CHAPTER FOUR (PART FIVE) - BREEDEN AZALAZAR “Okay, give me a second.” A.J. began to shift through the system looking for the codes, as he accessed the files that contained all the codes that everybody had, in front of A.J., and not in his mind, holographic buttons lit in the air. A.J. reached out blindly and pressed his hand against the air, red lit around his hand and the computer beeped. In front of his eyes, yellow numbers and letter danced, the codes that every doctor was assigned was there. He had been granted access to view them, but if he had ever tried to use them, that damn implant in his head would give him a shock that would make him reconsider even thinking about trying it. The computer was designed to send a signal to the implant to let it know if A.J. had tried it. But there was nothing wrong about telling someone the codes; it was just a matter of using them himself. A.J. pressed another holographic button and it began to scroll down. “Access, communications codes, Azalazar Breeden.” A.J. said and it began scroll faster. A.J. waited, but suddenly to his surprise, the yellow letters and numbers began moving into each other, locking together. “What the hell? Shit!” He gasped when he realized what was happening. Franticly he tried to tread a blocking step into it but it moved to fast, the codes locked together and a gold beam went over them, turning them into weird symbols and other shapes. “Aw! Damn!” A.J. cried. “What?” He heard Kevin demand; he realized that he had accidentally spoken through the speakers. “Idiot put a crypting program on the codes!” A.J. reported. “Can’t you decrypt it?” Howie demanded. “Yeah, but by the time I do, our time will have been up!” “Well figure something out!” Kevin snapped, “You’re supposed to be a genius!” “Like I need you to remind me!” A.J. muttered thinking, trying to see if he could remember what the codes were by memories. He drew a blank. Suddenly from behind him the robot clicked its fingers. He jolted as he remembered. “Hey!” He said excitedly, “That’s it! R2!” “The robot?” Kevin asked confused. )))What?((( the robot asked from inside the system, its voice seeming to echo. A.J. pushed away the code files and went into the program files, he hit the current ones and brought up the results of the scanning programs they had done on the robot. “The scanning program! Remember? Azalazar would have had to use special codes to reprogram it and get it to follow him, one of the codes stored it its data banks should be the one to open up the communications!” “How long will this take?” Kevin asked. “Not long!” A.J. instantly began to go through the information, processing it faster then a computer would. He moved his head a little towards the robot. “Hey R2!” He called into the system. )))Hum?((( Came the echoing reply. “This is your brain we scanned! Find the codes Azalazar used!” He said. )))Oh! Okay!((( A.J. waited, the robot would be able to find it sooner, and if Azalazar hide some codes behind others, the robot could find them easier. But A.J. was counting on the fact that the doctor hadn’t taken time to backtrack with the robot. And as luck would have it, he hadn’t. Soon, a file was opened and blinked, some of the microscopic instantly enlarged and a code flashed onto the screen. “Yes!” A.J. exclaimed. Kevin looked up, he was now kneeling in front of the blue block, he had moved to let Howie in front of the computer so he could see if he could get past the code, but he had had little luck. “You got it?” Kevin called up towards the ceiling. “Okay, there are two codes, Howie, you can’t mess this up, one code is the automatic kind, the other is a frequency tone.” “Aw, damn!” Howie groaned. “What’s a frequency code?” Kevin asked confused. “A frequency code is this here,” Howie said pointing to a clear little window, “What you have to do, is enter a certain frequency into the system, the person with the code is the only one who knows the frequency, if you get even a millimeter off, the report will send off immediately, without waiting for the time release, the purpose is, you get something wrong, the computer sends a signal telling the program around the report and it will send it to prevent tampering.” Kevin raised his eyebrows, “A millimeter off?” He asked sounding uneasy. “Not even a fraction of that.” Howie said grimly. “Great!” Kevin said looking down. “Okay,” Howie called up to A.J., he held his hand over the keypad, “Give me the code.” “Okay, 