Jonathan Creed

"Then they put them in the girls." I said.

He looked down at me. His blue eyes were blazing. "By the time I figured out what had happened it was too late. I got word through a contact that the FBI was coming to raid my company. I acted quickly. I broke into Elijah's office and stole all the data on his computer and everything in his safe. Then I used my master password to wipe all the data on his computer ... and every computer in the building."

I wiggled cautiously in my chains. If only I could reach it ... if only my hands weren't bound!

I had to keep him talking.

"How did you escape?" I asked.

"I broke into a janitor's closet and stole a duffle bag and a uniform. I kept my head down and my cap on, and I walked out the front door of my own company unnoticed. The FBI showed up seven minutes later" He said.

"That was very clever." I remarked.

"I know." He said. "But flattery won't change your situation."

We paused to stare loathingly at each other.

"I won't do it." I said with all my might.

"It's for the good of humanity Jon ... she has the cure to cancer in her head."

I shook my head.

He shook the bars. "JUST DO IT! That chip is worth TRILLONS!"

I glared at him. "I still don't believe it will work ... even if I order the chip to detach using this special name, Dr. Thompson said these chips were fused to the cerebral cortex."

Turner shook his head and tapped his computer screen. "It's right here in Elijah's notes. 'To detach the chip use the high protocol name ... and command 'Full Detachment.' This will induce the chip to retract its nano-fiber attachments ... and initiate a full system shut down.'"

I grunted. "You left out the part were Sarah dies."

Turner cast a glance at Sarah.

The British teenager looked at him with empty eyes. She had long since cried herself out.

"Don't worry Sarah ... I won't do it ... he can't make me." I said.

It was true ... he could torture me and I wouldn't give in.

Sarah looked at me. "Master ... that's sweet of you to say ... but I think I know how he's going to make you."

Turner grinned gleefully. "That's right pretty little slave girl. I'm going to use a chip on your stubborn Master."

I could feel my face pale.

-------

Turner reached into his duffel bag. He produced a small wooden box.

He opened it carefully, and removed something that looked like a tiny curved square of plastic.

He held it up and shook it in my face. "Imagine my luck when I discovered that Dr. Brigs had kept this little beauty in his safe."

I cocked my head to the side. "I thought you said that all the other chips were hidden in storage?"

Turner smiled. "This model is a new prototype that I didn't know about. Jonathan say hello to model Z01. Apparently Elijah was busy perfecting this marvel when you Feds came swooping in."

I eyed it cautiously. "So if it's a prototype, what's wrong with it?" I asked.

Turner's eyes glinted. "Oh that's the best part. You see he didn't have time to work all the kinks out. According to his notes ... the subject who previously had Z01 put in his head became brain dead."

I gave him a questioning look.

He rolled his eyes. "According to Elijah the subject could follow basic commands. He could walk, talk and eat, but anything more than simple tasks were beyond the subject." He looked at me maliciously. "For my purposes, almost brain dead will do quite nicely."

I swallowed hard.

Turner walked over to the only door in the room. He banged on it noisily. "Carol, come in here."

The door opened. Carol stepped in.

She was still dressed in her doctor's outfit. Her face held no expression. She waited like a robot for Turner's next command.

Turner gestured towards me. "Jab him with another needle Carol. Then go scrub up. You're going to implant this on him."

She bowed. "Yes Master."

She reached into her lab coat, and removed another syringe.

I turned to Sarah. I could feel tears beginning to emerge from my eyes. "I love you Sarah."

I stretched out my leg as far as it could go ... trying to touch her ... one last time.

But we couldn't reach each other.

Her eyes watered. "I love you too Master ... Jonathan..."

Carol was rapidly approaching with the syringe in hand.

"I'll try and fight it Sarah. I'll try and keep myself from giving in ... I know I can do it ... I have to do it."

Emotion made my voice tremble.

Sarah just looked at me knowingly. "It's hard to resist Master. I'm living proof of that. But I wouldn't change our time for anything. I wouldn't give up a second of my slavery."

Carol opened the cell door.

"Goodbye."

Carol stuck the syringe into my neck, and pushed the plunger.

-------

I tried to fight the sedative.

I could feel its icy influence creeping through my veins.

