Chaos Theory (7 page)

“
Not much of a talker?”

Blue shrugged.

Dod lifted his battered TalkMe, a model so old tape held it
together. He had no inclination to get a newer model. His worked
standard, even if the HoloVids he got through were sometimes in
black and white. He had better things to spend his hard earned
credit on, like pumping high quality O2 into his domicile to make
sure his beloved life partner remained healthy, rounded as she as
with their fifth illegal child. Who the hell had the money to buy a
birthing license for every kid anyway? “You read the news feed
today?”

Blue shook his head.

“
It’s been leaked the Alliance issued a Quarantine on
Quadrant21. People are going mad.”

Blue cocked his head, his fingers already tugging his TalkMe
from his breast pocket. The fact he wasn’t aware of this major
incident was a tribute to how messed up he’d been before he’d
replenished. His oxygen-deprived brain was functioning at full
capacity again. Unease crept up his spine as he considered the
reasons the Alliance would have for sanctioning something as
drastic as Quarantine when there had been no reports of infectious
disease in over a decade.

Keeping half his attention on Dod, Blue flicked through the
news feeds, absorbing information. There was inconsistency and lack
of conclusive evidence in the reports. “The whole quadrant? With no
news of any isolated outbreaks before the Quarantine was put in
place. Why?”

As he spoke, Dod caught a flash of the teeth in Blue’s mouth
and tensed. The older man shook it off. Blue’s fangs were genetic
enhancements, nothing but cosmetic reshaping to satisfy whatever
twisted whim the boy had.

Why anybody would want to look like
that
Dod would never
know.

“
It doesn’t say. It says–”

“
I know what it says,” Blue interjected quietly.

Dod watched as Blue’s eyes deepened in colour and reminded him
of blood, glowing faintly.

Sensing something was amiss, Blue’s lips pressed into a thin
line, and he looked down. “It’s wrong,” he muttered.

For the second time, shaking off his unease at the boy’s
grotesque enhancements, Dod frowned at the bold statement.
“Scientist are you? Last I checked you were a delivery boy on five
hundred credit an hour.” Dod’s voice wobbled. Now he was in the
boy’s presence, he remembered why Blue was such a loner. He felt
wrong. When he was around you it was easier to remember, but the
nanosecond he left you forgot how he made you feel.

Blue’s eyelid twitched, and he shifted on the crate. Dod was
becoming uncomfortable, his slumberous mind more alert. “I’m not a
scientist. I just know … what is written is wrong.
Illogical.”

“
How?”

Blue hesitated, torn between speaking his mind and making the
man even more afraid if him.

Dod crossed hairy arms over his chest. He looked sickly, so
Blue ended the encounter as smoothly as he could. “New order’s up.”
Blue pointed to the fresh dumplings the industrial-sized FeedMe
pushed out.

Dod cleared his throat. “You’re a delivery boy,” he said,
reaffirming it.

“
Yes,” Blue agreed.

In the street, Blue glanced at the address he had to deliver
to and was rooted to the spot. His heart pounded in excitement that
he tried and failed to control. He knew the name on the order form.
Max Vox. He worked at Pluto’s too, and was the best friend to Kali
Loklear; the most intriguing female Blue had ever laid eyes
on.

A female he had developed an unusual fixation on.

The order was fourteen quadrants in the wrong direction of
home, annoying so late in the evening, but if it meant he got to
see Kali he’d make the journey willingly.

Blue had shared his body before, when he got his license, to
know what it was like. The experience was to record first hand the
sensations and emotional side effects not because he had a fondness
for the HiCaste woman who’d dragged him into a RecRom. He’d found
it curious that because the female was passably attractive, he just
closed his eyes, and didn’t have to do much.

The emotional entanglement because of the experiment had been
a surprise, but as with everything, Blue dealt with
that.

Kali made the concept of rec less daunting to consider
revisiting. She made the idea of getting close, of kissing, and
touching seem entirely agreeable.

One evening, Blue had done the math, using all possible
scenarios to determine whether he and Kali Loklear, near a RecRom,
alone, would happen. The chances were poor not only because their
lives were polar opposites, but also because Kali avoided RecRoms.
That and the moment Blue took off his helmet and she got a look at
his face she’d probably run the other way.

Each time he saw her all he could do was silently stand on her
stoop and hold out Pluto’s CredMac, waiting for her to sign
acceptance of delivery, and transfer order payment.

How many times had he been determined to take off his helmet
and introduce himself, only to be frozen on the spot when an
opening in her friendly chatter came? His hands got sweaty and his
heart rate accelerated. His chest constricted as if he needed to
replenish, but that wasn’t it.

He’d been ashamed, but he had spoken to Caesar and Hypatia
about his reaction to Kali. They had suggested a hormonal imbalance
that she triggered with her specific blend of
pheromones.

Blue would have accepted this logical explanation had there
not been commonplace things he’d come to like about her.

The scent of fresh soap infused the air around her not the
harsh chemical perfume others wore. The radiance of her skin, a
vivid golden tone, made her seem unearthly. The brightness of her
smile was uncontrived, even if her maxillary lateral incisors were
overly smooth and a bit crooked. Even that he found charming. The
joyful way she answered her door; her high ponytail bouncing she
moved with such animation. The way she would start chattering on
about non-consequential things whilst swinging her hands from side
to side, her whole body drawn into the act of expressing herself.
The way she always wore clothes that accentuated her body but in a
subtle, modest way, suggesting she either didn’t understand how
attractive she was, or didn’t care.

The thing that ensnared his interest most was the respectful
tone she always took with him even though to her the delivery boy
at the door was the lowest of the low and no one would bat an
eyelid at her being rude and standoffish.

Her presence made him feel as if they were equals.

