Chapter 3

Initiations

 

3.1

Having resigned, Thomlin sat still and tried to calm down.  He listened to the sounds of the shuttle as they went into warp several times.  There were long intervals between each one.  With this many warps, they could easily end up anywhere in the galaxy.

After the fifth warp, Thom’s fatigue finally took over.

He was awakened by a familiar irregular shaking.  They were descending through a planet’s atmosphere.  He remembered where they were.  Realizing they were landing, Thom’s legs began shaking uncontrollably.  Overcome by intense despair, he tried his best not to break down and cry in front of the hand-nursing psychopath sitting behind him.

“Come on!  Get control of yourself!” said a voice within Thom.  “Show no weakness!  You’re Darond Hywater—you can do this!  There is a way out!  There is still time!  You just have to find it!”

The noise from outside stopped and they were no longer moving.  The shuttle doors opened to a dark endless corridor.  The robot said, “FOLLOW ME,” and went out into the darkness.

Kaldor didn’t move.  Thomlin stepped out of the shuttle, because he knew what was about to happen.  As if on cue, Kaldor yelped amid the crackling sound of electricity and he jumped out.  “I swear that’s going to get old fast,” he complained. 

As soon as they walked a couple of meters away from the shuttle, a large metal wall came down, separating them from the shuttle.  The corridor went pitch black.  Thom felt along the wall where the shuttle had been.  Impenetrable!

It’s not over yet.  Keep a grip.  We’ll get out of this.  If there’s a way in, there’s a way out.

Kaldor yelled in the darkness, a few feet away from Thom, “Hey, moneybags!  Where are you?  You better stay out of my way!”

“You know who I am?” asked Thom.

“Ha!  You said you were Darond Hywater, didn’t you?  Your money’s not going to save you, now!  I’m going to enjoy every minute killing you!”

“You can’t kill me.  You saw what that robot did to you.”

“I ought to do it now, while that robot’s not looking,” threatened Kaldor.

“I think it can see just fine in the dark.”

“Well,” said Kaldor, “you know what?  You go after that robot.  I’m staying here.  This deal sucks!  No robot’s telling me what to do!”

“Fine,” answered Thom.  “But you and I both know what happens if we stand here.  They’re just going to shock us again.  I’m going to take my chances with the robot, but you know—if we work together, perhaps we could ...”

“Oh, shut up!  I’m not doing anything with you!  Get out of here!  Your robot friend’s waiting for you!  Just leave me alone!”

Thom wondered why he even bothered.

As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw two soft blue lines going down either side of the corridor.  Then he saw the outline of the robot clanking down the corridor.  

Thom followed.  After a moment or two, he heard Kaldor yelp in pain.

Serves him right!  Yes, Kaldor—we do have a choice.  Do what they say and live—at least for now.  We are nothing but pieces in a game of chess.  We are the king walking into a forced checkmate.  We can still move now, but in the end, we’re toast.

Behind him, Thom heard running feet followed by a loud thud.

“This is stupid!  I can’t see a thing!  Where are you, moneybags?”

Thom didn’t answer.  He simply hoped that he would run the wrong way and get fried.

Again, there was another loud thump followed by an agonizing scream—this time a little closer.

“My hand!”

Thom couldn’t help but laugh.

“I hear you!  Don’t make me kill you!  I could accidentally run into you, and no one would blame me!”

“Look down,” Thom finally said.  He hated this guy, but he knew he had to start somewhere.  Thom needed help to escape.  He needed friends.  “See the blue lines?  That’s what we’re following.”

Thom waited patiently for a response.  All he heard was the robot clunking rhythmically in front of them.

Kaldor said, “Oh, I see.  This is stupid!  I’m supposed to follow blue lines in the dark?  Would it hurt to turn on the lights?”

“Evidently, they don’t want us to see what’s around us,” mused Thom out loud.

“I don’t want to hear you talk!  You have a pansy voice!”

Thom ignored the insult.  It was time to get down to business.

“There must be a way to escape.  Maybe we can go down a different hallway and find a room before they shock us.  That’s why they don’t have the lights on—so we can’t see the way out.”

“I said: Shut up!”

