Ghost in the System

Ghost in the System

A single patrol car sped down the empty dirt road, its headlights piercing through the night’s darkness. Behind the cover of trees, Keyon and the others patiently waited for the vehicle to pass. Lorenzo’s facial features illuminated in the darkness as he lit his cigarette. The singing of crickets, the sweet smell of the earth on a warm summer night, it was all too perfect. There were no words spoken, just the sounds of the night filling the silence. In the distance, the light from the moons bounced off the eastern ocean lighting their way. Lorenzo was the last one to leave the cover of the trees. smoking his cigarette, his travel bag slung over his shoulder. He kept his eyes forward, even from this far out the giant dome surrounding Busaya stuck out like a sore thumb. He hadn’t been there for years, not since he was part of the labor camps that helped build it.

“Just a thirty-minute walk till I can sleep in a real bed “

“Second that, it has been rough sleeping in all these different places these past few days, especially that cave.”

Seth agreed with Shima, Roland shook his head in disbelief. This was life for him. This was normal, laying your head wherever you could, eating what you could, and doing it with a grin. Now, sleeping in comfort, a bed, that was foreign to him. He kept his thoughts to himself and instead put that energy to better use. Pulling out a small notebook, the seasoned rebel went over the details of the gathering. Using the moonlight, he reviewed the time, place and other important details regarding the next two days.

“You guys remembered to put in your contacts, right?”

Seth, who took up the middle of the group looked around. One by one the members of deathwatch and Lorenzo nodded. Some distance behind them the sound of an Aircraft started to become audible. Shima was the first to look up as the aircraft flew overhead. Followed by Seth, Lorenzo and finally Roland. Keyon was the only one that kept his focus ahead of him and not on the Aircraft overhead.

“If it continues on its current path it will collide with the dome!”

She came to a stop and watched closely as the aircraft flew closer and closer toward the dome of Busaya. Lorenzo, who wasn’t paying attention, bumped into Shima as she stood there at a loss of words. Right before her very eyes she watched as the aircraft came into contact with the dome and phased right through its walls disappearing out of sight.

“Where did it go it just disappeared?”

Lorenzo knelt and picked up his cigarette off the ground. Being careful to blow the dirt off the filter before putting it back in his mouth.

“It’s inside Busaya now.”

Seth explained, giving out a lighthearted chuckle as Shima got a small taste of the technology New Aurora had in their possession.

“You really are from a backwoods village huh, a little warning next time before you come to a stop in front of someone. Where are your manners young lady.”

Lorenzo smiled as he walked past Shima, joining Keyon and the others continuing onward the end goal in sight. While the others conversated, Keyon was off in his own world. Everything in his life was in preparation for these next three days. On the outside he remained poised and unphased, while a storm of emotion was building underneath the surface. The mask he wore was fooling everyone, everyone except Shima. Catching up with the group after falling behind She place her hand on his shoulder. She gave him no words of encouragement, instead she smiled when they made eye contact.

***

“We are now entering Busaya airspace, ETA three minutes.”

The soft voice of the announcement filled the confines of the aircraft’s passenger cabin. Two men, one a little older than the other sat across from each other. The younger of the two rubbed his mechanical forearm and clenched his robotic fist repeatedly. He stared at the appendage, reflecting on how it got to that state.

“Phantom pains.”

“Captain Onyx, sorry to interrupt but command wanted me to inform you that your team has assembled and will be awaiting your arrival.”

The older of the two men thanked the soldier, who saluted him in response. The soldier returned to his duties and Onyx focused his attention back on his baby brother.

“So, what were you able to learn, Obsidian?”

Obsidian looked at Onyx, slowly he reached into the breast pocket of his uniform. Tossing a case on the table, he watched as Onyx picked up the case and opened it.

“Simple contacts, I don’t get it.”

“They are not simple contacts Onyx, I’ve come to call them Ghost tech. Put them on, I’ll show you what I’m talking about.”

Holding his eyes open, Onyx slipped the contacts on one by one. Lowering his head, he looked forward to Obsidian. His once emerald eyes now a deep shade of brown. Reaching for the retina scanner he had on the table; he held it forward scanning Onyx’s eyes. Handing over the scanner to his brother, Onyx looked over the results. His expression didn’t change, he only removed the contacts from his eyes, placing them back in the case.

“Looks like the rebels have started manufacturing their own tech now.”

Obsidian chimed in.

“They have been making tech for years; this is far beyond their capabilities. Have you taking this to the tech division?”

“No, you wanted me to keep this whole thing off the books, remember. But I had a guy I went to the academy with have a look, you know try to reverse engineer it and well.”

He paused for a moment.

“He can’t.”

“What do you mean he can’t, don’t we have AI tools to assist with stuff like this.”

