1 + 2

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

"No, I am not. Katharine must not reach the Gamma Phase. Do you know what stage she is at?"

  "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  "Has she run into any bio-mechas? Does she know when they are near?"

  "Yes," I reply.

  "That's the Alpha Phase. What about killing them?" the hologram questions. "Can she take them down with one shot?"

  "Yes."

  "This isn't good. Katharine has achieved the Beta Phase. I pray she hasn't accomplished the Gamma."

  "Never mind her. What about my mom? How do I find her killer?"

  "Theresa hid data devices that were designed to be read only by this music box. If you can find them, they may have clues to whoever killed her." The hologram says, "Now give this box to Katharine."

  "Fine. How long am I supposed to baby-sit?"

  "I do not know," the hologram answers. "Stay safe."

  Her image disappears.

  Ten minutes later, I stand and stare at the letter H on my apartment door. Why is it I tell that woman I'm going to do one thing, then the hologram has me do the opposite?

  Sometime later...

  "Welcome back Ms. Griffin," A.C.S. states. "The apartment..."

  "Night mode."

  A.C.S. lowers its volume and states, "Setting lights at fifty percent. Will there be anything else, Ms. Griffin?"

  "No, that's all."

  I look to the living room and see that strange woman's reflection in the TV. She's on the couch covered with a heavy blanket and stares at the coffee table. I shake my head, swallowing my pride, and give in to my mom's wishes. I walk over, set the music box on the coffee table, open the lid, and Unfinished Melody plays.

  "Thank you," that woman says as her eyes grow heavy, and she falls asleep.

  "Don't thank me," I mumble.

  I'm not doing this for you. I stare at her, considering the past day. If she wasn't the Key, I would have let her die at Etna Toys, and I would be rid of this insanity. It's not too late. I could kill her while she sleeps, but I guess I'll wait. I want to know what she's the Key to.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  The Proposition

  October 19...

  Tuesday...

  1:20 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Industrial Vicinage...

  Kim drove the Corvette into the front parking lot of Etna Toys. The N.C.P.F. had been there earlier and had taped off the front curb where the T-3s killed the two Factory S.C.Ms., and Kim cautiously exited the car, glanced around the deserted area, and grabbed her knapsack. She wore her black work outfit minus the knit mask. No wind rustled the weeds, leaving the parking lot in an eerie quiet, and she quickly entered the front door.

  Kimberly's view...

  Noir Civil Police Force must not have come in here; there's no police tape, but the area's been cleaned of Un-Men and gun shells, so someone else must have cleaned up the mess. After searching the front area, I grab that woman's backpack, Ravlek Vest, and find her empty Beretta underneath one of the boxing machines. I find it odd that they left her things behind like they left them for her.

  Curious about the Un-Men and the Council, I look to the open elevator. That woman said she believed the Council was based here all along, and she said she had been looking for them and the Factory. I step toward the open doors. Maybe they left something behind. I enter the cab, remove my holstered PPK, and press the basement button, and once I reach the basement, light from the elevator breaks the darkness of the hallway as I remove a flashlight from my knapsack. I find a light switch and flip it on, but nothing happens. I search the hallway with my flashlight and find it's empty. A door stands at the opposite end, so I move towards it wary I'm walking into a trap set up for that woman. I make my way to it, open it, and enter the room. I move the beam back and forth and search the mostly empty room, and in the center, I spot a large table. A few abandoned plugs and cables line one of the walls, and I start to leave, thinking there's nothing to find when something catches my eye. I walk to the table, finding a white business envelope with the words For Pandora written on it. I pick it up, contemplate if I should open it, think why not, and open the envelope.

  "Pandora, as one of the members of the Council, I have to say I am very proud of you; even though you did not reach the Gamma and Delta Phases of your metamorphosis, I am still very impressed with you. We had hoped with the training and conditioning you would have accomplished the phases the past year. You did not, and for that reason, the others are not pleased and wish to terminate you. I have convinced them to delay that. We can still acquire valuable information from you. Be warned though, I cannot hold off your termination indefinitely, and the Council is more resourceful than the Factory. The Life Closers we sent after you were merely tests. They were not a means to destroy you. Increase your skills so when the time comes, you may bar your termination."

