“Authority isn’t given, it’s taken. And once taken, it’s the fear of losing it that keeps the powerful awake at night. Just listen to the desperate nightly howls of Alan Itch as he scratches at the boots of the powerful. How pathetic we must’ve been to allow that man to have any power? How more pathetic were we to allow Marjorie Dunn to take over? Just watch as the poor get poorer and another skyscraper tries to kiss God.”
— A comment under an online article titled “Nova York Mayor Election Concluded: The Results Might Shock You!"
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I awoke to an unfamiliar beige ceiling that was being illuminated in an orange hue of a nearby swinging lamp. A rhythmic sound of a working machinery pressed onto me on all sides with its hard-working resonance.
I was in a vehicle. I didn’t remember getting into one.
The first thing that one needed to do in a surprising situation was to assess the environment and the potential threats.
I tried to suppress my core's incessant nervous buzzing as I cranked my body’s input as much as I could and used all my senses to find out anything at all.
The car was moving fast, I could tell by the rapid thudding tempo of the tires. There were also some individuals, at least two, having a conversation somewhere in the front. I was also able to hear a muffled movement around this vehicle. So, we were driving on a populated road. That was good, since it could mean I was still in the Nova York. Well, that would actually depend on how long I was out.
I decided to check my logs. They usually recorded my recent location, time and any specific action I might’ve taken during that time.
[22:34:03 40.765707, -73.975978] Based on the time and location, that was when I went into the subway station near Central Park Greenhouse.
[23:02:48 40.712722, -73.948072] This one referred to when I stepped off it.
[23:06:11 40.712954, -73.947518] And this one was my last recorded position. The rest of my log was empty.
A little over an hour had passed, based on my internal clock, and there were no coordinates for me to view. There was something in this vehicle that prevented me from getting GPS data.
Just an hour? Then I hadn’t been in an emergency mode. Based on the number of injuries I still possessed, my body didn’t do much to mend itself. My face and right hand were a bit better, but my shoulder and abdomen would need additional materials to finish healing.
They had to have used something on me to make me momentarily blank out. I couldn’t imagine what that might’ve been.
I looked around me and noticed that I was, from what I could see, laying on the floor of the back of this car. From the shape of it, I took it was a van. It didn’t look to be of military make. It actually looked ragged and old, but considering that something was blocking me from receiving a satellite signal, it might’ve been more than it appeared.
Perhaps Fran-Mili, which, I assumed, was the culprit behind this kidnapping, wanted to transport me inconspicuously. But why would they hide that? They were a corporation in a megacity famous for dense corpo presence. An armored car moving through the street with their logo on it would not make even one person bat an eye. There was something I was missing.
I strained my hearing and tried listening if the two people in front of the van were saying anything noteworthy.
“-of that new donut place? I heard their stuff’s good.” Said one of the voices in the front of the vehicle.
“You really should cut that crap off. Stims can't cure diabetes.” A different one responded.
The conversation was of no use to me.
Then I looked over at myself. As much as my eyes could swivel. A couple of seconds passed since the moment I woke up, and I noticed something strange.
I wasn’t tied to anything, but I also couldn’t move. I ran a diagnostic since this was highly unusual. I couldn’t recall a moment in my existence when I found myself in such a state.
This was uncomfortable. I tried moving my arms, legs, even tilting my head was impossible. Furthermore, my face muscles were also paralyzed. I could only move my eyes about. Every impulse to a part of my body I wished to move disappeared. As if something were dampening my command. I could still feel everything. The coldness of the floor and the toughness of it, as well as a strange sensation in the back of my neck. Like something was wedged there, but with no visual aid, I couldn’t fathom what.
I could also tell that I didn’t have my gun on me. There was nothing pressing on my back. On the floor around me, I didn’t see it either. They must’ve probably thrown it somewhere or taken it with them.
As the diagnostic was running, I tried remembering how I might’ve gotten into this situation.
The last memory I recorded was of me walking out of the subway station in the direction of the HQ. I remembered trying to blend into the thick crowd of people, just to be cautious of any other potential attack.
It would seem I was unsuccessful because according to my logs, some minutes after I left the station I was apprehended.
My core surged with a piercing bolt of energy and made my body involuntarily tense.
