Human After All

by Connie Bailey

  “If that’s what you want to believe, I won’t try to change your mind, but I know what I feel is real, and I’m going after Jaymes.”

  “What a pity,” Arkay said. “Alvera had such high hopes for you.” He sighed. “Find Jannes, and tell her to take you to Lorez.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s how you’ll find Jaymes… for all the good it will do anyone.”

  “Thank you,” Drue said as he left.

  AS LOREZ left Pygmalion territory for the city’s public district, he removed his canvas-and-leather helmet and stowed it in his shoulder bag. “There are people who’d knock on me for the commset,” he said. “And I don’t want to have to hurt anybody, so why tempt the thieves?”

  “Thieves?” Jaymes said quietly.

  “I know you don’t have theft in the Cloister,” Lorez said. “But here, well, it’s a way of life for some.”

  “To live by stealing,” Jaymes mused. “It’s hard to imagine taking something that belongs to another.”

  “Some are desperate. Others lack a moral code. The law deals with both in the same way.”

  “Were you born here?” Jaymes asked, looking around as they passed through a street market.

  “Why?”

  “I’m just curious.”

  “Yeah, I was born here. So was my partner. So were a lot of people. It’s not nearly as uncommon as it used to be.”

  “I wasn’t making any judgments.”

  “I think you mean that.” Lorez touched Jaymes’s shoulder. “This way,” he said as he turned down a narrow side street. “I’ve heard all kinds of stories about the Cloister from people who escaped, but you aren’t how I imagined a Thoroughbred from Arkay’s descriptions.”

  “What did you think I’d be like?”

  “Colder, for one thing. You’re really pretty, though.”

  “That’s very nice of you to say.”

  “It’s more than nice of you to go back to the Cloister to speak for us. You’re a hero.”

  “No.”

  “Arkay says you are, and so do I.” Lorez glanced at Jaymes as they entered a cross street. “I’m not sure I’d have the guts to go into that nest of slave masters and bigots.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ve lived there all my life.”

  “How could you stand it?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.” Lorez quickened his pace. “It’s not like you had any choice.”

  “I think you have the wrong impression of how things are in the Cloister.”

  “No, it’s you that’s got the wrong impression. You’ve been conditioned all your life to think the way you live is normal.”

  “And you haven’t?”

  Lorez stopped in front of a pair of tall wooden doors. “I hadn’t thought of it like that,” he said after a few moments. “You’re right. My parents were Pygmalions, and I grew up in the compound.”

  Jaymes smiled. “That isn’t the response I expected. I thought you’d loudly defend your way of thinking.”

  Lorez returned the smile. “One of things my parents taught me was to be open-minded. I don’t mind admitting that you have a valid point, but I still think it’s wrong to modify humans for profit. And I’ll stand up for that belief.”

  “So will I.”

  “I have something for you,” Lorez said. “The lobo asked me to give it to you.” He fished a small metal disc on a chain from his breast pocket and held it out. “This was his pack tag.”

  Jaymes took the chain, swallowing as his throat tightened. “Thank you,” he said in a small voice.

  “You ready to go?”

  Jaymes nodded, and Lorez pushed a series of buttons in a brass plate fused into one of the doors. The door opened with a soft puff of displaced air, and Lorez stepped over the threshold. As Jaymes followed, he slipped the chain over his head and tucked the tag under his tunic.

  “I’ve never met a smuggler before,” Jaymes said, keeping his voice low.

  “You sound nervous. Arkay explained everything, right?”

  “He was very thorough, and though he lied to me once, I trust his word in this.”

  “It’s safe and let’s face it, it’s the only way to get into the Cloister undetected. You’ll be transported to a building occupied by Pygmalions, so you don’t have to worry about waking up surrounded by Metropol.”

  “I’m not worried. Arkay needs me, so he’ll make sure I’m safe.”

  “Why are you really doing this?”

  “It would be hard to explain, but I’m doing it for a friend named Valens.”