Thom continued, “If we test the walls, we may find an opening.  Look—the robot’s ignoring us.  I’ll take the right blue line, and …”

He stopped because Kaldor took a swing at him.  In the dark, it only nipped his arm.  A second swing landed more squarely in the back.  That one hurt.

“What are you doing?” protested Thom.

Kaldor pushed him face-first against a wall.  Pushing sturdily on his back, Kaldor said, “What do I have to do to get you to shut up?”

Thom swung with his free arm and hit his intended target—Kaldor’s broken hand.  Kaldor yelped with pain, giving Thom a moment to wriggle free.  Kaldor continued swinging at him, but kept missing.  

Thom moved out of the way.  As long as he didn’t make a sound, Kaldor couldn’t find him.  Thom couldn’t believe how idiotic Kaldor was—how he spent so much energy trying to kill him rather than cooperating. 

Suddenly, Thom and Kaldor froze when they realized the robot wasn’t moving anymore.  There was dead silence, and not even a shadow among the blue lines revealed where the robot was.

Thom warned quietly, “Do you want another demerit?  I certainly don’t.”

After a brief pause, Kaldor said, “I’ll get you later,” and he continued walking along the blue line.  So did Thom.

The robot commenced moving again.  It was a lot closer than Thom wanted it to be, but at least it was walking away from them now.

They walked in silence and darkness for at least half an hour, following the blue lines unceasingly.  They turned at right angles several times.

Thom chuckled as he remembered the arrows on the floor in the spaceport only a couple of days ago.  Back then when he deviated from his course, the green arrows simply followed his feet.  Here, if he deviated from the blue lines, it could be sudden death.  

Some things will never change!

Kaldor seemed to hear him laugh and scoffed.  Thom braced himself for a blow, but nothing happened.

A few minutes later, a strange sound emanated from somewhere up ahead.  It got louder the closer they approached.  There was a light, which could have emanated hope if it weren’t for the noise.  It was an excited mob.  Thom was about to meet a few “friends.”  It helped him to remember where he was.

Justice!

They approached an opening at the end of the hall.  There, men jumped up and down, shaking their fists.  Thom couldn’t make out what they were saying.  He couldn’t tell if they were angry or just excited.  But he knew one thing.  They were waiting for him and his compatriot Kaldor.

Without any pause, the robot walked through the door, stopped just inside and waited.  It was clear that Thom and Kaldor were meant to follow.  

Thom looked at Kaldor, thinking, I don’t want to go in there.

Kaldor looked surprised, but he was smiling.  He walked through the door first.  Thom reluctantly followed.

As they stepped into the light, a plate flew toward their head.  They both ducked, but the plate stopped in mid-air, splashing white paste before sliding down an invisible dome.

A force field!

More stuff flew toward them—spoons, plates, cups, and more white paste.  Some of it fell short, but most of it just bounced off the force field.

Thomlin studied the bunch.  There were around thirty of them.  They were dressed in dirty white jumpers.  They all looked mean.  They all looked like they belonged here—again reminding Thom where he was.

As a steel door came down in the opening behind them, Thom saw that the robot was gone.  Again, escape was futile; but now that was the least of his worries.

Kaldor announced with great anticipation, “Here goes nothing!”

A plate flew toward Thom, but this time it didn’t stop, and he didn’t duck.  It hit him squarely on the ear, and white goo smeared down his street clothes.

“Get them!” he heard before the excited mob engulfed them.  

Cheering loudly, they punched and pulled and pushed and smothered.  There was nothing he could do.  Someone held his arms and legs, and he received blows from all directions.  The pain was unlike anything he felt before.

He managed a glance at Kaldor and was surprised to see he was enjoying this.  He was laughing.

Nothing makes sense!  This can’t be happening!  This is beyond me!  I can’t handle this!  

With utter unbelief he fell into darkness.

3.2

When Thomlin awoke, he first thought he was rescued.  He was lying in a small room consisting of three beds and a minimum collection of medical tools.

However, the lighting in the room was all too familiar.  It was the same light that was in the spaceship that brought him here.  It was the same light that was in the small empty room where he woke up a day or two ago.  It was also in that room where the other inmates attacked him.  It was a soft white light with a barely noticeable irritating orange tint.

