Sign In Sign-Up

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

Oh, For the Love of Peace

It was a dark cloudy day. Iris had no doubt in her mind that it was probably going to rain. On top of that she had no idea where she going.
A friend of hers asked her to meet him at an old deserted building. If you could call him a friend. She had met him only three days ago. She just wished he had mentioned which building. Iris lived in a small deteriorating town all the places were old and deserted.
After an hour Iris finally found him at the condemned library. She barely recognized him. He was wearing a long tan trench coat with the matching hat neatly concealing his semi-short blonde hair. In his hand she saw one of those short white cigarettes with the orange butts. Like in those old black and white detective movies. For the longest time she thought cigarettes were illegal. Guess they weren't-in his jurisdiction.
The closer Iris approached him the more she wanted to turn and run. What if he was some wacko pervert who watched too many detective movies and sweet talked cute women from small towns into meeting him in old deteriorating buildings? Just so he can kill them by sucking the blood from their bodies and selling it on the black market to formidable donors… Iris laughed at the thought, then sighed.
He just looked so different from when she first met him at the Coffee House. There he seemed so cheerful so friendly; she felt that she could trust him enough to meet him somewhere. Now she wasn't even sure of her own judgment.
When Iris finally approached him he looked at her with his deep blue eyes and again she felt he held her confidence.
"I'm surprised you showed up," he replied blowing some smoke; he threw the cigarette down and stepped on it.
"So am I," Iris answered. She waved a stray wisp of the smoke out of her face with the back of her hand.
"Sorry if I confused you before I couldn't afford to be too specific. Quick get out of sight." He grabbed Iris' arm and pulled her inside the burned out building.
"What's going on?" Iris asked; a light smile appearing on the man's face. At least she thought it was a smile. It was too dark to tell for sure.
"You've been chosen," was his only reply.
"For what?" she questioned with uncertain humor.
"I can't tell you now it's too soon. You'll just have to trust me. I know you will since you came here." His voice was soft yet serious. "Tomorrow afternoon I want you to go to the Trumptson Airport. A friend of mine will meet you there. They'll know who you are."
"All right," Iris answered. She had no idea why but in no way did she doubt her decision.
"Good, but now you've got to go," he strained through his teeth. They were amazingly white for a smoker. Soon as Iris turned she could feel his firm grasp on her arm. "And don't tell any one about this conversation," he added. She only nodded as he let her go.
If there is one thing Iris learned the twenty-two years she had lived on this desolate planet, it was to always trust your first judgment. Even if she knew someone else to tell they would just throw in their own philosophies, logic, and input. That would just get her confused.
As Iris left the old building, she could immediately feel the unmistakable glare of eyes upon her. Whether it was the individual she had just met or someone else in the shadows she couldn't tell, and didn't really want to know.

Iris glided down the torn street with a slow steady pace. Making sure whomever it was watching her had no idea she knew.
It seemed to take forever to get to her apartment. Probably because she took it slow listening for her watcher to make a move.
Iris crept into her place wishing she had locked her door before she left. She took a brief look around. As far as the naked eye could tell everything was still there. Of course the way her room normally looked you wouldn't know whether it had been ransacked or hit by a tornado. A very unusual way for a general's daughter to live.
Even within her own doors she could feel eyes on her. Strangely enough it didn't bother her as much as it should.
Iris never really could understand why, but nothing ever actually bothered her; including death. Of course she still got scared that's normal, but nothing ever really ate away at her.
For the longest time her paranoid aristocrat mother thought there was something psychologically wrong with her. So to make her mother happy she started to pretend.
This was probably why, at one time, she had gone into acting-a failed career attempt. Even now she cashiered at the local coffee joint. She didn't get paid very much either. Unfortunately the bill collectors just don't seem to understand the problem.
A cold shower and fresh pair night clothes later, whoever was watching her had either left or fallen asleep. Iris flopped onto her rock hard bed and began to think. Didn't even know the guy's name and she agreed to meet a friend of his at the airport. How impulsive. She closed her eyes.

Hours crept past. It was now 12:05 and Iris had not slept a second of it.
"Great," she complained aloud. "It's midnight and I'm wide awake."
Perhaps it was all the anticipation like a little kid on Christmas Eve. All she knew was if she didn't get to sleep now she never would. Iris looked up at the ceiling screen.
"On," she said. The ceiling screen flicked on revealing a menu. "Book." A list of books flashed on. "Frank Glossiness, My Fat Free Success," she requested. Iris owned a few 800 page self help books for just such an occasion. She had only gotten to page 5 when she was out like a light. Zzzzz.

Chapter 2
The note

Iris' eyes shot open. It was 7:41! She had over slept.
Iris half ran half jumped out of bed. Ripping off her night cloths she slapped on the first things grabbed. Luckily for her everything she owned could mix and match. Without even touching her short milk chocolate brown hair, (which was in all directions) she left her jacket in a mad dash for the door; grabbing the keys along the way.
Once she made it to her more rust than metal 2000 Ford Mustang she frantically put the keys in the ignition. Unfortunately in the same split second it took her to crank the car it made a loud bang. She leapt out of it, whipped around to the front, and opened the hood. Steam shot out making her eyes water. Her radiator had just blown.
It was 8:01 now. Iris wouldn't have time to get a new one. She had to get to The Coffee House before they fired her. Fortunately someone emerged from the apartment complex. Well, not really a friend, but someone she knew.
"Amber!" Iris called.
"Wait let me guess your mom is coming down and you need some money to take her out to dinner," Amber replied smugly flipping her straight from the bottle auburn hair.
"No!" Iris answered frantically.
"Oh that's right its bill season isn't it. Hold on and let me get my check card," she sighed.
"No, Amber, I don't need money. I need…"
"Oh that's right I forgot you have a job now."
"Yeah, and I need a ride to it. My radiator…" she was interrupted.
"Well hurry up and get in before you lose this one too!" Amber exclaimed. No argument there.
They ran to Amber's new pearl blue 2081 corvette. It didn't even have wheels. Iris leaped over the door into the passenger seat. She had no idea why she even talked to this woman. Guess it was because Amber was the closest thing Iris ever really had to a friend. How tragic.
"I'll probably hate myself for asking you this but why exactly are you late?" Amber questioned while pulling out of the parking lot.
"I just overslept." was Iris' only reply.
"Iris, I have been living next to you for four years and not once have you ever just slept in," she argued.
"And how would you know?" Iris yelled over the wind.
"Have you ever heard yourself in the morning. I don't even have to set my speaker clock any more," Amber replied. She had Iris there.
"I don't see where it's any of your business why I'm late anyhow. So can we just drop the subject before we start an argument?" Iris answered. Amber gave her a strange look then began to watch the road again. She could tell Amber was starting to suspect something, and why not. Iris never kept secrets from anyone. Her life was usually an open book.

Neither of them exchanged another word until they pulled up to the Coffee House.
"I hope your not too late," Amber retorted as she shut the door and sped away.
Iris walked towards the Coffee House. She could feel the eyes again. Whoever it was probably wouldn't like being spotted, and she began to wonder how they would like it if she started spying on them. Yeah right.

"Hey! Iris," an air headed voice called once she stepped inside. It was Leslie. Leslie Welsh wasn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box, but if it weren't for her she wouldn't even have this job.
"Yeah," she answered.
"Some guy came in here earlier and left you this," Leslie said handing her a slip of paper. Iris knew what it was as she unfolded it trying not to appear too anxious. Hastily scribbled inside was the time 5:00.
"What was it?" she asked cocking her head in her own idiotic manner. Iris carelessly crumpled and tossed the paper into the incinerator bin behind her.
"Oh, he just wanted to meet me at the Heartridge Airport not too far from here," she lied. The eyes slowly faded away.
"Are you feeling OK?" Leslie asked. Iris glanced into her direction.
"Huh, Oh yeah I'm feeling fine," she said in her most reassuring voice.
"You sure 'cause you look kinda pale."
"Oh, I just didn't get much sleep last night that's all." Iris opening her cash register.

The rest of the day was extraordinarily slow. They had only two customers in the past eight hours, and both went to Leslie's cash register. That dumb blonde thing must really grab attention.
Iris didn't pay much attention anyway. She was running through her head when she should leave to get to the airport on time. She looked at her speaker-watch, which she slept in every night as a good luck charm. It should be around 4:30.
"Time," she asked.
"4:30 A.M.," both the watch and Leslie answered. On the nose.
"I gotta go and I'm taking your car. You can take a bus to the Trumptson and pick it up," Iris said snatching Leslie's keys. To the airport!

Chapter 3
New friends at the airport

Iris waited at the airport for about fifteen minutes when she had the strangest feeling of someone in her head besides herself.
"Iris Hennessy?" a female voice asked from behind. She whipped around startled.
"Uh yes, yes I am. Who are you?" Iris asked.
"Strawberry, Strawberry Snow," she answered sticking out her hand for her to shake.
"Strawberry Snow?" Iris repeated taking it in.
"Yeah, lets just say my parents had one sick sense of humor." Strawberry answered.
"No, really I like it. I'd introduce myself but you already seem to know me," she answered a little more relaxed know. Her name did fit her appearance. She had long, curly, soft, red hair, almost glowing green eyes, and white skin.
"Are you the one I'm supposed to meet?" Iris asked just to make sure.
"No not really," Strawberry replied.
"Then how did you…"
"Know your name. I'm telepathic."
Iris didn't know what to say she knew they existed but she had never met one. Well, except her grandmother, but she died before Iris was born.
"That would explain why I felt someone poking around in my head." she replied.
"You felt that." Strawberry's were eyes wide and her little red mouth hung open. Iris was about to explain why when she saw someone else approach them. He was wearing a brown cowboy hat, a blue jean shirt and pants, and black snakeskin boots. He was definitely from one of the town's small western ranches.
"Excuse me but uh I was s'posed to meet someone 'ere and I was a wonderin' if one o' you two lovely ladies may be them," he said. He took off his hat revealing slightly disarranged dark brown hair.
"No, not that I know of, but were waiting for someone too. Maybe it's the same person why don't you wait with us," Strawberry replied sweetly. Her soft eyes fluttered. Iris could already tell that she liked to flirt.
"Much obliged ma'am," he said.
"So where ya from?" Iris asked accidentally using his western accent. She cleared her throat.
"The cattle ranch not to far from here. A tenderfoot asked me to meet one a his friends here," he answered.
"Blonde hair blue eyes…" said Strawberry.
"Perfect," Iris thought as Strawberry give her a knowing look.
"Why yes seems as if he paid you ladies a visit too," the man replied.
"Yeah," Strawberry answered poking Iris in the ribs with her elbow.
"Well now that were all friends we'd might as well introduce ourselves I'm Iris Hennessy and this is Strawberry Snow," Iris replied.
"Howdy the name's…"
"Wait let me guess," Strawberry paused for a moment. "Slater, Guy Slater," she interrupted.
"Why yes, yes ma'am it is. How did you know?" Guy asked his voice as dumbfounded as his tanned face.
"Because she's telepathic," someone else answered. A tall dark man dressed in a pilot's uniform appeared from behind.
"Ahh, I see three of you have already met," he said. There was just something about him Iris didn't trust. His eyes. They looked normal but there was nothing behind them. Like he wasn't all there. Strawberry looked at her. She knew exactly what Iris was thinking. Of course.
"Come the others are waiting in the plane," he said.
"Wait a minute! A plane? Where are you taking us?" Iris alerted.
"I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you," he remarked. Iris almost began to laugh until she realized he was serious. The man whipped around and began to leave. Guy shrugged as they started to follow.

