Peter Prellwitz - Shards Book One

"Pathetic. That's what you are, Wyeth. Pathetic. I don't know why they keep me in this stinking detail, but you were born for it."

"Knock it off, Jackson."

"Why? Does the truth hurt, private second class Wyeth?"

I'd had a rough day yesterday and really wasn't in the mood. I'd pulled a back muscle working on the bars, and it still hurt whenever I lifted my arms above my shoulders, which was all the time when on laundry duty. Maybe that's why I did what I did. Picking up a particularly rancid sock, I offered it to him.? Here, stuff this. You're not even original today. Go back and catch up on your paper work."

His eyes narrowed, and he looked like he wanted to belt me. I turned back to my work and tried to ignore him. But he wouldn't let it go.

"Smart mouth! Okay, I'll be original.? He lowered his voice, which should have made it easier to ignore him but in fact made me involuntarily listen.? So tell me, Wyeth, are you over your IHAD yet?"

Although it was several weeks gone, the effects still lingered, which was causing Dr. Barrett some concern. I stiffened at the term, and Jackson spotted it. He laughed.

"Kind of a wimp, aren't you? Scared of a little interrogation?? His voice went slower, and took on a menacing tone.? You have to answer, Wyeth! This is an IHAD."

"Stop it! Stop it now!? I felt a knot in my stomach. I dropped the clothes I was loading and clutched my gut. He laughed.? This isn't fu-funny, Jackson! Stop it!"

He suddenly stepped forward and grabbed my arms. I turned sick eyes up to his. His eyes were sick, too, but in a different way.

"Whatsa matter, princess? Life not going well? You're worthless! You let yourself be interrogated!

Careful! They're out to get you, Wyeth! Answer the questions!"

THE ANSWER TO YOUR INQUIRY, CITIZEN, IS 10,394.

"Ques-questions?? I was getting woozy. Fear burned through me at his warning, and I felt the nameless dread hunt me again. NO! I didn't do this! I was not responsible!? It's not my fault!? I cried.

"Of course it's your fault! It's all your fault! Look out! Here they come!? I cried out, and he laughed again.? Say it's your fault."

GEOSATTELITE 87F IS REPORTING ANOTHER SHIFTING OF THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT. EPICENTER LOCATION BEING CALCULATED… HOLD… EPICENTER IS LOCAT…

With all my strength, I weakly shook my head.? No. No, it's not!"

"Yes it is! Say it is. It's always the Cue's fault. And you're a Cue. That makes it your fault! Oh, no! It's inside you now, Wyeth! Your mind belongs to them now! You should be ashamed of yourself! Answer the questions."

THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, CITIZEN, IS THE ROSE, TULIP AND DANDELION… THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION,CITIZEN,IS YES… IS YES… NO… NONOYESNOYESNOSEYEONSEOYESNOEYYOSNESOYENOSEYONSEOSNEOSYES…

"Please stop,? I whimpered.? I'm sorry. It's my fault. Please stop."

PLEASE STOP AT THE INDICATED PAD AND PROVIDE IDENTIFI…

He released me, and I fell into the pile of clothing at my feet. My back hurt. At his shouted warning, I twitched out the way. They had come to take me away! My mind wasn't mine anymore! The humiliation sprang to life and began feeding my fear. I curled up and started sobbing. A man's disgusted voice cut through my terror.

…TEAR OR POSSIBLY A RAGGED CUT AT THE AFT SHIELD PLATE WILL ALLOW FOR QUICKEST…

"I've always hated your kind. These stupid people waste time and energy bringing back trash better left as the machines they were found in. Look at you! How can somebody like you even be considered an equal? Yet they treat you like you were worth something. Worth more than me.? His voice changed, and he nudged me with his foot.? Tell me it's your fault!? he ordered.

"It's my fault!? I despaired. My insides hurt, like they were bleeding.

I DON'T MIND THE BLEEDING, AS LONG AS YOU'RE HAPPY.. OHHH…

"Now apologize! Hurry, here they come again! Quick! Apologize!"

