Reprisal

by Charles Tillman

  Satisfied that he was alone, he sent the Pod up into the moonless sky to hold position above him until he called for it. He moved out of the valley in the direction of the hidden prison, his armor making him invisible in the darkness. He paused as he approached the top of a ridge overlooking the complex and crouched in the notch of a large boulder that had been split by some unknown force in the past.

  The two-level prison was dark and appeared abandoned, but his keen hearing picked up the sounds of bodies shuffling about and the occasional snarl from a Nosferatu locked in the cells. Each time he heard a snarl, it was followed by a strong sense of a Forsaken as the guards exerted control over the beast. He sensed that the Forsaken controlling the Nosferatu were strong enough to keep them in check but had to constantly monitor them to keep them calm.

  After ensuring that he wasn’t visible, Akio surveyed the valley below for several minutes before he silently slipped behind one half of the boulder, out of sight of the building. He touched a slot on his armored right arm and a small screen slid out. It dimly lit up and showed him a live video from the second level of the prison cell block.

  A Forsaken lounged against the wall two feet directly below the drone, leaning casually against the wall. As Akio watched, he heard a pair of snarls come from close by the drone. The Forsaken pushed off the wall and walked to one of the nearby cells. Seconds later, Akio’s senses again detected the stronger sense of a Forsaken as the Nosferatu quieted their snarls and movement.

  After cycling through several more feeds from the drones Eve had managed to scatter throughout the complex, he slid the screen back into his armor and slipped over the lip of the ridge. He carefully worked his way down, stopping often and casting his senses about for any other Forsaken that might be around. He slowly made his way into the shadows at the base of the wall without sensing any Forsaken outside of the complex. He made his way to a closed door that led into the prison and stopped.

  As he crouched in the shadows, he heard voices from inside.

  “How much longer are we going to be stuck out here watching these things?” one man complained.

  “Until Miko tells us otherwise,” another responded curtly.

  “I wish he would hurry up, Miyabi. I’m tired of sitting on these things for who knows how long. Any idea when Miko will get back? He’s been away for days now,” the first complained.

  The other voice came back. “Tanji, you need to understand something right now. We sit here until Miko says differently. If you don’t like that, then take it up with him when he gets back from meeting with Heinz, but you don’t want to piss him off. Remember what happened when you and those two idiots with you killed off that village instead of bringing them in as ordered?”

  Akio heard a grunt, then the second speaker continued.

  “That was Miko in a good mood. How many did you have to gather to make up for that? What was it, twelve for the four you killed?”

  “Fifteen,” the first speaker mumbled. “He sent me for more when one I brought back was too far gone to survive the change.”

  “Exactly. If that was Miko in a good mood, do you want to see what he does when he is unhappy? That is, if Chang or Heinz don’t hear about it first. You really don’t want either of them to notice you questioning orders.”

  “I…I’m not questioning orders. I j…just wondered how much longer until we can move these things to T-t-tokyo and turn them loose. I’m just bored,” was the stammering reply.

  “Be bored on your own time. For now, keep the damned things in your area quiet and don’t ask so many questions. We will be told when it’s time and not before.”

  Light footsteps moved away, and only the sounds of the caged Nosferatu could be heard.

  Akio silently made his way back over the ridge to the next valley and called down the Pod. He directed it high into the sky and headed back to Tokyo at speed, then activated his chip. “Yuko?”

  “Yes, Akio?”

  “I’m done at the prison and have found what they plan for the Nosferatu being held there. They plan to bring them to Tokyo and let them loose on the populace.”

  Yuko’s voice took on a harsh deeper tone. “They all need to die! I will not allow what happened on Kume to be repeated again if I can stop it.”

  “Agreed, but we will be…smart about this. Won’t we?”

  “Hai. I will be smarter this time,” Yuko answered contritely.

  “Good. I don’t want Eve mad at me, again,” he deadpanned.

  “Message received, Sensei. I promise to control my emotions.”

