Real

by Dena Nicotra

  “Giz, how’s it coming?” I hated to ask, but I was desperate for an update.

  “It’s coming. I’d say maybe another hour, tops.”

  I lit another cigarette and stepped outside after Giz started waving his hand in protest of the smoke. Two was standing there with a strange look on her face as she observed the simps lying on the ground around the barn. There must have been thirty or more of them. Some of them had slumped against the barn in various positions. With their eyes open, they looked like abandoned, over-sized dolls.

  “What is it, Two?”

  “Huh?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just…can’t hear them anymore.”

  “Because they’re offline?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “Yeah. They had a lot to say.” I took a hit off my cigarette and eyed her curiously.

  “What is it like, Two?”

  “What’s what like, Lee?”

  “To be a simp. What is it like.” She turned her head and eyed me with the same curiosity. “I don’t have a comparison. What is it like to be human, Lee?” I blew smoke upward and stared at the sky for a minute before answering. “It’s hard, Two, but I have no other choice.”

  “I would say I feel the same, but I don’t feel.” I nodded and ground my cigarette butt in the dirt. This conversation was not helping.

  “Right. I keep forgetting that.”

  “Thank you,” she said, before turning to step back inside. Both of us glared at Mic as we took a seat on the sacks of grain near Giz. Our prisoner had dozed off, his head resting against the wall. It figures. He gets to sleep while the rest of us have to fight the monsters he made. I had a good mind to walk over there and kick him in the junk, and I would have if I weren’t so tired.

  “Okay, Two, I’m ready for you now.” Two rose slowly and then sat on the ground directly in front of Giz.

  “Lower your head.” Giz moved her hair aside and plugged into the port on the top of her head and then sat back to monitor his screen.

  “Anything?” I asked.

  “Not yet, but you’ll know when we have him.” I was about to ask how I would know when the answer scared the crap out of me.

  Her eyes seemed to look right through me. “Lee, how nice to see you again.” Two’s mouth was moving, but Aaron’s voice was coming out.” I scrambled to back up from her, but Giz raised his hand to stop me. “Relax. He can’t hurt you. Two’s in control here, it’s okay. Talk to him.”

  “I can’t say the feeling is mutual, you sick twisted fuck.”

  “Always pleasant to converse with such an eloquently spoken young lady. Oh, and thank you again for the spinal fluid.”

  “It wasn’t a gift, you sack of shit.”

  “Well, just the same. It’s most appreciated. Your contribution will keep meeeee alive long enough to find what I neeeeed.”

  “What do you want, Aaron?”

  “You know what I want, Leeeeeee. I want my life back!”

  “How am I supposed to give you that, Aaron?” Two’s lips peeled back into a sneer.

  “You have Mic. bring him to meeeeee and I’ll handle the reeeeest. You can all walk away, with my promise for your safety.” Giz nudged me with his foot. This was our chance.

  “Where do you want us to take him?” Two rolled her head around as if she were trying to work out a kink. Then, she leaned in close so that our faces were mere inches apart.

  “Twooooo knows where I am. She can get you heeeeeere.” With that, he was gone. Two leaned forward, and Giz removed the plug from the top of her head. I wasn’t sure what had just happened and found myself feeling a little freaked out by the fact that Two had just channeled the real Aaron.

  I ran my hands through my hair and let out a long sigh. I was mentally and physically exhausted. I was cold, hungry, and more than a little confused about what had just happened. Two’s calm expression was in direct conflict to the emotions churning inside my own head.

  “We need to get some rest so that we can decide what to do with clear minds,” said Giz.

  “This is crazy,” I said, shaking my head. Mic began to stir and we decided it best to stop our discussion. He’d slept right through Aaron’s visit, and that was a good thing, under the circumstances. Presently, he was trying to talk around the gag in his mouth. It was Giz that got up to remove it.

  “Giz, please give me some water.”

  “Sorry, Mic, we’re fresh out.” Mic slammed his head back against the wall in a display of frustration. “How long are you going to keep me here like this?”

