Respite 25

RESPITE 25

(Science Fiction)

Subject 2987 Memory harvest

Date: 2167 AD

Abstract: Reactor implants itself in ecological deadzone causing biological and temporal anomalies.It was discovered in November 2138 when a field agent on an unrelated mission became entrapped within the subject's field of effect. This was extrapolated from the memories of surrounding biological life shown below.

OO1

“Wait, wait stop Ruben!”

The pair break their duel and pause for a second.

Their expressions cloud with almost equal confusion.

They inspect their surroundings.

It’s the same place they have been in for God knows how long.

A spacious concrete complex hailing from times past. It brilliantly clashes with the plethora of tropical life, healthy crammed in at nearly all angles.

A truly breathtaking sight.

It’s midway through falling to the ground, a good 100 years this place has been abandoned. Yet it seems propped up, still living on.

Empty husks of stores line the walls, their names damn near unintelligible-

“Morgan, what’s going on? I don’t see an end to this.”

She breaks away from her sightseeing and juts back to face her enemy.

Ruben stands on guard. So does Morgan.

“I don’t even know what’s going on, but I’m willing to not fight you.” Morgan speaks low.

Ruben remains still and poised.

“There’s something else here. I’ll say that,” Ruben remarks.

“Yeah, radios are still bricked and neither of our energy weapons function.” Morgan says.

“Some sort of jamming signal maybe? Either way, there’s something wrong with this old shopping mall.”

“Yeah…”

They remain still.

Then Morgan turns tail and breaks into a dash.

Ruben swears loudly and sprints after her.

Once again-

He pushes his body with absolute ferocity.

Hearts pound, they sprint like animals.

They weave through unrecognisable structures and push away overgrown plants billowing from decorative planter boxes.

Their world is a blur.

If they lose each other, it's over. It’s all over.

She’s tried to take sudden turns or lose him in cluttered and complex paths but he’s always behind her.

Morgan glances behind herself.

Ruben is closer than before, so this is getting her nowhere.

After vaulting over a table, Morgan briefly scans her surroundings.

She spots a large double door. She can block it off from Ruben. It’s her only chance.

She takes a hard left and makes a final dash for the door.

It’s fast approaching.

She runs through her head how she’s going to block Ruben.

Ok now!

She slams the handles and flies through.

She pivots on her heels, slams the door shut and reaches up for the-

Everything crashes. They violently push each other around.

Morgan finds herself on the ground, hands on her throat- she needs to breathe.

Ruben’s glare burns through her skull. Everything zeros in. The air closes in, with bated breath.

Action, Morgan thinks.

Stop him

She raises her fist and punches Ruben in the ribs. He gasps, loosening his grip just enough for her to push off with both legs at full strength. Ruben briefly falls flat on his face and Morgan lands a few metres away.

They now stand in the hallway, holding themselves, gasping for breath.

Things go still again.

Water drips from a sagging balcony.

Leaves rustle from wind blowing through holes in the wall.

Ruben’s face contorts and lets out a scream.

They throw themselves at each other once more.

OO2

“How long have we been here?”

Morgan clutches her head but keeps her glare fixed on her enemy.

“I have no idea.”

“When was the last time we ate?” Ruben Looks down at his satchel. Completely full.

Strange, he remembers eating quite a lot recently. What about his smokes?

Movement in the corner of his eye.

Ruben snaps a blade straight out of the air.

“You bitch,” he snarls.

OO3

Morgan sprints across the edges of the mall, trying to find an exit.

No doors in sight.

She could search much better if this dickhead wasn’t on her ass all day.

He closely follows her, powering ahead.

One trip up and he’s on her.

She bounds up an overhang, her heart pounds.

She’s made it to the next floor.

Her head darts behind her.

No one.

She skids to a halt, letting out a big breath.

Good, now I can focus on getting outta here.

She turns to run towards the sides of the mall.

But Ruben’s already there.

Morgan groans loudly.

“Fuck. Just ease the fuck up.”

Ruben glares at her.

“Like you wouldn’t do the same Morgan. Or maybe it’s because I like watching you squirm.”

They both smirk, sharing a bit of respite.

Then they break into a run.

