The Cyber Chronicles 05: Overlord

by T C Southwell

  "No." Sabre bowed his head and ran his hands through his hair, clasping the back of his neck. A long, pregnant silence fell, and Kole flopped down in another chair, frowning. The cyber raised his head, his eyes sweeping over the three of them. "I don't understand."

  "Understand what?"

  "Why anyone could like me, or would want to help me without getting anything out of it."

  "You asked for my help, remember?" Kole asked.

  Sabre nodded. "I knew we needed it."

  "You have such a low opinion of yourself that you have to find other, more believable reasons for our help, don't you?" Tarl asked, frowning. "You just can't accept the fact that we would do it purely out of kindness or generosity."

  "And you think I'm a negative person," Tassin murmured.

  "Pessimistic," Sabre corrected.

  Tarl sat opposite Sabre. "I understand." He glanced at Tassin. "This all stems from years of conditioning, albeit unintentional. Sabre's so used to being treated as a piece of equipment, he doesn't understand anything else." He turned to the cyber. "If someone was hurting me, would you help me?"

  Sabre shrugged. "Sure."

  "Why?"

  "Because you needed it, I guess."

  Tarl said, "If someone was hurting an enforcer, he'd need help too. Would you help him?"

  "No. Enforcers are the enemy."

  "Okay, bad example. A stranger, then. If you had to choose between helping me and helping a stranger, and we were both in mortal danger, who would you pick?"

  "You."

  "Why?"

  "You helped me."

  Tarl sighed. "Pure logic."

  "I'm not an idiot; I know what you're driving at. You want to know if I'd help you because I like you, which I don't particularly, in any case. But my feelings are beside the point; it's yours that are in doubt."

  "Only by you. We all know we like you, hell, some of us feel more than that for you. Why can't you just accept that?"

  "Because it makes no sense."

  "Why not?"

  Sabre glanced at Tassin. "I accept that Tassin feels something for me. She must, to do what she did to free me. But I'll never understand why."

  Tassin placed a hand on his arm. "Do you like me?"

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  He frowned. "I don't know."

  "Is it because I helped you?"

  "No."

  Tarl leant forward, his expression intent. "So you have no logical reason for it."

  "No."

  "Then why can't you accept that we don't need a logical reason for liking you?"

  Sabre shook his head. "Because... I'm not a real person."

  "Because you're a cyborg. A weapon."

  "Yes."

  Kole snorted. "Well that argument doesn't hold up. I like my ship, and she's not a person."

  Tarl shot him a glare. "You're not helping, Kole."

  Sabre frowned at Kole. "You like your ship?"

  "Hell yeah, she's -"

  "Kole," Tarl interrupted, "you're making things worse."

  "No, that's interesting," Sabre said, studying Kole. "What other inanimate objects do you like?"

  "My air-cars, my apartment, my computers, hell even my bank account, all of which I've lost, thanks to you."

  "You blame me for that?"

  "Well, I guess it's more Tassin's fault, since I was helping her to free you, but yeah, you too."

  "Kole..." Tarl groaned, rubbing his face.

  "Now that you've been pardoned, you'll get it all back," Sabre said.

  "Well good. Great." Kole nodded, casting Tarl a confused look. "What's the problem?"

  The cyber tech sighed. "I'm trying to persuade Sabre that he's a real person, and that's why we like him, and you've just told him that you like equipment."

  "Oh."

  Sabre said, "But that makes more sense to me. If people can like -"

  "You're not equipment. You're a human being."

  The cyber fingered the brow band. "Is this human?"

  "No, it's -"

  "Are barrinium-plated bones human?"

  "No, but -"

  "Then how can I be human? I'm only part human. The rest is machine."

  "I know what you are, damn it!" Tarl said, scowling. "Yes! You're a cyborg! You're also a bloody human!"

  "You don't have to be human for someone to like you," Kole said. "Hell, some people love their pets more than other -"

  "Kole!" Tarl jumped up and rounded on the ex-hacker. "Shut up!"

  "Just trying to help."

  "Well you're not!"

