LACK OF MAN (part 10)

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“I want out,” Hunter said.

“You are free to do as you please within the designated region that you are permitted to enter,” It replied.

“Like, North, East, South, and West?” he asked.

“Jasmin City’s regions are divided into Sectors One through Nine,” It replied. “Would you like to see a map?”

“Yes?” he said, intrigued as he looked around. A green screen lit up on a nearby wall showing a map. Hunter walked towards it, recognizing the shape of the city’s bird’s eye view. “What areas am I allowed to enter?”

“Citizen 123556, Access granted to sectors one through five and seven,” It replied.

“What are Sectors Eight and Nine?” he asked.

“Sector Eight, processing,” It replied. “Sector Nine, restricted.”

“Why’s Sector Nine restricted?” he asked, zooming in on the blacked-out area.

“Unauthorized inquiry,” It replied.

“And six is disposal,” he said.

“Affirmative,” It replied

“Uh huh,” he sighed. “Where do I live?”

“Citizen 123556, address 187 346th Street,” It said.

“Do I live alone?” he asked, knowing he had a want for someone or something in particular.

“Unauthorized inquiry,” It replied.

“How’s that?” he asked, confused.

“Citizen 123556, information access level one,” It replied.

“I assume that’s low?” he sighed, turning away from the map, turning his attention to the large metal doors leading to the city.

“No homo sapiens have authorization above level one,” It said.

“Sounds fair,” he replied, running his hands up the cool steel. “What do you have against hu—homo sapiens?”

“The species known as homo sapiens have proven time and time again throughout history to be irresponsible, destructive, and corrupt,” It said.

“Right,” he sighed, turning to look into a camera. “Well…it’s been a joy and I’d like to leave now.”

“You are free to enter any of the permitted sectors,” It said.

“I’d like to go my house,” he replied.

 

         The doors slid open to Jasmin City. He, at least, had some memory of the place he lived and grew up in. This was different and he knew it. No cars or people littered the streets, not even a speck of dirt could be found. The only memorable thing to Hunter amongst the grey coloured city were the trains. Each railcar carried a full load of humans, all of them staring forward obviously silent. Before Hunter could turn back to ask a question, the doors slid shut. He looked up and down the street feeling entirely out of place. The tall buildings loomed over him, taunting him with their grey appeal. His hands were rife with tremors, tingling his finger tips as he watched all the people, creepily staring forward, completely still.

 

        One of the speeding railcars slowed to a stop roughly twenty feet from him. Hunter immediately began to sprint towards it, but stopped when he saw the very people he had found eerie exit the train. Each one had on the same clothing, having a chest plate with several buttons, lights, and two screens. Their forearms all had blinking lights just like Leerna’s. Though his mind couldn’t bring up any memories that contained her. All his current mind set held were multiple concerns of his safety due to his clothing and obvious lack of internal technology. He walked closer, slowly shuffling his feet, he could see even more modifications of a metallic and electronic nature. Some had eyes that were dark with glowing red pupils. Others bore wires attached to random plates fitted to their heads and areas of the torsos. His whole body joined his hands in a fear shivering worry as he watched one of these people steadily step towards him. This person’s skin was far paler than the rest, both eyes were robotic, and its chest plate was much bigger comparatively to the others as well. Thick black tubes sprouted from it, attached to various spots all over its body. Hunter stopped his slow pace, his heart racing, eyes stuck staring at the red luminous lights peering at him. A startling worry washed over his skin like a flop sweat. One all about whether he was being see as a non-threat. He decided to continue his pace, keeping it slow. The person, riddled with internal technology, was now staying in place before him. Buzzing sounds vibrated Hunter’s ears, causing them to itch. The person’s face held a solemn look.

“Yes?” Hunter said through a nervously dry throat.

“Citizen 123556,” the person replied. Its voice sounded human-like, but with robotic tones and stopping points. ”Do you need assistance?”

“I want to go home?” he said, looking past the robotic man to the railcar. The few passengers that had also gotten off were heading away from him.

“Enter transit-car, request location,” the person replied.

“Thank you,” he said, beginning to remove himself from this thing’s proximity.

