Hybrid: Project Vigil Read online

  Hybrid:

  Project Vigil

  By Samuel Bohovic

  Text copyright © Samuel Bohovic 2014

  All rights reserved

  To my family for their love

  and to my friends for their support.

  Both kept me going.

  And to J for showing me what I can do.

  Table of contents

  Chapter 1: Awakening

  Chapter 2: Angels of death

  Chapter 3 – Deception

  Chapter 4 – The Spectre Protocol

  Chapter 5 – I'm not alone

  Chapter 6 – Feelings

  Chapter 7 – Goodbyes

  Chapter 8 – John Blackburn

  Chapter 9 – Home

  Chapter 10 - “Normal” life

  Chapter 11 – The call

  ACT I – TEST SUBJECT

  Chapter 1: Awakening

  John woke up on the cold floor of his cell. He couldn't see anything, bandage was wrapped around his head. That could mean he has new implants, maybe eyesight augmentation like others have. He tried to stand up, but sudden pain in his left arm nailed him to the bed. He examined his arm. It was broken but the bone was fixed and healing. His implants assisted healing process in his body.

  Cell door opened. Perfectly trained phrase came out of his mouth: “Subject Beta, serial number 6554.” Quiet steps echoed out of darkness, he recognized them before female voice said: “It's me, not one of those military freaks. Stay still John, you're going to be okay.” Along with serial numbers and codenames Doctor Caroline Blackburn and her team of scientists gave all the subjects names. This was secret project called Vigil, the goal was to create human-robot hybrid and train it to be super soldier. John's heart started to beat faster: “Is Gillian okay?" Doctor injected something into his bloodstream: “She is unharmed but worried...about you. They could have killed you but Briggs called them off. Sanders did a good job on you, installed new stuff and fixed that arm.

  John wanted to see again. Being blind frightened him. Like reading his thoughts Doctor whispered: “Just one reading from your implants and I'll take the bandages down.” She slowly pushed small needle under skin on his neck until she found spinal cord. Freezing sensation pulsed through him. Computer detected device and sent readings from John's implants. Another pulse went through his body when needle was pulled out of his neck. He lost consciousness for a brief moment.

  When he came back to himself he was staring at the ceiling. New implants were interfacing with his system. He was curious about new abilities his eyes had. As all of his implants these were controlled by his thoughts. He zoomed on the ceiling then thermo vision, everything was green except red-orange figure of Dr. Blackburn. Doctor turned off the lights:

  “Try night vision.”

  World turned green and black, John saw himself in the mirror.

  His eyes shined brightly: “I think everything works you can turn the lights on.”

  With the lights on he could see how he looks like. Bloody clothes, face, he was covered with his own blood. “Doc?”

  His voice echoed from concrete walls: “Am I still human?”

  A mixture of surprise and anger settled on her face: “Of course you are! How can you ask something like that?”

  John looked at his hands, black and blue contact spots on his fingers and palms. They allowed him to interface with computers. He recalled his last fight with guards. Countless kicks and punches hitting his body again and again.

  “I mean I don't feel like human."

  Guards laughing: “You can't refer to human rights because you are not human!” The memory rushed through his mind.

  “I don't even know what it is like to be normal."

  He couldn't remember anything before this: "I don't even know what's outside the Fence. I don't even know where the hell I am. Damn it! I don't even know who I am!”

  At this point, rage was boiling in him. He shouted like never before: “Who am I? John? 6554? Hybrid?"

  Paint fell of the wall after he punched it with full force. When he settled down Doctor was leaving: “You'll soon know all answers, now put on new clothes and clean yourself up. Dinner is in thirty minutes.“ And she left.

  John showered not even bothering to take off his clothes. Cold water falling on his head, washing down dried blood. Again and again he recalled what guard said before he broke John's arm: “You can't refer to human rights because you are not human!”

