The Immortality Game

When they reached a cross-corridor, Tyoma pointed to the right. They could see several figures on the floor all the way down near the lift. “There they are.”

“Who are they?” Bunny said as he trudged forward.

“One of them is Javier’s son, though I believe he’s dead.”

As they drew near, Bunny saw two med bots hovering near the blood-soaked body of a man. A young woman huddled nearby staring down at the man. She didn’t appear to register the presence of the approaching pair.

“Stop here,” Tyoma said.

“What does Javier want us to do?”

“Just a second. I’m talking to him right now.”

Tyoma had never seen the girl and the dead young man before, but he nevertheless felt a deep sense of loss as he studied the woman’s face. It was clear she’d been deeply traumatized.

«I’m sorry, Tyoma, but you need to hurry,» Javier said. «The police will be here soon.»

«But why take them to our place? Aren’t the police best suited to deal with them?»

«Can we please talk about this as we move? I have good reasons. A stretcher bot should be here any moment.»

Tyoma looked over Bunny’s shoulder and saw the stretcher gliding down the corridor. “Javier wants us to take them to our compound. Set me down and get the body onto the stretcher.”

Bunny stepped aside as the stretcher bot whisked by and stopped near the corpse. He carefully set Tyoma down on the carpet, then knelt between the med bots to scoop up the dead man and place him on the stretcher. The young woman yelped and fell back against the wall, a hand raised protectively as she stared wide-eyed at Bunny.

“Don’t be afraid,” Bunny said. “We’re here to help.”

«Sorry, Tyoma, I forgot,» Javier said. «The last time she saw that man, he tried to kill her.»

«Crap, thanks for telling me! What’s her name?»

«Zoya.»

“Zoya!” Tyoma said, waving an arm to catch her attention. “He’s not going to hurt you.”

She flicked her eyes at him before turning them back to Bunny.

“I swear. He isn’t the man who attacked you before. My name is Dr. Artyom Grachev. This boy’s father has asked us to help you. Get you someplace safe.”

Zoya looked at Tyoma again and shook her head, but said nothing.

«You must move now or the police will have you!» Javier said. «You’ll need to take the freight elevator. It’s down the hall all the way at the other end.»

Tyoma reached out and tapped the stretcher bot. “All of you, get going. That way, to the freight elevator.” He pointed the direction. “Bunny, please pick me up.”

Bunny frowned and looked at Zoya, then stood up and hefted Tyoma in his arms.

Tyoma turned his attention back to Zoya. “Please come with us. It’s dangerous to remain here.”

Zoya didn’t move. Her body was trembling and her eyes seemed feverish.

“Get me closer, Bunny.”

Zoya had one hand up as if to ward off a blow. When Tyoma got close enough, he reached out to take it. She tried to jerk it away, but feebly, so he grasped it harder and gave a gentle tug. “Please. You’ll be safe once we get you out of here.”

«Tell her about Irina.»

«Who?»

«Irina. One of her friends. Tell her Irina is safe and we can take her to her.»

Zoya wasn’t budging. “Zoya, we’re going to take you to your friend Irina.”

At that her eyes cleared and she looked at him. He saw a mixture of doubt and hope in them.

“Come,” Tyoma said. “Irina is safe, and you’ll be with her soon.” He tugged again and this time she allowed herself to be drawn to her feet. “Slowly,” he said to Bunny, and they set off after the three bots.

«Okay, we’re moving. You said you’d explain.»

«Take the freight lift all the way to the bottom. Your colleague, Dr. Sakaev is waiting there with his air car.»

«Kostya? He’s all right?»

«He’s fine. I’ve already briefed him.»

«Well brief me then.»

They arrived at the freight lift and joined the bots on board. “All the way down,” Tyoma told the elevator and it began its descent.

«I’ve got my son on life support in the hopes that his mind isn’t damaged.» Javier said. «You’re going to scan his mind data.»

«You want us to bring him back? That’s—»

«I’m part of your team now. I’ll contribute more to the advancement of your projects than you ever dreamed. But you must do this for me.»

«We have no empty crèches…»

«Kostya tells me you have several clones of each of you at different ages. You can afford to free up two of them.»

«We’d have to kill two of our clones?»

«They have no minds yet; it isn’t murder.»

«Two?»

«Yes, the girl needs sleep and medical attention. When we get her to the compound you’ll put her to bed and you’ll scan her mind as well.»

Tyoma shook his head. «Why her?»

«Because today was the first time since I got my son off of his Mesh addiction that he’s shown feelings toward someone besides his mother. By the time his clone is ready, Zoya will be middle-aged and they won’t have a chance. I can’t force them together, but I can give them the opportunity to see what happens.»

«That doesn’t seem ethical to me, doctor.»

«And the work you do, does that seem ethical to you? Never mind, I don’t give a damn. This is what we’re going to do.»