THE CHOICE OF A NEW GENERATION
By s. Kristine quick
-previously-
THE BOARDROOM
Kyle came in. Cheviot looked at him and smiled.
"Sit down. The show goes live in 25 minutes. I gave the others the evening off."
Kyle sat down in Ashwell's chair.
"Kyle, Max told me what you did, and I want to thank you."
"Well, don't. I didn't do it for you, or for your network… you know, I was having a lot of fun, knowing you were without your precious 23!"
"Alright, why did you do it?"
Kyle looked down. "For Christina. I couldn't stand it that such a beautiful creature… was in such pain."
Cheviot laughed. "You've always thought of yourself as so tough. You liked having people believe you never cared about anything or anyone."
"That was never it! I was angry. I never liked it! But, now…"
"Now?"
"She brought out the good in me."
"Hm! Certainly glad someone could." They were both silent for a few minutes.
"Grossberg… that man is in a lot of trouble. No sign of him anywhere, Kyle?"
Kyle stood up. "You don't have to be concerned about him, ever again." He began walking toward the exit.
Cheviot gripped his pipe tightly.
"Kyle…" he began, but said nothing as Kyle left.
He looked at the boardroom screen and folded his hands, pondering twenty minutes into the future.
~THE PAST~
ONE
That was when they came to take her away.
Christina breathed deep, fiddled her thumbs, yawned and brushed back her hair. Janie Crane was readying her camera, and Christina wondered about all the other 16-somethings out there.
Who were they? What were they like?
Were they afraid? Abused? Forgotten?
How many was she saving today?
Would they be grateful?
I am so tired...
"Almost ready, Christina!"
Christina closed her eyes, and pictured herself... in a happy loving home with Edison and Theora. She was going to school, at the top of her class. Kyle and she were engaged...
"I'm ready!" Janie Crane lifted up the camera "Christina?"
The young girl's eyes flashed opened.
"I was so close!"
"It's... ok," Janie said, as the young girl seemed to age before her eyes.
"Did you have a premonition?"
She slapped the camera as it went out.
"What the hell?"
"It's not fair!" Christina cried.
"No, I'll get a new camera. They already got the 'signal down' error and are on the way with new equipment. Can you pull your hair this way? It will make you look more innocent."
"Fuck this!" Christina screamed. She stomped across the room, and stopped in front of Janie "Fuck this! How's that for 'innocent'?! That work for you?"
The double doors to the studio were thrown open and there stood Kyle.
"God you look so innocent!" he sighed, a love-struck grin crossed his face.
"Metros," he pointed behind himself.
"Fucking shit!" she yelled, making Janie jump.
She ran to a window, only to find out she was 60 floors up.
Kyle joined her.
"Any ideas?" he asked.
She wiped the tears from her face. "Can you fly?"
The metrocops stormed into the room.
TWO
"I'm shocked, really. I truly am. Miss Jones, that 'little girl' tried to kill you!"
Simon Peller looked down and dusted his pants, then he looked up and straightened his tie. He grinned but it was forced; tight and uncomfortable.
"Umong other things."
Theora showed no reaction, just glared back at him. Simon looked to Edison.
"Damn near destroyed us all!" he tried.
Edison scowled. Simon Peller sat on his couch with his head in his hands and coming apart at the seams, while the rest of them became victims of Ned Grossberg's wrath! What was he complaining about?!
"We want to see the girl!" Edison demanded.
Inwardly, Simon Peller raged. He cracked a half-smile; it was forced.
"Very well, you can say goodbye at least."
The security guard led the way to the cells.
"Oh my... oh my GOD I don;t believe it!" the guard yelled.
Simon, Edison and Theora rushed to the cell.
There, on the floor, sat Kyle and Christina.
Their nude bodies were covered in a thin blanket.
"Hey, privacy!" Kyle laughed "What? You didn't get the memo?!"
"Revolting!" Simon rolled his eyes "That's another thing! Offspring! We simply cannot having... their kind, breeding!"
"Jealous!" Kyle sniffed. "he never gets any at home!"
The guard jerked open the cell door. "Get out! Not you, Kyle! No wait! For God's sake put your clothes on!"
"Horrible," Peller muttered, as they turned away.
Christina was pulled out by her arm, and the cell door shut.
"Wait! Edison!"
Edison turned to Kyle.
"I wish she'da been my first," he confessed.
"Uh... I hope you have news that can actually help now."
"Yeh," he shrugged "She's hiding something... it seems to be important!"
Edison looked as Theora walked off with Christina at her side. Edison turned back.
"Bad news?"
"Not for her... which is why I didn't push it... it doesn't make her happy or sad... she seems... hm... satisfied I guess."
"Thanks for the tip.
"Let me know what it is!"
"I'll try."
"I'm gonna marry that girl one day!" Kyled called out to the departing foursome. "Lots of babies too!" he laughed loudly.