OO4

“Come in, headquarters. COME IN.” Morgan shouts into the receiver. Nothing.

She’s frantically sprinting, just trying to buy time.

He trails close behind.

OO5

Morgan springs her leg out straight into Ruben's chest.

All air escapes his lungs and he collapses on the dirt.

Morgan wastes no time. She raises her foot.

Ruben whips out his gun.

Aimed straight for her head.

Lighting fast, she instinctively dives for last ditch cover.

At the same time, Ruben scrambles off the ground and bolts in the other direction.

Morgan immediately pops her head up and realises. She roars and springs up as well.

Now they're both on their feet.

But it doesn't last long. This is a tired game by now.

Ruben whirls around and brings out his only usable weapon. His knife.

Morgen skids to a halt and unsheathes hers.

She takes a stance. Her gaze locked on him.

"Quite the pathetic trick there Ruben. I assure you it won't happen again."

"Well, I cashed in that card before you so it's a win in my book." Ruben says.

"I threw my blaster out as soon as I knew it was jammed here. Dead weight." She says.

"That's presumptuous. It could start working at any point you know. Anything can happen here." He says.

"You would like that wouldn't you?"

Slowly sidestepping, they find themselves locked in time.

OO6

“How about we just walk away?”

Ruben eyes her.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, we both know some sort of mystic bullshit is afoot here. We can agree on that.”

“Yeah I agree.”

Morgan nods. “So, after this shared experience, do you think we can agree to go our separate ways?”

Rubens eyes narrow. “How do I know you won’t just rat out to your superiors after you get outta here?”

She throws her hands up.

“I’m all about peace in the end. I feel that what’s happening here is a sign that we should leave this all behind us.”

Ruben stays silent for a while, glaring at her.

“I don’t know what to say to that Morgan. Everytime I play that out in my head, it ends in tragedy.”

Morgan grimaces.

“I don’t know how long we’ve been here, but it’s way too long. I don’t believe in God, Ruben. His silence is louder than ever in this day and age.”

“Okay then.”

“Just hear me out. Even though I'm a firm non-believer, there’s something about this which I can’t explain. I can only rationalise this spiritually.”

“I agree somewhat.”

Morgan snaps her fingers and points to him.

“Then you can agree that the information we both hold is too big for us to decide the fate of. Just thinking about it makes me sick. Let’s accept this message. How about for once in our life, let's do something like this.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Making our own decision to do the right thing. Or something like that.”

Ruben rubs his chin.

“Give me a few minutes.”

“Ok sure.”

“And if I can really trust you, you’ll let me sit down”

Morgan sits beside him as time passes to the present, where they now stand facing each other.

Unsure on what to do, they end up just shaking hands.

“Goodbye friend.”

OO7

Ruben ambles through the bushes. Big green leaves threaten to slap his head. He bats them aside, head down, thoughts swirling.

The time for leaving had come. His mind flashes to his country.

His boss. His family.

His stomach twists uncomfortably with anticipation.

He breathes in and out. Keeps walking.

This place is a maze, his mind fogs everytime he tries to navigate it. But the exit looks close, though he can’t quite make it out just yet. He kind of sees a set of big doors. Light shines through them.

Soon facing the world once again.

He’s always found his missions a sort of respite from real life.

He often thinks about which part of his life was the real mission.

Was it his job? Dangerous and demanding. But simple, in a way.

Or was it his life? So full of choices and hardships. Paralyzing in its complexity. Everything brought up a new emotion. It tired him.

Ruben stops, and wonders if Morgan ever felt the same way.

Morgan…

He freezes, his mind wipes.

There she is.

Standing 20 metres away. Looking at something in her bag.

Unsuspecting. Open.

People and places rush to his mind.

The market stall that sells his favorite fruit. Strawberries.

His favorite spot to sit when days get too much. It's a tree, hidden in a forgotten pocket of the city. He always brings a punnet and scrolls through his phone.

Charlese. Zack.

Pinky Promise.

His heart closes.

He draws his knife.

OO8

Everything brought up a new emotion. It tired her.

Morgan stops, and wonders if Ruben ever felt the same way.

Ruben...

She freezes, Her mind wipes.

There he is.