He made continuous sharp turns before they finely came to the plane. It was one of those small manual things that could fit maybe twelve people-if you crammed them three to a seat.
When they stepped aboard seven people were already seated inside.
Strawberry and Iris reluctantly took the last remaining seats in the back left row. A faint voice from the back of her head told Iris that this wasn't going to be a smooth flight, and from the look on Strawberry's face she heard it too.
Guy took a seat next to a thin elderly gentleman at least in his late fifties.
"Howdy," he introduced. The man said nothing but continued to stare out of the small window.
"Clear weather ain't it." No answer.
"Where do ya s'pose he's gonna take us?" Still no answer.
"Well if you ain't the most imp'lite man I ever met!" Finally the man turned around and began to watch the seat in front of him.
Iris looked at Strawberry; she had this strange gleam in her eye and her brow was wrinkled. She seemed to be in some kind of deep concentration. Iris decided to wait until Strawberry finished before she began to ask her any questions.
"So what exactly do you do at the ranch?" Iris asked. Guy turned around.
"I was a cowhand," he answered.
"Was?" she repeated.
"Yeah, it burnt down not too long ago. Some of the other cowhands got drunk an started a shoot'n some bottles a whisky. One of 'em still had some liquor in it and it set on fire. I wasn't there, I was out in the pasture with the cattle. I c'n tell ya one thing though, when I got back and saw it all burnt down. It kindly embarrassed me. That kin'a stuff is what gave us cow folk a bad name," he answered with disgust.
"That's terrible," Iris sympathized. She could see the glint of anger in his eyes even if he didn't let is show in his voice. Iris turned her head.
Strawberry's expression had gone from concerned to upset. Her eyes watered as she snapped back into reality.
"What is it?" Iris asked.
"You wouldn't want to know," she replied sniffling and wiping the tears away. Then it clicked in.
"You probed his mind!" Iris exclaimed. Everyone on the plane looked in their direction except the man sitting up front.
"You do know that's illegal don't you," Iris whispered agitated.
"All I wanted to find out was his name," Strawberry retorted.
"Well what is it?" Iris asked.
"I don't know I never got that far," she replied.
Iris and Strawberry laughed. A moment later Iris swore she heard a laser gun shot. The plane shook violently and slanted. The old man sitting in front of them began to look around.
Four of the passengers screamed while the others just stared.
"C'mon," Iris yelled over the planes roar; tugging on Strawberry's sleeve as she headed for the cockpit. She didn't know if Strawberry was following her, and she didn't care. Her main concern at the moment was the plane and the nine others on it. What happened?

Chapter 4
Murder in the air

Iris burst through the cockpit door.
"What's going on?!" she yelled. There was no answer and at that moment she knew why. There was a hole in the side window just small enough for a laser to go through.
"Oh my God!" Strawberry exclaimed. She did follow after all. Iris pushed the limp pilot out of the seat and leapt in.
"Strawberry! Go find someone who knows how to fly a plane. I'll try to keep it level until then," she said over the deep rumble of the engines.
"I know just who to pick!" she yelled back.

Iris didn't know much about this kind of plane except what she learned from playing old video games. Hopefully that was enough.
Iris watched the artificial horizon and managed to get the plane level. Finally Strawberry returned with Guy and the man who was sitting in front of them.
"This is Nathan Warren. He was a pilot before he got drafted into a marine base in San Juan, Mexico during World War III," she said.
"Well I'd shake your hand Mr. Warren but I'm a little busy at the moment. If you could just take over before I fly this thing into a mountain or something," Iris replied not taking her eyes of the horizon. Then she heard Strawberry repeat exactly what she said to him. He was deaf… or at least hard of hearing. He stepped up to her and grabbed the piloting stick. A flood of relief filled her veins when she let go and leapt out of the seat. Iris looked at him she noticed an artificial eardrum in his ear. His real eardrum must have been burst or cracked at one time.
"Do any of you know where were headed?" Mr. Warren asked loudly.
"Maybe this will help," said Guy pulling a map out of an open compartment. In the corner she could see a small island boxed off with a red circle around it.
"That must be where were supposed to be going," Iris replied. They nodded. Guy handed the map to Mr. Warren as he carefully examined the coordinates. Then resumed flying. Iris felt she could relax.
It wasn't long though before someone else came to the cockpit. He was a short grubby looking character in his thirties.
"I say, wot's going on here. A minute ago we were about to crash now she's flying smooth as a bird," then he saw the dead pilot lying in the floor. "Oh dear."
"He was shot," said Strawberry.
"He was wot?" he repeated.
"He was shot S-H-O-T shot," Iris said dryly. She didn't feel like getting into too deep of an explanation, and she was beginning to get irritated at his stupidity.
"'Oo shot 'em?" he asked.
"How should I know; he was shot when I got here," Iris sharply replied.
"Well how do we know you di'n't shoot 'em?" he asked.
"Because I was with her when she came in," said Strawberry. Iris was glad Strawberry spoke up. She, probably, would have said something to raise his suspicion towards her. Iris never really was good at explanations. That's probably why her teaching career as a substitute only lasted one day. She confused twenty-nine out of thirty students on the subject of cartoons.
"I think we owe the other passengers an explanation," said Strawberry giving Iris a come with me look.
"I'll stay here with Mr. Warren," said Guy sitting in the copilot's seat. "I always wanted to fly one o' these things."
"Well I 'ope you don' 'ave to get the chance," said the person who had come in earlier.
Strawberry gave Iris the look again then grabbing the man's arm as she left. Iris glumly followed.

She quickly discarded the thought that the worst wasn't over yet while Strawberry explained their situation to the other passengers. Iris wished she hadn't thought of that. Now it is most likely to happen. It was strange how whenever she thought something would happen it did, whether she liked it or not.
Iris must have lost herself because at that moment all six of the other passengers were in a heated argument.
"Who's flying the plane?" one shouted.
"Mr. Warren," Strawberry answered. Some of the others gave her a reluctant look. "He's a pilot too."
"Wait a minute, are you talking about that old gentleman who was sitting in front of you. That's just @^%$#$@ great now we have a deaf man flying the plane!" someone retorted.
"And what does that have to do with it," Strawberry snapped.
"For one thing you have to be able to @#^%&*@ hear to fly a plane," he argued.
"Do you know how to fly a plane?" Iris asked.
"Well I… That's not the point. The point is."
"The point is you haven't a clue how to fly a plane to know if you'd have to hear to do it. Have you even been to the cockpit yet?
"Well no…"
"I thought not because if you had you would notice that over the sound of the engine you can't hear anything."
"You'd have to hear if something were wrong with the @%^#*$@ engine."
"Trust me if something bad happened to the engine we'd all feel it. Now if you've finished you can shut up before you make the rest of the passengers paranoid," she hissed. Iris may not be very good at explanations but when it comes to snapbacks she's the top of the line.
There was complete silence throughout the plane as Guy emerged from the cockpit.
"Mr. Warren said that we were gonna land soon and fer everyone ta si' down an buckle up," he replied then stepped back through. Iris and Strawberry went to their original seats.
Iris dreaded this part. Every time she rode in a plane her ears reeked havoc with her when she began to land. Ever since she was a small child they could never pop. Instead they would ring loudly and become extremely painful. Sometimes her nose would even bleed.
"Gum?" Strawberry offered.
"Thanks," Iris replied taking a piece. She didn't think chewing it would help much but it was worth a shot.
Iris looked out of the window. It was beautiful. As far as the eye could see were trees and plants. She had never really seen an actual rain forest before. Sure she had seen pictures of them but never were they this magnificent. After the Nuclear War all plant life left either mutated or died, so Iris thought. She wasn't the only one amazed by the sight. The entire plane was in awe. Looking further on she noticed a clearing. A small clearing but just large enough to fit the plane in.
Iris braced herself for the landing when she could feel someone in her head.
"If you want to know something that badly then why don't you just ask?" Iris growled.
"How can you tell?" Strawberry questioned.
"What do you mean how can I tell?"
"How can you tell when I enter your mind?"
"My grandmother was partially telepathic." Iris hastily explained. The plane was beginning to land and already her ears were ringing.
She felt like screaming, the closer the plane got to the ground the worse the pain became. She couldn't even hear herself breath over the deep monotonous tone. Her eyeballs throbbed too. She had been squeezing them shut in a vain attempt to soften the pain. It was never this bad before. How far down were they going? Iris managed to look out of the window they had already landed and now were sinking under ground. What was going on?

Chapter 5
The Secret Society

She could feel a hand grasp her shoulder. It must have been Strawberry. She said something but Iris couldn't hear her.
Suddenly the plane shook then stopped. Thank God! Fortunately the pain the ringing went with it.
"Iris," Strawberry remarked.
"Huh?" Iris replied opening her eyes.
"You didn't answer me are you all right?"
"I wasn't a minute ago," she answered. "Why?"
"Your nose is bleeding," Strawberry pointed out.
"Oh darn it," Iris said annoyed as her hand reached up to wipe the blood away.
"Must happen to you often. You don't seem too concerned."
"Yeah well it's been doing this ever since I was a kid," Iris answered dryly. "Where are we?"

Strawberry, Iris, and the rest of the passengers stood up and began to leave. The smell of earth and machinery filled Iris' nostrils as she stepped out of the plane. It looked like a giant pit. The only thing in the entire room was a door and a hallway. The rest was just a dull, red dirt and clay wall.
Guy had already leapt out of the cockpit while Mr. Warren had just finished climbing out. The two began walking towards Iris and Strawberry.
"Well if this ain't the horses saddle, where are we?" Guy asked scratching the back of his neck.
"You don't know? How did you guys find our way here?" Strawberry asked with uncertainty.
"We didn't," Mr. Warren replied.
"What do you mean you didn't," Iris whispered hoarsely.
"The minute we flew over the island on the map the darned thing went into auto-pilot. Then somethin' filled the cockpit an' the next thing I know we're waken up," Guy answered.
"Hello, people glad you all made it!" someone announced. Iris whipped around. He was a tall dark skinned man at least in his early forties. His hair was kinky and already turning gray on the sides. His clothes were solid black. "Welcome to the Secret Society. We are an organization created for the soul purpose of preventing wars between any country or government. Especially Democratia and The Repubucon. You ten were hand picked out of thousands for your skills and flaws. You are our newest recruits," he replied his voice deep and soothing.
"You've gotta be kidding me. First you hijack no kidnap us then you expect us to join some kind of @%#$*@! cult. I want out of this place right now!" someone exclaimed. The same person Iris had argued with earlier that evening on the plane.
"We can not force you to stay. If you want to leave just walk out of that door," the man answered.
"I'm outta here," he replied. Three others nodded and the four walked out of the door. A few seconds later you could hear screaming and four laser gun shots.
"Any one else feel the need to leave?" No reply. "Good. My name is General Jack Mason I will be you trainer for the next three weeks. During these three weeks you will finish your series of tests…" Mason replied.
"What do you mean finish?" someone asked. His jet-black hair combed back. He was wearing a gray suit.
"Ever since the beginning we have been testing you to see how you would react to your new lives." he answered. Now Iris understood why she felt someone watching her ever since the beginning. It was all a test, and from the looks of things she must have passed.
"If you will follow me please," Mason's deep voice commanded. Iris looked solemnly at the others then followed. What had she gotten herself into this time? Man!

Chapter 6
They meet again

Millions of questions cruised through Iris' brain. Under normal circumstances she would have asked them straight out, but these were definitely not normal circumstances.
As they traveled the place reminded her more and more of an office building. Computers surrounded them. Some had people at them and some seemed to work independently. Then Iris saw someone familiar. The guy who had her go to the airport. She still didn't even know his name. Iris turned around and looked a Strawberry. She had that probing look again. Must have recognized him too. Iris jammed her elbow into Strawberry's arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" she shrieked. Some people glanced in their direction.
"I saw what you were doing," Iris answered.
"I was just finding out his name," Strawberry retorted rubbing the now red place on her arm. She bruised awfully easy.
"There are other ways of finding out someone's name besides barging in on their thoughts," Iris replied.
"Name anything except asking them," she remarked.
"Ask someone else."
Strawberry said nothing and kept walking.
Finally Mason stopped in front of a small hallway containing five doors. Two to the left, two to the right, and one on the end. On the doors Iris noticed etchings of names, one of them containing hers and Strawberry's.
"These will be your living quarters. Don't worry about your clothes or personal items they burned the minute you set foot on the plane. As of now you no longer exist in the outside world. Any old friends or acquaintances you may have had will not remember you. You may go anywhere you like just keep in mind that you will be under close surveillance at all times. Good day and I'll expect to see each of you ready and sharp in the morning at five o'clock," he said walking away.
"Did he say five o'clock?" Mr. Warren asked.
"Yep," Guy answered. Iris approached the other two who had stayed behind.
"Hi, I'm Iris," she replied out stretching her hand.
"I'm Kimberly Huang," Kim replied taking it. She had strong Korean features but no noticeable accent.
"My name is Doctor Alexander Methyl," he replied. This was the same person who had asked General Mason about the tests.
"Hey! I'm Strawberry Snow this is Guy Slater and Nathan Warren," Strawberry answered.
"Great now that we've broken the ice if you'll excuse me there is someone I would like to talk to," Iris replied turning away.