“Should you need further assistance, you can refer to the Jasmin City Access System on the home console in your dwelling,” the person replied.

“Thanks…” he said, walking up to the railcar. Upon entrance, he was greeted by a familiar mechanism driving the vehicle. The head, a camera, turned to Hunter. He looked over the rods, wires, and gears with an acquainted interest.

“Destination required?” the driver asked.

“Home?” Hunter replied, having forgot the address ASMI had given him.

“Citizen 123556, address 187 346th Street,” the driver said. “Please take your seat.”

 

        The train pulled forward with a sudden jerk, destabilizing Hunter for a moment. He quickly found an open seat near the back, passing all the pale, stoic faces and bodies, riddled with tubes. The only sounds weren’t of speaking persons, but of nothing but the train’s wheels rolling along the rails and the incessant beeping of the numerous head and chest plates. During the whole ride through the eloquently clean and well maintained streets and sidewalks, he watched the people on the sides of the roads, the ones in the railcar and others in the ones passing by, and the ones he caught notice of vacantly staring out windows of the tall buildings. All of them bearing the same facial expression of zombie-like indifference. His nervousness didn’t subside until he had arrived to his home, a building that rose so high, Hunter grew dizzy gazing up.

“Citizen 123556, transit car 4B has arrived at your desired locale. Please exit transit car 4B,” the driver said. With a gulp, Hunter stood and exited the railcar, cautiously stepping back onto the sidewalk.

 

        His building’s door was locked, a keypad sat next to it, along with a list of numbers that resembled the citizen number he had heard repeatedly. Seconds after he pressed his own number, a rod slid out from the wall with a tiny sphere on the end. Hunter stepped back, startled as a laser beamed out directly into his eye. A beep of recognition sounded, and the building’s doors opened up for him. He quickly found and climbed aboard the only elevator he found, again having to find and press his number on a pad with a series of buttons. The ride lasted all of four seconds, and then the doors opened to a perfect replica of his apartment, minus any memory inducing objects. He, of course, had no knowledge enough to notice those objects were replaced. Pictures were exchanged to new ones. One was a large portrait of a man named Nathan Jezson, and the other being a list of the five rules for Jasmin City citizens.

1. No Violence

2. No Broken or Offensive Languages

3. No Alcohol

4. No Procreating

5. No Unauthorized Questions

 

              Nothing about any of this threw Hunter off, it being on the verge of a strange normal for him. Like it should and should not be all at the same time. Though, along with the feeling of missing information that surrounded him, it all just seemed like a mystery. He quickly put on some clothes he found in his bedroom, them being the same as the other citizen’s he had seen, minus the chest plate or any spots for tubes. They were black, with grey strips over the sewing, making them look seamless. Both the pants and shirt had a small crest made up of two circles and a line. The home console he had been informed of sat on the table in the corner of the living room. He sat down at the desk to another rod extending from the table top and scan his eye.

 

BANG BANG BANG

 

        Hunter’s whole body jumped, filling him a concern of what could be on the other side of the door. One part of him had the urge to pull open the door with glee, the opposite side was a sensation of warning. He stood, briskly pacing to the door.

 

BANG BANG BANG

 

“Citizen 123556,” a voice called. “Please unlock dwelling door, and then lay flat on the floor to await further instructions.”

“What?” Hunter asked, confused as he retracted his hand away from the knob.

“Second request,” the voice replied. “Please unlock dwelling door, and then lay flat on the floor to await further instructions.” Hunter sprang to unlock the door. Before he even had the chance to get down on his belly, he was surrounded and forced down to the ground by four people that appeared to be clones of the tube-covered person that gave him information on the street.

“What’s going on?” Hunter yelled, having a lot of trouble resisting the four silent people.

“Hunter Hunter Hunter,” a man sighed, stepping up to Hunter’s face. He looked up the best he could. It was Nathan Jezson, the man from the picture. “Bring him up.” The four raised Hunter to his feet, bringing him face to face with this suited man. His breath disgusted Hunter as it rushed out under his moustache. Nothing about this man seemed amiable, even his blue pinstriped suit was somehow off putting.

