Alma stopped momentarily, "Does it really need to be them, Ethan?"
Ethan sighed and adjusted his pack, "Alma, we already went through this and there is no other way.""I know but...""But what?""What if they ask about me?""In what way?""What if they ask about why the government's so interested in me... in this, I mean," Alma pointed to her head.
"Then we tell them the truth," decided Ethan, "we owe it to them for going out of their way.""...But what if they... want to use it?""They won't if they want my help.""And if they don't?""Then the APR is going to lose one very strategic asset."
In the distance, Jamie had been waiting impatiently, "Are you two quite done back there?" she asked almost at shouting volume.
Ethan turned his head to her, "Yes, let's keep moving. We're almost there, just another kilometre or so.""But Ethan," Alma caught up, "what about afterwards, what if they...""Alma," Ethan crouched down to his knees, "nothing will happen to you. I will make sure of that."
Alma felt only slightly assured after that. As Newblood had told her, the APR was now more military than political, and if the cared more for their classified war than the people... She wished they weren't the only option.
They'd been trekking for four hours towards a section of the forest that may possibly house the centre of APR operations in the north. The forest being a national park with regular visitors made it unlikely, but where better to place a secret base than right in plain sight. As to how Ethan established the possible location of the base was thanks to some little tracking beacons he put on Spectre, Phantom and Visage's shoulders, and Craig's unparalleled tracking abilities. Speaking of which, knowing that any association with the APR would likely lead to him being a wanted man, Ethan downloaded Craig's entire mainframe onto a single portable hard drive, just in case they came knocking on the house's door looking for answers while Ethan, Jamie and Alma were away. No doubt they'd strip the place clean for clues and burn the remains, just like they would have done with Jamie's home in Canada, Moses's diner, and Simon's house near Mount Carnlick. Nonetheless, downloading Craig was the easiest way to ensure there was nothing left for them to find.
The hard drive he was in was in Ethan's backpack, so were a few days worth of food. "Just in case, you know," was his explanation. Yeah, because they were going to be lost in the woods for days on end... alone... with wolves... and bears... Better safe than sorry now that she thought about it. As another precaution, Ethan took the two weapons Spectre, Phantom and Visage left behind for his safety. Guns were illegal, yes, but the fact he was hiding two fugitives would give him a death sentence anyway. Those two weapons were a fairly rare Russian AK-12m, and an out-dated M9 pistol. Ethan had had plenty of firearms training when using The Simulator beforehand, but Jamie was given a quick twenty minute drill (4 hour dream-time) to get her as good as she had to be. Alma hoped Ethan and Jamie would never have to use the training though. She didn't want people to die, even if they were them, but if this really was the only way to get Simon and Jamie back, then people would die, and she would have to accept that. But she didn't like it. Not one bit. She didn't want to see it again.
She also had her satchel with her, carrying all the books Simon gave her, though she knew she'd probably never be able to read them on this scary venture they were having. She never even finished that first book. Pity. But now it seemed they'd probably be little more than mementos - reminders from a time when everything was less dangerous.
Alma didn't like the relentless travelling, despite that was what her legs were designed to do, she didn't like continually moving over large distances. How long would it be until she could stop running? Probably never, but if she was ever going to, she'd have to get Simon back. But even then they'd hunt them both. Deities above, why did everything have to seem so hopeless?!
Because you make it hopeless.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
It means only you make it hopeless.
"But it is, I mean... we rescue him, how are we supposed to escape?"
From where?
"Reality, I guess."
Then you reject the reality and substitute your own.
"If only it were that simple."
Then remember the words of a certain Captain that featured in a movie a hundred odd years ago.
"A what?"
The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude about the problem... or thereabouts. Do you understand?
"I understand, but again, what happens when we get out?"
Baby steps, Alma.
"Heh... quoting from me?"
Wait.
"What?"
Smell again.
Alma took in a small whiff.
They're close.
"Who? The APR?"
Yeah, probably.
"Probably?"
Well I've never smelt the APR before.
"Ethan, Jamie," Alma whispered, though it was pretty hard as she was still lagging behind, "something's wrong."
Ethan frowned, "What is it?""Newblood smells something."
Ethan reached for the pistol holstered on his chest, and Jamie tensed her arms on the rifle. Alma never thought her to be the military type but maybe it was the drill Ethan gave her, "The APR?""He doesn't know."
He scanned the undergrowth, all the while keeping his hand firmly on the pistol's grip, while Jamie had taken to crouching low and minimising her silhouette. Something had definitely changed about her, and Alma didn't know what, come to think of it, she hadn't talked much at all since getting out of The Simulator. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad. "Stay low and keep to the trees," Ethan instructed, and so Alma obeyed. Her body shape and size, however, made it extremely difficult to conceal herself. "I'll go on ahead. Jamie," she turned her head, "you stay near here. Make sure nothing happens to Alma."
Jamie's sight darted to Alma, then back to Ethan and nodded, "But you'd best hand me Craig first.""Keep him safe too," Ethan smirked, and unzipped his bag and tossed her the hard drive.
"Stay safe yourself," said Alma.
Ethan just nodded, and pulled the pistol from its holster. And then the expected happened.
People in ghille suits popped up from the bushes and fallen leaves, and revealed themselves from the trees all round, rifles and carbines pointed at them. Their guns were varying from the US-made M4A3, M16A4 and M110 to the Russian AN-94 and AK-12m; all had been put out of mainstream military service since the 2050s, yet all had been considerably well maintained. Great guns as they were, they were pointed towards Alma, Ethan and Jamie. And as any sane person would know, it was best to be at the opposite end of the barrel.
"Drop your weapons!" one of the men yelled, stepping forward, most likely the leader of the group.
"Who are you first?" Ethan asked, trying to sound as unaggressive as possible.
"I said drop your weapons!" the man repeated, more forceful this time.
"Are you the APR?""I will not ask again. Drop your weapons and wireless devices you have on you or I will give my men permission to open fire."
Jamie placed her rifle on the floor and stood back up, hands in the air, and eyed Ethan to do the same. He did.
"And what the hell is that thing with you?""What thing?"
The man pointed his gun towards Alma, who was failing miserably at hiding behind a tree, "That thing.""I'm not a thing," Alma tried to say firmly, though it came out more like a whimper. All the soldiers surrounding them shifted uneasily like the fact she could talk unsettled them.
"Then what are you?" the man questioned Alma directly.
She moved her mouth to speak, but Ethan cut her off, "She's with us.""And what is it?""She's a coelophysis.""A what?""Dinosaur. Robot skeleton, real skin.""So it's a pet?""No," Ethan said resolutely, "does she look like a dog to you?"
