******
It only took me one week to regain their trust. To make them agree to letting me use the x-breath outside my habitat. Not that I was much surprised. All I had to do was become the complying, idolizing pet they wanted. To go with them to meet new children, and learn new things with these brats. The hardest period I've ever lived. But, the rewards were sweet. By acting like a complete imbecile, I found that Sarie was more willing to teach me things - new words, new phrases. But, then, to my surprise, I found she was even more delighted when I showed a sudden burst of learning. What intrigued me even more, was if I increased how much I learned, she taught me faster. Over a period of one month, she sated my thirst for learning by giving me access to simple computer articles on events, from history to science. She even gave me a simple code box, a place to put my personal thoughts. Fools.
Breaking down the new door was the most satisfying thing I've ever
done. It wasn't any more challenging then the first time, but I made it
seem so for the sercurity window, the watching box they'd attached to the
ceiling of my room - just in case I was captured again, I was already making
provisions for my next escape attempt. Clutching my little 'diary', as
they called it, I ran first to the x-breath cabinet, and it didn't take
long to figure out how to manipulate it to draw in some of the gaseous
air. I'd only have five hours, but that meant little to me. I only had
one goal. What became of me after that, didn't matter.
Grabbing a few other items, I nabbed a make-shift bag, shoving everything
inside. Then, I saw a table. It had a shiny metal plated plaque, which
had four letters.
P A U L
My memory of him was still fouled by his past actions. Suddenly, avenging my heart seemed such a wonderfully refreshing thought. I looked around, and walked towards his desk, running my hand across the smooth grain. Everything on it was neatly placed, exactly so, everything. Almost everthing. There was a single large folded gray paper, with many words and many colors which lay carelessly thrown across the desk. What caught me were the letters on the top.
HERALD
I didn't understand this word. My sources had never used it before.
It was fairly old, judging by the cracks along the edges and the
altogether faded look. There was a picture on the front that was recognizably
a spaceship. But, it was the pictures below it that scared me. The first
face didn't ring a bell, it was a man with short brown hair, but the woman
he held next to him struck a nerve. It was that face...
I shoved the paper away, keeping my eyes from skimming the passages
for familiar words...
Returning to matters at hand, I went through the drawers, grabbing anything that looked like the security cards the doctors used, when I suddenly heard footsteps running towards the room. My first instinct was to hide, but I knew this was not the best place. Taking a chance, I peeked out in the hallway.
" THERE SHE IS!"
Time to go.......
******
" Fool!"
General Derricksonn fumed in his chair, staring down at the unflinching Lieutenant.
" Did I not specifically tell you to keep an eye on her?"
" But, sir..."
" DID I NOT?"
" Yes, sir." The Lieutenant responded meekly.
" I want you to find that patient!"
" Already on it, sir. Discovered an address entry accessed through a screen port."
" Good. Track it down."
" Yes, sir."
With that, the Lieutenant was excused. A kick in the gut was what some of these peons needed.
******
Headline News - Lake Winnow, Mars Planetary Station
Police are on the lookout for the young girl, Sayakuri, discovered alone two months ago near Lake Winnow. Doctors have quarantined the lab, so there has been no further breaking news. We'll keep you posted.
******
Mrs. Linnes looked at the tele-screen briefly.
" Harrey, wasn't that the hospital you were staying at?"
" Yes, mum."
" Did you ever meet this...what's her name...Saye Karie girl?"
Harrey paused in his work. He looked over at the bulletin, at the face that only the month before he'd laughed and comforted. That, before, he would never have parted with. That, not long ago, had told him she hated him.
" ...No, mum."
Harrey didn't even spare another glance at the television. His fingers wrapped around a surgeon's micro-laser, he busied himself with the reconstruction of his hovercycle model. One day, he'd get it to work...then he'd start on the real thing. His room was an odd assortment. One side was filled with stuffed bears, while the other was a complete hardware laboratory.
Talen watched from the living room, mild interest on his face. Sarie
and Paul never did tell him what had gone on in the observation room.
' They just weren't compatible.'
What a load of bull. He'd seen them. They were perfectly compatible.
If there was anything that wasn't compatible in this equation, it was those
two doctors. Talen watched as Harrey cursed. His hand dripping blood, he
dropped the laser suture and went to get a regenerator. Little brother paused
only briefly in front of the tele-screen.
"...Doctor's say that she's suffering from a rare asthmatic condition, and normally can not survive long outside her room. But, she is reported to have stolen a breathing apparatus, that will allow her five hours of air. If found, please contact..."
Suddenly, Talen heard a diffident knock at the door. He walked towards it, eyes still on the tele-screen, and opened the door with a swish. Looking out, he saw only a small cube on their step, and a fleeting figure disappearing around the corner. With black hair... He considered leaving it on the step, letting the door close behind him. But, then he saw the look on Harrey's face. As he moved the regenerator around his hand, his entire arm was tense, and beneath his lips, he was gritting his teeth, not entirely from the pain, for his eyes wandered randomly towards the tele-screen. Talen let the door swish open again, and he carefully stepped out, picking it up. He tried to touch it, but nothing happened.
