The Immortality Game

“A panic attack, most likely,” General Andreykin said with a sneer. “He knows he’ll pay for all his smart ass remarks.”

Tyoma got his breathing under control and nodded. “I’m not used to such treatment. I’ll do whatever you need, and then please let me go home.” He knew it was just his imagination, but he felt the worm digging away at his own firewall. I’ll need to replace it once I get a chance, he thought. If I ever do get a chance. It felt like nothing more than spite to wreck Lev’s firewall; Tyoma could see no practical use for his actions.

Lev had turned back to the general. “So, how do you want to do this?”

The general screwed up his mouth in thought for a few seconds. “Keep him locked someplace safe for a few hours. I’ll send a team to collect him once I’m ready.”

“Very good,” Lev said and stood up. “I’ll pass instructions to my brother, and…‌well, I suppose if all goes as it should, we won’t be needing to see each other for quite some time, eh general?”

General Andreykin glared at Lev. “Let’s hope not.”

Moscow

Sunday, June 8, 2138

6:03 p.m. MSK

Tavik drained his teacup and placed it on the chipped saucer on the table. Vasya was seated across from him, sipping his own tea, which he’d freshened up with a splash of vodka. Tavik looked over at Bunny, still seated on the couch playing with the cat.

“Your tea’s getting cold, Bunny,” he said.

Bunny ignored him and went on stroking his slab of a hand across the cat’s fur.

“Dammit!” Tavik said. “Where the hell is he? It’s been an hour at least.” He had sold Vasya a yarn about them needing to help Georgy do some work down the block.

“More tea?” Vasya said.

Tavik shook his head.

“How about a game of chess?” the old man asked. They had played a few times during visits with Georgy, and as senile as Tavik considered the man to be, he had to admit the man played a mean game of chess.

“Yeah, sure. Why the hell not?”

Vasya shuffled off and returned a minute later with a wooden board and bag with pieces. He began placing the white pieces on his own side of the board.

Tavik grinned. “Yeah, you go ahead and take white, you old codger. I’m gonna wipe the board with you this time.” He quickly set up the black pieces.

With a shaky hand, Vasya moved his king pawn up two squares.

“Same move every time, old man,” Tavik said. He’d always replied by advancing his own king pawn two squares, but this time he pushed it ahead only a single space. “Heh! Viktor showed me a new defense. What do you say to that?”

Vasya shrugged. “Nothing new about the French Defense.” He moved his queen pawn up two.

“It’s new to me,” Tavik muttered. He was about to move his own queen pawn when he heard a light snapping sound.

“Oops.”

Tavik froze with his hand hovering over his pawn. He’d never heard Bunny speak before, hadn’t even known the man could speak. He swiveled toward the couch.

“Aw, fuck, Bunny! How could you do that?”

Bunny had a puzzled look on his face. The cat dangled from his enormous fist, its neck clearly broken. Bunny’s face crinkled as he said, “Uh oh.” He reached out his other hand to pet the cat’s head.

“Oh!” Vasya cried and leapt from his chair, his arms outstretched toward the cat. “Oh, oh!”

Tavik jumped up to intercept Uncle Vasya but missed. “Bunny, no!”

He saw the confused look on Bunny’s face transform to rage as the old man’s hands tried to tug the cat away from him. Bunny blasted up from the couch and slammed an open palm up under Vasya’s chin with all his brute strength. Vasya flew across the room, smashed into the wall, and slumped like a rag onto the carpet.

Tavik clapped his hands to his head. “Ah, Bunny! Is there anyone you won’t kill today?”

Bunny retrieved the dead cat from the floor where he’d dropped it and sat back down on the couch.

Tavik scurried over to Vasya and knelt down to feel for a pulse in his neck. Nothing. Tavik shook his head and stood up again. “At this rate Zoya’s never going to marry me.” He glared at Bunny. The cat was splayed across Bunny’s lap. The huge man was stroking the poor thing’s fur. Tears ran down Bunny’s face.

“You’re unbelievable,” Tavik said. “You’re perfectly content to murder people, but you fall to pieces over an animal.” He walked back to the table and looked at the chess set. No more games with Uncle Vasya.

His wireless beeped. It was Boris, so he accepted the link. «Is she here?»

«Nah, boss. It’s some…‌some guy. He wants to speak with you.»

«What are you talking about? What guy?»

Even via the mind link Boris gave the impression of being nervous. «Boss, I don’t know. This guy comes right up on my wireless and I didn’t even give him permission. He was just there all of a sudden. I never knew anyone could do that.»

«Huh,» Tavik said. «Maybe it’s the general. I bet they could do it, but why call you instead of me directly?»

«No idea. Should I give him your number when he calls back?»