Chapter 2: A Boy Like That

It had been a week since the new shipment had came in. Victoria and Moon had done the best they could but still none of the virts were up to working standards. But there had been progress. Most had begun to wake up and move about. Even Luke, who was on the brink of death, was now up and inquiring about what has happened to him these past few weeks.

"So," Luke said to Victoria, "How did I get here?"

"You were brought here by the Technos." She replied as she gave him his meds.

"What happened to me before then?"

"You were in Reality Space. The Technos ran tests on you."

"How do you know?"

"Because they ran those tests on all of us."

"How do I know that I can trust what you are saying?"

"You don't. But if I was out to get you, then you would already be got."

"What is this place?"

"It's a work camp for the Technos. This is a farm that we work on to produce the Technos' food supply. When you are stronger, you will work too."

"If I must, I will. Why don't you work in the fields?"

"Because me and my sister are the only two people who know a little about medicine and first aid."

"Thank you. You saved my life."

"Don't thank me yet. After working in the fields you might wish I hadn't."

"But still...you know."

"I know. You're welcome."

With that she left him to tend to the other patients. While she was working she could see her sister, Moon, tending to the boy named Bray. He had made the most progress out of all of the patients. Moon sat by his bed and dressed his wounds.

"So," Bray said, "Victoria is your sister?"

"Well she's technically my half sister but a sister none the less."

"So how if you're here, where's...what's his name."

"Joe. He died. When the Technos invaded, they attacked our tribe. Joe died trying to protect me."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. He died doing the right thing. So where is your girl? Did you ever find her?"

"Yeah, I found her. Just to lose her again. The Technos took me while she was in labor with our child. I haven't seen her since."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'll find her again someday. So, your sister, Victoria, She's been paying a lot of attention to Luke."

"Yeah. He was pretty bad off when he got here. Even more so than you. He almost died. "

"She should stay away from him. He did some pretty bad stuff when he was with the Chosen."

"My sister is pretty good at taking care of herself-"

Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by a barage of Technos. They marched in and flanked the door. Byte, their leader, entered. He was a tall, angular, man. As ruthless as he was handsome. We casually walked up to Victoria. Who had been expecting his visit for a week.

"Commander Byte."

"Victoria."

"What is the problem?"

"The problem is: I gave you a week Victoria to get these virts up to working standards. And they are still here in the infirmary. Taking up space."

"Yes. Commander, but the we have been working with limited resources and-"

"No excuses, Victoria. I want them up and working by tommorow. We have quotas to fill."

"Yes, Commander."

He pulled her close to him. She could feel his heartbeat. She could smell his sweetly sick colonge. He reached down and ran his fingers through her woolen hair.

"I would like to see you in my quarters tonight." Byte whispered in Victoria's ear." Wear something nice."

"As you wish."

He gently let her go. He looked at the patients. Pathetic virts.

"You virts better get a good night's rest. The work starts tommorow. Back breaking work. And welcome to the Farm."

With that he and the Technos were gone. Moon went to her sister.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"He wants to see you again, doesn't he?."

"Yeah."

"Be careful around him, sister. You know what a boy like that can do."

"Of course I do."

"You might want to be careful around that blue haired boy too. His name is Luke. He was with the Chosen. He was the Gaurdian's right hand man."

Victoria thought back to her days in the city. She thought about her brother. Suddenly the helpless man was the enemy. Vengence was hers for the taking and she saved him unintentionally. She would make it a point to stay away from him.

Later that night Luke had managed to force himself out of bed. He walked around the room slowly. It had been awhile since he was up and walking. He was closer to feeling like a man again. He saw Victoria come out of her room. She was dressed in a white silk dress. Her beauty stuck him. He knew that after Ellie he could never really love again but still she was beautiful. He went to her and tapped her on the shoulder. Victoria turned around and jumped. The enemy was too close.

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done." Luke said.

"Don't thank me. I would to it for a dog." Victoria said coldly.

"Nonetheless, you're a very compassionate person."

"Yes unlike you. I know about your past with the Chosen. How you and the other fanatics made our lives hell."

"That's not me. Not anymore. I'm done with that life."

"Well I'm not. You crazies killed my brother! And I will not let the likes of you hurt anyone else, especially ones that I love. If I were you I would get a good night's rest. You're going to need it."

In a huff she left Luke standing there confused and guilty. He looked over at Bray who had watched the whole thing.

"You told her didn't you?" Luke asked.

"She had a right to know." Bray replied.

"How many times do I have to tell people that I am done with that life."

"Until you actually redeem yourself instead of talking about it. Good night, Luke."

With that Bray turned over and went to sleep leaving Luke to once again mull over his past mistakes.

--

The room was dim. The smell of eggplant parmesan was in the air. The candles gave off the stong scent of jasmine. Byte had managed to snag an old jazz cd for the occasion. A Kind of Blue played on the computer while he put the finishing touches on the room. There was a knock on the door.

Byte took a final look at himself in the mirror. He was particularly handsome tonight. Satisfied with the way he looked, he went to the door and answered it. There Victoria was, looking like a vision right out of his dreams.

"Come in." Byte said.

"You look very nice this evening." Victoria said looking around the room.

"Not half a nice as you. Have a seat."

Victoria sat a the table. Byte admired her elegance. It was a rare thing in the tribe world. He grabbed the bottle of wine in the bucket of ice. He poured two glasses and handed her one. He took his seat across the table from her Victoria sipped her wine.

"Pretty good. Where did you get it?" Victoria asked him.

"You forget I'm the top man in the country. I have my resources."

"Yes that is true. You have resources. Which is why I have to ask, why is it that you can't get anymore supplies for the infimary."

"I did not invite you over to talk business. I invited you over to talk about you."

"What's there to talk about. I am a slave to the Technos. My days consist of taking care of sick workers and reality spaced out virts."

"Do you not like the job?"

"No I am very grateful to have it. It's just that...forgive me, it just been a long day."

"Care to talk about it."

"There is this boy, a virt, he...was the cause my brother died."

"Did he kill him?"

"Not directly-"

"Then there is nothing to be upset about."

They continued to eat and drink in silence.

"You know it doesn't have to be the way you said." Byte said.

"Excuse me." Victoria said.

"You know, about you being a slave to the Technos. You don't have to continue to be that way. You could join me."

"Byte I told you. I am not ready. When I come to you I want there to be absolutely no regrets. Please give me time."

"Alright. I'll give you time. But don't expect me to wait forever."

"I promise I'll be worth it."

They continued with their dinner in silent passionate tension. After the dinner, Byte walked Victoria back to the infirmary. When they got to the door he leaned and unexpectedly kissed her on the lips. She pulled away.

"Thank you for dinner, Byte." She said as fumbled with the door knob and finally opened it.

Inside the patients were still sleeping. With the exception of one. He was looking at her through the window. He saw her with the enemy. And he was enraged that someone like her could have the nerve to condem him and be sleeping with the enemy.

I know it took me forever. I have been swamped and I had serious writer's block. The title of this chapter is A Boy Like That from West Side Story. Written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Please Review.