Houston run, p.15
Houston Run, page 15
part #12 of Endworld Series
“It figures,” Lynx muttered.
Melody nodded at the tray. “Would you like a bite to eat? I’ve brought you a steak, rare.”
Lynx crossed to the cot. “Really? That’s my favorite.”
Melody smiled sheepishly. “Mine too.”
Lynx sat down to the left of the tray. In addition to the bloody steak on a white plate, there were three slices of buttered bread, a glass of water, a glass of milk, and a slice of pie.
“It’s the best I could do,” Melody offered by way of an apology.
“It looks delicious,” Lynx complimented her. “I’m so starved, I could eat a Superior!”
“You’d eat an android?” Melody stated distastefully.
Lynx glanced up at her, his eyes twinkling. “Nope. Not really, I’d probably get gas!”
Melody laughed heartily. “You’re something, you know that?”
“Is that a promotion?” Lynx asked.
“A promotion?”
“Yeah. The last time you were here, I was a savage. Now I’m something.
Is that an improvement?”
Melody nodded. “Definitely.” She pointed at the steak. “Please. Eat.”
“After you’ve gone,” Lynx said. “We have a lot to talk about first. Park it, princess.”
“Park it?” Melody repeated.
Lynx swallowed. Hard. “I mean, have a seat, please!”
Melody sat down on the right side of the tray, crossing her legs at her knees.
Lynx wrested his eyes from those legs with difficulty. “I need to know some things, and I think you can help me.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Melody promised.
“And this won’t get you in trouble with your floor supervisor?” Lynx asked.
“Tom? You let me worry about him,” Melody said.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” Lynx stressed.
“You won’t,” Melody assured him.
“Okay then. You say I’m in the Medical Building. How far is this dump from the Intelligence Building?” Lynx queried.
“About three miles,” Melody revealed.
“Damn!” Lynx muttered, then hastily asked another question to cover his blunder. “Are there two other mutants on this floor? New mutants?
Savages?”
“No,” Melody said.
Lynx frowned.
“What’s the matter?” Melody inquired.
“I have two buddies named Gremlin and Ferret. I need to find them.
Primator said they were gonna be tested as per prescribed procedure, whatever the… heck… that means,” Lynx informed her.
“They could be on another floor,” Melody stated. “All mutants are tested in the Science Section, which includes floors thirty through ninety.
They usually test on forty-five.”
“And what floor are we on?” Lynx wanted to know.
“Thirty-eight,” Melody said.
“So the testin’ floor is seven up?” Lynx questioned.
“Yes,” Melody answered.
“What kind of testin’ do they do?” Lynx queried.
“The Superiors test us physically and mentally,” Melody explained. “The test results are used to determine where we’ll work and how much education we’ll receive.”
“You don’t get six years like the Serviles?”
“It varies for us,” Melody stated. “The Superiors seem to think many of us are smarter than the Serviles, so many of us receive more schooling.”
She paused, frowning. “Those of us who aren’t used in their experiments or lobotomized, that is.”
“You don’t sound like a dummy,” Lynx noted.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Melody commented. “I started out as a Superior’s aide, then transferred to nursing.”
“You’re a nurse?”
“What did you think I was?”
Lynx gazed into her magnificent green eyes and totally forget himself.
“The hottest momma this side of the Milky Way.”
“What?” Melody said, sounding shocked.
Lynx stared at his feet. “I’m sorry, gorgeous. But I ain’t had much practice talkin’ to a lady. I never know what to say, and I want to say so much. I want to tell you you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I can’t think straight around you.”
No response.
Lynx closed his eyes. What a dipshit! he berated himself. If stupidity was gold, he’d be the richest person on the planet!
“Lynx…” Melody said.
Lynx opened his eyes, but he couldn’t bring himself to face her.
“Lynx, please look at me,” Melody requested.
Lynx slowly complied. Her eyes bored into his, probing, seeming to reach into his very soul.
