Forsaken 2027 Read online

  Sometimes Toni was on the same bed, encouraging him to go deeper, faster and harder, while she made love to another woman or two. He kept waking each day with growing erection problems. If he had taken the time to notice rather than being ashamed thanks to his AI's reconnecting his neural pathways his nerves controlling his penis were almost back to normal.

  What he knew was he was missing Toni, her relationship with him was important. Somehow, she’d become the glue which held his days together, he was becoming unglued, missing her presence. He’d tried several times to phone, but her mobile always went to voice mail. As the days passed and after several more calls Cain left no more voice messages, Toni's phone was full, full of his messages.

  Killing Time

  Keeping himself busy, at home and work helped take his mind off Toni. He transferred more money into the charity, another twelve million as he sourced two full-immersion PODs from the technician. Using his knowledge of the government’s clandestine resources, he had the PODs installed in a former safe house.

  PODs in the current market cost around a million, but Cain on the advice of John had the PODs changed. John made several serious modifications to the PODs, and the Nanogel used inside. John had each fitted with a shared communication link, they could access not only each POD, irrespective of the VR game. The PODs could connect to the wider world via the internet, either hard wired or through the safe house wireless network. He also installed in each POD an automatic defibrillator, just in case, overkill is always the best policy, he told Cain. Like all PODs basic design having backup power and life support. The ones on these PODs would never stop working.

  Once John let him know they finished his PODs, Cain sent him a small thank you as a gift, he got his mother to take John out for a meal. Being old friends Cain was sure John would enjoy meeting with his mother. Eager to try a POD out he went after work, spending two hours playing the old retro game Stormland [1]. John had adapted the game to work with the Nanogel. Cain stripped and sat in the POD, connecting the NL port and donning the breathing face mask, he settled in feeling the Nanogel over his body as the POD filled. Cain had previously played Stormland, now though the game was beyond belief. The Nanogel pressed and squeezed his body replicating the flight his character was trying. His trial finished, Cain exited the POD, looking down he noticed his boxers started to dissolve. He remembered John warned him he had to be nude when using the Pod as the Nanogel would eat his clothing.

  All he was waiting for was for Toni to return to work, then he could ask her out for a drink, rather than sharing coffee at work. He wanted to take his relationship with her to a new level. I wonder what Toni is doing at this moment, why I can’t talk to her or why she didn’t let me know everything was OK with her, as he signed another document.

  Cain remembered that on a whim, after joining the company, he didn’t know why but he used one of his funds from his government work. He used an account he set up where he’d syphoned off a slaver come gun runner’s accounts. Making the two Croatians bankrupt. The government told him they didn’t want the money, so he better get rid of it. Where they didn't care so long as it was not traced to them. Using some funds to purchase what ended up being a ten percent stake four years ago in Square Projekt Quality Red, for a cool thirty-nine million. SPQRs share price at the time was low, almost penny shares, due to their last three games failing to attract player interest.

  Players wanted full immersive games, not being left running SPQRs VR (Virtual Reality), old style games. According to John, Cain held a staggering nineteen point six billion, should he want to sell? Cain seldom paid account to what he'd taken from the slavers, and his own wealth on paper. After they launched Forsaken, John informed him the value of his shares would most likely double at a conservative estimate. Some brokers are predicting SPQR shares could sextuple, an increase in value of six times. John has the shares Cain holds set to sell if they go above triple their current value. Cain, after taxes and broker fees, so John said would bank fifty three billion, making him the ninth richest person in the world.

  Cain never checked the current value, all the funds and dividends he received all went into one of the fake accounts. Maybe he’d look at it one day, but there was no rush, it wasn’t like he needed the money. Cain heard a voice tell him, {Over four years you have banked over 189 million in dividend payments}.Running her fingers on the scar from the operation, Toni thought the EuroBUPA medical team did a good job; hiding the insertion point for the neural link. They located it below her hairline on her neck, covered when her hair was down. The ideal location for a VR harness to make its connection.

