Immortal (22 page)

“Gabby!” He whispered as loud as he dared.
“Hey! Gabby!” Her head popped up with a big smile on her face.

“See!” She said excitedly.

“Shh!” He said, fear in his eyes. She ducked
instinctively, with just her eyes still visible over the top of the
boxes. He pointed down, and she raised a few inches to look down,
and saw what had him concerned. Her eyes went wide as she realized
they were surrounded by Guardians. Then the sudden realization that
she had lost her control stick in the elevator hit her. She was
defenseless.

The last stack was loaded and the machine
shot upward. Simultaneously, the Guardians that surrounded the skid
each grabbed a small bar at the edge of the perimeter of the skid,
and took a single step up onto the platforms lower rim. The
platform began to move into the tunnel, slowly at first, and then
it gained speed. Both Jericho and Gabrielle ducked into their
hiding spots as the last of the light flashed into darkness.

“Jonah!” Vanessa called out. “Slow down!” She
said, as she stopped her brisk pace. She bent down and took off her
high heeled shoes, and grasped them in her hand as she rushed to
catch up with him. “What is this sector two?” She asked, as she
easily kept pace with him now.

“It’s a place where we use to play as kids.”
He said. “Forbidden, of course.” He laughed uneasily.

“If it’s forbidden, then how do you know
about it?” She asked.

“Roger.” He said. “He and I…and Adam. We used
to play down there. That is until Adam…” He quit in mid sentence.
Vanessa knew of Adam, but Jonah had never talked much about him, or
what had happened. She just knew it was a sensitive spot with
Jonah. Whenever he did talk of him, she never pried for more. She
knew that whatever it was, it was something that Jonah held deeply
inside, and guarded with his whole being.

“Okay. Let’s try this then.” She said. “Why?
Why are we going to this sector two?” He walked a few paces before
he answered.

“That is where Charles said he was going. He
told someone to meet him in sector two.”

“But Jonah, dear. He probably meets people
all over New Sebastian.”

“I’m sure he does. But he told them to come
armed.” He said.

“Armed?” Whatever does that mean?” She
asked.

“A weapon.” He said. “It means to bring a
weapon. Something out of the old literature, I think.”

“A weapon!” She exclaimed, as her expression
changed. “So you think all this talk about killing…that it’s real?”
She asked with disbelief.

“Yes, Nessa, I do. That’s what I have been
saying all along.” Suddenly she stopped. He continued for another
pace or two, and then stopped as well.

“Then why are you going there. If there is
going to be killing. Why are you going there?” She asked, as tears
suddenly welled up in her eyes.

“Somebody has to stop them.” He said as he
stepped closer to her.

“Somebody?” She said. Her lip quivered
slightly. “Somebody else!” She said and stepped back from him.
“Tell somebody about it. You do not have to go there.”

“And who do I tell?” He asked as he stepped
forward again. “Roger? Charles? They’re the ones doing this!” He
said. “Nessa.” He said softly. “There is no one else to tell.” She
looked down and nodded ever so slightly. “Come on. It’s just over
here, if I remember correctly.” He led her around the corner of the
building and down a narrow alley. He paused near the end and began
to place his hands against the wall. Gently he pressed here and
there on the wall.

“What are you doing?” She asked. Suddenly a
door shaped panel sank back into the wall, slid to the side, and
revealed a dimly lit short hallway.

“This.” He said. He grabbed her by the hand
and stepped inside. The door slid shut behind them, and startled
Vanessa.

“How do we get back out?” She asked, as she
stepped back towards the closed door. In response it slid open
again. She took a step away from it, and it slid shut.

“It’s automatic from this side.” He said, and
turned and continued into the hallway, which ended in steps that
led downward. She caught up and began to follow him down the steps,
her bare feet now cold against the coolness of the steps. Her shoes
swayed by the straps from her hand as it carefully slid down the
railing of the stairwell. They traveled down several flights. The
only sounds, the ones of Jonah’s shoes as they clicked on the
steps. They had passed several doorways, when Jonah finally stopped
at one. He put a fingertip to his lips as he motioned for her to
remain quiet. He activated the door, which slid open. She followed
him into another larger hallway, and after they turned the corner
they stood in front of an even larger doorway.