She finally made her way back to the computer room. He was still there examining the contents on an electronic clipboard as Iris walked up to him.
"By the way I never quite caught your name," she replied. He looked up a surprised yet relieved expression came over his face.
"Lucas Wesly. I'm glad to see you're still alive," he replied.
"What was I supposed to die," Iris remarked.
"No, I just figured that the plane would have crashed that's all. Good thing someone figured out Nathan Warren was an ex-pilot," Lucas answered. Iris gave him a suspicious look.
"It's my job to look up on everyone I recruit," he quickly answered.
"How much do you know about me?" Iris asked when someone came up from behind Lucas and tapped him on the shoulder.
"General Mason wants to see you," she whispered.
"Well, it was wonderful talking with you," Iris replied sarcastically as Lucas hurried away.
"Talk about the cold shoulder," Strawberry replied. Iris breathed in startled. "A little high strung aren't we."
"How long have you been standing there?" Iris quietly shrieked.
"What do you mean how long? I followed you. You didn't notice?" Strawberry asked.
"Well apparently not," Iris replied heading back toward the living quarters. "Next time make some kind of noise when you follow me OK."
"You know if you're trying to attract the guy maybe you should throw yourself at him more," Strawberry said stepping in front of her.
"Oh shut up," Iris snapped slightly amused pushing Strawberry out of the way. "Besides I'm not trying to attract him."
"You could've fooled me," Strawberry retorted.
"I'm serious. I just want to be friends," Iris said stopping dead still.
"That's what I said about Joey."
"Joey? Who's Joey?"
"An old high school crush," Strawberry replied checking out one of the guys standing at a computer. "I never said anything to him. He started going out with another woman and a few years later they were married." Strawberry's eyes shifted from the man at the computer to another one walking by. "I've regretted it ever since."
"You don't seem to be regretting it now," Iris replied walking towards the quarters again.
"OK maybe that wasn't the best example. I'm just saying that if you don't grab him now someone else will."
"And how do you know he's not taken?"
"Uh, well I…"
"You probed his mind! My God! Is it like an addiction or something!? Do you have to probe everybody!" Iris burst.
"No! It's just sometimes when I get curious or bored I… He didn't even know I was there. I just went in and out that's all. I didn't leave a trace."
"That's not just it! Your invading peoples privacy. Besides one day you may not just go in and out so easily. If your not careful you may get stuck with some homicidal maniac. Then where would you be?" Iris asked no calmer than before.
"How do you know so much about telepaths?" Strawberry questioned.
"Like I said before my grandmother was telepathic," Iris replied stopping in front of their door. "It's how she died." she added solemnly stepping inside; she then took a seat on one of the cot like beds. Strawberry sat on the other.
"What do you mean how she died?"
"My grandmother was a great psychiatrist. No one could figure out why she understood her patients so well. She used to probe their minds. One day she wasn't careful and she became stuck with one of her patients. They were suicidal. After a while she took on some of their traits. The general says that she came home one night after work with a gun. She had decided to play a little game with her children. Russian roulette. She took turns from the youngest to the oldest spinning the barrel and taking a shot at each of them. She used the last bullet to shoot herself. The general was hiding in the closet at the time but he still watched the entire thing." Iris explained.
"I'm sorry," Strawberry apologized.
"Don't be. He used to tell me that story to make me stop crying. Just because he never cried when he saw it happen. He had no idea it made him sound heartless not strong."
"Not a real father daughter relationship, huh."
"More like a father son relationship," Iris retorted.
"Oh my God you're a guy!"
"No I'm not a guy! The general just treated me like one."
"Oops, my mistake. Some times I tend to misinterpret things," Strawberry replied clearing her throat.
"So I've noticed," Iris remarked. Strawberry stuck her tongue out and they both began to laugh.
"If we ever want to wake up in the morning I think we should go to sleep now. It's exactly 10:01," Iris suggested.
"Good idea," Strawberry answered grabbing a pair of gray pajamas, which just happened to by lying there. She stepped into another room connected to theirs. Iris assumed it was a bathroom. A few minutes later she stepped back out.
"It fits fairly well, but it could stand a color change," she replied getting into her bed. Iris reached over and grabbed the other pair as she stepped into the bathroom. Hers seemed to fit just fine. When Iris walked out she immediately climbed into bed.
"Hey, wake me up in the morning will ya," Strawberry requested.
"OK," Iris replied.

Iris opened her eyes and picked up her speaker watch from the small round table beside her bed. She knew exactly what time it was, but she wanted to make sure.
"Visual," Iris whispered. On flashed the time 4:05 AM. Good, despite everything her internal clock was still intact. Iris sat up and quietly climbed out of bed. So it wasn't exactly 5:00 yet if she got up now it was a sure thing that she would be up on time.
She couldn't even hear herself breath as she stepped into the bathroom with a pair of clothes that just happened to be lying in the chair. She figured Strawberry wasn't an early riser, and didn't want to wake her just yet. After she made up her bed, Iris swiftly opened the door and stepped into the hallway. She wandered around for about ten minutes and saw no one. It was like the place was dead. Uh oh, maybe that wasn't the best analogy to use. Now she was growing suspicious. Eventually she sneaked into the computer room.
Finally she saw some people. Crouching behind one of the computers she began to listen in. She couldn't understand a word that they were saying but she did make out who they were. Lucas, Mason, and another person she had never seen before. He was short and wore a dark red suit. His black hair was receding behind his head and his brown eyes glanced into her direction. She quickly moved farther behind the computer. A few minutes later she looked towards them again and watched as they stepped into what looked like an office. Great now how was she going to hear them. Then she noticed a vent just large enough for her to fit through. She stepped underneath it and with one vertical jump she pushed the grate up and out of the way, grabbing the edge with her free hand. Quickly she grasped it with her right and pulled herself up. Steadily she made her way to the grate that ran over the office. Placing her ear over it she began to listen.
"She's a Repubuconist and could pose a threat," said the mystery man.
"Yes, but that's what makes her perfect for the job. She knows how they think. Her father was even a general in their military, she would know exactly where to go," answered Lucas.
"As long she is still a recruit she must pass all of her tests before we can even consider assigning her to anything," replied Mason.
"She has already passed most of them. She didn't tell anyone which airport to go to. She knew exactly when I watched and never let on that she did. When the pilot drone's death program came on she kept a cool head and took over the plane even though she can't fly one until Strawberry Snow came back with the ex-pilot. I think she is more than qualified for the job," Lucas argued. Iris had heard enough she knew they were talking about her. It was about 4:25 and she decided she wanted to explore more of the ventilation system before 5:00. Just encase.

