Free Digital Heretic by Terry Schott Page B

twenty hours observing her from my desk, looking for some spark, some glimmer that she’s faking her condition.
      Did I acquire an Eternal by mistake, or did they plant one here to catch me?
      I know, it’s unreasonable to be so paranoid. I’ve removed Eternals and Infernals from the Game before. Hell, a little over two hundred years ago I almost took out Daniel. I should have done it, but before I got the chance he became their leader. It would’ve been fun to kill the Devil, but my good sense stopped me. The Infernal organization is a delicate house of cards on the best of days; cutting the head off that snake just isn’t a good idea.
      I’m done waiting. If this is how it ends, so be it. She has a nanocomputer inside her body; that’s too exciting to pass up. What if it’s a supercomputer that has a whole population living inside it? A Game within a Game! Yeah, I have to find out how evolved it is. 
      I look around the Zoo, my headquarters for decades now. It’s very secret; if I have to leave this base there are only two other people alive that know about it. Maybe it’s time to move. This could be a good thing if it all goes to crap.
      I stand up and walk over to her cell. Three sits at her little desk, drawing and colouring pictures with crayons and pencil crayons. She doesn’t touch the charcoal or the pastels. The pictures are
    remarkable. Detailed drawings of living cells and organisms mixed with what I now understand are computer chips and circuitry. 
      I have a feeling she might be the one to help me break out of this prison. It’s time for me to get back home to Tygon. 
      I tap the bars with my ring, making a complex sound pattern that instantly gets her attention. She stands up and slowly walks towards me, stopping within reach of my hand. Her hand holds a crayon, she continues to make swiping motions with it as if she’s still drawing. A quick tap to her forehead begins the process of bringing her out of the haze. I watch for signs of recognition or alarm.
      Her eyes begin to focus, and as they do, she looks around. Eventually she moves her head to take in her surroundings. Nothing unusual so far; they all come out of the haze this way the first few times, the same way you would awaken from a deep sleep. Like coming from the darkness into the light, it’s a bit disorienting at first. She will get better at this with practice. I watch quietly; she’ll eventually look my way.
      Minutes pass; she hasn’t moved. It’s a bittersweet moment for most when they come out of the haze. In the haze they are brilliant. That brilliance is special, their own world where they are supreme. It’s also a
    prison ; they’re trapped inside their bodies while they shuffle, aimless and confused, through the normal world. Coming out of the haze blends feelings of relief at once
    again being in control of one’s body with sadness at having left the close embrace of the Divine.
      Finally she looks at me. There is no recognition in her eyes, but that doesn’t mean anything. I must be very cautious with this one. I’ll kill her quickly if it comes to that, but I hope it won’t. 
      “ Hi,” she says.
      “ Hello there. How are you feeling?” I ask.
      “ Confused.” Her body language agrees with her statement. I can’t be certain if she’s very good or actually sincere. Not knowing is refreshing; it’s been years since the last really challenging subject. I’m exhilarated at the change of pace! 
      “That’s normal. You’ve been in a special place for a long time.”
      She nods. “I’ve been… I don’t know how to describe it.”
      That’s odd. She should be able to. Perhaps she has an additional level of block. That could mean she’s a plant. “Come closer, love. I’ll help you with the confusion.” I wave my hand gently and she walks towards me. I envision a soft blue light and as I touch her it sinks slowly into her aura. She relaxes and then nods at me.