[24]
They were wakened by a beep at the door. Derek came to the door wearing only his underwear; every shameless little action felt like a rebellious act in this sterile world of obedience. He was glad to see a very grim-looking Jerome behind the door.
“You should’ve been ready to leave by now,” he grunted through his teeth.
“Your supreme leader failed to notify us about the precise time…”
“We sent android servants to inform you three times!” Jerome’s yelling interrupted Derek. The latter smirked idly.
“I’m afraid we didn’t hear them.”
“Three times? Yeah, that’s about right…” Sophie appeared near Derek wearing one of his shirts. “You look like shit, Jerry! Had a rough night?”
Jerome clenched his jaw; large red spots marked his cheeks.
“You should get dressed. The med androids will come for you any minute,” he grunted. “I need to have a word with you, Captain.”
Sophie smiled lustfully at Derek and slowly paced to the bathroom, leaving the two men staring at her beautiful thighs.
Jerome went to the apartment’s balcony. The dark hour of the early morning laid over Orpheus. The lights of the city glittered like a piece of cheap jewellery. Jerome waited till the air above their heads was clear from surveillance drones. Derek noticed Jerome pressing a button on the collar of his uniform discreetly.
“What do you want?” Derek asked straightforwardly.
“You don’t have a clue what she really is!” Jerome said, lowering his furious voice.
“She’s one of the women from the Sophie program, yes, I’m aware she might have done some despicable things…”
“Might have?!” Jerome laughed; his handsome face mangled by a malicious grimace.
He paced around the balcony nervously.
“When I was on my mission in the Government’s territory, my work was to gather information about their special units, Sophies including, because they posed the highest threat to our forces. I was living with Sophie for eight months when I finally broke into the Government’s server.” Jerome stopped, staring at the city lights. “It was my job to study the Sophies.”
“You took it very literally,” Derek smirked.
“I didn’t expect I’d develop feelings for one of them.” Jerome ignored his remark. “She shouldn’t have gotten pregnant. The Sophies were usually sterilised. When I found the Sophie files, of course I looked for hers first.” Jerome inhaled the deepest breath. “She was the best. Their top assassin. She wasn’t sterilised because the Government planned to impregnate her for genetically superior offspring. The list of her successful jobs was just…so many of our top officers seduced and killed, even some leaders. Her secret was kept well. She was too good. Sophie escaped the Government’s lab. There were no further records. I believe she laid low. Found another one of the Sophies, messed with her microchip to make the woman believe to be her mother, then I think our Sophie messed with her own mind to erase her memories. She wanted to start a new life. They say, ignorance is bliss,” Jerome gave a grim smile, “she didn’t succeed. She still has memories of her skills.”
“That’s why you left her to die?”
Jerome smiled ruefully.
“You’re quick to judge, Captain. I had to make a tough decision. I chose what’s best for both of us. If I had led her here back then, she would’ve faced a fate worse than a quick death by a Ghoul’s bullet. And I wouldn’t be taking the high rank I do now.” Jerome faced Derek, “now that I’ve gained Nolan’s trust, I’ve convinced him to use Sophie as one of our agents, instead of eliminating her.”
“So, you were saving your own behind and your own career, because if big daddy Nolan would’ve found out you slept with the enemy, your chances of getting a pretty suit and a ship full of tech bling would be screwed?!”
“It’s not that simple!” Jerome objected. A noise interrupted them.
“Are you boys done? The med androids are here,” Sophie called them.
Derek rushed inside and embraced her.
“What are they going to do with her?” He yelled at Jerome who followed him inside the apartment.
“I already said; they’ll take the microchip out…”
“What else?!”
“It’s for her own good!”
Jerome attempted to rip Sophie from Derek’s embrace.
“What’s going on?!” She screamed.
“You must obey the orders!” Jerome lost his temper.
Derek punched him in the face without a word. Jerome fell to the floor, blood splattered onto his snow-white uniform.
He gave Derek a spiteful look, pressing the button on his collar.
“Code red,” he grunted into his communicator.
Ten well-armed android guards ran into the apartment within seconds.
“Her to the med floor. Him to the isolator,” Jerome commanded aggressively.
The combat androids were well-developed for their purpose, though Sophie attempted to disarm one immediately, the huge androids grabbed both her and Derek in a tight grip, held them at gun point and handcuffed them.
A nanny android had come in amidst of the fight. Jerome took the crying baby from the nanny.
“If you ever want to see this child again, obey the orders!” He yelled.
The androids pulled Sophie and Derek out of the apartment.
“Your child, Jerry! Anouk is your daughter! What are you going to do to her?” Sophie cried out.
“Get them out of my sight!” Jerome spat out. He went away with little Anouk’s crying echoing in the crisp white corridors.
If I had my choice between the government and the rebels, I'd choose neither and try to go elsewhere. The rebels have proven they can't be trusted.
Wow, Jerome really sucks.