SWNOVELS Chapter 8: The Execution
Jack was once again confined to his quarters. He lit a cig and looked over the city. Jack sat in meditation position, contemplating his next strategy. Darbe entered the room. Her black dress with long silver lines that moved past her knees and puddled on the floor. Jack sensed her presence long before she had arrived. The changes in his perception were extraordinary, but to Jack, it felt as natural as breathing. He didn’t turn her direction as she walked in.
“Jack, I hope you can understand why my father and I have contained you to your room. You haven’t been quite what we were expecting.”
Jack kept looking out the window and spoke out.
“You and our father were expecting a robot to do your bidding. I’m neither a synthoid nor a slave.”
Darbe walked up behind Jack. She put her hands on Jack’s shoulder. “I have a surprise for you Baby.”
Jack didn’t move, and his eyes were still fixed on the window. The SLV’s and Ads down below him were set in layers with Traffic moving in the upper layer to the west and traffic moving east was on a different layer altogether. He fixed his attention back on Darbe’s voice.
Darbe was massaging his shoulders and continued to talk.
“Yes, we both were hoping to have a bit of entertainment for the evening.”
Darbe was making tracings on his back with her finger.
“We could all use the break from our little family feud.”
Jack slowly moved his eyes towards her hand. Then back at the window. Jack knew what he had to do.
“So, Darbe let’s sum this whole thing up. I’m having a baby with an alien hybrid woman who was at first my sister, now I find out she’s actually genetically engineered match to form some new government, on a distant planet that’s three light years away. Now, I’m the unwilling father of a child that the mother herself is absolutely tainted with greed and lust for power. Whose father is hell bent on fulfilling some prophecy, that has yet taken place? Oh, and to add, has just had the only woman I’ve ever loved in this world attacked at the Sumar, killing thousands in the onslaught. I also found out that I’m destined to turn into some unknown alien species in the next few years. And you want to have a relaxing evening watching some fucking entertainers parade around on stage. Did I about get that right?”
Darbe slowly lifted her hands from Jack’s shoulders.
She stood beside him. Jack stood up and slowly faced her way.
“Not, at all Jack, It’s a surprise for you. It seems these two men are tried for treason against the UCOA. Maybe you know of them.”
She touched his chest, sliding her fingers down each curve of his abs.
“Delegate Sorn and Haen.” Darbe stared at Jack trying to evoke some reaction from him.”
“Father would like you to execute them after they are found guilty.”
Jack shot back at Darbe.
“So sure they’re guilty are you? No way am I going to take part in this bloodshed.”
Darbe turned her head away, then back as if making a point.
“That’s what I was afraid of. So I’ll be killing them for you instead. Oh, don’t worry Jack its not like I’m going to execute them in front of the Senate. Some unfortunate accident will occur on the way to their cyber freeze cell. After all, that’s how things get done around here. Much like Delegate Reynolds.”
Darbe played with Jack’s beige shirt.
Jack, Jack, Jack. When will you learn that this family is your new family. Feel your child growing inside me.”
Darbe put Jack’s hand on her lower belly. Jack pulled his hand away.
“I can wait a very long time for you to come around Jack. Besides, Father has a plan.”
Jack gently moved her hand from his lower midsection.
“What kind of plan?”
She gave off an evil gleam.
“Since we had problems with the implant, we’ve decided to reinstall a newer chip. One that makes you…
Let’s just say more, Agreeable.”
Jack had had enough, he steadied his mind. Jack took a deep breath and…
“There is no future without this marker.”
Suddenly, lunged himself towards the window. Marlow felt the tempered glass explode from his force. In his mind, everything seemed to slow down. His arm shielded his face from the razor-like edges of each moving sliver of glass. At the moment his thoughts were recalling each phase and course he had plotted while sitting in the window staring, calculating each strategic step of his escape. He saw everything clearly and unhindered. He twisted his body and saw the ledge below. Exactly three meters width by 1 depth. Jack flipped and landed on the edge. His hands gripped the sides of the building. He looked down and counted down from 10.
“Three… Two.. One.”
He leaped off of the ledge. It was not fate but logic that keeping him from slamming into the sidewalk at 60 mph. Jack counted as he fell through the air. As perfect timing would allow. The ATM was right on schedule and was directly under him. Jack lands on the top of the vehicle with a thud. He rolled on the metal surface to lessen the impact of his descent. He hugged the vehicle and watched darbe’s image in window became smaller and soon faded out of sight. The ATM was headed to the Numar district. The one place that had learned to call home over the years. Now, it would be his new hideout. The one place Jack knew the Alliance was to be found. If he located the NTT and the dealers, he inevitably would find the one man he had sworn in the first place to bring to justice. Now the tables had turned, and Jack would have to become an ally with Thomas Birch. The one man he truly despised in Megacity. Could be the one person who could possobly save him.