“When I said you were blunt,” Melody remarked, “it was an understatement.” She paused. “I appreciate your honesty. I really do. And I’ve something important to say to you.”
“Go ahead,” Lynx said. “Chew me out! I deserve it.”
Melody reached over the tray of food and gently placed her right hand on his left wrist. “No. You don’t understand.”
Lynx stared at her right hand on his wrist. It felt like his whole arm was tingling.
“I was attracted to you the moment I saw you,” Melody divulged.
“What?” Lynx blurted, amazed.
“Yes. There’s a quality about you, something I can’t put my finger on. I find you almost irresistible.”
Lynx’s eyes widened. “Me?”
Melody sighed. “I don’t know how it is where you live, but in Androxia the Superiors create one pair, and one pair only, of each mutant type. If we pass all of their tests, and if we aren’t neutered or spayed because we’re inferior, we’re expected to breed.” She stopped speaking, her mouth twisting downward. “I have postponed breeding for as long as I possibly can. The Superiors created a male like me. We were reared together, and we’re expected to mate and have children.” She paused, and when she resumed talking her tone conveyed a sense of sorrow and desperation.
“But I can’t stand him. Lynx! He’s a monster! Oh, not physically. He looks a lot like you. But inside, where it really counts, he’s wicked. Rotten to the core. He… he hurts me!”
Lynx saw tears forming in the corners of her eyes. A peculiar constriction developed in his throat as he opened his mouth. “He hurts you?” he asked huskily.
Melody nodded, gazing at her lap. “He’s a brute. He can’t understand why I won’t go to bed with him. He’s been pressuring me to sleep with him. He’s even hit me a few times.”
Lynx was feeling dizzy. “Hit you?”
“He’s threatening to report me if I don’t cooperate,” Melody said. “If I don’t give in to him.” She looked up at Lynx, her eyes rimmed with tears.
“But I can’t! I won’t! I refuse to share myself with someone I don’t love! I don’t care if the Superiors do spay me!”
“They’ll spay you?”
Melody nodded. “If I don’t breed, as required.” She took a deep breath.
“I feel so helpless at times.”
Lynx tried to speak, but he experienced an unusual difficulty in forming the words. There was an odd congestion in his throat. “I won’t let him hurt you again,” he finally managed to say. “I’d never let anyone hurt you. Ever.”
Melody nodded. “I know that. I sense it, somehow. Maybe it’s intuition. Maybe I’m just crazy. But I believe I can trust you.”
“You can,” Lynx assured her, and squeezed her hand.
Melody used her left forearm to dab at her eyes. “I shouldn’t be troubling you with my problems,” she said nervously.
Lynx leaned toward her. “From now on, your troubles are my troubles.”
Melody mustered a feeble smile. “You sure move fast, don’t you?”
Lynx glanced at the cell door, then at her. “I don’t have any choice. I want you to listen to me, to think over what I’m gonna tell you. Give me your answer as soon as you can.”
“My answer?”
Lynx nodded. “As you’ve guessed, I’m not from Androxia, and I don’t intend to spend the rest of my life here. I’m going to find my buddies, rescue a couple of human dummies I know, and get the hell out of here. And I want you to come with us.”
Melody went to respond, but he held up his right hand, stopping her.
“I ain’t finished,” Lynx said. “I want to get it all out before I start trippin’ over my own tongue. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. I’ve just met you, yet I feel like I’ve known you forever. And I want to go on knowin’ you. I want you to come with me. I’m asking you to come with me. I’ll take you to a place where you’ll never have to worry about the lousy Superiors. You’ll be free. You can do what you want once we’re there.
But I’m warnin’ you here and now. If you come with us, I’m gonna do my best to sweep you off your feet with my sexy looks and natural charm, and I won’t stop tryin’ until you say you’ll be my mate. There. I’ve said it.”
Melody was grinning. “And quite well said, too.”
“If you leave now,” Lynx declared, “I won’t hold it against you.”