  I pause from reading. According to this member, that woman hasn't reached the Gamma and Delta Phases, whatever they might be. My mom was concerned that Pandora may have reached them and bring about some sort of disaster.

  I continue reading, "Argus, poor devil, informed us in the past that you have no memory of who you are, and that is most unfortunate, so I will tell you one thing. The Council did not begin your training or condition you. It was another department in the Sphinx Corporation. I wish I could tell you everything, but..." The line breaks off, and a new line starts. "Remember if you wish to destroy the Rogue, you must reach the Delta Phase; it is called the Knowing, and to achieve the Knowing, you must first reach the Gamma Phase. I wish you long life."

  The letter's signed by Mr. Morta, and I glance over it once more, then place the letter back in its envelope, and put it in that woman's backpack. The corporation my father works for is behind the Pandora Project, so there could be a connection between my mom and that woman, and I also need to find out what the Gamma and the Delta Phases are. Mr. Morta called one of them the Knowing. I can't even fathom what she's supposed to know, so I search the room once more, and head back up.

  Sometime later...

  The elevator doors open to an Un-Man, and I quickly raise my gun, not expecting to be met by one of those robots.

  It's the one called the Rogue, and it lifts its hands as it tells me, "Do not shoot."

  "You again," I state a bit freaked out that it might have followed me here. I keep my gun leveled on it and ask, "What do you want now?"

  "I was snooping around this place myself when I saw you enter, and I hid, then thought to myself, you might be able to help me." The Rogue keeps its hands up. "I know you came back and saved Pandora." It pauses and continues, "That act alone confused me, and I have been trying to process it since, but have not been able to."

  It never answered my question, so I snap, "What do you want?"

  "I am rambling, so I will get to the point then. I have a proposition." The Rogue pauses again and then asks, "Can I lower my hands?"

  I have no idea what it wants from me, but it does seem to be everywhere, it must know a lot of things, so I should at least hear it out. I nod and wave the Rogue back with my gun as I step from the elevator, and then I question, "A proposition?"

  "Yes, I overheard you talking with the doctor at the hospital," the Rogue tells me as it lowers its hands. "You told him you were looking for who killed Theresa Griffin."

  Anger and rage wash over me at the mention of my mom's death. I want to know who killed her, and I'll do anything to find out, even make a deal with this tin can.

  "Do you know who murdered her?"

  "No, I do not have that information, but I did find something at the Factory. I discovered a disk I believe belonged to your mother."

  I ask, "And you want what in exchange?"

  "Silly woman, I want Pandora of course. Bring her to the Factory, so I may kill her. Here..." The Rogue hands me a piece of paper and a small blueprint labeled BL5. "This is the location of the Factory along with the layout for
Basement Level Five of Research Building 10." It hands me a white keycard. "This will get you in through the parking garage." I take it, and the Rogue continues, "Bring Pandora tomorrow night after nine to the first room circled on the blueprint in the Green Division, and I will have the disk waiting for you in the Computer Lab circled in the Yellow Division. Here..." The Rogue hands me one green and one yellow keycard. "Those will get you in the rooms, and one word of warning, the T-3s have gone rogue and have taken over the Factory. You will have to elude them." The Rogue hands me a small piece of paper. "Once you have the disk, that word will unlock it."

  I glance at the password and snarl at the Rogue, wondering if it's trying to tell me something with this access word.

  "How do you know I'll turn her over?" I question it.

  "Because I know your kind. You do not care about anyone, even dear old dad. The only person you ever loved was murdered, and you want to find her killer and take your revenge." The Rogue starts out. "You must be looking for a way to get rid of the headache you reluctantly took in. There is no easier way than to hand Pandora over to me, and you get something out of the deal."

  "Fine, tomorrow then," I state and watch the Rogue leave.

