Protector of Men Ch 3

Zandra was exhausted. She had been in the 'training' upload for over five hours, and was ready to rest. There was just so much there, so much new information; her head swam with detritus. She wanted to try out her new skills, she wanted to fix, to recite, to drive, even to fight - but she was too tired. Even as she trudged back to her bunk she felt her eyelids drooping and had to fight to stay awake. It had been a long day, and she immediately fell asleep once hitting the bed.

She was back at home, her old home, showing her new project to a group of scientists. It wasn't much, but Zandra smiled as they eyed her data sheets and pictures warily. She stood proudly behind a tall table with its stereotypical white sheet, hoping that someone would ask her a question.

"So ma'am," one scientist started, crossing his arms, "what exactly is the point of your project?"

Zandra could tell he didn't quite believe her idea.

"It's an expansion on Dr. Roberts' research on the topic of universal holograms," she explained. The man's eyebrows raised unbelievingly.

"But I am focusing on how both Einstein and quantum theory clash with their ideologies if you think of matter as a bunch of information – say, bits of information."

"Impressive," a man said, emerging from the crowd. He looked a bit out of place in the mass of scientists – he was wearing only a suit – maybe a recruiter… "But do you have an application for this?"

Zandra, though put off by the man's stiff appearance, had rehearsed the question many times before.

"For now, a useful application would be harnessing the entropy of these for microcomputers. The possibilities would be endless,"

The man tilted his head and left without a word. How strange…

"Hey," came a voice from her left. It was Stephen, the one friend that never got away. He smiled and offered her a Coke while he joined her behind the white table.

"Thanks,"

"So those two didn't decide to come today?" he asked with a smile. Zandra rolled her eyes.

"Not yet," she started, "But who knows. I tell ya,"

"Quite the interesting pair, I've seen,"

"Tell me about it! You should have seen the guy who came in here just a second ago," she continued, "All kinds…"

People continued to browse her information, but the crowd was beginning to thin. Stephen laughed quietly as Zandra shook her head. All kinds…

There was a loud rapping at the door. Zandra woke up instantly, and almost lost her balance trying to get to the door. Still bleary eyed, she opened it a crack to see who it was.

"Yes?"

"Asleep?" It was Trim, sniggering in the hall.

"What?"

"It's nearly noon."

Zandra was immediately alert.

"You might want to eat," he continued, "I think you're doing some practice today."

"Oh."

Her heart fell, and Zandra prayed that maybe this practice would be different. No, she told herself, it WILL be different.

She followed Trim silently to the mess room. She heard quiet voices drifting down the hall - it sounded like Cover and Alias.

"... As an aid to the Mayflower..."

"...only if necessary..."

"... Make the - "

The voices stopped abruptly as Trim and Zandra entered the room. Both Cover and Alias smiled as they came in, remembering to greet them politely. Zandra tried not to look curious, but found it hard. Either way, neither Cover nor Alias divulged any part of their conversation, and she guessed correctly that they probably shouldn't.

"Ready for another busy day?" Alias asked her, smiling fiendishly.

"We are hoping you'd like to try out some of your combat techniques today," Cover added. Zandra was surprised to find herself excited at the idea.

"Sure," she offered.

"Good," Cover added, "You'll want to eat something now."

And they left, leaving Zandra alone to eat and prepare.

She pulled out a bowl with a spork from an iron cabinet and mentally prepared herself for the grotesque excuse for nourishment she was about to eat. Lumpy liquid from a pipe connected to the ceiling fell into Zandra's bowl with a splash. She only took a little, thinking she wouldn't eat much. It's watery oatmeal, she tried to convince herself. It didn't work. She almost gagged as she shoved some of the goop down her throat. Just believing it's something different won't help you here, she reminded herself with a small smile.

Meanwhile Cover was speaking with Kesia and Shade in the control room. Both watched him intently as he described his plan to them.

"So you will contribute?" he asked the two. Both nodded silently.

"Shade, do you understand what you will have to do for this?"

"Yes,"

Kesia found courage and cut in, "Are you sure?" she asked Cover.

"As much as I can be. Be ready."

Back in the mess room, Zandra continued to gag and sputter her way through her food. Halfway done, she decided to give up. She wasn't that hungry anyway. Zandra threw her half-empty bowl into the self cleaner and walked out to where the chairs were.

Only Kesia was there to see her in. She briefly explained the deal: Zandra would 'jack-in' to this environment, and Kesia would upload different levels of programs for her to fight. It should be easy, Kesia reassured.

"Right,"

Zandra sat back in the chair and tried to relax as she was strapped in. Yet, she still dreaded the feeling she got when the needle went in. It was like the shots she used to get, but without the nostalgia. In this world, the needles were inserted into her head.

"Let's go."