Thicker Than Blood (5 page)

Maybe Mark noticed Amman's anger more than I realized, Joe thought. He saw Lucy smile. He looked back at Mark and saw Amman glancing their way. He responded to Mark. "No. I guess it doesn't."

Joe was walking through the hall of a hospital wing. An assortment of patients were strewn about the floor moaning and wailing. Many of them looked pale, almost bloodless. He walked over crawling patients toward an open door. A flickering light blinked in the doorway. There was a pile of bodies. Doctors and nurses, clearly murdered, were still wearing their blood stained work uniforms. A single florescent light dangled from the ceiling. Joe heard a rhythmic pair of sounds both ticking and rumbling. He looked at the source of the sound. The far wall of the room had full size windows, but nothing was evident in the night. Nothing, just a perfect blackness. He wanted to get a closer look but was afraid of the growing noise. The window wall exploded inward. Glass flew into the room and then back out again as if sucked into a vacuum. Daylight streamed in through the giant window frame. The silhouette of a helicopter was visible through the blinding light. The dark green Apache attack helicopter hovered in place, missile launchers nearly full. Joe's heart stopped in fear. He turned and ran up the now empty hall. There was an open daylit window at its end. Joe wanted to jump out of it. He knew he would be safe if he jumped, yet Joe couldn't take the plunge. It was a twenty story window. How could that be safe that's crazy. A phone on the wall near Joe began to ring. He stared in confusion, not sure why the phone didn't belong there. He reached for it. In a start, Joe woke up. He was covered in sweat. The phone next to his bed was ringing. After it rang a few times, Joe picked up. "Hello?" Joe asked. His voice was hoarse. "Joeee, I got your message. How are you holding up?" A strange voice asked. "Uh, uh, okay. Considering everything." Joe slowly began to gather his thoughts. "What? You all right?" the voice asked, "I haven't seen you on N.Y.N. in a month. Cyborg Wars is nothing without their A team." The young man started to sound familiar. "Thanks," Joe replied. "Those bastards didn't kick you off because of the whole A team thing? Right? You'd think Hollywood would give up and not harass you guys anymore! All they've got is lawyers now. I read that their total connection rate was way down this month." He recognized the voice. I know who this is. "No not yet," Joe said, smiling. "So what's going on?" Kento asked. "Do you have an interview today?" Joe asked. He felt his stomach sink as he thought about how awkward the question sounded. He looked out of the window in his bedroom. He felt was embarrassed about living in his father's house. I'm to old to live in my dads house, he thought. "Nah, nothing lined up... so be it." He sounded no less chipper. "Can we meet for some coffee?" Joe asked. "Cool, man. Let's do it. I'd love to catch up." "How about today?" What if he says no, Joe thought. "Sure, but I've got to shower. I've been training and boy, do I stink." "What are you up to now?" Joe asked. "Fifth degree, and brown in karate too. But you're so quick you'd probably take me anyway." "Don't wanna try, Kento," Joe replied. "I can meet you in an hour at our cafe on Sunrise Highway," Kento suggested. "Sounds good. See you there," Joe said. Joe didn't move, listening to the dial tone. He didn't usually have bad dreams. What was that all about? Dead doctors, opaque windows, explosions, zombie patients? It was an unusual setting and cast for Joe's night show. I have stop taking afternoon naps, Joe thought. His thoughts were interrupted by the prerecorded instructions on how to use a telephone, blaring in his right ear. He pressed the button on his receiver, and quickly dialed. He glanced at one of his band posters hanging from the slanted ceiling. Joe stared at the image of musicians leaning up against a wall. "Hello?" Lucy's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hi," Joe said. "Joe, how's it going? Are you coming down to the warehouse today?" "Maybe later?" Joe asked himself out loud. "Did you talk to Kento?" "I need to borrow the van. I'm meeting him over at the cafe," Joe said. "Oh." "I won't crash it, Lucy." Joe spoke as deliberately as he could. "Are you sure you're ready? I could drop you off." "How would I get back? He rides. Remember?" "Oh... I guess I could work from home today. You had better get him on board." "Hey. I talk smooth!" Joe said. "Yeah, right." "I'll see you in a few," Joe said. "Okay. Finny will be happy to see you." Joe could hear Lucy smile as she talked. Joe hung up the phone and put his favorite boots on. He hustled downstairs, anxious to see Finny again. His father was sitting in the living room with his checkbook and a calculator. "Hey Joe. You owe me three hundred dollars. I'm sorry to ask now, but the bills are due." "No problem, Dad. I'll have it for you next week," Joe said. "I need it tomorrow." Joe wondered when he became more responsible than his dad. His dad wouldn't need to lean on him, if he didn't drink his problems away. Three hundred was so little. Maybe it would pay for a few hours at the bar. Joe's heart sank. His dad was totally gone. He felt anger building up inside of him. "I might be able to get it tonight," Joe lied. He headed for the front door. He was frustrated he couldn't tell his dad how bright his future looked right now. He felt alone. "Good night son." His dad looked distant and embarrassed. Joe's emotional roller coaster was plunging from rage to guilt. It was time to go.

