Forsaken 2027 Read online

  Exiting the elevator, saying goodnight to the single night time security guard, as they headed for their rounds up the building stairwell, Cain crossed the foyer then let himself out of the building. As he wheeled down the slope, he heard a woman shouting at someone. Grabbing his wheels, he powered over past his vehicle to where he thought the voice came from. He could hear a physical struggle and a woman’s voice saying.

  "Get off my bag you turd, or I’ll claw your eyes out." Cain called out,

  "I’m here miss, I’m armed too." As he said he pulled his Glock from the holster, positioned in the small of his back. Cain pulled back the slide while holding the gun in the air making it sound louder than normal. He heard two solid hits accompanied by two oofs, the sound of somebody’s body mass being hit very hard. Hearing a scuffle hidden behind the vehicle followed by the sound of footsteps running away, with a stream of curses chasing them.

  "The little shit what does he think he is? Thank you," said the woman, "I’ll be up in a moment, I dropped most of my bag contents on the floor as we struggled.”

  "Do I need to call the police?" asked Cain, as he wheeled around the back of the parked vehicle. Still speaking as he propelled himself, Cain said. "We have CCTV coverage, that will help in identifying the person." He came up behind the woman, noticing she was still bent down, picking up the items from her bag. Scanning the distance where the would-be mugged headed, they had disappeared. To stop staring at the females nice shaped behind Cain looked around the area, checking for any other assailant.

  Hearing her laughing, and talking under her breath, too quiet for him to hear. Feeling self conscious, he did not listen to what his mind was telling him. Cain thought he knew who the woman but wheeled backwards, so he wasn’t crowding her. As she stood, she brushed off her knees. Before turning towards the man who offered to help, she bent to pick up a small aerosol can lying between them, without looking at him.

  Seated where he was, he could not help get a glance down her rumpled and loose blouse. Cain could imagine her breasts bouncing even though he averted his eyes. Not because he didn’t find Toni beyond attractive, in his mind ticking all the right boxes, but because he could do nothing with his desire. Standing then lowering her head, making eye contact, they both admitted at the same time who the other person was.

  "Hi, Toni, are you OK?" Cain asked just before Toni spoke.

  "Hi, Mr Thomas, sorry, Cain," Toni said as she looked at him, sitting, ready for action his eyes checking out the shadows. She could just imagine him chasing the would-be thief, her assailant. Slapping on some ancient chariot wheel spikes, then oops, was that your legs, scumbag.

  "Thanks for interrupting that bag thief, that low life a piece of scum. I don’t know why he tried, it is not like I have anything of value on me. There is nothing in my bag apart from a small photo album of my missing brother, Vince. I mean, who carries money these days? Heard on the news they were trialling id chips imbedded in a persons hand, for easy payments, did you? Oh, and this small can of pest replant, look it says wasp and flying insect spray. That thief was a bug, maybe I could have used it on him?" Toni added holding up the small aerosol she picked up from the ground.

  "The sound I heard from the thumps you gave the person. They will have bruises in the morning that I can tell you. You clearly know how to take care of yourself," Cain said. He felt the bulge under his hand, his wallet full of old Euro notes. Yeah, who carries money these days, only paranoid fools.

  Toni felt warmed by Cain’s response, not that she was a weak female, but that Cain showed that he trusted her in looking after herself. Walking over, so she was next to him, Toni squatted, speaking face to face with him.

  "Just so you know, the CCTV system doesn’t cover this part of the car park, during the daytime, let alone this late at night. They do not allow the night-time security personnel to leave the building, although they will have phoned for the police if they witnessed the assault," Toni said. Cain was about to say something as Toni leant in to his personal space while she was still speaking to him. She gave him a kiss on his cheek, he could feel his cheeks going red, not just with embarrassment but with longing.

  "Err, Cain, where did you get the gun from?" Toni asked. "I know you head up the companies personal security, but are you armed, like the person of interest teams are?”