  Toni walked to a window, looking down at the street. They irritated her; the medics told her, she couldn’t leave her apartment or have visitors until the two weeks were up. She wondered why Cain hadn’t phoned her, like he said he would. That upset her the most, she thought he liked her; she was wrong; it was obvious. Though nobody had phoned her that surprised her more. She checked again, her phone worked it had three bars of signal but no missed calls or vid-texts. Toni tried to call out again, another failure as a voice told her sorry we can not connect you, try again later.

  Yeah, tomorrow is Friday, then the weekend. Toni would be at work on Monday, he'd see her again. He would like to find where they stood, could they have a relationship?

  "Cain, are you listening?" asked his mother.

  "Sorry, mum I was away with the fairies. What do you want?" he replied. He listened like a dutiful son after ten minutes of talking his mother added another reminder for him. This time on the fridge notice board.

  Feeling shattered he went to bed early, he had difficulty in taking his legs off. It’s like either the legs have shrunk, or my thighs have grown. Yet they don’t hurt me anywhere, not like the original pair when I first got them. John has worked a miracle with these legs, they feel almost realistic. These legs are better in every way, they even feel like they belong on my body. I’m sure I can feel the pressure of my trousers on them, the tightness of my laces when I fasten my shoes.

  He put them on the charging plate at the side of his bed, not noticing the charge unit flashing nor the control unit on the left leg showed it had a message, saying the legs held a full charge. Damn, I’m too tired to either read a book, play games or watch an old movie like Netflix Jack Reacher series or even the classic Witcher with Henry Cavill. I’m sure they made it as a comedy. Good acting by Tim Cruise, that was his name I think or was it, Tiny Tim? I’m so tired I can’t think straight.

  Rewards of a Rescue

  He tossed and turned trying to drift off, while his mother locked up the house, taking herself to bed.

  "Night Cain. Don’t forget I’m out over the weekend," she said as she closed her bedroom door. Frustrated as he tossed and turned Cain thought sleep would not come. Two minutes later, as he pulled a pillow over his head, trying to breathe deep and steady, to clear his mind. Images of Toni in danger flashed in his mind's eye as sleep drifted past snagging Cain.

  Descending quiet as a cat down the stairs to the basement. Still on the stairs hidden in the shadow, Cain knelt on one knee stooped his head below the crown of the arch, he found her his partner in crime, they'd fastened Toni's hands above her head. She stood flat on her feet, unable to move much, what little she could see, came through the poor coarse weaves of a hood they placed over her head. They played loud music through a headset, adding to her disorientation. A cool waft of air caressed her partial clad body before the current music ended and another track began. She felt the concussion of several heavy shots fired nearby. Yeah, Cain has come for me, about bloody time.

  A firm yet intimate hand touched her shoulder, letting her know who it was. It still made her flinch, it stayed still steadying her. First the headphones, then the hood was gently pulled off, her arms lowered and hands released. Toni leaned on Cain while circulation flowed back into her arms. She opened her eyes with her head dipped against Cains chest, preventing the bright light from temporary blinding h
er. She looked around the room, coming face to face with a black-clad Cain, a huge smile on his face. Cain being Cain stood waiting for her, armed to the teeth, dressed in spectral combat gear. She could tell he would speak but held a finger to his lips then touched his ear. Toni could still hear the sound playing from those headphones even though Cain had taken them off. Not hearing like Cain footsteps running on stone stairs getting closer, she kept still, knelt near the table where Cain had placed her. She closed her eyes as someone fired several shots, Toni could feel the air pressure of each shot against her skin.

  "OK, Toni, the sooner we leave this dump the better. It’s a good job you had those tracers fitted, one in a tooth, the other in the gap between your big toe." Cain said.

