FF: Virgin State of mind - Chapter 4
Previously:
Mega turned Moz into his brainwashed human experience. He's also using medication, to keep her
from doing annoying human stuff, like cursing or getting angry in the first point. He's enjoying this little
science project, she's confused, but brainwashed-passive and Trudy's heartbroken.
Oh, and Moz asked for someone to kill (and new curtains), which led to a misunderstanding,
confusing Bray and the Big G. But that happened before, so ...
On we go.
I pack my case. I check my face.
I look a little bit older. I look a little bit colder.
With one deep breath, and one big step,
I move a little bit closer
I know if destiny’s kind, I’ve got the rest on my mind.
But my heart, it don’t beat, it don’t beat the way it used to.
And my eyes don’t recognize you no more // For reasons unknown
Meet John Smith
Bray
It’s Ebony’s hotel. It has to be! Or is this another Techno illusion, a set of files they’re forcing into my brain? It’s the pool, right in front of the window that just won’t OPEN!
One deep breath, close your eyes, Bray! In. Out. I’m going to get out. Somehow. Into the city, I’m already half way there! I’m going to find my child, once I’ve had the chance to the contact Mall Rats, that are left over from the invasion. They’ll know where Amber took her... him...
I lean back, when my head starts spinning again, my eyelids falling shut. When did I sleep the last time? When did I know where I was, was it before I learned about Reality Space?
The pain in my head keeps getting stronger; I have to close my eyes.
“Good morning.” He smiles. It’s weird; usually Technos get either angry or frustrated, if they meet me. I have a reputation of being very untaltented as a quiet and worksome slave.
“What station is this?”
“The main station. Did you have a good flight?”
“No idea. I can’t remember it. The purpose of a sleeping tranquiliser, you know.”
He looks unimpressed. Or he’s one of those with the perfect poker faces.
“Though you should be informed about that, shouldn’t you?”, I try it again.
“Not necessarily. It’s unimportant.” He looks out of the window. “So, how does it feel to be back? I must say,” he pauses, “I was kind of curious to meet you. Quite a reputation... I got whole reports about your various free-time-activities during your work for the Technos.”
“It’s called slavery,” I correct him, even though he probably doesn’t care.
Surprisingly, he nodds. “A man who calls the thing like it is. I like it. I’d offer you breakfast, we could talk... Unfortunately, I made a promise to someone. It’s nothing personal.”
“Such a shame!”
He returns my sarcastic smile with open, warm eyes. Something about this friendly Commander runs shivers over my chin like the only meeting with Ram I ever had didn’t. He’s a Techno. The friendlier they act, the likelier they are to kill you. Everybody knows that.
“Are you the leader of this region?”
He nodds, giving another Techno a sign to open the door.
“You!” It’s Moz. Moz in a light, colourful dress. Wearing a pearl necklace. Probably to accessorize the same insane friendly-neighbour-who-will-hack-your-dog-to-pieces smile.
She stares at me, a straight fold appearing between her brows. “What is this?”
And now it gets really strange.
“You asked for a favour, and here you go.” Mega smiles expectantly at her. “Did you like your new curtains?”
She lifts a hand, in my direction, then lowers it again. Shakes her head, messing up the hair that must have needed hours to get into this perfectly Old-Hollywood-curled state. “That’s not the Guardian!”
And in the middle off all of this, the Commanders confused face and her pouted one makes me laugh: “Thank God you’re pretty!”
Her dark eyes fix me in a confusion, that’s even stronger than her anger. And that’s saying something, with Moz! Who dressed her, anyway? She looks like a cheerleader at spring break! Did they empty her brain, to stop her killing random people she doesn’t like, or what is this?
The Commander seems to catch on quick. “I’m sorry, Moz. There seems to have been a mistake. I’ll make up for it. Now leave.”
She hestitates, her eyes resting on me in a way I’ve never met them before: curious. “Who are you?”
Mega opens the door. “Please?”
She leaves, strutting down the hall with sligthly mildened hip movements than last time I met her. This is so confusing, how did they tame Moz down like this? Did they zap her, until she forgot who she is?
“I guess you must have many questions.” The Commander shuts the door. “They will have to wait. Now, you were transported here by a mistake, but to delete you now would seem like a waste of human resources.”
“I get that a lot. So, what is it this time? Trying to make me a game addict again? The hardest work camp ever? More empty threats? Online-nightmares?”
He seems to be busy with his zapper. “No. As it turns out, we have a position opening. Oh, and by the way,” he points the Zapper at me. “I haven’t congratulated you yet. It’s a boy.”
And with this, it gets dark again.
Moz
I shouldn’t even bother thinking about it. I tested Mega; it backfired. Big surprise. Like he was going to give up a worker to give me a little present! Not that I didn’t like the one he had back there, he could have been a little cleaner, or dressed better...
But why should I kill him? Really, does Mega think the Guardian is a figment of my imagination and he can play me like that?
The thing is, the harder I try to remember the Guardian, the weaker my memories of him get. He’s like a shadow spooking around in the back of my mind, between protest marches, someone who looks like a bluehaired Elvis double, Ebony’s triumphant smile (Who is this woman? When did I meet her?)... It’s a blur, a crazy time, long ago. It can’t have been that important, though, otherwise I’d remember. Right?