Chapter 7
At five

Iris dropped down into her and Strawberry's quarters at exactly 4:45. After shaking Strawberry for a few minutes Iris decided to resort to more drastic measures. She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the sink faucet just enough for it to drip. Then after purposely leaving the door open she sat on her bed and waited. It worked like a charm. A few seconds later Strawberry got up an annoyed look on her face and turned off the faucet.
"You didn't hear that?" she sleepily asked.
"Of course I heard it. I was the one who caused it," Iris answered.
"Why on earth…"
"To wake you up."
"You are one weird human being you know that," Strawberry snapped grabbing her gray clothes and walking back into the bathroom.
"Not weird, just creative," Iris replied leaning next to the door. "Besides it was either that or I strip the blanket off you and douse you down with ice cold water."
"Well thanks for saving my humility," she replied sarcastically as she stepped out.
"No problem," Iris answered.
After they walked outside Iris began to feel this strange tingling sensation. Quickly she looked at her hand; it was fading. The world around her drastically spun, the next thing she knew she was lying down on a hard rock floor.
"Iris!" someone yelled. The cry caused Iris' already pounding head to throb. She sat up and looked in the direction of the voice. General?
"Well don't just sit there untie me!" he thundered. Iris hesitated.
"What's going on? What happened?" Iris asked.
"After the plane crash they found your ID and contacted me. @&#*%! Democrations! After I showed up they tranquilized me and locked me up. For torture they put your dead body for me to stare at. Apparently you aren't dead after all. Now untie me!" he explained with roar. It must have all been a dream. Iris still hesitated a little longer.
"Well what are you waiting for!" he yelled his face red and beads of sweat rolling off his fore head.
"No," Iris calmly answered.
"How dare you back mouth you father young lady!" he exclaimed.
"You're not my father." Iris snapped, "He was born a Democration and would never swear against them." Then she let out a small laugh. "On top of that you're sweating. The general didn't even have sweat glands. A mutation from the radiation."
The impostor jumped up snapping the rope around his wrists as he lunged for her. Iris ducked causing him to sail over. She whipped around and made a spinning kick into his head. He got back up without even a trace of blood on his face. Running for her again, Iris grabbed his arm and flipped him into the wall. Still conscious he began running toward her stopping just before she could do anything. Iris balled her hands into fists as her body moved with her arms like a kick boxer. The impostor made a left punch as Iris slumped and spun on the ground using her leg to knock him over with a clang. A clang? Now Iris knew exactly what to do. This time the impostor waited for her to make a move. She ran towards him but just before he could grab her she ducked and rolled between his legs. Then in one swift motion she stood up, turned around, ripped his shirt with one hand, and shoved her other into a hole in his back pulling the wires. With a buzz and a shock to Iris' arm the drone shut down.
Slowly the cell image around her faded into a solid blue room. The drone itself still hunched sparks flying.
"Congratulations, you have completed test 56. Please stand by for your evaluation," a female mechanical voice declared. Iris stood there for a moment when the voice boomed again. "Good job. Please next time we would appreciate it if you did not destroy the drone. Have a nice day."
Just then a door sized space opened in the left wall. At least Iris thought it was the left wall. She walked through it. The room next to it reminded her of a video arcade. Everyone was there: Mason, Strawberry, Guy, Mr. Warren, Dr. Methyl, Kim, and even Lucas.
"What a ride," Iris remarked, smiling uncontrollably the entire time.
"That was like watching a movie. How did you do all that so fast?" Strawberry asked.
"After about fifteen years of karate and gymnastics its like second nature," Iris replied rubbing her arm.
"You OK?" Dr. Methyl wanted to know examining her now vibrating limb.
"I'm fine. I think I shocked my arm a little though," she answered.
"I don' think I could ever go ag'nst my father like that," Guy replied.
"Yeah, but it wasn't my father it was a drone just like our pilot who was so called shot," Iris replied.
"You mean he wasn't human?" Strawberry asked confused.
"Nope. He was just an ordinary drone. With an automatic death program installed," she added looking directly at Lucas. He almost turned red.
"That would explain why I couldn't get a reading on him," Strawberry replied.
"You probed him too?" Iris loudly questioned.
"Well you have to admit he was suspicious," Strawberry answered.
"True." Iris said back. "How exactly did I get here?" She added to change the subject.
"You were evaported," Lucas answered recovering.
"I was what?"
"Evaported. It's where the atoms in your body evaporate and become transported to the wanted destination. Afterwards they condense creating a whole again therefore taking you where you want to go within milliseconds," he replied.
Iris only understood half of what he said, but whatever it was it didn't sound very good. She didn't know whether to be impressed or frightened.
"What would happen if I never condensed?" Iris asked.
"Your molecular structure wouldn't allow that," he replied.
"Well if the machinery were to backfire my molecular structure wouldn't matter much because there wouldn't be one left," she argued.
"We have backup systems to take care of that. It's completely safe don't worry," he answered.
Iris really wanted to take his word on that, but her gut instinct told her that one day something was going to go wrong.
"It is still being tested though," he added brightly seeing the look on her face.
"Well that makes me feel a lot better. Now I'm a human guinea pig," she said. Iris greatly hoped he would just drop it from there. If there was one thing she disliked most it had to be an argument. "It can sharpen the wit as well as make one humble," the general would say. At the age of eleven her mother had her studying to be a lawyer. She could've even passed the bar exam, but after about a week of it she changed her mind and wanted her to become something else. She did that often.
"We only used it on you because we needed to catch you off guard. It was the best way to find out what your true reaction would be," Mason's deep voice answered.
A flash back of something else the general once said to her came to mind.
"No matter what's said to you your only response to a senior officer is either yes sir or no sir. If you can not respond in that manner then do not respond at all!" he would thunder.
"Yes sir," Iris answered standing straight, shoulders back, chest out, and the entire time wondering what on earth she was doing. Old habits die hard. She loosened up a little.
"Iris come with me," Mason replied as he turned sharply and marched away, Lucas close behind him. Iris also followed. What else could she do?
They went through a series of rooms until finally stepping into the office like room Iris had seen them go into earlier that day.
Mason walked to the end of it and turned around with Lucas closing the door behind them.
"You see our method is that we test you by response not by questions and answers. That, Ms. Hennessy, was your final test. We usually examine the recruits longer but someone is just a little too eager to, to, to," Mason said beginning to twitch for a few seconds then straightened out. Iris looked to Lucas. His eyes showed he was concerned but his face differed. She could tell that he was military bred too. "We usually test our recruits longer but you have already proven your worth, therefore we have a job for you to do. The first assignment if you will…"
"Wait a minute," Iris interrupted with uncertainty. "Do I have any say in this?"
"Yes of course we can not hold you against your will," he answered.
"And you'll kill me if I don't," she replied. "Just like you did to the rest who disagreed with you."
"Hey I didn't have any say in, in, in," he almost exclaimed as he started to twitch again. Now Iris was getting worried. "On the contrary you have shown many skills that we could use," he replied as if completely forgetting what he had just said. You are much less valuable to us dead, but if you disagree we can use you in another way," he threatened.
"How exactly do you propose to do that. They're my skills I control them." Her voice showed a hint of uneasiness.
"We have our ways. Trust me, Ms. Hennessy, you will do what we tell you. By any means necessary. When we are done with you, you will wish you told us what you know the first time." His eyes turned menacing and his normally passive face scowled.
Iris just stared part in confusion, part in fear, but mostly trying not to laugh. Then all the sudden she could hear the sound of a computer shutting down as Mason's head fell.
"Sorry about that," said Lucas emerging from behind him. "Ever since you and the other recruits showed up he's been on the edge. Fine one minute then totally changed the next."
Iris noticed Mason's shirt had been unzipped and some wiring was exposed in the back
"He's a drone?" Iris exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well sort of," Lucas replied.
"What do you mean sort of."
"He's part human part drone. The first and only of his kind." he said checking the wires in Mason's back.
"But that's impossible."
"Not necessarily. Under sufficient neutralizers the brain won't reject the mechanical programming."
Iris gave him a cold glare. How could anyone do that to another human being? Lucas didn't seem to notice.
"Why anyone would volunteer to have this done to them is beyond me," he replied as Iris walked around to see what he was doing. Her anger had turned to curiosity. What would a half man half drone look like inside?
"Did you build him?" she asked watching his handy work.
"Are you kidding? It took me a month just to figure out how to do this," he answered as a spark flew from the wiring. "Ow!" Lucas jerked his hand away and sucked on his index finger.
"It took you a month to learn how to shock your finger," Iris joked as he pulled his hand from his mouth and shook it.
"I don't understand. This is the first time that's happened." His voice sounded confused as Mason jerked back to life. The word sabotage ran like a black cloud through Iris' mind as he turned around to face them.
"A first assignment if you will-ill-ill-ill," he began as his head fell again.
"Ahh!" Lucas growled with annoyance walking up to him again. Suddenly Mason's hand shot out and grasped Lucas' throat his face scarlet as he pulled him into the air. Iris grabbed a pen, still attached to an electronic clipboard, from the desk and jammed it into Mason's back. Then giving it a twist he shut down. Quickly she pulled his arm down as Lucas pulled the fingers from the pressure points on his neck.
"Please tell me that was another test," Iris said slightly alarmed.
"I wish," he answered winded. There was a brief pause as Lucas caught his breath. "That was not an ordinary malfunction."
"No kidding. Do you think someone could have planned it?"
"Possibly."
"But who?"
"Wesly!" a voice yelled as if on cue. "What's going on here?" Iris whipped around. A stern looking woman at least in her late forties stood at the doorway. Her face was almost as red as her clothes.
"It was just a malfunction Commander Austere," Lucas replied.
"A malfunction that almost killed us," Iris said under her breath. Austere gave her a look she hadn't seen since old Ms. Micelle caught her making change in the collection plate, back when she lived with her grandfather in Boise.
"You must be Iris Hennessy. I've heard a lot about you," Austere hissed approaching her. Then in one swift shot her pale bony fingers with bright red nails glued to them dug into Iris' gray shirt and pulled her into the old yet fierce face. She was remarkably strong for an old woman. "Now you listen to me. I do not take lip from anyone especially a new recruit." She let go of Iris and walked back through the hallway her red high heels clicking.
"Is she a drone too?" Iris asked.
"No, but she would make a darn good one," Lucas replied.
"Do you think she was the one who screwed with Mason's programming?" Iris asked.
"Are you kidding? That fossil knows less about computers than I know about romance," he replied.
"I take it that's not very much."
"Let me put it this way, the last time I tried to intrigue a girl I accidentally set her perfume on fire."
"Well that's not so bad."
"She was still putting it on."
Iris began to laugh and soon so did Lucas. It was funny when you thought about it.
"Who do you think may have done it?" Iris asked when they had finished.
"Any of the new recruits. Even Guy used to fix the cattle milking machines when he worked on the ranch," Lucas answered.
"What about me?" Iris asked.
"Well no, no, of course not I mean, it uh, it never even crossed my mind," Lucas stopped apparently seeing the look Iris was now giving him.
"You know you blush when you lie," she replied.
"OK so maybe I do suspect you." "But that doesn't mean you did it or anything," he quickly added backing up.
"Are you afraid of me?" Iris asked.
"Kind of," Lucas said with uncertainty. "I've seen what you can do. You could kill me if you wanted to."
"That's a complement, right?"
"Uh, yes?"
"Don't worry, Lucas, I'm not going to kill you." He eased up a little. "Yet," she added seeing the look in his eyes. He was so gullible she couldn't help toying with him.
Lucas relaxed apparently realizing the joke. He even laughed a little.
"Besides I'm not exactly what you would call computer literate," she added.
"You don't have to know much about computers to rewire anything. You just have to be able to disconnect wires and connect them somewhere else," he replied stepping towards the broken down Mason again.
"Well if it's so easy how does it exclude Austere?"
"Ha! If she tried to rewire anything this place would light up like a roman candle. Trust me, I don't even think that geezer could operate an automatic microwave," he answered as he pulled the pen out of Mason's back.
"Uh, Lucas, are you sure its a good idea to get him started again?" Iris asked.
"Like I have a choice. You heard Austere she said to fix him." Iris could hear the wires being torn apart, but she wasn't paying any attention to that. She was watching Mason, his face still in a scowl.
"What do you think we should do about it?" she asked. There was a long pause as Iris waited for his response. He stopped working for just a moment as if in deep thought.
"We shouldn't tell anyone about it," he finally replied.
"What? Why not?" Iris asked. "They have just as much of a right to know about this as we do."
"Look if someone really did mess with Mason's programming then the last thing we need is for them to find out their scheme almost worked. Now do you think you can handle not telling anyone until we find out who it was?"
"Are you kidding, I have so many secrets locked away in my head I can't even remember what half of them are."
There was a long silence.

Finally Lucas stopped working and wiped some beads of the sweat that had long ago formed on his forehead.
"The system's fried. That pen you crammed in there must've short circuited his S.C.N.S."
"S.C.N.S.?" Iris repeated.
"Simulated Central Nervous System. I can't fix it from here. We're going to have to send him to the repairs." He walked towards the visercom.
"Lucas," Iris replied stopping him.
"Huh."
"What if it was a distraction?"
"I don't follow."
"He was going to tell me something about an assignment before he started to bug out. What if there was a flick on him? You know to scramble his programming just before he could tell it to me."
"That makes sense. If there were a flick involved no one would have had to rewire him, but there is no way anyone could have timed the exact moment he would say anything."
"Remote maybe."
"Possibly but that would mean someone was watching us and there are no cameras or windows in here."
"They wouldn't need any of those things necessarily," Iris replied pointing at the vent.
"Are you kidding there's no way any one could fit in there."
"I can, and I'll prove it. Wait here." Iris dashed out and closed the door behind her. After checking if the halls were clear she quietly stepped under the vent and did exactly what she had done earlier that day.
After pulling herself up she slowly crawled to the vent grate that stood over the office. It was too small to climb through, but she did manage to take off the grate itself. She could tell she had impressed him by the look in his pacific-blue eyes.
"See the vent itself is big enough to fit both of us. It's just the grate that's…" Iris stopped. She could hear something approaching from behind her.
"What is it?" Lucas called. He said something else as well but Iris didn't hear it, because at that moment her head hit the side of the vent wall. Ow.

Chapter 8
Attempted Murder?

When Iris awoke the world around her spun. She squeezed her eyes for a moment and opened them again. Her head was pounding and it was hard to focus.
"What's going on?" she mumbled though she doubted any one was there. Slowly she began to prop herself up to gather her settings. The world had finally come to a halt, but she could still feel a throbbing pain where her head had tackled with stainless steel.
She was lying on some sort of hospital bed in a small snowy white room filled with the latest in medical equipment. On the left and ahead were two doors. Iris assumed the left door led outside, since she could see a small piece of a room much like hers in the squared window of the door to the front.
Slowly the left door began to open. In a flash Iris let herself fall back onto the bed regretting what she had done when the pain began to pulsate through her head even more than before. Somehow she managed not to flinch as she heard footsteps coming towards her. They weren't necessarily loud but at the moment everything echoed. Then Iris felt a wet rag being placed over her mouth. Her eyes shot open. The fumes from the rag made them water and all she could see was a blurred figure in red. Her chest began to move up and down violently until finally her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body went limp. When the rag lifted the distinct mix of vanilla and chloroform wafted into her nostrils as a cold hand reached out and closed her eyes. She remained perfectly still until she could hear the door close.
Quickly Iris began to take large gasps of air as her vision again cleared. Mason wasn't a distraction. He was supposed to kill her, Lucas had just gotten in the way. That meant someone wanted her dead.
After lying there for a while Iris decided to get up and find out for herself just how hurt she really was. Slowly she propped herself up and slid off the edge of the M.E.D room bed. The minute she stood up all the blood rushed to her head as her vision blackened. She felt as if she could pass out.
This feeling didn't last very long as Iris stumbled towards the neural scanner. It was the largest piece of machinery in there, it was about the size of a microwave, and it was reflective. Bending in front of it she began to examine the blood soaked bandage above her left eye. Her head mustn't have hit the vent wall very hard because when she lifted the bandage it only revealed a small gash. That must have been why her assaulter came back to finish the job. This couldn't even leave much of a scar.
Slowly the door began to open again. Iris was ready to jump back into the bed until she saw who it was.
"Lucas, thank God it's only you," she breathed.
"Yeah," he replied. "You must be better."
"Except for the fact that my head feels like a horde of elephants trampled over it yeah I am," she answered.
"That's what all this fuss has been about," Lucas retorted pointing at Iris's so called wound.
"A few minutes ago it would have been fatal."
"What do you mean fatal?" Lucas whispered closing the door.
"Someone just came in here and suffocated me," she answered.
"But you're not dead."
"You and I know that, but they don't. Now all we have to do is wait and see who thinks I'm dead," Iris replied when something came to her. What if it was Lucas? He was in the room when Mason went haywire. He could have activated the flick, if there is a flick… No, because then it would have attacked her. Unless that was just a distraction or accident, and he did seem afraid of her. He may have thought she had figured him out. Of course he could just be paranoid. But then how could he have caused her to hit her head on the steel wall, unless there are two…
While Iris was arguing with her self she must have had a spaced out look. Lucas was waving his hand in front of her face.
"Hello, anybody home?" he asked sarcastically.
"What?" Iris burst. Lucas jumped back.
"I said did you see who it was?"
"No the fumes from the rag blurred my vision. All I could see was red."
"Red is a commander's color ranking. What shade was it?"
"I don't know, red," she answered. Lucas grew a disappointed look. "Why?"
"We only have two commanders Austere and Stevenson. Austere usually wears a brighter color red than Stevenson does," he answered. Iris just stared.
At that moment all suspicions of Lucas drained away. She could tell by his eyes that he was genuinely worried.
"What?" he asked. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No, I was just thinking that's all. You know this is just my luck. I've been here two days and I've already done something wrong. Now someone wants me killed."
"It must have something to do with the reason your here," Lucas mumbled.
"Why am I here?"
"I may as well tell you now. The…" He was interrupted as the door opened and a soft white face peered in.
"Iris, thank God! Everyone…" Then she saw Lucas. A sly look grew in her sea green eyes. "Oh I'm sorry am I interrupting something?"
"We'll finish this later." Lucas whispered. Then he stepped outside Strawberry outlining him with her eyes.
"What is it?" Iris asked.
"Word's all over the place that you fell out of the ventilation and cracked your skull open. Everyone thinks you dead," Strawberry replied.