  Sabre raised his brows. "People love animals?"

  "Yes, but -"

  "Why?"

  "Some are good companions, and they're affectionate. People usually reciprocate when someone or something shows them affection."

  "They're also useful," Kole said. "And some will protect their owners -"

  "Kole," Tarl said, "one more word out of you, and I'll put your lights out, I swear."

  "What? It's true."

  Sabre considered. "I thought people could only like, or love, other people."

  "Nah," Kole said, eyeing Tarl. "People love money, gambling, alcohol, holo-entertainment, hunting, fishing, skiing... all sorts of things."

  Tarl's hands curled into fists, and he stepped towards Kole. Sabre jumped up and blocked Tarl's path, placing a hand on his chest.

  "I have to learn these things."

  "He's just confusing you. It's not the same thing."

  "Sure it is," Kole said.

  "Perhaps you'd like to explain obsession, infatuation and lust, too, Kole."

  "Why don't you just give him a bloody dictionary?"

  Tassin stood up. "Stop it, both of you. Leave us."

  Kole smiled at Tarl, his expression challenging, but headed for the interconnecting door that led to the rooms next door. Tarl followed, shaking his head and muttering under his breath. Sabre turned to Tassin, who regarded him with deep sorrow.

  "You really don't understand these things, do you?"

  He shrugged. "How can I?"

  She sat down again and patted the chair beside her. "Sit down, and I'll try to explain it."

  He obeyed, folding his arms. "Will it take long? Overlord Ravian needs me soon, and I should bathe first."

  "No, it won't take long." She sighed, looking thoughtful. "People do love many things, but it's different to what we feel for each other. Friendship is a special bond, and Tarl and Kole consider you their friend. They like and respect you, and you’re still human, just with a few additional machine parts. You do know that, don't you?"

  "Actually, the machine parts make me a cyborg."

  "Do cyborgs have feelings?"

  "That would depend on whether the human brain or the AI was in charge. Although I have feelings, I'm not certain what they mean."

  "Fair enough." She studied his profile. "We care about you. It’s not because you're useful, like a ship, or enjoyable, like a pet, or even affectionate, which you're not, but because you're a good person, and we enjoy your company."

  He glanced at her. "So much so that Tarl kept me asleep during the journey to Omega Five, and you only woke me when there was a problem."

  "Tarl wanted you to regain your strength, and, since you hate cyber rations, he decided to feed you intravenously, so he kept you sedated. I wanted to wake you up and spend time with you, more than you'll ever know, but I was also hurt, and he kept me sedated for several days, too. When he let me wake up, he insisted that you be left to rest."

  "Why was he so concerned that I regain my strength?"

  "Because he's like a damned broody hen with one chick where you're concerned. He wants to take care of you, and I think he's terrified of losing you, so he wanted to make sure you'd be able to deal with a dangerous situation."

  "Not because he was concerned for his own safety, and thought he might need my protection?" he asked.

  "He has no assurance that you would protect him, so no, I don't thi
nk so."

  "You don't think it's because I'm the only free cyber?"

  "That's part of it, but he likes you, too."

  Sabre glanced around as the curtains parted and a crewman entered, paused just inside the door and addressed Sabre. "Overlord Ravian requires you in ten minutes time." He placed a pile of clothes on the nearest chair and left.

  Sabre rose and went over to gather up the clothes, then headed for the bathroom. "I must shower."

  Tassin watched him leave, her heart heavy. His confusion saddened her, and she could not imagine what it must be like not to understand your own feelings, or those of others. She had always thought such things were instinctive, and perhaps they were, but a lifetime spent in a machine's cold, logical grip had stripped away his ability to understand them. He had been far more human on Omega Five. Now it was as if he had lost the ability he had possessed then, and she wanted to know why. She rose and went in search of Tarl, whom she found next door, sipping a drink and frowning at an unrepentant Kole. The air was stiff with animosity, from which she deduced that they had been discussing Kole's indiscretion.

  "Tarl, you understand cybers, don't you?" she asked.

  His brows rose. "As much as is possible, I suppose."

