Repo Earth

by Jeff Walsh

  Taam sighed then looked to Anthony. “We lost you early on. Everything about you, who you are, your brain patterns, memories, how you make choices, everything was transferred into a bio-tech unit back on Galvn.”

  “What?” Anthony blurted out.

  “You admitted guilt,” Bartl said before gulping down another drink. “Remember what you told us. You apologized, then there was a flash of white light.”

  Anthony's eyes grew wide as he recalled the event.

  “Galvn law states that through your admission of guilt, you willingly gave up your right to the existence of your natural status,” Taam said.

  “What does that even mean?” Anthony asked.

  “You got the death penalty,” Bartl blurted out. “Killed, snuffed, blam-o'd, lights out...” With every new iteration Bartl swung his glass through the air.

  “He gets the point,” Taam said. “Basically, after you admitted guilt, your entire consciousness was downloaded into their system and your body was...disposed. It was at this point when you were placed into a, sort of, stasis limbo.”

  “That'd be the white light part,” Bartl said.

  “Then,” Taam continued. “Everything that you were, your consciousness, was downloaded into a robotic system known as a BMU: a bio-mechanical unit. It mimics the biological functions of your former body precisely. If we didn't tell you about this, you'd never have known. You can still get hurt, cut, sick, everything. They even programmed a randomized termination date using a life expectancy algorithm into the system.”

  “So I'm just going to power down one day?” Anthony asked. “Like some sort of computer with a timer attached?”

  “Yeah,” Taam answered. “It's not quite that simple, but that's the general idea. Bio-tech is quite advanced; it simulates everything about your old body. You could give blood and the synthesized substance would pass every Earth standard.”

  “Wait,” Genny blurted out. “So you're telling us that I'm stuck as some sort of science experiment gone wrong, and Anthony's now what...a robot?”

  “Android,” Bartl blurted out. He slammed his glass down and poured another drink.

  “Please believe me when I say that we never intended for this to happen,” Taam said. “If we could've stopped any of it, at any point, Bartl and I would've given everything to do so.”

  Bartl hoisted his glass into the air once more, then took another drink.

  Genny shook her head.

  Marcus just looked at her.

  “I'm sorry,” Taam said quietly.

  “No,” she said. “You don't apologize. You don't have anything to be sorry for. All three of us made the decision to do this, to come out here with you two. Sure, people were shooting at us from space so we didn't have a lot of time to think about it, but we made the choice none-the-less. Bartl never forced us, that much I remember. He let the choice be ours, and we said yes.”

  Bartl nodded in agreement. His head bobbled around as he did.

  “Anyway,” Genny continued. “Everything I've experience with Prime Command and the Attillians tells me that if you hadn't come and phased Earth out of their hands, a lot of worse things would've happened to a lot more people.”

  “Are you serious?” Anthony blurted out as he stood. His face crinkled with anger and frustration.

  “What?” Marcus said. “You think everyone on Earth would've been safe? Like Prime Command and the Attillians would've just left us alone?”

  “What?” Anthony said, his tone indicating genuine confusion. He relaxed his face as he looked around the room.

  Marcus just stared up at him.

  “Sorry,” Anthony said. “I wasn't paying attention.”

  Marcus chuckled. “Then what's your problem?”

  “It's just,” Anthony muttered. He looked to Marcus, then to Genny, and then Bartl and Taam. He slowly sat back down, clearly uncomfortable with divulging his issue.

  “What?” Marcus said.

  “I'm a robot,” Anthony said quietly.

  “Android,” Bartl retorted as he raised his glass and took another drink.

  Marcus looked to his friend solemnly. “Look man, I'm sorry, this has to be tough--”

  “What?” Anthony said. “No it's not that. Are you kidding me? I'm a robot.” Anthony said definitively. “I was turned into a robot, in outer space, and honestly, that's pretty cool. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm literally having a meltdown internally right now, but still...at the end of it, I'm going to be a robot.”

  “Okay,” Marcus said questionably.