  It's right about one thing, that woman has been nothing but a nuisance. I'll have to say sorry to my mom's memory. It was so long ago that she wanted me to save that woman and so much has changed. I glance at my gun and stare at my hand tinged with unseen blood. Much has changed, including me.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  The Locked Door

  2:47 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  Nexus Apartments...

  The digital clock in the kitchen read 2:47 P.M. as Kat slightly stirred on the couch, and Unfinished Melody played, keeping her in the grips of the Drifting Time. The digital clock was the only light in the dark apartment.

  "Door unlocked," A.C.S. stated.

  The spare bedroom unlocked, and the light within flicked on, lighting up the crack under the closed door.

  Katharine's view...

  I open my eyes at hearing the sounds, sit up a little disoriented, then close the music box, and place it in my pocket.

  "Umm... Could I have some lights?"

  "Guest request acknowledged." A.C.S. turns on the ones in the living room. "Setting lights to ninety-five percent."

  I scan the apartment, but see no one. I thought I had heard someone talk.

  "Umm... Apartment Computer System, did you say something earlier?"

  "Yes, I stated that the spare bedroom has been unlocked and the room is ready for use."

  "Oh..." I stand, rub my eyes, walk to the first room in the hall, and open the door. "Kimberly, are you back?"

  No one's in the room, so I enter and look around curious as to why it had been locked in the first place. The walls are full of photos of Kimberly as a child and her mother, and a few of them have a man in them, who I guess is her father. Kimberly was a really cute kid. I walk by a bed that hasn't been used in years, and go and stand in front of a wall, and take a closer look at the little blonde girl in the pictures.

  I can't believe this is the same person I met. Kimberly was so happy back then. I see pictures of her eating ice cream, petting kittens, and playing on a sunny beach. I can't even imagine what has happened to her since to make her so unhappy and angry. I rub my shoulder as it itches a bit, and then I decide I shouldn't be in here. Kimberly would be mad, so I leave the room.

  I head toward the living room and then glance back at the bedroom. Kimberly locked all of those happy memories away. It's like she hid them in there, so she didn't have to remember. Maybe it was too painful for her.

  I start for the couch. A.C.S. unlocked the room, but Kimberly wasn't here to give the command. Maybe A.C.S. is malfunctioning. I yawn, groggy from sleeping, then return to the couch, and plop down on the cold leather. I can't believe how tired I am as I lie back, remove the music box, and stare at it. I don't know what I would do without it. I hold the music box close to my chest, thinking what a luxury it is to sleep without fear the Un-Men will find me. I grab my blanket and pull it over me. I'm warm and safe, what more could a girl ask for? I drift asleep without the music box to lull me.

  End Katharine's view...

  Outside of Nexus Apartments...

  A white van parked at the curb in front of the gate facing Knot Street sputtered smoke from its muffler. The engine idled as Zax sat in the driver's seat, typing a few things on his H.H.C., and once he finished, he placed the H.H.C. on the passenger seat.

  Zax's view...

  I don't understand why R.G. had me do it, but I guess my job isn't to know the why, only to do what I'm told. I remove a cell from my shirt pocket, dial a number, and say, "Delivery Man here, please connect me to R.G." A few seconds pass, and I state, "Yes, as per your instructions, I waited till Ms. Griffin left the apartment, and I triggered the A.C.S. to unlock the spare bedroom, so the rest is up to Katharine. Yes. Yes. I'm monitoring the situation now." I see a red car drive by. "Kimberly is returning." I buckle my seat belt. "I'll contact you with any new development, Delivery Man out."

  I hang up and drive a little ways down Knot Street and turn onto West 1000 Avenue to get in a better position. Kimberly won't be too happy to discover the spare bedroom has been opened. Poor Katharine... Kimberly might kill her if she went in her mother's room.

  End Zax's view...

  Sometime later...

  Kimberly's view...

  The door to Apartment H slides open, and I enter a little fatigued. I don't know why I feel so weary unless it's the decision to betray that woman that weighs on me. It shouldn't bother me, and I convince myself that I'm only tired from the mess that woman put me through.

  "Welcome back Ms..."

