Samuel Bohovic - Hybrid - Project Vigil

“Do you still have control of facility systems?”

Door in front of him unsealed and opened.

“I still possess full control of facility.”

John was glad to hear that.

“If you can open every door in my way that would be fine. And… you can always call me when you are lonely.”

He proceeded to cell 02. There was an urn inside small cabinet with glass door. He broke the glass with fist. Urn was ceramic marked by metal plate:

Subject Sigma

#6572394

Female

Age: 17

Born: 25. April 2003

K.I.A. 24. April 2020

John’s thoughts darkened. “A day before her birthday. And I couldn’t do anything to save her… It was my fault I should have aborted mission.”

“There was no way for you to know.” Jennifer was standing behind him.

Same process with cell 06.

Subject Alpha

#65017209

Male

Age: 18

Born: 6. June 2002

K.I.A. 24. April 2020

John put both urns into his backpack and went away from that place.

They walked towards manufacturing facility. The place was huge. Crates, weapons, machine parts, machines, wires, computers and a lot more. John was looking for one machine in particular.

Jennifer broke silence with question. “What are we looking for?”

“3MD.”

“What’s that.”

“Mobile Multifunctional Manufacturing Device.”

John found that name when he was downloading database.

Jennifer turned right after a while. “Got it! Right over here.”

It was prepared for shipping out packed into wooden crate with sing “3MD.” John used blade to open it then he grabbed handle on it’s side and pulled it out. It looked like steel cube with several handles, buttons and lever. John pulled the lever and opened the workbench. Interface was adapted to hybrids. Instead of touch screen there was contact foil.

“Find cable and plug it I want to test it first.” John looked at Jennifer.

She ran away between crates and tables to find power source. Suddenly alarms went off.

Jennifer returned with fear in her eyes. “I just plugged it… and… and.”

Lights turned off and two of them were left in darkness. Computer voice echoed through silence.

“Reactor malfunction, emergency power supply depleted, system shutdown imminent.”

John peered into darkness.

“Well… shit.”

He lit two lights on front side of his armor.

“See those small boxes? Take as much as you can put in this crate.”

He said and gave Jennifer one of crates from cart. Then he picked up the 3MDand put it on the cart next to empty crates. He pushed cart to separate room where computer components were stored. John kicked down it’s door. I looked like someone was looting before them shelves were half empty but there was everything John wanted. He took everything what was left it wasn’t much, just enough to fill one crate. He also took few screens and holo projector and placed them on 3MD.

“What do you want to do with all this stuff?” Jennifer asked looking at empty shelf.

“I don’t know yet, but I have some ideas. Our last stop will be armory.”

“What do you want there?” Jennifer tried to move the cart but she couldn’t.

John left that question unanswered. He pushed the cart through dark corridors until they came to armory door. There was no way to open it normally so he put all breaching charges on it. They stepped back and John blew it up. There were few things he wanted, rocket launchers, mortar and some more guns.

“Is this all you want from here? Guns?” Jennifer was upset.

“No I want ammo too. Look for big green boxes with “80mm” on them.” John said jokingly as he placed mortar to last crate. After they loaded ammo on already overloaded cart they headed out.

Sunlight blinded John when they came outside. Caroline was waiting for them.

“Where the hell have you been? We’re leaving in 60 minutes and you do what? You go inside and gather whatever you can. I don’t even want to know what is in those crates and why you are taking that machine. I don’t care take what you want, nobody will miss it. Jennifer get someone to bring it to the truck so they can take it to my house. John, go back to your tent and pack your things.”

They went to do what she said without saying a word, John took backpack with him. For some time they went together, before they parted their ways they shook their hands.

“Thanks for help down there and with Gillian. I hope we’ll meet again.” John said and then he went away.

Gillian waited for him in his tent.

“Why are you here? You should be packing.” He gently placed the backpack on his bed.

“I want to spend some more time with you. They want us to live separately as far from each other as possible. Do you need help with armor?” She put her hands on his chestplate.

“Some help wouldn’t hurt.”

They couldn’t find a way to cooperate to take off armor so John did it by himself.

“We should go. It’s been almost an hour I can’t believe they don’t have machine for this.”

John locked his armor in a crate.

“You should build one… wait you don’t need to. You are not taking it with you, are you?”

Gillian was worried.

“It’s not that simple.” John said while picking up backpack.

“What is it John?” She stood in his way.

“I’m going back.”

“When? Why? You don’t have to. You can live normal life. Is it because..?” She looked at his artificial arm.

“I have to. Have you seen those marines? They were about to start they guard duty here and I would most likely kill them after some time. Now? They are going to war. I don’t know where. I don’t know why. We were supposed to be there instead of them. After so many years here… I don’t think I can do anything else.”

He looked at his artificial arm.

“All they gave me here was knowledge and tools. And soon it will have to return the favor.”

“What if you die? I don’t want to worry about you.” Tears appeared in her eyes.

“I can’t die till I have something worth fighting for… you are that something and lives of those men. I can save a lot of them.” He gently stroked her cheek with artificial hand.

“You are right. But promise me if something goes wrong you’ll stop.”

“I promise.”

She cleared the way for him. John paced through half-empty camp with backpack on his back and crate in his hands. Gillian was right behind him with her possessions.

Everyone already waited near several cars. Caroline stood next to dark green Land Rover.

“Leave this here I’ll load it. Your squad waits for you and you should say goodbye to Gillian.” She said when he came closer.

She was right they waited for him, stepped in line all of them dressed in civilian clothes.

He walked in front of each of them.

“Orders, Commander?” Someone asked.

John stopped.

“I am no longer your commander. You fought by my side for your freedom. Now you should live long and happy life free, free of all evil you came through in this facility. My friends. A moment of silence to honor our fallen brothers and sisters. Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. We’ve already avenged their deaths but that doesn’t mean we should forget.”

Only wind interrupted their silence.

Subjects went to their cars. Only John and Gillian stood there.

After ten minutes of saying “Goodbye” and several hugs and kisses they both sat in their cars, with tears in their eyes. Gillian watched John disappear in the distance…

As they drove away from facility gate John focused all his attention on small connection signal indicator on his HUD. When “Connection lost” icon appeared he bashed his head against airbag cover.