  Laughing Cain replied,

  "It was this, listen." He pulled the right wheelchair brake almost on, without warning letting it go. It sounded just like his own gun being cocked while he’d stuffed his Glock down the side of his wheelchair cushion. Good job my niece told me about that, smart little girl. I think she deserves something nice.

  "Well, I have to go, or I’ll miss my transport home. Will, I still see you tomorrow, in the morning as we arranged?" Toni said. Standing she turned and walked towards the transport hub. Cain’s eyes watched her walk away, fixed like a lion stalking its prey, on the sway of her hips, before he remembered her question. Coughing to clear his dry throat then shouting,

  "Yes, yes, I’ll see you in the morning." Slapping a hand to his face, "Idiot," he said to himself. What a way to go, moron. No wonder you never go on dates. What the fuck! Why didn’t I offer her a lift home, what a douche? What a washout. Cain flicked the safety on before slipping the Glock back into his back holster. It’s a good job I always carry a Glock or two, I can never be too cautious because of my former job.

  Turning to see Cain get into his vehicle, she cursed herself under her breath. What a bloody fool I am. That would be purse snatcher had been following me for two days. I don’t know what he was after, but I would have found out if Cain hadn’t arrived scaring him away. Does Cain have any idea just how hard it is for me to play the almost defenceless, airhead? I bet none, although he is in a wheelchair, he didn’t look defenceless. Although he noticed and remark on me being able to look after myself that was nice as he didn’t need to say anything.

  Another Dream, Another Problem

  Strange day, meeting with Marcy, going over the Jason White incident with her, yet again seeing Toni beat that thief up, strange indeed. I’m sure we are missing something, something that will lead us to find him. Plus, running into Toni, I wonder what she was doing so late at work? I wish I’d have gotten to that thug who tried to snatch her bag. Mind you I’d rather have been the one rolling around on the floor with her, although she whacked the man hard at least twice. I would rather not experience that.

  Cain put the empty mug on his bedside unit before lowering the back of his hospital-style bed. "Lights,"he said, the house EI dimmed his bedroom lights as his head hit his pillow.

  Cain struggled to keep his eyes open as the woman ran her tongue tip up his neck, pulling on his shirt, opening it. Her teeth catching under his apple as her head moved up the side of his neck. Releasing his shirt, she rubbed her hands over his chest, running her fingers across his right nipple, then flicking it, causing it to harden. Leaning into him he could feel her breasts press down on his chest. Her nipples, firm and pointy contrasting his much smaller nipples. She kissed him, forcing her tongue into his mouth, fighting for control, then as their tongues were fencing she scratched him, drawing pain from his pleasure, he shuddered.

  Returning with the same intimacy again another kiss another battle of tongues followed by a larger scratch, this time higher leaving deep welts, drawing blood. His eyes flew open coming eye to eye with his mother’s damned ginger queen. Typical, he thought, trust Sandy to spoil the only sex I’ve had a chance at in the last three years. Shooing Sandy away after giving her a head rub, he became alert from his night sleep. Sweat covered his body, even in the mid-twenties Celsius.

  The fan of the air conditioning unit hummed in the background. Feeling his chest where the cat had scratched him he checked, sure enough, traces of blood, rats, I thought it was the nurse, as the fragments of the dream disappeared. Using both arms he pushed himself up, using the side rails, as his younger married sister said his baby training rails.

  "Da
mmit, and shit," he said as another wireless controller bounced across the floor, "There goes another controller. Bugger that, it will be lucky to have survived the drop." I don’t even remember logging out from the hospital management sim game last night. No wonder I was dreaming of a nurse treating me, he thought laughing to himself.

  Checking for the sensor array, he was releaved to feel he had taken that off and not slept in it. Reaching to the back of his head, the lump from the operation hidden under his short, light brown hair had lost all its post-operative tenderness. It was two weeks ago; my old family friend John and former technician did a good job on me. It’s surprising who you meet when working for the government. Well, he met me helping in setting up my systems when I was a government operative.