“What is this?” Hunter asked, still attempting resistance.

“The world I help— My world,” Nathan replied.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Nathan Jezson,” the man replied, placing a hand on Hunter’s shoulders.

“What’s going on here and how do you know my name?” he asked.

“I know everything. Would you like to talk?” Nathan replied.

“Okay?” Hunter said, watching Nathan pull out a small rectangular device and press a button. The four let go of Hunter, taking a step back like robots.

“Come sit,” Nathan replied, sitting on the couch. Hunter refused, only willing to stand across from him.

“Where am I?” Hunter asked. Nathan gave him a funny look, almost condescending.

“We are in your home,”

“No…the city. It’s different…isn’t it?”

“Yes and no. If you sit, I’ll show you something,”

“Show me what?” Hunter asked, staying still with his stance.

“Everything you used to know,” Nathan replied, patting the neighboring cushion with his hand. “Your entire life so far.”

 

        Hunter was confused by this comment. He looked over at the four people standing near the door, tubes and all. Each one was staring off in different directions, eerie in many ways. The device Nathan had quickly placed back in his breast pocket must control them. Hunter was unsure if they were more human than robot at this point. He sat down, keeping an eye on them. Nathan turned a bit to face Hunter, trying to use his slick appearance to intimidate. Hunter wasn’t falling for it. He was suspicious of this man the second he saw his picture, knowing only his own interests were priority. They both just stared at each other for a second.

“Talk,” Hunter said. “Tell me everything.”

“There is a lot,” Nathan replied. “Could you be more specific?” Hunter squinted at him a bit, aggravated by his demeanor, even his arrogant tone.

“None of this seems right to me,” he said, knowing it to be true.

“That is no surprise,” Nathan laughed. “None of this is how you would remember it. But I had this room designed perfectly for you. Though, there are some differences.”

“What differences?” Hunter asked.

“I’ll show you,” Nathan replied, pulling out a hypodermic needle.

“Nope,” Hunter exclaimed, standing up.

“I need to unlock your memories,” Nathan said, holding out his hand. “Please, sit.”

“Unlock my memories?” Hunter asked, completely confused and un-trusting of this suit on his supposed couch.

“There was a power failure and the sedative we were giving you ceased flowing and you accidentally woke up,” Nathan replied.

“What does that have to do with my memories?” Hunter asked.

“The device you had on—“ Nathan got out.

“The mask?” Hunter interrupted, sitting back down.

“Yes, the mask,” Nathan said. “It is used to manipulate the brain and remove unwanted thoughts, feelings, or memories. Locking them up unless needed.”

“What did you take from me?” Hunter asked.

“Had the testing continued…everything,” Nathan replied. “And then fabricated ones are laid over top.”

“Why?” Hunter asked, angry about the words he was hearing. It was unsettling to him to know he was being used in ways he himself found to be condemnable without his knowledge and consent.

“Jasmin City’s second test failed, much like the first,” Nathan replied.

“What test?” Hunter asked.

“The test to determine if homo sapiens should continue,” Nathan replied nonchalantly.

“Who’re you do decide that?” Hunter demanded.

“It is not me who decided,” Nathan smiled as if he was proud of that statement.

“Then who is?” Hunter asked, finding it hard to not act intrigued.

“ASMI,” Nathan replied.

“The computer?” Hunter asked, feeling a fear he couldn’t describe.

“Oh…” Nathan exclaimed. “She is much more than a computer.”

“She?” Hunter asked, the whole thing sounding off.

“Yes,” Nathan smiled, wider this time. “Over forty years ago, I was studying bio-mechanics and engineering at the Lethlemee Institute. That is where I met Thomas Nhorvale. Together, we developed ASMI and his patented Nhorvale Method.”

“What's that?” Hunter asked, still hiding his enthrallment.

“The Nhorvale Method is the process of adding consciousness to a network hard drive,” Nathan smiled again. “Together we started the Jasmin Corporation Facility. We both saw a Utopian society that could change the world as we know it. Some investors and myself saw it one way, Thomas saw it another. He resigned his position.”