“Moz?”
He knocks. How polite! How annoyingly polite...
“I would like to excuse about our misunderstanding the other day. It seems as if there is nobody with the name “Guardian” in our system. He might be listed under his real name, if he was in the initial round-up, but as we don’t know that, it might be very hard to trace him.” He hestitates. “And I’m sorry about John.”
“Huh?”
He traces my facial expressions, looking for something - whatever it is.
“You met yesterday. John Smith, we went to school together. He’s my new assistant. He likes to experiment with Reality Space, got a little carried away. Something went wrong during his trip and they had to give him a lot of medication... He’s good now, but you should have seen him yesterday!”
There’s something else... “He seemed to know me.”
Mega gives me the crappy silent treatment again.
“He seemed to hate me.”
“Like I said, he was confused. But you’re right, he should excuse for his behaviour. John,” he speaks into his headset. “Could you come to room 201 for a minute?”
“Hi.” He smiles, and it’s a cold smile. Other than Mega’s, that seems innocent at the outside, his smile leaves nothing to the imagination. He’s busy; I’m uninteresting. I really don’t like his attitude!
“John, you remember Moz?”
He stares at me for half a second. “Not really.”
“You met yesterday. You were... a little disturbed from your trip.”
“Jetlag?”
”Reality Space.”
“Ah.” He waists some more time by analyzing my room with those impersonal cold eyes of his and then nods at me. “Nice to meet you.” He’s polite, or forced to be. not that I don’t know his situation, it’s just...
“Get him outta here.”
“Excuse me?” His eyes are blue; not grey. Somehow that suprises me.
“You’re waisting my time. If you’re not planing to apologize for yesterday, get out of my room and do something productive, will you.”
“Ok.” He seems a little confused now. “I suppose we came off to a bad start. Very sorry about that - do you need the report until noon?”, he starts talking to Mega mid-sentence.
“Eleven thirty, if you can manage. I’d like to look over it before my lunch break.”
John nods, throws my legs an approving glance, that manages to look uninterested at the same time and leaves the room, giving curt orders to nobody in perticular into his headset. If he’d talk to himself, he’d look more sane to me!
“You must have had a great time at school. He seems so - fun!”
Mega still looks at me, testing. He must have done that the whole time. “He’s talented. I have to work now. I’ll see you after your course?”
“Sure.”
It’s not that I dislike John. He seems... interesting.
I’m just not convinced he’s entirely human.
.
Mega turned Moz into his brainwashed human experience. He's also using medication, to keep her
from doing annoying human stuff, like cursing or getting angry in the first point. He's enjoying this little
science project, she's confused, but brainwashed-passive and Trudy's heartbroken.
Oh, and Moz asked for someone to kill (and new curtains), which led to a misunderstanding,
confusing Bray and the Big G. But that happened before, so ...
On we go.
I pack my case. I check my face.
I look a little bit older. I look a little bit colder.
With one deep breath, and one big step,
I move a little bit closer
I know if destiny’s kind, I’ve got the rest on my mind.
But my heart, it don’t beat, it don’t beat the way it used to.
And my eyes don’t recognize you no more // For reasons unknown
Meet John Smith
Bray
It’s Ebony’s hotel. It has to be! Or is this another Techno illusion, a set of files they’re forcing into my brain? It’s the pool, right in front of the window that just won’t OPEN!
One deep breath, close your eyes, Bray! In. Out. I’m going to get out. Somehow. Into the city, I’m already half way there! I’m going to find my child, once I’ve had the chance to the contact Mall Rats, that are left over from the invasion. They’ll know where Amber took her... him...
I lean back, when my head starts spinning again, my eyelids falling shut. When did I sleep the last time? When did I know where I was, was it before I learned about Reality Space?
The pain in my head keeps getting stronger; I have to close my eyes.
“Good morning.” He smiles. It’s weird; usually Technos get either angry or frustrated, if they meet me. I have a reputation of being very untaltented as a quiet and worksome slave.
“What station is this?”
“The main station. Did you have a good flight?”
“No idea. I can’t remember it. The purpose of a sleeping tranquiliser, you know.”
He looks unimpressed. Or he’s one of those with the perfect poker faces.
“Though you should be informed about that, shouldn’t you?”, I try it again.
“Not necessarily. It’s unimportant.” He looks out of the window. “So, how does it feel to be back? I must say,” he pauses, “I was kind of curious to meet you. Quite a reputation... I got whole reports about your various free-time-activities during your work for the Technos.”
“It’s called slavery,” I correct him, even though he probably doesn’t care.
Surprisingly, he nodds. “A man who calls the thing like it is. I like it. I’d offer you breakfast, we could talk... Unfortunately, I made a promise to someone. It’s nothing personal.”
“Such a shame!”
He returns my sarcastic smile with open, warm eyes. Something about this friendly Commander runs shivers over my chin like the only meeting with Ram I ever had didn’t. He’s a Techno. The friendlier they act, the likelier they are to kill you. Everybody knows that.
