Immortal (33 page)

“Guardian.” He said again. The huge metallic
body turned slowly around and faced them.

“Come here.” Jonah said. The Guardian began
to walk towards them. Instinctively Gabrielle and Jericho began to
step backwards. Jonah held his ground as the tall mechanical man
stepped right up to him and stopped. Jericho brought his weapon up
to aim as well. “Guardian. Can you hear me?” Jonah asked.

“Yes.” Came the flat metallic voice.

“Where is the control room?” The Guardian did
not respond. It stood silent, barely inches from his chest. “Take
me to the control room.” He said. The Guardian stepped back, turned
around and walked past Jericho and Gabrielle, as it headed towards
the front of the ship. They stared after it, and were silent. “Come
on.” Jonah said, as he made his way past them. They shared a look,
lowered their weapons, and followed. After they had walked down
several ramps, they found themselves on the main deck, and after a
few turns the Guardian ceased to walk. Jonah stepped around it, as
he cuddled his injured shoulder. He realized that he stared at a
red door in front of him. It read, Control Room. He walked up, and
the door slid open. The room inside was fairly small, with the
walls covered in controls, buttons and digital readouts. Lights
blinked throughout. Jonah quickly found the yellow box Roger had
directed him to locate, and slowly opened the lid. Inside was the
red button. Jericho and Gabrielle had followed him inside, and both
stood in awe, as they looked through the large glass panel on the
front wall. She pointed. He nodded. Jonah, stepped away from the
yellow box to see what they had entranced them. Ahead, at the edge
of the horizon, was a tall structure. It stood alone in the vast
ocean. Their destination was just ahead.

“Jonah.” The Guardian said from behind them.
They all jumped. Gabrielle spun around, her gun aimed and ready to
fire, as Jericho brought his weapon up. “Jonah.” The Guardian said
again. Jonah took a step back, and bumped up against the glass. The
Guardian stepped forward.

“What?” Asked Jonah, as he put his hand
against the Guardian’s chest to stop it. The Guardian spoke
again.

“Jonah. This is Adam.”

Jonah stood, with his back to the wall, as he
activated his comm unit. The display read, connecting. Roger’s face
appeared on screen.

“There you are, Jonah.” Roger said with a
smile on his face. “So glad to see you again.” He scanned the
background on his screen. “Looks like you are in the right place.”
Jonah, opened the yellow box and revealed the red button
inside.

“I hit this button, and you let her go.”
Jonah said.

“Precisely, my dear friend. Now…just hit the
button.” He said anxiously.

“I want see her again.” Jonah said, as his
hand hovered over the button.

“Now Jonah, do you really want that?”

“I’m not hitting this button, unless I can
see she is safe. Your choice, Roger.” Roger’s expression changed to
that of frustration. He got up from his desk, grabbed the comm unit
and pointed it across the room where Charles held Rebecca.

“Satisfied?” Roger asked.

“Yes.” Jonah said, and hit the button. The
button lit up. A loud mechanical voice echoed throughout the
control room.

“Override initiated. Return sequence
activated.” An alarm chimed, the voice repeated the statement.
“Override initiated. Return sequence activated.”

“Good job, Jonah!” Roger said overjoyed. “A
very good job, indeed.”

“Let her go.” Jonah said.

“Right away, my friend. Right away. We’ll get
her cleaned up. Maybe a little something for the pain, and she’ll
be as good as new.” He laughed. “And she’ll be waiting for you at
home when you get there. Good job, Jonah. You did the right thing.”
His screen went blank. He shook his device. The screen remained
blank. “What the hell?”

“I think he may have disconnected you, sir.”
Charles said. Roger stared at the device, and then sat it down on
the desk.

“So he has.” He said, and looked back up at
Rebecca. “Now get it out of here. Its smelling up the room.” He
waived his hand. “Go on. Dispose of it already.” Charles nodded,
and helped Rebecca up to her feet, then directed her out of the
room. The door slid shut just as Roger popped more pills into his
mouth, and chased them down with sparkle water.

“Jericho.” Gabrielle said from where she
stood in the control room. “That was Rebecca.” He looked puzzled.
Jonah, spoke up.

