Chapter 51

  Larson was in the same building as Kate, but there were no windows and sunshine in his room. It was six stories below ground. He paced back and forth in the small space. There was a simple cot on one side of the room, a table and two chairs on the other side. There was a partially eaten meal on a tray on the table. At the rear of the room was an unenclosed shower and toilet.

  The entrance door opened and Two of Two stepped into the room. The door was closed behind him and locked.

  “Good morning,” Two of Two stated.

  Larson had stopped his pacing when the door opened. He looked Two of Two up and down before answering, “So, it’s morning, is it?”

  “Yes, it is morning,” Two of Two replied as he walked over to the table. “You did not eat much,” he observed looking at the tray.

  “It wasn’t much to eat,” Larson answered.

  “Still, one needs to keep his energy up,” Two of Two offered.

  “One’s energy is probably fine,” Larson quipped. “It’s my energy I’m worried about.

  “That was clever,” Two of Two responded. “I was told you were clever.”

  Larson looked at Two for a few seconds then answered, “One, Hunter, I know him. I don’t know you.”

  “I am Two of Two,” Two replied.

  “Well, that’s super, second echelon,” Larson sneered. “I want to talk with Hunter.”

  Two sat down at the table with his back to Larson and pushed the food tray to the other side of the table. “You may talk with me,” he stated.

  Larson leaped across the room in a bound and grasped Two in a rear choke. Larson tightened the hold, leveraging his body against Two.

  Gasping for air Two raised his right hand. The door behind them burst open and three large men stormed into the room. Two men grabbed Larson breaking his hold on Two and pitched him forward across the table, knocking the tray and the partially eaten meal onto the floor. Larson landed on top of the food. The third man tended to Two.

  Two motioned the three men away and in a cracking voice said to Larson, “Now, if you will please. Take a seat and we will talk,” Two ordered. “I can get you out of here.”

  Larson stood up and scraped some food off his clothes. “I’d like to get out of here,” he said as he sat down opposite Two. “How can a synthetic help me?”

  “I am a ‘designed’ human, not a synthetic,” Two corrected.

  “Okay, whatever you are. How can I get out of here?” Larson demanded.

  “The Green Zone was built as the first step in repopulating the world after the inevitable collapse occurred,” Two explained.

  “The Softwar companies messed everything up before you were ready!” laughed Larson.

  “Yes, that is what occurred,” Two answered. “The city is designed to contain one and a half million people.”

  Larson interrupted, “A million and a half ‘designed’ people.”

  “That is correct,” Two agreed. “The city currently houses one thousand fifty-five persons, not including you six outsiders.”

  “Who else did you capture?” Larson demanded.

  “Three sisters and a husband and wife,” Two answered watching Larson closely.

  “Maude’s here?” Larson asked.

  “Yes, I believe that is the woman’s name,” Two replied.

  “And those twins and their witch of a sister?” Larson roared.

  “Please, Mr. Larson, there is no need to for such invective,” Two said in a soothing tone.

  “That girl is bad luck, I tell you,” Larson stated. “The twins have value. They’re girls and twins. You can get a lot of money for that, sooner and later. And we got some good stuff out of the house. But if I had known about that girl I would have bypassed everything. She’s a devil. Nothing but trouble. She’s crazy. Doesn’t know when to stop. Or too stupid to stop,” Larson finished.

  “That is my evaluation of her character also,” Two agreed. “One, Hunter, or whatever you want to call him, disagrees. He thinks she is the perfect female.”

  “Ha!” Larson laughed.

  “Exactly,” Two stated. He leaned forward over the table toward Larson and in a quiet voice explained, “One’s assignment was to find you. We understood that you had access to women both among the Raiders and within the tunnels. He was supposed to avail himself of your talents in finding and selecting a right woman.”

  Larson’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, “Why do you need a woman? Well, other than the obvious?” He said with a small grin on his lips.