2-4-9-8-3-1-W-C-L-9-4-H-U-9-9-Z-1-7.” Howie punched in the numbers and letters, concentrating hard a A.J. droned on in a deadpan voice. Howie pressed send off and the screen flashed its approval. Kevin let out the breath he was holding. Howie quickly typed in a few more orders. “Don’t feel to relived, I think were screwed on the frequency code.” Howie said swallowing hard as he pressed another button, the clear little window suddenly lit up and they looked at it. They quickly exchanged looks. “Okay!” Howie said taking a deep breath, he held his hand over the window. “Ready.” “Move your hand up exactly three inches, then immediately move your thumb out about an inch, after you do that push your index finger down and apply a little pressure, not to much though, just about a fraction, then…………….” Howie was looking up at the ceiling horrified, Kevin thunked his head against the side of the computer, Howie was right, they were screwed! “Wait a minute! Wait a minute!” Howie cried and A.J. stopped talking. “I can’t do that!” He said mortified. “Sure you can!” A.J. said trying to be optimistic. “Oh yeah! How about you come down here and do that! I’d love to see that one!” Howie said sarcastically. )))I can do that!((( The robot’s voice suddenly chimed in, Kevin raised his head. “How? I’d like to know exactly how you can………..oh never mind! Just do it!” A.J. groused after a moment. Howie looked down at the panel, it stayed lit for a moment when suddenly little tiny brighter lights ran over the panel. Kevin peered over as an almost musical sound came out, the light doubled and spread around, the frequency played out more and more. Howie tapped his hand. “Kind of a cool song!” he said and Kevin grinned, suddenly the last note rang out, and the computer beeped, Howie looked down and saw the report flash across the screen, he grabbed the side of the consol. “You did it!” He said happily. “It did!” A.J. said in disbelief. “How?” )))I can use the codes, I pushed the downloaded code from the systems scan into the out put line and fed it to the computer!((( The robot said proudly. “I could have done that!” A.J. gripped. )))No you couldn’t, the implant would have given you a 200 volt charge to your entire system.(( The robot said. “Well I thought about it!” A.J. insisted. )))Okay.((( “I did to!” A.J. cried. )))Okay.((( “I did to! Shut up!” A.J. pouted after a second. )))Okay.((( “Take your own advice for a minute A.J., while we change the report.” Kevin called up. “I so did!” A.J. muttered but was silent after a moment. Kevin looked over as Howie began to read the report. “Station Control report, classified for The Corporation use, eyes only head director Montaro.” Howie read. He scrolled down and his eyes lit up, “Ah! Here we go! Experiment 11487 breached, results of accident included in status report, creature should be considered extremely dangerous but containable-“ “Containable!” Kevin said appalled, Azalazar was still trying to save his goddamn work! Even if it was a monster! “Power down and security systems are as well, when breach occurred, creature ravaged experiments and subjects, as result, everyone dead-“ “Yeah, and it’s because of him that everyone is dead.” Kevin snorted. “Look at this!” Howie said raising his eyebrows, “Subjects 78495, 32956, 22237, 29973, and head computer runner, alive though, are considered dangerous but are final results of experiments, should not terminate-“ “Considerate of him.” Kevin said disgusted. “Oh, I don’t think so.” Howie said as he read further, “Listen to this, should termination happen, subjects 78495 and 22237 are, if necessary, expendable.” Howie looked at Kevin, “That would be us.” He said. Kevin jolted, and looked at the computer. “That son of a bitch!” He said angrily. “Oh, it gets better!” Howie said, Kevin was looking forward to this. “Computer runner’s, that’s A.J., status of termination undetermined, leave the exact decision to The Corporation.” “Thanks.” Came A.J.’s board voice. Kevin looked up amused as Howie went on. “Patients 32956 and 29973 are not expendable, to be rescued and taken back to main lab.” “Brian and Nick.” Kevin said and Howie nodded. “Yeah, Azalazar goes on to say how Nick is just a raving psychopath who can be controlled with enough drugs, and how Brian can’t be terminated until Azalazar uses him for a special project.” “I swear to god, I’m going to break this guys neck.” Kevin said looking at the screen. Howie cracked his knuckles