He leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees and rested his face in his hands. “Let me explain,” he said pausing to think. “About Kyle.”
“What about him?”
“I didn’t know how to tell you, but I received a call this morning. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but he was killed by a pack of Generates.”
“What? When? I spoke to him too. He seemed fine. Was it after that?”
He raised an eyebrow not expecting to hear her say she’d spoken to him. “Ah, yes, right after.”
“When did you hear?”
“This morning. When did you hear from him?” he countered.
“Right before you picked me up.”
“It was right after that. My driver told me just before you got in the vehicle. It’s such a tragedy. I’ll throw a memorial and parade The Collective hasn’t ever seen in his honor. He was an incredible resident, a true hero of our collective.”
Emotions overwhelmed her. She burst into tears and began sobbing.
He raced to her side to comfort her. With his arm draped over her shoulder he softly said, “I know this must be difficult. He was such a good man, a good husband, I even considered him a friend of sorts.”
“How is it possible? I had just spoken to him. Like I hung up and the next second the phone rang and I was being summoned.”
Number One hated surprises and clearly he hadn’t expected this, but he considered himself a smooth talker who could deceive most.
“Why don’t you rest here? I’ll send for some food and water. How about some tea? I can have it brought up.”
“Nothing,” she answered, her face buried in her hands.
“I’ll leave you. Get comfortable. I’ll have your things brought over.”
Hearing that she looked up. “I don’t know if I can do this. It doesn’t seem right. What about my job?”
“We’ll think about that later. You need to mourn and there’s a little girl needing a mother. Let me take care of everything else.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Remember the story I told you the other day, the one about the first time we met? I instantly knew you were going to be something great, I just knew that you and I didn’t meet like that by accident. I’ve paid close attention to your life ever since. I know I’m not supposed to do that. A leader can’t have a favorite but I’ll admit I did, and you were it. I want to see you happy, so if you’ll permit me, I’d like to give that to you.”
She was confused. Is this really happening? Is Kyle really dead? What will happen to me? She thought.
He got up and said, “I’ll leave you be. If you need anything at all, just pick up the phone and call. I’ll be back later tonight.”
Wiping tears from her face she nodded. “I think I’ll check on Melissa.”
“Good idea. Again, my condolences,” he said before leaving her alone.
When the door closed she started to sob heavily. This can’t be happening. She thought. Lost in her misery she didn’t hear the bedroom door open. When Melissa’s hand touched her back she snapped her head up to see her standing there. “Why are you crying?”
“Come here,” Portia said pulling Melissa close.
“Did someone get hurt?” Melissa asked.
“Yes they did, sweetie, yes they did.”
COLLECTIVE PRIME
Barry pulled the truck up to the towering forty foot high gate and honked his horn.
Two guard towers stood equals distance apart on either side of the gate. One called down, “One second.” A guard emerged from a guard station on the outside of the gate and approached the truck. “Is that you Driver Eight?”
Barry opened the door and got out. “It’s Number Two, open the gate.”
The guard recognized the truck as Kyle’s so asked, “Where’s Driver Eight?”
Lowering his head to feign sorrow, Barry answered, “The Generates got him.”
“Oh shit, no way.”
“You need to keep this quiet. What’s your name?”
“Guard Forty-Two.”
“Guard Forty-Two, you must not say a word about Driver Eight. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We can’t let this get out until we can notify his wife and others. I know you’ll be discreet,” Barry said.
“Of course.”
“Good, open the gate.”
The guard looked up and gave a hand signal.
A loud metal clank followed by the sounds of heavy wheels and cranks moving. The two door gate slowly opened inward.
Barry drove through and headed directly to the executive mansion.
***
“Number One, you son has arrived. He was driving Driver Eight’s truck,” Bravo One said.
Xavier looked up from a stack of papers on his desk. “Good. And has Teacher Seven made any calls from the suite?”
“No,” Bravo One said. She cleared her throat and continued, “Xavier, are you sure this is a good idea.”
He leaned back and smiled, “Using my birth name, this is serious. You must be talking about Portia.”
“Yes.”
“I’m a single man, she’s now a single woman. Why can’t we fall in love? I couldn’t think of a more appropriate pairing, the leader of The Collective and the widow of Driver Eight.”
“I don’t trust her,” she said.
“We’ve been together since the beginning, I trust your counsel but I feel strongly about this.”
“I just don’t know if the other residents will see that. You’re twenty-three years her senior.”
“That’s antiquated thinking,” he said then thought about why she was asking. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been with you for many years. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t grown to love you.”
He got up and walked over to her. He placed his hand tenderly against her cheek and said, “We’ve had our moments, we’ve shared each other and I love you but I’m not in love with you. You mean so much to me, I hope you’ll accept my decision and welcome Portia as my next wife.”
She touched his hand and said, “You’ll always have my support.”
“You’re a good woman.”
“Knock, knock,” Barry said tapping on the open door. “Am I disturbing something intimate?”
“No, Bravo One was just leaving,” Xavier said giving Bravo One a nod. She picked up some papers from the desk and hurried out.