My mind was becoming cloudy. I tried to move my legs ... I tried to wiggle my nose. Nothing happened.

My body had already succumbed to the effects of the drug ... and my brain was fighting a losing battle.

It was all I could do to keep my eyes open. I thought I could feel Carol releasing my chains. My hands dropped free from the wall.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw to burly blobs enter the room. The blobs looked like large men ... but it was hard to see through the fog covering my eyes.

The two blobs hoisted me to my feet.

"You ... bastards..." I slurred.

"He's still awake?" Turner's voice sounded like it was coming through a long tunnel. I felt like I was underwater.

"It is not unknown for some to fight the sedative Master," said Carol's far away voice. "He should pass out any minute now."

Turner grunted. "Just get him to the operating table ... my flight leaves in seven hours ... and I can't be late."

I was dragged through the only door into the next room. There was a small gurney in the center. This must be the operating room.

One of my eyes slid shut.

I couldn't open it ... I couldn't even feel it. My world took on a two dimensional aspect.

"How long will this take?" Turner.

"No more than an hour Master." Carol replied.

All the tools of a surgeon's trade lay on a metal table next to the gurney. They were ready for this ... they were prepared ahead of time.

Turner sighed. "And how long will it take to remove the girl's chip?"

"Five minutes." Carol replied neutrally.

"That's good," Turner said.

Even my drug heavy brain could hear the smile in his voice.

The burly men laid me down on the gurney.

It felt so good to lie down. I could feel myself slipping. I was dying to slip into blessed unconsciousness. My body began to spasm ... and I could feel droplets of sweat break out on my forehead.

"Must fight..."

I must have said that allowed ... because suddenly Turner was peering over me.

His face looked like an angry blob. "He's still with us Carol ... why isn't he under ... I want you to start the procedure soon."

"I don't know why Master ... I haven't heard of anyone resisting the drug for this long." Carol said.

Turner snapped his fingers. "You there ... pinch his nose and cover his mouth."

One of the burly men entered my vision. I felt giant hands descend upon my face. On hand pinched my nostrils together ... the other clamped down over my mouth.

I couldn't breathe.

My limbs were too weak to remove the giant's hands.

My brain frantically fought to draw breath ... and when it realized it couldn't ... it began to shut down.

I screamed mentally before the darkness embraced me.

-------

Chapter 20

I knew where I was this time.

I was in the 'dark' space ... my subconscious. A small part of me mused if this was normal or not.

I decided it wasn't ... someone would have written a book on it ... or maybe I just didn't check the 'metaphysical' section.

Once again I was seated in the chair of dark stone. I looked around. I couldn't see my doppelganger ... I couldn't see 'The Beast.' There was nothing ... I was profoundly alone.

I stood up and stepped out into the darkness.

"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone there?"

There was no answer. I continued to walk about blindly.

I remembered being drugged. I remembered Ronald Turner ... I remembered what he planned to do to me.

He was going to put a chip in my head. I was going to become his slave ... just as surely as Sarah was mine. Then he was going to use me to kill Sarah ... so he could take her chip.

"NO!" I shouted into the darkness. "I'll fight your goddamn chip! I'll fight you to save Sarah!" Once again my voice was left unanswered.

I turned, and tried to find my chair ... but it was lost in the darkness.

Damn it. I realized I was unconscious ... but I could really go for a drink right about now.

I sat down on the floor of my sub consciousness.

I chuckled when I realized how crazy that sounded.

-------

It started slowly at first.

The change was subtle, and I almost didn't notice it ... but it was getting lighter.

I leaped to my feet. The darkness was shifting into a subtle grey ... like the twilight before dawn. In the growing light, I was able to make out the silhouette of a figure.

My figure.

My doppelganger stood in front of me. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his shirt was once again casually unbuttoned.

He sported a look of amusement on his face.

That lazy grin just threw me over the edge. "What do you FUCKING want with me!" I screamed.

My double cocked his head to the side. "Please, let's have a civilized conversation shall we Jonathan?" He said. His voice sounded exactly like mine...

I crossed my arms. "Oh, a conversation is it? With myself? What would I call you?"

He smiled, "Well my name is Jonathan." He said like he was answering a question for a particularly slow child.

