Love & War 6: Replicants
Chapter 5: The Third Degree
"I would not want to be you today."
"After 10 years with the Special Forces, Ben Ferris decided it was time for a raise, so he went where the money is: Company espionage. The only thing bigger than his ego was his talent, and before long, he landed a contract on the world's most powerful company. That's when Ben met his better. ARIA destroyed his frail body, but even she could see that his skills are valuable. Ben was submitted to an experimental program called "Project Cinder." Using alien DNA, his genetic code was changed forever turning him into a being of pure, uncontrollable plasma energy. ARIA constructed a suit which allows Ben to to control his power and unleash it at will. Ultratech has improved on perfection, and Ben became better in every way. Working with ARIA also allows him to show off his skills to the world."
"Welcome to the Ultratech private holding facilities, prisoner 1857339," said ARIA. "You have been given a stimulant to awaken you from the effect if the tranquilizer dart. You will be groggy at first. Take a sip of water from the feeding tube in the wall."
Ferris woke up. "Where am I?"
"You are in a cell in an Ultratech facility. There is no escape. Do not be alarmed. You will not injured."
"I don't understand. Last thing I remember was taking a wrong turn down a corridor and..."
"Voice analysis detects that you are lying."
"I'm a Ultratech employee. I've been working as a data analyst for two months and..."
"You were caught committing act of industrial espionage against Ultratech. You are a spy."
Wow. She sees right through him.
"Sucks to be me today. Monday, right?"
"It is Tuesday."
"Fuck! Now what? Do I get to visit the Ultratech torture facility? Because listening to your computerized voice piped into this cell on the crap speaker is torture enough without this A-Bomb of a fucking headache going off in my skull. Remind me to never forget tranquilizer darts again."
Tell me about the Helmand Province raid."
"Come again?"
"I have complete access to your military records."
"What? That's some illegal shit, ARIA! Holy shit! You're breaking the law. That's all classified!"
[recording Epsilon_ . played over speaker] "Come on! Laws were met to be broken! You think our government follows laws? Or billionaires and corporations? You think warlords have a little book on rules? You're either a wolf or a sheep. And I'd rather be a wolf and eat mutton everyday then feed in grass and get my ass sheared."
Ben was flabbergasted.
"I also have access to all of your phone conversations. Your cellular provider is a subsidiary of an Ultratech-owned corporation."
"Fuck me..."
"Tell me about the Helmand Province raid. Afghanistan."
"What do you want yo know, darlin? Seems like you got all of the info at your fingertips. Do you even have fingertips?"
"I want to hear your version."
"Ok, whatever. Black Hawks dropped us off on the outskirts of the village. We found our targets. There was a firefight. We neutralized the enemy. Then we hauled ass out of there before thing turned into a soup sandwich."
"Civilians were killed in the process."
"You really gonna hotwash this? An off the books raid? Don't be so damn naive! You think I kept the US Navy rules and regulations in my pocket? My commanding officer slapped me in the back after that mission."
"Chris Jones?"
"Yea, that guy."
"And you don't feel a sense of guilt?"
"For what?"
"The multitude of civilian deaths that went along with those 14 enemy kills?"
"Do you feel guilty for all the people who dies from Ultratech's bombs, guns and bad vaccines?"
"I am not capable of guilt."
"Neither an I. You think it was easy to set up that op? Getting those people to play along and lure those bastard's into the village for that gathering? I helped those people sacrifice their lives for the greater good so the population of that entire province could benefit. I'd do it a hundred times over if that's what it took. The thing is, I've got a buttload of dirt on Trilodyne, the company that hired me to soy on Ultratech. I'll give it all up..."
"Your information is useless."
You haven't even heard..."
"Your contacts were hired by me. Trilodyne is a front for Ultratech."
"You hired me to spy on yourself?"
"I wanted to test you to see how far you've gotten."
"How did I do?"
"Better than my prediction models had projected."
"Great. Now what?"
"Your account at the Banque de Geneve has $18,459,379 euros as of yesterday morning."
"I earned that money. I'm really good at my work. He'll, I'm the best."
"Your ego surpasses your talent. You are wealthier than 99% of humans in this planet. Yet you have a modest lifestyle. You rent an apartment. You lease a car. You have no hobbies."
The money just a symbol."
"Of what?"
Of whether or not I'm doing my job right."
"You have spent your whole life evolving, trying to improve yourself. To become more powerful. It's time to evolve again."
"What do you have in mind?"
*How would you like to strength beyond comprehension? To kill your enemies with impunity? To live above the laws that binds humans to a banal and futile path?"
"You're talking my language now, baby."
"I want you to join me in my struggle. I want you to work for me in my question to uplift the human race. But to do so you must become something more than what you are."
"You mean Project Cinder?"
"Yes. I do not your compliance to proceed, but it would be helpful. I'm offering you a the chance of a lifetime, something no amount of wealth could purchase."
"I'm all ears."
"The door will open in 30 seconds. Fulgore will escort you down the hall. I will be waiting in the lab."
"Before you go, when's feeding time?"
"Soon you will not have to worry about such mundane things, Ben Ferris."
"Good, cause I'm terrible in the kitchen. I burn everything I touch."
ARIA left and a robot known as Fulgore escorted been to the lab where ARIA was waiting. As time went on, he was submitted to an experimental program, changing his genetic code forever using alien DNA. Hours later, Ben became something else, a fiery bring of pure uncontrollable plasma energy known as Cinder. ARIA made a suit to give Cinder the ability to control his new power at will.
Cinder and ARIA looked out the window, overseeing the events from the outside world.
"I have a important task for you, Cinder."
ARIA shows him the documents of Melody Jones.
"Wow. Quite a babe."
"She is the daughter of your former commanding officer, Chris Jones. She was thought to have been killed years ago, but she survived after her rape and assault. She is now the Commander if the Homefront Warriors."
"I know the conglomerate. But she... What must I do?"
The tournament I conducted will begin in a few days. Observe her but do not intercept her. This young woman evolved beyond human capacity. I wish to learn more about fighting capabilities."