"Well at least its partly true. I was in the vent, but I didn't fall out." she answered.
"Then what did happen?"
"Lucas and I were talking and he bet me that I couldn't climb into the ventilation system. Normally I don't take bets but it kind of sounded fun. So I did it. I didn't count on it being so hot though. My palms got sweaty and my hand slipped." Iris' voice sounded convincing and her eyes showed absolutely no emotion. Exactly how the general had taught her.
"It's hard to believe such a small scratch like that could cause anyone to be knocked unconscious, especially you," Strawberry replied. Iris could tell she didn't believe her story. She had gotten the strangest look on her face. Not like the one she used when she probed someone, but more like she was examining something.
"What?" Iris asked looking behind her.
"What's that prick mark on your neck?" she asked. Iris rushed back to the neural scanner and was now checking her neck. Sure enough there was a tiny red prick on the side. It was strange she didn't even notice it before. Then it clicked in. It wasn't the impact that knocked her unconscious. She was injected with something, possibly some kind of poison or drug. What ever it was it was probably supposed to kill her, and when it didn't the murderer had come back to finish the job with chloroform. But why? And who?

Chapter 9
The job is told

"Your hand slipped huh," Strawberry replied approaching her. "Now lets try the truth this time. What happened?"
Iris spilled everything. Why not. It was apparent Strawberry wasn't the one trying to kill her, and Iris knew that if she didn't tell her now she would probably use another way to find out. Like probing Lucas.
Strawberry just stared for a moment, as if in deep thought. "And Lucas said that…"
"Only the commanders wore red. That's right." Iris completed. She looked ahead a while longer then smiled. "Sorry my mind's a blank."
Suddenly Iris' eyes glowed, as if the little light bulb in her head had been turned on.
"Help me find a syringe," she replied going through the drawers.
"What? Why?" Strawberry asked joining the search.
"I need to take some blood," she answered now opening a drawer full of plastic bagged needles. "Aha!" She pulled one out and ripped it from the plastic.
"What for?" Strawberry asked cocking her head.
"If I was injected with some kinds of lethal drug or poison they would want it out of my system A.S.A.P.. I need to get a sample now before…"
"I don't think that will do much good," Strawberry interrupted. "You've been out for a week."
"A week?" Iris repeated. "How could I have been… the chloroform."
"Of course. No one was trying to kill you they just wanted to make you slip into a coma. What a relief." she replied. For a brief moment Strawberry resembled Leslie in the intelligence factor. God Iris missed her. So simple and naive. Could it have been because of her stupidity she was so happy?
Iris stopped there. She couldn't risk getting distracted right now.
"Oh. Right." Strawberry disappointingly added to her last remark. "What now?"
A knock came at the door as it slowly creaked open. A short man stepped in. He looked familiar but she just couldn't place him. He was decked out in all dark red.
"Commander Stevenson I presume," Iris replied sticking her hand out for him to shake. He eyed it objectively then let out a hearty laugh. It was the man from the computer room.
"How could you tell?" he asked wearing an ear to ear smile. His old face was tanned and looked as if it had been through a lot. There were no scars but it looked pretty worn in. He had to at least be in his late fifties.
"I've already met Commander Austere." Iris unwittingly used the voice she only used for her father.
"I'm sorry to hear about your loss Ms. Hennessy," Stevenson replied.
"My loss, sir?"
"Yes, I heard you lost a little of your patience with Austere the first time you met." Stevenson put his mouth to her ear. "I had the same reaction." Iris laughed maybe she would get along better with Stevenson. Suspect #1 flashed into the back of Iris' head. She disregarded it as Lucas stepped through the door.
"Commander Stevenson, I've been looking for you," he said then gave Strawberry an unwanted look. She stood there unmoved. "Could you excuse us please. This is a confidential matter."
"I don't care if hell just froze over, I'm not leaving," she snapped. Lucas looked hurt then angry.
"Ms. Snow please," he growled through his teeth. Iris began to feel the little electrical bolts of hostility flow between the two. Better do something before things get worse.
"Strawberry, don't be stubborn," Iris remarked. It wasn't exactly what she had meant to say, but it seemed to work. Strawberry stormed out. Lucas seemed pleased as he went on with what he had begun to say earlier.
"Commander I'm glad I found you I…" He was interrupted.
"Aren't you going to ask me to leave too?" Iris asked as if to let on she didn't know what this was about.
"No, this concerns you. Commander I think we should commence with the plans now that Ms. Hennessy seems to be fine." Lucas answered. He talked like he was in a hurry.
"I quite agree. Will you come with me to my office Ms. Hennessy?" Stevenson asked politely.
"Yes sir," was her only response.
They stepped outside into a large gray hallway. Even to the furniture.
Iris memorized every twist and turn in case she found herself in a similar situation to this.
Finally they came to a place she recognized. The large computer room. It seemed booming with people now.
Quickly they stepped into the office like room she had been in much too often before. Austere was already inside.
Stevenson walked behind the desk and majestically whirled around. Lucas had stopped just inside the door.
"Please have a seat Ms. Hennessy. We have a lot to discuss." He implored. Iris did.
"I would like to debate with you some matters of great importance…" he began when something struck Iris-hard.
"Wait!" she exclaimed leaping up. Stevenson seemed surprised to see such a jump in what he must have thought to be a wall flower. Austere only scowled. Iris slowly paced her way to the vent. She looked at it then Lucas. He seemed to be thinking the same thing as Iris. He stepped to a light switch on the wall just underneath it. Iris held her breath. She had a good idea about what it was supposed to do, but with all that has happened she wondered if it had been tampered with too. Lucas flipped the switch. As she had expected the vent closed up.
She turned to Stevenson and Austere. Stevenson looked worried then noticing her glance he smiled.
"Could you please sit now?" he asked kindly. Iris did. "Ms. Hennessy, you are familiar with the Repubucon is that correct?"
"Well, yes, yes of course." Iris answered.
"And you have been inside the building of Commerce and Production?"
"Once or twice when I was young. Why?"
"We need to make sure that you are familiar with the way the building is laid out."
"If I'm not then I can figure it out no problem."
"Good. Now you understand Ms. Hennessy that what is being discussed can not leave these walls?"
"Yes."
"And you do understand that if something does get out then you will be to blame?" Austere scolded.
"I understand."
"Good." Stevenson whirled to the wall behind him. "The Repubucon has the plans to a highly radio active nuclear bomb."
"A nuclear bomb? But I thought the production and design of nuclear weapons had been outlawed since the end World War III." Iris replied.
"They were." Austere answered her arms crossed and her thin bright red lips puckered.
"Then that would mean…" Iris broke off.
"Yes. The Repubucon is planning on breaking the Twenty Year Treaty." Stevenson replied solemnly.
"Then why doesn't Democratia do something?" Iris asked.
"Because they are planning the same thing." Austere answered for him.
"You mean Democratia has plans for a nuclear bomb too?"
"Yes. The same plans in fact. A man named Richard Futon sold the plans to both sides. As long as either side holds them, there is the threat of another war," Stevenson said now facing them.
"That's terrible. But how can I help?" Iris asked.
"Buy using your skills to steal the plans from both sides," Austere replied.
Iris sat there dumbfounded. How was she supposed to steal the plans for a nuclear bomb from The Repubucon? Or Democratia for that matter. They have much stronger security.
"C'mon Iris I know you can do it," Lucas encouraged. Austere gave him a grave look.
"We can't force you to do this," Stevenson replied.
"Gee, where have I heard that before," Iris mumbled. "Do I have a choice?"
"Yes. You can either take this job, or decline and finish your training," Stevenson answered.
"Who will do this one?" Iris asked.
"One of our officers will go in your place," Austere replied.
Iris thought for a moment. After telling her all this they were willing to just let her go. Something wasn't right.
"I'll do it!" she inadvertently exclaimed. Iris sat there and didn't even attempt to counter act what she had just said. After all she did always go with her instincts.
Stevenson smiled. Austere only scowled. Iris watched as her hands went behind her back. All of the sudden a strange sick like feeling came over her.
"Good. Good Ms. Hennessy. We'll start you off right now," Stevenson noted. Iris only waveringly smiled. For some strange reason something was bothering her. Iris the woman that couldn't even be phased by death was now worried about absolutely nothing. At that moment she wanted nothing more but to panic. She wasn't normally like this. Nervous and jumpy. This wasn't her, something was wrong. She began to sweat. She twisted around to look at Lucas. He seemed concerned but did nothing. Why was he just standing there? Why didn't he do something? It was obvious something was wrong with her! Why didn't he @#%&*^@ do something?! Iris was pouring now yet she remained perfectly still.
"Iris, are you all right?" the words muffled into her head.
"No," she mumbled. Her heart began to beat rapidly as her breathing tried to catch up. She may have spat out some profanities but she wasn't sure. Her head grew light. She was freaking out. But why? She swallowed hard trying to get a grip on herself. No! It was too powerful. Something the general once told her rushed into her mind. "Nothing is ever to powerful or too great for one man to accomplish. No matter how hopeless the task may seem. Just fight hard and hope the best out of the consequences." Iris used every ounce of will power and strength she had to hear what Stevenson said next over her heart beat.
"Ms. Hennessy if you're having second thoughts…"
"No! I'm not having second thoughts," Iris' voice quavered.
"You sure?"
"Yes." Iris replied. Her frantics grew tremendously stronger. She looked at Stevenson. His face began to mold and distort into a giant nuclear war head. Huh? She twisted to Lucas, he was coming towards her with some strange thing in his hands. His feet not even touching the ground. Iris whipped to Austere. She melted into a large red dragon fire spitting from her mouth. Everything around Iris began to spin. She put her arms over her head, threw her face into her lap and let out a scream.
Then the feeling was gone. It just vanished. Iris opened one eye and peered up. Stevenson and the others were back to their normal selves.
"Ms. Hennessy?" he asked. Iris forcefully began to laugh.
"Sorry. I know I shouldn't have done that but I couldn't help myself I promise it will never happen again," Iris said trying to smirk. Stevenson smiled himself, Austere still only scowled, and Lucas looked relieved yet unbelieving. What ever just happened, Iris deeply hoped it never occurred again. She may not be able to handle it.
"On second thought Ms. Hennessy, maybe you should get some sleep first," Austere replied. "After what you must have been through you must be tired. You get some sleep and we'll start you off then." Iris all of the sudden did feel extremely tired. A few more minutes and she would be unconscious.
"Wesly!" Austere commanded. Her shrill voice bounced around in Iris' head. "Show Ms. Hennessy back to her room, hmm." Lucas stepped toward Iris and helped her up. She was so tired she could barely lift her toes. She found herself hanging to Lucas and him ready to drag her to her quarters. As if she were helpless.
"It's OK. I've got it," Iris sluggishly moaned. She hoisted herself onto her one, two, three, four, legs and began to walk. It was a struggle but she did it. Why was she so tired? Iris eventually made it through the door.
"Are you all right?" Lucas asked soothingly after they had walked a while.
"No," Iris honestly answered. Her voice sounded weak. Her eyes felt like two deep black pits. All she wanted to do was sleep. Her mind was foggy but the explanation finally came through.
"Lucas," Iris mumbled.
"Yeah," he replied his voice was soft like it had been in the library.
"I," was all she could manage. What was she about to say? Oh well, it didn't matter now. All she needed was some sleep. Yes, sleep was good. Sleep was very good. Wait! No it wasn't! If she went to sleep now she may never wake up.
" ''I'' what Iris?" Lucas asked.
"Don't let me fall asleep."
"What? But the commander said…"
"Don't let me fall to sleep @%$^!*@ it," she growled. Iris' feet began to drag. She couldn't hold up much longer. She slumped to her knees. It was all growing too strong. The next thing she knew she felt a hard slap fall across her face. Iris woke up with a jolt.
"Oh my God! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I, I couldn't…" Lucas helped her up.
"It's OK Lucas. It's OK. I needed it." Iris replied. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. He seemed to feel better. "Thanks." Iris stood up and stepped back a couple of paces as if dizzy.
Suddenly she felt a jolt shoot through her body. Iris shook. What was going on? "I need help."
"I figured that out already. I'm going to get you to a M.E.D. doctor," Lucas replied gently touching her shoulder. Iris only smiled.
"Thanks but no. I don't think that a doctor will help."
"What if it does?"
"Lucas, I'm not even sure I can trust you. Much less some strange doctor."
"He doesn't have to be strange. What about Dr. Methyl? You know him."
"No. I only met him for a few seconds. That doesn't exactly make him trust worthy."
"More than a few seconds. You spoke with him back at the sim-room."
"Oh yeah, big difference."
"All right then let me look at you."
"You're a doctor?"
"Well no not exactly. But I'm a fast learner, and I watch the other doctors all the time."
"No thanks," Iris replied walking forward. She didn't know where she was headed, but it somehow made sense to just move. Wait a minute. What if that was what they want her to do? Iris stopped. Or what if they wanted her to think that's what they wanted her to do? She started walking again. What if they wanted her to think that they wanted her to think that was what they wanted her to do? Iris stopped. Or what if… Great now she was just being paranoid.
"Iris?" He looked concerned as he walked in front of her. "Now look Iris how are we going to do anything if you don't trust anyone enough to let them. You said yourself that you needed help," Lucas replied crossing his arms.
"I did?" Iris questioned. It was all kind of fuzzy now.
"Yes, you did," he said now taking her by the shoulders.
"Iris!" Someone called from behind. She turned her head. Strawberry approached her, her hands behind her back and a blank but warm smile on her face. Her gray clothes hung limply on her body. Iris hadn't noticed that before. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you. How was it?"
"How was what?" Iris asked now turning towards her.
"The meeting with Cm. Stevenson. What happened? What did he say? I went back to the M.E.D. room but you had already gone," she answered. Iris looked at her blankly then remembered.
"Excuse me but when do you have the right to all that information?" Lucas asked. Uh oh. There was that hostility again.
"I assumed since Iris was my friend that I could ask her how she was and what happened. Besides I wanted to find out if Iris was ever told what her job was."
"You told her?" Lucas harshly whispered looking at Iris.
"Of course she told me. Why shouldn't she?!" Strawberry yelled.
"It's supposed to be secret information that's why!" Lucas yelled back.
"What was secret information? The fact that - MASON WAS A DRONE! Or the fact that -HE MALFUNTIONED AND TRIED TO KILL YOU!" Strawberry announced obnoxiously. Now Iris was getting a headache.
"Both! Besides what gives you the right to pry into others business!" Lucas spat his face now in hers.
"Well excuse me for being a concerned friend!"
"That's enough," Iris said in a low tone. Strawberry and Lucas just seemed to ignore her.
"A concerned friend! You can be a concerned friend and mind you own @%#*!&^@ business!" Lucas scowled his face red. By now many people were watching but no one tried to stop it.
"That's enough," Iris said again this time a little louder. Still no response.
"Well I'm sorry if asking how my friend is and what happened to her is so @&^%$*@ wrong!"
"That's enough," Iris said this time in her normal voice.
"Oh well! I guess that makes all the difference now doesn't it!"
"Shut up!" Iris shrieked. "Do you two have to bicker about everything? My God! What is it about each other that you hate so much. You've only known one another for two days if even that!" Iris could tell steam must have been gushing out of her ears. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go to my quarters and get some well deserved rest."
Iris turned away Strawberry and Lucas seemingly speechless at her sudden outburst.
"Look Iris if I…" Lucas began to say.
"No. I don't want to hear it. Just let me have a few moments alone," Iris mumbled walking away.
When she finally made it to her quarter's door Iris leaned against it and slumped to her knees covering her face with her hands. Hopefully tomorrow won't be like this.
"You OK?" a western voice asked. Iris didn't even have to look up she knew it was Guy. She lifted her head. Guy was wearing all gray too, but somehow he managed to salvage his tan cowboy hat. Maybe they just thought he looked funny without it.
"I'm fine," Iris replied giving him a weak smile.
"You wanna talk about it?" he asked sitting beside her.
"Trust me Guy, you do not want to get in the middle of this."
"Why don' you let me be the judge of that. Besides I learned alotta stuff on the ranch. Maybe I c'n give you some advise." He looked at her attentively.
"Lucas and Strawberry fight every time they see each other. What's worse they're usually fighting over me."
"Well, I had a couple o' friends once who did that. Turns out they were in love with each other an' were too stubborn to admit it."
"I don't think that's the case."
"Let me finish. Now one o' the reasons, as was explained to me, 'as that they were jealous of each other. But come to find out my friend, who I 'as really close to by the way, 'as a hidin' somethin' from everybody. Never did fin' out what it was though."
"Thanks Guy. I feel a little better now."
"Don' mention it ma'am," Guy said getting up and tipping his hat. Iris got up as well.
"Please, call me Iris. Not ma'am."
"Yes ma'… I mean Iris."
Iris opened the door to her quarters and stepped inside. It was amazing how many good friends she had made in the past two days. Now she understood what the general said about how some of the best friends you have you make in the army. Of course this wasn't the army. Hopefully. Iris had just put on her gray pajamas and was ready for bed when a knock came at the door.
"Yes!" Iris called out.
"It's me Strawberry," the voice muffled through the door. "Can I come in?"
"It's your room too," Iris answered as Strawberry stepped inside.
"Look, I'm sorry I just blew my top," she replied. "I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes."
"Go ahead I'm listening," Iris said getting under the cover.
"It's about Lucas. I don't trust him."
"Obviously." Iris sneered. "I'm sorry. Continue."
"Thanks. I don't know. There's just something about him that gives me the creeps. At first I was OK with him but then…"
"But then what?"
"Then I probed his mind."
"Oh Lord Strawberry! Not that again."
"I couldn't help it. Iris I found something else in is mind besides the fact he was single."
"What was it?" Iris asked.
"Well… Never mind. I'll tell you in the morning when your feeling better. Good night Iris," she said heading back out the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Iris questioned.
"Oh I just need to take a walk. I'll see you in the morning." Strawberry went outside and closed the door behind her.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Iris sat down. She was almost afraid to go to sleep. Hopefully that jolt was a sign that it was all over. Iris closed her eyes.
She had only been asleep for a moment when a loud rapping came from the door. What now!?