“Why on earth would I want to leave?” Melody responded.
“Because you’re a lady,” Lynx stated. “And ladies don’t usually mix with savages.”
“Are you hard of hearing?” Melody queried.
“No. Why?”
“Didn’t you hear a word I said to you?” Melody questioned. “I like you, idiot! I’m not about to walk out on you.”
“Does this mean what I think it does?” Lynx asked hopefully.
Melody nodded. “I’d like to see this place where you live. Where I’ll never need to worry about the Superiors,” she added, quoting him.
Lynx beamed like a lunatic. “You mean it? You really mean it?”
“Lynx,” Melody said earnestly. “You may be the only true chance I’ll ever have at genuine happiness.”
Lynx leaped off the cot and spun in a circle. He smiled at her, joy pervading his being. “Damn!” he exclaimed. “Damn! Damn! Damn!”
“Are you always this articulate?” Melody inquired sarcastically, grinning.
“I don’t know what else to say!” Lynx declared happily. “I’m walkin’ on the clouds.”
A hard pounding on the cell door abruptly brought Lynx down to earth.
“Oh, no!” Melody cried.
“Melody!” barked a stern voice. “Are you in there?”
“Who is that?” Lynx whispered.
Melody hesitated before replying. “The floor supervisor.”
Lynx dashed to the rear of the door, flattening against the wall.
“Melody!”
The cell door flung open, forcing Lynx to stop its inward sweep with the palms of his hands.
“What the hell are you doing in here, bitch?” demanded the floor supervisor in a harsh tone.
Melody, her face downcast, stood.
Lynx bristled. What right did the floor supervisor have to address Melody that way? Who did the son of a bitch think he was?
“I asked you a question!” the floor supervisor snapped.
Lynx scowled, hoping the bastard would enter the cell all the way.
“I’m on break,” Melody said defensively.
“You’re on break when I say you’re on break!” the floor supervisor bellowed.
Lynx resisted an urge to spring from concealment. He wanted to tear the sucker into teensy-weensy pieces! What had Melody said his name was?
“But you said I could take an extra five minutes, Tom,” Melody mentioned.
“I’ve changed my mind. I want you out on the floor. I thought you were going to take your break in the break room, and I went there looking for you. But you weren’t there! I had to search the whole floor to find you!” he stated angrily. “And you still haven’t answered my question! What the hell are you doing in here, Little Ms. Prim!”
Little Ms. Prim? Lynx wondered if he’d heard correctly.
“There’s no need to bring our personal life into our professional relationship,” Melody said.
Personal life? Lynx listened intently.
“What personal life?” Tom retorted, and laughed bitterly. “You have to be close to have a personal life, and baby, you’re too cold to touch!”
“Don’t start,” Melody said.
“Or what?” Tom rejoined. “Are you going to run to the Superiors and complain?”
Melody didn’t comment.
“No, you won’t!” Tom continued. “And do you want me to tell you why?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll do it!” Tom mocked her. “You won’t say a word, Ice Lady, because you know they’d ask questions, and you don’t want them to know you’re still a virgin!”
“Tom! Don’t! Please!” Melody begged.
“Cut the crap, bitch!” Tom declared. “Do you think I give a shit about how you feel? After what you’ve done to me?”
“What have I done to you?”
Lynx heard Tom move further into the room.
“Don’t play innocent with me!” Tom hissed. “How long have I been after you to do the right thing? To do what you were created for? And how many times have you said no? Even when I twisted your arm?” Tom paused. “You’re not a woman!” he said resentfully. “I don’t even think you have a cunt!”
Melody stiffened as a guttural growl emanated from behind the cell door. She’d dreaded this happening, had hoped Tom would depart without insulting her as he normally did. She knew what was going to happen and she’d tried to prevent it, fearful of the possible consequences for Lynx. “Tom! Get out of here!”