  “Stop asking questions, Mic,” said Giz, wearily. It was clear that Giz was as exhausted as I was, and the two of us desperately needed some sleep. I got up, and brushed the dirt from my pants. “Two, do you think you could keep watch over Mic and Deraline?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Okay, I think it is time to get our people out of that church, and make a game plan.” Giz nodded and slowly rose to his feet. I didn’t look back, despite Mic’s grunts. Instead, I called out over my shoulder to Two, “stuff the gag in tighter if he gets on your nerves too much.”

  “Don’t think I won’t. I’ll give you ten minutes and then send a sleep code out to the simps in the church and the rest that I can reach within range,” she said.

  “That’ll work,” I replied.

  “Be safe, Lee.”

  There were several bodies littering the street and the deathly silence made it possible to hear the buzzing flies that had descended on the remains of the corpses in hordes. Giz and I walked side by side down Main Street, neither of us commenting on the sight. I had to step around a particularly gruesome display (which I recognized, from the protruding belly, as Sloppy Sam) and doing so made me pick up my pace. I wanted to get to those people in the church as soon as I could.

  We pushed open the double doors, like a couple of cowboys from an old movie. I was immediately pleased with Two’s timing. Several simps slumped to the ground as if they were queued by our entry. The shrieks of those individuals huddled in the small pews and on the floor along the outer walls was heart-breaking.

  “It’s Lee!” said a familiar voice from the back of the room. “Dallas!” I said, running toward him. I met his open arms eagerly. He held me tightly before pushing me back to get a better look at me.

  “I’ll be damned,” he said softly.

  Idella didn’t look good. Her face was ashen, but she offered a weak smile when I bent down to pat her hand. “It’s going to be okay now,” I offered. I tried to sound convincing, but her expression told me she didn’t believe me any more than I did. Nothing could erase what she’d been through here, and it showed on her face. For once, I wished I had the words to comfort a person.

  A commotion to my right caught my attention, pulling me from my dilemma. Ross was forcing a very irate Janelle toward me. Satisfaction spread through every fiber of my being like a warm caress from a lover. Where was that brilliant smile now? I licked my cracked lips and delivered what I hoped was my best imitation of her smiling bitch face.

  “You!” she spat. I took my time crossing the room and then I backhanded that bitch with everything I had.

  “I strongly recommend that if you want to live, you address me with the respect and politeness I deserve,” I said, coolly. The corner of Ross’ mustache curled upward. “I’ll take her to the jail and lock her up. I’m sure you’ll want to deal with her later.”

  He turned her toward the door and gave her a push. Smart woman. She kept her mouth shut as he led her away. I’d deal with her later all right.

  In typical Redburg style, it didn’t take long for the survivors to pull together and start rounding up the dead. Sue and the other mothers gathered the children and took them to the old fire station. There were showers there, and clean beds for them to rest on. Little Otto waved at me over Sue’s shoulder. His little dirt- and tear-streaked face made me choke back a sob. Damn Mic and Aaro
n and their unbridled, selfish greed!

  After seeing to the business at hand, I made my way back to my place. Giz was going to go back to the barn and have Two bring Mic to the jail and then take second dibs on a shower. I was thankful for the short time that would give me alone. I cranked up the heat and then put the kettle on for a cup of coffee. I didn’t realize how lost in thought I was until the kettle whistled, startling me back to the present. I poured three heaping spoonful’s of instant coffee in my mug, and then rummaged my cupboards for my stash of whiskey. Topping it off, I gulped it as I headed down the hall. My legs felt like lead.

  In the shower, I let the tears flow unrestrained. Mic had betrayed us all. I thought back to the words Aaron had said to me…

  “Well, Lee. I am sure you’ve been lied to by him as so many of us have. He’s a manipulative man, I can assure you of that. As his business partner, I know firsthand how ruthlessly cruel he can actually be.”

