Chapter 13: Ram
"My father was in the military, one of the highest ranking generals," Ram began. "He ran our family with the same orderliness he used to train his troops. He also taught me quite a lot about military tactics and such. I never went to school, I was the only child and Father and Mother were extremely protective of me. Father hired some of his military friends to tutor me. Much of my education was in military technology. That is where I learned everything I know . . . but I was always a genius when it came to that sort of thing." He smirked and began to pace the room.
"When the virus came, I was taken to the military base along with Father and Mother. I wasn't the only child from a military family taken there. When all the adults died, I took control of the base. My ability to keep the base running as if there weren't any virus made the other twenty children choose me as their leader. I used my technology know how to open the sealed doors in the base and find out what new things were being built. The stunners were just one of the secrets I found. I taught some of the others how to use the technology and we began building what I liked to call the Empire."
Ram looked around the room before continuing. "We began recruiting others to come live in the base. Eventually there were over fifty living there, all under my control. I had some trained in fighting techniques, while others were taught about technology, how to run power plants, fly planes, and things of that sort. It was there I built my first virtual reality program." His face grew sullen. "It was while I was using the program that I climbed a wall and jumped off, believing I could fly. I became paralyzed from the waist down, and I believe the virtual reality program glitched, causing me to believe viruses were after me. It is still hard for me to believe I am still alive from breathing the air."
The others rolled their eyes. "What made you decide to try to take over the cities?" Iris asked. Ram sighed. "I am not sure. I just began recruiting more and more members, decided to call my organization the Technos, and continued teaching those beneath me some of what I knew. Mega was one of the few people I taught more than others." "Obviously," Ellie snapped. Ram made a face at her. "Anyway, once I believed we were strong enough, I began raiding small towns. It was in one of those that I met Jay and Ved, and convinced them to join me. I noticed Ved's aptitude for technology quickly; and soon began teaching him alongside Mega. Jay was a great addition to my organization as well; he was a good leader and excellent fighter. The others looked up to him, and I used that to my advantage."
"We began taking over cities and installing troops in each one. There was a network of over fifty Techno stations when I came upon Centre City . . . or, as I like to call it, the city of my downfall," Ram said angrily. "What happened to those you captured, and how did you choose who would stay and who would be shipped out?" Iris asked. Ram's jaw tightened. "Whoever was in the street when we invaded was taken," he said. "We left the rest. Some of the ones who were taken were sold as slaves; others were shipped off to work in various Techno operations; some were used as guinea pigs for experiments; the rest were used as bargaining chips."
Most of the people listening had angry looks on their faces, especially Lex, Amber, and Ellie. Althea raised her hand, and Iris gave her permission to speak. "What do you mean; bargaining chips?" she asked angrily. Ram sneered. "In all the cities we conquered, we told the remaining members of the tribes that if they did not cooperate with us, their friends would be killed. The ones taken were told the same thing. Once in a while, I allowed someone to be returned, with implanted memories of what had happened to them in place, just so the ones who remained believed the story." Gray raised his hand and stood up. "Why do you call some of the ones you took guinea pigs?" he asked.
"I needed humans to experiment with," Ram said casually. "I could not perfect my mental torture devices, virtual reality programs, or anything like that without them." The room burst into outraged murmurs. "You pig!" Ellie cried. "Is that what you did to Cloe?" Iris asked him, her tone chillingly cold. Ram looked directly at her. "I was angry at Ved, and I used Cloe with that in mind," he said stonily. "I am not proud of it, but that was the person I was." "What exactly did you do?" Jay asked. Ram took a deep breath and looked at the floor before responding. "I tortured her with virtual reality programs. I made her believe that she killed Ved, caused her to have nightmares to that effect. I made her believe that Ved raped her and tortured her himself. I also let her become addicted to Paradise, then would withhold it from her and keep her in a bare cell for days at a time before allowing her five minutes more of the game."
Salene began to cry. The others were completely silent, staring at Ram as if he were a leper. "And you . . . you want us all to believe you changed?" Iris asked quietly. "He has changed," Slade said, the first time he had spoken in a while. "He's not the same as he was before." Ebony looked over at Slade with a twinge of hope in her eyes but he ignored her. "He did help us defeat Mega," Amber said reluctantly. "Although he did create that virtual Zoot." "That was a mistake, I didn't mean to do that," Ram mumbled. Malik stood up when Iris nodded at him. "I think you're a disgusting, masochistic bastard," he said coldly, "and you deserve to be tied up and thrown to the sharks more than you deserve to live here."
Ram visibly trembled as he glared at Malik. Iris stood up. "Does anyone have anything to say in Ram's defense?" she asked. No one said a word. "Then we will vote. Those in favor of allowing Ram to stay?" Not one hand was raised. Ram looked frightened. "If you allow me to stay, I will show you where the others are!" he shouted quickly. "What do you mean?" Ellie cried. "I would like to know that myself," Iris said. "I can locate the places I sent the people from Centre City," Ram explained, looking terrified. "You would be able to locate the ones you're missing." "That has nothing to do with us," Malik snarled. "None of ours were taken." The members of the Council nodded.
"Wait, you're saying you know where the others are?" Amber asked Ram, looking skeptical. "I thought they were dead." Ram rolled his eyes. "Deleted doesn't necessarily mean dead," he said, crossing his arms. "It means their file was deleted." "What!" Amber cried, standing up quickly. "You . . . you're a liar!" Lex stood up slowly. "He's not," he said quietly. "What?" many of the others asked. "How do you know?" Ellie asked tearfully. Lex shrugged. "How I know isn't the problem. Just know that Ram's telling the truth." "You knew this and you didn't say anything?" Amber demanded. "I didn't want to tell anyone," Lex said angrily, "because I didn't want to raise your hopes. I didn't think we'd be able to find them anyway."
Iris chewed on her bottom lip. "You're saying if we let you stay, you will help these people find their loved ones?" she asked. "Majesty!" Malik cried, staring at her, aghast. Ram nodded. "I'll do it, only if you let me stay," he said. Iris thought for a moment. "I believe it is time for dinner," she said quietly. "Why don't you Mallrats go eat? I want to speak with my Council."