"Oh, God!" Christina flushed red with embarrassment, but she was smiling anyway. Edison came out of the building, and Theora climbed into the back of the police transport van with Christina. The young girl was still red, but still smiling.
"You honestly couldn't wait?"
"No," she said. Her eyes had a sad, yet satisfied, look on her face.
She looked right at Theora and said "Oh, Kyle was just so-"
"Enough! Peller yelled. He looked back and narrowed his eyes. "You should know now, that in the interest of public safety, I'm submitting a proposal... forgive my bluntness, but you should not be allowed to... how do I say it?"
"Don't!" Theora ordered, feeling disgusted.
"I agree," Edison said.
"You don't have to worry about me," Christina said.
Theora turned to her. "What do you mean by that?"
Christina hugged her suddenly.
"Thanks for loving me!" she wept.
THREE
The trial was short, swift, and definitive.
Jenny from Research and Development at Network 66 was charged with network endangerment, and sent back to her parents in California. Ned Grossberg would have been charged with kidnapping and child abuse had he shown up. A summons was issued, but he had not been seen ever since the confrontation in 66's basement.
That left Christina with no evidence and a guilty conscience. Edison and Theora begged her to speak in her own defense but after scribbling down notes on the trial, she eventually refused.
She was promptly sentenced to Manzanzur, an island prison 1000 miles away.
"You seem too relaxed," Edison said "You've been set up for a fall and you are accepting it!"
He was frustrated now, as well as Theora.
"Christina, please give us a chance. Give yourself a chance... show them if you must!"
"No... hey you got a wedding to do! I'd only... get in the way!"
She was crying now, as well.
"Thanks... you did... so much more than anyone else would have... "
She hugged them tightly; it was her goodbye.
The latest dream told her as much.
"Love... love you guys!"
FOUR
Unbelievable!
Edison was stunned. How could Murray and Cheviot do this do him?
He stood, rigid, in the center of his apartment, trying to comprehend it.
When Cheviot suggested the idea of televising the wedding, it set Edison off a bit. He was the reporter, and definitely not accustomed to being the interviewee.
Then Murray got up-and-coming tv personalities host, J. Parkin and his co-host, Velma, as the hosts.
J. Parkin and Velma, former of "This Was your Car!" a show that reunited average citizens with their first modes of transportation. It only lasted 3 episodes, but Parkin and Velma were still under contract with the network. The plus side was that they were the only reporters that Edison didn't really know, so their would be no conflict of interest.
Christina was sent away this morning, and now the day just got worse.
"I like him, ED." Max said "Do you remember the episode where he reunited the old race-car driver with his little Volkswagen... I would have cried if I had any tear ducts! "
"That was the last episode, Max." Edison said, glumly
"Canceled too soon! That show was destined for greatness."
Then he got serious.
"You think the train arrived at the prison yet? I suppose she'll try and call us soon? Say hi? Ask us to send her a cake with a file inside it?"
"Ah... they should be arriving in an hour. Theora?"
She was in the bedroom, trying to get herself together. The loss of Christina was devastating to her.
"I'll be right out," she called.
There was frantic knocking at the door, and Edison opened it to see Ben Cheviot and the two hosts.
"Mr. Carter! How-de-do! My what a wonderful home you have here. Why, I think a wife and children will love it!"
Cheviot smiled brightly. "Actually, we came over to discuss the layout for the show. The Wedding of the Century! How does that sound?"
"I hate it," Edison answered with no shame.
"So glad you agree!" Cheviot retorted.
"We're not taping yet. Velma just needs to practice with a new camera." Parkin said.
"I'm doing fine." she agreed.
Parkin looked at her. "Except for one thing, love! Where ARE your glasses! You know you can't see without them!"
"I have them right here. This... eyepiece-thingy is in my way."
"Let me fix that for you," Cheviot offered. "Alright, Edison. Here's a list of ideas... "
Max flipped onto a nearby screen.
"Can we go see Christina soon? I wrote her a poem and I want to read it to her!"
Edison looked forlorn. Max looked sad. Cheviot looked uncomfortable and even mildly angry. And the two hosts looked at each other, puzzled.
"Oh! Oh, yes! I know of it!" Parkin yelped with excitement. "Christina Spencer! She's the genetic misfit!"
"Oooh," Velma sighed in agreement.
Edison's face burned red, and his head was ready to blow off his shoulders. Luckily for all, Theora called to him from the bedroom, providing a welcome distraction.
Edison stormed into the room and shut the door.
"Did you hear... what that moron... called her?"
"She slipped a note into my purse! Look!"
He took it from her with some hesitation, and read it carefully.
-I died when the train crashed. There was something wrong when it switched tracks. I was impaled by a beam and it happened real fast. I don't think I suffered.
Theora, I had to "do it" with Kyle. For 10 minutes, I was a normal girl doing normal things, and it was WONDERFUL.