“Son, come in, close the doors and have a seat,” Xavier said.
Barry did as he was told and plopped down in a thick leather chair next to the desk.
“Care for a drink? Whiskey?”
“Sure.”
Xavier poured two glasses, gave one to Barry and sat back down at his desk. “So, tell me, did he beg for his life? Or did you just walk up behind him and shoot him in the head?”
“Let’s first talk about what you’re doing with his wife. Are you really taking her as yours?”
Shocked that Barry knew, he asked, “How did you hear about that?”
“I have my own ears around town.”
He pointed at Barry and laughed, “A chip off the old block.”
“I learned from the best,” Barry said with a smile.
“She’s beautiful. I can’t wait to get my hands on her,” Xavier said. “And with these new hormones you’ve gotten for me, and some of the other enhancers, I should be fit as a fiddle.”
“When you told me you wanted me to kill Driver Eight, I thought you must have made a mistake. That’s why I asked for a confirmation. You know dad, I still remember when we found him. I told you it was a bad idea and you said either he’ll end up being a savior for our fledging group or he’ll be the one that will put an end to it. I think that’s pretty much verbatim.”
“I remember that, good memory.”
“Driver Eight gave us nineteen years of his life. Driving millions of miles so that our little experiment would thrive and when he had something that you w
anted you had him killed. What kind of person does that?”
“Son, the world is not for the weak or the meek. We must take what we want.”
“When do you think I can take over?” Barry asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious. I’m almost twenty-six, I’m strong, educated. I think I’m getting close. Plus, I imagine you’ll want to enjoy retirement with your new bride.”
Xavier laughed. “Son, I’m not going to retire while I’m still standing. Secondly, you still need a bit more seasoning. Give it some more time, maybe spend some time outside the gates. See what’s out there.”
“I don’t need to see what’s out there. Its’ a shit hole.”
“You look tired. I’m sure your trip and what I asked of you has made you tired.”
“No, what I’m tired of is being disrespected. I’m ready to lead now.”
“I’m not sure why you’re getting upset. It’s must be because you’re weary. Go rest, let’s continue this conversation over dinner.”
“No!”
Xavier stood up. “I’ll not have you yell at me.”
Barry took a deep breath and calmly said, “Your time is up, father.”
The office doors opened and in walked Kyle with a pistol in his hand.
“You’re alive?” Xavier asked, his face contorted in terror.
Barry got up quickly and moved out of the way.
“You ordered to have me killed. You tried to take my wife from me. I served you out of a sense of duty because you saved my life and that is how you repay?” Kyle barked marching towards Xavier.
“Let me explain,” Xavier pleaded his hands up.
“There’s nothing to explain. I just heard this entire conversation,” Kyle said.
Across the room, Barry held up a hand held radio. “Sorry, dad.”
“You, you planned this?” Xavier hollered at Barry.
“What did you say dad, the world is not for the weak or the meek.”
Kyle walked until the desk was the only thing that stood between him and Xavier. “Time to die.”
“No, no, don’t. I can reverse all of this. Let me do that. I’ll give you whatever you want, just don’t kill me.”
Kyle index finger began to apply pressure to the trigger.
“I put you in that truck not because we needed you to scavenge for us, but because I know you needed to look for her. I know you’ve never forgiven yourself for surviving that day. I know you’ve been searching for her.”
“Shut up!”
“Let me help you find her,” Xavier implored.
“Shut up.”
“Please, let me help you.”
“Why? You can have anyone you want, but my wife?”
“It’s not like that.”
“It definitely seems that way to me. I’ve been loyal to you. I gave you my life in service because you saved me and put me in that truck.”
Xavier’s initial shock was morphing into anger at the sight of Kyle pointing a pistol at him. He could see something in his eyes that he’d never seen before, fear. “I did and I told you why. You’ve been driving everywhere looking for her, I know you have but did I stop you? No. I only let you do what you needed even though you were putting your needs about the others, even above your own wife.”
Kyle tightened his grip on the pistol and took a step closer, “Shut up!”
Barry watched with pure joy the interaction between his two foes knowing that this showdown would be the end of both.
“Do you know how alone Portia has been? Sitting and waiting for a man who can never truly give his heart to her because it belongs with someone else. Can you imagine how that must feel?”
“Shut your mouth!”
Growing impatient, Barry blurted out, “Shoot him already!”
Xavier looked at Barry, his expression turning to surprise.
“Just tell me why you’d betray me?” Kyle asked. His need to know was cloudy his judgement and putting the plan in jeopardy.
“Betrayal? Ask your wife about that,” Xavier said.
“I’ve been a good husband.”
“Sure, you haven’t lay with other women, but you’re never there for her, you’re always gone. Driving mile after mile all with the hope that one day you’ll find her. What was here name?”
“Don’t talk about her.”
“Her name, it was the only thing you kept saying when we found you. It was…”
“Don’t you dare utter her name,” Kyle said angrily.
“Let me remember, oh yeah, it was, Tif...”