  Two sat back in his chair, “The initial designs were all basked on male donors. The one thousand drones and fifty-five managers were under self-managed testing when everything collapsed. There were no females involved in the testing at that point.”

  “You have no women,” laughed Larson.

  “The Designer’s had not yet reached that point in the development program,” Two stated flatly looking at Larson.

  “I can see where that’s a problem. Can’t you ask the Designer’s about it?” asked Larson.

  Two answered, “The Designers are no longer available to us.”

  “Ah, I see. I am sorry to hear that,” Larson sympathized. “So, what can I do to help you?”

  Two answered, “The design process requires the ovums of a mature female. Of course, not too young or too old.”

  “Of course,” Larson answered as thought he was having a normal conversation.

  “I will give you a list of the physical specifications required and you will find and deliver a variety of females fitting those specifications,” Two explained. “I must emphasize that variety is what is required. One’s fixation on this girl and her sisters is insane.”

  Two stopped for a second. Then he continued, “Yes, maybe One has become damaged in some way.

  Chapter 52

  The Twins were making a ruckus, laughing and playing. Kate heard knocking on the door.

  “Girls, hush!” Kate exhorted. “They’ll throw us out of here.” Kaylie and Kayla thought that was funny.

  Kate was laughing as she opened the door. One and Four of Seven were there in the hall. Or maybe it was two other Sevens. Kate was confused and looked back and forth between the two men.

  “Ah, I am sorry Miss. Kate. I am One of Seven and this is Seven of Seven. I am sorry if we confused you. I was not thinking,” One spoke up. Seven nodded his head as he was introduced.

  “I was a little stumped there,” Kate laughed. “I hope the girls are not making too much noise?”

  “They are fine,” Seven spoke up. “We just saw that you were finished eating and thought that you might be ready to visit Ms. Maude and Mr. Humphrey.

  “Seven can stay with your sisters if you wish,” One offered. “He can clean up the breakfast dishes and maybe even entertain your sisters. He can read to them or show them some math puzzles.”

  “Yuck.”

  “Math.”

  The Twins expressed their feelings. They ran over beside Kate and looked up at the two Sevens.

  “Maybe, we can read to him,” Kaylie suggested.

  “But we won’t do any puzzles,” Kayla stated.

  Seven leaned down and asked, “What did you like best for breakfast?”

  “French toast,” shouted Kaylie.

  “Syrup,” answered Kayla.

  “You just ate syrup?” Seven teased.

  “No!” Kayla answered proudly. “I ate bananas with my syrup!”

  Kate and the Sevens laughed.

  “We are really good with children, Miss. Kate,” One stated.

  “You’ve taken care of kids before?” she asked.

  One and Seven looked at each other sheepishly and shook their heads in unison.

  “Not really, Miss. Kate,” One explained. “This will be the first time. But we are designed to be good with children. And we have been reading some textbooks on the subject.”

  “Okay. Whatever,” Kate laughed. “It’s your headache. Real kids are not like book kids. Come on in,” and she stepped aside so that Seven could enter the room. One waited in the hall.

  “Kaylie, Kayla, be nice to Seven,” Kate ordered.

  “Yes, Sissy,” they answered.

  Kate gave the Twins a stern look, “I mean it. Be nice.”

  “We will be fine, Miss. Kate,” Seven assured Kate. He reached out and offered a hand to each of the girls. They immediately reached up and held his hands.

  “See, we are good with children,” One stated.

  “Wait until the door is closed,” Kate warned. “They look harmless, but...” she let the warning hang in the air.

  “Please,” One stated and looked down the hall. “Ms. Maude and Mr. Humphrey are waiting.”

  “Okay,” Kate answered and turned to look at the Twins one more time. “Girls! Behave!” she ordered.

  “Yes, Sissy,” Kaylie and Kayla answered. Seven already had them busy helping him clear the breakfast dishes.

