Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I take a moment, retreat into my thoughts and stew on everything that is out of my control. It’s hard to accept what we cannot change; I don’t think there is anyone alive who would disagree with that. Still, I can’t help but feel as if my whole life has been out of my control, and this scares me more than any gun pointed at my face.
Kyra is angry and it is understandable. I can only imagine what her thoughts and everyone else’s might be. The world out here is nothing like it was in there, and it’s frightening.
I take a couple of steps forward, then stop. I’m not sure what to say. What is there to say? I’ve never been good at public speaking.
The Major closes his eyes and for a brief second he looks mildly relieved. Garrick nods at something and then turns to Bullock, who looks like he could throw up at any moment.
The Major takes a seat and turns to the console in front of him. “I urge everyone to remain calm. In a few moments—”
“Who the hell are you?” James steps past Kyra. “And what is all this?”
Garrick shakes his head. “Obviously no one bothered to put manners in your tiny head.”
James turns to meet his gaze. “What did you just say?” He pauses. “Wait a minute, do I know you?”
Garrick smiles. “Not even a little.”
Without warning a bullet flies, a cold sting spreads through my shoulder, and it feels as if my body is as light as paper. I can move my arms but every attempt to reach out only lifts me higher, faster. Kyra lowers her weapon and looks more than a little satisfied. James fires at Garrick and suddenly there are helium bullets flying everywhere. The Major doesn’t look concerned. He doesn’t even flinch as a bullet hits him in the shoulder. “Enough of this.” He pushes off his seat. “You want to act like animals then we will treat you like them.”
The room goes silent as everyone realizes that neither the Major nor Garrick have begun their ascent towards the ceiling like I have.
The air smells stale as I reach out and grab one of the pipes sticking out from the wall. I can use it as a guide for the time being.
“That’s impossible.” Kyra shakes her head. “You’re not human.”
Garrick laughs and glances up in my direction. “Oh, we are human, we’re just too heavy to float away.”
I take a deep breath and follow the pipe until it dips down about three feet. Each time I try to pull myself down, it feels like I am fighting a force much heavier than my body weight.
Reverse gravity? Is that even a thing?
“Was that necessary?” The Major points up at me as I’m struggling to travel even a few inches towards the ground.
Kyra nods. “Call it payback.”
The Major sighs. “I’ll call it what I please, and from down here it looks rather petty.”
The lights flicker for a few seconds before they shut off entirely. I don’t know what’s happening below, but it sounds like nothing short of chaos.
More footsteps rush into the room, or perhaps out of it—I’m not one hundred percent sure. All I know is that my arms are beginning to tire as I try to hold on.
“Garrick.” The voice belongs to the Major. “Pacify.”
I let go of the pipe as the lights come back on. My eyes take a moment to adjust as my back hits the ceiling, and for a few seconds, it feels as if I’m exactly where I should be. Dozens of bodies lie face down on the ground, including James and Kyra. Scattered around the room are a few of the Major’s guards and large pockets of vapour which look like they are rising towards the ventilation system.
For a few seconds the air reeks of chemicals and then I feel my eyes getting heavy. There are words muffled below, but I can’t make them out. The sudden fatigue is too strong to resist.
***
I always get this strange pit deep in my gut whenever it feels like someone is watching me. I can’t explain it, but it’s some kind of defense mechanism. It smells like freshly baked muffins and whatever I am laying on is too soft to be the ceiling I remember being propped up against. I turn myself over onto something soft and carefully open my eyes. A bright stream of light slips through the slit exposed by the window.
My eyes take a moment to adjust, but when they do, they see the Major sitting in a chair looking down at some kind of screen in his wrist.
“My assignment should be concluded within the hour. Activate the Ocelot’s beacon and I will join you afterwards. Wait for my arrival.” He sounds irritated.
A woman’s voice responds. “I understand.”
He sighs. “Calista, I mean it. If this is as serious as you’re suggesting, the vendetta you’re on must be put on hold.”
“Fine, just get here quickly.” There’s an audible click, then the transmitter goes silent.
Garrick stands beside the Major with a bored expression on his face. “She’s actually asking for help. That’s a feat in itself.”
“At least you were smart enough not to make your presence known. That could have gone poorly.” The Major shakes his head. Anyway, don’t you have something more important to do? I don’t believe loitering is in your job description.”
Garrick ignores him and smiles as he notices I’m becoming aware of my surroundings. “Ah, there you are. Had a nice little nap?”
The Major turns to Garrick. “Byron, please. I’d prefer our conversation to be private.”
He nods. “Of course. I’ll be out in the hallway.”
The door creaks open then closes firmly behind Garrick, and for a moment there is only the hum from the dimmed lights overhead. I want to ask where I am, but I don’t get the chance.
“We’re still in the warren. It seems the facility had been hiding some nicer accommodations on the upper floors for staff.” He stands and walks over to the window. “The view is actually quite exquisite.”
I nod. “The power surge—”
He smiles. “The facility has been reset; everything is now under our control. That includes the defense systems.” I sit up a little too fast and have to steady myself—something the Major notices. “My apologies, the gas takes a few days to completely vacate the system. It was the best way to subdue all the subjects without harming them. The probability of hostilities continuing was a little too high for my liking.”
“You didn’t hurt them?”
He shakes his head. “Of course not. For the time being, they are being held in the interrogation rooms below. Until the two of us can reach an agreement, that is.”
“What kind of agreement?”
He shrugs. “Preferably an amicable one. I’ve seen far too much violence in my lifetime; I try to avoid it where possible.”
“Well, that’s—”
“But it’s not always possible. I learned that one the hard way.” The Major pulls the curtain aside and reveals clouds whiter than I have ever seen before. The sky above is a mixture of orange and purple. I don’t know why, but I’m speechless. It’s just so beautiful. “Petra?” He pauses. “Or would you still prefer 117?”
Everything slows down as I take in what is happening. It’s all so different. Are these the kinds of sights humans see every day?
I take a deep breath and look the Major in the eye. “Petra, please.”
He nods and takes a seat on the bed next to me. “Then you can call me Henry. I’d rather start these kinds of talks as friends rather than adversaries. Agreed?”
I nod. “Yes, that sounds fine to me.”
The light overhead emits a constant buzz, and I think this might be the closest to silence the room will allow. Despite the atmosphere, our interaction feels less like an interrogation and more like a complete conversation.
He smiles. “Now, I’m going to ask you a question, and how you answer will determine what is done with you and all of the subjects in this facility. Do you understand?” I know the question before he asks it. It’s been something I have meditated on for a while now. It is the concern underlying each of our exchanges before now. Who we are and how we live is dependent on this conversation. I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity. This isn’t a question that has a correct answer. “Are you a threat to humanity?”
“You seem to be a smart man, Henry. I think you know that the biggest threat to humanity will always be humans themselves. So…” I pause. “...the answer is very likely going to be yes.”
Neither of us says anything further for what feels like several minutes. It’s as if the silence is necessary to consider the words. After a while, Henry nods and presses several buttons on his forearm before pulling a cigar from his pocket. “You know, that might be the best answer I’ve ever heard.”
He reaches under his jacket, pulls out a lighter, and flips it open between his fingers. The flame ignites less than a second after he rolls the flint and the faint smell of burning fluid takes me back to a simpler time. I’m confident life won’t ever be that way again.