by Karl Morgan
He smiled and touched her shoulder. "Diane, how about we have dinner tonight and I'll tell you everything I know. Right now, my boss will kill me if I don't jump on this story."
She pulled a phone from her pocket and held it up. Ted touched his phone to hers to exchange contact information. "Call me later, Ted. I can't wait to hear this story."
§
The taxi settled down on the plaza outside the city jail. The door opened and Ted bounded out, trotting toward the main entrance. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Josh walked out of the building and began to approach. Ted pulled out his tablet to be ready to record his story. Josh smiled at Ted and walked right past him. Ted turned to follow him. "Josh, I need to know what happened."
Josh spun on his heels and growled, "I'm the nut case, remember?"
"I'm sorry about that, Josh, but put yourself in my position. I thought you were trying to use Shirley for some sick game, but really, I'm the one using you both for my career. Please forgive me."
Josh's expression softened and he said, "I know, Ted, I know. Things like that don't happen every day. Let's go get a cup of coffee."
"Okay, it's my treat."
But Josh was looking past Ted, so he turned to see what had caught his attention. The two thugs from the coffee shop were coming down a long ramp. Steve was pushing Jack who was in a wheelchair. Steve's gait was very stunted as though his back was frozen. Josh began to walk toward the end of the ramp.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Josh," Ted said, trying to catch up to him.
"You stay away from me, APE!" Jack shouted. "Or do you plan to kill me this time?"
The four gathered at the end of the ramp, while a number of police officers kept a wary eye on them from the top of the steps. "How did you two get out?" Ted asked.
"We have friends here," Steve blurted.
"Shut your face!" Jack shouted.
"I don't understand," Josh said. "Couldn't they replace your processor arrays?"
"Why do you care?"
"Let's just say that I do care. What happened?"
"They said our implants were too old and there are no arrays available anymore. Shit, Steve and I can't afford new ones. We don't have that kind of money."
"Do you mind if I try something?"
"We were going to kill you yesterday, and now you're our friend? I bet you'll just stop our hearts, right? You're going to kill us, admit it."
Two policemen approached and one said, "What's going on here?"
"Nothing, officer," Ted replied. "We’re just having a chat."
"Well, take it somewhere else. We don't allow assemblies in front of the jail." The two officers turned away and began to climb the steps.
"I swear I won't hurt you," Josh said.
"Start with me," Steve said. "I'm not afraid. With my back stiff like this, I can't work and my kids won't eat."
"You believe this asshole's line of crap?" Jack snarled. "Don't be stupid, Steve."
Ted held his tablet out, recording audio and video of everything.
Josh walked behind Steve and rubbed his hands together, looking skyward. "What's your full name, Steve?"
"Steven Albert Johnson. Shit, I don't even know your name."
"Joshua Isaac Carpenter. It's nice to meet you." He put his left hand on Steve's shoulder and slowly traced down his spine with his right hand, from neck to waist. Steve grunted and moaned softly, his back twisting back and forth. Ted recorded the bionic spine moving under the skin and shuddered. Josh stepped back and walked around to look at him. "How do you feel, Steve?"
"I feel great!" Then he noticed a long piece of metal in Josh's hands. "What the hell is that thing?"
"I can't help with mechanical repairs, Steve, so I replaced this thing, your mechanical spine, with a human one." He set the metal spine on the ground.
"Are you okay, man?" Jack squeaked.
"I feel perfect, Jack. You're next."
"I'm not sure. You're going to take my enhancements and replace them with a real arm and knees. That's not possible."
"It's your choice, Jack. I am sorry you were both injured more than I intended. You have to know I was only trying to protect myself. If I can make up for that by helping you, it would make me happy."
"Do it, Jack!" Steve exclaimed. "You'll never be able to save enough to pay for new implants while you're stuck in that chair. What have you got to lose?"
"I guess you're right."
"What's your full name, Jack?"
"John David Masterson. I'm sorry about the thing yesterday, Josh."