“Sector two.” He whispered as the door slid
open from the middle and they stepped into the room. She had never
seen so many boxes. Stacks upon stacks rose up throughout room. She
sensed motion to her left, and looked up and saw the great
mechanical arm as it swung overhead with a stack in its grip.
Amazed and a bit frightened, she watched as it plunged down yards
in front her, deposited the stack, and then shot upward as it swung
back to the middle of the room. “Watch out for the claw.” Jonah
said.

“Claw?” She asked. Her words were barely
audible.

“Yeah. That’s what we always called it. The
claw. Stay here.” He said as he entered the huge room, and quickly
ran to the stack that was just deposited. Vanessa’s heart leapt
into her into her throat as she saw the claw as it swung back
towards them with another large stack in its grasp. It plunged down
toward where Jonah stood. She let out a stifled shriek, as he
stepped aside at the last possible second. The stack was released,
and the claw shot upward again. Jonah stepped from around the just
deposited stack, and grinned sheepishly back at her. She shook her
head. He turned and headed up the aisle away from her and
disappeared. A few moments passed before suddenly, in front of her,
she saw a woman’s head stick up from the closest stack of boxes.
She edged to the side of the doorway, and concealed herself the
best she could as she watched.

“Jericho!” She heard the woman whisper, and
watched as she ducked back down. “Jericho!” The woman called again,
and suddenly a man’s head popped up on another stack close by.

“Over here.” He said in almost a whisper, as
he looked around. He eyed the Guardians that still surrounded the
skid, though they were no longer on the platform. They stood with
their backs to the skid and seemed to scan the room. He ducked down
again. Suddenly a box on the top row of the stack tumbled to the
floor, and revealed his hiding spot. He turned and climbed down the
stack to the floor. “Gabby?” He called out quietly. Another box
tumbled to the floor, and now from her hidden vantage point,
Vanessa she could clearly see Gabrielle in her hiding spot, as she
turned and climbed down the stack. They rushed to one another, and
hugged. Then quickly, turned, back to back, and began to survey
their surroundings. Jonah ran around the corner. Startled, Jericho
pivoted, and his control stick came to bare. Jonah spun to his
right, ricocheted off of a stack and fell to the floor. He rolled,
and then came to his feet with his hands up, apart, and ready for
action. He faced Jericho.

“Who the hell are you?” Jericho yelled, as he
waived the control stick menacingly in front of him.

“I am Jonah.” Jonah answered excitedly, as he
slowly circled to the right. Jericho followed suit and circled as
well. His control stick was ready to strike.

“What is this place?” Jericho demanded
angrily, as he still circled.

“New Sebastian.” Jonah answered calmly, and
stopped his movement as he stood up straight. He relaxed his arms,
and let them fall to his side. “And you are?” He asked.

“Jericho.” He answered hesitantly. Gabrielle
stepped to his side and interjected.

“Gabrielle.” She said.

“Well, Jericho…” Jonah nodded towards him,
and then turned to Gabrielle. “And Gabrielle. We need to get out of
here.” He said and glanced back from the aisle he had come from.
“There are mechanical men back that way.” He said as he nodded his
head. “And they are coming this way. Come on.” He said and ran past
them. Jericho’s hand flinched slightly as he passed, and his
fingers tightened on the control stick. He looked at Gabrielle.

“Gabby?” He asked. The look of concern was
clear in his face. Her look matched his. She stepped to the edge of
the stack nearest them and peered around the corner. She saw the
Guardian down the aisle, as it headed towards them. She snatched
her head back and grabbed his hand.

“Let’s go!” She yelled, and began to run
after Jonah. They ran through the doorway, and saw Vanessa as she
hid against the wall. She tried to make herself look as small as
possible. Gabrielle stopped dead in her tracks, and seemed to
forget the danger behind them as she stared at Vanessa.

“That’s Vanessa, my wife.” Jonah said as they
cleared the doorway and it slid shut. “Come on. They’re still
coming and that door won’t stop them.” Jericho turned back and
reached out with his control stick. The control panel sparked
violently.

“Rebecca?” Gabrielle asked Vanessa
hesitantly. “Is that you?” Vanessa looked around her, and then
turned back to Gabrielle and responded.

