The Game 55
Edited by Karen Leigh
There was no way Phoenix was going to share the extent of his intentions with this woman. She might understand but she would never approve. "Our first concern is the alien threat." The world had to be secured before it could be put on the correct path. "There are several weapons... the Mac 27s are only the most obvious of the tools." His knuckles skimmed over damp, heated flesh.
"I need a communications server. The equipment hardwired into the building has proven ineffective. It isn't performing the job properly. I need one of the portable servers." Phoenix nuzzled near Marita's ear. "You met with Mac 27 One. If you could tell me where he is... if not I'll have to see about accessing and activating Number Two."
The last thing normal vision saw was a frown on Marita's lovely face. Near silence and darkness fell without warning. A few small pieces of equipment still worked. One of the computer monitors offered up a glimmer of illumination on the far side of the lab. The faint slosh of liquid was suddenly something they could hear.
"Interesting choice of tactics." Phoenix flipped his visuals over to another frequency. "Stay still Marita. I need to check the door." He pulled away with a passing caress. "Someone is outside."
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A rustle of cloth almost covered the sound of Wraith's quiet command. "Draw your gun, Tom." Reaching back, he tugged Hobbes' fingers loose from his belt and with a firm press on the shorter man's shoulder, indicated that Tom should stand with his back to the wall. "Don't move." Wraith breathed softly into the other's ear. "I don't want to mix you up with someone else."
The door to the laboratory was just a little ways ahead. Not far beyond that portal Wraith's infrared vision picked up two figures.
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Marita stood, hurriedly shrugging back into her clothing as Phoenix walked towards the door.
Please, let that be Wraith, she thought. As time went on she had become less and less sure of Phoenix's naivet, and now she felt that she had been the naive one.
[Well, don't sell yourself too short. He was raised for this.]
Still, she couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness at the way Phoenix had been raised, to be a spy, a saboteur - and to use his sexuality as a weapon. Not so different than herself, she mused, but at least she had had something of a choice in the matter.
Even now, she was by turns awed at dismayed at her ability to go from being in the throes of genuine passion to being all business, and as she finished dressing by putting on her jacket, she sighed.
Hobbes couldn't see a thing it was so... so... so DARK. He had to trust Wraith, had to place his life in the man's hands. He shivered slightly when he felt Wraith's breath on his ear as he listened to him. Hobbes could only nod as he felt a tingle of excitement shoot through him.
He seemed to hold his breath till he heard the door open. He heard voices and movement and he turned his blond head in that direction. He STILL couldn't see but the smell of sex hit him hard. So Marita did the same... cheated on her husband with another. This marriage thing between the two... he didn't understand.
Walking towards the door, her hand automatically brushing her jacket pocket, she smiled. "Who is it?" Marita asked in a professional tone. "Under whose authority are you here?"
When she saw who it was, she felt the burn of a threatened blush, but she had been schooled not to let her face betray her years ago, so she felt only the sensation.
"Wraith," she said, smiling broadly. "You came..."
She cut her eyes to the blond man with him. She remembered him.
"Thomas Hobbes," she said, with a nod.
"The compound has been breached." Wraith didn't bother with social niceties. "Extreme security measures have been put into action." A small amount of light came from the computer screens in the lab but it wouldn't pierce the gloom of the hallway. "You, Mac 27." Wraith indicated Marita's bodyguard. "Patrol the length of the corridor. I heard movement out there. Disable any intruders and bring them to me. Kill or deactivate anything that can't be disabled safely."
Wraith gazed down at the nearest of the still active screens. His nose wrinkled at the instructions still visible on the monitor. "These commands might be a bit premature, Marita, but it is your choice."
"Marita would like to defer control," Phoenix cut in. His hand shot out, tapped a key and the information on the screen vanished. "She wishes you to take your instructions from me, Wraith. I have more information on the situation. She correctly believes that I am better equipped to deal with command under this set of circumstances." Phoenix caught up a jack and a wire from the pile of gear on the desk. "Please turn your head and allow me access."
Wraith's head raised in surprise. The low light shadowed his face, cloaking the signs of betrayal. "Is this true, Marita?"
Marita looked at Phoenix, alarmed. "No, it is not true," she said, icily, looking him fully in the face. "This... boy... is more than what he seems. I was wrong earlier, Wraith."
She said, never taking her gaze off of Phoenix, "I had thought that he might... join us willingly. But now it appears he's not a team player. But," she added, "we need him. He has knowledge of things we need to know."
She smiled sweetly at Phoenix. "Sorry, little buddy. I'm not as naive as you think, either."