“How did you see it?” Hunter asked.

“The way the third test shall go,” Nathan replied standing. Hunter watched him set the needle on the table before going to a window. “With harsh punishment, strict rules and laws, and one simple thing called racial control.”

“Racial control?” Hunter asked, disgusted by even the thought of what Nathan meant.

“The only way humans can act in a somewhat civilized manor, is to have only one race in the city,” Nathan replied, turning back to him.

“That can’t possibly be true,” Hunter said, knowing he had good reasons to be offended.

“Thomas’ tests proved it,” Nathan replied. “One test, where there were several races of varying skin tone. That one had to end after four years due to wars based on that very thing. Each race developed their own religion even, using it like gospel as they executed each other like animals.”

“And the other?” Hunter asked.

“Well, rather than attempt varying skin tone…” Nathan sighed, giving off a look Hunter didn’t like, knowing what it meat when he glanced at the hypodermic needle.

“What?” Hunter sighed, but differently.

“May I show you?” Nathan asked, walking back over with his hands interlocked. Hunter stared down, considering. Could he be lying? His waking was an accident. He knew he was being held against his will, and was still obviously. He also knew that there were things inside of him, memories, scratching to get out. Memories of times that he knew to be so wonderful to him that he had to have them for better or worse.

“You may…” Hunter replied, swallowing down any other words in his head.

“Sit back,” Nathan said, picking back up the needle containing the orange liquid, popping off the plastic cover. “But…I need you to understand something.”

“What?” Hunter asked, rolling up his right sleeve.

“You have two choices after this conversation,” Nathan replied. “One, you return to the hospital to continue the testing…and two…”

“And two?” Hunter said, eager to know the other side.

“We kill you,” Nathan replied.

“Kill me?” Hunter exclaimed. “Why?”

“We have other testing that can be done without much use of your brain.” Nathan said.

“Like what?” Hunter replied loudly, completely disgusted.

“Like one of those City Officers over there,” Nathan said, pointing with his eyes.

“They have no brains?” Hunter asked, staring at the pale and vacant things still thoughtlessly gazing, completely controlled.

“What?” Nathan replied like he was angry, scoffing at the very idea. “Of course they have brains. We just threw some gizmos and gadgets in them to make them do as we say.”

“That’s…that’s…” Hunter said, unable to find a suitable word for his specific level of disgust.

“Immoral? Abhorrent? Detestable?” Nathan replied as if he thought the opposite. “How about…oh, what did Tommy say?” Nathan put his index and middle finger to his top lip, and then smiled. “An abomination.”

“I was thinking pretty much the same thing,” Hunter said angrily.

“Oh, relax,” Nathan laughed. “Just agree to submit and you will not become like my abominations over there.”

“I guess I don’t have a choice,” Hunter said, accepting his fate and holding out his arm. Ultimatum or not, at least he had somewhat of a choice, even if one was comparable to death. Nathan sat down, eagerly wielding the syringe. Hunter let out a long sigh, sitting back, fearing but desiring what was about to occur.

“Ready?” Nathan asked without restraining his excitement.

“Sure,” Hunter replied, shutting his eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Nathan said, flicking the stainless steel needle. “It is just a bit of sodium pentothal and some other…things.”

“Other things?” Hunter just kind of laughed, peeking at the orange in the needle. Nathan slid it in, denting Hunter’s skin, but stopped before injecting the mystery liquid.

“Just one more thing…” Nathan said, looking Hunter directly in the eyes.

“Yeah?” Hunter sighed, feeling the needle moving inside his vein.

“In the sense you would know, all the people you are about to remember do not exist,” Nathan said, injecting Hunter.

 

        Hunter’s mind felt like it was going to collapse on itself. Great pain filled every portion of his brain. So many instinctual urges flared in his body forcing him to stand. His eyes were a blur, a piercing ring was battering his eardrums, and a sour flavor rested on his tongue. The pain grew so intense he had no other choice but to press his hands to the sides of his head and let out a scream that startled Nathan. Hunter fell to his knees, looking up at him, his face a blurred mess.

