Read Rising: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction Online
Authors: Norman Christof
Rising: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction
Rising
Parables From The Apocalypse
Book Five
Written by
Norman Christof
Published by Digital Storm Solutions Inc.
This is a work of fiction. If you find any similarities to real people, places, events or planets you're sadly mistaken.
© 2014 Norman Christof / Digital Storm Solutions Inc.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
Author Info at
http://NormanChristof.com
Also by Norman Christof
Parables From The Apocalypse
For me.
Cover Photo Credits
Table of Contents
Freedom
Leekasha furiously paced back and forth in the lobby of Fort Knox. “Damn it, Chambers! I’m the closest thing you have to the second coming of the messiah, and you want to keep me locked up in some archaic old vault. What is wrong with you people? What is it that you’re all so scared of?”
“Well, there is that little issue of the killing spree you went off on not that long ago,” the general replied. “My bosses wanted you locked up for good for that.”
“You know they’re complete idiots, right? Either that, or they just don’t believe I’m capable of doing the things I can do. They do understand what I can do, right?”
“I assure you, Leekasha, those that need to know about your abilities are well informed on the matter. It’s a complicated matter, and we need time to work things out with you.”
“It’s been three months, Chambers. Three months since I’ve been stuck in this place working with your lab rats, answering their questions and performing their little made up tests. How much convincing do you need that I’m not a threat to anyone? I’m not the psychotic that Andreas was. If anything, I’m quite the opposite.”
“There’s more to it than just that, and I believe you. I really do. But, it’s not just about you being a model citizen. There are people with a vested interest in the way things work now. What you and others like you represent is a radical shift in the way of life not only in the Americas, but in the entire world. Nobody knows what to do with you. Of course they’re scared. It’s their job to consider the worst-case scenarios. I think actually, they enjoy it.”
“General, you know full well if I want to walk out of here, there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“I really hope you won’t do that, Leekasha. We’ve come a long way here, and we just need you to be patient a little longer. The negotiations are progressing nicely, and we should have approval shortly to start releasing other zombies from the Pacize drug.”
“You know I really don’t need any such approval? I could walk out of here and start releasing zombies every day. It’s by my choice that I’ve agreed to play by your rules. It’s been my choice that I let you perform tests and bide your time with negotiations to placate your higher ups. The fact is, I don’t need permission from any of you to do anything. It’s all been my choice. I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation.”
“You know full well why we’re having this conversation, Leekasha. It’s got nothing to do with needing my permission to walk outside these walls. Like you said, you’re more than capable of doing just that. Guilt is the only thing that’s keeping you here, and I know that. You feel responsible for those people that Andreas killed. You feel like you should have been able to stop him.”
Leekasha closed her eyes. “I couldn’t stop him. I know that. He was stronger than I was. He was stronger than any of us will ever be. He was the next big mutation, and I did stop him eventually. He would have gotten much stronger if I hadn’t. You’re right about my feelings of guilt, but not for the reasons you think. Those people didn’t need to die, but they were only people. Ordinary, everyday people. They weren’t Andreas. He had so much potential. I put an end to that potential. That’s what I feel guilty for.”
“There’s still potential in you. We still don’t know what you’re capable of. The lab tests show you’re still changing. You’re still evolving. You might still become more than he could have.”
“I can’t sit in this box forever, General. I will walk out that door one of these days, and you won’t be able to stop me. You might make it more difficult, but you can’t stop me.”
“I know that. Maybe it’s time for us to lighten up on the rules. I’d rather have you leave under friendly terms knowing that you’re free to come back.” Chambers stood aside and motioned Leekasha towards the door. “Go ahead. I’ll give the orders that you’re not to be interfered with.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, of course I’m serious. It makes more sense this way.” Chambers spoke into his communicator. “Watch Commander, this is General Chambers. New orders for Leekasha. I’m granting her complete in-and-out privileges for the facility. She’s free to come and go without any additional authorizations until further notice. Carte blanche. Notify all security personnel immediately.”
“You really are serious. After three months keeping me locked up in this place and poked and prodded, you’re finally just letting me go.”
“It’s what you wanted, and you’re right anyways. There’s nothing we can do to keep you here if you wanted to go. So, now you’re free to go.”
“Yes, OK. Well then, I think I will.”