  "Night and Quiet Mode, A.C.S."

  It shuts down its verbal interaction and reverts to its evening settings as I walk down the entry to the kitchen, and the lights come on at fifty percent. I set her backpack on a barstool, place her Beretta on the counter, and turn to the living room. I move to the back of the couch and find that woman asleep, clinging to the music box like it's a teddy bear. I stare at the enigma as she sleeps soundly. I could so easily kill her. I could walk around this couch and snap her neck, and nobody would ever know. No one will care that that woman's gone, except maybe the Council, and they will only care because she's some precious experiment of theirs. I put my hand to my hip in a tisk-tisk fashion. That woman should have heard me when I entered and woke up. Her instinct to survive must not be very strong.

  I think about what I'm going to do to her when I deliver her to the Factory, and I take pity on her. I haven't pitied anyone in a long time. A babe I took off the streets... an innocent I'll deliver to her demise. I snatched her from the fangs of the grave only to hand her over to the Reaper.

  I consider my conversation that I had at Etna. The Rogue couldn't be right about her. Her trust in me must be an act. It has to be an act... She couldn't have survived this long as a kitten. She has to be a tigress.

  My pity turns to anger as I think about the trust she has in me. Stupid. It's her fault if I betray her. I never told her to trust me. I'm a Closer. I only look out for myself.

  I return to the kitchen, place my car keys on the counter, and lean on the counter as guilt burdens me. My mom told me to save her, but finding out who murdered my mom is more important to me than saving that woman.

  I hear her mumble and move back to the couch. She sleeps, but her lips move, reciting a phrase in a murmur. I place a hand on the back of the couch and lean over to listen.

  "Always know there will be a love that will not die."

  I walk around the sofa, not sure of what she said. She rolls over, faces the couch, and says nothing more. I shrug and start for the hallway as I decide as if I haven't done so a dozen times over, that whatever she's the Key to doesn't matter to me. It's more im
portant that I discover who murdered my mom and take my revenge. I pause at the hallway entrance and glance back at the living room. That woman has been nothing but a headache since our meeting. I'll be glad to be rid of her. I walk past the spare bedroom, wondering how I'll convince her to come to the Factory with me. From what she has told me, if I was her, I wouldn't want to return there.

  Exhausted from all the running around, I reach for the doorknob of the master bedroom, thinking those problems can wait till morning. My eyes droop. I need to get some sleep. I pause as my heart skips a beat and my weary mind recalls something out of place, and I quickly turn, looking to the spare bedroom. A glow shows through the crack under the door, and I walk back and turn the knob, expecting it to be locked, but the door opens. Furious, I search the room and find nothing has been moved. Everything is as I left it years ago.

  I'm going to kill her. I'm not going to wait for the Rogue to do it. I'm going to kill her right now! I march into the living room as I fist my hand, controlling my anger, and then I say in a forced gentle tone, "A.C.S."

  "Yes, Ms. Griffin."

  "How did she unlock this door?"

  "She?"

  "Yes, Pandora... I mean Katharine."

  "Your guest did not unlock the door. A command was given over the Nexus Apartment's main system."

  "By who?"

  "Identity unknown," A.C.S. replies.

  I take several deep breaths as my anger boils again. "Tell me this, did she go in the room?"

  "Yes, your guest entered after I announced the door had been unlocked."

  I fist my other hand, thinking of beating her to death while she's sleeping, but then I wouldn't get what I want from the Rogue. I have to be very careful what I do next. I don't want to jeopardize the prize I'm seeking, so I decide I can't yell at her, not if I want that woman to go to the Factory with me tomorrow. I'll have to let this go for now. The Rogue can torture her for violating my privacy.

  "A.C.S. lock this bedroom door."

  "Yes, Ms. Griffin."

  I head into my bedroom as exhaustion seizes me again, shut the door, and slip into my pajamas. I lie on my stomach and clinch my pillow with both hands. I can't get the idea of that woman rummaging through all my precious stuff. She better not have touched anything or the Rogue will be the least of her worries.