7 Deadly Sims Chapter 10 Part 2 - Ghosts of Our Past
Chapter 10 Part 2 (Section 10.7)
October - Ghosts of Our Past (Continuation of Chapter 10, sections 10.7 thru 10.11. **Warnings: Some strong language, mild violence, simulated blood. Entry is backdated.)
October 17, 2039 Monday - 4:05 PM
Vidcund slammed the phone down. He glared at the receiver as if it had offended him. When he first learned of Kristen’s accident in September, he had to admit that he was more concerned about the baby’s survival rather than Kristen’s. After she found him in bed with Isabella he was desperate to patch things up, fearing that he may never see their baby. His fears were slowly becoming reality.
Vidcund: That woman is being absolutely unreasonable!
Lazlo: She caught you in bed with another woman! Do you blame her?
Vidcund: I could have been drugged! She won’t even consider that.
Lazlo: Even though that reason sounds like a load of bull, I think I believe you since you used drugs on Akasha.
Vidcund paused. He had his suspicions that Akasha was starting to remember what he’d done to her, but now it was confirmed. Vidcund slumped onto a barstool a feeling a wave of pain as a headache came on.
Vidcund: Everything is falling apart.
Lazlo: No, you’re finally getting what you deserve. You can’t hurt people and think its okay. You hurt Pascal, Akasha, and now Kristen. Speaking of Akasha, we know about the babies in the upstairs lab. She wants her kids and if you resist, she’ll go to the ethics board.
Vidcund: This is a privately funded project. There is no ethics board.
Lazlo: Then she’ll contact the private benefactor funding the company.
Vidcund gave out a small laugh and started to trace the pattern on the table with his fingers. He looked up and met Lazlo’s furious gaze.
Vidcund: Believe me, she’d lose more then her career if she did that.
Vidcund paused and stared out the window.
Vidcund: God, I’m so tired of being the bad guy. I may know a way we can work this out.
Lazlo: How do you figure that?
Vidcund: I’m not the only one with secrets. The only thing Kristen has said to me recently other than go to hell is to keep my guard up around Akasha. She won’t tell me what she knows but perhaps it deals with a vision she had months ago.
Whatever the reason, I started doing some digging months ago into Akasha’s personnel file. Someone altered the data and it appears that she wasn’t the assistant hired for me. The young lady that actually was hired disappeared the same time Akasha showed up. No one even remembers interviewing Akasha, but magically all her data is in our system. I’m shocked no one found it sooner, but perhaps they didn’t see a reason to check.
I was flattered at first, thinking she was just an ambitious young woman seeking to advance her career. Then I counted my blessings because her alien DNA was going to help take my project to new heights. She has every right to be upset but she’s also a woman with something to hide. I hope you aren’t so caught up in your feelings for her that you turn a blind eye to what she may be up to.
Lazlo stared at Vidcund but said nothing. The front door opened announcing that the kids were home from school. Lazlo went to fridge to start dinner, knowing the discussion was over. Vidcund greeted the boys as they took seats beside him.
Lazlo: Boys, how was school today?
Pharaoh: It was okay.
Ramses: Dad, how’s Kristen? She’s been on my mind all day.
Pharaoh: Yeah, we haven’t seen her since she left the hospital, what’s the deal?
Lazlo turned and gave Vidcund a look before placing buns on the counter. Vidcund had been dreading this conversation. He knew the boys adored Kristen and now she may never come around again. He sighed and decided the best route to take on the subject.
Vidcund: Boys, I’m going to be honest. Kristen is very upset with me. Maybe you should give her a call or even have your Uncle Lazlo drive you by to see her.
Ramses: That would be great! We can make her some cookies. Will you take us Uncle Lazlo?
Lazlo: Of course, but let me be the one to give her a call. She may think it’s your dad on the phone and say some things you shouldn’t hear.
Ramses: Dad, you must have really messed up.
Vidcund: Yeah, I did but its time to start making things right. I have to run some errands, but let me know how things go with Kristen.
Vidcund got up and headed upstairs to the quiet of the observatory. He stared at the levels where he used to spend hours praying for an encounter with aliens. He felt a sudden sadness as he realized the direction his life was taking. He pulled out his cell and started making calls. His final call was to Akasha. He asked if he could come by to visit. He noted the hint of suspicion in her voice, but she relented and told him to head on over.
Vidcund got in his car and drove to a few miles down the road to a deserted lot. Once he saw that the coast was clear, he got out and teleported to Akasha’s front yard. When he reappeared, he saw Akasha standing at the front window on the phone. When she saw him she hung up and ran outside.
Akasha: You big jerk! You stole my powers too and now you are standing in my flowerbed!
Vidcund bit back laughter as he walked onto the cobblestone pathway leading to the porch.
Vidcund: Upset that I know your secret power?
