Chapter 9 – Deleted


Mikey didn't expect to sleep that night, and he was right, he didn't. Each time he closed his eyes images flashed in front of him, images of people and places he didn't recognise, and would probably never recognise again. From what he could tell, Bray hadn't slept either; the sounds of him tossing and turning, or the occasional sigh or murmur penetrated Mikey's ears as he lay there, and although he couldn't hear what Bray was saying, he could see plainly that he was deeply troubled, and why shouldn't he be? he asked himself. After all, yesterday he hadn't had a brother and today the one he thought was dead had reappeared without a scratch on him.
By the time one of the Techno Guards came to fetch the pair of them, Mikey had been awake for over twelve hours, and he was dreading the prospect of having to spend the day sitting in front of a computer taking complicated tests. However, he didn't appear to have much choice.

Two hours later. Mikey was already feeling the strain of staring at the computer. He had been concentrating on the screen the whole time, afraid of what the consequences of failing would be; he could imagine it and the image he had in his head wasn't pretty. Blinking and rubbing his eyes, stifling a heavy yawn, he let his eyes wander the room. Bray was gone. Mikey had been so engrossed in his work that he hadn't noticed and now he found himself wondering where his brother had gone, and why. He glanced at the computer in front of the now empty seat, and noticed something flashing on the screen. Moving closer, he realised someone on one of the other computers was sending him a message, the words revealing themselves one by one.
"B R A Y…" Mikey was confused. Who was talking to his brother?
"W H E R E A R E Y O U?" As the words finally finished flowing he realised the conversation had been going on for a while before he had interrupted. Not being able to resist the temptation he scrolled to where it had started and began to read.

=====Techno Chat Network. VERSION 2.0=====

-Computer I.D. #1069-
-Message received from #2006-

#2006: Bray? Is that you?
#1069: Yes, this is Bray… Who are you?
#2006: It's me… Amber.
#1069: Amber?! Oh my God where are you?
#2006: In my room. The Technos… They got me too.
#1069: But… our baby?!
#2006: Alive and well. She's here with me now.
#1069: That's great! I can't believe it, I thought you were dead…
#2006: But I'm not. I'm fine… a little weak still but I'm definitely not dead!
#1069: Feel up to some shocking news?
#2006: Shocking news? Sounds serious, what is it?
#1069: Martin's not dead.
#2006: Tell me you're joking!
#1069: No, I'm serious. One of the Technos' brought him in. He's sitting at the computer next to me.
#2006: You're not joking are you? But… how?!
#1069: That's what I've been asking myself since I can't find out. All I can think is that he wasn't dead and somehow managed to slip off that boat into the water…
#2006: It sounds a little farfetched but I guess there's no other explanation… He hasn't got a twin has he?
#1069: No of course not! I'd know if he did.
#2006: Then I guess it must be him. Is he still the Zoot we all knew and loved?
#1069: No. He's the Martin I knew and loved. He's changed a lot.
#2006: Shame. We could do with someone like that at the moment. I don't see any way of us beating the Technos.
#1069: Don't worry Amber, we'll find a way, we always do don't we? But we'll be better on the outside. I'm coming to fetch you, we're getting out of here.
#2006: NO! BRAY! DON'T! It's too dangerous. They used one of their lasers on Tai-San and I haven't seen her since.
#1069: Tai-San? She's with you?
#2006: Yeah, and so is May.
#1069: OK that's settled. I'm getting you all out. I'll see you all in a minute.
#2006: BRAY! Don't do anything of the sort! You'll get yourself killed!
#1069: I've got no choice…
#2006: BRAY!
#2006: BRAY?
#2006: BRAY! WHERE ARE YOU?

===========Conversation ended ===========

Mikey turned back to his own computer. Bray had gone to rescue Amber? The first thing that crossed Mikey's mind was anger, that he hadn't even bothered to take his own brother with him. Then he realised that the most important thing on Bray's mind at the time would be Amber and the baby, and so his anger subsided. Then fear raced through him. He knew the Technos had enough power to get rid of someone in one go if they wanted. Bray could already be dead. As he sat there not being able to concentrate on the tests he was supposed to be doing, one of the Technos sat beside him on Bray's chair and began to type into the computer. As Mikey watched in horror, one word flashed on the screen in front of the tribe member.
"D E L E T E D"