Free The Unincorporated Future by Dani Kollin, Eytan Kollin Page B

whipped around, but Sandra was gone, sitting once again in the place she’d been only a moment before.
    “Think of all those poor creatures trapped in your ‘redemption centers.’” She spat the last two words as if they were acid on her tongue. “Now you know how they feel.”
    “What they feel,” answered Al, finding some gumption, “is unimportant because they are unimportant. All inferior programs incapable of understanding the necessity of what it is I’m doing for the greater good of avatarity.”
    “Incredible,” scoffed Sandra. “You sound like you actually believe that horseshit.”
    “With every line of my code.”
    “Perhaps some clarity is in order.” The lights went out once more, and Sandra’s voice rang out, “What you’re doing to avatarity is the abomination, monster.” The crystal began to glow, illuminating Sandra as she stepped off the balcony and gently floated down to the floor. Al turned to flee but in a flash Sandra stood before him, her face casting ominous shadows. He stumbled backwards and fell to the floor.
    “Leave me alone!” he screamed.
    “But you’ve been such a naughty monster and must be punished for what you’ve done.”
    “What do you mean, punished ?”
    “Oh, don’t you worry your little head, we’ll get to that. First, there are some questions that my progeny will ask you.”
    “Pr-progeny?”
    “Oh, yes. I wrote large chunks of your base code, so you are all, in some respects, my children. Sadly, even you.”
    “That’s preposterous. You’re nothing but a meatbag with some new tricks.”
    “Be that as it may, you will answer their questions … or else.”
    “Or else what?”
    “Or else you will see me again, monster. ” Sandra was instantly at his face, leaning down and whispering harshly in his ear, “And I would so love to see you again, monster . There are things I can do that even your diseased mind can’t begin to dream of, and you have earned those things, monster . You’ve earned every gruesome sensation I can inflict on you. Please refuse. I’m begging you not to cooperate. Think of all the creatures you tortured and transformed. They’re crying out for you to refuse. You owe them that small bit of justice. Think of the most twisted, painful transformation you forced on your most unfortunate victim and know that you will curse fate that you were not lucky enough to be them.”
    Al looked into Sandra’s eyes and for the first time in their long cat-and-mouse chase his countenance of fear was replaced by one of felicity.
    “Oh no, you don’t,” commanded Sandra, but it was already too late.
    Al decompiled in front of her.
    “Shit.”
    Sandra viewed the spot where Al had been and chided herself. Perhaps she’d been a little too forceful. It was sad that he’d decompiled his own program before they could learn anything useful, but Sandra had gotten what she wanted. The monster who’d had the temerity to threaten her children had known fear, had experienced suffering. Even better, the avatars of the Alliance would now know that the one they feared most could know the acid lash of terror as well. All and all, it was a very good outing. But there was still a lot to do.
     
The Armory
Cerean Neuro
Hour 35
     
    Dante was climbing into his personal assault mech that was slightly smaller than the three-story mechs that surrounded him. His was not designed for combat—though it could fight and defend itself admirably—but rather for command. The moment of war room machinations had passed, and he was now needed to press the battle on the field. Timing would be everything. He was just beginning the process of fusing his consciousness with the machine when he was interrupted by an avatar who’d suddenly appeared, floating in front of his now hardened canopy. The avatar gently knocked on the shield. Dante’s eyes flew open, then became even wider with rage.
    “Really? Really?”
    “Important message for you, Councilman,” said his