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!

…BUT ACCESS CAN ONLY BE ALLOWED TO TENANTS BETWEEN 2 AM AND 6…

Make them go away! Please!"

NARROW THE PARAMETER OF YOUR SEARCH. THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT HUN…

I begged, using the last of my strength. This huge figure standing over me chuckled. Cold poured PRESS… COOL… RESET… POUR… PRESS… COOL… RESET… POUR… PRESS… COOL

… RESET… POUR

over me as the terror sank its talons into my soul. With the cold came darkness and weakness and loneliness and despair and fear and oblivion.

"No. I'm going to let them stay. Answer the questions!"

"yes… I'll… answer… the… ques"

TIONS WILL BE ANSWERED ONCE YOUR VOICE CLEARANCE HAS BEEN VERIFIED… CHECKING… YES, MR. PREMIER, THE CHANNEL IS OPEN TO THE? TRAVELER? AND HAS BEEN SECURED. ONE 01101MOMENT, PLEASE… CAPTAIN PARKS IS AWAITING THE FINAL O1101001RDER TO COMMENCE SATURATION

"She's sharding! Quick! Induce deep Healer's… Watch that EK…"

BOMBING ON MARS COLO110001NY HERMES… CO010100111DING RECEIVED… T110R1A10N0S10M1ITTING..

"We can't stabilize! Open primary cerebral probe to multiple burst, inten.."

.TR11000A10N11010S101M01I101TT1I1NG10.1… TRA0001N10S1 00M110I1100T10011T00110101001101I001010N11010101G1101.1.101

"Abigail! Come on, sweetie! You've got to fight… damn! She's going…"

101010110110101101011011111011010101001010101010101010100 100101010101011011001001010101101010101010101101101010101 010101001010010101011001010101001001101011010101010010100 101010010101011001101011010100110101100101110101001010010

"NOW! Recharge and reset… increase oxygenation to forty…"

101010010101010010101010101010100100101101010101010001101 110101010010110110101101010010101110111011010110101010011 101010100101010101010000101010101011010111010101010101011

"…up to you Abigail. Abigail? It's Susie. Hang on, kid. Doctor Barr…"

10100101010100011001101010101010110110101101010101… 1011010001.. 2… 0012… 00..1102..011001.0.1001012..0101001

11001101010010100102010010010102.02.10012.02..0101.0101011001101.2..22.. 02..200101110012.0100202010010120102.1020100..010101

"en, but I see ye won first prize! Hey, Abby! It's Kate! We need a coupla more tunes! You mentioned one about a submarine sailor and her…"

10201001102.0112101010112.0101010.01010122.102100120102.0010

"she mentioned that after they found out your favorite color they would find the prettiest dress they could, then throw you the…"

200201200120120102002200201201… STABLE UNBOUND TRINARY CODING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. THIS UNIT IS NOW CAPABLE OF PERFORMING FULLY JUDGMENTAL PROGRAMMING. BEGINNING PRIMARY ACCESS CODING FOR UNIT INTERNAL DIAGNOSTICS. ESTIMATED TIME FOR SELF-DIAGNOSTIC WILL BE NINETY-ONE HOURS, FIFTEEN MINUTES, THREE SECONDS. BEGIN TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING…

[gentle crying]

TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TESTING… TE… THIS UNIT HAS COMPLETED SELF DIAGNOSTICS. ELAPSED TIME: NINETY-ONE HOURS, FIFTEEN MINUTES, TWO POINT NINE THREE SECONDS…

WHEN IT'S TWILIGHT ON THE TRAIL, AND I REST ONCE MORE, MY CEILING

"is the sky, and the grass on which I lie, is my home.? The haunting melody soothingly traced its sweet path along my mind.

"Abigail? Was that you?? I heard a scrape of a stool on the floor and felt my hand being taken. It was pitch dark, the darkness of Healer's Sleep. There was no disorientation this time, but instead the comfortable peace of knowing I was safe.