Alma heard voices whisper behind her, something about ‘damned scientists'. The man took something out of his hidden ear, most likely an earphone to listen on everyone else's conversation, "Is it dangerous?"
She stepped away from the tree and into full sight of the leader, who didn't grip his M4 as tightly as he did before, "I don't bite," she said innocently as she could, "I really don't..."
There was a long awkward silence. Eyes shifted about, whispers were given, and it was turning more into a debate amongst themselves rather than anything else. What were they talking about? Why were they so unsettled? Obviously they were prepared for unexpected visitors, but why would they be so unnerved? And especially around a group of two humans and a coelophysis; it wasn't like the government would somehow resurrect dinosaurs all for the purpose of sniffing out the APR. But still, why? Or... maybe it was her.
She'd never really seen anyone's initial reaction when any new person saw her. Simon built her. Jamie ran her over and left her unconscious for a good few hours. Mick had examined her before she even woke up. Moses may have been more accepting than most other people, on account of what he'd been through. Spectre, Phantom and Visage could have been watching for a few moments in curiosity before they took their shots. Ethan had probably known about her since she was first switched on. No... Alma had never really seen anyone's initial reaction at the sight of her. Was this how everyone else would respond to her? With suspicion or accusing looks? If they cared more about what she looked like rather than what she had to say or what her story was, then perhaps Simon was right to keep to the woods. Maybe the world hadn't learned to look beyond looks.
Then again, maybe she was being too philosophical for her own good. Damn her thinking!
"So who are you lot then?" the leader asked.
Jamie stepped forward, her hands no longer in the air. Their arms tensed up again, aiming at her. Was she testing them? "We just want to strike a deal," she said.
More shifty eyes and whispers, "I meant who are you?""We're not government agents if that's what you mean," stated Alma, "Trust me, I know what they're like.""Then if you aren't feds, who are you?"
Jamie rehashed, "We're just civvies who want to make a deal with you.""And who are we?""The American People's Resistance," Alma answered, " a political party gone guerrilla when he came to power."
Murmurs were exchanged, "How do you know about us?""I live not too far away from here, about a few clicks south, it wasn't too hard to listen in on what you were saying.""So you are a spy?""No, I didn't-""Then who are you?""My name is Ethan Day.""...Ethan?""That's right. I struck a deal up with you guys before, you remember?""Vaguely. Refresh my memory.""You keep a look out for a specific energy signature, then when found, bring it to me. I pay you fifty thousand for your troubles.""Yeah, yeah that's right.""You gave me Spectre, Phantom and Visage from Ghost company. They did their job, I paid.""In extra, no less, right?""Right. The innocent they saved is right here," Ethan nodded to Jamie, "That's Jamie. And the dinosaur there, her name is Alma. She's the one Spectre and the rest were meant to save.""So what brings you back, Ethan?"
Ethan rolled his eyes, "We came to make another deal.""And what'd that be then?""Something a lot more dangerous.""Then I don't think we're up to it. Run back home then.""No, just hear me out.""We aren't mercenaries, you know. We only took that job of yours because we thought none of us would be at risk.""And they never were.""But they could have been.""But they weren't."
Alma rushed to stand between the two. The soldiers stiffened and raised their guns at her. "Both of you stop," she instructed, almost at shouting volume, "Stop before this turns into a little toddler fight where you two just go ‘did so' and ‘did not'." Everyone stopped talking amongst themselves. Alma turned her head towards the squad leader, "If I were you, I'd listen to what Ethan has to say, otherwise I'd be missing out on possibly the only chance of delaying- if not preventing- this war you people keep talking about from happening.""...Now how did you know about that...?""It doesn't matter. Will you or won't you listen to what Ethan has to offer?""...What kind of chance are you talking about here, Ethan?""The kind where we could stop Damocles from even existing."
The man's eyes widened and looked across to the other soldiers dressed in ghille suits, who were all doing the same. He put the thing back in his ear. More whispers were exchanged. Tones varied from worry to anger to affirmative. Then after several moments of them deciding in their inaudible council, they all lowered their weapons. "If you're serious, you'd best come with us," the leader said, "And we'll be taking your guns, thankyou very much, it wasn't Spectre's or Visage's or Phantom's right to leave assets behind.""Where are you taking us, then?" questioned Jamie, "it'd better not be dangerous if you're taking our only means of defence.""Don't worry," the leader turned back to her as he began to walk away, "you're going to the safest place in the whole world as far as I'm concerned," then signalled with his right hand for the group to move.
"That's reassuring," Alma heard Jamie mutter to Ethan.
Alma had to ask, "If we doubt them, then why do we trust them?""Because they're our only hope," Ethan reaffirmed, "Now let's get going.""But..." she signalled for Ethan and Jamie to come in closer, then whispered, "What if they ask about it?""Like Ethan said before," Jamie reminded, "tell them the truth.""I did say that.""I think the APR deserves to know why the military'd be interested in you.""But what if they want to use it for themselves?""Look, Alma, we already went through this back at the house. Now can we please just stop going over stuff we already covered?""...Okay. I just... forget it.""Let's go. We're already behind."
The three took off after the group of guerrillas who were now about fifty metres away from them. All had the same kind of uniform on; green-brown ghille suits with facemasks, though some were more protected than others with paddings of carbon fibre on the chest or the forearms or shins or all of the above. Maybe it was to do with the value of the person to the cause or maybe it could have been luck of the draw. Only the APR knew. Either way, it probably wasn't best to ask them detailed questions on how their routines worked.
As Alma's legs were designed for faster running, she hadn't noticed she'd made her way up to the front of the group until just now, "This is Critter 9-1 putting out an all call," the team leader spoke into a little headset microphone placed just in front of his masked mouth, "we found the intruders, it's Ethan and that civilian Spectre, Visage and Phantom saved and..." he realised Alma was running alongside him, "...a giant lizard that talks... Yes, I know it sounds like I'm losing my mind but it is what it is. Look, I'm bringing them back to base. ...No I did not ask your permission before hand, but it seems Ethan's got a new proposition. ...Yes I know we could have lost three good people the first time, but this is something bigger, he says. ...Damocles. ...Copy," he turned back to Alma and slowed to a jogging pace, as did everyone else, "Looks like you've got the all-clear to come in."
Alma didn't know what to say in reply.
"What are you anyway?" the man asked.
She felt conflicted on the inside, "I'm a coelophysis. Dinosaur from around 220 million years ago.""So how in the hell did you make it here and... talk and stuff?""Because I was a robot before.""Before?""Before all this," Alma held out her hands, "before all of this was put on.""Skin?""Yeah.""But you're still a robot.""Yeah. I still... Look, it's just too complex to explain like this, if you're really interested.""Entrance to the base is a few hundred feet away.""Not far enough.""Then how far would it be?""Far enough.""And how far is that?""Wha... I don't know," Alma slowed to a standstill, so did the leader, who signalled everyone to continue on, "It's just a long... complicated... story, okay? Just... too long to keep you interested.""Try me.""...Okay... Uh... Where to begin? ...Okay... My fath- creator, my creator is a guy called Simon Murray who's now imprisoned by the government because he created me.""Why?""I was afraid I'd have to answer this.""What?""That. Someone asking the ‘why' question."