Chapter 10
An unexpected visitor

Iris propped herself up with her elbow.
"Who is it?" she sleepily called.
"It's Lucas let me in," he muffled through the door. Iris got up and looked to Strawberry's cot. It was empty? She must not have come back yet.
After shuffling to the door Iris cautiously opened it. She peeked through the crack she had revealed. It was Lucas. Iris opened it the rest of the way. Lucas walked in carrying a physical scanner. Iris was about to close the door when another figure stepped in.
"Mason?" Iris stuttered.
"He just came back from the repairs. You were right. It was a flick," Lucas explained.
"I wanted to apologize for my recent behavior. I could not seem to control myself," Mason said his face showed nothing, Iris couldn't tell it was sincere.
"That's OK. You weren't in your best health. If you have any health that is. Besides, that can't be the only reason you came," Iris said eyeing the scanner.
"Your right. I spoke with Mason and he said he may know what is wrong with you, but he'll have to take an x-ray to be certian." Lucas answered.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Iris wondered. Lucas looked at her hesitantly.
"Your not gonna hit me or something are you?"
"No."
"You sure cause…"
"Oh will you just do it," Iris snapped. Her patience was growing thin. She was tired.
Lucas reluctantly stepped towards her and turned on the scanner. An orange fluorescent beam shot out, as Iris closed her eyes. She knew good and well that if the laser hit them it could blind her.
She could feel the warmth of the scanner light engulf her then slowly fade away. Iris' eyes opened and watched Lucas hand the scanner to Mason.
In a few moments Mason had examined the contents enough.
"It is as I thought. Look at this," Mason said handing the scanner back to Lucas.
"What?" asked Iris. They ignored her.
"Is that what I think it is?" Lucas questioned.
"Yes," Mason replied.
"What?" asked Iris again. Still no response.
"Isn't that experimental?" Lucas included.
"Isn't what experimental?" Iris demanded. She was getting a little worried now. Lucas looked at her then handed over the scanner. In the small screen she could she a frozen picture. An x-ray of her brain. At her stem she could see a small greenish circle.
"What's that?" she asked.
"A chip. It's completely experimental. It was created for mental purposes. They canceled the production of it because of the human rights movement. That must be the prototype," Lucas explained.
"Prototype? But how did it get in me?"
"It can be injected easily," Mason answered.
Injected? It all made sense now. The mark on her neck, the fact she was knocked out with only a small gash, and her strange behavior.
"Can't you take it out?" Iris wanted to know.
"Yes, but that could lay you out for weeks," Lucas answered.
"Then what?"
"It seems to have burned out for now. It should not give you any trouble until it can regenerate itself. Still I suggest that we remove it immediately," Mason replied.
"How long will it take to regenerate?"
"Two days at the most," Mason answered.
"Two days? That isn't long enough for me to steal plans for a nuclear weapon from both sides," Iris strained into a whisper.
"Then I suggest that we remove it now. You obviously are too weak to handle it on your own," Mason quipped the look in his eyes was menacing. He turned and walked to the other side of the room as if he were upset with something.
"Guess he's still got a few kinks to iron out," Lucas replied.
"What do you mean?" Iris wondered.
"His reaction," Lucas explained. "It isn't normal for a drone to act like that. They're supposed to be passive. Immune to any emotion."
"That might be true but isn't Mason partly human too?"
"Partly human or not he is still supposed to be a drone."
"That is correct. I am not programmed to show human emotion. I am sorry," Mason bowed facing them once again.
"Isn't remorse a human emotion?" Iris asked. Mason seemed confused. She was about to say something else when the door began to slowly open. Two green eyes peered in.
"Oh, I thought you would be asleep by now. I didn't know you were going to have a small party," Strawberry said coming in.
"I'm not. Mason just came back from the repairs, and wanted to apologize," Iris replied.
"Got that flick removed, huh," she answered.
"How do you know about the flick?" Lucas asked. Strawberry only tapped her head. He seemed puzzled. Didn't Lucas not know she was telepathic?
"Um, Iris, I need to ask you something," she finally said.
"Well what is it?" Iris wanted.
"Do I have to ask in front of two guys?"
"Hey! What ever you have to ask Iris you can ask in front of me," Lucas flared.
"Fine. Iris I was wondering. You know how they said that they burned all of our possessions. This is sort of embarrassing but, um, well I sort of, um, I kinda…" Strawberry broke off pointing downward. Lucas looked more embarrassed than Strawberry.
"I think I'll leave you two alone for this," he said pushing Mason out of the door; then followed.
Strawberry urgently shut the door behind them.
"I'm not too late am I? Of course not you're still breathing. Thank God you're OK. I thought I wouldn't get here in time," she babbled.
"Strawberry, what are you talking about?" Iris questioned.
"He didn't do anything to you did he?"
"No, why would he?"
"Don't lie to me, Iris. His mind's an open book. I don't even have to concentrate to know that he was going to kill you."
"What? He wasn't going to kill me."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Huh. Either I had him pegged all wrong or he's more clever than I thought," Strawberry answered.
"What do you mean?"
"The minute I looked in here I read what was going to happen. Lucas was playing back a piece of something he and Mason talking about. They were planning to kill you. First they were going to tell you, you had some sort of experimental chip in your head. Then they were going to offer to remove it. If you agreed they were going inject you with some sort of anesthesiac to calm you down. But you never would have woken up." Iris backed up; she felt as if her guts had been ripped out and stuffed down her throat. Lucas was going to kill her. How could he?
"I know it's hard to believe because you've got the hots for him, but you have got to trust me, please," she pleaded.
Iris wasn't sure now. Lucas wasn't the kind of person who could hurt her. He wasn't the kind of person who could harm anyone. But Mason. He tried to kill her once before. Lucas could have lied about him coming back from the repairs. He could have even lied about the flick entirely. She just wasn't certain anymore.
"But why?" Iris asked.
"Money," Strawberry answered.
"Money?"
"Yeah. War makes big profits. Selling weapons and things. Especially for the people who aren't in the war. Lucas is from one of the independent states. He wouldn't have to fight in the war. That only leaves two more options. He could make himself a citizen to another government or…"
"He could buy and sell weapons and defense. I get it. People can make a large profit that way. Buy things cheap sell them high," Iris completed. "Or find old stuff, restore it, then sell it high. He is good with his hands." It tried to run together but something was still not right; she just couldn't put her finger on it. "We've got to tell Stevenson or Austere."
"No. No, they wouldn't believe us. Lucas is one of their best. He was brought here to be trained at the age of six. I think we should capture him and Mason first; then tell Stevenson or Austere. That way we can force him to tell the truth," Strawberry suggested.
"No, that would be too hasty. Besides what if we're wrong? We should tell Stevenson or Austere first," Iris argued. Strawberry looked as if she would argue further but then stopped.
"All right, we'll find Stevenson and tell him, but only Stevenson. I think Austere may be in it too."
"Deal." Iris and Strawberry nodded to one another and slipped quietly outside. Now they had to find Stevenson.