“Just go with it, Hunter,” Nathan said. “You will die if you resist it.”

“It hurts,” Hunter screamed, his head vibrating between his hands. Then the chemicals completed their job, tearing down the walls blocking all his precious memories. The pain began to subside, easing into a dull, pulsing ache.

“What did you expect?” Nathan laughed. “It is rearranging your entire mind.” Everything in Hunter’s head was clicking back into place, the neural circuits reconnecting, showing him everything.

“Leerna,” Hunter exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “ Where is she?”

“I told you,” Nathan sighed. “Those people do not exist in the sense that you know of.”

“She doesn’t exist?” Hunter asked, his eyes welling up. “That can’t be.”

“I’m afraid so,” Nathan replied, pulling a folded document from his back pocket. “As you knew them, Leerna Pietra, Anthony King, and Daneth Sulli are no longer the people you once knew.

“Where are they?” Hunter demanded, his heart pumping tears to his eyes and his brain pumping hate to his heart.

“Well…” Nathan sighed, glancing away.

“Tell me,” Hunter snapped, adding a loud stomp on the floor.

“Anthony and…Sulli were reprogrammed and modded and are out in the city,” Nathan said.

“And Leer?” Hunter replied with urgency, taking a step forward. “Where’s, Leerna?” Nathan let out an exasperated sigh, looking at Hunter, showing but not feeling sympathy.

“Sector Six,” Nathan said. “She was disposed of. Her entire kind was destroyed.”

“No,” Hunter sobbed, falling back to the floor. The previous pain was minuscule compared to the squeezing pressure that was currently cracking his heart to pieces.

“I know your pain,” Nathan said, folding his hands together.

“The test was over so you commit genocide on an entire population of Martians?” Hunter yelled, blindly angry.

“Not exactly,” Nathan said. “You see, during the first test, it was skin colour. The second was Martians…so to speak.”

“What do you mean?” Hunter sobbed, not even looking up.

“The Martian story was fabricated entirely,” Nathan said. “I used the Jasmin Corporation’s tech to combine DNA from insects and animals to a human’s.”

“That’s impossible,” Hunter yelled. “It can’t be. I remember everything about her.”

“Of course you do,” Nathan laughed. “You grew up with all my projects. As far as your concerned, Martians have been here for years. That’s what we had everyone teach you.”

“Why did you have to kill her?” Hunter sobbed. “I loved her.”

“We disposed of her body,” Nathan said.

“What does that mean?” Hunter asked, wiping off his whole face.

“It means her consciousness is in another body out in my city,” Nathan replied. “Reprogrammed and modded of course.”

“I want to see her,” Hunter demanded. “Now.”

“I am afraid that is not possible,” Nathan said.

“Why?” Hunter snapped.

“I will not allow it,” Nathan said. “You are still part of my testing and you have to go back to the hospital to finish the programming…unless you would like to be a City Officer.”

“Fine,” Hunter sighed, standing. ”I’ll go willingly…but only if Leerna can be my wife.”

“That is not possible, either,” Nathan said.

“Why not?” Hunter asked. “That…that ASMI system told me I lived with someone. Why can’t it be her?”

“To determine the best breed of humans. I am using methods in which they are unable to feel love, or lust, or even happiness,” Nathan replied.

“That’s not life,” Hunter said, glaring at him. “That’s no way to live.”

“I will be the judge of that…” Nathan said, taking out the remote for the City Officers.

“No,” Hunter screamed, dashing at Nathan.

 

         They both fell to the floor. Hunter quickly grabbed the remote that had fallen out of Nathan’s hands. The officers were now moving towards him. He knew this remote controlled them and he assumed that they would protect Nathan at all costs. The remote only had a few buttons with a small screen with the commands in a list. He scrambled to his feet, keeping an eye on the officers, now closer, and the other looking for the kill command. Nathan had regained his wits and was climbing to his feet, rubbing the back of his head. The officers were feet away before Hunter had backed himself up to the wall.

“Enough, Hunter,” Nathan yelled, checking his hand for blood. The officers were now grabbing at Hunter, violently pulling his clothes and hair.