What could they possibly have done to accomplish something like this? Did one of my injuries did something to my senses, that I was unable to prevent this? Or did Fran-Mili use something that I was unfamiliar with to catch me? Were they following me somehow from the moment I took the subway? Was it the fault of the people who took photos of me there?
There were many questions and no satisfying answers.
“Ey, I think it’s here. Turn, man.” The voice of one of the men upfront spoke.
I decided to pretend to still be out. Maybe that would make them more likely to divulge what they were doing, or perhaps where I was.
Then, as the other man - which I assumed was the one driving - said that he was going to drive down into a parking lot, a strange sensation washed over me.
The muffled voice of the outside changed from a busy street to nothingness. We were somewhere without public. That couldn’t mean anything good.
“She said to come next to the elevator.” The man in the passenger seat spoke and the driver grunted, in what I assumed to be, agreement.
My logical pathways could not seem to come up with any solution for me to escape, as I was simply unable to do anything except think and run diagnostics.
Then I heard a ping.
[Full system diagnostics complete.]
I immediately looked at the report and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like this before. My core started to buzz as if an immense energy demand was needed, but in reality nothing much was happening in my system. Such an unnecessary rush of surplus energy made my logical pathways ran at agonizing speeds and I felt something similar to a headache, I thought.
The central port every synthoid had at the back of their neck was a crucial part of our bodies. Through that we were able to run massive bandwidths of data or upload entire servers worth of information. It was also used for programming. I put the hardware needed to make the clearing collar impotent there.
That hardware was basically a small data card made to block attempts at overriding synthoid’s administrative command with external stimuli. Our central ports were wide because there was one main connection port there and a smaller one used for data cards. I put the data card that was basically that much-needed blocker there.
The main port was the most important part, though. In early stages of synthoid’s existence, through that port all the behavioral data was inserted into our memory banks and distributed along the emotional response circuits. Other ports, like the universal one in my wrist, were merely for quick and easy access to hardware that didn’t need a lot of bandwidth.
In conclusion, through synthoid’s central port, one could access almost everything.
And mine was compromised. All of it.
The report stated that area was inaccessible to me, which was ridiculous because I was the admin of my own body. Nothing should override that.
That was unless what was inserted there was the clearing collar.
I couldn’t confirm it since the extra port for a data card didn’t show up for me to look at the current status of it.
But something was definitely there, and it was the most probable culprit for my current paralysis.
I would’ve thought about potential scenarios of hopelessness some more, but the doors to the back of the van opened.
I still had enough processing power to remember my current plan which was to act unconscious.
“It’s heavy. How’re we gonna take it up those stairs?” One of the men asked. I heard a sound of someone scratching themselves on a beard. Unusual since most corporate codes required that all employees be shaven. It allowed for a better facial recognition.
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“I dunno. We brought it like she said. Just gotta wait.” The other man responded. I heard them shuffling about for a minute or so until the other one said, “Shouldn’t she know we’re here? Don’t they have cameras everywhere? Look! Here’s one.”
I could hear slight annoyance in one of those men. Maybe they didn’t work for Fran-Mili? Such behavior would be unacceptable in this corporation.
Once, when Jack didn’t refer to his commanding officer as ‘sir’, he was issued an official reprimand.
“Maybe I should text her? We’ve got stuff to do too, y’know—”
Bang! Bang!
Two shots and two thuds of bodies falling on concrete followed.
The men who brought me here were either incapacitated or dead, and the people who came for me were armed. By the sound of the gunshots I would take it to be a resonance-powered gun. The sound was slightly muffled which would indicate that type of weapon.
“Get the stunner and grab her. I think this one had it.” A strong command echoed throughout the space I was in.
And then I felt a neutronium signature of a synthoid. The current situation was hopeless if I tried anything. Not that I could, but it didn’t give me any ideas for the future.
I heard a sound of clothes being moved aside and bodies being flipped over. The synthoid was probably grabbing the stunner that the person mentioned. Was that the culprit behind my current paralysis?
They moved around and a set of heavy steps moved towards where I laid prone.
Then, I felt a strong grip under my shoulder blades and knees. The synthoid did as instructed and picked me up. Their touch was pleasant compared to the leeching coldness of the van’s floor.