  That led him to question who he is? He knew that he is never going to know the answer. He knew that he is going to die here or at least he believed that. And he knew that there isn't much time left for him. That's why year ago he started to hack systems of facility through wireless networks so he and others have a chance to escape, but he was far from success. But is it really good idea to release them and spread out? They are too smart, fast and strong. Their improvements could be problem, they were secret but all the tech in here could save many lives and improve people. Human without improvements is nothing compared to hybrid like him. One hybrid is not enough, like one bullet is not enough to kill an army but billion that is different. Twenty hybrids here, they can rule the world, they can kill everyone here with bare hands. This thought crossed his mind often. They have opportunities, every day. Every day guards let them out from their cells for about ten hours in total, that includes food, tests, combat training, and two hours of free time after dinner. Everything under nonstop surveillance of armed guards and cameras. It is hard to even talk without being watched or heard.

  HUD in his eyes told him that he has ten minutes, time to dress up. He liked standing in the shower he could do that for hours. He could think without hearing guard patrolling up and down the corridor. It made him feel less like prisoner. Sometimes guards came to beat him down for using too much water and he enjoyed breaking their bones before they used stunner on him, usually he woke up in medical wing. He was sometimes just ruthless killer, he had no regrets. He still remembered his first kill. It was five years ago but he'll never forget it. It turned into bloodshed he killed ten guards before they took him down. After that he was reclassified for special training. Now he lost count of his victims. He would have tried to break out but Gillian always convinced him to wait. He would have been dead long ago without her and he knew it. Caroline always reminded him.

  He put on his last clean clothes. Door buzzed and opened letting him out for a dinner with other subjects...and armed guards. “Well nothing here happens without the bad guys hanging around." He told for himself. When he entered mess hall few guards were waiting for him: “There he goes! Our problem kid. Your arm hurts? I'm really sorry for that. What are you going to do? Call your mom? Oh, I'm sorry you don't have mom.” John ignored him. He took his plate and started eating. At least food here was good. Rob sat next to him: “Man, are you okay? You looked pretty bad back there. How many, three on one?” John finished his soup and moved to steak: “Seven on one actually, but they went for Gillian not me.” Rob looked up on him: “John. You have to stop protecting her, you're just getting yourself killed.” He hated this everyday conversation they had: “She deserves better than this and I don't care if I'm going to die for it. Deal with it.”

  After dinner they had two hours of free time. First thing John wanted to do was find Gillian. He knew where she is. They had a hidden spot in library without cameras, guards or microphones. She was there, sitting face turned to entrance, hugging her knees. Her long auburn hair covering left half of her face.

  When he sat next to her she looked at him: “Good to see you are okay I was worried about you. I can't imagine what would they done to me if you weren't there. I wanted to check on you in medical wing but Sanders told me to stay out. I thought you
are dead or something.” She said it in a very cold tone, tears rolled down her face. John swept her hair from her face and wiped tears with his finger. Small spark of static jumped between them: “Hey, we are alright. I'm not letting them hurt you, I don't care if I die but they won't hurt you. I promise.”

  Gillian wrapped her arms around his neck. Her sweet smell filled his nose. These were the best moments of his life. Just sitting there in silence and darkness. Only way to survive this “Summer camp” as they called it. Finally after countless minutes Gillian said: “I heard you yelling. Was it because of what guard said about us not being humans?” She hated when someone shouted and John knew it: “Yeah. I'm sorry for that. I know how you hate it.” She pulled him closer: “You had a reason.”

  They sat there in silence for almost an hour. Just the presence of one another worked as medicine to all wounds for both.

  Gillian stood up: “We're having outdoor training tomorrow. Finally outside again. I think I need to sleep some more for it and I suggest you do too. We're a team and we need to be ready. Will you walk me back to my room?” John accompanied her to her door. There she looked in his gray eyes, she was four or five inches smaller than him so she needed to look up a bit: “Remember you don't have to take all hits for me I'm a big girl I can handle a few.” John smiled: “OK, good night big girl.” She smiled too when she closed the door. He walked to his cell still feeling her arms around him. He washed his face and brushed his teeth. It took him seconds to fall asleep. Instead of nightmares or blank dreams he dreamed about Gillian. How she might look in sunlight? He will see tomorrow.