“No. It was my wife, Vanessa.” He said as he
shook his head.

“Jonah.” Gabrielle said. “I don’t know how to
tell you this. But that wasn’t Vanessa.”

“She’s been my wife. For a hundred years. I
think I know what she looks like.” He said, upset at the turn of
the conversation.

“Jonah.” Gabrielle said as he looked up.
“What are we wearing?” She asked. He looked at them, and then
really looked them. They both wore grey tunics, but the garments
were simpler than that. No decorations, no variations. Just cloth,
cut, draped, and sewn where necessary. He noticed that Gabrielle’s
was torn where she had ripped off makeshift bandages. They wore the
same thing that Vanessa had just wore. He realized that Vanessa did
not even own any clothing like that. His heart sunk.

“But how?” He asked, evident that he did not
understand.

“We’re copies.” Jericho said. “Each of us is
just like one of you.”

“And Rebecca, Jericho’s sister. She is just
like your Vanessa.”

“That bastard!” Jericho said angrily. “He was
hurting Rebecca?”

“But why use your sister?” Jonah asked
Jericho. And then the logic dawned on him. The only possible
conclusion he could reach was Roger could not locate Vanessa. But
she was at home. She had to be at home because the comm unit had
connected there. He quickly keyed the device to connect with her,
as his hands shook. Again the image was of the interior of their
apartment. He keyed a command to zoom out and it showed a wide
screen view. He looked in horror as the screen revealed his wife as
she lay on the floor. She was on her back, arms at awkward angles,
with a dark red spot on her chest. He dropped the device. “No!” He
yelled. Jericho stepped over to him and threw his arm around him to
help console him. Jonah sobbed, as Gabrielle stepped past the
Guardian, and placed her hand on his good shoulder. The Guardian
reached out a massive metallic hand, and gently placed it on his
shoulder as well.

“I am sorry, Jonah.” The metallic voice said
softly. Jonah cried.

“What have I done?” He asked through his
sobs. “What have I done.”

“Shh.” Gabrielle said calmly. Suddenly the
ship shuddered, and they all, except for the Guardian, almost lost
their balance.

“You have arrived.” Said the Guardian.
“Follow me.” It said, turned and left the control room. Gabrielle
and Jericho helped Jonah up, and they followed after the Guardian,
back towards the hold they had first entered. Up above them was a
huge gleaming metallic building, larger than any they had ever seen
before. As they followed the Guardian back into the gloom of the
hold, at first they followed blindly until their eyes adjusted.
Gabrielle noticed the skid that contained the large crate, and
walked over. She had to stand on her tip toes to peer over its edge
and see inside.

“Jericho!” She yelled, as she backed away
from the open crate. She had pulled her gun. Jericho stepped up
beside her, and looked inside. Several Guardians lay inside in a
tumbled mess. Burn and char marks were quite evident, even in the
dim light of the room.

“They have been sent here for repairs.” The
Guardian that led them explained, as the door they had first
entered the ship through, slid open slowly, and sunlight streamed
in. A wide walkway slid into place and provided a ramp to exit the
ship. Immediately the machine in the middle of the room came to
life. It lifted the skid loaded with the barrel, spun around, and
zoomed out into the sunlight. It crossed the walkway, turned right
and disappeared into the huge building.

“What is this place?” Asked Gabrielle.

“Come with me. I will explain it all.” The
Guardian said, and walked out into the sunlight. They followed. As
they crossed the walkway from the ship, they all blinked in bright
the sunlight, and followed the Guardian to a small door. It slid
open, and the Guardian stepped aside, and motioned for them to
enter. Cautiously, they entered the small room. “I will join you
shortly.” Said the Guardian as the door slid shut. Immediately,
Gabrielle felt her weight shift, as the elevator flew upward, and
again as it slowed. The door slid open, and revealed a huge room,
brightly lit by the sunlight that streamed through the continuous
wall of windows. They slowly stepped out of the elevator, and
Jericho couldn’t help but flinch when the door suddenly slid shut.
A man stepped away from the window wall, turned, and looked at
them.