  “You don’t have to explain. Friends are the best reason. I’d do anything for Jannes.” Lorez broke off as the smugglers arrived and a short time later, Jaymes was taken away in a body box.

  JAYMES became aware of a chiming sound and was seized with the fear that he’d overslept and was late for a Scenario. It quickly became apparent that he was not in his bed in his apartment. After a few seconds of panic, he remembered the smugglers and that he was in a body box. At that moment, compressed gas released the lid, and it popped up. Before Jaymes could slide the top off, it was lifted away and tossed aside.

  “Wakey wakey,” Mino said as he looked down at Jaymes.

  Jaymes shook off his disorientation and scrambled to get out of the box. He managed to roll onto the floor before Mino got hold of him and hoisted him to his feet.

  “Frij, boychick,” Mino said. “Everything’s frosty.”

  “Yeah, it’s absoposi glacial,” Drue said from across the room.

  “I knew I should’ve gagged you.” Mino shot the Exotic a threatening glare.

  Jaymes took in the sight of Drue tied spread-eagle on top of a worktable and started moving toward him. When the murk grabbed the back of Jaymes’s tunic, Jaymes ducked and pivoted on his heel, swinging under Mino’s arm and twisting it severely at the wrist. The murk held on despite the excruciating pain, so Jaymes punched him twice in the groin.

  Mino jumped backward, letting go of the T-bred and dropping into a defensive crouch. “Not bad for a lapdog.” He shifted his weight. “Frag! I can taste my tookies when I swallow.”

  “I’d say I’m sorry, but it would be a lie,” Jaymes said. “I’m going to untie Drue now, all right?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t. He’s a handful.”

  “I don’t disagree, but I must object to your restraining him like that. It looks very uncomfortable and certainly undignified.”

  “Ask him about the people who were supposed to meet you here,” Drue said.

  Jaymes looked at Mino.

  “You should be thanking me for getting rid of them,” the murk said. “They were setting you up. I don’t know what that lunatic in Blue Sky City told you, but you’re here to assassinate a top government official. Did he tell you who you’re going to blow up?”

  “I’m going to turn myself in to the Attorney Exec.”

  “Why would the Pygs want to kill her? She’s soft as pudding on Bioware civil rights.”

  “I’m not going to kill her. I’m going to convince her to put her full weight behind the proposed changes to laws governing Bioware rights.”

  Mino snorted. “You actually believe that? I know you’re not stupid, so think. These Pygmalions are the people who used you to kill a politician who disagreed with them. They use the same methods they condemn in the metacorps and the government. They say they’re fighting for Bioware rights, but what is it they really want? I’ll tell you. They want a share of the power. They don’t want to change the government. They want to tear it down and start over with their people holding office.”

  Jaymes stared at the murk for a long moment. “Who are you?”

  “I’m a soldier who’s through following orders. I’ve watched this conspiracy from its conception and from both sides, and I’ve decided that neither side is right. And neither side has enough money to buy me.”

  “I don’t know what that means,�
�� Jaymes said.

  “He’s a double agent,” Drue said. “And I’m still tied up over here.”

  “Yes, I understand the double agent part.” Jaymes kept his eyes on Mino.

  “I’ve decided to help you,” Mino said. “You can untie the Zot if you want.”

  “Why don’t you do it?” Jaymes said.

  “I knew you weren’t stupid.” Mino walked around the T-bred to the table. “But the Zot isn’t booby-trapped.” He flexed his wrist, and a knife slid from a forearm sheath.

  As soon as the cords on Drue’s wrists and ankles were cut, he jumped down from the table and went to stand with Jaymes. “Don’t trust him,” he told the T-bred. “He plays both sides.”

  “I play all sides,” Mino said. “There are a lot more than just two.”

  “Drue is right. We have no reason to trust you and every reason not to.”

  “That’s right. But has anything made any sense since you showed up at House Cygne a few days ago?”

  “No. There’s no logic to it. It’s as if things are being made up as they go along.”

