1 + 2

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  Kimberly's view...

  I notice that woman is gripping something in her hand. I never did check her for a weapon and she might be thinking of repaying me for what I did to her earlier, so I demand, "Give me what you have."

  That woman glares back at me as she clinches her fist.

  "Give it here," I demand as I put a hand to my purse that's dangling from my shoulder. "Remember I won't ask a third time."

  She opens her hand, and I see that it's a 9 mm round. I'm about to ignore it when I remember its the bullet I left for that woman. I study it more closely and see my own hand writing. She must have picked it up, and she might be saving it to use on me later. I take the bullet, wipe most of the blood on a plastic sheet, and place the bullet in my pocket. I'll save Pale Horse and use it when I kill her, and that will be a fitting end to our bizarre partnership.

  End Kimberly's view...

  Brian started on a stitch when something shiny half way embedded below Kat's skin caught his attention. The bullet nicked the object, dislodging it enough to appear in the wound. He grabbed an overhead lamp and pulled it close.

  "Kim, hand me the small forceps."

  She handed the tweezer size instrument to him and then asked, "What do you see?"

  He removed the small metal object and dropped it in a stainless steel tray. "I don't know." Brian pushed it across the tray with the forceps and flipped it over, examining the rectangular thing the size of a grain of rice. "It looks like a chip they place in pets to identify them if they're lost."

  A realization sunk in and Kim said, "It's more than that." She picked up the metal device and walked around to face that woman. "Is this how they've been tracking you? Does this thing tell them where to send the Un-Men?"

  "What are Un-Men?" Brian questioned.

  "I'll explain later." She turned her attention back to that woman and asked, "Well, is it? Do you know you're some sort of experiment?" She demanded, "What are you? What are you the Key to? Tell me!"

  "I'm the Pandora Project," Kat answered. "I'm hunted and tested."

  Kim asked, "What does that mean? What's the Pandora Project?"

  "Sheez... Haven't you been listening? I already told you I can't remember my past, so you know as much as I do." Kat wanted to wrap herself into a fetal position and shield herself from the frustrating questions that had been haunting her the past year.

  "Sheez?" Brian said. "What kind of word is that? I've never heard it before."

  "Don't butt in!" Kim shouted at him, then she started to leave the room with the metal device, and yelled at Kat, "If you don't want to tell me, fine!"

  "Where are you going?" Brian asked.

  Kim paused outside the door and answered, "I'm going to get rid of this thing."

  "Wouldn't it be better to keep it?"

  "No, I think it's caused enough problems."

  She went to a restroom, flushed the tracking beacon, and returned.

  He finished the stitches, cleaned Kat's left palm, put ointment on it, and wrapped the burn in gauze. He gave her a tetanus shot.

  "I'm finished," Brian said to Kim. "As long as infection doesn't set in and she isn't allergic to anything I gave her, she should be fine with rest." He took out a clean blanket from a closet and covered Kat. "I've given her a sedative, so she'll sleep for a few hours." Brian motioned for Kim to follow him out, and he shut the door behind them.

  "Both of you can stay overnight, but you'll need to leave early tomorrow morning. The work crew will be here sometime around 9:00 A.M."

  "What am I supposed to do? I can't take her to my place." Kim couldn't imagine having that strange woman in her apartment.

  "It will probably be best if you did. Hey! Don't look at me that way." He pointed at her accusingly. "You're the one who saved her from whatever." He dropped his hand. "Did you really think you could leave her here?"

  "I guess I never thought that far ahead."

  His expression softened as he asked, "Would you like something to eat or maybe coffee? I'm heading to the cafeteria."

  "Yes, thank you. I'll have a ham sandwich and that lemon-lime soda Crite if they carry it."

  "My old office is right through that door." He pointed and told her, "You can stay there till morning. There's a couch, and a pillow and a blanket are in the closet if you need to rest. I'll be back within an hour to check on your friend, and I'll bring the sandwich and drink then."

  "She's not my friend," Kim insisted.

  "Well, whoever." He started to leave.