He pulled down his microphone, "Then if it helps, I promise I'll keep it between us.""Promise?""Cross my heart hope to die."
Alma winced, "...Yeah, good enough...""What is it?""Nothing. Okay so Simon built me, but he didn't just want to build something that could run and hear and see, he wanted me to feel things.""...As in how? Touch?""That too.""Feelings?""Yeah, happiness and such. I don't know how he did it... but... he did. But... to do it he needed something better than anything else available to the public, so when he heard about this LMC-III thing being developed by the military..." Alma noticed he was staring blankly at her, with no emotion in those brown eyes of his, "No... no, please don't.""I wasn't going to do anything," he said, "But just tell me two things.""Okay...?""Is another AI in there with you?""You're going to use him.""No, no no no. You're taking it all wrong. One thing you need to know about me is that I keep my promises. I won't tell anyone, but... is there... another AI in there?""...Yes..."
He seemed to become stressed, "O-okay, and... what... do you know about Damocles?""It's not a place is it?""No.""Well then there goes my understanding.""Damocles is... it's... it's a-""No. I want to hear it from Simon.""But you said Simon's in... This is a rescue mission, isn't it?""And it's what Ethan said also.""But for you it's mainly about Simon?""...Yes.""How well do you know him?""I hope I know him as well as I can... but... He lied about everything so I wouldn't worry, so... I still don't know what else he said is false."
The man said nothing and looked down at her feet. She felt uncomfortable.
"Please... err... My face is up here."
He seemed startled, "Oh, oh sorry. I... I was just thinking.""About?""What to do.""But you said you wouldn't say anything-""I know what I said, and I won't. I'm just... thinking.""...So?""So what?""What do we do?""I won't say anything, but you can tell the rest if you wish, or if they start asking questions. I don't know how they'd react, but... Forget it. Let's go." He started running in the direction the rest of the group had been heading, but had now disappeared from sight.
As Alma followed the man's calm walking strides, she saw that the path ahead dipped a little. Upon walking further, she discovered that it wasn't just a little; rather it seemed a whole section of earth had been selected and lowered about a metre into itself, creating rock walls on all sides. Inside this large section people were carrying things to and from places, or sitting down and enjoying each other's company, playing games or just chatting. Crates lay stacked upon one another in certain sections of the reverse-mesa, no doubt holding ammunition for all the various kinds of weapons the APR used. Machinegun nests were set up all around the ridge probably in case the perimeter patrols and treetop guards didn't stop the enemy. In one area of the depression, the rock and ground had been cut away to make an artificial cave.
Alma, you might want to snap out of it.
She blinked hard and refocussed her eyes. Just about everyone down below in the pit was staring up at her. Some in awe, most she couldn't work out, a very small amount in fear, and even fewer accusingly. The man she'd been trailing had made it all the way to the artificial cave and was signalling for her to follow. Alma dropped down the little ledge and proceeded through the mini-compound to his location, feeling more vulnerable the more people glared and whispered.
They're just curious.
"Easy for you to say," Alma whispered to herself, "you're not the dinosaur with the leather satchel are you?"
No, but I'm part of the dinosaur with the leather satchel, and the more you feel intimidated the more hostile they will seem.
"I just don't like the way they're staring at me."
Then from across the pit someone let out a yell, "The fuck is that thing?!"
Alma felt like a stone had been thrown at the back of her head. She turned around to see another man, middle-aged, walk forward with an unholstered M9 pistol. She hoped that gun wasn't meant for her.
"When the hell did we start taking in stray freaks like this?!""David," the leader stepped forward from the cave entrance to join Alma, "shut it.""Or what, you'll shoot me?""Don't tempt me," Alma looked up in shock and took a step away from her saviour, "Just go back to guard duty.""You didn't answer me, Keith, when did the APR start taking on fucking science experiments like that thing there?""We started taking on ‘fucking science experiments' when the ‘thing' in question is someone Ethan Day brought along with him."
Murmurs erupted in the camp.
"Why the hell would Ethan bring a thing like that here?" someone asked.
It probably wasn't her place or time to speak, but Alma was sick of all the whispering and suspicious looks she was receiving, "Ethan brought me with him because there was no other safe place for me to go." The fact she spoke shut everyone up. Good. "And frankly, I'm tired of you people calling me a science experiment or some other crazy thing. I am here and I hear you all talking behind my back about me, so please stop it, all right? I'm not a rock," she turned from all the stunned faces to the leader, whose name seemed to be Keith, "Now can we please go in?"
Keith nodded, twisted his head around in a ‘she showed you' kind of way, and then walked into the cave. Alma followed quickly behind before any backlash came her way, but it seemed that the majority of the men and women were more stunned that she could talk rather than what she said, despite Keith warning them all beforehand. Unless they never listened. She sighed as she entered the cave.
It was a dead end - a rock wall blocked all paths except the one she came from, and the floor was metal as opposed to the dirt, bark, stones and fallen leaves outside.
Well this was productive, Alma thought to herself.
She heard something click. It was Keith pulling a lever mounted on one of the walls. The metal floor shifted and then descended. A lift! Why didn't she see it before?
The shaft delved deeper into the earth than she expected, to the point where if it weren't for the light of the original entrance, the whole place would be in complete darkness. But even so, Alma didn't like feeling of being in a confined space, much less that it was in the dark, like back then... when she died... alone... She reached out and caught hold of Keith's trousers.
"What are you doing?" he asked worriedly.
"I don't like the dark," Alma answered, "or small places.""So you're a claustrophobic?""I guess, yes.""Where's that come from?""A past life," she admitted, "I died twice, you know. Once in a cave, another when I almost reached Ethan's house."
She could tell he was staring at her, "You really are one weird creature, you know that.""I know. I don't like it myself but..." Alma saw light emit from a gap in the floor and the wall, "Oh, thank god.""And so The Lord said ‘let there be light.'"
The elevator opened to a large tunnel that housed a large collection of heavily armed vehicles, all had been put out of mainstream military service of course. They ranged from Growler ITVs with relatively thick sheets of steel welded on to create extra protection for the gunner and makeshift doors, to M-ATVs with a CROWS turret and reinforced armour plating, to an M1A3 Abrams with TUSK equipment and, once again, a CROWS turret. All were painted in earthy colours and strung with camouflage netting, not that it would help much when it came to infrared optics or heat-seeking projectiles.