Edison, you will make Theora an awesome husband, and you will be a great dad. Max will be a great "big brother" cause he always was to me.
Tell him I said so!
I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I thought about it, and I decided to stop fighting. Life doesn't like me, any more than it liked my mother. I had a brief moment of ecstasy with Kyle, and I felt finished.
I decided to not even try to hold back the hand of fate.
No one lives forever anyway.
I love you.
Christina -
Theora grabbed his hand.
"Edison we have to do something! Her dreams are never wrong, and we can't lose her like this!"
FIVE
"Oh my God!" Theora cried out from her place in the chopper.
"It is a good time to pray I guess," Edison agreed. He tried to smile at her reassuringly but couldnt.
As with her previous dreams, this one came true as well. When the train had reached the junction, the track switched, but jammed halfway through. The train jumped the tracks, but actually wobbled on for 100 feet before toppling over into a nearby ravine.
The train has five cars including the engine. The number of prisoners on board was low this trip, and the load was light enough to bring about a horrendous crash with tragic results.
Theora closed her eyes and pushed her face into Edison's chest.
"Do you suppose they will let us claim the... "
"Maybe she... I don't know."
"They have to! We have to give her a proper burial!"
Theora was sobbing now.
"When can we land!?" Edison demanded of the pilot.
"Let me check... they have to do a count. Shouldnt be hard. Apparently all are dead but two are missing."
Edison nodded uncertainly.
"Ok, find us a place to land. We can wait."
Theora was praying very hard now.
~THE PRESENT~
ONE
-three months later
"It's been a while." Kyle checked his smartphone. "9pm, if we get going now I can have us back in the city by 3am... maybe 4."
He looked at his motorcycle.
"Edison crashed my first bike! He stole it and crashed it!" Kyle laughed.
Then he got silent, and knelt down.
"Christina?" he sighed, taking the girl's face in his hands.
She looked up from her sitting position on the curb.
At the very last moment she decided dying was a bad idea. She got a new seat on the train, only to witness another prisoner die in her old seat, from being impaled.
Instead of heading back to her friends, and another imprisonment, she went to New York, to track down her father.
She found him.
"I hate myself." Christina admitted.
"Don't! Ah, baby" he sat behind her and lay his head on her shoulder "don't hate... don't end up like me."
"Everything about me is wrong! Even my parents! Their parents!"
"Nah! No! Never! Christina I won't have that! I won't take that from you!"
He looked into her tear-stained face.
"I love you... I feel you... Christina you are good... fuck your lineage, maybe you got some retro-genes... from your good ancestors... what, you think I'm lying? I came all this way for you!"
He sunk down in her lap.
You really do make me a better man."
He tried again.
"Ok, a suicide pact then... I've experienced too much beauty, in you... I won't live my life without it."
Kyle felt it, like a tiny spark that came and went.
"Let's not and say we did... let's go back... I won't let them send you to jail... Edison won't either... I'll make things right with my dad... get a job... not with television... you can go to school... Christina please! We have every damn right to be happy!"
"Oh, my God!"
She snapped out of her emotionless state, hugged him tightly, now crying.
Christina tapped the screen, and changed the channel to 23. Kyle sat behind her, draped an arm over her shoulder.
"You smell lovely." he told her.
"Knock it off, ass-kisser I ain't bathed in 2 weeks!"
"I love everything about you!"
"He's coming!"
In moments Max appeared on the screen. His face was frozen in a wide grin and even his lines had stopped moving.
"Fantasy girl!" he yelled, then "Oh hey Kyle." Max yawned. "Hey I wrote you a poem! But I'm not gonna read it to you until you come back home. Christina, it's so exciting! Edison and Theora are getting married and it's going to be on television.
"Oh?"
"The best reality show ever!"
Her face fell. Now she was filled with trepidation.
"What's wrong? Christina, you're alive... you have... ho-hum, Kyle... and there's gonna be a wedding!"
Christina was torn. "I'll only interfere... maybe I can stop by... after... "
Max frowned, then vanished, and the screen filled with static.
Christina and Kyle waited for several minutes. Finally, Kyle stood up. "Forget about them. Let's just find an island somewhere. We can still live happily ever after."
The screen flipped back on, now showing an anxious Theora with Edison behind her.
"Max told us... you found your father?"
Christina cocked her head, glowering.
"He's dead!" she spat out.
"Then you need to come back," Edison said "Two people were discovered 'missing' from the train. You were one of them. Simon Peller filed a warrant... come back to us. We can file an emergency petition before he finds out... and you can still have a normal life... "
She brushed her tears away. "That's... nice... I can't cause you anymore problems, not now."
"Christina," Theora began, soft, but determined "we want you to come home. We want you to be part of our family."
"We can be there in 5 hours," Kyle said, leaning forward. Edison yawned dramatically.
Theora nodded. "Come back to us. Please."
Christina nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.
TO BE CONTINUED...