  Chapter 2: Angels of death

  Night before action is always difficult. You can't sleep, adrenaline racing through your veins. You sweat thinking about what might happen. Your mind running through every possible scenario. You are trying to relax but you can't. He was going to be XO (second in command) today. Fourteen days out outside on stealth-recon mission on fresh air and with Gillian. And no guards looking all the time. Finally some privacy and freedom. They can try to breach the Fence. Looked like perfect two weeks. He read mission briefing on his computer hundreds of times tonight, so did everyone else.

  5:00AM. Time to get up and running. Usually good and big breakfast preparing them for next ten hours of walking, running and digging in. Everyone was nervous, he could see that, even hear that from chatter around him. Then he slowly walked to the armory. There was a long table with equipment and two people in there. Armory master James, tough ex-SEAL in his forties repairing broken machine gun and subject Alpha checking weapons and supplies. When he entered James stood up: “You are early here Stump, preparation starts in two hours.” John had more interesting plans than waiting around: “I'm going to spend some time on the shooting range.” As he passed through doors to shooting range James followed him saying: “I must see this. Hey Alpha, you not coming?

  John was the best marksman here it was reward for countless hours spend on shooting range. He enjoyed the challenge of hitting long distance targets. He picked up his favorite M39 EMR and enough ammo. When he was ready he pushed button to start. Targets popped up. No matter if they were close or far away, moving or behind cover he picked them one by one, one perfect head shot after another. With help of his brain implants and newly installed Aim assist, projecting trajectory of each shot, it was easy. After an hour he left shooting range with new accuracy record. James wrote this record on the blackboard in armory: “240 rounds fired, 240 head shots, don't screw with Sb. Beta.”

  Time to prepare for mission. John took his body armor, checked pistol, mounted ACOG sight on his M4A1 and synched it to his system. Then M107 sniper rifle. He weighted 50.cal round in his hand when someone laid hand on his shoulder: “That's gonna hurt, hope you can see the bad guys.” Subject Alpha-Tom, John's second best friend in here. Tom always looked serious, but he liked jokes: “Hey listen up! Everyone here knows that...uh...you and Gillian have a thing, you know what I mean. If you two want some time alone just say it, we can finish it without you.” John noticed something in his face. Is Tom nervous? “Ask Gillian.” Tom's eyes filled with obvious desperation: “I already asked. She...agreed.” That small pause revealed him. John sighed: “You dirty little liar. You asked her, but she said no.” Tom lifted his hands in surrender: “Damn it! How can you know that just from my face? How can you know that she said no?” John smiled: “I know you long enough to know when you tell me lie and I know that Gillian would never accept something like this. And I can't ignore her standing right behind you.” Tom walked away with his hands still raised in surrender. Gillian's eyes looked tired: “Duty first, isn't it. I will never like these sleepless nights. How do you handle it?” Tom and few others were watching them. “I got used to it. I think about you. What if something happens to you? What if you die? Life here might be violence and more violence, violence anytime, in any form. You are everything I have, you are my light here. That keeps me alive.” She smiled: “That's nice of you. I hope you are ready. I wanted to mention that while you was entertaining James I stole some real ammo.” John wanted to hug her and then hug her again...but he had to control himself in front of others. On training missions they always used training rounds but she always managed to smuggle out some real ammo for them. Just for emergency situations or to have some fun. She was somehow reading his thoughts, maybe she could see it on his face: “You can hug me later when no one is looking.” Her smile was priceless. John was certain that he is melting inside.