"It's in the past, Jack. You might want to look the other way. It might gross you out." Josh got down on his knees in front of the wheelchair. Then he grabbed the man's knees and squeezed them with all of his might. Jack was twitching in pain and squirming to get away. Josh's hands and the man's knees were filled with light. Josh looked upward and then stared into Jack's face, where tears were flowing down his cheeks. The skin around his knees broke open, but there was no blood. Slowly, the mechanical joints moved out of his skin until they were in Josh's hands. He set them down on the concrete and grabbed the empty flesh where they had been. Jack groaned in pain as the skin began to expand back to normal shape. Less than a minute later, Josh pulled his hands away. "Well?"
Jack flexed his knees. The expression on his face was a mixture of fear and surprise. He extended one leg and then the other. "I don't believe it. I've got to get up."
"Just wait a minute, Jack." Josh stood and grabbed the man's right arm, which lit up as though hundreds of lights were embedded in his mechanical arm. The skin broke from shoulder to the tips of his fingers. The metal arm began to emerge from the skin. After a few seconds, Josh laid the device on the ground and grabbed the empty skin sack that hung from his shoulder. Jack's eyes were tightly closed and his expression showed agonizing pain. After a minute, Josh pulled his hands away and trembled. His face was drenched in sweat. "Now, you can get up, Jack."
Jack was almost too terrified to open his eyes. "Steve, am I okay?"
"Open your eyes, you big sissy."
Jack looked at his right hand, flexing in front of his face. Less than a minute earlier, the mechanical arm hung limp at his side. He pushed aside the footrests on the chair and stood up. "I don't believe this. Thank you, Josh."
Applause filled the air. Several dozen police officers had gathered around them while Josh was healing the men. He stepped over to Ted and spoke softly, saying, "Ted, it wasn't supposed to be like this. I need to get out of here now!"
Ted walked over to Steve and Jack and whispered something to them. Then they came back to Josh and formed a circle around him and led him through the crowd. Many of the officers tried to touch him or pat him on the back. Josh was trembling in fear. He knew that notoriety would not end well for him. He had to escape now, far away where no one would hear or care about this incident.
On the other side of the crowd, a taxi waited. The four men climbed inside and the door closed. It was immediately surrounded by the crowd who continued to cheer and pound on the sides of the vehicle. It rose noiselessly into the air and darted away.
Chapter 4
Josh was packing as much clothing into his duffle bag as could fit. Every minute or so he went to the window to see if any crowds were gathering outside his parents' home. So far, the street was empty. "Please don't run away, Josh!" his mother pleaded.
"I can't stay here, Mom," he replied. "I screwed up big time. All of those police witnesses—I don't know what I was thinking. I never should have helped those two in the open. It was stupid of me." He squeezed his tablet into a backpack and slung it over his shoulders. "I think that's enough. Got to go, Mom."
"Where are you going to go, Josh? You can’t hide forever."
"Ted, that reporter, is going to let me stay with him a few days. Eventually, I'll probably head to the southeast where no one cares about bionic healings. My cousin Steve is still in Biloxi, isn't he?"
"Yes. I'll call him later
and see if you can stay there for a while, honey," she replied as she walked over and put her arms around her son. "Here, take this." She removed a bank stick from her pocket and slipped it into his.
"Mom, I can't take your money."
"It's okay, Josh. You father and I talked about it, and you have to have some money if you're going to survive. Please take it."
A horn sounded outside. Josh looked out the window and saw Ted Dixon standing near a taxi flyer. He turned and hugged his mother. "I'll keep it, but will only use it in an emergency, okay?" She nodded, tears in her eyes. "I have my phone, so you and Dad can keep in touch." He kissed her on the cheek, grabbed his duffle bag and headed downstairs and out the door. Maggie looked out the window and saw him get into the taxi with the other man. She noticed a leggy blonde also sitting inside. The door closed and the taxi floated up into the air and then sped away toward downtown.
"Thanks again for helping me, Ted," Josh said.