  “We were fortunate that Eve was able to locate this place when she did,” Akio assured her. “We will put an end to this before they can cause more pain.”

  “This would have been a disaster if we hadn’t discovered them in time. Can you imagine the destruction that many Nosferatu could do in a crowded city?” A chill coursed through her as she spoke.

  “Hai, it would be a massacre of innocents. Now it will be them who die. Is Eve back from her business with Koda and Asai, yet?”

  “No. When I heard from her a little while ago, she said it would be roughly another hour.”

  Akio thought for a few seconds. “These Nosferatu aren’t an immediate threat, but I’m not willing to wait long. Although they can’t get to Tokyo anytime soon, if they get out in this area, there are many small farms and villages all through the region that they could destroy. We need to take them out sooner rather than later.”

  Tanaka Electronics Boutique, Tokyo, Japan

  “This is awesome!” Koda exclaimed when they stepped inside the electronics store. There were multiple displays with bright screens showing all types of entertainment throughout the space.

  Asai hesitated at the entrance, squinting against the glare of so many flashing screens. “It’s so bright in here. How can anyone make heads or tails of all this?”

  A young man wearing a green shirt with the name of the store sewn on the pocket approached them with a smile. “Welcome to Tanaka Electronics Boutique. My name is Seki. What can I help you find today?”

  Koda smiled back as Eve stepped around Asai.

  Seki’s smile grew brighter at her approach. “Eve-san, it’s good to see you today. Thank you again for allowing me to try those amazing simulations you developed. That was the most fun I have had in ages. What can I help you,” he raised his eyes to Asai, “and these lovely ladies with?”

  Eve chuckled at his thinly-veiled flirting with Asai. “Seki-san, your input was very helpful. When you run the Demon sim again, you will see some changes that I believe you will like. These lovely ladies need some equipment for their new homes. What do you recommend?”

  His eyes lit up and he raised his arms as he turned, taking in the whole store. “All of the products we carry here are top of the line. What type of things do you like? We have the latest in 3-D televisions in any size you could want, as well as the best-sounding music systems on the market.”

  Koda pointed to a large television hanging from the ceiling. It showed an underwater scene with coral reefs and a multitude of brightly-colored fish swimming around. The image was so clear that the fish appeared to be real enough to reach out and touch. “What is that one?”

  “Ah, that is the Hui Theater model. It has a three-dimensional screen with an active voice interface. This particular model also has an integrated stereo with wireless surround sound. It’s one of the most popular models we sell.”

  Koda continued to stare at the screen. With a push on the remote he pulled from his pocket, Seki changed the scene to an all-girl band singing and dancing on a lighted stage.

  “It’s voice-activated, but we have to use a remote in the store,” he explained. “It automatically detects the type of show you’re watching and adjusts the sound to give you the best experience possible.” He pressed another button, and Koda was immediately surrounded by music on all sides.

  “Oh, ancestors. That is… Unbelievable.” She spun in place, spotting small speaker
s anchored above her.

  Seki chuckled at her response. “A magnificent device, indeed.”

  “That sound is coming from those tiny boxes?” Wonder filled her voice.

  “Hai. Those are part of the Hui theater-in-a-box system. They are optional but are made to pair to the unit with no wires. Each one has a wireless receiver, and can be placed anywhere since they have the ability to run on house current or built-in rechargeable batteries.”

  Koda’s eyes were wide when she was inundated with sound that was so intense she felt it in her bones.

  “I think you have a sale here, Seki,” Eve informed him. “Go ahead and put in the request and let’s move on. Asai needs to get some things, too.”

  Koda’s shoulders slumped as she looked at the price tag on the bottom of the case. “Eve, this costs way too much. I can’t afford….”

  Eve raised her hand and cut off her protest. “Don’t worry about the prices, either of you. These are your housewarming gifts from Yuko and me. Price is not an issue since I am certain that the Palace will make whatever we spend here in a short time on opening day. Now, let’s get done so we can get you into your new homes.”