  “Welcome to world most of us live in, Prince.”

  “I don’t like it so far.”

  “You get used to it.” Mino shrugged. “And there are compensations.” He tilted his head at Drue. “I believe you’ve already discovered one of them.”

  “I had no idea what I was missing until I truly felt something for the first time,” Jaymes said. “So if you’re still wondering why I’m here, that’s why.”

  “So you can help others experience this amazing thing?”

  “I’m sure that seems hopelessly naïve to you.”

  “It does, but if you think you have a chance of getting the Attorney Exec to listen to you, I’ll help you get to her.”

  “Don’t do it,” Drue said, putting a hand on Jaymes’s shoulder.

  “What choice?” Jaymes answered. “Without the Pygmalions’ help—”

  “Forget about them,” Mino said. “You don’t need them. I have a plan, but first we need to get rid of whatever device the Pygs planted on you.”

  “There’s nothing,” Jaymes said.

  “They didn’t give you anything to bring with you?”

  Jaymes shook his head. “Now what’s your plan?”

  “You get clean and change into a detainee’s coverall. I change into a Metropol Lofficer uniform and escort you to the Attorney Exec.”

  “That’s your plan?” Drue scoffed.

  “How did you get the coveralls and uniform?” Jaymes asked.

  “I already had them,” Mino said. “I actually am a Lofficer.”

  “You’re not military?”

  “Not anymore. I deserted about seven years ago and joined Metropol under a new identcode. It’s a good cover for my mercenary activities.”

  “I need to know why you’re doing this,” Jaymes said. “You once threatened to sell me to the highest bidder and now you’re offering to help me in my mission?”

  “You’re not the only piece of Bioware that was altered without your permission.”

  “Are you telling me that you’re now motivated by revenge against society?”

  “I’m telling you the truth. And why do you care about my motivation if it gets you what you need? I think if you were smart you’d just accept it.”

  “Is that what you think?” Jaymes said. “Very well. We’ll play by your rules for now.”

  “Good. Are you ready for a shower?”

  “I’d give half my capital for one,” Jaymes said as he followed Mino.

  “What about me?” Drue said from behind Jaymes.

  “It’s a big shower,” Mino said over his shoulder.

  Mino was telling the truth. The shower stall was easily large enough for Drue and Jaymes. It was hard to resist the desire to be as close as possible, but they managed.

  “You don’t trust this murk, do you?” Drue asked.

  “No, but I’m going along with him for now. No point in pissing him off until we have to.”

  “I see your point.”

  They dropped the conversation, concentrated on getting clean, and joined Mino.

  “THIS is a terrible color on me,” Jaymes said as he ran his fingers up the front closure of the acid-orange jumpsuit Mino had given him.

  Drue came closer to close the neck tab for Jaymes. “You make it look good,” he said.

  “Your veracity assurance inhibitors have shut down completely.”

  “Exotics don’t have VAIs. We’re expected to be sly and deceitful.”

  “I hope in the future, Exotics can be anything they want.”

  “Sounds dangerous,” Mino said as he entered the bedroom.

  “Speaking of danger,” Drue said. “Aren’t you worried that someone is going to notice that the mission is fragged and come by to check on things?”

  “It’s a risk.” Mino removed his knitted cap and put on a leather Metropol helmet.

  Drue stared at the murk’s hairless head before it was covered again. “I don’t like you taking risks with Jaymes’s life.”

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  Jaymes smiled at the Exotic’s flummoxed expression. “It’s my decision,” he said. “Mino isn’t forcing me to do anything.”

  “What about Arkay?”

  “We spoke, and I decided to give myself up to the authorities here.”

  “I don’t trust him. He says he wants to help Bioware, but I don’t think he really likes us. I think he’d be happy if Bioware just went away.”

  “He was one of the first Bioware chemjineers,” Mino said. “Recruited by the military when he was arrested for narco traf sixty years ago. IndMilCorps gave him to Gentren, and he single-handedly created the Companion division.”