and grinned, “Well, lets just change some of this shall we?” He began typing and Kevin looked down as he typed. Leaving the headings the same, Howie typed in his own little report. Kevin read it as he typed, “Are having a nice time?” He asked beginning to laugh. Howie shrugged, “Well what do you think we should put in it?” Kevin thought for a moment, “Put in, everything progressing as expected, results from experiments better then usual. Information will be sent in next transmission with request for new experiment, are still working out the kinks.” Howie stopped typing and looked at Kevin doubly. “Kinks?” “Your right,” Kevin thought for a moment, “Working out details!” He decided. “Yeah! That sounds more professional!” Howie said typing it in. Kevin watched then laughed again, “Have a nice day?” He asked amused. “I’m being cautious.” Howie claimed which just made Kevin laugh as he finished typing it in. He frowned though when he was finished. “Shouldn’t this be longer?” He asked worried. “Put in that their having some computer trouble and it shall be fixed by the next transmission.” Howie nodded and began typing that in as he recycled the old report. Lets hope they buy this, he thought. ```( )``` Nick and Brian discovered the room that they were in wasn’t actually a room per say, but the cafeteria. Nick was sitting at one of the tables holding out his throbbing hand, it shook as pain raced through it and up his arm, he winced and hissed in pain. Brian was digging through one of the huge freezers in the kitchen, he dumped ice cubes into a bowl and shut the door, he opened the fridge and looked in curiously, he grinned when he saw some food and reached in. “What’s taking so long?” Nick called out still wincing in pain as his hand began to bleed again, quickly he grabbed an already blood soaked towel and tried to staunch the heavy flow, but with little success, the blood dripped onto the table. “Shit!” He swore under his breath as Brian came out of the kitchen dragging a cart, the bowl of ice on the first row, and food on the next, Nick eyed the food. “What’s that?” he asked. Brian grinned and put the bowl in front of Nick, he quickly stuck his hand in as Brian sat and pulled off a plate of roost beef. “I’m hungry!” Brian declared as he reach for the cart again and pulled out another bowl, he slid it over to Nick and grinned innocently. “I figured that since you probably spent most of your life on drugs, that introducing your system to food might be a shock, so start with that.” Nick looked down and saw red Jell-O. “Gee, your kindness is over whelming.” He said sarcastically and Brian just laughed as he set a plate of bread onto the table. Nick dug his spoon into the Jell-O and took a tiny bite, he almost gagged, Brian had been right. After going on for so long for with out food, it was a shock to be eating such, to him, an incredibly sweet substance. Brian saw him having trouble swallowing. “See? Aren’t you glad that I didn’t give you this?” He asked grinning wildly as he held up sherbet ice cream. “Shut up!” Nick pouted just making Brian laugh as he set down the bowl. He watched as Brian began making a sand which. “So what are we going to do now?” Nick asked as he watched him. Brian shrugged. “Wait.” He said simply, he paused. “I had no idea that that thing was so horrible.” He said thinking. “Try having chase you in the dark and having it make fun of how scared you are.” Nick said. Brian shook his head, “I can’t believe that that guy was stupid enough to make that thing.” He said disgusted. “I can’t believe how stupid enough he was permanently!” Nick exclaimed, “I mean, what kind of twisted mind do you have to have to think up of such crap?” “There is nothing more truly horrifying, then how cruel human nature can be, or how stupid.” He quoted. “Who said that?” Nick asked. Brian thought for a moment, “I think it was my dad, course it was supposed to be an insult because I was frying ants with my magnifying glass at the time.” He said which made Nick laugh. “But it applies to this situation.” He said and Nick agreed. Nick took another bite of the Jell-O and made a face, but it wasn’t as bad this time. He looked around the cafeteria then back at Brian as he took a bite. “Think Kevin and Howie can change the report?” He asked making small talk. Brian nodded, “Sure, Howie seems to be a good engineer, and Kevin did train at the academy, they teach you a lot of stuff there, course I wouldn’t really