Cynetic Wolf
TRIPS AND SHIPS

I came to in a big white room, bright lights piercing my eyes. Ugh. I coughed as pain shot through my chest.

Where was I? What happened?

My hands! There they were, attached to my arms. I had fingers too, but couldn’t move them, my arms either. Everything was numb. Was this hell? Torture after purgatory?

A noise caught my attention. A floating screen above me, numbers flashing, and what looked like a heartbeat. Another loud beep. Was this a hospital? Where were Dr. P and Dr. R?

Zedda burst in. She hadn’t died too, had she? Please no. I passed out.

Bits and pieces of what they were saying flooded in.

“Are you sure his brain,”

“...a high explosive.”

“lucky to be alive…”

“Should we wake him?”

My head spun, vision blurring as my eyes opened. “Howw lonngg haavve I beeeenn outtt?” I slurred. “WWWWhat happpeeened?”

“Raek, are you okay?” Zedda sprang from the chair and ran to me. “Thank goodness. Can you hear me?”

Zedda... what was I supposed to remember? “I’mmm ffinee. Ddddooesss myyy voiccce sssounnddd funnnnnnyyyy tttttoo youuu?”

A door opened, and Lars swooped in, followed by a nurse in a white gown and goggles.

“You made it, kid.” Lars smiled. “We were worried there.”

“Where am I? What happened? Did we win? Wait...” Something on the edge of my awareness, something big. What? “Am I alive? Where’s Fitz?”

“What?” They looked at each other, bewildered.

“You are very much alive,” the nurse cut in. “My name’s Nurse Jannie, and you’re back at headquarters. I can’t believe you’re awake. A micronade from two meters… you’re lucky to be alive.” She shook her head. “Never seen anything like it.”

“I died!” I gasped. “I was dead. My body was gone. I talked to Fitz. There were bodies everywhere.” My voice rose as I recounted what happened, including finding Zedda’s body.

“It’s okay, Raek,” Zedda squeezed my hand as she wiped a tear. “Everything’s fine, you’re here.” I was so glad she was too.

“Could be the sedative,” Jannie remarked. “I put you on an IV the moment you got back. You were quite banged up. Didn’t think you’d survive, to be honest.”

“But if I didn’t die, if none of that was real, what happened?”

“Well, things were going bad and got worse,” Lars said. “I got you out of there and hid your body in a dumpster, but the DNS realized you were gone. We were sitting ducks without air support.” He paused. “Around 10:00 a.m., the last facility fell. We’d done it, but we were down to a few thousand. There were four or five times as many soldiers,” he added.

A few thousand... the streets must be littered with bodies. I’d sent all of them to their deaths...

“The video played on the Everything Store sign,” Zedda said. “The fighting stopped after thirty seconds. When you said the backups had been destroyed, a hush went through the crowd. Everyone froze. The world stopped. You were closer, Lars, you tell him.”

“Soldiers threw down their weapons and bolted. What started as one or two turned into a torrent. Soon, hundreds were dropping their guns, running for their lives. Several officers opened fire on the deserters but it didn’t stem the flow. We were dumbstruck. Clashes broke out amongst the GDR as cynetics, emulates, and enhancers shot anyone not in their regiment. A holy war ignited.”

“Paer ordered us to stand down,” Zedda said. “We retreated amidst the madness.”

An exhale. Had I been holding my breath? I was terrified of ruining the moment. “Then what?”

“That’s it,” Lars answered. “It’s 13:00 now.”

Was that possible? “I need to get out of here!”

“Out of the question, young man!” the nurse barked. “I have to monitor you overnight. Too many possible complications. Your heart rate hasn’t stabilized, hormone levels are out of whack, and you’ve sustained damage in—”

I sat up. “Sorry, Ms. Jannie, wasn’t it? I’m leaving, whether you like it or not! I need to see the Council. Give me a booster or something to help me recover faster. I’ll sign a waiver, or we can pretend I escaped. There’s too much at stake.”