The tunnel continued onwards to a larger chamber that was divided into five sections: the rooms right and left were sleeping quarters for the garrisoned soldiers, and the main chamber led up some steps to a small podium. The platform supported the position of about twelve soldiers on guard duty, maintaining their station with an M249 SAW with an ELCAN scope. Hanging off the podium was a large flag printed on every APR member's uniform - the American flag, but where the stars once lined up in sequenced rows, there was a fist threatening the air. Where there was blue, red replaced it, where there was red, blue replaced it.
Without wind, it just hung there, shouting at anyone who saw it that this place belonged to the American People's Resistance and only the American People's Resistance. The only thing that protected the elevator from the soldiers' overwatch was a large blast door that was currently rolled down into the floor. The installation was tactical genius, if ever Newblood knew how a tactical genius would build such a place.
But when would a guerrilla force have time, let alone the equipment, to build their own secret base? Inside a forest. Without drawing attention from any aerial sweeps of the area. Surely some civilians or even the government would have saw something going on.
"When did you guys build this place?" she asked as she followed Keith side by side, heading to the steps, looking at how big the complex was.
"We didn't build it," he replied as he started up the stair, "we found it.""What do you mean?""I mean we found it. Like this, but empty."
Empty?
"Empty?""Yeah. I hadn't joined around at the time when the APR found it, but we just found it.""But... who would leave a perfectly good base lying around?""That's up to speculation. Some of us reckon is was built back in the 1960s or 70s during the Cold War with Russia as a safe house for military officials, including the president. But... yeah... Some others think it was being built just last century, 2050s onwards, though nothing nation-threatening was happening back then aside from the first WEG forming.""First what?""WEG. World Economic Group.""Oh. Never heard it abbreviated to that..." Alma trailed off as she saw out of the corner of her eye the soldiers standing guard staring at her and murmuring, "Could you please not?" she requested firmly, then they shared glances amongst themselves. "Anyway... how big is this place?"
Keith paced up a few more steps, "I don't know, actually.""You don't?""No," he spoke like he was somewhat disappointed in himself, "but there are six entrances, that much I know.""So this is an entrance?""It all leads to a bigger place in the centre.""Jeez.""And that's where I'm supposed to take you.""The belly of the beast."
Keith moved to the pair of steel doors that were the entrance to a hallway, "...You could say that," then pushed open the doors, "but I prefer to think of this place more as a hidden sanctuary than a beast. It's home to about two hundred refugees after all.""Refugees?""The government calls the fugitives. They are the people they hunt, or they're the wanted person's family, or they're the person and his or her family.""Two hundred, you said.""Most of them are hiding from even the most minor of infringements.""Like not agreeing to the CTOS.""As an example, yes."
Alma turned her head away from Keith and looked ahead, "Wow, this is a long hallway.""Long enough so no-one can throw a grenade from one end to the other. The same goes for all the other entrances. It creates a huge chokepoint for anyone wanting to take this place by foot.""By foot?""Yep.""What if they send a bunker buster?"
Keith gave her a sour look, then seemed to accept it, "Let's just hope it never comes to that."
She noticed one of the hallway lights was flickering, "What supplies to power? You don't take it off the grid, do you?""No. We use solar panels.""...Wouldn't they be detected?""Not if they're up in the trees and the cords are hidden with wood-textured tape.""And what about the food and water? Not to mention sanitation.""The sanitation was already built-in when we found it, it just needed some old pipes replacing, but that was about it. Water was taken care of too - there's a natural spring just next to the main installation and that supplies all the water, and should keep running for another 50 to 60 years.""And the food?""Grown right here. The whole bottom floor was converted to its own farm, with a science station to grown our own meat.""Not the conventional kind?""What? Slaughtering? No. Of course not. Petrimeat might take a year to make, but it's better than killing an animal whose sole purpose in life was to die. And to live in cramped conditions like this wouldn't make life worth living anyway. It's just completely impractical. Besides, petrimeat's better for you.""...Hmm. You're a soldier who wants a clean conscience.""Bit ironic, isn't it?""Sort of... But then again I'm no expert."
The hallway they were walking through was around 100 metres long by 1.8 metres wide by 2.5 metres high. How that translated to yards Alma didn't know. Probably Newblood did.
Not right now. I'm thinking.
"What about?""What?" Keith looked at her.
"Oh, sorry," she apologised, "talking to the voice in my head.""...If I didn't know you had the other AI in there I'd be scared you might be crazy.""Heh..." Alma cautiously laughed, "Could you... err... excuse me for a moment?""I'm not really supposed to leave you be.""Well, could you please wait just a few moments?""Sure.""Thanks," she turned away from Keith, "You're thinking about what?"
I'm thinking about what this place is, or what it was more rather.
"No luck, I take it."
Not a single record, or at least in my memory.
"Maybe they never told you?"
Maybe, or maybe they ran out of funds and decided to scrap the idea instead of continuing or blowing it up or... Never mind.
"Not even Newblood knows.""So that's the name they gave him?""Well... yes... but really he's module dot New underscore Blood, but I just shorten it down to Newblood. Does it mean anything?""Yes, actually, but..." he trailed off.
"But what?""...You want Simon to tell you everything, and no-one else, right?"
Alma nodded, "Yeah.""I just don't see how you'll understand anything that's going on without someone telling you something here. I mean... you don't know what Damocles really is or the real agenda behind anything or... Look. How the hell do you think Simon's going to have enough time explaining this to you inside the place they're holding him?""...I..." Alma was lost for words. What she was asking was ludicrous, why did Keith's observation only then make her realise that? "Where'd Ethan and Jamie go?""Down a few floors to the command deck. You're all meeting with Rook."
The passageway opened up to a large room filled with nothing but spare room, not even some basic fortifications. Perhaps the APR had estimated their strength and deemed in unnecessary to brace any further than the elevator entrances. In the middle of the six-sided area stood a small console. Next to the console was another elevator, except this one was smaller - built for only a few people - see-through, and cylindrical. Alma kept moving to the lift, "Who's Rook?""Commander of all APR troops in the north-west.""Really?" Alma entered the lift and found it really quite uncomfortable to have to stand in such a curved fashion. The doors closed, "Sound like a charmer."
The lift heaved downward, "Don't let the profession fool you," Keith said, "He's a good guy, just a bit forceful at times." The elevator opened up to a new circular level decorated in screens that were flashing images and playing footage of combat situations as well as various maps and tactical notes. She spotted Ethan and Jamie in the distance talking to someone else dressed in regular civilian clothes, but seemed to command some kind of presence, "Oh, and one more thing, don't mention anything about his hat.""What?""Don't mention the hat. It's personal, and he won't say why."Alma stopped momentarily, "Does it really need to be them, Ethan?"