  Kate stepped out into the hall and closed the door after her.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Their room is just down here,” One said pointing to Kate’s left. “I see that you chose to wear your previous attire. I thought you might like some of the choices we had selected for you.”

  “No offense, One,” Kate replied. “The clothes in the closet are very nice, but they weren’t really me. If you know what I mean. Theses old things are a little dirty, but they’re my things.”

  “Yes, Miss.,” One answered. “I think I do understand that you prefer your property to others. I also like my personal items better than those of my brothers.”

  Kate smiled. All the Sevens dressed exactly the same as far as she could tell.

  As Kate and One walked down the hall Kate said, “You had me totally confused when I opened the door. I didn’t know who I was looking at.”

  “I understood from our earlier conversation when you asked after Four that you are quick to bond with someone,” One explained. “That’s why I made sure I was available to come with Seven. I apologize that I did not introduce us faster.”

  “That’s okay,” Kate replied. “Maybe you should wear name tags.”

  “Name tags?” One asked.

  Kate laughed, “I was kidding about that.” But then she stopped and looked at One, “How did you know we were finished with breakfast? And how about that the Twins were asleep?”

  One answered, “We are monitoring you, Miss. Kate. We need to learn everything we can about you.”

  “Have you been watching everything?” Kate demanded.

  Yes, Miss Kate. We have watched everything,” One responded.

  “The Twins bath? My shower?” she asked.

  “Yes. We have watched everything.”

  “At lease you could be embarrassed about it,” Kate stated angrily.

  “Why should we be embarrassed?” One asked quizzically.

  “Because it is rude to watch people in secret,” Kate told him.

  “I am sorry Miss. Kate. I did not know this,” One explained. “Is it rude to watch people when they know?”

  “It depends on what they’re doing,” Kate explained.

  “Can you clarify?” One asked.

  “Well, like when people use the restroom. They don’t want to be watched,” Kate told him.

  “That is a normal body function,” One replied. “Why is that different than say, eating breakfast?”

  “Well, some people don’t like being watched when they eat breakfast either,” Kate stated.

  “Ah,” One replied, “then liking, or disliking, being watched during any particular function is totally arbitrary, completely dependent on the individual.”

  “Yeah, something like that,” Kate answered. “Would you want to watched?”

  “I am watched and have been watched my whole existence,” One stated. “I think I might feel discomfort if I was not watched.”

  “Really?” Kate said shaking her head. “I am afraid I don’t feel the same way.”

  “Miss. Kate, I am sorry,” One said sincerely, “I will be sure that we do not continue to watch you. Will that make you feel better?”

  Kate smiled, “Yes, One. That would make me feel much better. Thank you.”

  One returned her smile.

  “Well, while we’re talking,” Kate continued, “I have a question.

  “Yes, Miss. Kate. You may ask anything. If I am not qualified to answer I will see that someone does answer you,” One earnestly replied.

  “Do you and your seven brothers share experiences?” Kate asked.

  One smiled. “No, Miss. Kate. We have all the same physical attributes but once we became active our individual experiences are uniquely our own. Now, like you, we can and do share experiences orally. But that is all we can do.”

  “So then, you and your brothers are very much like Kaylie and Kayla, exactly the same, but different,” Kate offered.

  “Yes, Miss. Kate. You are correct, the same but different,” One agreed. “If you do not mind, I think we should move on. Ms. Maude is most anxious to see you.”

  Chapter 53

  The Twos and the Threes were seated back around the conference table.

  “Is One of One coming?” Three of Three asked.

  “We did not inform him about the meeting Two of Two answered. “His, and our votes are incidental,” Two continued. “Your votes are the determining ones.” He slid a thin folder across the table to Three of Three.

  “Here is the information we have on the parents of these three females,” he stated. “It is meager to say the least. They were mid-level managers with modest achievements and even more modest abilities. Why are we placing all our resources and hopes on these females without even looking at other options?” Two demanded glaring at One, Two and Three of Three each in turn.