Standing 20 metres away. Looking at something in his bag.

Unsuspecting. Open.

People and places rush to her mind.

Playing with her little niece. They way she brightens up her day every time.

Her Parents. She still hadn’t told them she was sorry. Her chest tightens.

Her last photo of her first lover.

All that could be lost.

Pinky Promise.

Her heart closes.

She draws her knife.

OO9

“What do you even have to live for, Morgan?!”

He shouts, “I have a family to protect. Please, I have to take this back to my home. I can promise you protection.”

Morgan laughs. She starts side stepping slowly.

“What kinda proposal is that? You’ve spent too long here it seems.”

Ruben opens his mouth to retort but frowns and holds his tongue.

“This has happened before…. Stop Morgan! Forget about that.”

Morgan freezes up and glances around, but remains poised.

“Yeah, I agree this is strange…”

“We keep fighting, but we have to focus on the task at hand.”

Morgan twists to glare at him.

“The task at hand is the info we both carry. Only one of us deserves it.”

Now it’s Ruben’s turn to laugh.

“You’re the one that stole it from me!”

Morgan starts striding towards him, pulling a knife behind her back.

“You really think-?“

O1O

“When were you born?”

Ruben stops fiddling with his radio and looks up to where she’s sitting.

“Twenty-one thousand and three. You?”

“Two years before you.”

They sit in silence.

“You're a good fighter, Ruben. It’s a shame we’re on opposite sides.”

Ruben pulls a cigarette from his pouch.

“That's what they all say.”

O11

They both stand opposite each other panting like dogs.

Soon they’ll rejuvenate like nothing happened.

But while their bodies will recover, their minds are at breaking point.

Ruben uprights his posture and puts his hands on his hips with a sigh.

“Do you just, wanna like, lie down for a bit?”

Morgan sheaths her knife.

“Yeah okay.”

O13

Ruben and Morgan lock hands, grunting in effort as they try to push each other over.

Ruben tries kicking her legs in but Morgan headbutts him before he can reach her.

They both stagger back in disorientation.

“You bitch,” Ruben spits.

“Fuck you. When I bring back those codes…”

Her face falls and her voice trails off, attention fixed on something behind Ruben.

Ruben keeps facing his enemy but quickly glances backwards.

But as soon as he sees it, everything falls away.

A cat sits perched on a nearby table.

The animal feels sickeningly familiar. Ruben has seen it many times before.

It feels part of his life now.

Sensing their gazes, the cat bounds away.

Once again, for what seems to be an uncountable time, the.

Air.

Falls.

Still.

O14

“I wish I never became a soldier,” Ruben mutters.

From where they were lying down, Morgan turns to look at him.

“My whole life, I’ve only tried to check boxes. Serve my country, get a wife, raise a kid. I never did anything for myself. I wanted to make my father proud, earn my family rations.

Ruben sighs heavily.

“But now I think it’s because I’m too lazy to do anything with my life. Perfectly happy to just move along, doing the minimum. Now I’m 34 and I have nothing to say about anything.”

Ruben’s voice starts to waver.

“I don’t even speak to my kid anymore."

Morgan stares blankly at the ceiling. She starts to speak.

“Almost my whole life I was aiming for the top. I did almost nothing but that. But now I’m here… and I realise now it was all for nothing. All I do is dirty work. I just feel inescapably empty nowadays. Nothing brings me joy anymore, not even my own personal pleasures.”

They gaze at each other briefly then turn back to the ceiling.

“And it’s tragic that now I’m forced to be enemies with the one person I respect in this world.”

Ruben turns to her, slightly taken aback, but his expression softens.

Morgan smiles back at him.

He runs a hand through her hair.

She leans in.

O15

Morgan cackles as she stalks a former Chinese restaurant for her prey.

“Come out, come out wherever you are…”

She methodically checks every angle, relishing the situation.

No doors to escape through. If he tries to run, she’ll kill him with one throw of her spear.

He knows that.

She doesn't know why, but this feeling arising within her, bittersweet ecstasy.

Finally, it’s over.

Ruben curls huddled up behind a counter, clutching his sharpened pole.

Both their hearts are pounding.

Ruben tries to think but the weight of the world is crushing him.

