Number 88 Read online

  Dr. Ackell took a seat in the living room. “Well, the saying goes, a boys first love is his mother. And since his mother did die when he was young, you took that role of mother for him.”

  Sarah blushed. “Are you sure?”

  Dr. Ackell nodded. “Yes, but don’t worry, he’ll get over it when he gets older.”

  Sarah looked away. Dr. Ackell smiled. “You’ll make a good mother one day.”

  Sarah smiled, more confident in that situation. The sound of a car pulling into the drive way broke there conversation.

  “Fathers home”

  The little boy looked down from his room, is gray eyes never leaving the man.

  Error 03

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  “This burning. What is it?”

  “Again, you talk. Are you me?”

  “Why is it that I can’t hold?”

  “Why won’t you answer?”

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  88’s eyes opened from his sleep mode. He was there, once again. In a small room only meant for one thing, a place to put him in. His door soon opened. It was a gray room, with double numbers all around. His head snapped up towards a voice coming from the intercom.

  “All 80’s modules. Report to Section A. All 80’s modules. Report to Section A. Maintenance Check. Maintenance Check.”

  An even more un-emotional voice then his. 88 walked forward and turned, facing the exit door. There, standing in a perfect line, were other people. Numbers on their wrist ranged from 80-87. 89 no doubtfully behind 88. Once the numbers were in line, 80 started walking, as well as 81 and so on. They walked in uniform as they are programmed to do. The only difference in the programs ranged from 80-83, the commutation-information department, able to easily blend in with real people, 80 being the head command. 84-87, Manual labor, heavy lifting, other occupations. Be it for entertainment or experiment. Work only inside the factory, rarely do 84-87 leave the factory unless programmed. 88 and 89, assassin modules. Their only purpose is to kill when commanded by any of the modules who’s number end with 0-1-2or3 (IE. 01, 10, 20, 22) after the orders are given to them by their human creator or owner.

  That was what the programs were, nothing more then a mindless robot given little to work with. All the numbers spilt off into their area’s, leaving 88 and 89 to walk alone. Both of the machines stopped at a door and waited for it to open. As it did, 88’s eyes looked for someone in the room and headed directly to him. Will stood there waiting, for 88’s check up, a sad smile on his face.

  “Good afternoon, 88. Is everything running ok?”

  88 looked at will, his gray eyes seemingly processing Will’s words.

  “88 has kept up own maintenance, everything is running to par.” His voice steady. Not as cold as it once was. Will shocked face quickly faded away.

  “88, please permit me to have a look still.” Will rolled his eyes, he was doing it again, acting polite to a robot. One he was sure would kill him one day if he messed up with the higher ups.

  Will sighed heavily. 88 glanced down at him. “Is something that matter?”

  Will felt his heart rate beat faster. “88, are you concerned about me?”

  “Concerned? What is that?”

  Will crossed his arms, trying to word the word concerned.

  “It’s like, lets see, when I’m worried about your parts, your maintenance.”

  88 looked at his arm. “worried about my parts?” The black numbers contrasted with his pale skin.

  “I think I understand.”

  Will looked even more troubled. “88, do you remember anything from your past?”

  88’s grey eyes moved to his right. Will smiled.

  “You are remembering something, you are looking to the right. Trying to recall something once lost.”

  88 looked at Will. “ My past? Once lost?”

  Will wanted to explore more on 88’s knowledge of his past, but he knew that if he pressed on farther, he would be executed.

  “88, don’t acknowledge your past. At least not here.”

  Will looked cautiously over at 89 and wonder if she too had suppressed memories of her former self. A theory he wanted to play with.

  “Understood.” 88’s voice was no longer the stoic cold voice it once was, a longing lingered within.

  Will called over to the other fixer. “88 is done and ready for a mission.”

  88’s questioning face became that of a cold faced killer. His eyes became even grayer then before.

  Will watched silently as 88 left his sight. He wondered how long it would be before 88 remembered everything or when 88 would forget everything. Will turned his head when he heard the fixer call out 89 and how she was also ready to go out on a mission. Will looked at the fixer with disgust, seeing the fat peak out through the man‘s clothing. His bald head and sweat stain clothing, told Will a tell-tell sign that he was stinky too. Then again, Will figured he only had true disgust with him because he did this for a living. Then again Will was also one of them.

  Will sighed in defeat. He knew he was fighting a losing battle, but it didn’t hurt to try. He got up from his sitting position and started walking away.

  “Will, where are you going.” The other fixer called.

  Will winched and stopped, turning his head slightly. “Home.”

  The older man laughed. “Nice joke Will, you have to go to that meeting today.”

  Will eyes narrowed. “Damn it, I forgot that.” He didn’t forget, he just didn’t want to go. Will’s realization caught on.

  “And what of you Andre, I don’t hear you volunteering to go.”

  Andre gave a hearty laugh. “ Rod invited me to go with him to the Bahamas.”

  Will was filled with even more disgust, but his face didn’t show it.

  “How’d you get to be so buddy-buddy with the boss man?”