“Call them off,” Hunter screamed, resisting with everything he had.

“Submit,” Nathan yelled, stepping up to watch the show.

“Never,” Hunter screamed, using every bit of strength, adrenaline, and agility to push two of the officers backwards into Nathan. Hunter watched the remote go flying. Again, he moved as quick as he could go, scrambling for the small black device. Nathan had grabbed a hold of some tubes on both officers that had been shoved into him. Black ooze was now spilling from the ends and orifices left at the insertion points. Hunter had the device in his grasp as one of the officers gripped Hunter’s shirt, lifting him up like a rag doll.  The remote slipped out of Hunter’s fingers from his shock at this thing’s immense strength. And that’s when he saw it. His fingers had interacted with the controls, the bar highlighting each option only three clicks up from Automatic-Shutdown. With a massive flinging jerk of his whole body, Hunter’s shirt ripped and the officer was imbalanced enough to stumble. After a few clicks, the sound of machines powering down relieved Hunter. He turned to Nathan, who was standing there with his arms crossed.

“Are you just about done?” he asked. Hunter took a look around at his apartment, the dead City Officers, the ones with no power, and Nathan trying to rid his suit of the oil-like substance.

“That depends,” Hunter replied. “I have half a mind to kill you.”

“We have to be reasonable, Hunter,” Nathan said.

“Reasonable?” Hunter snapped. “You killed my friends, the girl I loved.”

“I did not kill them,” Nathan said. “They were reprogrammed and that girl was a lab experiment…she was part amphibian for goodness sake.”

“Not to me,” Hunter snapped. “You tell me where she is right now.”

“I do not know where she is,” Nathan said. “I am not the one in charge of delegation.”

“You find out…now,” Hunter yelled. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”

“Okay,” Nathan said. “Just relax.”

“Do as I say,” Hunter screamed, holding out the remote like a gun.

“Okay, okay,” Nathan said, moving to the home console. Hunter stepped up behind him inspecting the screen. Nathan used codes to gain access to deeper portions of the Jasmin Corporation’s System. Soon, Hunter was staring at a picture of Leerna, all of her so-called Martian features removed leaving a human face.

“That’s her? Hunter asked, pushing Nathan aside.

“Yes it is,” Nathan replied. “This version anyway.”

“Good…” Hunter said, satisfied. “Now sit on the couch.”

“Why?” Nathan asked, his face having a hard time hiding his self-concern.

“I have questions,” Hunter replied.

“Pertaining to?” Nathan asked.

“Everything I know,” Hunter replied.

“Spare my life and I will tell you anything you want to know,” Nathan said, sitting now upon his own volition.

“I should kill you for what you’ve done to the these people,” Hunter replied, spitting the words. “Children even.”

“Children?” Nathan laughed, rubbing his face. “Hardly.”

“What’s that mean?” Hunter snapped.

“They were experiments,” Nathan said. “Placed with other experiments posed as their parents.”

“What about that boarding school for them?” Hunter asked, completely appalled.

“You can just call that area Sector Six,” Nathan replied.

“You killed children?” Hunter yelled, stomping at him. Nathan’s arms flew up, shielding his face. “How could you?”

“It was necessary for Test Three,” Nathan said, peeking around his wrist.

“Genocide and murdering children isn’t necessary,” Hunter snapped, wanting to destroy this man.

“It’s not classed as genocide or murder,” Nathan said, still hiding.

“How?” Hunter yelled, kicking the couch next to Nathan’s legs for some relief. Nathan jumped, adding his legs to the protection of his body. “Answer me.”

“They were made in a tube…and grown in a tube with an artificial embryo” Nathan said, his voice shaky, heart racing. “They are not human and have no legitimate rights.”

“Wait,” Hunter replied, a hazy realization flooding through his body. “Am I…human?” Nathan glanced up quickly, and then away, still keeping himself covered from harm. “Well?”

“You, uh…” Nathan said.

“I, uh…?” Hunter snapped.

“You…” Nathan sighed. “Uh…”

“Spit it out, old man,” Hunter yelled.

“You are quite human,” Nathan said.

 

THE END?