  Two hours later, both girls had made multiple selections. Koda went for the flashier items with lots of features while Asai continued to be more conservative, opting more for basic function instead of a plethora of extra features. Eve paid for the order and arranged to have it delivered later in the day.

  Seki had continued to flirt with Asai at every opportunity. She had been hesitant at first, but seemed to warm to and enjoy the attention as time went on.

  Once the sale was final, Seki hesitantly approached her. “Asai-san, my shift ends in ten minutes. If you would like, I would be happy to come by and show you how to get the most out of your new equipment.”

  Asai flushed bright red as she stammered. “Th-thank you, Seki-san. I, uh, I appreciate the offer, but all I have is a vacant room right now. My furniture is being delivered today as well, and I will be setting up my home and helping Koda with hers, too.”

  Seki’s disappointment was evident on his face. “Ah, I see.”

  Koda stepped up and slipped her arm through Asai’s. “Seki-san, you have been such a big help today. Would you do us the honor of being our guest at the Palace’s grand opening?”

  Seki’s face lit up. “The grand opening? Of course, I would love to be there. I have been going by each day to check the building’s progress since Eve-san told me where it was going to be.”

  “It’s scheduled for two weeks from now,” Eve told him. “I planned to send you and the others who helped test the games invitations next week. I guess you don’t need one, now.” Eve chuckled.

  Seki laughed weakly as he continued to focus on Asai.

  “We look forward to seeing you then,” Koda told him with a smile.

  “Um, ah, yeah, I will see you there, too,” Asai finally managed, her blush getting deeper with each word.

  Seki’s face lit up with pleasure when Asai answered.

  Eve smiled to herself as she realized that Yuko’s fears that the young woman would be hesitant to engage with the opposite sex because of what Isamu had done to her seemed to be unfounded. She also knew that Seki was an honorable man and would treat her well.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Acheng, China, Research Laboratory

  “You wanted to see me, Heinz?” Miko spoke respectfully from the doorway of the lab.

  “Yes, Miko. Come in. I have something for you.”

  “You have information from Japan? The Nosferatu are ready. I would like to get a few more, but I have over one hundred and seventy ready to go now.”

  Heinz waved his hand while shaking his head. “No, we haven’t got anything back on that yet. I sent Dieter to handle it. He should arrive there tomorrow, and I have decided we can’t wait any longer. I’m going to send Gunter over in the craft the next day to get an update. Whether they have located the base or not, we’re going forward with the operation.”

  Miko nodded, a satisfied look on his face.

  “What I meant was that I have a new treatment for you. If my calculations are correct, it will give you several added benefits.”

  Satisfaction turned to concern as a troubled look crossed Miko’s face. He remembered the first time Heinz had given him a treatment and what it had done to him. The increases in strength and speed were formidable, but the effects of the treatment were intense to put it mildly. “Benefits?”

  “Several,” Heinz informed him.

  “What do I need to do?” Miko hesitantly asked.

  Heinz held up a syringe that was filled with blood and motioned to a chair next to his workbench. “All you have to do is give me your arm. This will do the rest.”

  Miko hesitated. “Heinz, is…uh, is this going to be like the last time?”

  “I don’t think it will be as intense,” Heinz assured him. “The negative effects didn’t last as long nor were they as severe during the trials. I will keep you here for observation and testing for a few days, then we should have word from Dieter. You will get to try out your benefits in Tokyo soon after, I imagine.”

  Miko sat in the indicated chair and held out his arm. He knew from experience that Heinz would not allow him to stall for long.

  Heinz wasted no time plunging the needle into the exposed flesh and pushing the plunger. Miko watched expectantly as the blood went into his arm. “How long before I feel the effects?”

  Heinz removed the needle and placed the syringe into a rack that contained three more full ones. “It shouldn’t take long. The test subjects all showed signs within a few minutes.”