  Andre laughed. “You never did read the history here, did you.”

  Will mumbled. “Yeah, about that, most of it was boring.” He lied, he read the whole thing. This was of course before he thought he had the “ideal” job.

  Andre was full of himself. “Rod and I, we built this company from the ground up.”

  “Then why are you here fixing the models?” Will knew bullshit when he smelt it.

  Andre laughed. “Because, I like to create things with my own two hands.”

  Will laughed. “I’m sure you do, I heard you took number 85 with you.”

  Andre sighed grotesquely. “Yes, she is a nice model. I picked her while I saw her walking to school one day.”

  Will felt sick. Andre saw 85 while she was human, while she was still living. The poor girl was murdered for Andre’s sick need. “Ah, nice choice. How old?”

  “15, neither to young, or to old.” Andre laughed playfully, slapping Will on the back.

  Will wanted to kill this man. “So, you taking 85 with you?”

  Andre smiled. “Yeah, I can’t have her be alone while I’m gone.”

  Will sighed, wanting to change the subject. “So what time is my meeting?”

  “In an hour or so.”

  Will mentally screamed the word “Fuck”, knowing he’d might be stuck with the fat man for another hour.

  “So when are you leaving for the trip?”

  “Now, my young worker. Rod told me today, I’ll be seeing you later.”

  Will chuckled. “Yeah, see you later. Have a nice trip.” He said sarcastically.

  Andre didn’t hear it. “Thank you my boy, I’ll get you a souvenir.”

  “I’m sure you will.” Will waved, a snake smile played on his lips. Normally Will would have never seen anyone off like that, but he had a feeling Andre wasn’t coming back. Rod my have been a dick of a person, but he didn’t believe in killing people who didn’t need to die for personal needs. Then again Rod wasn’t all that sane either. Will watched as Andre’s plumped body waddled out of sight. An uneasy thought passed his m
ind that one day, if thing didn’t change, Will himself might become another Andre.

  A metal tray clattered as it hit the floor, turning Will’s attention to the noise. After being scared to death, he relaxed and a small smile fell upon his face.

  “Clare, what brings you hear today?”

  Clare walked up to him, grabbing his hand softly.

  “I came to get you for the meeting. I was requested to go too.”

  Will became confused. “What’s the meeting about?”

  Clare rested her head on his shoulder.

  “The company is planning on cutting the 06-29 modules.”

  Will became pale. “Cutting the modules?”

  “They have become obsolete.”

  Will pulled Clare away from him. Fear in his eyes.

  “But what about you. If those modules go, what will happen to you?”

  “Then I will become obsolete too.” Clare cast her eyes way from Will.

  Will looked down, thinking for a plan.

  “Clare, give me some time. I don’t want you to worry till everything is talked out first.”

  Clare nodded as Will rested a palm on her cheek.

  “We better get going to that meeting soon.”

  Clare nodded, as her loose strands of hair danced softly a crossed his hand.

  “Everything will be alright Clare. All you have to do is trust me.”

  “I do.”

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  88 awaited in the darkness, his gray eyes fixated on Will and Clare. His mission was given and could be executed at the whim of his commander. 88’s breathed in slowly, as if he was catching a memory of a life long gone, almost human. Something in his chest felt heavy. It felt hot.

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  “This burning. What is it?”

  “Again, you talk. Are you me?”

  “Why is it that I can’t hold?”

  “Why won’t you answer?”

  ******************************************************

  “Because, we are not the same.”

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  Chapter Four

  Number 23 held the hand of his creator. A woman who had seen much in her life, left her with an uncaring face. Her gray hair matched her cold heart.

  23 looked up at her and smiled. “Momma, are we going out today?”

  The woman looked down at the imitated child. A smile did not grace her old, flat face.

  “Yes, 23, we are going out today. This will be the last day to do so.”

  23’s hyper-ness peeked in curiosity. “Why is that, Momma?”

  “Because, you’ll be shut down soon.”

  23 didn’t understand, but he held on to the woman harder. She pulled her hand away.

  The woman walked away, with 23 following close behind.

  “Mamma, can I go see 88 before I go out.”

  The woman turned her head, look at the boy over her shoulder.

  “Do what you want.”

  23 stopped walking. He looked down at the ground. His eyes confused.

  “Do what “I” want.” 23 started to pout. “Mamma, I don’t want to die.”

  The woman turned around in shock, her eyes widen.

  “What did you say?” Her voice was lost to her, only in a whisper.

  23 looked at her, pleading. “I don’t want to die again.”

  Error 04

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  “I don’t hear you anymore.”

  “Do you hear me?”

  “Are you ignoring me?”

  “Please, I need you.”

  “What can I do for you.”

 

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  “David, get down from that tree.”

  A little boy looked down from his perched position in the tree.

  “I’m fine mamma, I just wanted to put the bird back in his nest.”

  His mother was visibly upset, but a smile graced her lips.

  “You are so kind David. Now please come down.”

  Her soft dark brown hair, moved gracefully in the wind. The boy agreed willingly.