  “Maybe he regrets it,” Jaymes said.

  “And maybe he’s the type who can’t handle guilt. Maybe he’s a loon who’s decided the best thing to do is erase the evidence.”

  “Have I told you that you have a dark, nasty mind?” Drue said.

  Mino winked at the Exotic. “No need for flirting,” he said. “I’ll do you anytime you’re ready.”

  “Set your chrono to never,” Drue retorted.

  “Zots are so feisty,” Mino said. “Are you sure you don’t want to go a few rounds with me?”

  “You’re too handy at killing, and I’m not ready to die.” Drue turned away from the murk, dismissing him from his attention. “You can’t leave me behind,” he said to Jaymes.

  “Well, you can’t go,” Jaymes said firmly. “Who’d believe you were a Lofficer? You don’t have the body mass.”

  “You can’t expect me to just stay here and wait,” Drue said. “I’ll go loony.”

  “You can’t stay here,” Mino said. “Someone will check this nest eventually.”

  “I can’t go back to Alvera’s house… where all my belongings are.”

  “All of them?” Jaymes arched an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you don’t maintain a separate residence of some sort.”

  “I almost forgot. I left some things at Una’s.”

  “Una?”

  “You might know her as Undine.”

  “Ah yes, she’s the Exotic with the silver hair two meters long,” Jaymes said, finding the light chatter distracted him from the grim reality of his situation.

  “She was my heterotic training partner.”

  “Very nice.”

  “Talk shop later,” Mino said. “Let’s go.”

  Drue ignored the murk. “How will I find you?” he asked, taking Jaymes’s hand.

  Jaymes removed his earring. “This will get you into my building and my apartment. Wait for me there. If I don’t come back, the place is yours.”

  “Does that include your tailor?”

  Jaymes chuckled softly as he leaned his forehead against Drue’s. “I love you,” he murmured.

  “Sentimental T-bred,” Drue said in a choked voice.

  “Hurry up and kiss good-bye,” Mino said.

 
; “That’s the only good idea you’ve had, murk,” Drue said as he pulled Jaymes into his arms.

  Jaymes put his arms around Drue and hugged him tightly as their lips met. The kiss went on so long that Mino cleared his throat.

  “Go to the apartment,” Jaymes told Drue. “Don’t follow us.”

  “He won’t be able to,” Mino said. “Where we’re going, you need a badge.”

  “Come back to me,” Drue said, looking into Jaymes’s eyes.

  “That would be optimo,” Jaymes said, running his hand over Drue’s ginger hair.

  “Now,” Mino said, and Jaymes turned away from Drue.

  Drue watched the murk and the man he loved walk away from the converted storage facility. When they were out of his sight, he found a commlinx kiosk and messaged Una.

  ULRIKKA FRONZAY, Attorney Exec of the World Economic Combine, looked up as the door to her inner office opened. She watched the burly Metropol Lofficer march the detainee into the room and pushed the button that sealed the room to surveillance. Before she could speak, the guard released the prisoner from his manacles.

  “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “Lady, would you ask your seckry to sit back down, please?” Jaymes said.

  The Attorney Exec’s eyes flew to the young man who’d gotten to his feet. “Trevver, no!”

  “Listen to your boss, Trev,” Mino said.

  “Stay calm,” Jaymes said, giving the murk an annoyed glance. “I just want to have a talk with Mizz Fronzay.” He turned to the seckry. “There’s no need for heroics, and I wouldn’t advise any because this man”—he nodded at Mino—“will break your neck without a second thought, and there won’t be anything I can do to stop him. I just want that to be clear at the beginning.”

  “Lift your hands a little higher, please, Lady, and keep them away from the desk con,” Mino said. “That’s better. We have a cozy little quad here. No need to invite anyone else.”

  Ulrikka gave a guilty start before composing herself again. “I’d like to know what’s going on. I thought this Companion was here to confess to killing Deputy President Brandel Ampery.”