"Really?" I said, "I shouldn't call you 'The Beast' or my Id or something like that?"

He shook his head. "I've never been fond of the name you've given me. 'The Beast' sounds quite extreme. I'm a part of you ... I'm just the part you've repressed."

I sighed. "I guess its official ... I have split personality disorder."

He shrugged. "We used to be much closer ... but over the years we've grown farther apart. I've been kept downtrodden by 'ethical' education ... not to mention an unhealthy amount of drinking."

"So what happens now?" I asked.

The Beast took his hand out of his pockets. "Now you choose." He said.

"Choose what?"

He smiled. "Choose whether to repress me, or reunite with me."

I smiled back at my inner dark side. "That's it?" I asked.

He nodded, "That's it." He pointed up in a lazy motion. "But you may want to choose quickly."

My eyes followed his finger. At first it was hard to make out due to the bad light. But slowly I was able to discern it. Directly above our heads was a solid wall of glass. It was descending upon us at an alarming rate.

He leaned back and gazed at our impending doom. "It's starting Jonathan. They're putting the chip in. They are going to try and strip us of our will. Are you okay with that?"

I raised my hands and braced my feet. I was going to fight this ... I wouldn't give in.

"Bravo," The Beast said.

The glass hit my hands with the force of a stampeding elephant. My arms jarred and my elbows buckled. I was sure that if I had sustained such a blow in the real world it would have vaporized my arms. But here, I had begun to understand that will power was strength.

Surprisingly, the glass halted its downward journey ... I coughed and my body trembled. It felt like I was holding up the entire world.

The Beast watched me coolly. "I'd like to help you Jonathan ... all you have to do is accept me. We could be truly one again like we haven't been since we were ten years old."

"Go to hell." I growled. I wouldn't give in to that bastard. That bastard represented all the things I would do to Sarah if I had let loose my baser instincts.

The Beast laughed. "That's the lesser of two evils wouldn't you say? She'll die if we lose this little mental struggle Jonathan."

Apparently the fucker could read my mind ... or 'our mind.' Shit I'm confused.

My arms started to wobble.

The Beast continued, "She wants me Jonathan. She wants us as a whole. She needs the Master we could be ... she needs our control ... just as much as we need her."

"Why do we need her?" I said exhaustedly ... my breath was short ... and I was having trouble concentrating.

"We are a broken man Jonathan. We sit in a goddamn church most mornings because we can't sleep. We drink because we hate our job. Face it Jonathan. We were either going to commit suicide ... or die in hospital bed of liver failure. She completes us. She gives us purpose."

My knees gave out, and I dropped to the floor.

"Okay..." I said.

The Beast smiled. "Then let me give you a hand."

Suddenly the glass's weight seemed manageable. With a little effort I was able to shift the glass wall up. I slowly rose back to my feet. I lifted my head ... and realized I was alone.

The glass in my hands no longer felt unbearably heavy ... in fact ... it seemed almost light. I felt my consciousness extend ... almost as if it now accepted the glass as part of it.

I saw numbers and words and colors float across the surface of the glass.

At first it seemed like a confusing collusion of algorithms and sentences ... but not for long. Somehow I was able to interpret the symbols and numbers.

The glass was waiting for something. I squinted my eyes and peered into its depths.

It was waiting for an imprinter. It was waiting for its Master to claim it with a DNA sample.

The operation must be over, I thought.

Soon Ronald is going to stick his saliva or his sweat on the back of my neck ... and activate my chip.

Not if I could help it.

I threw my mind at the glass. The chip was buried in my neck wasn't it? It was surrounded by my DNA. So there must be something in the program that order's it to ignore its host's DNA.

I couldn't tell if I searched for hours ... or for seconds ... but I found it.

A tiny symbol in the far reaches of the glass represented that command. This little symbol prevented the chip from accepting the host's DNA.

With a lazy flick of my mind ... the symbol vanished. Like a rock crumbling to dust. The glass started to glow. A bright white light started to shine ... and the symbols that moved so slowly before began to dance across my vision at astonishing paces.

It was beautiful and frightening all at once.

But I knew what was happening ... the chip was accepting me as its Master ... and I could already feel the changes it was invoking.

-------

I was immediately aware of my surroundings.

If asked to explain ... I wouldn't be able to. But I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what lay around me.