"It's no problem; after all, I'm the one who got you into this mess."
"No, it was my fault. I should have realized that I need to stay out of sight when I do stuff like that. People can’t handle it when things happen that they thought were impossible. By the way, you've haven't introduced me to your girlfriend." He extended his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Josh Carpenter."
She smiled, shook his hand and replied, "It's nice to meet you, Josh. I'm Stella."
"She's a robot, pal," Ted said. "Stella 5000 series."
"Wow, that's amazing. I couldn't tell her from a human being."
"Thanks, Josh," she replied. "Most people are a bit put off by robots."
"I'm not one to judge anyone, Stella. You are a very beautiful woman." Stella blushed.
"Enough chit-chat you two," Ted interrupted. "Stella, no one must know that Josh is in our apartment. That is very important."
"Of course, Ted, I understand. How long will he be staying with us?"
"I am planning to go to the Southeast District as soon as this thing cools down and I can get a ticket without drawing a crowd. I think I can fit in better with the NEMs down there, and we have family too."
"If my boss ever found out I was harboring you, he'd fire me on the spot," Ted noted. "Please try to make it sooner rather than later, okay?" Josh nodded. "We're almost there now."
Josh unzipped his duffle bag and removed a hooded sweatshirt and pulled it on. He covered his head with the hood and crouched down on the seat. "Just tell me what to do, Ted."
"You and Stella get out as soon as we land. She'll take you upstairs. I've got to get to the Tribune office before anyone gets suspicious. Not to mention that I have all the footage of the healings. That could win me a Pulitzer, you know."
"That’s lucky for you. That same footage is making me run away and hide like a thief." The taxi set down and the door opened. Stella kissed Ted on the lips and climbed out, with Josh right behind her. They crossed the sidewalk and entered the building and disappeared.
"Lower California Tribune main office," Ted said. The door closed and the taxi sped away.
Stella led Josh into the apartment and showed him the spare bedroom so he could drop off his bags. Her recharging station was in one corner. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Josh found the television and switched it on.
On the screen, an imbedded reporter was riding inside an armored personnel carrier. The sides were lined with soldiers of the Asian Republic. The translated audio feed began: "I'm traveling with a large force of the 115th Armored Infantry Division of the Asian Republic Army. It has been one day since the capture of the city of Chittagong, and we are now heading north toward Dhaka. Resistance has been limited and General Li believes we will take that city in the next two days. Caliph Hossain of the Eastern Caliphate is demanding all hostilities cease or they will be forced to employ nuclears and other weapon systems. General Li noted that all Republic nuclears are online and ready for launch. Both the American and European Republics are urging restraint and diplomatic solutions."
Josh felt his phone vibrate and took it from his pocket. "Hi, Mom, what's going on?"
"Josh, there are hundreds of people in front of the house calling your name. All the streets are jammed and your father had to walk blocks to get home. He's out there telling them you aren't here, but they're not leaving."
"Did you call the police?"
"Yes, a few minutes ago. What happens if they storm the house, or hurt your father?"
"Don't worry about that. I don't think they want my blood. They just want me to fix their problems. I'm sure the police will arrive soon and push them back."
Stella walked into the room in the nude and began to dust and polish the furniture.
"I hear sirens now, Josh, and your dad just came inside. I think we'll be okay now. Please be careful." The call disconnected.
"What are you doing, Stella?"
She turned and smiled at him, saying, "Just cleaning up."
"Without clothes?"
"Ted likes it this way, Josh. Don't you?"
"Stella, you are beautiful, but you belong to Ted. I don't think it's appropriate to be naked in front of me."
"I'm sorry, Josh. I didn't know. I'll go put something on." She turned and left the room.
"Something's happening," said the reporter, drawing Josh's attention back to the screen. "This vehicle has stopped, but we don't know why."