  I turned off the water and decided that was the last time I would cry over Mic. Deep in my heart, I’d always known that he wasn’t a good man. Shame on me for not listening to my gut. The only thing I cared about now was ensuring neither he nor his lunatic former partner could start over. Mic’s motives were pretty clear to me now…he missed his power, and he wanted it back. Both Aaron and Mic needed each other for different reasons. Aaron needed Mic’s help to create a simp host that transcended the gap between technology and man, enabling him to truly exist again in a quasi-human form. Mic needed to find the location of Aaron’s physical brain so that he could ensure that never happened. I realized then why he’d wanted to create Two. It wasn’t about stopping the virus. He was hoping she’d find Aaron for him all along.

  It was always about power for Mic. The corporate world gave him God-like status and he’d thrived on it. Sure, his image was important to him, but only to the extent that it served him. Behind closed doors, he would do what he had to. Well, now it was time for me to do what I had to in order to stop them both.

  I dressed in black jeans, and a black turtleneck, and then pulled on my black leather jacket. Next, I loaded my pistol, and tucked it in the back of my jeans. Finally, I tucked my knife in my boot and grabbed some extra ammo and my slingshot, stuffing them in my bag, I silently cursed myself for leaving that scythe back in the barn. A knock at the door made me jump up, weapon ready.

  “You in there, Lee?” It was Giz. I unlocked the door to let him in. “Two’s behind me. She’s got Deraline with her. We were able to bring her back online.”

  “Is her memory intact? Is she safe?” Giz shook his head. “She’s safe, but her memories are not right.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed heavily. I stepped aside, and gestured for him to come in. “Go shower, Giz. I’ll see to them when they get here.” He nodded, and sulked down the hall, his shoulders slumped. I stayed in the doorway to wait for the girls. A few seconds later, I saw them coming toward my cabin.

  Deraline was sucking her thumb and straggling behind Two. Twice, Two had to stop and coax her along. The sight was more than a little disturbing. When they finally reached the porch, I called out to them. “Could you hurry it up a little?” The air was biting cold and it was letting all of the heat out of my little place. “Deraline, move your ass!” Two snapped. I could tell by her expression that she was annoyed with the situation. When Deraline started to cry like a five year old, I understood and shared her annoyance.

  Once they were inside, I closed the door and helped Two situate Deraline on the couch. She was still whimpering when I sat down in the small recliner across from her. Two took a seat at the kitchen table and crossed her arms.

  “How bad is it?” I asked.

  “Well, she started out as an infant, so we’ve gained a few years in the walk over here. With any luck, she’ll continue to age and we’ll have her back in a few hours.” I went to the cupboard for another shot of whiskey to add to the remains of my cold coffee. After gulping that down, I poured a tall shot of straight whiskey into my cup and finished that as well.

  Giz came down the hall a few minutes later. He’d showered, but still looked just as tired. Against his pale skin, the circles underneath his eyes looked more like deep purple bruises. Without a word, he sat down at the table and pulled a bottle of orange soda from his pack. After gulping down half the bottle, he turned to me. His expression was somber. “We need to keep Deraline out of sight,” he said matter-of-factly. “She’s done some horrific things here, and it’s possible that members of this community would take a hell of a lot of joy in destroying her.”

  “Are you mad at me? Is Deri a bad girl?” Her child-like voice was like vocal sandpaper. I needed sleep. The last thing I wanted to deal with right now was a whiney, killer simp speaking in baby talk. Again, the image of her skipping with a head flooded my mind.

  “Can we just shut her down and deal with this later?” Giz nodded. “I’ll put her in sleep mode. She’ll continue to progress, but quietly,” he added with a grunt. The silence that followed was definitely a beautiful thing. Giz and I carried her to my bedroom and I closed the door behind us before we rejoined Two in the living room.

  She hadn’t moved from the kitchen chair. Her eyes were fixed on something outside the window, and I could hear escalated voices in the distance. Hearing us enter, she turned her head slowly toward us and then looked back out the window without a word.