  “It's just,” Anthony continued. “I'm a robot with normal people abilities. I'm a boring human robot. I didn't get super strength or crazy speed. How cool would it be if I could download myself into a system and wreak havoc, or steal top-secret space info. But instead, I'm a robot and I just stayed me. As I realized this...it kind of pissed me off. Sorry, I guess I should've been paying attention.”

  “I'm drunk,” Bartl announced.

  Genny burst out a laugh.

  “Yes,” Taam confirmed. “We know.”

  “I wasn't finished,” Bartl said. “I'm drunk, but I won't be staying drunk. And when I'm done staying drunk, Anthony needs me.”

  “I do?” Anthony asked.

  “Yes,” Bartl exclaimed. He poured another drink, hoisted his glass into the air, then gulped it down. After slamming his glass on the table he looked at Anthony and smiled. “What exactly do you want your android body to be able to do?”

  ҉

  “Okay,” Taam announced. “This is it.”

  The group had rested, gone over the plan, and were now standing on the bridge of the Enyalius; each turned toward one another in a circle.

  “We know we're flying into a trap,” Taam continued. “We know the Attillians at the very least are cloaked and awaiting our arrival. There's a moderately decent chance that other Prime Command vessels have rendezvoused with the Starfaller, and quite possibly a few scav ships looking for an easy payday.”

  “We know our plan,” he continued. “And we've been over the risks that come along with it. I know you've each agreed to take these risks, but Bartl and I will do everything we can to keep you safe.”

  “You're sure that the destabilizer will activate the moment we drop on our coordinates?” Marcus asked.

  “Ellidron was the only reason we were able to escape the Attillian's last time,” Taam said. “His instructions on the destablizer could've been a lie, but at this point, I don't think it was. But we'll find out if I'm wrong soon enough.”

  Marcus turned and looked at the ship's main display. The countdown clock they'd set continued its relentless pursuit to zero.

  “Genny's all hooked up with a trans-comm now,” Bartl said. “So there's no worries of any miscommunication aboard the Starfaller.”

  Anthony nudged Marcus. “My robot brain automatically translates it for me,” Anthony said with a smile. “I've been hearing and reading space languages this whole time and I didn't even know it. Who knows, I might be smarter than you now.”

  “There's only so much help technology can provide,” Marcus retorted.

  Anthony chuckled.

  Marcus looked to the clock once more and it showed, “24...23...22...”

  “Once the Enyalius drops light I don't expect the Attillians to wait around,” Taam said. “So when that clock hits zero, be ready.”

  Everyone nodded. Genny took a deep breath and clutched Marcus' hand. Marcus looked at her and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.

  “We're going to be considered good 'ole space outlaws after this,” he said with a smile.

  “I always knew a bad boy was in there somewhere,” Genny said. She touched Marcus on the forehead and smiled back.

  The two looked at the clock. “9...8...7...”

  “Here we go,” Bartl. “Time for the fun to begin.”

  “3...2...1.”

  The ship dropped from its light slip. A fraction of a second later the Zorg energy destabilizer detonated a p
ulse of energy out from the Enyalius. The ship's display shifted from the clock to a view outside. Off in the distance the group watched as a section of space rippled like someone had thrown a stone into calm waters. The Starfaller dropped its cloak.

  “They're dead in space,” Bartl said as he scanned the information coming across his console. “Just like us. The destablizer worked. Once Volja enters this space, it should be stuck.”

  “Not going to lie,” Anthony said. “I'm impressed the Attillians could've predicted which point we'd intercept Volja.”

  “Told you they're smart,” Bartl responded.

  “Creepy smart,” Genny said apprehensively.

  Taam didn't respond. He stood, blank faced, staring at the Starfaller.

  Everyone watched as the Attillian ship just hung there lifelessly in space.

  A moment later the room began to shift to a white canvas.

  “Hit it,” Taam said to Bartl.

  The room went white. A second later the group was standing in a large empty storage bay aboard the Starfaller.

  “Trans-warp intercepted and reroute successful,” Bartl said.

  “Okay everyone,” Taam said. “You know what to do.”

