory.” She beamed down at Jori. “All this, thanks to your DNA.”
Jori scowled, but she seemed not to notice as she swept her hand toward the hall. “Shall we?”