It only took a few moments to locate him. He was in the sound proof office Iris had been in often before. Strawberry was the first to speak up. She told him everything about their suspicions of Lucas and Mason. Stevenson nodded.
"Is that true, Ms. Hennessy?" he finally asked after contemplating the situation.
"Yes, sir," she quickly answered.
"I see. I'll call them in here. Then we'll see what we can do." He reached to the visercom and flipped it on. Iris couldn't see the face on the screen, but it still had that robotic female voice.
Almost as soon as Stevenson uttered their names he was buzzing to let them in. Since when was the door locked?
Lucas walked in first. Iris just now noticed his dark blue clothes. What ranking would that be? Mason came in next; still wearing all black.
"Ms. Hennessy and Ms. Snow here were just telling me that they think you two are trying to murder Iris here. Is that true?" he asked. Iris could hear the doors locking. Something wasn't right.
"No sir," Lucas answered a look of disbelief covering his face. Mason just looked straight ahead.
"I thought you might say that," Stevenson replied reaching under his desk. Suddenly he whipped out a laser gun. Iris watched as the little red homing light placed itself into the middle of Lucas' forehead. Oh God.

Chapter 11
The truth is discovered

Suddenly the smell of vanilla filled Iris' nostrils. It all began to piece together now. Stevenson was the one who was trying to kill her.
"No!" Iris screamed leaping for the gun. She grabbed Stevenson's wrist and made it torsion. A laser shot from the gun hitting the ceiling. She twisted it out of his hand as it fell to the floor. Stevenson yelped with pain as Iris dashed down for the gun, only Strawberry got to it first. "Strawberry, it was Stevenson who was trying to kill me not Lucas," she urgently explained. Stevenson began to laugh. Strawberry pointed the gun towards him. His laughter changed to surprise as a laser sliced through his head between the eyes. He slumped to the floor dead.
"Thanks, Strawberry, but you didn't have to kill him," she said relived and disgusted all at once.
"Oh yes I did," she snarled now pointing the gun at Iris. Oh no. What now?
"You tricked me," Iris said seemingly disappointed and defeated. She glanced at Lucas. His eye's were telling her to keep Strawberry busy. "Why?"
"I already told you, Iris, money," she answered the gun not even wavering.
"No, that I understand. Why this way? I told you things no one else knows about me. My thoughts and feelings. I trusted you." Iris began to cry. "I trusted you."
"Hey, I never made you trust me. That was of your own accord," she argued. It was working.
"What did you expect? I thought we were friends," Iris weakly snapped back.
"Friendship is short lived; especially when money is involved. Besides I would rather be rich than be friends with a fluctuant, pathetic, indecisive, insecure, powerless, shaky, soft, unstable, woundable, simpleton like you. You know what your problem is? You care too much." Strawberry began to pull the trigger.
"You know that hurt," Iris began, stalling for time. "And I was about to make a deal with you too."
"A deal huh."
"Well more like a suggestion. You could make a lot more money this way."
"Oh really? And what would that be?" she asked. Hook, line, and sinker.
"I'm not quite so sure I should tell you now."
Iris could feel Strawberry trying to poke around inside her brain.
"Ah, ah, ah," she replied shaking her head. "You can't get to it that way." Strawberry began to get nervous. She took her finger completely off the trigger now.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Just half of the profit," Iris answered stepping towards Strawberry. She put her finger back on the trigger.
"Deal. Now what is it?" she asked.
"This!" Lucas yelled whacking the electronic clipboard onto the back of her head. Strawberry slinked to the floor unconscious.
"What took you so long?" Iris asked grabbing up the gun before he could.
"First I had to find something to hit her with; then I had to wait for the right moment. I didn't want her to see me," he answered. Iris looked at Mason now. He was still staring straight ahead.
"And why didn't you do something?" Iris asked him.
"Stevenson had already been convicted of the crime and Snow fulfilled his punishment. I was under no obligation to apprehend her until she committed a crime," he answered.
"She was about to kill me!" Iris said bewildered.
"About to, being the operative words," Mason replied. Oh boy.
Lucas reached for the visercom.
"Hold it! What are you doing?" Iris asked.
"I'm going to contact Austere," he answered tranquilly.
"What if she's in on it too?"
"We have to tell somebody. Anyway, you have a gun. If worse gets to worse you can just shoot her."
"You make that sound easy."
"It is. All you have to do is point the gun, pull the trigger, and ZAP. One less life to clutter the universe."
"Well that's a new way of putting it," Iris criticized.
"You know, I expected a lot more understanding from a girl who was raised like a little soldier," he countered. Iris resented that remark. True, for eighteen years of her life she was taught things like that. By the general (and about all the teachers she ever had in school), but the one thing she could give him credit for was this. Every day he would tell her to only take a life if it were utterly necessary.
"I'll bet where ever you go there are always a batch of dead bodies left behind," Iris said grasping the gun. She didn't like weapons of any kind but she felt safer holding it herself.
She looked to Mason. He still resumed his military stance. Iris didn't ask. He wasn't completely human why should she expect a human reaction from him.
Iris diverted her attention now to Strawberry. It wouldn't be long before she came to.
"I think we should tie her up," Lucas suggested.
"Good idea." Iris took off her speaker watch and used it to bind Strawberry's wrists together.
"There."
"A watch?"
"Yeah. I've had it for two years. It's durable."
"God I hope so," Lucas replied stepping toward the visercom again. He flipped the switch. Nothing. He flipped it again. Still nothing. "It's dead. Stevenson must have disabled it before Strawberry shot him so no one can contact in," Lucas replied.
"Well can't you just reconnect it?" Iris asked.
"I'll try. Until then we'll just have to wait and hope someone finds us, or tries to come in here."
"At 1:13 in the morning?" Iris asked.
"Well… wait how do you know it's 1:13?"
"It's a gift."
"If it's a gift then why do you have a watch?"
"For instances like these. Now can you just concentrate on fixing the visercom!" Iris snapped. It was all starting to get to her now.
Suddenly Strawberry moaned. Iris pointed the laser gun steadily to her head. Her eyes shot open rapidly covering the room; finally planting themselves onto Iris. Strawberry smiled menacingly.
"You two are brighter than I thought," she replied realizing her hands were strapped together. She began to stand up but Iris held the gun threateningly firm.
"See now why do you do that? You know your not going to shoot me. You can't," Strawberry taunted. She was right. Iris could never kill anything. It wasn't in her nature. Slowly she turned the settings from kill to stun using her finger to cover the red light that had just turned green. Strawberry didn't seem to see this as her attention averted to Lucas.
"What about you? You may act military, but I know your secret." Lucas looked up at her from his work. His eyes looked like two China blue saucers. He swallowed.
"That's right. I know all about your mother and why you're even here. But I can help. I can make you forget all about it," she said straightening up. Lucas seemed almost interested.
"How?" he asked.
"She's toying with you Lucas. Don't listen to her. She's just telepathic," Iris warned.
"Don't you think he should decide that on his own." A sly grin appeared on her face. Lucas looked from her to Iris; then back again.
"How?" he asked.
"I can do more than just silly parlor tricks. I can take away memories." She looked to Iris. "I can even cause people to see, smell, and hear things that aren't there." The last piece to the puzzle. The picture was almost clear, all she had to do now was put the puzzle together. "So what do you say Lucas? Promise me you'll let me go and I'll take away those gory memories." Lucas stood up, walked towards Strawberry and squat to her face. He looked at her inquisitively.
"Do you actually think I'm stupid enough to give you my solemn word that will let a psychopath like you to roam the streets at night?" he spat. Iris relaxed the gun in her hand. The minute he stood up she had it pointed to the both of them. Lucas walked back to the visercom and continued working.

Things were silent for a while. Mason finally found it in himself to approach Lucas.
"Did I mention…" broke Strawberry. "that I am very good with machinery?" The minute she uttered those words Mason's arm shot out and grabbed Lucas by the throat. This scene was all too familiar. In a few seconds he had him dangling in the air.
"Now Iris give me the gun or Lucas dies," Strawberry replied standing up. She had rigged her hands free of Iris' watch. Iris began to laugh.
"You've gotta be kidding me. You actually expect me to hand over this weapon so you can kill us all anyway? I don't think so." Iris jerked the trigger sending a bolt of light right into Strawberry's path. Die!

Chapter 12
it sinks in

Iris watched as the beam crashed into Strawberry's chest. Visible little waves of green light surged all through her body. In a millisecond she fell causing Mason to grasp even harder. Lucas' face for some reason reminded Iris of a ripe black cherry.
Everything was in slow motion, she could hear the beating of her own heart, and could see Lucas' life slowly being squeezed from him.
Iris sailed to Mason; his free arm flew out in an attempt to swat her away. Iris ducked just in time as it whooshed over. She whipped around, shot up, and grasped it with all her strength. Mason lifted it trying to shake her off never letting go of Lucas. Crack! Iris soared into the wall the arm coming with her. Sparks flew from it and from the stub where the limb used to be. Mason disregarded the minor loss.
The breath had been knocked from Iris' body but she paid it no heed. She leapt to her feet grasping the arm in her hands. Lucas was sluggishly and painfully slipping away. Iris took the arm and bull dozed it into Mason's back. Her lungs grew sore from lack of oxygen, as she was thrown back by a gush of electrical waves. Iris hit the wall again this time seeming to knock the breath back in. Gasping she got back up just in time to watch Lucas fall to the ground. She raced to him. He was unconscious but his lungs still worked. Thank God!
In the stillness she realized that the door had been opened and a flood of familiar and unfamiliar faces looked in.
"Don't just stand there get a M.E.D.!" Iris commanded slumping against the nearest piece of furniture. Her breathing was so heavy it made her lungs hurt, but that was the least of her worries. She watched exhausted as man after man came in. A few guys in green took Mason, four men in starched white lifted up Lucas and Strawberry, two mean in beige cleared out Stevenson, and last came Dr. Methyl. He was in cream.
"You all right?" he asked giving Iris a hand.
"Yeah I'm just a little winded." She took it and straightened up. A grimace grew on her face. "And soar," she groaned.
"Sounds about right. After that spectacle I'm surprised your bones are still in tact. Austere wants you to go to her office and make a testament," he answered.
"And the suffering never ends."
"I take it that you don't like Austere that much."
"You give me a reason to like her, and I'll consider it."
It was only a matter of moments when they arrived to Austere's office. Everything in it was ridiculously alike to Stevenson's. What happened? Did they run out of decorating ideas? Austere sat facing Iris. Her red nails glistening in the light motioning for Dr. Methyl to go.
"You wanted to see me Commander?" Iris asked in her military voice.
"Yes. Please sit down," Austere commanded motioning toward an empty chair that looked identical to the one Stevenson had in his office. Iris did.
"What exactly happened between now and your arrival?"
Iris told her every experience since day one. She didn't exaggerate nor did she go into too much detail. Just like the general had taught her. Austere almost seemed pleased with her performance. Almost.
"That's about when Strawberry Snow threatened to kill Lucas Wesly if I didn't hand over the weapon. I refused and shot her. The gun was set on stun so she shouldn't have been harmed too badly…" Iris went on.
"Thank you, Hennessy, I know what happened from there," said Austere waving her hand for Iris to go. She stood up and was at the door when Austere stopped her. "I hope you don't think that this incident makes you exempt from you're duties. You still are required to infiltrate the Repubucon in…"
"One hour thirty-six minutes," she interrupted. Austere seemed unimpressed. Iris walked out.