" Hey, Harrey, come look at this."
Harrey, hand half healed, looked up. He picked up the cube.
" Hmm. Looks like a code cube." Harrey murmured.
" Wonder where it came from. You don't think it's rigged to explode or anything, do you?"
" No. It's mechanics are much too simplistic for that. It's mainly for voice recording, but usually things that are top secret. It needs a code phrase to open it."
" Funny," Talen grinned," You can explain these things so well, and yet you couldn't remember how to make paint..."
Harrey didn't laugh.
" Aw, come on," Talen sighed," You know you're still all over her."
" Who?"
" Sayakuri, you dork."
" 'Kuri." Harrey corrected automatically.
Suddenly, the cube flared to life.
" Hello, Harrey. If you've open this, then perhaps I am not too late to fix the damage I've done. By now, by what means you...humans use to communicate, perhaps you've learned of my escape."
Harrey reached to turn it off, but Talen pushed his hand away. The voice was soft, whispery, just as he remembered it, but they no longer stumbled proudly over words - the pride was still there, but her grammar was perfect. He was surprised to find himself automatically looking for mistakes to correct, but there were none. A small part of him grinned, she'd finally mastered the past tense. But, another side of him stubbornly held to his hurt, clinging to that pain he felt. He didn't hear too much of the middle, but the next sentence caught his attention.
" I'm sorry," The voice said after a pause," I'm sorry, for...saying I hate you."
He snorted derisively...
" I know," She said after a moment," I've studied you humans enough to know you don't let go of your pain so easily. You don't forgive so easily. That, I suppose is a consequence of my stupidity."
Even Harrey had nothing to say to this. Talen, however...
" God, that's creepy. She's read you like a book."
" Shut up."
" Geez, you don't have to get touchy..."
Harrey glared at him, listening for more. There was an uncomfortable silence, before she spoke again...
" I took the x-breath." A bark of laughter, followed by a huffed sigh," Not that it matters. It'll probably takes a few hours to deliver this, and I've already wasted time talking. Just want to say goodbye, and thank you. You're one of the few people I could tolerate. Perhaps I'll put in a good word for you, after the End comes."
" What does she mean by that?" Talen murmured.
" Oh, and Harrey? Remember that ongoing clash between your brother and Paul. Well, it wasn't in vain. There's something here for your brother, that is...important. I didn't have time to read it, but the picture next to it was familiar. It took me a lot of time to...steal it...consider it a gift...he'll like it...goodbye..."
With that, the box cut off. No sooner did it do that, when suddenly a small hatch opened at the top. It showed a board, with one word.
DRAW US
" What?" Talen looked confused. " Man, you two are so much alike. Enigmas of mankind..."
Harrey only shrugged ruefully.
" And what does 'DRAW US' mean?"
Harrey started to shrug again, but the gesture was cut short. Almost involuntarily, he raised a shaky finger, and traced two round circles, two dots each, and an arc onto the screen. A little projector unfolded from inside, and began to scroll data. Talen gasped. It was a background profile for Paul.
As they looked at the data scrolling down the screen, Talen wrinkled his nose.
" Do you smell smoke?"
******
Flashforward - Four years...(jumped quite a bit, didn't I? ^ ^)
" Hey! Harlin!"
Harlin sighed.
" What is it Gen?"
" We've lost the com! You better get down here, ASAP!"
" You idiot. I told you not to turn it on until I was sure it was stable!"
Gen shrugged. He wasn't the engineering expert here. That was Harlin's job.
" Thanx," Gen muttered as Harlin gave the panel a good slam with his
hand," Nice to see TLC hasn't lost it's meaning."
" I'll let that one slip by." Harlin retorted, rubbing his hand absently.
There was a faded scar stretching from the tip of his index finger to the
bottom of his hand where the thumb met the wrist.
" Hey, man, what's your problem?" Gen said with a grin, tapping the
panel with practiced ease," You're all tense today."
" If I am, it's because this bucket of bolts isn't worth the price
of licking my boots."
" Ooohhh....touchy..." Gen grinned.
Everything went silent for a moment - that was the way it usually was. Harlin didn't seem the chatty sort. Not that Gen blamed him. The guy was prone to bad luck. First that scar. Then, his family. Gen didn't know how the folks died, but he knew that Harlin got very touchy around this time every year. Anniversary to the dead. Suddenly, the sensor monitor beeped. Gen swiveled the hover chair towards it. He may not have been the engineering expert, but weapons were another story. Please let it be a bogey.
" Report." Harlin barked.
" Rats. Looks just like a normal distress call from the surface. Shall
we go in for pick-up, or just let the Pop-tops scrub up?"
Harlin grimaced. The nickname may have been comical, but the people who wore it certainly weren't - they were the silent assassins of the Planetary Order, and the only sound you heard before you faded into blackness, was the keen soda can POP of their triggers before they shot you.
" What channel are they on?"
" It's open frequency."
" Better go in."
" Right. Forgot. Pop-tops don't bother checking normal channels...they're
too busy hacking into the top-secret stuff."