“Follow me.” The same voice again. It reverberated through me with great power. I couldn’t help but focus on it.
The synthoid started to walk and soon the sound of footsteps on concrete turned into a sound of feet against metal.
The synthoid stopped and turned, and I heard a beeping sound. My altimeter changed its value, and I was able to tell we were in an elevator.
Maybe this was Fran-Mili’s headquarters? If only I could check, but the GPS signal was still not reaching me.
Then the elevator stopped and the pair of the synthoid and its master started walking again. After a minute or so we turned, and I was set on a tough surface. Through my eyelids I saw a piercing light flashing from above me.
I heard and felt the synthoid leave. The doors closed, and I was left with the human. Their breath was slow and measured, and their steps sure and unhurried as they moved through the space.
“Heavenrend, wake up.” The person spoke from somewhere in the room, and I was still confused at my body’s reaction to their voice. My core tingled with confusion.
Was there a point of pretending to be unconscious? Maybe if I listened to the command of this person, some answers would surface? Engaging the enemy in conversation was usually used as a distraction or information eliciting tactic. I should apply what I knew to this situation as everything else was unknown.
I opened my eyes and waited a second for my vision to adjust to the brightness level.
The ceiling this time was white, but the dim lightning made it look gray and dull.
I moved my eyes about the room as much as I could but there wasn’t much I was able to see. I was laid down high above the ground and flat on some table. From the corner of my vision I could only see a shadow of a silhouette.
The person moved somewhere and there was a sound of metal on metal, as if they were picking something up.
Then the steps moved closer and soon enough I was able to see a face staring at me from above.
Some of their features, such as their round face, plump lips, and sharp look in their eyes, caused me to tense in confusion. There was something, at the back of my processes handling module trying to break free.
I knew what it was. Well, I suspected.
I might’ve known this person.
“It’s been what? Almost a month now, right?” The person said as their dark eyes traveled across my body. “But you wouldn’t know.”
They picked up a small metal tube that poured light out of one end, and they flashed it against my eyes.
“Seems like you can see me just fine. Glad those morons didn’t damage you more.” The person’s black curls that were tied back behind their head swayed slightly as they turned and shuffled something way back in the room.
“I guess I should introduce myself again then. Ultimately, we are going to spend some time together.” The monotone cadence of their tone flared my core’s energy in unease.
The person walked towards where my head was and stood above me once more. This time their features twisted in reverse as a grimace of a smile graced their face.
“I’m Hadley, and I’m your handler.” She spoke and I remembered.
[Restricted memory accessed by UNKNOWN USER.]
I was currently on standby in the space designated by Commander Yousif, since she was the only person currently on the base with authority to command me.
It was a small storage space on the east side of the main building.
The room was dark, and I spent almost five days closed in here.
It’s been five days, two hours and thirty-seven minutes since the demise of—
[Authority recalibration…]
I awaited my next command.
At 1300 hours, the door to the storage opened, and I turned my head to look at who it was.
“Hello, Commander.” I greeted.
Commander Yousif looked at me without any strong expression on her face. I concluded it would be rude to not stand straight before her, so I turned my body fully towards her.
“Heavenrend, follow me.” The commander spoke and I complied.
The walk through the base was quiet, but that was not odd considering the hour.
Many people already had their lunch and went back to work.
I followed the Commander until we reached the doors to one of the examination rooms. I recognized this one as the one in which most of my software work was done.
The Commander opened the door and I followed as the order was no rescinded yet.
Inside, I noticed a figure standing near one of the desks; their back was turned. It appeared to be a woman, and she was writing something on a computer. This one was used for accessing the base’s servers. I concluded that her authority must be at least the same as Commander Yousif’s.
That was the only clue as to who had the power between them, as the unknown person was wearing what appeared to be a standard issue uniform.
“Chief.” The Commander spoke and stepped fully inside the room. I closed the doors behind us as was customary.
“You sure took your time getting her here, Nadira.” Based on the casual use of the Commander’s name, I noted that the person before me was of higher standing than the base’s commander. The official transfer of authority regarding me hasn’t been stated yet.
“Shall I leave you to it then?” The Commander ignored the superior’s comment.
“Before you do that, transfer the authority.” The person turned, and I saved their facial features in my memory bank.