  "Some of your clothes are in my bag, here look," Cain said. He then stood near the stairs watching both stairwells and Toni getting dressed. His eyes watched Toni for three quarters of the time, she took to get dressed. Dressed and feeling better, Toni picked up a Glock from Cain's bag, then scooped up a small machine gun, a replica MP5 from the floor. Toni was ready and armed, together they left the impoverished accommodations they had held her in for the last nine hours.

  Changing into civilian clothes in Cain's commandeered rescue van on the way, arriving at a five-star hotel. The journey, some thirty hair-raising minutes of travel, from her rescue. Holding hands as they approached the reception desk, they booked in as Mr and Mrs Jones, laughing at some no existent joke. Signing in they left their passports behind at reception once they received the key-card they followed a porter to the elevators. Their suite was beneath the top floor, Cain didn’t believe the penthouse suite could match theirs, he couldn’t have wished for anything more opulent. Cain thought about tipping the porter who carried their three bags, two full of clothing, their guns and spare ammunition in the other bag. His eyes were drawn to the huge super-sized bed against one wall, a near wall-sized display unit opposite. A polite cough from the porter reminded them they were not yet alone.

  "Thank you for showing us our rooms," said Cain as he slipped the man a hundred Euro note. Splitting they went exploring,

  "Divide and conquer," said Toni as she entered a large en-suite bathroom. Size seemed to be everything as she looked at a triple sized shower, a sunken bath large enough for six. Two toilets, two bidets and a double sink, all in pristine white finished the room. Cain checked the single door behind the bed wall. It entered a small hallway which led to his and hers dressing rooms, both large enough to take a full-sized snooker table.

  "You had me worried Toni, why you insist on taking these near-suicidal missions for the government is beyond me," he said. As they met at the foot of the bed. Rather than answer, she undressed him, unbuttoning his shirt, covering his chest with kisses. Stepping out of his slacks, standing in his skin tight boxers, Cain returned the favour. He started by unzipping Toni's shimmering blue dress, a dress worn for less than an hour. Her breasts slipped free of her lacy, half cup bra, he knew her size because he bought it with her, three days before.

  Their tongues were fighting for supremacy, going backwards and forwards. With a controlled stumble, Toni pulled Cain down on top of her, her legs wide, her feet pulled up against his bum. His senses almost made him lose control as their bodies merged. He loved it when her hard nipples pressed into his chest, the feel of her Brazilian styled mound against his head as his growing penis rubbed down her body finding her damp lips.

  He broke his kiss, dipping his head down to her breasts, kissing and squeezing each. Her nipples hard as buttons stood proud, majestic, calling for adoration, they responding to the attention as he blew a gentle breath across them. Leaving the majestic nipples alone, his kisses traced down her firm flat stomach, down past her mound. Reaching her vagina, he licked it first on the outside in long licks, while he enjoyed feeling her hands in his short hair. Then using his tongue parting her lips, tasting her juices as his tip flicked against her clit as it popped from its hiding place. Licking upwards causing her to shudder he took it between his teeth, nibbling then flicking it with his tongue. Toni grabbed him by his head, pulling him into herself, her feelings running wild as she neared her first peak. His face covered in a mixture of spit and her juices, Cain kissed back up her body, his penis with a mind of its own slipping between her lips. His hips moved down, as the sounding of bins being emptied by the refuse department robots, emptied his latest Toni fantasy. He laid in bed not noticing that his penis was erect, pulsing with blood, playing at being a tent pole.

  Contacts and Preparations

  Friday came, and work was busy, he’d arranged three conference calls with a third of his protection teams. Everything was going all right. They covered their additional two persons of interest twenty-four seven. He packed away his work phone, slid the company electronic planner in a desk drawer, not needing either until Monday. Cain exited the building, he walked out the main doors to his vehicle in his disabled parking place, once seated inside he instructed the EI to drive him home.