  Three of Three passed the folder down to Two of Three without opening it. “One fills like the older female is a good place to start,” he stated.

  “Of course he does,” Two snapped. “He has a relationship with her!”

  “What?” One of Three gasped.

  “Explain that please,” Two of Three demanded.

  Two had all eyes own him. “I believe One has been intimate with the female,” he told them.

  “How can that be?” Three of Three asked. “One is an Android.”

  “And what?” Two demanded. “Do you think he only dreams of electric sheep? He thinks he is better than human. Better than us.”

  “That is not true,” Two of Three shouted.

  “It is too!” One of Two shouted back.

  Three of Three pounded his fist on the table until everyone fell silent. He looked at Two of Two, “I assume you will continue stirring discontent until you get what you want. Correct?”

  “Yes,” Two instantly answered.

  “Then I propose you follow the original plan, use this man Larson to hunt out donors you consider relevant.”

  One and Two of Two grinned widely.

  “And,” Three continued, “we will proceed forward with the existing female up until the time you provide a better alternative. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” Two stated.

  The Threes stood up. “I will relay the results of this meeting to One. Then I do not want to hear anymore about this! Agreed?”

  Two nodded his head whereupon the Threes turned and left the room.

  “Two looked over at One and said with a smile, “Let us get busy.”

  Chapter 54

  As Kate walked with One of Seven, they passed several doors, none of which had any markings. If she had not been with One, Kate would have been totally lost. She could not have found her way back to the Twins.

  One stopped outside a door and knocked. Kate heard someone say, “Come in.” One reached out and opened the door, holding it open for Kate.

  Kate stepped into a room just like the one she had left, except no Twins and no breakfast mess on the table. Instead Maude and Humphrey were standing there to greet her. And Humphrey was standing up straight.

  “Look at you!” Kate shouted.

  “Look at me!” Humphrey answered and twirled around like a ballerina, ending with a grand flourish. He and Maude were laughing.

  Kate rushed over and gave them a hug. “What happen?” she asked excitedly.

  “Hunter talked me into having surgery,” Humphrey answered. “It took like ten minutes and didn’t hurt a bit. And look at me!” he exclaimed, dancing around again.

  “Isn’t it wonderful!” Maude laughed. “Now he just needs to learn how to dance!”

  One did not understand why the three laughed at her comment.

  There was knock on the door and One opened it. Larson stepped into the room.

  Maude screamed in horror.

  “You!” shouted Humphrey. “You’re dead!”

  “Yes, it’s me” Larson answered. “And I am not dead. You have something that belongs to me!” he roared as he strode across the room and grabbed Maude’s right arm.

  Maude collapsed, only Larson’s grip kept her from falling to the floor.

  “Do something!” Kate shouted at One.

  “What should I do?” he stammered.

  “Let go of my wife!” Humphrey commanded.

  “You think she’s yours?” Larson shouted. He released Maude’s arm and she fell to the floor. “I don't believe in the rule of law, I believe in the rule of the guy making the law. See if you can keep me from taking her, Hump!” Larson bellowed and he stepped over Maude and struck Humphrey in the throat. There was a cracking noise from Humphrey’s neck and he fell to the floor clutching his neck, gasping for air with a terrible sucking noise.

  “That was even easier than I imagined!” Larson swore. He reached down with his left hand and grabbed Maude’s arm.

  “Get some help!” Kate shouted at One. “Humphrey needs a doctor!”

  Kate turned and screamed at Larson, “Leave her alone, Larson!”

  Larson looked over at Kate. “Hello, my pretty,” he grinned. “You goin’ to stop the big, bad, man?”

  “Yes!” Kate answered.

  “That’ll be interesting,” Larson grinned.

  Kate’s right hand dropped down to her hip where it found her father’s dagger. She whipped it free of its sheath and with an overhand flick of her wrist threw it at Larson.