The back door of the vehicle opened and an officer said, "All the vehicles in the convoy have lost power. Everyone out!" The troops and reporter filed out of the vehicle and took position. All around them were hundreds of tanks and personnel carriers sitting dead along the roadside. Far ahead at the top of a rise sat an unusual vehicle with what looked like a giant megaphone on the roof. Hundreds of soldiers were in formation on either side, holding rifles with similar funnel shaped barrels. "Stay out of the way!" the officer ordered the reporter. The thousands of troops began to march toward the enemy force, while the reporter ducked for cover behind the vehicle. He peeked around the side of the truck to see the troops rushing ahead. They fired on the enemy, and the bolts of energy from their rifles filled the sky. Enemy soldiers fell dead and more took their place. The reporter could see the enemy aim to fire their weapons and ducked behind the vehicle again. But there was not a crackle of energy or even the explosion of gunpowder. Instead an extremely high-pitched whine filled the air, forcing him to cover his ears with his hands.
He looked around the vehicle to see most of the Asian troops lying on the ground, flailing their arms and legs, attempting to fire their blaster rifles, but they had no power. The enemy soldiers dropped their rifles and wielded long swords high over their heads, and then rushed forward screaming and singing praises to God. They reached the Asian troops and began to stab and hack away at the defenseless men and women. "Somehow, the caliphate troops have disabled the weapons and enhancements of the Republic soldiers. Now they are slaughtering them with swords. Oh my God, this is horrible. I've got to find a place to hide!" As he spun around, a caliphate soldier was standing two feet away, his burnoose covering everything but his dark eyes. He thrust his sword through the reporter's chest, twisted it and pulled it out, covered in blood. The reporter fell back to the ground. Only the clear blue sky was visible on the screen. Josh changed channels to see Ted's video feed from the prison. He sighed and turned the set off.
§
Ted sat at his cubicle watching the same battle video. He could hear several coworkers laughing and cheering in the editor's office. Clearly, he thought, they were not watching the same thing he was. He picked up his phone and dialed.
"Hello?" Josh said.
"It's me, Ted. Did you see that video feed from the Eastern Caliphate?"
"Yeah, I was just watching it."
"What do you think happened?"
"Ted, it's just like what I did to Jack and Steve. The caliphate troops have created an electro-magnetic pulse weapon. When the EMP hits an electronic device, it shorts out and loses power. All th
ose tanks with blaster cannons and soldiers with implants and blaster rifles lost power and were slaughtered."
"But Jack and Steve are still alive."
"I didn't try to kill them. I would never do that."
"Dixon, get in here!" shouted his editor, John Stanton.
"I gotta go, Josh. I'll see you after work. Bye." He closed the connection and headed to the glass-walled office. "Yes, Chief?"
His editor and coworkers began clapping and a few cheered. "Man alive, Ted, that's the most amazing video I've ever seen! Where'd you find that guy?"
"That's Joshua Carpenter, Chief, the kid you wanted me to interview."
"Really? That's fantastic. You have to keep him under wraps, Ted. Now that the video is out there, every newshound on Earth is going to be fighting to get their hands on him."
"He is in a safe place, Chief, don't worry. But this story has no legs compared to the war in Asia, does it?" Ted asked.
"Wake up and smell the coffee, Dixon. That battle was ten thousand miles away. Everyone will see the video and think how horrible it was, but they weren't involved and it doesn't really affect them until nuclears start popping all over the place. This Carpenter fellow is local news. He's our own little miracle worker. I have to meet this guy. Where is he now?"
"I can't really say, but you can come over to my place later and I'll make sure he's there."
"Okay, we'll talk later. Everyone get back to work," John finished the meeting.
The reporters filed out of the office and returned to their workstations, except Sandi Adams who followed Ted into his cubicle. After he sat down, she sat on the corner of his desk, crossing her legs. "Great story, Ted."
"Thanks, Sandi. You're the best reporter here, so that's high praise from you."
She blushed and replied, "So, you think I'm the best, do you? With that Carpenter story, I think you might be taking my place."
"I was lucky that the chief gave me that lead."
"Can I ask you a personal question, Ted?"
"The question is can I stop you from asking it."