Akasha: I am more concerned that you do not realize the grave danger in what you have done to yourself.
Vidcund: May I come in, please.
Akasha: Yes.
Vidcund entered the house and marveled the white marble floors and beautiful wall art. Otherwise, there was very little furniture in the house, but Vidcund couldn’t help but wonder how she could afford such a large house on her salary.
Akasha: Have a seat.
Vidcund: Maybe you should join me. We need to have a serious talk.
Akasha: About?
Vidcund: Recently, Kristen caught me in a compromising position. At the time I didn’t understand how she found me, but I think I know the answer now. Do you think you can enlighten me on the situation?
Akasha looked away with a slight smile on her face.
Akasha: A few months back I awoke from a terrible dream that seemed more like a memory. I had to know if it was real. I called Lazlo and asked him to help me find the truth. What I found made me realize that the man I trusted had violated me. When Kristen entered the lab that day searching for you, I directed her upstairs. I felt that she needed to know the truth too.
Vidcund: Are you a spy?
Akasha: What?
Vidcund: Kristen believes I should keep my guard up around you. After recent events, I realize I can’t ignore it any longer. I know you weren’t the girl hired to work for me.
Akasha: Are you kidding me! Are you going to avoid discussing what you did to me? Vidcund, I trusted you!
Vidcund: I trusted you.
Akasha: You are so desperate to become like us! I never thought I would see the ugly side of humanity. You drugged me, created babies, and I was never supposed to know about it!
Why am I working for you? Vidcund, you are a genius! I was impressed with your skills and wanted to work with you. I did what I had to do and get the job.
Vidcund: There’s more to it than you’re telling me. I sense an increase in your heart rate and breathing patterns. You’re definitely hiding something.
Vidcund could see that she was uncomfortable. Akasha just shook her head.
Akasha: They were frozen in chambers that last time I went into that lab.
Vidcund: You scream of violation but you haven’t checked to see what’s become of them.
Akasha: I was not expecting to be thrown into motherhood like this. I thought maybe they should be destroyed but I did not have the heart to do that. I was still formulating what to do.
Vidcund: Well, you better think fast because they should be outside by now.
Akasha: What?
Vidcund pulled out his cell and made a call. He spoke briefly before hanging up. He stood up grinning at her.
Vidcund: Right on time. Let me get the door.
Akasha stood up, but was scared to move a muscle. Vidcund ran from the room giggling like a child. When he returned, 4 children followed closely behind. There were 2 sets of twins before her, all smiling with eyes like hers. Akasha felt tears well up in her eyes as fear entered her heart.
Vidcund: As you know, I made several children that were a cross between our DNA. I’ve made others that were a cross between other species of aliens and my FARM creations. Out of forty soldiers for Buzz, only these four are ours.
Allow me to introduce our teen twins, Ritssel and Nomis. They attend Strangetown Military Academy. The twin toddlers are Vil and Ribed. The lab robot, Sunny watches over them during the days. When I revealed that they had a mother, they were all eager to meet you.
Akasha didn’t know what to say or do. The babies began reaching for her and she opened her arms to embrace them all. She felt tears finally begin to spill from her eyes. This was a complication she was not ready for. If she were to bring these children back home with her after the mission was complete they would be killed. She would have to give things serious thought now. One thought stuck with her, she must keep them away from Neo.
Vidcund watched the scene and beamed. He asked the older children to tend to the toddlers so he could speak privately with Akasha. He followed Akasha to the kitchen where she started to prepare dinner.
Akasha: I was not expecting guests but I was in the process of making lasagna. It will have an alien twist, but I think you will enjoy it.
Vidcund nodded. He watched Akasha for a few moments before he began to pace.
Vidcund: Akasha, I will destroy your other eggs. I don’t want to go down in history as the villain. You have to understand why I envy aliens so much. I am a plain human man with a plain human destiny. I can expect to work for the next thirty to forty years, watch my son grow, then get old and die. Doing this made me feel as if I was more than average.
Akasha: Why can you not see how valuable you are as a regular man? You have received awards for your contributions to science, you have helped humanity, and your work over the last year will surely help in ways you have yet to think. You were not born to be an alien but you were born to do great things.
Vidcund: Thank you.
Akasha: All things considered, we did make some good-looking kids.
Vidcund: We sure did. Akasha, I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.
Akasha put down the tray and gave Vidcund a hug. Vidcund called the kids in to assist Akasha in preparing the meal. Vidcund went outside to get some fresh air and give them time to get acquainted. As he walked across the porch he started shaking uncontrollably. His head began to spin as beads of sweat covered his brow.
Vidcund: Damn, not now.
He pulled a syringe from his pocket and injected himself. He sat still for several minutes waiting for the medicine to take effect. He finally felt his heart rate returning to normal and the shakes subsided. He took several deep breaths before attempting to stand.
Part 10.8