Leekasha opened the front doors to the lobby and walked outside. The door closed behind her as she walked down the steps towards the main gate. Inside General Chambers issued new orders to set up a surveillance team to watch but not interfere with Leekasha. Simply to watch and report back. Leekasha spent the rest of the day walking around the perimeter of the facility. She watched the guards, who watched her, but did nothing. Just after dusk, she walked back through the front gate, down the main road, paused at the front door for a few moments and then walked back inside.
Lunch Chat
The cafeteria was almost full, but Christa always managed to find a table to herself. There were plenty of new staff at the fort since the first time Christa had been here. The world outside the fort had changed drastically. The original staff who had spent a large portion of their career locked away here now had a chance to be part of a civilized society. It was far different than the one they had left behind, but generally speaking it was a better place. At least for humans. For the doped-out zombie population it was a different story.
Who wouldn’t want to go back to a home that was totally taken care of by your own zombie slaves? Nobody called them that, of course. They were just helpers. It seemed more civilized. They cleaned, cooked, fixed things, and pretty much worked non-stop. The never took breaks and only slowed down long enough to eat and sleep. They never complained, but to be honest they couldn’t really say much. Some could, but they had stopped trying long ago as no one listened. Humans were finally living the Utopian dream written about in all those pulp sci-fi stories. The ones where robots took care of everything, and most humans got to do whatever they wanted.
Leekasha walked from the food line and over towards Christa’s table. Leekasha asked, “Anyone sitting here?” as she took a seat without waiting for an answer.
Christa looked up from her Wednesday pasta surprise of the week to shake her head. “There’s never anyone sitting here, but I thought you always took your food to your room. Finally decided to socialize with all your friends?”
“You mean friend … singular. There’s no one else in here like us. This has got to be the only place where their type actually have to clean up after themselves.”
“We’re not the only ones. There’s another.”
Leekasha looked surprised. “What are you talking about? I thought we were the only ones.”
Christa dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “Ah, no one really. Hey though, I heard you went for a walk outside the other day. Chambers finally agreed to let you out, I see. I’m surprised you’re still here. I figured you’d be halfway around the world by now.”
Leekasha looked down at her food. “Yeah, sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for. I think it was more a case of him finally agreeing that there was nothing he could do to keep me here if I really wanted to leave. He kind of caught me off guard. I didn’t actually have a plan for what to do next.”
“Dr. Montgomery can’t be happy about that. She’s gotten tired of testing me, now that she has you to poke needles into. If you just decide to up and leave the place she’d be at a loss with how to spend her days. What are you going to do when you do decide to leave? Any big plans?”
Leekasha changed the subject, saying, “The food’s not so bad today. Any idea what that is under the noodles?”
“You’re afraid to go out there, aren’t you?” Christa asked. “You’re afraid of what it will sound like having to listen to all of them screaming. You’re afraid of what happened last time with Andreas. Actually, I think you’re afraid you’ll become like him. You can’t live your whole life down in this dungeon.”
“Hell no, I’m not afraid,” she insisted, taking a drink from her cup of water. “I’ll head out soon. I just wasn’t ready the other day. I need to get a plan together.”
“Oh yeah, and how’s that plan coming?”
“Why do you care so much about me? If anyone’s hiding down here, it’s you. You’ve been here a hell of a lot longer than I have. You even came back after you were free of the place. Maybe you should get your act together before you start accusing me.”
“I’ve got a purpose down here. You’re just killing time. Montgomery still has some testing she’d like to do on me, and in return, I’m working with her to find a better solution to the Pacize drug.”
“Oh what, so you’re a scientist now that your last approach didn’t work out so well. Sounds like you’re getting a bit desperate.”
“Yes, I am. I spent six years trying to break through to one of us my way, and look what happened. Six years of listening to all that suffering out there, and the first one I was able to reach turned out to be a homicidal maniac. That doesn’t mean I’ve given up. You need to help too. This isn’t right, the way things are out there. Zombies shouldn’t be slaves to humans. We have way too much potential. Just look at the two of us and what we’re capable of. Mind control, rapid healing, accelerated learning … who knows what else. The drug is just their first attempt to stop the wars and the bloodshed, but it’s not the best solution. There’s got to be something better.”
“How do you know? You’re no smarter than me … you’re actually the old version of us. Why should I listen to you?”
“I may not have all your abilities, but I have been around. I know what the fear was like during the horror of the wars. I know how desperate the humans were to stop it. I may be younger than you, but the years I’ve lived through aged me.”
Leekasha pushed the rest of her food away. “I don’t know. I’m not built for this kind of stuff. I wouldn’t be any good out there.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know what you’re capable of. I’ve got an idea. There’s someone else I think you should talk to.”