He can only remain, rooted in fear as he prepares his last stand.

He thinks back to his ex-wife. His son that he won’t see. About the destruction of his home.

Even though he will die, at least Morgan will live on. She might even be happy again.

What is he saying, how does-?

Movement.

He leaps off the ground and whirls around to face his predator.

She has a grim smile plastered on her face.

For a second, they regard each other.

Then she’s on top of him.

He tries to push back, but the knife only inches closer.

They both heave in effort.

Their breaths are synchronised.

Bodies grind against each other.

She can feel his adrenaline.

When we get dressed, will we just fight again?

Morgan roars and throws the knife away.

….

She lays on top of him for a while, panting.

He gets up to sit with her on the broken tiling.

They sit together for a while.

O16

Morgan loses her balance and Ruben takes his chance for an overhead swing.

Seeing this, Morgan dashes forward and tackles Ruben.

She pulls her knife back to plunge it in his stomach.

Ruben grabs her arm, and kicks her strongly. She flys back and lands on all fours.

They stand up and dust bath selves off. Even through all of this they can't help but share a shaky laugh.

Ruben then points at Morgan.

“Those codes are mine, Morgan. Quit while you’re ahead.”

Morgan smirks.

“Don’t kid yourself Ruben. You know you suck.”

“Oooh ho. You've gone and done it now.”

O17

They hold each other under the sheets.

“I love men. They’re so warm.”

They embrace for a while, their kisses ebbing and flowing.

Her mouth was so soft, it flowed right into his.

It felt like the softest thing Ruben could possibly think of.

“I love your ears, your neck. So cute. I love it. I..”

Morgan pushes him and grins broadly.

“You suck at seducing me.”

They both try to laugh.

Silence falls. They hold each other.

“When we get dressed, will we just fight again?”

Ruben thinks for a moment and lets out a sigh.

“Probably.”

Morgan sighs and lays on his lap.

O18

Loud snaps and shouts radiate once again through the complex.

Morgan tries over and over to break his defence. She cackles, swinging her weapon with ferocity.

Ruben’s eyes display concentration as he blocks each blow with equal dexterity.

“One thing you forgot, my enemy.” Ruben says.

“What’s that weakling?” Morgan says between pants.

“In my country they teach you to not just swing… but stab!”

Like a striking viper, he launches his weapon forward.

Straight into Morgan's chest.

She cries out and drops to the floor, clutching her stomach.

Ruben freezes. Everything falls.

He tries to move toward her.

Morgan starts shaking, choking on her breath.

He falls to his knees and holds his arm out.

“Morgan…”

He reaches out.

A knife appears just in front of his throat.

Morgan’s up, holding the blade.

Her belly is completely wound free.

“It was a risk, but I somehow knew you’d try to jab me there.”

Ruben, utterly shellshocked, stays still.

The knife stays.

“Why can’t I kill you?” Morgan asks.

“Well..”

Ruben flexes his arm and smacks the knife out of her grip.

He jumps away, making some distance between them.

They glare at each other.

Ruben turns around and sprints off.

Morgan doesn’t follow him.

O19

“What the fuck…”

Ruben presses a hand to his head. He feels woozy in its presence.

He had been looking for days. For something, anything.

He had searched through overgrown gardens, tattered store fronts, very decrepit employee areas, caved in concrete nether structures and strange forests full of wildlife.

Eventually, when walking past a strangely charred juice parlour, he felt suddenly drawn to it. Maybe it was the giant hole in the side of the shop window.

And it led him in here, this cavern of tattered concrete. It travelled down quite far.

The centre holds an item of indescribable energy.

It feels surreal to even look at it.

Ruben doesn’t even know how to approach it.

It’s vaguely… blue. Kind of bright.

He thinks it’s an orb.

He has no clue how to get near it

So indescribable.

He’s suddenly shattered. He’d rather be anywhere else.

Better go back up for a rest.

He clambers up rocks and steel.

When he reaches the top, the spacious caverns of the Central World Mall opens up to him once again. Sights all too familiar and equally breathtaking. Vines dangle from the ceiling, water flows continuously off the second floor pipelines into an opening in the floor. Trees sprout healthily out of skeletons littered in the food court.