“That’s the thing Onyx, He nor the AI understands the programing language.”

“So, you’re telling this tech can communicate and interact with our technology but not vice versa. How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, and I’m the last person you should be asking. That goes way beyond my scope of expertise.”

“Who could possibly have the resources and knowledge to create something like this?

“I think it’s your old friend Sebastian, I don’t think he is dead and is working with the rebels.”

“Obsidian, my brother, I love you but watch your mouth. I watched too many close friends of mine die that day and the months after.”

“I’ve lost people too Onyx don’t forget that. I wouldn’t make this accusation without at least a little bit of merit. You and I both know with this type of understanding of technology they had to come from New Aurora. Who do we know that had a hand in creating all the systems New Aurora uses till this day. No one other than the founder’s own son.”

“Keep your voice down, we don’t need the others hearing this nonsense. I watched him die; I held his lifeless body in my arms. I carry his last words. Nevertheless, this development is bothersome, If the rebels are mass producing these, things could get ugly.”

Onyx looked out the cabin window, as the aircraft was making its final approach to Busaya aerostation. The lush green palm trees grew bigger the further they descended toward the surface. The cabin rocked a bit as the vessel’s tires touched down.

“This is your pilot we have arrived in Busaya; I would ask that you please remain seated till the docking process is complete.”

Obsidian Leaned closer to the window, watching as the aircraft slowly started to decelerate, eventually coming to a stop. He turned his attention to his mechanical leg resting on the seat next to him. While the aircraft went through its docking process, Obsidian attached his mechanical leg. Wiggling his toes, he made sure the connection was complete. One by one soldiers aboard the aircraft made their way toward the exit.

Obsidian stood up and followed behind the grunts. Onyx after a long moment stood up and walked down the aisle, the flight staff saluting him as he did so.

“Your girlfriend is in town for the festival, right?”

Onyx asked of his brother, finally catching up with the younger sibling. Obsidian looked back at his brother for a moment returning his attention to what was in front of him.

“Perfect time for me to meet her, let’s do dinner.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that, you see there is a language barrier.”

The two brothers exited the aircraft and progressed through the tunnel connecting the vessel to the aerostation.

“Well, you communicate with her somehow, guess your going to have to interpret for me Obsidian.”

Laughing, he slapped Obsidian on his back and broke off from the entourage of soldiers and walked over toward the group that was awaiting his arrival.

“I’ll send the details to your phone, I’m excited to meet her.”

He walked away with the group, going in his own direction, the whole-time grinning.

***

“Repeat it back to me.”

He patted his back, addressing the nagging itch from his tattoo as he walked side by side with Shima. She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth, mumbling something Keyon didn’t understand.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“Follow the Founder and gather intel on his motorcade route, places he will visit during the festival and any information on his security detail.”

The two spoke to each other in a low tone, a few paces behind the bulk of the group. His burgundy eyes shifted ahead of him, taking a good look at the others in front of him. Keyon’s eyes shift back, watching Shima closely. She was visibly agitated; it didn’t faze him in the slightest. Keyon wanted to make sure the two were on the same page.

“What are you two talking about huh?”

Lorenzo stopped in his leisurely stroll, enjoying the last bits of his cigarette. Giving Shima and Keyon the side eye as they walked past him. Chucking the butt of his cigarette to the side, he picked up his pace. Now, walking along Keyon’s right side. Sandwiching Keyon between him and Shima. She leaned back to get a look at Lorenzo; she quickly changed the subject.

“So, you are really only going to Busaya for the festival?”

Stuffing his hands into his pockets and looking up at the moons, He wondered to himself if he should even grace them with that knowledge. Within a few hours they would be nothing more than strangers. The way he looked at it, His job was damn near complete. He got them to Busaya, the safehouse was given and in his hand was his ticket to the start of the next move. What could the harm be, they didn’t run in his circles, his goals didn’t cross theirs. But at the same time, he knew they were not being completely open with him.

“That’s part of it, but not all of it.”

“Never mind that we are approaching the checkpoint.”

Keyon interrupted the conversation; Deathwatch arriving at the entrance of the mega city. In front of them a sizeable line of people, all traveling far and wide for the festival a few days from now. For some time, Deathwatch waited patiently for their turn in line, one by one they handed over their passports and had their retinas scanned.

“All set, thank you for your patients and please enjoy your stay in Busaya Mr. and Mrs. Starr.”

Keyon didn’t say a word and only glanced at his passport. He shook his head, not amused by Seth’s shenanigans. Shima hooked her arm around Keyon’s, placed her hand playfully on his chest.

“Come on, honey let’s not hold the line up.”