Ethan sighed and adjusted his pack, "Alma, we already went through this and there is no other way.""I know but...""But what?""What if they ask about me?""In what way?""What if they ask about why the government's so interested in me... in this, I mean," Alma pointed to her head.
"Then we tell them the truth," decided Ethan, "we owe it to them for going out of their way.""...But what if they... want to use it?""They won't if they want my help.""And if they don't?""Then the APR is going to lose one very strategic asset."
In the distance, Jamie had been waiting impatiently, "Are you two quite done back there?" she asked almost at shouting volume.
Ethan turned his head to her, "Yes, let's keep moving. We're almost there, just another kilometre or so.""But Ethan," Alma caught up, "what about afterwards, what if they...""Alma," Ethan crouched down to his knees, "nothing will happen to you. I will make sure of that."
Alma felt only slightly assured after that. As Newblood had told her, the APR was now more military than political, and if the cared more for their classified war than the people... She wished they weren't the only option.
They'd been trekking for four hours towards a section of the forest that may possibly house the centre of APR operations in the north. The forest being a national park with regular visitors made it unlikely, but where better to place a secret base than right in plain sight. As to how Ethan established the possible location of the base was thanks to some little tracking beacons he put on Spectre, Phantom and Visage's shoulders, and Craig's unparalleled tracking abilities. Speaking of which, knowing that any association with the APR would likely lead to him being a wanted man, Ethan downloaded Craig's entire mainframe onto a single portable hard drive, just in case they came knocking on the house's door looking for answers while Ethan, Jamie and Alma were away. No doubt they'd strip the place clean for clues and burn the remains, just like they would have done with Jamie's home in Canada, Moses's diner, and Simon's house near Mount Carnlick. Nonetheless, downloading Craig was the easiest way to ensure there was nothing left for them to find.
The hard drive he was in was in Ethan's backpack, so were a few days worth of food. "Just in case, you know," was his explanation. Yeah, because they were going to be lost in the woods for days on end... alone... with wolves... and bears... Better safe than sorry now that she thought about it. As another precaution, Ethan took the two weapons Spectre, Phantom and Visage left behind for his safety. Guns were illegal, yes, but the fact he was hiding two fugitives would give him a death sentence anyway. Those two weapons were a fairly rare Russian AK-12m, and an out-dated M9 pistol. Ethan had had plenty of firearms training when using The Simulator beforehand, but Jamie was given a quick twenty minute drill (4 hour dream-time) to get her as good as she had to be. Alma hoped Ethan and Jamie would never have to use the training though. She didn't want people to die, even if they were them, but if this really was the only way to get Simon and Jamie back, then people would die, and she would have to accept that. But she didn't like it. Not one bit. She didn't want to see it again.
She also had her satchel with her, carrying all the books Simon gave her, though she knew she'd probably never be able to read them on this scary venture they were having. She never even finished that first book. Pity. But now it seemed they'd probably be little more than mementos - reminders from a time when everything was less dangerous.
Alma didn't like the relentless travelling, despite that was what her legs were designed to do, she didn't like continually moving over large distances. How long would it be until she could stop running? Probably never, but if she was ever going to, she'd have to get Simon back. But even then they'd hunt them both. Deities above, why did everything have to seem so hopeless?!
Because you make it hopeless.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
It means only you make it hopeless.
"But it is, I mean... we rescue him, how are we supposed to escape?"
From where?
"Reality, I guess."
Then you reject the reality and substitute your own.
"If only it were that simple."
Then remember the words of a certain Captain that featured in a movie a hundred odd years ago.
"A what?"
The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude about the problem... or thereabouts. Do you understand?
"I understand, but again, what happens when we get out?"
Baby steps, Alma.
"Heh... quoting from me?"
Wait.
"What?"
Smell again.
Alma took in a small whiff.
They're close.
"Who? The APR?"
Yeah, probably.
"Probably?"
Well I've never smelt the APR before.
"Ethan, Jamie," Alma whispered, though it was pretty hard as she was still lagging behind, "something's wrong."
Ethan frowned, "What is it?""Newblood smells something."
Ethan reached for the pistol holstered on his chest, and Jamie tensed her arms on the rifle. Alma never thought her to be the military type but maybe it was the drill Ethan gave her, "The APR?""He doesn't know."
He scanned the undergrowth, all the while keeping his hand firmly on the pistol's grip, while Jamie had taken to crouching low and minimising her silhouette. Something had definitely changed about her, and Alma didn't know what, come to think of it, she hadn't talked much at all since getting out of The Simulator. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad. "Stay low and keep to the trees," Ethan instructed, and so Alma obeyed. Her body shape and size, however, made it extremely difficult to conceal herself. "I'll go on ahead. Jamie," she turned her head, "you stay near here. Make sure nothing happens to Alma."
Jamie's sight darted to Alma, then back to Ethan and nodded, "But you'd best hand me Craig first.""Keep him safe too," Ethan smirked, and unzipped his bag and tossed her the hard drive.
"Stay safe yourself," said Alma.
Ethan just nodded, and pulled the pistol from its holster. And then the expected happened.
People in ghille suits popped up from the bushes and fallen leaves, and revealed themselves from the trees all round, rifles and carbines pointed at them. Their guns were varying from the US-made M4A3, M16A4 and M110 to the Russian AN-94 and AK-12m; all had been put out of mainstream military service since the 2050s, yet all had been considerably well maintained. Great guns as they were, they were pointed towards Alma, Ethan and Jamie. And as any sane person would know, it was best to be at the opposite end of the barrel.
"Drop your weapons!" one of the men yelled, stepping forward, most likely the leader of the group.
"Who are you first?" Ethan asked, trying to sound as unaggressive as possible.
"I said drop your weapons!" the man repeated, more forceful this time.
"Are you the APR?""I will not ask again. Drop your weapons and wireless devices you have on you or I will give my men permission to open fire."
Jamie placed her rifle on the floor and stood back up, hands in the air, and eyed Ethan to do the same. He did.
"And what the hell is that thing with you?""What thing?"
The man pointed his gun towards Alma, who was failing miserably at hiding behind a tree, "That thing.""I'm not a thing," Alma tried to say firmly, though it came out more like a whimper. All the soldiers surrounding them shifted uneasily like the fact she could talk unsettled them.
"Then what are you?" the man questioned Alma directly.
She moved her mouth to speak, but Ethan cut her off, "She's with us.""And what is it?""She's a coelophysis.""A what?""Dinosaur. Robot skeleton, real skin.""So it's a pet?""No," Ethan said resolutely, "does she look like a dog to you?"