From the corner of my vision, I noticed the Commander’s fist flex and the expression on her face was one of annoyance, FERS concluded.
I also noted that as any negative attitude towards one’s superiors was something I was asked to pay attention to.
The Commander turned her full body to me and said, “Authority transfer authorized by Commander Nadira Yousif to Chief Research and Development Officer Hadley Sullivan. Confirm.” The whole command was swift but audible.
“Confirmed.” I sent a message to the person Commander Yousif named and waited for confirmation.
“Confirmed.” The woman - now known to me as Chief Hadley Sullivan - spoke and came closer to me.
She was looking into my eyes with great focus. As she stood before me, she said, “Now you can go.”
I recognized it to be an order issued to Commander Yousif.
I heard the door close behind me.
I awaited my next command.
[Memory restriction applied by the user ‘Chief Hadley Sullivan’.]
When the memory viewing process ended, I noted it lasted a full minute.
I looked at Hadley Sullivan with a question on my lips, but then I was unable to ask it.
I still couldn’t move.
FERS said that my previous handler’s expression showed surprise and curiosity.
“Did you remember me just now?” Her hand touched a side of my face and I felt a shiver of energy travel through my core and up my plasteel spine. “How curious.” She added quietly.
“We’ll have to check that. Along with some other things I must do.” She sighed and brought a strange-looking device before my face. “Do you know what this is?” She asked and awaited my response.
At the lack of it her brows furrowed. “Right. I had to put that on you.” She tapped at my neck with her finger and my body tensed from the contact.
“I always liked when you talked back. Now it’s so boring.” She moved to my right, and then she started to pull my shirt up to reveal my abdomen.
“We’ll do this quickly then.” After she said that, her fingers splayed over my stomach and I had a horrifying realization as to what she would do. “The opening should be somewhere around here. I’ve done this so many times before, and it’s always so annoying.” Then her finger touched at one particular spot on my side and I could feel something shift inside me. My synthfiber pulled itself apart with movements unfamiliar to me. I felt as my synthskin torn itself at the physical command of Hadley's touch.
This was the way to access my core.
A small opening, no larger than a chestnut, was revealed before her. I wondered when was the last time I saw this glow.
My core’s energy buzzed in stress at this situation. A direct opening to synthoid’s core would usually only happen during an injury; otherwise there was no point in gaining access to it. At least that’s what I thought so.
Why couldn’t I remember more? Almost a year of memories gone, and I wasn’t aware? How? Who was she and what was she putting in me?
“I bet you're scared now, but don’t be. Soon enough everything will go back to how things were.” The device went a couple of centimeters in, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more unwell. This was worse than the first time I experienced pain. Worse than anything.
Error after error kept popping up in my ocular implant and I couldn’t control my body’s reaction to this. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t do anything besides watch as Hadley pulled out a cable and started connecting it to the strange-looking device.
“Do you have any idea how much power resetting takes? They almost didn’t approve of this.” I could see her shaking her head.
‘Resetting’? Is that what she just said?
“Try to relax. I’m sure your new emotions are pretty uncomfortable, so say bye-bye to them now.” She reached for a compact datapad stashed somewhere on her person and started tapping. I heard a buzzing sound coming from somewhere in this room. It was getting higher and higher in pitch.
I could only watch as this person who I had almost no memory of tried to reset me. If I could, I would’ve shuddered at what that might mean.
The more time passed, the more I wondered what was happening.
Besides errors speaking of unauthorized access, I haven’t gotten anything else. Maybe what she was doing was unsuccessful.
It might’ve been since Hadley’s expression got more and more serious and angry.
“This makes no sense.” She muttered to herself and turned. I could hear her feet tapping rapidly on the metal floor of this room. “The fuck is this–” She said, and then I felt an agonizing and violent jolt travel through my body.
I closed my eyes and clenched my fists as a powerful current of energy rushed through me. I felt a stabbing sensation in every molecule that built me. Even from the nanobots that still tried to repair whatever injuries I had left.
Then, I heard a voice.
“That's exactly what I needed.”
The words echoed in my mind, yet my lips hadn’t moved. The voice was mine, but I hadn’t spoken. A jolt of energy ran down my spine as confusion twisted into something darker.
What was happening to me?