  We kept quiet about knowing each other for years. He came into my life after my father died. John taught me plenty, from how to look after oneself, maths, shooting and engineering. He was fun but everything had to be just so or I’d do it again to please him.

  Looking at the wall opposite his bed the 180-centimetre screen came on after his controller made a dash across his floor, the screen still showing his email account from work. Must have fallen asleep checking my emails. Something interrupted his thoughts as the titanium plate on the left side of his head pulsed, giving him the same pounding headache, he’d had since June, Twenty Twenty-nine. His indent was an unwanted gift from his second mission as a dark operative, working for the government. It was back, pounding as normal, making Cain close his eyes for a moment.

  At least I can work through these now, unlike when it first began, being hit on my helmet by a sniper round. The equipment the technicians gave me saved my life that day even though I needed the hole patching up. Can’t remember if I’d met John by then?

  Taking a large drink from his bedside water bottle, he knew re-hydrating himself would reduce then cancel out the headache. Ignoring the pounding, he lowered the side rail, swinging his stumps over the edge using the hoist bar, lowering his asymmetrical thighs into his new legs. Activating the single control unit built into his left thigh, he could feel the legs tightening onto his stumps. The connectors engaging with the terminals lined up on his outer thighs. A shiver ran through his body as the system came online, it was as though he could feel each toe flex, the calf muscle tightening his knees bending as he moved.

  "Cain is that you," shouted his mum from more than likely the kitchen. Looking at his watch, it was almost eight; mum would get breakfast ready for my niece and nephew, the terrible twins, he thought.

  "Yeah mum, I’m done, I’ll be down once I’ve dressed," he replied. Looking down he noticed he had what counted for an erection. Brought on by my dream only wish the nurse had finished, shuddering as he walked to his en-suite. Not since the explosion have I had an erection, I damaged my nerves, the doctors could do nothing for me. Maybe it’s as John, the technician said, the neural link and AI will give me more than my legs back.

  Standing in front of the toilet Cain took himself in hand having a pee, damn, I’d forgotten how hard peeing is with a morning erection. All I need is for my penis to stiffen and have some feelings back. All a pipe dream I suppose as he shook the last drops off before flushing the toilet.

  Final Fight

  Washed and heading out of his en-suite, he slid open the door making it bang into the frame, vibrating in his hand. He could feel the vibrations of the grenades impacting the wall he had his hand upon. Waiting to move in after all the explosions had finished. His mind flung him back to fighting the latest group of Russian terrorists. It was in July 2031, Cain had been working undercover for three weeks.

  Mapping out these groups locations. Where they kept their female sex slaves where they held child labourers and the terrorists barracks. Their weapons supplies were everywhere, it was as if they expected to an assault on their location at any moment, by another group. They had consolidated their grip on the local area wiping out the other group of terrorists two days ago, hence the extra sex slaves.

  It took Cain a week of watching, identifying the four locations the three main men used. Making a chart of times and places, he felt ready to arrange a hit on this group. Rescue the women and children, kill the bad guys. There would be no capturing these men, no cock-ups like former wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He hated it, how the court system would see them locked up in luxury, while those they terrorised were always traumatised for life. These three, his targets, were the driving force behind one of the largest groups of raiders and slave traders, they had to go. No court dates for them. Picking up his radio Cain called in the strike.

  His plan went well, three of the infill team silently killed the two people guarding the women after they brought the last one back from one leader. They would protect them with their lives, should the need arise. Cain made the hard decision they need to leave the children till last scattered as they were around the base. Receiving the all clear from the women’s team the remaining infill team went into action.

  Cain had already killed one leader and was heading for the other two who shared the same quarters. Someone pinned part of his team down by sniper fire. Thinking on the run Cain contacted the drone guy, telling him to take the sniper out. He did, using one of the two drones, crashing it into his position; the resulting explosion lighting up the sky. Sniper gone, Cain moved towards the last position and the two remaining leaders.

