Free Love in the Time of Technology 1 by Joseph Veramu

trips in various labs. No one actually left Genetica.
    They kept walking at a brisk pace to her uncle’s home which was close to the sea.
    Mario suddenly looked tense. They were only a short distance from the picturesque home when they realized that something was terribly wrong. There was eerie silence as if the occupants had gone to another realm leaving only a haunted house. She began running towards the house screaming in anguish when she saw her uncle and aunt so close to each other in a pool of blood. They obviously had not expected to be shot at. In death, they looked serene.
    The heliship that had earlier evaded the rockets had finished them off.
    But how had they made the connection? Did Wolf have a homing device that enabled the heliship to find out the tech footprints of all those he came into contact with? Was there a virus mole in the Oracle program? Mario searched his mind for possible answers. He had almost completed reverse engineered a downed drone and knew how to tamper with their systems. Their plans for re-entry into Genetica were far ahead. There was no turning back even though there were collateral damages in engaging Wolf.
    +++++
    Wolf helped her bury them in one grave although he was puzzled by the cross that had been stuck over it. He sensed that she needed time to be by herself to mourn.
    On the second day, he held her so tenderly and whispered, “You’ve got to let them go.”
    She burst into tears and he held her firmly.
    “Please don’t think I blame you.”
    He felt tense. Trouble seemed to follow them. He also knew about Lazer making contact with her and hoped that he would not betray them before they had accomplished their mission. He was sure that Lazer was monitoring them and sensed that in the Oracle simulation, all things had to go through their own motions.
    “I’ll get them I promise even if I die trying.”
    It was the first time she had ever heard him speak with such conviction. They considered their situations. She had sacrificed so much to get him out. He had given up everything in search of a dream to change Genetica.
    They held each other for a long time feeling warm vibes. She sensed that Wolf was too much of a gentleman to make the first move. She kissed him tentatively marveling at how he tasted. She pushed him away and he felt deflated. “No it’s not the chemicals. I just wanted to catch my breath,” she said as they kissed passionately.
    It was the first time in his life that he had kissed someone in love. It was a powerful emotion he had never experienced before.
    All his corporate sponsored affairs in Genetica were impersonal. He flapped about until it was time for his partners to leave, never to be seen again. It was a mechanical kind of love where even the intimacies and pleasantries exchanged were perfunctory. Everyone went through the motions and milked it for what pleasure they could get. Wolf began to appreciate the warmness of real affirming relationships.
    Then he pushed her gently away. “I don’t deserve your love. My being here has resulted in the death of loved ones.”
    “Relax. We all became their enemies the moment we joined the Resistance,” she said.
    He was still not convinced.
    “Wolf, you’re awesome! You’re great! You were created to be loved.”
    “ My system might harm you,” he knew he sounded stupid.
    “Please go ahead and harm me,” she challenged him.
    They kissed each other vigorously feeling that their love was all they had.
    “You seem to know everything about me. Is there something I don’t know about myself?” he asked.
    “Believe in yourself.”
    “How come I hardly know anything about you?”
    “You’re lying. You know more about me that I do about you. Mario made sure he fed you the data.”
    “I would have left Genetica a long time ago had I known I’d meet you.”
    “We’d probably be quarrelling by now,” she laughed. “We’re going to row out into the sea and catch some fish.”
    “You mean that this