“Jonah.” He said. “It is good to see you, my
friend.” He said as he walked towards them. “I am so sorry for your
loss.” He said as he reached him, and wrapped his arm around him.
Jonah looked at him with disbelief.

“I thought you were dead.” Jonah said.

“But, I am not.”

“Adam.” He said softly. “It is, you.”

Rebecca fought against Charles, as he
directed her into the elevator, but he gently forced her inside,
and the door slid shut.

“Hold still.” He said, as he reached down and
released her bindings.

“Where are you taking me?” She asked warily.
“What did he mean by dispose?”

“You don’t want to know what he was talking
about.” Her hands free now, she swung at him, and he deftly blocked
the blow. “I will help you, my dear. But I need you to remain
calm.”

“That’s what you said when you took me to
that lunatic.” She said, both fists raised and ready to fight.
Charles nodded.

“And I apologize for that unfortunate
situation, but it was necessary if I am to help you.” His hands
remained at his sides, though she was obviously ready to strike at
any moment. “Now that he has ordered your disposal, I can safely
hide you from any future harm from him.”

“From him?” She asked. “What about you?”

“I assure you, my dear. I will not bring any
harm to you.” The door slid open. “As long as you do as I ask.” He
stepped out and left her inside. “Now, please come with me.” He
said and walked into the hallway and disappeared from sight. She
stood there for a moment, fists still raised. She shifted her
weight from foot to foot, as if she expected him to leap back
inside at any second. Gradually she edged her way to the doorway
and peered out. He was far down the long hallway, and turned the
corner and disappeared again. Cautiously, she stepped out of the
hallway and began at first to walk, and then ran to catch up. She
paused at the corner, peered around, and saw him a little ways
down, as he stood patiently in the hallway and waited for her. The
door to his left was standing open. She slowly approached.

“What is this place?” She asked.

“These are my quarters. You will be quite
safe here.” She edged up to the open door, and he took a step back
to allow her ample room to enter, unmolested. She darted through
the opening, ran a few steps, and took shelter behind a large
chair. She felt more comfortable with something in between them. He
entered the room slowly, so as not to threaten her in any way.

“You live here?” She asked, the look of
amazement on her face was unmistakable. “By yourself?” He nodded.
“It’s so big.” She said.

“These are average quarters here in New
Sebastian.”

“What is New Sebastian?” She asked.

“I’m afraid there is no time to explain that
now.” He said, as she walked past her towards the kitchen area.
“Please follow me.” He said as he entered the open kitchen area.
“Food.” He said, as he opened a cabinet and showed her the assorted
meats and sweet breads. “Drink.” He said as he opened another
cabinet, and showed her the multi-colored bottles within. “And the
bathroom. Please follow me.” He left the kitchen area, and crossed
the huge room to a door that slid open. The lights came on and
revealed a bathroom twice the size of the compartment she had lived
in. Her face was blank, in awe of the vastness of it all.
“Rebecca.” He said softly. She looked up at him. “You will be safe
here. But I must ask you. Please do not leave here, until I
return.” Her expression changed to anger.

“You’re going to keep me prisoner here.”

“No. I assure you. The door will remain
unlocked, and you are free to go. However, there are things
happening out there which could be very dangerous for you. And I
ask you. I implore you. Please remain here until I return. I have
provided you my word that no harm will come to you. I can only
remain true to that word, if you do as I have asked.” The anger
faded from her face, and she nodded. “Good. Now I must go.” He
said. He turned and left, as the door slid shut behind him. She
looked around again, and counted the seconds he had been gone.
After ten, she bolted to the door, which slid open. She stood there
amazed that it had opened. She had thought sure that he had lied to
her, and fully expected the door to be locked. She looked both ways
down the hall. It was empty. She pulled back inside, stepped back
from the door, and it slid shut again. She stepped forward and it
opened again. She smiled, and stepped away from the door, and
headed for the kitchen.

Charles smiled and entered the elevator, as
he watched the image of Rebecca on his comm unit as she checked the
apartment door. Her safety was her own responsibility now, he
thought. If she did as he asked, she would be fine. If not? He
would not be responsible for that. He keyed an alert message from
his unit. It delivered the bad news that now nine citizens had been
killed by the Guardian Defensive Squad.