“No. I am Vanessa.”

“Let’s go!” Yelled Jonah, as he led the way
down the hall. Vanessa turned and followed him, while Gabrielle
stayed motionless, as if dumbstruck. Jericho started to follow
Jonah and Vanessa.

“Come on!” He yelled back to her, just as a
loud clang came from the door. The sound startled her back into the
moment, and she ran after him. In a few strides, she had caught up
to him.

“Jericho.” She said, as she panted. “That’s
Rebecca!”

“Rebecca? Who is?” He asked.

“That lady.” She pointed as she ran.
“Vanessa. She’s Rebecca. She’s your sister.” Ahead Jonah and
Vanessa had disappeared through a doorway. Jericho and Gabrielle
hurried to follow. The bangs against the door behind them became
louder, and the now familiar acrid smell filled the air, as sparks
began to light up the hallway they had left behind. They bounded up
the steps two at a time.

The door slid shut with a clang, and Amelia
jumped. She glanced at Charles who stood stoically in the middle of
the large elevator, before she glanced down. The breath caught in
her throat as she realized that she stood on a grate, and could see
clearly through to the unending darkness below. She grasped the
pipe next to her and held on for dear life as the elevator suddenly
shot upwards. An uncontrolled gasp escaped her.

“You okay?” Charles asked, as he stepped
towards her with concern on his face. He reached up and touched her
shoulder. She swallowed, and then answered.

“Fine.” She said shortly, and looked away.
Just then the elevator came to a halt and startled her again, but
she fought back any vocal reaction. He saw the reaction run through
her face. The doors slid open. He gripped her shoulder.

“Come on.” He said warmly. “It’s okay.” He
took her hand and led her out of the elevator. She exhaled a sigh
of relief as she stepped back on firm ground. The door slid shut
behind them, and once again she jumped.

“Where are we going?” She managed to get out,
as she followed him down the hallway.

“To check on the latest report. They have a
Guardian down in one of the harvest rooms, with a specimen still
there.” As they walked down the hallway, a door slid open, and a
gurney was wheeled out by a Guardian. Sarah lay peacefully asleep,
oblivious to their presence as she was wheeled past them. Amelia
looked after her, confused. “She’s fine.” Said Charles. “Just an
embryo implant.”

“Embryo?” Asked Amelia.

“Yes.” He began. “Perpetuation of the
species.”

“Species?” She asked, her expression betrayed
her lack of understanding.

“Yes. Human kind.” He turned and began to
walk.

“But there are no babies.” She said, as she
followed.

“No. Not in New Sebastian.” He answered. “No
new babies, anyway.”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“The embryos are clones.” He said matter of
factly.

“Clones?” She asked.

“Yes. Clones. Perfect copies of our
citizens.” He laughed. “There’s even a copy of you running around
here some where.” She stopped, and placed her hand against the wall
to steady herself.

“Copies.” She said unsteadily. He stopped and
turned.

“You didn’t know?” He laughed. “Really? I
thought sure that you of all people knew.” He stepped close to her
again. “You okay?” He asked. In her mind, what he had told her was
like a whirlwind.

“Yeah.” She lifted her head and straightened
up. “I’m good.” They began to walk down the hallway again, and
approached a doorway.

“That’s where the rejuvenation technologies
come from. The clones. The specimens. Perfect genetic matches for
each of our citizens, which means little chance of rejection when
organs are replaced or upgraded.” He said, as the door ahead slid
open. He stepped into the dimly lit hallway, and she followed. They
rounded the corner into the long hallway, with one side lined with
the incubation tanks. “And here they are.” He said. “The newest
crop of specimens. The future of New Sebastian.” He said as he
stepped towards the tanks, looked into one, then another. He tapped
on one of them. “Hello!” He yelled. He continued to walk, and she
followed close behind him. As her eyes adjusted she began to see
the fetuses as they floated in the tanks. Her stomach turned.
Suddenly now that she could see them, it was like she could feel
them as well. As if all of them suddenly cried out to her. Begged
her. Begged for her help. She swallowed deeply as they continued to
walk, and averted her gaze from the tanks. She had to keep her
emotions under check. She knew that she couldn’t let Charles see
how this affected her.