  "He's changed. He's not like he was on Omega Five. He's become cold and distant. He was far more able to understand feelings then. Why?"

  Tarl looked thoughtful, swirling his drink. "When he got free on Omega Five, he'd been out of training for how long? Five years? How old was he?"

  "Twenty-six."

  "Six years." He nodded. "Six years to develop a stunted personality and learn a little about emotions from what he saw and heard around him. Then he spent a year with you, learning about people and emotions. Now he's been back to Myon Two, and they put him through a refresher course only what, three years ago? Three and a half, at most?"

  She nodded. "What did they do to him?"

  "You heard what he told us. They reconditioned him, and then they took away his memories. He came out of that place a blank slate, and even his short-term memory was impaired."

  "But he's got them back now."

  "Yes, but he's unable to deal with them properly yet, and there's another reason, I think."

  "What?"

  Tarl studied his drink. "When he was on Omega Five, did he show affection?"

  "A... a little, mostly to Dena, the girl we rescued."

  "He never really showed any to you, did he?"

  "Except for the night he was taken away, no, not really. He seemed... confused, unsure of himself."

  "Much like he is now," Tarl said. "No matter what he feels, and I'm sure he feels a lot for you, he has no idea how to show it. Whatever he may have learnt while under the cyber's control would only be dim recollections, blurred images and snatches of conversation. All he knows is combat. How can he possibly know how to express what he feels? And he's not even sure what he feels, which only adds to his confusion."

  "Sounds like a bloody basket case," Kole muttered.

  Tarl shot him a glare. "You have to give him time, Tassin. Maybe even another year."

  She flopped into a chair, despondent. "Perhaps if he had another man to talk to it would help. You know, neither of you has had a friendly conversation with him about nothing in particular. It's no wonder he doesn't think you like him."

  "We've been a little busy."

  "No, we had seven days of boredom on Blue Sun, and you kept him sedated the whole time."

  "I was -"

  She raised a hand. "I know what you were doing; that's not the point. He still feels like a cyber because that's how you treat him."

  "I..." He frowned at his drink. "I'm only trying to look after him."

  "But you're looking after him like he's a cyber."

  He hesitated, then nodded. "You're right. I didn't see it. I'm so used to..." He grimaced. "You're right."

  Kole waved his drink. "Hey, the only time I had a conversation with him, he told me he wasn't equipped to deal with human emotions. It sort of put a damper on the conversation."

  "What were you talking about?"

  Kole frowned. "It doesn't matter."

  "You can't rush him, Tassin," Tarl said.

  "I'm not trying to rush him; I'm trying to help him. I think he needs you two to treat him like a man, and talk to him."

  "He's not exactly a talkative fellow," Kole remarked.

  "He doesn't need to talk; he needs to listen to other men talking about their experiences and feelings, so he can understand his own."

  "He needs an adolescence," Tarl said.

  "Yeah, next time we're on a friendly planet, we'll take him to one of those teenager hangouts and let him mingle with the boys." Kole chuckled. "He'll learn a lot there."

  "It's not funny," Tassin said.

  "No, it's not," Tarl agreed. "I'll try to talk to him."

  She sighed, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, he doesn't really like you. He likes Kole more. Kole relates to him as a man, not a cyber, which might be the reason."

  "Oh great," Kole muttered. "Now you want me to explain the birds and the bees to him, so you two can live happily ever after."

  Tassin looked down at her hands. "I know it's a lot to ask."

  "No, it's too damned much." Kole jumped up and marched into the other room.

  Tarl looked confused. "Did you two...?"

  "No. But Kole would have liked to."

  "Ah, I see. Then I agree with him. You can't expect him to -"

  "All right!" Tassin flung up her hands. "Let's just forget it."

  Tarl nodded and sipped his drink.

  Chapter Five

  Sabre scrutinised the new clothes he had just donned in the bathroom's full-length mirror. The pair of stretchy black trousers was similar to standard cyber issue, and silver shin guards clad his calves above narrow boots. A silver-studded belt encircled his waist, and the vest clung to the contours of his chest. Two slim daggers were secreted in the silver wrist guards that covered his forearms, and a pair of lasers was strapped to his thighs. He thought the outfit was too flashy, and avoided the reflection of his face, unable to bring himself to look at the brow band. Glancing at the clock on the bedroom wall, he discovered that he only had two minutes left and cursed.