Playing along Shima teased Keyon, the others in the entourage got a good laugh along with her. With the checkpoint behind them Deathwatch made their way inside the dome of Busaya. Stepping on a moving platform, the group was ushered through the train terminal. Looking around everyone was taking in the sights. From the high-tech trains to the number of various shops lining the platforms. The whole terminal seemed like something out of a movie.

“This is insane, look at all this stuff.”

Shima was in awe of everything that she was seeing. She knew tech to a certain degree. But this, this was something a girl from Rosa could never have imagined existed. Stepping off the moving walkway the group made their way toward the crowded train platform. While Keyon and the others waited for the train, Shima and Lorenzo looked over the directory. As Shima looked over the directory out of curiosity, Lorenzo observed it with purpose. Learning the train routes and the different districts that make up Busaya.

“The place we are staying at is in the Apple Grove district. I should be able to punch in the address here and have the directions downloaded to my passport.”

He pulled out his passport, placing in against the directory glass and downloading the directions he needed to take Deathwatch to their safehouse.

“We are waiting for the five train.”

Lorenzo looked over his passport, scrolling through the directions and making a mental note of them. Walking back to the group, Shima informed them of the train they were waiting for. Keyon’s eyes shifted upward to the display hanging above the platform. Taking a good look at the arrival and departure times of the trains.

“Train should be here any minute now.”

Maybe it was a reflex or maybe it was out of habit, but Lorenzo took out a cigarette and went to light it. He wasn’t even able to reach for his lighter, before Shima snatched the cigarette out of his mouth. surprised by how fast she moved. Waving her finger in front of Lorenzo, Shima then pointed at the sign plastered on the wall. A simple sign stating, “No smoking.”

Lorenzo let out a sigh of disappointment, when the chime of the train’s arrival filled the terminal. Listening in on the announcement that played over the intercom. Keyon and the others learned of the Five train’s approach. Keyon leaned forward a bit, freeing his line of sight from the mass of bodies blocking it. The bright light of the train cut through the darkness of the tunnel, and its breaks screeched. He watched as the massive rail car came to stop and its doors opened.

Passengers exited the trains in small numbers, with people from the platform entering in the same fashion. He stepped forward and the others followed, leaving the crowded platform behind them. Taking their seats, Keyon was surprised at how spacious the train was. The feel of the upholstery, the scent of the cabin gave him feelings of nostalgia. Even after all this time it was still the same. It all reminded him of New Aurora and the transportation there.

Roland leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes. Resting his hands on his stomach and stretching his legs out. Across from him Seth looked out the window, observing the platform as the train slowly started to pick up speed. Soon the terminal was behind them and all he could make out from his window were the lights lining the tunnel as they race past. Lorenzo, who was sitting next to Roland and across from Keyon and Shima. Was glued to his passport, double-checking information and playing around with the settings. That is when he noticed that the time on his passport changed. Confused, he played around with the device some more attempting to manual adjust to the time. He remained cool even when the passport started to try his patients. Taking a deep breath, Lorenzo admitted defeat to the device.

“Seth, I think something is up with my passport. It keeps telling me that its twelve in the afternoon when I know that it’s not.”

Turning away from the black void outside his window, Seth looked at Lorenzo and laughed.

“No, it’s correct, it has changed on all of ours.”

“It was just midnight forty minutes ago how is that right?”

Lorenzo was thrown off, and the conversation caught the attention of the others. Besides Keyon, Seth was the only one in Deathwatch that was from New Aurora and who had a understanding of life inside the domes of the mega cities.

“Just wait and see, you wouldn’t believe me otherwise.”

Turning his head back to his window Seth left Lorenzo and the others in suspense. Keyon knew what he was talking about, he didn’t care to explain it to them either. But he looked around and observed Roland and the others. Knowing their reactions would be priceless.

“Here it comes, get ready.”

Seth waved to the others to move toward the window. Roland raised his legs, while Lorenzo and Shima got up from their seats and joined Roland and Seth. Keyon remained where he was, with the mass of bodies gathering at the window there was no space for him anyways.

“Well, I’ll be damn, Seth why haven’t you ever told me about this?”

Roland questioned.

“How is that even possible? I thought the dome was enough, but this!?”

Lorenzo was bewildered

“Is that the sun? But how? Keyon are you seeing this!”

The cabin of the train was engulfed in sunlight as it exited the tunnel and entered the tropical city by the bay, Busaya. A vast bay and crystal-clear sky, stretched as far as the eye could see. Shima marveled at the buildings towered over the once giant train as it descended its tracks, cutting through the heart of the city. Cars very different than any she had ever seen, filled the streets Citizen going about their everyday lives, oblivious.

“Now, do you understand when I told you it is some sick joke you would only understand once you’re on the inside.”

Lorenzo heard what Seth was saying, by he was still in disbelief at what he was witnessing from the window of the train.