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Pendrell's eyes caught sight of the new visitors...recruits he thought. Exactly what he needed. He floated down the ramp to lay claim to them. Of course, they were there to fight the good fight!
One of them was a Mac 27 and the other was a most interesting female. Ricky poked his head back out of the ship and yelled, "Jess, glad you made it. You better get in here. We are about to go where no man has gone before."
Jess arched one eyebrow, making a face. "What the hell are you talking about, Ricky?"
One smiled at the young human's enthusiasm and said, "No, it's just the solar system, but all the same, it will be new to us. Come up, Jess. I'll try to explain. Things seem to be taking a new turn, an interesting one. We have a chance to fight the aliens on their own turf."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jess shook her head in disbelief. "We're taking the fight to them? Outer space? Doesn't that strike you as a tad suicidal? Besides, my fighting style is better for hand to hand combat." She looked over at Sasha, frowning sadly. "And I can't leave without setting things right with Johnny. Leigh doesn't know half of what he needs to know to survive. And Roy..." She wasn't exactly sure what she felt about Roy. She barely knew him, but the thought of leaving him behind hurt. "I'm sorry. I'll take a message back to the temple for you, but I don't think I can come with you."
~Leigh, are you getting this. A spaceship and One is planning to take off in it.~
~Get out of there now. Alexei is triangulating with Sasha. We are on our way to you.~
Having seen that she couldn't persuade One not to take off on what she considered a foolhardy plan, Jess and Sasha had retreated back into the tunnels. "Stubborn android," she muttered under her breath.
"Determined," was Sasha's calm response. "But then you should know what he's talking about better than most humans."
"Maybe. But even if I did fully agree with his comments on humanity, I'm not going to run away into outer space." She sighed. "Come on, let's get out of here before that ship takes off." Finding another door, Jess watched with admiration as Sasha picked the lock. Passing through the door, they found themselves in the basement of a building. "Sasha, any idea where we are?"
The android grew very quiet. "Innobotics basement. The last place I want to be. Alexei is heading this way. I have warned him to stay back and wait. We should go--"
"Shhh!" Jess hissed, voice barely audible to her own ears. "There's someone down here with us."
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David left Sypher to her confrontation with Mac Smith. He had no interest in hearing any more of what One had told the other Mac 27 unit. It could only add to the pain that his emotive processors were generating and he lacked the strength to bear anymore. When he had a quiet moment, he would see about taking the emotive systems off line for a time.
As he crossed the room, he began the process of closing himself off from the Mac 27s who were to accompany One. They had no need of two communications servers. To maintain contact would only confuse the issue. That was his story and David was sticking with it. His actions had nothing whatsoever to do with eliminating chance encounters with One's consciousness. Nothing whatsoever.
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David was shutting down--putting himself out of contact with One, and by extension Sypher herself. She suddenly found herself without the comfort of David's presence, for the first time in what seemed like forever, and it stunned her into letting go of Mac Smith. The pain of it, so intense that it threatened to drive her to her knees, clenched her heart hard and she tore blindly from the room; searching for someplace to hide...someplace safe, where she could dream and never have to wake up to the reality of being alone again. Mac Smith quickly followed and stood in her way.
Leaving. They were all leaving. Everybody was always leaving...even Mama; who hadn't been able to deal with the terrible secret knowledge that she was a prisoner in a world of illusion...Mama, who had claimed to love her more than her own life, but couldn't love her enough to stay and leave the Matrix with her...Mama, floating in the bathtub, surrounded by blood-red water...oh, gods...
There was a noise, and she slipped out of bed on tiny feet to investigate. Maybe he was here to take her away like Mama had promised.
Mama?
Hush, Martainne. Go back to bed, now.
Soft hands gently caressing her face, still chubby with baby fat. Mama is warm and soft and comforting and she is safe.
Mama, he's coming for me, isn't he? He's coming to take me out. Then we'll be free and won't have to pretend anymore unless we want to, right?
This is happy news, a good thing to the child and she wonders why her mama looks so very sad.
Yes, baby, he's coming for you. He'll be here very soon.
How soon, Mama?
Very, very soon, baby. Anytime now, which is why you have to go back to bed. You'll need your rest.
But I'm not sleepy. Can't I stay up and wait? I'll be so good, Mama...
NO! Go back to bed!
Mama's voice suddenly too sharp and loud, and she shrinks back, afraid.
I'm sorry, Mama.
Small, whispered child's voice.
I'll be good. I promise.
