Episode 14: Freedom

(Room tone, food served, tea poured)

"Some story," says the man across the table from me. To say he's man is rather kind. Rather he is a ruthless hunter, if well-mannered. "But that doesn't answer the last question. What happened to the girl, C72? Thank you," he says to Zera, setting down the midafternoon cakes. Zera, now a young woman, bows as any slave might, her hair raven, shorn short like a man's, eyes sea-blue, and skin the shade of the sun-kissed.

"Good servant you got there. I suppose selling your limbs affords you some luxuries. He wrinkles his nose and gives me a thinly disguised look of disgust. I know how it must appear. Kal, the Virdi Inc. specimen, now relegated to a hover chair, both legs and an arm hacked off for cash. My blemished, drooping, and textured like topographical map from the exposure to the radiation all those years ago. I shrug, waving my hand, my only hand, at my home. A humble abode but rich in detail. Outside the rain hums a gentle tune, always falling, as was nearly always the case on Lillon 51H.

"So do you ever," he motions at Zera and makes a lewd motion, " you know." I give him an amused look, the kind he can interpret however he liked. For my part it was sadness at the world in which he lived. A free world but the wrong sort of freedom. The kind in which all was permissable, the kind which made a slave out a man to himself. Not the kind I had found in choosing Zera over myself. "Thats good. I admit, I often feel bad for those I hunt. Shits always so bad when Emog gets a hold of them I finding myself hoping they got some satidfaction out of life." Daintily wiping his lips the man rises from his seat, tucks in his chair, and cast me with a cold look, the kind that signiofies the pleasantries are at an end. "Now, will you come peacefully or will I have to use force."

"What can I do," I shrug. "I've long made my peace with my fate. Lead the way." Following after him, I lock eyes with Zera one last time. Tears shimmer at the edge of her eyes but god I am a proud father. She doesn't even shake. She is so strong. She gave me life, purpose, true love. I mouth the words: thank you. She mouths: I love you.

"Your service is at an end," I say loud enough for the bounty hunter to hear. " The time has come and the freedom is yours. I have left money in your accounts to do with as you wish. My things are in your name. Keep it, sell it, I care little. May we meet again."

We both know that will never happen. But one can hope.

Door shuts, sound of walking, another door opens.

Kal: (Echoey): "When I'm gone I won't be here to help. And besides my story, there are things you should learn, things only memory in water can teach. You're genome is open source after all. On the day they take me, then you may submerge, but not a moment sooner.

Water carries memory

Gentle thrum of machinery, music rises, computer opens, types, accepted, hybe chamber opens, climbs in, submerges, machine sound effect:

Kal: (Echoey) Child of my heart, you have shown me true freedom. THe kind to do what we ought to do. Know that I love you. I have protected you from this for far to long. But now you are on your own. It is time you learn your story and mine.

Water holds memory.

End