Joe zipped up his coat tightly as he walked through the chilly evening air. He shu?ed past a small strip of stores as he transversed the empty suburban blocks to Lucy's house. His thought of Kento's misfortune as he walked. His high school friend had worked on the final generation of general purpose computing chips at Charles Peterson United, before Moore's law totally broke down. Business and science news often blamed the hard times directly on projections of it's demise. It's funny how those same channels praised Gordon Moore just a few years ago. If only they could fabricate chips beyond the safe harbor of a vacuum. Oh wait. They can. Joe walked wide eyed thinking of the depth of his discovery. He was in it now. A strange man's voice called to Joe, "Sir, do you have a fifty?" Joe turned his head to the voice. A homeless man was hidden in shadow beside the last store. There was a conspicuous hole in the six foot fence between the stores and a house. Joe wondered if he was squatting in the dark abandoned house. The man looked clean, but scruffy and old. The remnants of his jacket, dress shoes, and slacks looked as if they had been worn three years too many. He wondered if the house was once the homeless man's. Squatting in a house you once owned was not unusual. Saddened, Joe walked toward the man, making sure to keep himself outside of the shadows in case it was a trick. Joe couldn't face his aunt if he got hurt again. He pulled out his wallet and handed the man a hundred-dollar bill. The man took the money and smiled graciously. "Thank you. I can eat tomorrow." "Every day counts," Joe said smiling, "What happened ?" "It's those Iranian bastards. They killed my son in the war. They ruined me, our life..." the man said. Anger was changing the shape of his eyes. "What do you care? You look like you've got it easy! You think this is easy? Where was your family? Huh?" The man began to stir and straighten like he might confront him, and Joe began to back away. He turned his back on the man and hustled away, ignoring the furious rant. That was a mistake, Joe thought. Sobriety isn't always sanity. When he arrived at Lucy's, he opened the door and called inside. "Lucy, you home?" A pair of small eyes peered around the corner. "Did I see something?" Joe wondered aloud. Joe heard a child laughing. The eyes reappeared, then disappeared just as quickly. "What was that? A troll? A goblin? A toad?" More laughing. "Boo!" Finny jumped out. "Aaahhhhh!" Joe yelled. "It's you Finny. I was scared!" "No you weren't," Finny said giggling. Joe walked over and picked her up, kissing her on the cheek. "Hi, cutie." "Hi. I missed you Uncle Joe." "I missed you too." "Hi, Joe." Lucy walked out in her nightgown. Her form was accentuated by the silky nightwear. She pulled a terrycloth robe over her shoulders hiding her breasts and slim waist. Joe had trouble hiding his attraction to her. "I'm doing laundry," Lucy said. "Oh, right." Joe turned away, embarrassed by his boyish ways. Finny seemed to noticed all this going on from Joe's hip and was delighted. She was grinning from ear to ear. "Joe, can you stay and play?" Joe went to open his mouth but Lucy interrupted. "No honey, Joe has stuff he needs to do." Lucy shot Joe a sly look. Finny stuck her lip out and hugged Joe. She looked him in the face. "Mommy is right. I have to meet another friend. I promised him I'd play today," Joe said. "I don't call her Mommy anymore." Joe looked confused. "I call her Mom. I'm a big girl."

Joe kissed her cheek and put Finny down. Lucy grabbed the keys from the top of the night stand. "Joe you know how weird this whole thing can get. Be careful. Don't just spill it." Joe grinned. Lucy frowned. Joe thought about telling Lucy about the run in with the homeless man. He decided against it. "Bye, kiddo," he said. "Bye Uncle Joe. We have to play sooon!" Finny was struggling to restrain herself. "I promise," Joe said smiling. Joe walked toward the Team van. Man, I have to remember to date. I'm turning into such a nerd.

Joe noticed Kento's motorcycle as he pulled up the cafe. The five year old touring style bike was shaped to allow the rider to sit in a hunched over position. It was covered with scuff marks and dirt. Joe couldn't help thinking, Kento was worse off than he let on. The bike was looking a little sad. Joe parked Lucy's van in front and walked inside. The cafe was a diner converted into a coffee shop. It was dimly lit and had comfortable mismatched chairs and couches scattered all around. Joe tapped the screen on his arm computer three times. His clarks blinked, and the driving HUD yielded to a series of colored arrows that pointed to every visible person in the room. A small green triangle pointed toward Kento's position. Joe smiled at a waitress, as he walked toward the back of the cafe. Kento was tall and slender, with dirty blond hair that was short on top and covered his neck in the back. Loose blue and red clothing that looked like silk was draped over his frame. His collar was sticking up. A slender arm band computer and a pair clarks were laying on the table. Kento turned his head toward Joe. "Joe! Long time no see." Kento smiled. "Kento. Your fashion has improved!" "And your mastery of expression in the English language has not," Kento smiled. Joe pulled his clarks off. He was blushing. "So what's the new robot going to look like? I heard on the net that Cyborg Wars might disallow spinners and wedges. You'll need a more humanoid design." "Where did you here that?" Joe mumbled as his jaw hung. "I have my sources."