Lower lip quivering as she turns back toward her own bedroom, but something isn't right, and she tries one more time...
Mama? May I sleep with you then? I can sleep better with you.
Mama doesn't let her do that anymore, hasn't for a long time; telling her that she needs to be a big girl now and show the monsters that she isn't afraid...but this time she relents with a kiss and a very tight hug that feels like it might break something in the fragile child body.
Of course, sweetie. Go snuggle down into the bed, and I'll be there in a little while, okay?
The child runs eagerly to the bedroom and does as she's told; waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and suddenly she's awakened by a presence watching her--not threatening, but not her Mama and she sits up to rub fists in her eyes sleepily.
Mama?
No, Martainne. I've been looking for you for a long time now. Do you know who I am?
Deep rich voice washing over her and she trusts him, but is shy without Mama here to protect her. She nods, wide-eyed.
It's time to go, little one.
She looks around him to the doorway, but doesn't find the person she expects to see there.
Where is my Mama? She's coming too.
His face is suddenly very sad.
No, little one; she is not.
Why?
You must hurry now. They're coming for you, and they cannot find us here.
The child is suspicious now, and frowns at him.
I want to see my Mama. I want to see her now. She has to tell me it's okay.
You can't. She isn't here. But you already know it's okay. We have to go, Martainne.
A lie...she can sense it, and darts out of the bed to go past the older girl with the white-blond hair. She is seized roughly by the arm and bites the offending hand, off like a shot before she can be stopped; calling out and spying the closed bathroom door.
Mama...Mama, they said you're not going...
...and the door swings open, and Mama is there, taking a bath; but it's weird...it isn't right, the water is so red and Mama doesn't have stuff to make the water red, does she...and her eyes are closed, like she's asleep, but she was supposed to sleep with her and the child goes over to the tub and shakes the too-pale, too-still form.
Mama...he's come to take me, take us...Mama?
And then she can see them--the gaping slits at the wrists; and she's not sure, but the outline of her legs near the ankles looks kind of funny too, and the smell, oh gods the smell, and she's shaking the body harder in panic. No, Mama wouldn't leave her; Mama promised she'd always be there...
Mama? Mama, please...wake up, he's here to take us...Mama please...Mama please...
Voice going ever higher in panic and red stuff sticky on her hands now and she's suddenly grabbed from behind and carried away kicking, biting, scratching and screaming...the sight of her mother's lifeless body burned forever into her mind...
On her knees now, Sypher was panting hard and staring blindly at nothing as the memories whirled past her in brilliant Technicolor. Red...there was so much red, everything was bathed in it; and the sudden feel of a hand on her shoulder had her launching herself at the offender, snarling and spitting as she went for whatever vulnerable part she could find to make someone hurt...make them bleed the way she was bleeding right now, great rivers of pain roaring from her soul.
Marcus and Johnny arrived shortly after David left the room to find Mac Smith alone with Sypher. At the sight of Marcus/2068 she turned from Mac Smith.
Sypher exploded at him, there was no other way to describe it; all fury and anger and pain that was a red haze over her every thought. He scrambled back as far as the narrow space would allow, confused and grateful that Johnny now had her arms pulled back behind her; sticking straight out to allow her own weight to hang from them and keep her immobile as her hands flexed uselessly in rage. "Don't hurt her," he told the other android anxiously, "she isn't herself right now," which was vastly understating the situation. At this particular moment, Sypher was little more than an animal, in great pain and very dangerous to herself and everyone else and it was frightening.
"I know what I'm doing. I won't hurt her, Marcus," Johnny said softly. He was used to have to restrain violent werewolves, and knew tricks that would allow him to hold her unharmed until she was herself again
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By the time he'd reached Luke, David had made excellent progress in redefining his communications links. Tapping Luke on the shoulder, David briefly explained One's alternative plan and suggested that they include information on the specified rendezvous points and timing in their transmissions to Mac 27s who were not yet in the compound or part of One's contingent.
As he'd anticipated, Luke's eyes lit up at the idea of space travel. A gasp from behind him suggested to David that Ryan Simms was less sure of the matter than his Mac 27 lover was.
"I'll transmit the ... alternative to the Mac 27 units in the compound, Luke," David muttered. "Focus on those who remain scattered to the four winds, please."
The former farm unit looked up quickly, but David turned away before he could see the question in his eyes. Cursing silently and quite creatively, David vowed to immediately dampen his emotive responses to keep his ... feelings out of his voice. Before he could act, he found himself face-to-face with a tension-filled Ryan Simms.
"He's taking them ... I mean you ... into space?"