Kyle pulled the trigger. The forty-five caliber round struck Xavier in the head and exited out the back leaving the wall behind him covered in blood and brain matter.
Xavier dropped to the ground dead.
“You did it! For a time there, I didn’t think you’d do it. I can’t fucking believe it, you killed him. Yes! Yes! You did it!” Barry cheered.
A gunshot cracked behind Kyle. He looked down expecting to see an exit would but nothing was there.
Barry turned to see Bravo One standing in the open doorway of the office with a pistol in her hand. She pulled the trigger of her pistol again but this time it didn’t fire. She tried again, nothing.
Not waiting to get shot at again, Kyle swiveled around and shot her two times in the chest.
She stumbled forwards, dropped to her knees then fell forward, her head smacking the floor hard. She gasped loudly then died.
The roar of heavy footfalls echoed in the hall beyond.
Kyle gave Barry and look, seeking to know what he should do.
“Don’t do anything stupid, I’ll tell the guards to stand down, but I think you should put the gun down,” Barry said walking towards Kyle.
A squad of guards rushed into the room, their rifles at the ready but Barry now stood in between them and Kyle, who still held the pistol firmly in his grip and out in front of him.
“Driver Eight, put down the gun. No more deaths. We have a deal, remember.”
The lead guard shouted, “Number Two step out of the way!”
“Don’t shoot, I’ve got this handled,” Barry replied. “Driver Eight, give me the pistol. These men won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Of course, we had a deal.”
Kyle nodded and let go of his pistol.
Barry took it, stepped a few feet away and barked, “Arrest him. He murdered my father, he murdered our dear leader!”
BATCHELOR GULCH, COLORADO, COLLECTIVE PROTECTED ZONE
Portia ran a brush through Melissa’s long, thick, dark hair. “What kind of braid do you want?”
“What kind are there?” Melissa asked moving the arms of a doll that sat on her lap.
“Let’s see, there’s a French braid, and a tear drop braid, that one we take and have it make a teardrop shape around your ear.”
“That one sounds nice,” Melissa answered.
Loud banging came from the door.
“You stay in here, let me see who that is,” Portia said getting up and going to the front door. “Who is it?”
The door burst open striking Portia, causing her to fall backwards onto the floor. Guards raced in, rifles at the ready. “Portia Grant you’re under arrest.”
Melissa emerged from the bedroom to see what all the noise was. A guard spotted her and yelled. “Take the girl into custody too.”
“Leave her alone,” Portia yelled now on her belly as a guard cuffed her.
Melissa stood clinging to her doll as a guard walked over and picked her up.
Cuffed, Portia was pulled to her feet. “Where’s Number One? He put me here.”
The guards remained silent.
“Talk to Number One, he knows I’m here,” Portia yelled.
Barry walked into the room. “Hi Portia.”
“Who are you? Wait, you’re Number One’s son,” Portia said. “Tell him what’s happening, please.”
“Unfortunately, th
at’s now impossible on account of your husband murdered our dear leader,” Barry explained.
“That’s impossible, Kyle is dead, your father told me this morning.”
“You must be confused. Your husband is very much alive and my father is very much dead. I was with him when Driver Eight came into his office and gunned him down in cold blood.”
“Impossible. Even if Kyle was alive, he’d never kill Number One, never.”
“Again, you’re mistaken. He did kill him,” Barry said. He cleared his throat and continued, “Portia Grant you’re being arrested for high treason, conspiring to murder our dear leader and kidnapping.” Barry looked at Melissa and said, “Take her back to her father. Tell him she doesn't have the virus and that I expect his loyalty."
"Are you sure?" the guard asked.
"Yes, you see, I'm merciful," Barry laughed.
“Why are you doing this?” Portia cried.
Barry gave Portia a toothy grin and said, “Take her away.”
The guards escorted Portia from the room.
Knowing he needed to proceed rapidly, Barry turned to the lead guard and ordered, “Call a mandatory gathering for first thing in the morning. We need to give the residents of The Collective swift justice.”
“Yes, sir.”
The other guards left leaving Barry alone in the room. He walked to a large window and looked out on the picturesque scenery of the sloping mountain. The ski runs that once graced the north facing slope could still be made out, though they were overgrown with thick vegetation and small trees. The high speed quad which used to ferry happy skiers to the top sat silent. For Barry it represented a by gone day, a reminder of a time that had run its course. Not far from the quad sat the magic carpet lift used for new skiers to access the bunny slope. He remembered riding that for the first time when he was six, life was happy for him then, though his father and mother both spent most of their time working, leaving him to sit alone in his room playing. His dad took him out that day after his first ski lesson. He was so happy to be spending time with him, and proud to show how good he was after one lesson. But it was fleeting, he never went again after that and six months later the world he knew ended. It was ironic he called an old ski town home, since he couldn’t even ski. But who skied anymore? He rose his chest high and smiled for everyone had underestimated him. From Kyle to his father, he had outmaneuvered everyone. Soon he’d get his payback against Kyle for the disrespect he suffered from him. Once he was gone, he’d take full control of The Collective and lead it the way he saw fit.
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