The mutant named Tom, resembling Lynx in practically every respect, attired in a white shirt and white pants, ignored her. He faced the door, taking two more steps into the room, reaching for the knob. “What the hell was that?” he demanded. “Who’s the patient in this room, anyway?”
The cell door suddenly swung out from the wall.
Tom, startled, jumped out of the door’s path, moving between the door and Melody.
The door slammed shut.
Both Lynx and Tom did double takes, and then Lynx stepped in from of the closed door, blocking Tom’s retreat.
“I’m the patient in this room!” Lynx snapped.
“And who the hell are you?” Tom demanded.
Melody took a step toward Lynx. “Please! This isn’t necessary!”
Lynx crouched, his claws held near her waist.
“Who is this jerk?” Tom asked Melody.
Lynx uttered a trilling sound.
Tom raised his hands, displaying his own tapered claws. “I don’t know who you are, asshole, but I’m not scared of you! Ask anybody. I’m as mean as they come!”
“Yeah. I heard,” Lynx said. “I heard you like to beat on women. In my book, that makes you the lowest scum there is.”
“So what are you going to do about it, prick?” Tom taunted.
“Just this,” Lynx said, and attacked.
Chapter Fifteen
“Now let’s go over this data again,” the Superior said patiently.
“Whatever you want, cow chip,” Hickok stated pleasantly. He was seated at a table in a large room on the third floor of the Intelligence Building. Two Superiors had escorted him from his cell on the lowest level of Containment up to the interrogation room a half hour before.
“There are discrepancies in your account,” the Superior in a brown chair across from the gunman said.
“What kind of discrepancies?” Hickok asked innocently.
The Superior studied a clipboard in his left hand. Two other androids were ten feet away, one on either side of the closed interrogation room door.
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” Hickok facetiously asserted.
“Then how can you explain the discrepancies?” the interrogating Superior queried.
“Like what?”
“Like everything,” the Superior said. “You say your Home is in northeast Minnesota, but we already know the Home is in northwest Minnesota. You say there are only eight Warriors defending the Home, but we know there are a minimum of twelve, perhaps even fifteen. You claim the Warriors are poorly armed, but we possess information to the contrary. You allege the Family keeps to itself and avoids conflict, but we are aware of the war you waged against the Doktor, and we know you have fought the Technics in Chicago and the Soviets in Philadelphia.”
“I was never in Philadelphia,” Hickok interrupted.
“We have monitored Soviet transmissions reporting the presence of Warriors in Philadelphia last October,” the Superior revealed.
“Yeah. So?”
“One of the Warriors was referred to as a ‘gunman’,” the Superior stated.
“But it wasn’t me,” Hickok said truthfully. “That was Sundance.”
“Sundance is a Warrior too?” the Superior said, scribbling on a pad attached to his clipboard.
“Yep. He fancies himself a gunfighter.” Hickok leaned over the table and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “But just between you and me, he couldn’t hit the broad side of your butt if you were sittin’ on his face.”
The Superior lowered the clipboard to the table. “This is a waste of time.”
“I’m havin’ fun,” Hickok said.
“I was told you had promised Primator to cooperate with us,” the Superior mentioned.
“I didn’t promise beans!” Hickok retorted. “Blade did all the promising.
If you want information, you should talk to him.”
“We will,” the Superior said. “He is on his way up here right now. His escort will return you to your cell.”
“And what then?” Hickok asked.
“Your fate is in Primator’s hands,” the Superior stated.
Hickok chuckled. “I was told you jokers are smart! Don’t you morons know a computer doesn’t have any hands?”
“The Superiors are Primator’s hands,” the Superior said. “Whatever Primator wants done with you, we shall do.”
“I’ve been wonderin’ about that,” Hickok commented. “How come you Superiors let yourselves be bossed around by a bucket of bolts?”
“Primator is not our boss,” the Superior said, disputing the gunman.
“What else would you call him?” Hickok countered. “He bosses you around, doesn’t he? Tells you what to do and when to do it. He sure sounds like a boss to me.”