  Marcus worked his wrist unit and Genny watched as his vac-suit broke apart in little squares. A moment later his form went translucent.

  Taam stepped toward where Marcus was. “Under no circumstance do you keep that running for more than ten hecatryls. I don't care if Captain Vex is threatening to kill everyone of us or your whole planet. When the timer hits zero, you drop cloak, understood. I didn't give you my suit only to have you poison yourself to death.”

  The air shimmered around Marcus as he shifted his weight. “Understood.”

  “Now get to Storage hangar V-09 and get yourself on Volja,” Taam said.

  The group listened as the sound of Marcus' feet hitting the floor echoed across the room. His form appeared for only a quick moment then vanished just as fast. The door to the storage room slid open then shut as Marcus stepped through.

  “And that'll alert the Attillians to our position,” Bartl said.

  Alarms sounded and the group watched as the empty storage bay faded to white once more; a second later they were standing on the bridge of the Starfaller. Commander Tira along with a couple dozen soldiers were there at the ready.

  “How many times must we do this?” Tira asked. “This is not the Imperium or any other Core vessel. The minute you stepped through the door our sensors told us where you were. I expected better from you.”

  ҉

  Marcus stood with his body pressed against the wall; his breath held as three Attillians passed by him. He slowly exhaled and glanced at a clock displayed on his visor. Taam had set it to Earth time, and it showed hr had a little over eight minutes remaining to make it to the Zorg ship. He watched as the Attillian group turned the corner and Marcus darted forward. He passed corridor after corridor. His visor displayed exactly where he needed to go, and roughly how long it would take him to reach his destination at his current pace. Marcus pushed himself onward.

  A door slid open to his left. Marcus jumped and stumbled as he lost his footing and crumbled to the floor. The two Attillian soldiers leaving the room froze in place. Marcus watched as they looked down the corridor to their left, then to their right. He was sure his suit had flashed his form as he landed.

  “You heard that, correct?” One of the Attillians asked the other.

  “Yeah,” the other responded.

  A loud groan came from behind them and the two turned and smiled.

  “Let's leave him,” one said. “He needs time to think over our offer.”

  The two stepped out from the room. As they did, Marcus peered inside and saw Omnis Zept strapped to a table. Bruises and scars covered his body. A bright blue blood puddled on the floor. Marcus could hear him groaning in pain. He watched as the two soldiers strolled down the corridor and turned the corner.

  Marcus stood and his mind raced. He'd watched Omnis die as the Sunspot exploded. But somehow the Attillians now had him.

  They're torturing him. Marcus thought.

  Marcus turned and looked down the corridor; he could see the large doors marked “V-09.” He looked back at the door behind which Omnis laid. His mind flashed with the memory of the exploding escape pod on Qynn-9. Omnis had saved him.

  Marcus stepped forward and the doors slid open.

  He looked around; the room was full of what looked to be medical equipment. Bags of the same bright blue blood were filled and hung across a rack ready for transfusions. Scalpels, syringes, and other tools were splayed about on tables and counters. Marcus walked across the room. His visor flashed indicating he'd made a wrong turn. It showed the course correction he needed to take along with the clock displaying four minutes left.

  Marcus looked around once more. The room was empty except for Omnis who was in the center. There were four red beams of light going across his body: one at his neck, two across his chest, and one across his ankles. It appeared that these red lights were keeping Omnis pinned to the table.

  “Who's there?”Omnis coughed out. Blood shot from his mouth. “I can hear your breathing. I told you, I don't know where any of them are. I was helping rescue the Heezarians from a scav ship. I had no idea you were hunting them.” Omnis started to cough violently. Marcus could see his body had been brutally beaten and tortured. “Please,” Omnis said. “I know someone's there. Why don't you just kill me. Even if I did know where they were, I'm not giving up the Heezarians or anyone else to you blatnards.”

  Marcus touched at his wrist unit. His cloak fell. Omnis' eyes grew wide.

  “Please tell me you know how to get you out of this thing,” Marcus said.

  “How?” Omnis said. “How are you here?”

