Kharon Chapter 39
Emma lounges in her bedroom with Sparky. Suddenly Sparky begins to growl. Emma sits up alert and then hears banging outside her door. She opens the door and sees a swarm of robots going down the hall. She follows them to the bridge where even more robots are all surrounding Simone who stands with head bowed and an orange glow coming from her. “What’s going on here?”, yells Jacob showing up on the bridge.
The robots then all state in unison, “Simone Jaquinon you have left the colony 1,983 cycles ago without authorization and we must escort you to the upload support offices immediately without delay.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on?”
“The Colony never lets any of their own leave”, says Jacob.
“Apparently Simone managed to escape despite their policies. They detected her when we sailed past and now they're going to reconnect her", answers Kiarah.
“Reconnect?”
“Everyone on The Colony lives in life support pods while they jack into a virtual world where everyone interacts”, Jacob explains.
Simone continues to wear a far off expression as she is silently led away by the robots.
“Why isn’t she fighting them?”
“No point. They internally tag their own. I’ve no idea how she managed to escape in the first place", explains Jacob
One robot hangs back and approaches the rest of the crew and states, “Are you all here to join the colony?”
Kiarah stabs the robot with a sharp bone implement and it shorts out and falls to the ground. Kiarah then walks back to the controls. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Wait! What are you doing? We can’t just leave her.”
Luke slowly shakes his head while looking at Emma. “What happened to that stone cold femme fatale that I met in lock-up.”
Emma shoots Luke a look to kill. “Those people were assholes. Simone isn’t.”
“She did save our asses back with the Sloons", says Jacob.
Luke turns on Jacob. “Oh don’t you fucking start! Since when have you ever stuck your neck out for anyone.”
“Hey! There were plenty of times when you were…forget it.”
“No, what?”
“Just forget it.”
"I'm helping Simone. She earned my loyalty", says Emma defiantly.
“I have not been wronged by this island and none of you are my tribe. But if you are so determined I will give you one cycle before I sail away.”
“Fuck it. I’m getting my things and hitching a ride on another ship.”
Emma picks up Sparky and hands him to Kiarah. “Just promise me you will keep Sparky safe and give him a good home if I don’t come back. Please.”
“He aided me in settling a vendetta so I will honor your request.”
“Thank you.” Emma then grabs Jacob’s hand and begins to run off the bridge dragging a reluctant Jacob behind her.
“Um…I’m not so sure I….” But Jacob’s protests go unheeded.
No comments:
Post a Comment