Alma heard voices whisper behind her, something about ‘damned scientists'. The man took something out of his hidden ear, most likely an earphone to listen on everyone else's conversation, "Is it dangerous?"
She stepped away from the tree and into full sight of the leader, who didn't grip his M4 as tightly as he did before, "I don't bite," she said innocently as she could, "I really don't..."
There was a long awkward silence. Eyes shifted about, whispers were given, and it was turning more into a debate amongst themselves rather than anything else. What were they talking about? Why were they so unsettled? Obviously they were prepared for unexpected visitors, but why would they be so unnerved? And especially around a group of two humans and a coelophysis; it wasn't like the government would somehow resurrect dinosaurs all for the purpose of sniffing out the APR. But still, why? Or... maybe it was her.
She'd never really seen anyone's initial reaction when any new person saw her. Simon built her. Jamie ran her over and left her unconscious for a good few hours. Mick had examined her before she even woke up. Moses may have been more accepting than most other people, on account of what he'd been through. Spectre, Phantom and Visage could have been watching for a few moments in curiosity before they took their shots. Ethan had probably known about her since she was first switched on. No... Alma had never really seen anyone's initial reaction at the sight of her. Was this how everyone else would respond to her? With suspicion or accusing looks? If they cared more about what she looked like rather than what she had to say or what her story was, then perhaps Simon was right to keep to the woods. Maybe the world hadn't learned to look beyond looks.
Then again, maybe she was being too philosophical for her own good. Damn her thinking!
"So who are you lot then?" the leader asked.
Jamie stepped forward, her hands no longer in the air. Their arms tensed up again, aiming at her. Was she testing them? "We just want to strike a deal," she said.
More shifty eyes and whispers, "I meant who are you?""We're not government agents if that's what you mean," stated Alma, "Trust me, I know what they're like.""Then if you aren't feds, who are you?"
Jamie rehashed, "We're just civvies who want to make a deal with you.""And who are we?""The American People's Resistance," Alma answered, " a political party gone guerrilla when he came to power."
Murmurs were exchanged, "How do you know about us?""I live not too far away from here, about a few clicks south, it wasn't too hard to listen in on what you were saying.""So you are a spy?""No, I didn't-""Then who are you?""My name is Ethan Day.""...Ethan?""That's right. I struck a deal up with you guys before, you remember?""Vaguely. Refresh my memory.""You keep a look out for a specific energy signature, then when found, bring it to me. I pay you fifty thousand for your troubles.""Yeah, yeah that's right.""You gave me Spectre, Phantom and Visage from Ghost company. They did their job, I paid.""In extra, no less, right?""Right. The innocent they saved is right here," Ethan nodded to Jamie, "That's Jamie. And the dinosaur there, her name is Alma. She's the one Spectre and the rest were meant to save.""So what brings you back, Ethan?"
Ethan rolled his eyes, "We came to make another deal.""And what'd that be then?""Something a lot more dangerous.""Then I don't think we're up to it. Run back home then.""No, just hear me out.""We aren't mercenaries, you know. We only took that job of yours because we thought none of us would be at risk.""And they never were.""But they could have been.""But they weren't."
Alma rushed to stand between the two. The soldiers stiffened and raised their guns at her. "Both of you stop," she instructed, almost at shouting volume, "Stop before this turns into a little toddler fight where you two just go ‘did so' and ‘did not'." Everyone stopped talking amongst themselves. Alma turned her head towards the squad leader, "If I were you, I'd listen to what Ethan has to say, otherwise I'd be missing out on possibly the only chance of delaying- if not preventing- this war you people keep talking about from happening.""...Now how did you know about that...?""It doesn't matter. Will you or won't you listen to what Ethan has to offer?""...What kind of chance are you talking about here, Ethan?""The kind where we could stop Damocles from even existing."
The man's eyes widened and looked across to the other soldiers dressed in ghille suits, who were all doing the same. He put the thing back in his ear. More whispers were exchanged. Tones varied from worry to anger to affirmative. Then after several moments of them deciding in their inaudible council, they all lowered their weapons. "If you're serious, you'd best come with us," the leader said, "And we'll be taking your guns, thankyou very much, it wasn't Spectre's or Visage's or Phantom's right to leave assets behind.""Where are you taking us, then?" questioned Jamie, "it'd better not be dangerous if you're taking our only means of defence.""Don't worry," the leader turned back to her as he began to walk away, "you're going to the safest place in the whole world as far as I'm concerned," then signalled with his right hand for the group to move.
"That's reassuring," Alma heard Jamie mutter to Ethan.
Alma had to ask, "If we doubt them, then why do we trust them?""Because they're our only hope," Ethan reaffirmed, "Now let's get going.""But..." she signalled for Ethan and Jamie to come in closer, then whispered, "What if they ask about it?""Like Ethan said before," Jamie reminded, "tell them the truth.""I did say that.""I think the APR deserves to know why the military'd be interested in you.""But what if they want to use it for themselves?""Look, Alma, we already went through this back at the house. Now can we please just stop going over stuff we already covered?""...Okay. I just... forget it.""Let's go. We're already behind."
The three took off after the group of guerrillas who were now about fifty metres away from them. All had the same kind of uniform on; green-brown ghille suits with facemasks, though some were more protected than others with paddings of carbon fibre on the chest or the forearms or shins or all of the above. Maybe it was to do with the value of the person to the cause or maybe it could have been luck of the draw. Only the APR knew. Either way, it probably wasn't best to ask them detailed questions on how their routines worked.
As Alma's legs were designed for faster running, she hadn't noticed she'd made her way up to the front of the group until just now, "This is Critter 9-1 putting out an all call," the team leader spoke into a little headset microphone placed just in front of his masked mouth, "we found the intruders, it's Ethan and that civilian Spectre, Visage and Phantom saved and..." he realised Alma was running alongside him, "...a giant lizard that talks... Yes, I know it sounds like I'm losing my mind but it is what it is. Look, I'm bringing them back to base. ...No I did not ask your permission before hand, but it seems Ethan's got a new proposition. ...Yes I know we could have lost three good people the first time, but this is something bigger, he says. ...Damocles. ...Copy," he turned back to Alma and slowed to a jogging pace, as did everyone else, "Looks like you've got the all-clear to come in."
Alma didn't know what to say in reply.
"What are you anyway?" the man asked.
She felt conflicted on the inside, "I'm a coelophysis. Dinosaur from around 220 million years ago.""So how in the hell did you make it here and... talk and stuff?""Because I was a robot before.""Before?""Before all this," Alma held out her hands, "before all of this was put on.""Skin?""Yeah.""But you're still a robot.""Yeah. I still... Look, it's just too complex to explain like this, if you're really interested.""Entrance to the base is a few hundred feet away.""Not far enough.""Then how far would it be?""Far enough.""And how far is that?""Wha... I don't know," Alma slowed to a standstill, so did the leader, who signalled everyone to continue on, "It's just a long... complicated... story, okay? Just... too long to keep you interested.""Try me.""...Okay... Uh... Where to begin? ...Okay... My fath- creator, my creator is a guy called Simon Murray who's now imprisoned by the government because he created me.""Why?""I was afraid I'd have to answer this.""What?""That. Someone asking the ‘why' question."
