The Immortality Game

Suddenly there was an odd movement in the largest display. A steel monstrosity scuttled into view on spidery limbs. Where Tyoma imagined the many eyes of a spider might be there was instead a veritable forest of jutting barrels and tubes. It had been years since Tyoma had seen these on the news vids depicting the war that spread from the Baltic countries down through Bulgaria. A war bot! What are they doing with one of those? The bots on both sides of the conflict had turned the already bloody affair into a slaughter of epic proportions for two years, until the Germans developed an antidote for them—gassy clouds of nanobots that ‘infected’ the war bots and made them instantly obsolete. The allied forces had pushed all the way into Ukraine before Russia managed to develop their own nanobot defenses.

“What’s going on here?” Tyoma asked.

“Shut up, old man,” said the blond man Viktor had called Tavik.

“No need to be rude.” Viktor walked over and placed a hand on Tyoma’s shoulder. “I’m very sorry about your knee. I’ll look into what happened once I have time. Let’s just say we’re having a little test of our defensive systems today.”

“Is it the general?” Tyoma said.

Viktor laughed. “What could make you think that? No, don’t worry. Relax and watch. Would you like something to eat? A drink? Bunny, get this gentleman whatever he needs.”

Bunny grunted and knelt down next to Tyoma as Viktor walked closer to the vid screens. Tyoma wished there was a way to talk to Bunny, but his wireless wasn’t designed to send call requests to himself. “Thank you…‌friend,” he whispered. “I don’t think I’ll be ordering anything for now.”

Bunny stared into Tyoma’s eyes for a long time before grunting again and standing back up.

“Viktor, why don’t you shut down the lifts?” Tavik said. “Pop some gas in there and it’s all done…‌easy.”

“You must be joking,” Viktor replied, rubbing his hands together. “I’m looking forward to this.”

Moscow

Sunday, June 8, 2138

11:07 p.m. MSK

Marcus waited outside the ladies room, trying to think of something he could say to dissuade Zoya from her current course. The idea of speaking with his backstabbing father again didn’t thrill him, but he didn’t see much choice, and his father might really be able to help in a situation like this.

This level seemed to be a spa, all glass walls, swimming pools and baths, exercise machines, and massage tables. When they’d come off the lift, two ladies in tights had been directing people toward a set of larger lifts on the opposite side of the long central corridor. When Marcus had come out of the bathroom the place was deserted.

«Papa?»

«Yes, I’m here.»

«I’m really angry with you.»

«I’m your father. I’m trying to save your life, which for some reason you seem intent on throwing away.»

«Why don’t you make things easier on both of us and treat Zoya as if she’s part of the family?»

«She’s not part—»

«I don’t care! I’m not leaving her to her fate. If you really want me to survive this, make sure we both do.»

«What do you want from me? You need to get out of this place. Do you have any idea what they are preparing for you?»

«Something bad, I’m sure. Isn’t there anything you can do about it?»

«Perhaps. There aren’t so many cameras, so I can’t find everyone. If I can locate the right people, I can help.»

«I thought you spoke with them, you know, to cut your deal to betray Zoya?»

«I did, but there are many signals located on the top floor and I have no way of knowing how many may be innocents. Despite what you think of me right now, I don’t enjoy the thought of harming so many people unnecessarily.»

«This could all end, just like that,» Marcus said. «Zoya will have nothing left…»

«I’ll do it if I must. Why don’t you talk her into leaving?»

«You think I haven’t tried? Why don’t you shut down the lifts? Then she can’t go up there.»

«They are on the private security system; I can’t touch them. I need you to stall her for, I don’t know, perhaps ten minutes. Either that or get her to go back down to the level you came from and take the central lift.»

«Why?»

«The way she’s headed is too dangerous. I can clear the way, but I need to break through the firewall of the bot they have up there, and it’s not a simple firewall. If she takes the central lift it goes all the way to the top, but that lift doesn’t stop on this floor.»

The door to the women’s room opened and Zoya slipped out. Outside of her obvious battering, she looked exhausted. She turned immediately toward the lift.

“Wait!” Marcus cried. She halted and looked back at him. “Can we please talk?”

“Why? You’re not stopping me.”

“So your life here is ruined, I get that. What if I can take you away from here? To…‌to anywhere! Where have you always dreamed of living? A nice sandy beach?”

Zoya scowled. “My mother’s apartment…‌with my mother and brother.”

“I understand. Truly. But think beyond that for a second. You can still have a life. A great life. We can bring Irina if you like.”