  When they were ready they assembled near the hangar door to wait for C-130 Hercules to pick them up. Doors finally opened, revealing open loading ramp of giant, dark colored plane with four turboprop engines. They loaded in silence. Twenty soldiers slowly walked into the plane. John stopped for a second to watch the sunrise.

  Engines roared to life. During flight many of subjects prayed to their gods. John never prayed because there was no god he believed in. There was just Death everywhere. Instead of prayers he cleaned his rifle. It gave him power to take life. With it he could end this complicated game of nature. It was the greatest power he knew of. Some may say that he is ruthless. But he isn't, he is just trying to survive.

  One of the pilots came down and shouted: “Two minutes!” Everyone stood up, made final check of his or her gear. Ramp opened revealing sky behind. Soldiers started to jump out, two at the time. John pressed radio button on his helmet:

  “Overlord, this is Dragon 2-1. Angel fall complete. I repeat, all packages are on the ground, over.“ He heard uncommon static. Jammers? Frequency adjustment may be necessary. Command finally replied: “Copy that all 2-1. Proceed with mission.“ He took a running jump through open ramp. His parachute opened automatically.

  Landing went well, he landed on a plain near ridge line where they had to set up observation post. When he managed to bury his parachute under the sand he started to look for Gillian. That was easy task because she landed only few hundred meters south of him. She was covered with asphalt: “I fell into a natural asphalt, quite mess. Don't ask how I crawled out.” John helped her clean her clothes. Then they moved towards ridge line to settle in.

  “2-1 be advised, enemy patrol coming your way from north. Two hostiles and vehicle, confirmed heavy weapons. Recommend you to evade, over.“ John looked north and saw jeep heading south. He crouched and raised his left fist. Vehicle stopped, two men jumped out and started to observe their surroundings with binoculars. John fell prone: “Hit the deck!“ After hour John and Gillian still laid motionless. John started to slowly crawl towards two soldiers: ”Looks like these guys aren't going anywhere. I'll take them out, you will cover my six.“ John slowly and quietly drew his pistol and approached two enemies from back. Two quick shots with tazer round took down the first one. John grabbed other one's throat, threw him on the ground and finished him with a shot. “Yeah, now turn around boy and throw your weapon away!” That words echoed in his head like train, there was no one else. He threw pistol away and turned face to new threat.<
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  He was looking right into barrel of pistol aiming between his eyes. But there was something strange, his HUD turned red: !Warning! That pistol had live ammo in it. Soldier pushed barrel up to John's forehead: “Now, you are going to die like the ones you killed before.“ HUD flickered rapidly: !Warning! Where the hell is Gillian? She was supposed to cover me. First he spotted sun reflection on Gillian's scope then soldier's head exploded into a bloody ball and body fell headless. John was covered with remains of skull and brain. After he cleaned his face and clothes he went to check other weapons, all were armed with real ammo.

  He sat into jeep and pushed comm button: “Regroup on my position.“ Then he turned button and pressed it again, this time speaking to entire Dragon group: “All units be advised, we have encountered enemy personnel with armed weapons. Recommend you to evade. Any sightings of hostile forces report to me. Loot enemy ammunition if you can. If you are in danger lethal force is authorized. Watch out for traps, mission objectives remain unchanged, just find other observation position they could be waiting for you. 2-1 out."

  When he finished orders Gillian already stood in front of him: “I'm really sorry...my hands trembled so much. You think command has something to do with this?“ One of stunned soldiers moved, John stood over him: “I don't know, but I will ask them.” And pointed his pistol on two soldiers. They waited for them to wake up. First woke up after ten minutes, when he saw John and Gillian he tried to shoot them but his weapon released just empty 'click click'. John kicked him hard into belly: “Who gave you real guns? Why do you want to kill us?“ Soldier smiled: “I’m not going to tell you anything.“ John took step back: “Then...you have no use to me.“ And shot the soldier, sending pieces of skull and brain flying around. Then he did the same to second one.