  Switching out the spent clip on his XM8b, he threw a flash-bang into the room through the bullet-riddled doorway. Moving before it exploded, he ran towards then leapt for the window. The flash-bang detonated as he fired several shots into through the window, clearing the way for a dive and roll. Everything went fine as he ended up against the back wall in the room.

  The two leaders were picking themselves up from the floor as he fired two controlled bursts, hitting the heads of both, ending their lives. Listening for any movement, he swapped out his clip and made to search the area.

  A 40mm grenade from someone of his own side landed five paces away, taking a chance he dived behind the sofa protecting his upper body, his legs ripped away below his knees. The shock hit him as his equipment applied the automatic tourniquets to his legs, his throat raw from the scream.

  Turning around Cain reached the toilet a moment before he threw up. It’s not been that bad for a while, shivering as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Rinsing his mouth and brushing his teeth to get rid of the taste, Cain headed for his mother. Entering the kitchen, Cain looked at one clock, why his mother had four still made no sense to him. Still, he had time for a strong coffee, followed by two slices of buttered toast.

  "Are you driving us into school today uncle Cain?"asked his niece, "or is nanna?" He nodded due to stuffing the remaining slice of jam on toast into his mouth, washing it down with the last of the coffee. "I need to get my wheelchair into the car. I forgot to charge my legs last night, so I need to use the chair to charge them as I drive into work,"he replied. Cain’s mother came over from tidying the kitchen and gave him a long hug.

  "You looked like you needed a hug love, just as you did when you were their age," Cain’s mum said while pointing at the twins with her head.

  "Err, uncle Cain is getting a hug," laughed Frankie who dogged her granny’s outstretched arms. Dropping Finley and Frankie near their school, he made good time as his EI drove him to work. The EI parked in his reserved bay, opening the side door as the electric drive disengaged. Cain stepped out of the vehicle and told the EI to open the rear door. Leaning into the vehicle, Cain manoeuvred his wheelchair out the rear where he had earlier fastened it down.

  Damn, I can feel the charging loop as it’s recharging my car. My legs feel sensitive today, I wouldn’t have felt that if I’d have been in the chair or in my old legs. Ensuring the vehicle locked, Cain sat in the wheelchair and headed up the ramp towards the building.

  Chapter 2

  New Beginnings

  Cain propelled himself up the ramp, entered the side door which was ope
rated by hand. This is so bloody annoying, the main door opens as someone approaches, yet this one the disabled person has to open by hand, great planning there, not. Once through the door, Cain wheeled around the hidden disabled entry-exit point in the corner of the foyer. He continued on into the main reception area of Square Projekt Quality Red’s, London office.

  Cain, with a huge push, rolled up to the security desk to sign in, just like everyone else. He waited his turn behind Pamela; she was one of the lead programmers on Forsaken as she scanned her left eye.

  “Hi, Mr Thomas, how are you today?” asked Toni, who was working at the staff reception desk. She lifted her bag from beneath the desk.

  "I'm fine thank you for asking, though how about you after last night?" Cain asked.

  “Safe and sound, thanks again for being there,” she said. Cain noted there were no outward signs of last nights mugging having affected her. I felt sorry for the man she thumped, he will be sore today. Cain coughed and cleared his throat, covering both the rising blush and near stammer as he recognised the nurse from this morning’s dream.

  With the none occupied eye looking at her name badge while the optical scanner worked on his other eye, Cain's mind sees the rounded breast with its firm pointed nipple from his dream. Rather than the Security uniform shirt Toni was wearing. Coughing again, he said,

  “The dry air in here often affects my throat, it’s worse down here than in my office. Thanks, Toni, I’m just fine, pleased I could help. Well, you’d fought him off before I wheeled in to help. If it had turned nasty, you’d have been the one helping me, I think.” Three other staff members walked up to the desk, waiting to sign in.

  “See you later then?” Toni said as the optical scanner beeped as it cleared his access to the building. Cain wheeled across the foyer and headed to the elevators, he had to shake his head as he felt his penis responded to seeing Toni. For a change a lift was waiting, so he rolled right in, all alone.