  “What is it, Two?” I asked.

  “You guys should both get some sleep. You look like shit,” she replied. I went to the window to look for myself. A group of a few men were mutilating a simp with obvious relish.

  I closed the curtains and sat heavily in the chair. It was clear to me that Two and Deraline would not be safe here. The surviving members of Redburg were not going to be open-minded about my sisters anymore.

  “There’s no time for sleep. Two, where do we need to go to find Aaron?”

  “He’s in an abandoned cement factory approximately sixty miles from here.”

  “Whoa, hold on a second, Lee. I have got to get a little sleep, or I’m not going to be any good to you,” said Giz. I looked at his face, and knew he was right. I was tired, but I had synthetic assistance powering my body. Besides, there was no way I could just lie down and sleep right now. Not after everything that had happened, and knowing we were this close to finding the real Aaron.

  “Fine,” I said.

  “We’ll just get a couple of hours or so, and then we’ll be good to go,” Giz said, as he stretched out on the couch.

  “You stay here and watch Deraline, and Two and I will go,” I said.

  “Wait, what? That’s insane, Lee. You haven’t slept in at least twenty-four hours. Do you have a damn death wish? That’s a suicide mission!”

  “I’m fine,” I said firmly. Sitting up, Giz narrowed his eyes. “No. You’re anything but fine.” He reached for his bag on the table and produced a small bottle, which he then extended to me. “I keep forgetting, your synthetic enhancement gives you more stamina. Take one now, and another by morning, if you’re not back yet.” I took the bottle and did as he instructed, swallowing the little red pill without liquid. I didn’t like thinking about the “enhancement,” but if it served my purpose for now, I’d use it to my advantage.

  Giz gave me his word (through a series of yawns) that he’d watch out for Deraline and, if she woke up with an insatiable need to murder humans, he’d dispose of her. I prayed it wouldn’t come to that. I gave him my word that I’d stay alive…and prayed I could keep that promise.

  Chapter 8

  Again, my streak of bad luck didn’t disappoint. The mangled remains of a once totally useful hovcar mocked me.

  “Well, shit, I guess we’ll have to see if we can borrow Dallas’ truck,” I said. It had been my hope to leave town without having to engage with anyone, but there was no other choice. Not having a hovcar also meant the difference of getting there in fifteen minutes versus an hour, not to mention the added risks along the way.

 
I found Dallas near the backside of the General Store. He was pushing a cart that was covered with a blue tarp. It didn’t take a genius to know what was under it. Seeing me coming, he stopped and wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve.

  “Hi Lee, what’s up?”

  “Hey, Dallas I know you’ve got a lot to deal with right now and I really hate to ask, but I need to borrow your truck.” He eyed me suspiciously. “What for?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “What isn’t these days?” He offered a half-hearted smile and pulled his keys from his pocket. “The tank’s full, but she’s temperamental.”

  “Thanks, Dallas.”

  “Just bring it and yourself back in one piece.” Two offered to help him with the cart in exchange for his assistance, but he refused. “Naw, it’s better if you just go on ahead with Lee, Two.” My double stepped back to let him pass.

  The truck was ice-cold and didn’t want to start. It was old, and I found myself missing newer technology. “Come on, you piece of shit!” When it finally turned over, I saw the curtains in the front window of the house part, just slightly. I couldn’t be positive, but I think it was Idella.

  I put it in reverse and backed down the gravel driveway. I wanted to take the backside of town and avoid anyone else if possible. Partly because I couldn’t stomach the thought of dealing with the knowledge of who’d perished, and partly because I wanted to find and kill that monster for hurting people like Idella.

  We made it out of town without much more than a few teary glances from people that were too distracted to bother with us. By the time we hit the paved road, I’d gotten my second wind. It was dangerous traveling the roads like this, but I was too pissed off to let that bother me. Two sat next to me, rigid. I guess she sensed my lack of interest in conversation. I pulled a cigarette out of my pack and lit it and then pushed the petal down as hard as I could.