  Kole stood frowning at a painting in the lounge, holding a drink. The blond man's brows rose when he glanced at Sabre.

  "Well, the Overlord's got you dressed like a dandy, doesn't he?"

  "Dandy?"

  "Fop. Overdressed playboy. Rich idiot trying to impress -"

  "I get the picture."

  Kole sipped his drink. "Where are you rushing off to?"

  "Overlord Ravian asked me to meet him. I don't know why."

  "Asked? Or ordered?"

  "I'm working for him now."

  "Wow, really? What's the pay like?"

  Sabre frowned. "Pay?"

  "Remuneration, salary, lolly, boodle, dosh... money."

  "That wasn't mentioned."

  "Well perhaps you should mention it, then. If he's not paying you, that makes you a slave."

  "No it doesn't. I'm free to leave whenever I wish."

  "Are you?" Kole strolled closer. "Be careful that you haven't escaped one prison only to put yourself in another."

  "That will never happen."

  "Sometimes these things can just sneak up on you."

  Sabre swung away and headed for the door, finding a crewman waiting outside to guide him to the Overlord's apartments.

  A veiled, black-clad man awaited him in a black room hung with swathes of artistically draped white silk. Circular windows on one side gave a view of stars, and glowing light spheres hovered under the ceiling. Several tasselled rugs appeared to be woven from genuine grey-striped white traba-hair, a rare yak-like beast that dwelt only on a remote moon orbiting a dead, formally inhabited planet whose star was on the verge of going supernova. The beasts had adapted to the extreme cold of their almost airless world, and the rugs were priceless. Sab
re approached the man, glancing around for Ravian.

  "Where's Overlord Ravian?"

  "I am he," the veiled man said in a strange, sexless voice.

  Sabre stopped in surprise, realising that Tassin and the others had only seen this disguise, and that was why they had assumed Ravian was a man. A glance at the scanner information confirmed that Ravian was, in fact, female. Ravian faced Sabre for several seconds, apparently studying him, then nodded.

  "You look very fine."

  "Why am I here, dressed like this?"

  "You'll see." Ravian gestured, and the curtains on the far side of the room parted. A short, balding middle-aged man with pudgy features and slanted brown eyes entered, glancing around with a tense, uncertain expression. He wore a pale grey, seamless suit with a flame-like red insignia on the right side of his chest. Sabre frowned at the sight of it, but assumed a guard stance beside Ravian, clasping his hands behind his back. The man approached her, his eyes darting to Sabre and widening a fraction before he hid his surprise. He stopped a metre away and bowed.

  "Overlord Ravian; I am honoured to meet you."

  "Chief Executive Atrashka. The feeling is not mutual."

  Atrashka shifted, looking uncomfortable, and, after several pregnant moments, forced a stiff smile. "I see you have the benefit of one of our products, grade A, of course. Had you asked, I would have made you a gift of however many you wanted."

  Ravian's head turned briefly towards Sabre. "You assume a great deal, Atrashka. Firstly you assume that he's a cyber, and secondly that I own him. Neither assumption is correct."

  Atrashka shook his head. "But My Lord, I can see he's a cyber, and if you don't own him, why is he guarding you?"

  "He's not. But allow me to introduce you. This is Sabre, formerly a cyber, now a free man. Sabre, this is Atrashka, head of Cybercorp."

  Atrashka's eyes widened. "He's the... He's the rogue we've been hunting? My lord, you must put restraints on him immediately. He's dangerous, unpredictable."

  "I disagree."

  "My lord, you don't understand, he's -"

  Ravian raised a gloved hand. "Do not insult my intelligence. He is no threat to me. But your outburst tells me much of what I wanted to know. You did not, for one instant, think he was mentally deficient, did you? You know he's fully functional, and so are all the clones you torture with your control units."