David could see that the human who wasn't a clone was hoping that he'd heard incorrectly. "Yes. He fears that there is no future for us here. That humans will never accept us, even if we fight by their side or in their stead as we were designed to do."
"What about the clones?"
"They can go, if they wish. Yourself as well."
Ryan stared at David for a long moment. "Not you?"
David stiffened. "I am redundant. One saw to that."
Realizing that he'd failed miserably to keep the bitterness hidden, David moved to push past the human. Ryan caught his arm. "It's better than being useless."
Puzzled, the android stated, "You are not useless. I've told you that."
"Yeah, I'm not a clone. That's great. But what can I do on a spaceship?"
"Something the others cannot."
Ryan tentatively queried, "In ... in space?"
"Why not?" The human wanted to believe. David could see that. Facing Ryan with a neutral expression, David added, "Your uniqueness, to be most useful, should travel with the main group."
Nodding slowly, Ryan looked back at Luke.
David turned away. The human had accepted the explanation. What use would the truth have been? What good had the truth done him?
Transmitting information regarding One's plan to the Mac 27 units in the compound, David slipped out of Skip's office. He would face Sypher later -- when he'd had time to process the emotive output and ...forget.
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"You're NOT a lot of things, Ms Covarrubias... including what Wraith thinks you are... or what he needs." Phoenix turned to the newcomers. "She's misled you, Wraith." His tone was on the edge of frantic. "She's taking you in the complete wrong direction. Marita is using you to sell out the entire human race and everything you've spent the last seven years working for." The young man took a step closer to Wraith and Hobbes. "If you continue to support her the entire world will suffer."
Hobbes notably took a step closer to Wraith as he listened to this boy who looked just like his lover... or whom he wished would be his lover. Damn how he wished Pinocchio were here. He would take control of this situation, would know what to do.
Wraith's head shook once, abruptly. "Marita is my wife. She knows what's best for everyone and I'm going to help her achieve her goals."
Hobbes winced slightly. His fears coming true.
"YOUR WIFE? Is that what she told you?" Phoenix put on his best expression of shocked innocence. "What a massive lie. You don't have a wife. You never have. Loren Faber never did. Loren preferred men. Marita never even met you before the Consortium pulled you out of that car wreck and turned you into Wraith. I doubt she exchanged more than twelve words with you that weren't business related in all the time you've been serving the Consortium and Innobotics." The words came out in desperate, breathless rush. "The only man Marita Covarrubias ever cared about was Alex Krycek. She adores Krycek..." That statement drew a satisfying bristle of anger from Wraith. "...but he knew enough not to let her near him. She'll take whatever you achieve... and offer control up to Krycek as soon as she has the chance in hopes of Krycek's affections." Eyes wide, his disbelieving stare shifted to Marita. "How could you do this to Wraith?"
Hobbes threw a glance at her as well, seeing her seething over the boy's words only seemed to confirm the was telling the truth. But Hobbes wondered. Inga Fossa lied so well to him and Pinocchio, was this boy or even Marita doing the same?
It almost looked as if the beautiful woman was going to throw herself across the divide and tear into him. Phoenix shifted onto the balls of his feet. He had no intention of fighting back if Marita attacked despite his skills but fully intended to retreat to Wraith and Hobbes for protection. He was after all, just a harmless boy, barely out of his teens... to the eyes anyway.
"Look in the files you hacked Wraith. Marita is dangerous. One of the Consortium's finest agents. You don't want to follow her lead. Better you should trust... your friend there... or even me... not her."
Hobbes threw a glance at Wraith, noting the expression on his face. He could see the confusion building behind those green eyes. He had told Wraith the same things, in his words earlier to him, he had also hoped they were not true about Marita, but it seemed like they were. But still, who was he to trust. So far the only one in the room he could really trust was Wraith. And whom would Wraith believe?
The soldier at his side laid a consoling hand on Wraith's shoulder. The confusion on the assassin's face was nectar sweet. Wraith needed guidance. That was the fail-safe in his design that would normally keep him from seizing control or turning on his masters and Phoenix was ready and waiting to jump in and offer it.
Hobbes slowly turned his gaze to Marita, blue eyes penetrating her with sternness. Hobbes moved slightly in front of Wraith as if to protect him for both these people, throwing words of trust and mistrust. "I want to know," he started, "Who is using who here?" He glanced over at the young boy. "How do we know either of your words are true? I don't. And this must be resolved now. There is a threat outside those doors and we must all know what sides we fight on. I know my side... it is with Wraith. That I know he can believe and trust."
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