And Morgan standing in front of him. Like always.

She looks like she’s been staring at the strange object for a while now as well.

She offers a small wave.

“Hey.”

O2O

“I hate myself for wasting time here.” He fidgets with a stick in his hand. Picking off bits one by one.

“Really? Well I don't.” Morgan speaks without much emotion.

He glances at her, then looks toward the scenery.

“Huh.”

O21

A man and a woman stroll down an old beaten path. Relics of times past mixed with lush new plants slowly pass by them.

They firmly hold hands, their grip unwavering till the end.

A light shines in the distance.

“How much time has passed here you think?”

He rubs his chin with his free hand.

“It feels about 9 months, but I've learned not to trust my mind in this place,” He says. “Most of my memories are fuzz. Maybe cause i've experienced ones just like them hundreds of times.”

“I agree.”

The light draws closer.

They stroll in silence.

But eventually one of them speaks up.

“You never really loved me did you?”

The other stays quiet for a while, mulling over the question.

“I think… We both did what was necessary. You can agree?”

“But did you ever draw upon real feelings?”

“Well, yeah. It was too easy to fall for you. After all you’re me,” One says. “In reality, we could have moved this romance along as fast as we wanted to. But I think for this to work, we had to fool ourselves as well.”

“Yeah, I guess you could say it worked. This story had terrible pacing though.”

One chuckles.

“True enough.”

The light is closer than ever. They don’t focus on it, but everything around them starts to fade- into obscurity. It was never important anyway.

“What’s the first thing you’re gonna do when you get out?” One asks.

“Heh. Is that even a question?” Muses One. “Well the first thing. Quit the military.”

“That’s difficult these days.”

“We’ll figure it out. For my family, for my own health, any of the pain is worth it.”

One appears at the light.

He doesn’t look back as he leaves.

O22

Ruben bursts through the store doors.

Everything is a fog, a mess. He can barely see.

His body. Oh his sweet body. He frantically pats it down.

His mind switches to Her.

Clashing swords. Wrestling with killing intent. In bed.

Oh God.

He screams. Pats himself down. Screams some more.

He wants to vomit.

Ruben curls up on the debris.

He presses his eyes tightly shut.

O23

Ruben awakens.

His arms are strapped to a table. He can’t move his legs as well.

A horrible sickness rises right to the top through terror.

A man in a terrifying mask is right in front of him.

He screams, thrashing around. His gaze darts all over the room.

White, box like room. One sided glass.

Medical grade machinery.

Random people in scrubs looking up at him from machines.

A man right next to him in a hazmat suit.

Ruben’s panic falls. He rests his head back on the pillow.

Back home. Finally.

“Sorry for the fright Ruben. It’s just me, your boss. I just had to get a good look at you in person.”

The hazmat man's voice is muffled and disconnected. “How are you doing?”

Ruben does something with mouth.

“Uh, is he okay?” The hazmat twists his head around to face the people in scrubs.

Then Ruben vomits all over the man.

Forgetting he's in a hazmat, the man squeals, throwing his arms around. Projectile vomit pieces fly everywhere. Everyone in the room shouts and runs out of view.

He hears distant laughter nearby. Everything shakes for Ruben. He can only close his eyes.

O24

Ruben is now in a small box room. For interrogating.

Seated across from him are assorted high ranking military men. As well as his now former boss.

The General concludes his point.

“So we’ve accepted your conditions, but you’re far from done in terms of this whole event.”

“Yes Sir.”

His Boss pipes up. He wears his usual suit and slick back hair.

“So what now? You’re out.” He says with a smirk.

“Well, uh, I think I'll see my son. Then have a long think about what’s next, Sir.”

He throws Ruben a dry smile.

“Well aint that nice.”

O25

Ruben sits under his tree. A punnet of blueberries in his hand. Can’t get strawberries right now.

He reads through his medical report.

What was he doing there? Really?

He feels sick just thinking about it.

…

He now sits under the tree. Watching the breeze move the leaves while everything important melts away.

And for a brief moment, he feels a bit of respite.

END

Property of Max Robert Dean Bell

All rights reserved.

24/10/2021

(Adapted from my original story I wrote called Respite 28)