  “Long story,” Marcus answered. “You saved me, now I'm returning the favor. But,” he paused. “I kind of need your help in rescuing you.”

  Omnis stared for a moment, shocked to see Marcus. He snapped out of his gaze. “The panel on the wall behind me,” he said.

  Marcus looked and darted over to it.

  “There should be three sliders on the display,” Omnis said.

  “Yeah,” Marcus said. Panic filled his voice.

  “Slide the middle one to about half, the other two all the way to the other end.”

  Marcus followed his instructions.

  “Now, there should be three buttons on the bottom, tap the one on the right.”

  Marcus tapped it and heard the table behind him power down. He spun and saw that the red energy fields had disappeared. Omnis rolled and fell to the floor.

  Marcus rushed over to him and quickly realized that Omnis was far too large to pick up on his own.

  “Can you get to your feet?” Marcus asked.

  Omnis coughed more and pulled his arms and legs in, a moment later Marcus watched as the large man pushed himself to his feet. He wobbled for a second but propped himself up against the table.“Give me a second.”

  “I don't think we have a second,” Marcus said.

  “How are you here?”

  “I'd like to know the same for you,” Marcus replied. “But for now, we need to get out of here. I need to get to the storage room at the end of this hall. I'm taking a Zorg vessel to Volja.”

  Omnis looked Marcus in the eyes for a moment. “You're serious?” He said. “You guys did it?”

  “Not yet, Volja will be dropping into destabilized space any moment. I need to be on that Zorg ship when it does.”

  Omnis hoisted himself upright. “Alright,” he said. “Let's go.” He stepped forward but Marcus didn't move. “I thought we were going?”

  “Listen” Marcus said. “There's a chance, if you go with me, that Volja will warp you off to some random spot in space.”

  “Listen kid,” Omnis said. “We all know the legends of Volja. But if I have to choose between a chance of getting taken to some random place, or staying on this ship, I'm choosing the ra
ndom place. I'm a big boy, even if I get zapped somewhere, I'll find my way.”

  “Are you sure?” Marcus asked.

  “Well,” Omnis said. “No. But I am sure I don't want to stay on this ship.”

  Marcus nodded and the two rushed toward the door. Just as they reached it, the two guards stepped inside once more. With blurring speed Omnis shot out a left hook and cracked one soldier across the face. He then spun and dropped his elbow across the other's chin. The two Attillian guards dropped to the floor. Omnis started coughing and hacking up more blood. Marcus just stood frozen in place.

  “C'mon,” Omnis coughed out. “You're rescuing me, remember?”

  The two made their way to the end of the corridor. The doors to V-09 slid open. There in the center of the storage room was the Zorg vessel along with dozens of soldiers and Ravager drones.

  No one appeared to notice Marcus and Omnis' entrance. The two moved into the storage room and slid behind some tall crates.

  “Listen,” Marcus said. “I need to get on that ship. Once I'm aboard I'll trans-warp you aboard as well.”

  Omnis shot him a confused look.

  “Psy Net,” Marcus said and pointed to his head. “Taam had me download some useful space knowledge into this human brain of mine. Although, the Psy Net couldn't show me how to operate the Zorg ship. Luckily, Taam had a close encounter with its former owner so he was able to fill in the gaps. We believe that as long as the destablizer is activated the Attillians won't be able to keep the Zorg engines locked out.”

  Omnis smiled. “You've grown up some since Qynn-9. But, how do you plan on getting aboard the ship.”

  Marcus punched at his wrist unit and Omnis watched as this human went invisible.

  “You know you're dumping poison into your blood right?” Omnis asked.

  “I'll be fine,” Marcus answered from a short distance away.

  “You've been around Taam too long,” Omnis muttered to himself.

  Marcus moved slowly through the storage room. His visor displayed less than thirty seconds before he needed to be on that ship. He slowly inched his way into position. Twenty seconds remaining. The numbers flashed in red as they counted down. Marcus touched his wrist unit which then began to broadcast the entry codes to the Zorg vessel.