Dr. Methyl stood outside.
"Doctor I'm glad you're still out here. Do you know where they would have taken Lucas? I want to see how he is," Iris requested. Dr. Methyl smiled.
"Come with me I'll show you," he replied. Iris followed him down a long strip of corridors. Strange how she has been here just as long as him, and she still gets lost. Of course that was probably his area of work.
"Dr. Methyl I was wondering?"
"Yes."
"How do you feel about all this?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know this whole keeping the peace thing. I mean don't you miss you're family? Friends?"
"I didn't have any," he answered glumly.
"I'm sorry."
"That's quite all right. What about you Ms. Hennessy?"
"Call me Iris, please," she replied. "I didn't have much of a life either. Maybe that's why we were chosen to do this. You know no one to miss."
"That would make sense, Ms. Hennessy. I feel more comfortable calling you that. Here we are." Dr. Methyl stopped in front of an open doored M.E.D. room. Inside Iris could see Lucas having a scan done. Possibly now she could relax. Ha! Yeah.
"You're not dead yet are you?" Iris joked. Lucas opened his eyes; they were bloodshot. He glanced at her and smiled.
"No not yet. Have you ever had one of those head aches where you just want to kill yourself?" he now asked her, standing up and putting on his shirt. "I wish I had one of those right now."
"They're not going to put you back to work already are they?" she inquired.
"Of course," he answered. "Why?"
"I just thought we could talk that's all." Iris turned and began to walk away.
"Wait!" Lucas called out after her. Iris stopped and twisted facing him. "If it's urgent I'm sure I can make time."
"No, Lucas. It's not urgent. I just wanted to talk. You know, like friends." Iris turned and walked away again. This time Lucas didn't stop her. She didn't even have to look, Iris could already see the expression on his face. His brow creased and his eyes riddled with surprise and confusion. If what Strawberry had said was true he probably hadn't heard anyone say that to him; and he didn't know how to react. For all Iris knew she could have just punctured his perfect little world. Good.

Chapter 13
helping an old friend

Iris began to wonder what had happened to Strawberry. After reasonable deduction of the current situation Iris decided she was dead.
She had been walking for quite sometime and hadn't the slightest clue where she was now, or where she was going. Everything was twisted like a spiral and the decor was all the same. Just keep walking; you'll get to where you need to be in time.
Ten minutes and two tired feet later she found herself at the end of a twining hallway. In front of her was a door. Wonderful. It didn't have a label like the rest of the doors, just a little white line. It wasn't a M.E.D room or else it would have a window.
From the inside Iris swore she could hear a slight moan. She bent down quietly peered through the little crack between the entrance way and the floor. Inside was completely black. All that could be seen was a chair. A hot beam of light rested glaringly upon it. Inside the chair was a body; brutally beaten with blood still oozing from the broken skin. The figure groaned this time with its head slowly rolling into Iris' sight. Strawberry. She was unrecognizable by her red, swollen, bleeding, face. It was Iris' logic and Strawberry's eyes that alerted her to the resemblance. Those unmistakable incandescent green eyes that if the light hadn't been on, they would have glown in the dark.
In the distance Iris heard the clicking of heels in the hallway. She had to hide. No doubt about it she wasn't supposed to see that. As if she had stepped in an ant bed, Iris flew into the next room. Fortunately for her it was unoccupied. She kept the door ajar and watched as Austere and four other men paced into the torture room. Iris out of pure concern (and curiosity) slinked in behind them.
Once the door closed Iris could see nothing but Strawberry in that chair. In that aspect she knew they couldn't see each other or her. If she just stood still…
"I've been informed that you are willing to talk," Austere spoke up. Her shrill voice echoed in the stale damp air.
"Yes," Strawberry answered hoarsely. She sounded as if her lips had gone numb in the empty cold.
"How many people were involved?"
"Three."
"Who were they?"
"Daniel Stevenson, Lucas Wesly, and myself," she lied. The moment those words were uttered Iris could hear a zap and Strawberry holler out. Looking closer at Strawberry's neck she noticed a truth collar strapped around it.
"Again!" Austere demanded backhanding her already mutilated face. As if the shock wasn't enough.
"Daniel Stevenson, Jack Mason, and myself." This time nothing.
"In what way was everyone involved?"
"Stevenson had me excepted here. It was all his idea…" Zap! She grimaced. "It was his idea at first. I eventually took over. He told me my job was to kill Iris Hennessy."
"If Iris Hennessy were killed or proven insane and unable to operate on the task at hand you would take her place, correct?"
"Yes."
"How was Mason involved?"
"I programmed him to do as I said."
"Was this an original part of the plan?"
"No."
"What was the plan?"
"After Iris was taken off the project I would take her place and fail. War would beak out and Stevenson and I would make a fortune on war supplies."
"Why did you kill Daniel Stevenson?"
"It was convenient." Convenient? Iris waited for the shock. Nothing.
"That's enough. Micelles! Johnson! You heard the testament?" Austere complied.
"Yes! Ma'am!" They simultaneously shouted.
"You come with me. Wood! Jostens! You know what to do."
"Yes! Ma'am!" all four answered. Even though she couldn't see she knew they were saluting. Disgusting. Iris solely believed that having to salute another human being was not only morally degrading but stupid. In her mind everyone was or should be equal. Bad, good, mentally challenged, even mentally ill. Saluting another completely equal human being was like telling them they had more power and control over you. The term respect was just a cover up for it.
A crack of light reveled on the other side of the room, as three images passed through, then closed itself. Iris must have been moving all this time. She had stopped next to the door.
Iris whipped her head to the sound of a laser gun energizing and a little red dot was visible in the pitch. They were going to kill Strawberry. They couldn't do that! They had already tortured her! Wasn't that enough? Sure Strawberry was a little greedy… OK very greedy, that still didn't mean she deserved to die. This was against the law in both governments.
Strawberry's feet were untied but she was apparently too weak to kick the gun out of the mans hand. Iris had to stop this! She lunged for the red pin-point hoping to hit something. She did. The dot fell then skidded a little across the room. The man beneath her wasn't struggling. He must be unconscious.
The red point slowly began to rise in the air. Iris sprang to her feet and glided towards it. In a blaze of motion she spin kicked the gun and listened to it clank onto the floor once again. She could hear the man in front of her blindly swing in the air. She kicked again this time her leg was abruptly stopped by what she assumed was the mans groin. His pants rustled as he began to slump in pain. Before he could yell Iris smashed his head with her elbow. She then heard his head hit the hard rock floor. It was amazing how well Iris fought though she couldn't see. Just luck.
"Who's there?" Strawberry finally asked.
"Guess." Strawberry's eyes closed.
"Why?" she asked her head rolling. Iris was taken back by the question. She never actually thought of reasons for why she did what she did it was just instinct.
"I couldn't let them kill you. At least not with me watching."
"If you think that I feel obligated to you now you're wrong."
"I didn't save you're life so you would feel obligated. I saved you're life because you don't deserve to die. Deep down you can't be all bad. No human being is…"
"I don't need a @#!*%$^! sermon," Strawberry growled.
"Fine no sermon." After this all was silent. Iris had to think of a way to get Strawberry out of here. She picked up the gun.
The little light bulb in Iris' brain turned on. She rushed to Strawberry and began to untie her.
"Now what are you doing?" Strawberry asked wearily.
"Stand up," Iris commanded when she had finished.
"I can't," she mumbled.
"Stand up!" Iris firmly pressed the gun to Strawberry's temple.
"You're insane you know that," Strawberry complained as she painfully hoisted herself into an upright position. Iris backed up.
"Now move to you're left three paces."
"What?"
"Just do it!" Strawberry did. Iris turned the dial until the light was a bright green. Without warning she pulled the trigger knocking Strawberry unconscious. Iris set the gun back to kill and began to wipe it off on her shirt. Frantically she began to search the ground. It had to be around there somewhere… Ah ha! She firmly placed the gun into one of the men's hand.
She then heard one of the men groan. Iris got an idea as she began to feel the walls. Of course he had to be incredibly stupid.

Chapter 14
the last chapter

Suddenly a light engulfed the room. Iris, who was now shielded by the door, squeezed her eyes just. The man yelled. This was her chance. She rushed past him her eye lids still held together. Just don't run into anything. She could feel her eyes adjusting to the redness of her lids. She opened them hoping deeply it was still safe. To her surprise she saw nothing but white…WHAM! And now she knew why.
Iris ducked around the corner holding her nose. Maybe he didn't see anything. Iris watched the corner for a moment until she heard footsteps behind her. She whipped around expecting a fight.
"Whoa! Down Girl." It was Lucas. Iris breathed a sigh of relief. "You do know this is a restricted area, right?" He asked handing her a handkerchief from his pocket. She took it noticing the blood dripping from her fingers.
"What answer won't get me killed?"
"Your wanted in the air-dock. C'mon." Lucas laughed.

Iris tried her best to memorize the twining white halls. But to no avail. Her mind went back to the dark room. Was saving Strawberry really such a good idea? There must have been reasons to what they were doing there. Maybe she was a convict or something? That didn't matter. What did was this. Did they have the right? With that said, did she?
"Were here Iris." Her thoughts were abruptly stopped.
"How do you know where to go?" She asked finding herself back in the room where it all began.
"Photographic memory. How else?" he explained. Iris' eyes widened by what emerged from behind, the same drone who had piloted before. "Don't worry," Lucas replied apparently seeing her look. "He's not going to be flying you. He's picking up some recruits." Lucas pointed to Iris' left. "He's flying you." Iris turned to see Mr. Warren putting on a fighters helmet.
Iris watched as he got into the plane taking quick notice of his passenger also climbing in. Iris was about to close the hatch when Lucas stopped her.
"I forgot to mention!" He yelled over the roar of the next plane going by. "You probably wont be coming back here!"
"What do you mean?" Iris asked cupping her mouth so the sound would get through the blast of their own engines.
"You're an operative now! Operatives don't hear from us unless we have a job for them to do! When you land you need to find the Dominion Hotel! Your new identity and keys to your living quarters will be there! Ask for room 209! They probably won't give it to you immediately! Just tell them I sent you!" Iris nodded. She almost closed the hatch again when Lucas said something else.
"Oh and another thing!"
"What?"
"About that talk! You know between friends! I think I'd like one of those!" Iris smiled.
"Till we meet again then!" At that Iris closed the door. She put on the helmet next to her and looked out the hatch window. Lucas was gone. The plane rose into the air.
"Now if I can just figure out how to get there," Mr. Warren said into the speaker. Iris almost laughed until she realized he was serious. Here we go again.