Gen let out a bark of laughter, and twirled around, his finger touching the sensor panel.
" Coming in for a landing."
The cockpit rattled dangerously as the atmosphere clawed at the hull. Harlin kept a firm grip on the hover chair, watching the surface draw closer.
******
" Shall I go on trash patrol, or do you want the honor?" Gen smirked
with a grin.
" I could use a little air. Guess I'll do it. Keep the guns warm."
" Oh, don't worry," Gen grinned," I will."
" I expect the ship to be EXACTLY the same as when I left. Down to
the last annoying little screw."
Harlin turned towards the door. Last time, he'd made the mistake of saying 'in one piece'. He certainly got one piece...the turret. Gen saluted him as the door decompressed. Putting on his x-breath...(a peculiar nickname, that even now he still used), he hurried outside with his stun-whip. Thing needed repair dreadfully, but it would serve his purposes quite well. He looked down at his wrist scanner. Signal had come from the direction of that way-station. Not good. From the smoke, it seemed as though they were suffering a bit more than some repair difficulty. He touched a circle on his sensor panel, and immediately a tight whirring came from the airlock of the ship. His hovercycle buzzed quietly to his side. He hopped aboard, and soon found himself speeding towards the station.
***
Stiff-backed against the door, Harlin counted slowly beneath his breath...1.2.3...5!
With that, he pushed the door sensor with his foot, pulling it back as
he waited for enemy fire. There was none. Looking inside, Harlin was fairly
discouraged to see that everything was in perfect working order. Almost...except
that there was not a uniformed officer in sight. Where were the station's
crew?
Suddenly, he heard a quiet scuffling coming from the far end of a corridor.
Traveling down, he began to notice the signs of disrepair - wires exploding,
panels hanging like ragged cloth...blaster holes that were like the mark
of a rot-worm in the steel-plated flooring. But, where was that struggling
noise, coming from? Taking a quick breath, he turned the corner, and walked
towards the sound, hearing everything go suddenly silent - save for the
pounding of his boots.
" Hello?" He called out cautiously, running his hand over the scanner.
******
I figured, if I stayed silent, whoever it was would disappear. Then,
I'd have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, that was easier said than
done. In my carelessness, I'd backed into the wall, jarring a poor support.
It fell, crushing me beneath it's weight - at least partially.
******
He could just glimpse her petite frame underneath the rubble. At least, Harlin thought it was a she. Her face was obscured by the debris that had fallen on her. Testing the air one final time with his scanner, he ripped off his mask, tossing it aside. His clear voice rang across the deck.
" Pardon me, miss. Are you in need of assistance?"
******
I remained as still as possible, slowing my breathing to a mere
fraction of normal. My heart pounded dangerously, and I hoped dreadfully
that he didn't have extra-sensory hearing.
******
She was frightened. He was sure of it. With careful precision, Harlin began to pry at the bar in front of him. She forced him to stop, when he heard her suck in a breath through her teeth, a tremorous sound. It must have caught her abdomen, or her legs at least, and he let the beam down gently.
" Are you hurt?"
A stupid question, but it was more to see if she was conscious, or if the pain was beginning to dribble into delirium. There was silence, and Harlin leaned to call in again, when a timid answer came back.
" Yes. The beam's caught my leg, up to the knee."
It was Harlin's turn to draw a breath of surprise. Quicker than possible, he began to clear away the debris, until finally only the beam was left.
" When I've lifted it, you're to crawl out. Ready? One..two..THREE! NOW!"
He heard a frantic scrabbling sound as the beam was cleared away. When he was sure she was free, he dropped it, rubbing his neck to sooth the straining nerves. He turned, and his face paled. It couldn't have been...
******
I stood up shakily on my leg, experimenting with it...good...
it was somewhat wobbly, but the nanobytes I'd been experimenting wih were
already repairing the fracture.
I'd stolen things from the hospital besides the x-breath. Including
a few trinkets that belonged to Paul. Those turned out very handy. The
man was anything, but poor. He had enough credits on one of his accounts,
to last me forever. Not to mention, he had so many that I could pull a
little cash out of one, and he'd never notice. I doubt that he even realized
the card was missing.
I turned around to find the man staring at me pale and gawping. It was a common enough reaction I'd witnessed. But, this one...this had a slightly different air to it.
" What?"
" Nothing." He shook his head," I..."
We both started, as from a distance, came a distinctive sound, like a can of air being opened...
" Duck!" He cried, throwing us to the floor. Almost immediately I heard, felt, something warm and loud crash into the bulkhead behind us. A heat seeker!
******
" Gen! Gen?! There are Pop-topss down here!"
" bzzz....can't....bzzzt...get....bzzttt....."
" Gen!"
Suddenly, another heat seeker bounced off the wall, exploding just a few feet away. With a huffed groan of disgust Harlin grabbed the victim's hand to run, but cursed as he remembered.
" I'll carry you. Come on."
" No!"
To his utter surprise and horror, she got up, and began to run. How the heck did she...another shot above his head silenced his thought, as he ran for his life down the hall.
******
Interesting twist, no?