  "Brian, wait." She tenderly grabbed his elbow, and he turned. "Thanks," she said. I didn't know who else to turn to or more like I don't have anyone else to turn to. With what I do... You understand."

  "I do, and you're welcome." He smirked as he spoke, "A small payment to the large debt I owe you." Brian studied her tired face. "You look distraught. What happened today?"

  Down the hall, a shadow stretched from a corner to listen in.

  Kim didn't know if she should tell Brian, but decided she could trust him. "I received a message from my mom."

  He was sincere and happy for her. "She is fine then?"

  Kim shook her head, holding back tears. "I discovered she died. She never abandoned me and my father; she was murdered."

  "Murdered?" Brian couldn't believe the news.

  "Yes, and I'll find who did it." Her expression darkened as she fisted her right hand. "And they'll pay."

  "How did you uncover this?" he asked.

  "I remembered. I was there outside the office when the fire started, and I heard gun shots. I had repressed the memory." She glanced back at the room where Kat slept. "Something triggered it."

  "I don't know what to say." He put a gentle hand to her shoulder. "At least, you know she's dead and she didn't abandon you. Murdered though... like I said, I don't know what to say."

  "Listening to me is enough." She started for his office. "I need to get some rest. I've had a long day." Kim entered the room, closed the door behind her, and added loudly, "A very exhausting day."

  Brian stared at the office for a moment and continued through the hall.

  Kimberly's view...

  Tired, I glance around and see a desk, bookshelves full of medical references, a tall cabinet, and a couch. I open the cabinet, take the pillow and blanket, sit on the couch, and place my gun on a coffee table. I lie back and cover myself, then reach up, turn off a lamp at my head, and plunge the room into darkness. I can't believe what I've gotten myself into. My mom wanted me to save Pandora, but I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with her now. I roll on my side, trying to sleep, not knowing if I made the right decision saving her. I probably just caused myself a headache full of problems. It would have been so much simpler if I had just killed her.

  End Kimberly's view...

  Outside at the corner, the Rogue peeked around as it processed the information it overheard. Theresa Griffin was murdered and that might be something interesting to investigate later, but first thing was first. The Rogue started through the hall. Ms. Griffin had gotten sloppy and left Pandora all by her lonesome, and it was time for it to say hello. The Rogue paused. It detected someone approached and ducked back around the corner before they spotted it. The Rogue didn't recognize him. Whoever he was, he was interrupting the Rogue's play time, but it would wait. It ducked inside a supply closet. For a chance alone with Pandora, it would wait.

  * * *

  The new Sanctum...

  Within the makeshift Chamber...

  Several analysts activated the equipment, and the computers and large flat screen monitors powered up, casting the dark room in a blue glow. Shadows cast across the faces of the Council as they sat in chairs in the middle of the Chamber and stared at the monitors. Four security personnel set up a rectangular table before them.

  Ms. Nona looked over reports a supervisor handed her, and then she said, "There is still no word on Argus and no word f
rom the Factory. I fear Argus and the Factory may have been compromised. There are reports across Noir of T-3s hitting different facilities belonging to the Factory."

  "Do you believe they have lost control and that the T-3s have taken over?" Mr. Morta asked.

  "Yes," Ms. Nona replied.

  Mr. Decuma started his report, "The second project, Cerberus, has been activated; it will be operational in two days."

  Mr. Morta nodded.

  A supervisor handed Ms. Nona another H.H.C. and the councilwoman relayed, "We have a problem. The tracking device we implanted in Pandora is no longer functioning."

  "What about her bio-readings? Are we still detecting them?" Mr. Morta asked.

  "Yes, it appears to be sleeping," Ms. Nona replied. "Pandora's stats have improved but are not within normal ranges."

  "Should we send a team to the last place the beacon relayed so they may extract the project?" Mr. Decuma asked. "We cannot have it running rogue."

  Mr. Morta said, "Pandora is far from rogue. Let her continue as a sub-project. We still may acquire valuable information from her bio-readings. Let us see what she does now that she is on her own."