  Larson released Maude’s arm and twisted away from the flying dart, but not fast enough. The knife thudded into his left shoulder, scrapping across bone, and embedded its tip into the wall.

  Larson roared in pain.

  “One, Hunter, is coming!” One of Seven shouted to Kate. As he ran over to Humphrey writhing on the floor.

  Larson reached up with his right hand and pulled the dagger out of the wall and from his shoulder. He bellowed in pain.

  “That was meant for your head!” Kate Shouted.

  Larson tossed the dagger to the floor. He looked at Maude, then his eyes moved to Kate. “Watch your ass little girl,” he growled. “And watch your sisters’ asses too.” he added and moved quickly to the door and out into the hall leaving a trail of blood.

  “Kaylie! Kayla!” Kate shouted and raced out the open door. The hall was an indistinguishable repetition of closed doors. Kate ran along frantically calling for her sisters.

  Up ahead a door opened and Seven of Seven stepped out into the corridor. “The Twins are in here, Miss, Kate. They are fine.”

  Kate flew past Seven and into the room. The Twins were seated at the table with a pile of books in front of them. Kate ran to the girls and grabbed them up in her arms, smashing them together.

  “Sissy,”

  “Not so hard,” they complained.

  Seven stepped back into the room and closed the door. With his right-hand touching his neck just below his ear he quietly stated, “Yes, Sir. She is here. Everyone is safe.” Seven listened and then replied, “Understood, Sir. I’ll wait for you.”

  Kate had loosened her grip on the girls. She was smoothing their hair down with her hands. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” she apologized.

  “We’re not scared,” Kayla answered.

  “You’re just crazy,” Kaylie added.

  Kate laughed and pulled her sisters close again. The Twins wormed lose.

  “What’s up, Sissy?” Kaylie asked.

  “We just can’t stay here any longer,” Kate answered.

  “Why?” Kayla asked. “We like it here.”

  Kate stood up. “It’s just not safe here. Wouldn’t you like to go home. We’ve been away so long.”

  “Will Mommy and Daddy be back?” Kaylie asked.

  Kate began to cry. “No, sweetie. They won’t be there.”

  “Then we should stay here and eat more breakfast,” Kayla stated.

  Kate laughed. “That would be fun, wouldn’t it? But we need to get home.” She turned around to face Seven. “Can you fly us back home?”

  “I don’t know, Miss.” Seven answered. “One will be here in a minute. He can answer you better than I.”

  Kate turned back to her sisters and said, “You girls go get your clothes changed. Put YOUR clothes on.”

  “But Sissy,” Kayla complained, “these are soft.”

  “And our pants are dirty,” Kaylie added

  “It’s okay,” Kate stated firmly. “We are not taking anything from here. Now go!” and Kate clapped her hands together to get the girls moving.

  Kate heard Seven moving to the door. She turned and watched him open the door. Hunter stepped in quickly, securing the door behind him. Hunter crossed the room and stood in front of Kate. He held out the dagger to her. She took the knife from him and stared up into his face.

  “Humphrey is dead,” Hunter said quietly.

  Kate bit her lower lip to hold back her tears. “Who is with Maude?”

  “One of Seven is with her and others are coming,” Hunter answered.

  “I thought Larson was dead,” Kate stammered. “How did he get in here?”

  “I let him in,” Hunter answered.

  Kate slapped Hunter, leaving a big, red mark on his face.

  “He was in a holding cell underground,” Hunter continued.

  Kate slapped him again. “You let that animal in here!” she screamed. “You’re the one who killed Humphrey! How could you do that? Every time I’ve trusted you, you’ve done something terrible in return.”

  Kate looked past Hunter to Seven, “I want to take the girls and Maude home. I can protect us there. I can’t trust anyone or anything here!”

  “We’ll do whatever you wish,” Hunter responded.

  Kate turned her eyes back on Hunter. She raised the dagger and waved it in his face. “I should use this on you! I wonder what color your blood is? Are you willing to show me?” she shouted.