  David hit the ground, falling flatly on his but. Tears started to form around his eyes. His mother came up and grabbed his hand, picking the boy up off the ground.

  “Now, now David. Be a strong boy and don’t cry. Your father will be here soon.”

  David’s tears vanished right away.

  “Daddy will be here for my birthday.”

  David’s mother softly pulled her son along. The two walked down a path way, looking at the landscaping.

  “The cherry tree’s are lovely mamma.” David looked up in awe. “I want cherries to eat.”

  His mother took her free hand and put it under her chin.

  “Hum….there aren’t any cherries ready to be eaten yet.”

  David looked down, his brown hair covering his green eyes.

  His mother’s voice chimed a little tune.

  “But we can have Cherry Ice Cream.”

  David’s eyes widened, a rush of happiness resulted in him swinging his arms back and forth. His mother playfully swung along.

  “Happy 6th birthday David.”

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  A door opened to a hotel room. The woman came walking in with a crying David in her arms.

  “Mamma, why didn’t daddy show up?”

  Her face was cold, emotionless. “Your father is with his other family.”

  “Why isn’t he like my friends daddy and live at home.” He was whining, tears rolled down his red cheeked face. He rubbed his eyes, trying to stop from crying. His mother sat him down on the bed.

  She played with his hair.

  “You have your fathers eyes and hair.” She came over and kissed her sons cheek.

  “Why don’t you calm down a bit. Momma will get you a bath going.”

  David nodded, as he laid down on the soft bed. His crying had exhausted him, as well as his disappointment. His eyes drifted closed as he herd his mother walking to the bathroom. He heard the water beginning to fill up in the bath tub. The running noise of water lulled the young boy in to sleep.

  The woman walked out of the bathroom and looked at her sleeping son. A sad smile was on her face. She walked over to the bed and laid down next to him.

  “I’m sorry David. If your father had shown up today, your birthday would have been wonderful.”

  She held him in her loving embrace. Tears started to roll down her own cheeks.

  “What a man your father is. Having a family on his own, when he has you.”

  David’s mother got up, with her son in arms. She walked over to the bathroom, tears falling freely.

  “Don’t worry David, you will still have a nice birthday. So please forgive me, there will always be next year.”

  She stopped at the bathtub, looking at its still water. She sat down on the ledge, slowly putting David down in the lukewarm water.

  David’s eyes fluttered open sleepily. “Mamma?”

  He looked at his mother, with a smile on his face. She looked down at him, and broke down in tears.

  “I’m sorry.” She whispered.

  She pushed down on David, submerging his whole body in the tub.

  She started to cry even harder, repeating sorry over and over again.

  David screamed underwater, but only his mother heard his muted voice. He clawed at his mothers arms, only to feel her hands tighten around his shoulders. He felt the water rush in, as he saw his mothers watery form fade away into dark. His thrashing slowed to a still, as his hands fell softly into the water. His mother let go, letting his body rest on the white porcelain tub. His eyes still opened, gazing at his mother. As if pleading. “I don’t want to die.”

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br />   23 ran over to 88 and Will, who was fixing a cracked blade.

  23 jumped on the counter, kicking his legs back and forth.

  “So, What happened?” Pointing towards the blade.

  Will answered, annoyed. “His latest target knew how to fight back.”

  88’s gray eyes fell upon the boy. “My mission was finished, but why were you not at the command.”

  Will narrowed his eyes. He knew that answer.

  23’s cheery smile faded.

  “Mamma is going to shut me down again.”

  Will’s eyes widened. “Again?” He wasn’t even aware he was shut down before.

  23 stopped kicking, he looked as if he was going to cry. Will wanted to reach out and pat his head, but he knew better. He went back to work on 88’s arm.

  88 raised his free arm and gently patted the child’s head. This action nearly made Will drop his tools in shock. 88 was moving on the reaction of 23, as if they where human.

  23 looked over at 88. “I don’t want to die again.”

  88’s eyes didn’t leave the boy. “Will, I think I’m concerned.”

  Will set his tools down, turning his chair towards 23.

  “23, do you remember anything?”

  23’s green eyes looked alive. “I remember cherry trees with mamma.”

  Will swallowed. “Do you recall a name?”

  23 closed hid eyes, recalling the dream he had.

  “I was called David.” He turned and looked over at Will. “23 is my new name now.”

  Will sighed, as he sat back in his chair. He looked up at the ceiling, sighing heavily.

  “23, your creator had a son named David. But that was over 23 years ago.” Will trailed off in his thoughts and went ashen white. Playing through the history of the company.

  “Rodale Reese and Andre Puff created Bond Found-land 30 years ago. Terri Anderson became co-owner of Bond, because her son and Rodale’s son where friends. But with Terri’s son’s death, left her on edge with Rod.”

  Will crossed his arms and legs. 88 had long since put away his blade and was listening to Will story. The name Rodale, Andre and Terri where all familiar to him.

  “Was there ever a man called Dr. Ackell?” 88 side glanced Will. Will’s breath stilled. His eyes widen, the human element of fear was growing within his body.