She shook her head. “I know hardheadedness when I see it. Don’t make me regret this.” She unhooked the sensors. “No strenuous activity, meetings are fine. You two!” she snapped at Lars and Zedda. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. He has to stay off his feet a couple days.”

She set up remote monitoring to track my vitals and checked biometrics before grabbing a translucent vial. “In fifteen minutes, once this IV’s done, you’re good to go. Okay?”

“Sounds great,” Lars said before I could object. When she left, Lars added, “I couldn’t say everything while she was here. Here’s the latest.” He shared a series of files, the casualty numbers staggering.

My IV beeped. Finally!

Pulling the needle from my arm, I stood, and my legs crumbled, head woozy. Lars and Zedda grabbed me by the shoulders and helped me to a wheelchair. It was old school, not even electric, but it would get the job done. I started to push, but Zedda took over, gliding me across the polished floor.

“Thanks,” I whispered once Lars was out of earshot.

She grinned. “No worries. Thanks for saving our necks back there.”

Again, I was lost for words. What could I say?

Five minutes later, the War Room. The air shook with pent up energy, crumpled cups, and half-empty coffee mugs scattered about.

“Any updates?” I asked.

“The web’s exploding with news and controversy,” Ganla said. “The GDR instituted martial law in several cities and we’ve captured five others. It’s unbelievable, more than we ever expected. Racial gang warfare at its worst.”

“Members of the government have fled,” Lars added. “Nothing’s been heard from the Board—with the exception of our friend Calter—since 11:00 a.m. this morning. Reports say Gileu and Zu retreated to private palaces in the mountains, and many more are thinking about it.”

A knock on the door. It slammed open without waiting for a response. A boy hurried in, hands on his knees. “Check the WNN! Ania sent me, said you had to see this.”

In seconds, the simulcast was up. A dim, cramped room, a well-dressed man slumped in a chair. What the—?

‘What you’re seeing is live!’ a voice cut in. ‘This is Richad Daks, and the following feed is our beloved Minister of Intelligence, Gregori Schwarz. Wait, his captor’s coming back.’

A black door at the back of the room opened, a tall masked intruder entering with a wave to the camera. ‘If you are just tuning in,’ Daks continued, ‘Minister Schwarz has been abducted by a yet unidentified group, and is being held against his will.’

The creep turned to the camera, smiling. ’Wondering why Gregori Schwarz is sitting here, hogtied like the criminal he is? Ask Minister Schwarz, this is nothing new for him, except being in the chair, that is. Our “great minister” has overseen the torture and execution of countless dissidents and political prisoners over the years. You don’t become an emulate-class Board member without ruffling a few feathers, do you Gregori?’ He smacked the bound man hard across the cheek.

Schwarz’s black eyes glinted as he spat. ‘Take your hands off me. You’ll regret this. I’ll make you beg for death.’ His powerful body shook but the chair was bolted to the floor.

‘I’m sure you would,’ the mysterious figure replied. ’But here you are. And your brain-field’s gone. No reboot this time.’ He laughed, grabbing a knife from the counter. Schwarz squirmed.

‘How’s it feel to be mortal, to be vulnerable?’ his captor taunted. ‘You’ve personally killed at least two dozen animotes and enhancers, even a handful of cynetics. And that’s not counting the thousands of executions you’ve ordered. Gregori Schwarz, how do you plead to the charges put forth by the people’s court?’ the masked man hissed, mouth inches from the Schwarz’ ear.

‘What? Charges...? You’re insane! Untie me, you—’

‘Wrong answer,’ the vigilante cackled. ‘The people’s court hereby finds you guilty of murder, torture, and harm to the nth degree, and sentences you to die for your sins. Any last words?’ He twirled the cleaver between his fingers.

‘Holy hell!’ Richad Daks swore. ‘I think he’s going to...’

Schwarz went white, quivering. ’You can’t do this, you can’t. I’m a Minister of the Board, a representative of the GDR! Tears fell as the blade swung, piercing his neck and thudding into the wall.

This wasn’t happening...

‘Justice. Is. Served!’ The vigilante’s gavel fist hammered the table. ‘Let them pay for their crimes.’

The video ended.

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