He pulled down his microphone, "Then if it helps, I promise I'll keep it between us.""Promise?""Cross my heart hope to die."
Alma winced, "...Yeah, good enough...""What is it?""Nothing. Okay so Simon built me, but he didn't just want to build something that could run and hear and see, he wanted me to feel things.""...As in how? Touch?""That too.""Feelings?""Yeah, happiness and such. I don't know how he did it... but... he did. But... to do it he needed something better than anything else available to the public, so when he heard about this LMC-III thing being developed by the military..." Alma noticed he was staring blankly at her, with no emotion in those brown eyes of his, "No... no, please don't.""I wasn't going to do anything," he said, "But just tell me two things.""Okay...?""Is another AI in there with you?""You're going to use him.""No, no no no. You're taking it all wrong. One thing you need to know about me is that I keep my promises. I won't tell anyone, but... is there... another AI in there?""...Yes..."
He seemed to become stressed, "O-okay, and... what... do you know about Damocles?""It's not a place is it?""No.""Well then there goes my understanding.""Damocles is... it's... it's a-""No. I want to hear it from Simon.""But you said Simon's in... This is a rescue mission, isn't it?""And it's what Ethan said also.""But for you it's mainly about Simon?""...Yes.""How well do you know him?""I hope I know him as well as I can... but... He lied about everything so I wouldn't worry, so... I still don't know what else he said is false."
The man said nothing and looked down at her feet. She felt uncomfortable.
"Please... err... My face is up here."
He seemed startled, "Oh, oh sorry. I... I was just thinking.""About?""What to do.""But you said you wouldn't say anything-""I know what I said, and I won't. I'm just... thinking.""...So?""So what?""What do we do?""I won't say anything, but you can tell the rest if you wish, or if they start asking questions. I don't know how they'd react, but... Forget it. Let's go." He started running in the direction the rest of the group had been heading, but had now disappeared from sight.
As Alma followed the man's calm walking strides, she saw that the path ahead dipped a little. Upon walking further, she discovered that it wasn't just a little; rather it seemed a whole section of earth had been selected and lowered about a metre into itself, creating rock walls on all sides. Inside this large section people were carrying things to and from places, or sitting down and enjoying each other's company, playing games or just chatting. Crates lay stacked upon one another in certain sections of the reverse-mesa, no doubt holding ammunition for all the various kinds of weapons the APR used. Machinegun nests were set up all around the ridge probably in case the perimeter patrols and treetop guards didn't stop the enemy. In one area of the depression, the rock and ground had been cut away to make an artificial cave.
Alma, you might want to snap out of it.
She blinked hard and refocussed her eyes. Just about everyone down below in the pit was staring up at her. Some in awe, most she couldn't work out, a very small amount in fear, and even fewer accusingly. The man she'd been trailing had made it all the way to the artificial cave and was signalling for her to follow. Alma dropped down the little ledge and proceeded through the mini-compound to his location, feeling more vulnerable the more people glared and whispered.
They're just curious.
"Easy for you to say," Alma whispered to herself, "you're not the dinosaur with the leather satchel are you?"
No, but I'm part of the dinosaur with the leather satchel, and the more you feel intimidated the more hostile they will seem.
"I just don't like the way they're staring at me."
Then from across the pit someone let out a yell, "The fuck is that thing?!"
Alma felt like a stone had been thrown at the back of her head. She turned around to see another man, middle-aged, walk forward with an unholstered M9 pistol. She hoped that gun wasn't meant for her.
"When the hell did we start taking in stray freaks like this?!""David," the leader stepped forward from the cave entrance to join Alma, "shut it.""Or what, you'll shoot me?""Don't tempt me," Alma looked up in shock and took a step away from her saviour, "Just go back to guard duty.""You didn't answer me, Keith, when did the APR start taking on fucking science experiments like that thing there?""We started taking on ‘fucking science experiments' when the ‘thing' in question is someone Ethan Day brought along with him."
Murmurs erupted in the camp.
"Why the hell would Ethan bring a thing like that here?" someone asked.
It probably wasn't her place or time to speak, but Alma was sick of all the whispering and suspicious looks she was receiving, "Ethan brought me with him because there was no other safe place for me to go." The fact she spoke shut everyone up. Good. "And frankly, I'm tired of you people calling me a science experiment or some other crazy thing. I am here and I hear you all talking behind my back about me, so please stop it, all right? I'm not a rock," she turned from all the stunned faces to the leader, whose name seemed to be Keith, "Now can we please go in?"
Keith nodded, twisted his head around in a ‘she showed you' kind of way, and then walked into the cave. Alma followed quickly behind before any backlash came her way, but it seemed that the majority of the men and women were more stunned that she could talk rather than what she said, despite Keith warning them all beforehand. Unless they never listened. She sighed as she entered the cave.
It was a dead end - a rock wall blocked all paths except the one she came from, and the floor was metal as opposed to the dirt, bark, stones and fallen leaves outside.
Well this was productive, Alma thought to herself.
She heard something click. It was Keith pulling a lever mounted on one of the walls. The metal floor shifted and then descended. A lift! Why didn't she see it before?
The shaft delved deeper into the earth than she expected, to the point where if it weren't for the light of the original entrance, the whole place would be in complete darkness. But even so, Alma didn't like feeling of being in a confined space, much less that it was in the dark, like back then... when she died... alone... She reached out and caught hold of Keith's trousers.
"What are you doing?" he asked worriedly.
"I don't like the dark," Alma answered, "or small places.""So you're a claustrophobic?""I guess, yes.""Where's that come from?""A past life," she admitted, "I died twice, you know. Once in a cave, another when I almost reached Ethan's house."
She could tell he was staring at her, "You really are one weird creature, you know that.""I know. I don't like it myself but..." Alma saw light emit from a gap in the floor and the wall, "Oh, thank god.""And so The Lord said ‘let there be light.'"
The elevator opened to a large tunnel that housed a large collection of heavily armed vehicles, all had been put out of mainstream military service of course. They ranged from Growler ITVs with relatively thick sheets of steel welded on to create extra protection for the gunner and makeshift doors, to M-ATVs with a CROWS turret and reinforced armour plating, to an M1A3 Abrams with TUSK equipment and, once again, a CROWS turret. All were painted in earthy colours and strung with camouflage netting, not that it would help much when it came to infrared optics or heat-seeking projectiles.