  Mr. Morta knew Pandora needed to enjoy her freedom while she had it, for he wouldn't be able to hold back the Hands of the Fates forever.

  Mr. Decuma's view...

  I stare at my counterpart. She? Her? Are they merely a slip of the tongue or has Mr. Morta forgotten the project's place? I pause in my thoughts then decide that the development needs to be monitored. We cannot have a project influencing one of the Council. I will make sure of it.

  Chapter Thirty

  When Everything Is At Its Bleakest

  10:43 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  Katharine's view...

  The cold room smells antiseptic, and the lingering dust makes me sneeze as I wake, blinking my eyes open. At first I believe I'm still at Etna Toys, but then I notice I'm lying on a bed in a hospital room and that the lights are off. A window on the far side of the room looks out on a dark parking lot, and light from a street lamp trickles in. I thought Kimberly had...

  I try to move, but my arms and legs feel heavy. I remember I'm at Asclepius Hospital and that the doctor gave me some injections. I try moving again, but I feel so weak. One of the injections must not have worn off. I see that a blanket covers me up to my chin. A little less groggy, I move my wrists and realize it's not the medicine that's making my arms and legs feel heavy. The door creaks open and interrupts my thoughts as a man in a white lab coat walks in backwards, holding a clipboard. Here's Brian, so I can ask him.

  He flips a switch, and I squint as the bright lights flicker on. I watch as Brian walks over to a drawer, opens it, removes a plastic package, lays it on a tray, and removes a scalpel from it. He turns with the instrument in his hand, and the small blade glints in the light as I gasp. It's not Brian who stands before me but the Rogue, the blackguard of my nightmares. I force myself to exhale. The bio-mecha warning should have alerted me to its presence. Maybe the drugs Brian gave me has interfered with my ability. My breathing increases as I realize I'm powerless to save my own life. I franticly look to the door. I could cry out, but I don't know if anyone's out there.

  "It looks like we are finally alone," the Rogue says as it walks to the left side of my bed.

  I follow it with my eyes, and it smirks at me like a devilish cat.

  "I thought you would be singing with the Erinyes after I left Etna Toys, but here you are alive and somewhat well. I guess we were meant to meet again. Lucky for me."

  It doesn't wear its sun glasses, and I can see its robotic eyes; its eyes show a hint of pleasure.

  "You amaze me again, but this time it was not your skills that saved you but Ms. Griffin." The Rogue chuckles. "Well, saved you the second time." It makes a gun with its hand and aims it at me. "The first time she did not really help you." It pokes my wounded shoulder with the barrel of its imaginary gun.

  I wince, too afraid to say anything.

  "I am still not sure why the Chairman's daughter is involved." The Rogue strokes my cheek with the blunt side of its scalpel, and I shrink from its touch. "I can investigate the reason in the future once our game has come to an end. I will need something to do once you are gone; though, I will have to say I love the time we have spend together." It scans me. "I detect your tracking beacon has been disabled."

  At first, I don't understand what it means, but then I remember the small piece of metal Brian removed from my shoulder.

  It seems to study my expression as it says, "Did you not know? How do you think the Un-Men always found you?" The Rogue strokes my hair with its hand. "How I keep finding you?"

  "What do you want?" I ask. "Why are you always toying with me?"

  "What do I want? You women, you both ask me the same thing, and I am surprised you do not know. I want what I have always wanted. Your death by my hands." The Rogue glances around the room and out the door's small window. "And here we are all alone, and you without your gun. It is a shame, not that a gun would have helped you. You have not been able to directly hit me in all our battles; though, I have been impressed with them in the past." It grabs my chin. "How are we going to play this time?" It glances at the scalpel it holds and throws the instrument across the room, embedding the blade half way into the wall. "Let us not play doctor again." It removes the lab coat that covers its suit and unsheathes its knife. "This is much better." The Rogue places the blade against my throat. "Pandora, you are the driving force that gives meaning to my existence."

  I force myself to stare at the Rogue as the blade slightly cuts me and a trickle of blood runs down my neck. I whisper, "And you're the bane of mine."