Max spoke about Kali all the time at Pluto’s. Blue was never
invited in on those conversations – he’d gone to great pains to be
cordial but never friendly with his co workers – but when
conversation did turn to her Blue would burn to know every scrap of
information. He never learned much, Max would only refer to what
she said or did in passing, but Blue found himself smiling and
envisioning her face when she was mentioned.

He’d often fantasized about driving up to her house, ringing
on the doorbell and asking her out on a date.

He was too enamoured with the illusion there was a chance
she’d say yes to have it shattered by reality.

Blue stalked into the shooting range frowning. He didn’t
belong.

It was a popular hang out for young HiCaste who wanted to
relax away from the prying eyes of chaperones and from friends of
their families. The open floor space was filled with the popular
predator feline FetchMe breeds, and a handful of the rare canine
and primate breeds. The occasional bunny and ferret disgusted Blue.
FetchMes were designed to be personal aids with enhanced
intelligence and emotions, companions that should change once
during a life cycle. These cute and cuddly FetchMes were produced
for no functional purpose other than to look good on the arm of
their master and had short life spans.

Blue wondered how the owners would feel if they were locked
up, forced to breed and disposed of like chattel when because a
being more powerful than them felt like it. Despite his wish to
catch a glimpse of Kali, he had no desire to remain in this place
for long, near these heartless people for long.

Blue knew he was cold, but at least he had
principles.

“
Is that order for Max?” A small hand touched his arm to get
his attention.

Bolts of heat shot through Blue as he found himself helmet to
face with a smiling Kali Loklear.

He nodded.

“
Cosmic. I can take that for him. How much do we owe
you?”

He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He thrust
the screen that displayed the receipt in her face.

She signed it and transferred the credits.

Kali took the orange star shaped box from him with another
smile. “He ordered this box? He’s going all out on this date, huh?
Thanks for delivering this far inland so late. I added four hundred
credits tip to the bill. Make sure you get it. I know Dod can be
greedy. Max is always being cheated out of his tips. Oh, it’s my
turn to shoot. I’ve got to go. I’m sure I’ll see you next time.
Promise you’ll drive safely, okay? I know you have a FloBi,” she
shook her head. “So dangerous. Bye then.”

She bounced off, leaving Blue staring after her with a feeling
akin to being punched in the gut.

8.

“
Pull the trigger, Bella. The trigger.” Jumping out of his
seat, Max marched to his ditsy blonde date and helped her position
herself.

Even with him guiding her, she missed the holographic target.
Again. Giggling, Christabella fluttered her eyelashes and begged
him to show her how the rifle worked. Again.

Kali was going to jump over the console and try to strangle
her. Again.

Sitting cross-legged in her neon plastic seat, Kali munched on
a dumpling too tasty to be served in a place like this, which is
why it wasn’t. She inwardly cringed at the touch table’s menu of
fresh LiquiNu cocktails, nasty artificial stuff that was somehow
gourmet. Cheeks hollowing as she sucked her straw hard, she checked
out the scoreboard. Icy pain bloomed across her forehead, and she
rubbed it to ease the brain freeze.

Max, being the enhanced sportsman he was, was in the lead. She
was second. Six consecutive hits dead centre couldn’t save
Christabella.

A shadow fell on the console. Kali looked up as she took
another bite of her dinner. The delivery boy stood over her, head
cocked, his gloves held in fisted hands.

He really was built nicely; the lines of his shape appealing
to her eyes. She’d always noticed him, and took delight in
pondering the mystery of what was under all the dark rawhide. Wide
shoulders cut an imposing figure. His brawny torso and long arms
looked strong in the armoured leathers. Narrow hips had long,
sturdy legs beneath.

Did he forget something? “Problem with the credit
transfer?”

He took off his helmet.

Startled, Kali fought not to have a reaction. She failed.
Mouth popping open, she gaped at him.

“
I’m called Blue,” he said.

The rasp sent a frisson of pleasure across her flesh. A voice
had never done that before, made her tingle inside.

Kali put down her cup, and rubbed her hand on her knee to get
rid of the condensation from the cold drink. With an uncertain
smile, she offered it to him. “An introduction between us is
overdue. I’m Kali. You already know that, right? I would have
pushed you for your name a long time ago, but you seemed unsure of
me, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I hate when people
force themselves on me.”

He took her hand, eager in his quickness then unsure of what
to do. She tried to gauge if he was going to kiss it, or shake it,
but he just held on. She sat patiently waiting for him to shorten
up.

Kali used the time to enjoy his touch.

Blue’s fingers were long and dry. His palms were work
roughened, calloused under his fingers and on the pad of his thumb.
The skin on the back of his hand was smooth, dusted with bleach
blonde hair. His nails were nice, filed and the palest pink. His
wrist was solid, not spindly as she expected, and sliding towards
his muscled forearm was a plait of red and gray string. On his
thumb circled a silver band, an OmniLock, the small dots of black
code printed on the surface that was tarnished from use.

Hands told Kali much about a person, and she liked the story
of Blue’s.

He crouched, eyes roving across her features. He was owed that
since she gawped at him when he revealed his face.

Recovered from the helmet removal, Kali turned her attention
to his appearance. Avoiding the obvious, she focused on the normal
parts. Good jaw, smooth, high forehead, and two normal shaped eyes
with dense light-coloured eyelashes hidden behind black-rimmed
opticals. His straight nose and full mouth were well balanced, and
milky fair skin contrasted peculiarly with a shock of short white
hair, the locks thick, and half curled. His eyebrows were white
too. The effect was angelic. Kali focused on his mouth, looked past
the unusually pale lips, and saw the pointed rows of teeth. Her
gaze lifted to his and she watched as his irises morphed from icy
blue to deep green.