  “We’ll do whatever you wish,” Hunter repeated.

  Kate spun around and walked to Seven. “Take me to Maude,” she ordered. “She needs someone to be with her. He can watch the Twins,” she added, indicating Hunter.

  Seven looked over at Hunter who nodded. Seven opened the door for Kate and followed her out into the hall.

  Chapter 55

  “Why was I not informed about the meeting?” Hunter demanded. His voice filled the small conference room.

  “Because everyone knew what you would say,” One of Two snidely answered. “And Three of Three was suppose to tell you.”

  Three of Three lowered his head as he said, “I am sorry One. Events moved faster than I did.”

  “Yes, they did, didn’t they?” Hunter replied. Then he looked at Two of Two, “How did Larson find the man?”

  “He is a resourceful person,” Two answered. “That is why all of us, including you, selected him.”

  “Someone helped him,” Hunter said, staring at Two.

  “Are you accusing me?” Two demanded. “It could have been anyone! It could have been you playing some kind of double game so that your ‘girls’ would be our only option!”

  Hunter shook his head in disbelief, “Like Kate said, no one, nothing here can be trusted.”

  “Kate says this. Kate says that,” One of Two mocked.

  “One thing she did not say, but she thought it,” Hunter asserted, “We are not human. We are simply products of a petri dish.”

  Two of Two jumped to his feet, “How dare you say such a thing! The Designers did not grow us from a petri dish!”

  “Didn’t they?” Hunter demanded. “How did we get here? How did any of this get here? They didn’t have any answers. Their technology didn’t fix anything. Just look around. If they had known what they were doing, things wouldn’t be like they are.”

  “What is wrong with how things are?” One of Two shouted. “Everything is great!”

  “Then why are we using a man like Larson, to find ‘donors’ for our petri dish experiments?” Hunter responded.

  “You do not deserve to be here!” One of Two screamed.

  “You are probably correct,” Hunter answered. He stood up from the table. “Life is about the individual, not the collective.”

  “What are you doing?” Three of Three asked.

  “I am going to follow One and Four of Seven and make sure the women get home safely,” Hunter answered.

  “Haven’t they left already?” One of Three asked.

  “Yes, they are gone, long gone,” snapped One of Two.

  “It won’t take me long to catch up with them,” Hunter stated. “I can get there a lot faster than Larson.” Then he looked Two of Two in the eye and added, “Unless he has gotten some help.”

  “HOW DARE YOU IMPUGN ME IN THAT MANNER!” Two of Two screamed, spittle flying from his lips.

  “How would you prefer I do it?” Hunter asked.

  Two of Two was too outraged answer.

  Hunter nodded good-bye to One, Two and Three of Three as he left the room.

  ***

  The Caddi was parked beside a tunnel entrance. Hunter opened the heavy tunnel door and stepped down onto the landing. He closed and secured the entrance door before heading down the three flights of stairs. One of Seven met him at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Is everything still okay?” Hunter asked.

  “Yes, Sir,” One answered. “Everything is quiet. No sign of any trouble.”

  “Good. What are they doing?” Hunter asked.

  “They have been cleaning and straightening up the interior of the house,” One replied.

  “Seven is guarding the main tunnel?” Hunter asked.

  “Yes, Sir. Just like you ordered,” One answered.

  “Good. Have they accepted your presence?” Hunter asked.

  One smiled as he answered, “Yes. They been kind to us. They have brought us food and water.”

  “Good. I’ll go check with Seven,” Hunter stated.

  “Sir?” One asked.

  “Yes,” Hunter replied.

  “They may not be happy to see you,” One stated.

  “I assumed that, One,” Hunter answered. “They won’t see me. They won’t know I’m here.”

  “Yes, Sir. Be careful. Miss. Kate is very angry,” One cautioned as Hunter headed into the tunnel.

  The End