  "Let us begin this final battle. Your move Pandora. What are you going to do? What attack or tactic will save you this time?"

  End Katharine's view...

  Outside some distance away...

  Brian ran down the hall, shouting, "Kim!"

  Startled by his shouting, Kim sat up, searching his office over the barrel of her gun, and it took her a few moments before she realized she was at the hospital.

  Brian burst into the room. "We have a problem!" he shouted almost out of breath.

  Down the hall in the other room...

  "Your move Pandora. What are you waiting for? Do something! Do not look at me with that helpless face of yours! Attack! Counter my move! Why are you not doing anything? Why have you given up?" Her submissiveness frustrated it. "Do you want to die?" The Rogue cut her neck a little deeper, and a red trail of liquid flowed down its blade. "Fight me!"

  "I can't," she admitted. "I can't."

  "You cannot deny me!" The Rogue threatened, "I will kill you if you will not fight me! I will bring a halt to our Endless Waltz."

  Kat remained silent, knowing there was nothing she could do, and her eyes burned as trepidation forcibly boarded her brain and hijacked control. Fear soaked through every action she took, making it difficult to move even the slightest bit. Her head jerkily turned like a robot's, and Kat had to force herself to breathe.

  "Fine then! I will gut you!" It threw back the blanket ready to cut her open and halted. "What is this?"

  In Dr. Chiron's office...

  Kim stood, lowered the gun, and asked, "What problem?"

  Brian told her, still trying to catch his breath, "One of the doctors... was over here with a nurse... and well, you can imagine why. Anyway... he found the woman you brought in. Come on." He started for the door. "My colleague remembered seeing her picture on one of the bounty shows they have on TV, and he turned her in. Noir Civil Police Force will be here any moment. You have to get her out of here."

  Back in the other room...

  "What is this?" the Rogue demanded as it looked down at Kat with her hands and feet in restraints. "Who did this? Ms. Griffin? Puck!" it screamed, waving its knife around. "How a
re we to fight when you are like this? I knew your shoulder wound would be a problem, but I was going to go easy on you to make up for it." It motioned to the restraints with its open hand. "But this..." It thought a moment and said, "It is not like I put you in them." The Rogue raised the knife and paused. "But does that make it fair?"

  Katharine's view..

  I stare at the ranting Un-Man in disbelief. I can't believe it hasn't killed me yet. It always seems to take pleasure in these games. I try to muster some anger, but I can't find the strength to rebel against my fate, so I forfeit my life to the bane of my existence.

  The Rogue paces the room, muttering, "What to do? What to do? I guess I will kill you." It walks over to me as if to cut my throat and exclaims, "Puck! I cannot. This is so unfair. I have waited all this time to kill you in battle, and you had to go and get yourself tied up."

  Confused over why it has delayed in ending me, I watch it pace the room like a mad man, and then I look to the door, hoping for help. Where's Kimberly? Did she abandon me again or did she make a deal with the Un-Man?

  End Katharine's view...

  The Rogue had an idea and said, "I know, I will release you then we can fight." It detected two people approaching the room, and it turned just as Kim and Brian burst in. "Puck!" the Rogue cursed and turned its knife on them.

  Kim opened fire on the Rogue twice, but it was too fast for her, and it moved out of the way of the speeding projectiles as if they were wads of paper she had thrown at it.

  The Rogue glanced at Kat and told her, "Another day." It ran for the window, crashing through it, and a few shards pinged to the floor as the majority of the glass fell outside.

  Careful of the broken glass, Kim rushed to the window to fire at the Rogue again. "It's gone!" She turned back as Brian started to release Kat.

  Kat looked at Kim and accused, "You tied me up and left me alone."

  Kim was taken aback by her accusation and the glare that woman gave her. Only her mother ever gave her that look, and Kim didn't know what to say.

  "I..."

  "She didn't tie you up," Brian said as he finished releasing her. "It was one of my colleagues, now both of you must leave. I'll try to stall the police."