The tunnel continued onwards to a larger chamber that was divided into five sections: the rooms right and left were sleeping quarters for the garrisoned soldiers, and the main chamber led up some steps to a small podium. The platform supported the position of about twelve soldiers on guard duty, maintaining their station with an M249 SAW with an ELCAN scope. Hanging off the podium was a large flag printed on every APR member's uniform - the American flag, but where the stars once lined up in sequenced rows, there was a fist threatening the air. Where there was blue, red replaced it, where there was red, blue replaced it.
Without wind, it just hung there, shouting at anyone who saw it that this place belonged to the American People's Resistance and only the American People's Resistance. The only thing that protected the elevator from the soldiers' overwatch was a large blast door that was currently rolled down into the floor. The installation was tactical genius, if ever Newblood knew how a tactical genius would build such a place.
But when would a guerrilla force have time, let alone the equipment, to build their own secret base? Inside a forest. Without drawing attention from any aerial sweeps of the area. Surely some civilians or even the government would have saw something going on.
"When did you guys build this place?" she asked as she followed Keith side by side, heading to the steps, looking at how big the complex was.
"We didn't build it," he replied as he started up the stair, "we found it.""What do you mean?""I mean we found it. Like this, but empty."
Empty?
"Empty?""Yeah. I hadn't joined around at the time when the APR found it, but we just found it.""But... who would leave a perfectly good base lying around?""That's up to speculation. Some of us reckon is was built back in the 1960s or 70s during the Cold War with Russia as a safe house for military officials, including the president. But... yeah... Some others think it was being built just last century, 2050s onwards, though nothing nation-threatening was happening back then aside from the first WEG forming.""First what?""WEG. World Economic Group.""Oh. Never heard it abbreviated to that..." Alma trailed off as she saw out of the corner of her eye the soldiers standing guard staring at her and murmuring, "Could you please not?" she requested firmly, then they shared glances amongst themselves. "Anyway... how big is this place?"
Keith paced up a few more steps, "I don't know, actually.""You don't?""No," he spoke like he was somewhat disappointed in himself, "but there are six entrances, that much I know.""So this is an entrance?""It all leads to a bigger place in the centre.""Jeez.""And that's where I'm supposed to take you.""The belly of the beast."
Keith moved to the pair of steel doors that were the entrance to a hallway, "...You could say that," then pushed open the doors, "but I prefer to think of this place more as a hidden sanctuary than a beast. It's home to about two hundred refugees after all.""Refugees?""The government calls the fugitives. They are the people they hunt, or they're the wanted person's family, or they're the person and his or her family.""Two hundred, you said.""Most of them are hiding from even the most minor of infringements.""Like not agreeing to the CTOS.""As an example, yes."
Alma turned her head away from Keith and looked ahead, "Wow, this is a long hallway.""Long enough so no-one can throw a grenade from one end to the other. The same goes for all the other entrances. It creates a huge chokepoint for anyone wanting to take this place by foot.""By foot?""Yep.""What if they send a bunker buster?"
Keith gave her a sour look, then seemed to accept it, "Let's just hope it never comes to that."
She noticed one of the hallway lights was flickering, "What supplies to power? You don't take it off the grid, do you?""No. We use solar panels.""...Wouldn't they be detected?""Not if they're up in the trees and the cords are hidden with wood-textured tape.""And what about the food and water? Not to mention sanitation.""The sanitation was already built-in when we found it, it just needed some old pipes replacing, but that was about it. Water was taken care of too - there's a natural spring just next to the main installation and that supplies all the water, and should keep running for another 50 to 60 years.""And the food?""Grown right here. The whole bottom floor was converted to its own farm, with a science station to grown our own meat.""Not the conventional kind?""What? Slaughtering? No. Of course not. Petrimeat might take a year to make, but it's better than killing an animal whose sole purpose in life was to die. And to live in cramped conditions like this wouldn't make life worth living anyway. It's just completely impractical. Besides, petrimeat's better for you.""...Hmm. You're a soldier who wants a clean conscience.""Bit ironic, isn't it?""Sort of... But then again I'm no expert."
The hallway they were walking through was around 100 metres long by 1.8 metres wide by 2.5 metres high. How that translated to yards Alma didn't know. Probably Newblood did.
Not right now. I'm thinking.
"What about?""What?" Keith looked at her.
"Oh, sorry," she apologised, "talking to the voice in my head.""...If I didn't know you had the other AI in there I'd be scared you might be crazy.""Heh..." Alma cautiously laughed, "Could you... err... excuse me for a moment?""I'm not really supposed to leave you be.""Well, could you please wait just a few moments?""Sure.""Thanks," she turned away from Keith, "You're thinking about what?"
I'm thinking about what this place is, or what it was more rather.
"No luck, I take it."
Not a single record, or at least in my memory.
"Maybe they never told you?"
Maybe, or maybe they ran out of funds and decided to scrap the idea instead of continuing or blowing it up or... Never mind.
"Not even Newblood knows.""So that's the name they gave him?""Well... yes... but really he's module dot New underscore Blood, but I just shorten it down to Newblood. Does it mean anything?""Yes, actually, but..." he trailed off.
"But what?""...You want Simon to tell you everything, and no-one else, right?"
Alma nodded, "Yeah.""I just don't see how you'll understand anything that's going on without someone telling you something here. I mean... you don't know what Damocles really is or the real agenda behind anything or... Look. How the hell do you think Simon's going to have enough time explaining this to you inside the place they're holding him?""...I..." Alma was lost for words. What she was asking was ludicrous, why did Keith's observation only then make her realise that? "Where'd Ethan and Jamie go?""Down a few floors to the command deck. You're all meeting with Rook."
The passageway opened up to a large room filled with nothing but spare room, not even some basic fortifications. Perhaps the APR had estimated their strength and deemed in unnecessary to brace any further than the elevator entrances. In the middle of the six-sided area stood a small console. Next to the console was another elevator, except this one was smaller - built for only a few people - see-through, and cylindrical. Alma kept moving to the lift, "Who's Rook?""Commander of all APR troops in the north-west.""Really?" Alma entered the lift and found it really quite uncomfortable to have to stand in such a curved fashion. The doors closed, "Sound like a charmer."
The lift heaved downward, "Don't let the profession fool you," Keith said, "He's a good guy, just a bit forceful at times." The elevator opened up to a new circular level decorated in screens that were flashing images and playing footage of combat situations as well as various maps and tactical notes. She spotted Ethan and Jamie in the distance talking to someone else dressed in regular civilian clothes, but seemed to command some kind of presence, "Oh, and one more thing, don't mention anything about his hat.""What?""Don't mention the hat. It's personal, and he won't say why."
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