"I have to kill you now." Joe smiled. He pointed at Kento's computer. "Nice." "Oh yeah, a genuine unreported C.P.U. perk." "Figured you stole it." Joe was surprised. Kento was usually painfully honest. "Hey, I helped design the thing! I should!" "I guess I'm kind of lucky. I don't think they'll have a waterproof case out for another year. Designed the prototype myself." Has Kento ever stolen anything before? He must be kidding. "Remember when you stole Baker's tire gauge from auto shop? How many times a day did he say it was rare?" Joe was grinning. "Yeah, that was nothing. How about the time you wired the windshield washer pump to the interior light of that old Cadillac," Kento retorted, laughing. "He was completely soaked," Joe said, roaring with laughter. "I thought that vein on his forehead would explode." They both laughed for a while. A young brunette waitress appeared and took their orders. Joe ordered coffee, Kento ordered tea. Joe lowered his voice. "Kento, I need your help. My team is working on something." "So you need robot help from the Kempo master?" Kento was clearly still feeling silly. Joe looked Kento in the eyes. "We stole some nanites." Kento chuckled in a loud voice. "Nanites? So did Indonesia and the Philippines. Big deal. Don't look so serious." Joe waited patiently for Kento to stop smiling. "Non-vacuum nanites." "They don't need a vacuum? They're not even temperature controlled?" "Not only that. They're blood-borne nanites." "What?" Kento's face screwed up. He looked around as he whispered. "They exist?" "They were in me." "In you?" "A lot of them." "How? Why? Joe, this could be serious." Kento's voice sounded more adult. "If you want me to stop here, I can," Joe said.

At first Kento was glancing at him, eyes darting back and forth. Then he stared at Joe for a while, not saying a word. Joe's mind raced. What is Kento thinking? Is he going to turn me in? Perhaps he isn't the same guy I went to school with? Finally he broke into a boyish grin. Joe knew he was in. "Okay, how did you manage to get the one thing that Homeland Security has effectively banned, and every molecular physicist says is impossible for another ten years." "I nearly died." "That sounds about right." "I destroyed my car. It blew up. I was almost dead. My aunt is part of some project. She injected them in me." "Wow. Good thing you went to her hospital. When did this happen?" Kento was wide-eyed. Joe touched the emergency medical bracelet on his wrist. He knew he would have to tell Kento, just not yet. "It was about three weeks ago." "Can I see them?" Kento inquired. Joe decided to fill him in about Amman. Joe told Kento about the friction between Amman and the rest of the team. Joe expressed his fears about the ongoing Jihad. The waitress stopped at their table and dropped off their drinks. "Don't worry. I can run circles around a theoretical physicist." "I hope so." Joe was sure he could. Pretty sure anyway. "So are they in you right now?" Kento asked. "I don't think so. My aunt shut them off after she got a talking to. I hid some blood." "Where?" "In my cell phone fuel cell." "You slick bastard." Kento was grinning again. He sipped his tea. "You said your aunt shut them off. Have you turned them on again? What exactly did they do?" "We haven't turned them on yet. We're not sure what they do. They are definitely machines though." "How big are they?" Kento asked. "About one tenth of a blood cell," Joe answered. "Wow, so..." "Excuse me." A girls voice interrupted them.

Joe's heart jumped. He turned his head and looked at the girl standing beside him. She was about five foot six and had brown hair dyed blond with a blue streak. She looked Indian. Had she overheard? What did she want. "Are you Joe Vallone?" the girl asked with a with a Long Island accent. She looked about sixteen. "Maybe?" Joe choked a little. "Well, my friend and I watch Cyborg Wars, and we always root for your team, and she likes you and thinks you are totally hot." Joe looked over at her friend. She was also about sixteen years old with straight black hair and looked halfway between Indian and oriental. She covered her face. Joe looked and was immediately felt attracted to the slender girl. Joe felt goosebumps on his arms. No, Joe thought, she is way too young. At least mentally. Kento was hunched back in his chair covering his mouth. He was clearly laughing. Joe blushed. The girl pushed a pen and pad in front of Joe. "Could you please, please sign this to Amy Sue from Joe Vallone." "Uh, okay." Joe grabbed the pen and signed the pad 'to Amy Sue from a completely embarrassed Joe Vallone'. "Oh wow thank you so much, I can't believe you wrote her a personal message. She's a chicken so here's her number in case you want to hang out or something, and I think you should because she is really nice," the girl turned and said, "Oh and my name is Anna." She smiled a broad smile at Joe. She hurried back to her friend, who had crawled into a ball. Joe was mortified. Kento was laughing harder than ever. "You always had a way with the ladies." "You want to go to the shop tonight?" Joe changed the subject. "Do I ever, I've been out of work for six months. I'm going nuts." Kento was still grinning. "I don't know where it is so I'll have to follow you." "It's on the north shore." "Hmmmm. Do mind if I drop the bike off at home? It's getting pretty cold." "No problem." Kento smiled at Joe. Joe shook his head. He wasn't going to live this down for a while.