Turner was standing approximately 1 meter 2 decameters and 6 centimeters away from my surgical gurney.

Carol was standing over my prone body. She was too close to accurately calculate the exact measurements. She was checking my pulse approximately 4 millimeters from the optimal spot. She was wearing latex gloves.

I couldn't sense the large goons. They weren't in the room. However, I could detect two scents that did not belong to the current occupants of our environment.

All these calculations happened instantly. I didn't even need to think about them.

What I was thinking about was how to retrieve my pen from my pocket.

The pen was what I was trying to reach before they had taken me to the surgery room. The pen was my special 'emergency response pen' that I had used to call in the FBI in the warehouse auction.

My hands were unbound ... however; I didn't risk moving one of them into my pocket. The only advantage I had was surprise ... I couldn't waste it.

"Well," I heard Turner say. "Is his pulse regular yet? Can I imprint this fucker and get on with this thing?"

Carol's voice came from directly over me. "Yes Master, his pulse has settled. I will use a Jump Starter to wake him.

Shit.

Those things were really powerful ... and I was already awake.

I heard Carol crack a stick of the stuff. I braced myself for the jolt. Carol waved it under my nose.

It felt like my entire mind was being assaulted through my nose. My brain felt like it had just been given an electric shock. My body felt like it had consumed twelve cups of coffee.

I reflexively sat up and screamed.

I couldn't help it.

At the same time I felt a familiar sensation on my left wrist.

-------

Shit.

I jerked my left hand, and was rewarded with pain when the handcuff dug into my wrist.

Turner had attached me to the gurney I was lying on. Suddenly I felt hands on my head. Turner was behind me and he pushed my head down until my chin was up against my neck.

"Hold still you stupid Fed. This won't take a second," Turner growled.

I felt the sticky and wet sensation of saliva being pressed against the back of my neck. He must have licked his thumb.

Nothing happened of course ... the chip was useless ... I was already my own imprinter.

I was one step ahead him.

I feigned panic ... and I tried to imitate the fainting spell that Sarah had gone through in the warehouse.

"No! You bastard stop ... I can't..." I said.

This was fun ... maybe I should have been an actor.

Turner removed his hands from my head. "There we go. Say goodbye to your last moments of intelligence Mr. Creed."

My brain ran through some lightening fast calculations. I estimated the length of the chain between the handcuffs was two inches. Turner was approximately two feet away and about five inches taller than me.

Only half a second had past. But I now knew the location of his wind pipe, without even turning around.

I threw my legs over the side of the gurney and spun to face him. My right fist connected with Turners throat a quarter of a second later.

He went down ... hard.

"What the..." He gasped.

He was too busy choking to say anything else after that.

Carol screamed behind me.

I shook my hand. Punching someone always leaves a bit of a sting.

I quickly used my still aching right hand to fumble through my pocket. I drew out my special transmitter pen and clicked it three times in a fifth of a second.

The Calvary would hopefully be on their way.

This pen wasn't checked out on an active mission ... and there wasn't a response team on standby ... but hopefully someone would come.

Turner was scrambling to stand. He was still clutching his neck with one of his hands.

I sensed, rather than knew that Carol was running at me from behind.

I looked down at her shadow. Her arm was raised and she was holding what looked to be a scalpel.

She was running full tilt ... and I was caught in-between her and a very angry Turner.

Once again my brain began to do these surreal fast acting calculations. It is hard to explain. It was almost like watching life in slow motion ... yet at the same time ... I knew consciously that everything was moving at normal speed.

That meant that it was my brain that was faster ... I was thinking faster. My mind was finished planning half a second after it began.

I once again knew exactly what to do.

I shifted my right leg back subtly. When Carol came into striking distance I twisted around. I slammed my foot onto her knee. There was a sick popping sound and she stumbled.

She dropped the scalpel and I quickly snatched her by her clothing and used her forward momentum to send her hurling into Turner.

They collided.

Carol and Turner crumpled under their own weight. Turner's head cracked against the wall.

He groaned and his eyes slid shut.

Carol cried softly on top of her unconscious master. I had probably dislocated her knee.

Tough shit.

That's what she gets for injecting me in the neck.

-------

This handcuff presented a problem.