know, I didn’t go.” Nick took his hand off the ice as the cold made the pain receded a little but was making his hand way to cold. “Did you want to go to the academy?” he asked examining his hand, it still bled. “Gee, I don’t have any fighting skills, I’d probably crash a space craft if they ever gave me one, and I failed math, a key in training there, so………….no!” He said grinning. Nick nodded and placed his hand on the ice again. Brian took another bite as silence took over, as he chewed he looked down at his shirt, he dull ach still in his chest from running and the energy suddenly drew on an idea. “Hey!” he cried and Nick looked up. “That’s it!” He said excitedly. “What’s “it”?” Nick asked confused. “The Library!” Brian said grinning, his eyes wide with excitement. “What about it?” Nick asked in a board tone. “If we can get there, we can find about your past!” He said, Nick sat up a little, Brian’s excitement starting to catch. “Remember? A.J. said that all the information on the experiments and on the subjects! I mean, they had to have monitored the people to see if they would work for the experiments, that means they would have had to record some information about you!” Nick’s eyes widened at that, he was right! Maybe there was something there! This was the best chance he had at getting to know something about his past! Maybe there was hope after all, maybe it wasn’t useless! Nick opened his mouth to say something when suddenly he dropped the spoon, it clattered against the bowl knocking over some of the Jell-O, Brian blinked in surprise as suddenly Nick suddenly shuddered. “Hey! What’s wrong?” Brian asked panicked standing a little. “It’s so c-c-c-cold!” he gasped. “F-f-f-freezing!” “Want me to turn the air up?” Brian asked totally confused and not sure what to do, he suddenly pointed to the bowl of ice. “Take your hand out, maybe that’s what’s wrong?” He asked sounding like even he didn’t believe that. Nick suddenly threw back his head and cried out, Brian jumped when blood began to drip out of Nick’s ear. “Blood in the air! Two more little boys gone off on their own!” Nick growled and Brian’s eyes widened. “Round and round they go! Break your spin, so you can’t go!” Nick rasped, Brian slowly backed away from his seat frightened as Nick’s mind was completely taken over by that horrifying thing. “Here I come! And you don’t know!” Nick sang out in a insane low voice filled with glee, “I’m going to eat you! I’m coming to eat yooooooooooou! And you still don’t know!” Brian’s stomach filled, something in the way Nick looked and talked, or that thing made him look and talk. Suddenly his eyes widened in horror. “Howie and Kevin!” He gasped in horror when realization hit him. “Here we gooooooooo.” Nick sang out, “Which one do I eat first?” Brian watched in surprise when suddenly Nick cried out again slumped down. “Nick!” Brian yelped as the younger man fell, he quickly dashed around the table and managed to catch Nick as he slowly slid off the seat unconscious, he gently laid Nick down onto the floor and made sure he was all right, blood still came out of his ear but he appeared to be fine. Brian let out a little sigh of relief but jolted when suddenly Nick’s words came back. He had to warn them, that thing was going to eat them! And they didn’t even know that it was coming. “Shit!” He cried, “I’ll be back!” He assured Nick patting his shoulder, still scared not only for him, but for Howie and Kevin. Jumping up, he ran through the large steel doors that led to the kitchen, looked around wildly. The kitchen was a habitat of steel; huge refrigerator doors shinned toward the back, aisles and aisles of stoves, ovens and places to put together the meals and ingredients. Running down the aisle he looked around franticly, pots and pans hung from the ceiling by the stoves, cooking utensils glittered from their places, freshly clean. Running past a dishwasher and shelves that held the trays and dishes, Brian stopped by one of the stoves where a com link was, he hesitated only for a moment before he furiously shoved away at the pots that rested on it, they clattered to the floor, the sound exploding and lingering in the echoes, they rolled away and all over the place, Brian ignored it and quickly hoped onto the stove on his knees crawled over it a little before he reached the button, he quickly hit it with the side of his fist. “A.J.!” BACK NEXT |
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