“Are you the leader of this region?”
He nodds, giving another Techno a sign to open the door.
“You!” It’s Moz. Moz in a light, colourful dress. Wearing a pearl necklace. Probably to accessorize the same insane friendly-neighbour-who-will-hack-your-dog-to-pieces smile.
She stares at me, a straight fold appearing between her brows. “What is this?”
And now it gets really strange.
“You asked for a favour, and here you go.” Mega smiles expectantly at her. “Did you like your new curtains?”
She lifts a hand, in my direction, then lowers it again. Shakes her head, messing up the hair that must have needed hours to get into this perfectly Old-Hollywood-curled state. “That’s not the Guardian!”
And in the middle off all of this, the Commanders confused face and her pouted one makes me laugh: “Thank God you’re pretty!”
Her dark eyes fix me in a confusion, that’s even stronger than her anger. And that’s saying something, with Moz! Who dressed her, anyway? She looks like a cheerleader at spring break! Did they empty her brain, to stop her killing random people she doesn’t like, or what is this?
The Commander seems to catch on quick. “I’m sorry, Moz. There seems to have been a mistake. I’ll make up for it. Now leave.”
She hestitates, her eyes resting on me in a way I’ve never met them before: curious. “Who are you?”
Mega opens the door. “Please?”
She leaves, strutting down the hall with sligthly mildened hip movements than last time I met her. This is so confusing, how did they tame Moz down like this? Did they zap her, until she forgot who she is?
“I guess you must have many questions.” The Commander shuts the door. “They will have to wait. Now, you were transported here by a mistake, but to delete you now would seem like a waste of human resources.”
“I get that a lot. So, what is it this time? Trying to make me a game addict again? The hardest work camp ever? More empty threats? Online-nightmares?”
He seems to be busy with his zapper. “No. As it turns out, we have a position opening. Oh, and by the way,” he points the Zapper at me. “I haven’t congratulated you yet. It’s a boy.”
And with this, it gets dark again.
Moz
I shouldn’t even bother thinking about it. I tested Mega; it backfired. Big surprise. Like he was going to give up a worker to give me a little present! Not that I didn’t like the one he had back there, he could have been a little cleaner, or dressed better...
But why should I kill him? Really, does Mega think the Guardian is a figment of my imagination and he can play me like that?
The thing is, the harder I try to remember the Guardian, the weaker my memories of him get. He’s like a shadow spooking around in the back of my mind, between protest marches, someone who looks like a bluehaired Elvis double, Ebony’s triumphant smile (Who is this woman? When did I meet her?)... It’s a blur, a crazy time, long ago. It can’t have been that important, though, otherwise I’d remember. Right?
“Moz?”
He knocks. How polite! How annoyingly polite...
“I would like to excuse about our misunderstanding the other day. It seems as if there is nobody with the name “Guardian” in our system. He might be listed under his real name, if he was in the initial round-up, but as we don’t know that, it might be very hard to trace him.” He hestitates. “And I’m sorry about John.”
“Huh?”
He traces my facial expressions, looking for something - whatever it is.
“You met yesterday. John Smith, we went to school together. He’s my new assistant. He likes to experiment with Reality Space, got a little carried away. Something went wrong during his trip and they had to give him a lot of medication... He’s good now, but you should have seen him yesterday!”
There’s something else... “He seemed to know me.”
Mega gives me the crappy silent treatment again.
“He seemed to hate me.”
“Like I said, he was confused. But you’re right, he should excuse for his behaviour. John,” he speaks into his headset. “Could you come to room 201 for a minute?”
“Hi.” He smiles, and it’s a cold smile. Other than Mega’s, that seems innocent at the outside, his smile leaves nothing to the imagination. He’s busy; I’m uninteresting. I really don’t like his attitude!
“John, you remember Moz?”
He stares at me for half a second. “Not really.”
“You met yesterday. You were... a little disturbed from your trip.”
“Jetlag?”
”Reality Space.”
“Ah.” He waists some more time by analyzing my room with those impersonal cold eyes of his and then nods at me. “Nice to meet you.” He’s polite, or forced to be. not that I don’t know his situation, it’s just...
“Get him outta here.”
“Excuse me?” His eyes are blue; not grey. Somehow that suprises me.
“You’re waisting my time. If you’re not planing to apologize for yesterday, get out of my room and do something productive, will you.”
“Ok.” He seems a little confused now. “I suppose we came off to a bad start. Very sorry about that - do you need the report until noon?”, he starts talking to Mega mid-sentence.
“Eleven thirty, if you can manage. I’d like to look over it before my lunch break.”
John nods, throws my legs an approving glance, that manages to look uninterested at the same time and leaves the room, giving curt orders to nobody in perticular into his headset. If he’d talk to himself, he’d look more sane to me!
“You must have had a great time at school. He seems so - fun!”
Mega still looks at me, testing. He must have done that the whole time. “He’s talented. I have to work now. I’ll see you after your course?”
“Sure.”
It’s not that I dislike John. He seems... interesting.
I’m just not convinced he’s entirely human.
.