  Miko sat patiently while Heinz looked on. That some of the test subjects had shown a less intense reaction to the mix was true. What Heinz didn’t mention was that almost half of them had experienced a fatal response.

  Warmth blossomed in Miko’s arm and rapidly moved through his body from the injection site. The heat continued to move throughout him, and he started to tremble as his skin flushed red. The tremors quickly became a continuous shaking that gained strength until his whole body spasmed violently and uncontrollably.

  His eyes were clenched shut as he fought to control his body until he let out a low moan and collapsed to the floor, his body still shaking but the tremors growing weaker with each passing moment.

  Heinz watched dispassionately until Miko’s body lay unmoving.

  Heinz consulted his watch as he pulled a pad from his bench and made several notations while he continued to observe the inert form. After several more minutes elapsed, the body jerked once, twice, and on the third spasm, Miko’s eyes flew wide open.

  “How do you feel?” Heinz asked, his pen poised over the pad.

  “Fuck me! What the hell was that?” Miko groaned as he slowly pushed himself off the floor and crawled back into the chair.

  Heinz waited until he was settled before repeating, “How do you feel, Miko?”

  He was silent as he sat for almost a minute before he looked up with wonder in his eyes. “I-I feel… I feel different.”

  “How so?”

  “I’m, uh, I’m not sure,” he finally managed.

  Heinz tapped the pen against his chin, a pensive look on his face. In the blink of an eye, he hurled the pen through the air toward the befuddled man.

  Faster than thought, Miko’s hand blurred, and when it stopped, he was grasping the pen between his forefinger and thumb, the point only a fraction of an inch from his eye.

  Miko pulled the pen away as his face flushed with anger. “What the hell?” He paused and looked at his hand, still holding the pen as he had caught it. The anger was replaced by a tight smile.

  “I feel faster,” was all he said as he realized the pen he held would have surely lodged in his brain if Heinz had done that earlier.

  “That’s one benefit.” Heinz nodded.

  “Are there more?”

  “Ja. Listen.”

  Miko, can you hear me?
>
  Miko stiffened as he looked incredulously at Heinz. “I heard you, but you did not speak.”

  Ja, that is another of the benefits I hoped for.

  Again, the words came into his mind without being spoken.

  “You now have some ability to pick up the thoughts of others. There is no way to tell how strong this will be until you use it. I have some tests set up for you in the next room.” Heinz stood and walked through a door leading into a larger adjoining area.

  Miko followed and saw that it was a training area with weights and other equipment along one wall. The other wall contained several cages, one of which had three humans locked inside.

  Heinz made his way to the weights and motioned him over. There was a bar sitting against the wall that held multiple metal plates on each end.

  Heinz turned a few pages of the pad he held and briefly studied the information on it.

  “According to your records, you were capable of lifting three hundred kilograms with minimal exertion after your last treatment. Pick this up.” He motioned toward the bar.

  Miko eyed it questioningly. This bar held considerably more than three hundred kilograms.

  He positioned himself over the weights and slowly squatted, grasping the bar with each hand. He drew a deep breath and tensed as he prepared to lift the bar. With an explosion of motion, he stood, lifting the bar as he went. The bar stopped with a sudden jerk as his arms reached their limit and locked.

  Miko’s mouth hung open as he stared at the weights he held suspended almost effortlessly over his head. The bar started to bend, the weights pushing it down on each end.

  “Put them down,” Heinz ordered.

  He complied and stepped back, his eyes going from the weights to Heinz and back before he stammered “That…that’s three hundred kilos on each side. How? What?”

  “Another benefit.” Heinz smiled. “Now for the last test. I want you to focus on the meat in the cage. See what you can pick up from each of them.”

  Miko stepped in front of the three humans, two men and a young woman. The woman pushed to the back of the cage as far from him as she could, trying to hide behind the men. One man stared defiantly at Heinz. The other watched Miko, curious but surprisingly showing no sign of fear. Miko silently studied each one in turn.