  With traffic heavy and no work to occupy him Cain relaxed and soon drifted to sleep. The sudden stopping of his car and the beeping of its horn woke him up, three bikers must have dropped off the pavement to weaved in front of the vehicle. It’s a good job the vehicle auto drives, I must have dropped off on my way home. His vehicle would avoid them even if they halted in front. The EI programming recognised an offence had occurred, it used the dashcam recording and sent the police images of the three bikers. An automated police system will identify the three they will all receive a warning assuming it is their first offence. He pressed the window button, letting it open before shouting,

  "You three little dicks, come back here, and I’ll not let my EI stop this time." Laughing he closed the window. Not long after being woken up and having a vocal exercise the EI parked at his house, stopping in his identified parking bay.

  It was Friday night, the start of another boring weekend. More boring since his mother was out, as the notes on the fridge, in his phone and somewhere else told him. She was staying at his sister’s home, looking after the terrible two, while she went out for a brain zombification event. She will be watching, a back to back, all-day-all-night showing of, the classic Harry Potter films. Entering his silent house, Cain made for the kitchen and the fridge. Mum will have made me some food. I hope it’s not pasta again, he laughed to himself, maybe it is some nice Falafel, John loved to eat that when he visited. His phone vibrated on the island top, the caller id showed as private. Opening his phone, he tapped on a hidden app, two seconds later he noticed that it was Toni. Not wanting to get his hopes up being caught out with a false hope he still answered.

  "Hi, Toni, how are you? What can I do for you?" Cain said gritting his teeth hoping above hope this wasn't a brush off.

  "Cain, it’s me, how did you know it was me, this is a new number. Never mind it's me Toni. I had to get a new phone mine stopped working," Toni said.

  "That's a relief I mean that's good that your phone was faulty, I’m, it's good, yes good to hear from you. To be honest, I was getting worried. I’d contacted you a few times and left a few virtual messages. Anyway, my problems aside are you OK Toni?" Cain asked.

  "Cain can you help me?" said Toni.

  "What’s wrong, how can I help?" replied Cain. Any thoughts he had of being a dick, making her suffer for not contacting him vanished. I’m ready to go, to do what I don’t know, but I am ready. He heard several sobs before she replied.

  "I’m in serious trouble with my sensor rig Cain, I don’t know what to do. I had someone get me a sensor rig so I could log in and play Forsaken. A friend sent me the rig, along with a new burner phone, as mine stopped working. The day after the operation to fit the neural link, the medics told me I had to stay at home for two weeks, so I didn't get an infection.

  Without my phone I was becoming desperate, all my attempts at contacting you, anyone failed. I wrote my friend a letter four days ago, the same time I wrote to you, the rig and phone came via Amazomart, e
arlier tonight. I know I set it all up per the instructions, it’s easy. Getting into the rig, making the NL connection, easy, but as I turned it on the rig shocked me all over, it was shocking painful everywhere felt like it was twitching. Can you help? Please, Cain." Toni said through several more sobs, "I know you want nothing to do with me, you haven’t called me since the operation, or answered my letter, but I’ll owe you one?" Without having to think about it, Cain said,

  "OK, are you at home? where do you live?" as his AI activated, providing the information he needed on an HUD/UI.

  Listening to Toni’s reply, Cain said he would pop round later, in two or three hours after he had eaten. Sure he would help sort out the rig. Toni thanked him and said she would provide him an early breakfast. Letting Toni go as he said yes, he looked at his watch. The feeling he had in his gut that always hinted at something being wrong informed his decisions. If I’m to help her, I’ll need specialist equipment. I’m not sure just tools will be enough, something seems off, I don’t like these gut tingles I’m getting, just like I did in the service.

  It’s almost like I will walk into an ambush. I think I better go loaded for bear, not just helping a friend. Clothes first, the workshop second. Now, what is the Special Projects unit at work, I’ve never heard of them, never protected their personnel. Another problem to solve, better add it to my list.

  Cain dashed, like a normal person, without stumbling from wearing his legs, to his bedroom. He didn’t notice his legs were providing him with better agility and speed as he moved through the house. Changing into a dark spectral suit, one that John the technician had made for him, not from when he was a dark operative, but after he left a far better version John told him.