If I’m still on Justice, where is everyone?

He tried to get out of bed, but every muscle screamed with intense pain.  He winced while holding back a yell.

He noticed he was wearing the same off-white jumpsuit the others had on, confirming that he was one of them now.

Lifting one of his long sleeves, he saw his arm covered in dark bruises.

What did Darond do to me?  Did I really have to play that stupid Old Game?  I thought we were best friends.  Why would he do this to me?  I never knew he hated me this much.

The worst part is—I don’t even know what he did!  It must have been something very wrong.  He must have stolen a lot of money!  But why not take his own lumps?

He used me!  He actually tricked Indisputable Evidence!  It was the perfect crime!

Well, Darond may not know it, but the Game’s not over.  He’s captured a lot of my pieces, but he’s not going to win!  I swear I’m going to get out of here and make him pay!  He’s going to wish he never started this Game!

Thom forced himself to get up, and he instantly regretted it.  This time, he couldn’t hold back the scream.  He almost blacked out.  He held on to the side of the bed, waiting for the blackness to recede.  When he was ready, he let go of the bed and made his way to the only door in the room.

One choice!  Again—I’m a king walking into a forced mate!  But this time, there just has to be a way out!

The door opened to a yellow hallway.  It hurt to look at such a different color.  There were no guards, and Thom could guess why, though he hoped he was wrong.  He took a careful step through the door, and sure enough—ZAP!  The hall was electrified.

He reached his hand to touch the outside wall, and again—ZAP!  He touched the wall inside the room, but there was no shock.

Trapped again, he could only sit in the room and do nothing.  He went back and sat on his bed.  He was tired, but didn’t feel like sleeping.  He sat there for a couple of hours studying the room and considering his position.

What are they waiting for?  I’m starving and I’m dying.  What kind of torture is this?

They’re watching me!  I can feel it!  But how?  Where are the cameras?  Am I outside the awesome protection of Indisputable Evidence?

He yelled at the unseen watcher, “What do you want from me!  Am I supposed to stay here for the rest of my life?”  The sound of his voice fell dead in the air.

Time was no longer anything that felt real.  He had no idea how long ago he left his own apartment, or how long ago he arrived on this planet.

The door opened and a fragile old man entered alone.  Shutting the door behind him, he said in a shaky voice, “I apologize that I kept you waiting.”  Oddly, he sounded nice—not like the other men he met previously.  “I was watching you in my lab.  I wish I could have come sooner, but they electrify the halls, as you know ... Well, you haven’t been briefed yet.  There’s plenty of time for that later.”

Thom simply stared at the old man.  He wasn’t sure what to think.  He didn’t expect this—an old man.

 Look at him.  He’s so frail!  I could overtake him and make for the door.

“It’s good you’re awake,” continued the old man.  “If you were still out, I would have sent you for Liquidation.  It’s been over two days.  I’ve seen many a guy take less a beating than you, and they just don’t wake up.  It’s a shame, but we don’t have time and resources to nurse near-corpses.  You look like a good strong specimen.  I didn’t want to see you die.”

Thom asked, “Who are you?  Are you the warden here?”

The old man laughed hard until a coughing fit interrupted.  Recovering from the fit he said, “Oh my!  Heavens no, there’s no warden here—only us and the robots.  I’m the doctor here.  You can call me Doc.  I’d tell you my real name, but I haven’t used it in ages.”

“Well, Doc, how bad I am?”

“A lot of bruises—no broken bones—a minor concussion.  You’d be fine given a good week’s rest.  Unfortunately, they’re going to put you in the mines tomorrow.”

“Mines?”

Thom’s muscles groaned in anticipated pain.

Maybe I can escape before that happens.

“Oh, I’m sorry.  There I go again—rambling on.  Just pretend I didn’t say anything about any mines,” said the doctor.

“Too late for that.”

“There’s plenty of time to worry about that later.  Your friend wasn’t as lucky as you.  He has a broken hand, and I had to cast it.  When I set his bones, he cussed like nothing I’ve heard in a long time.  You’re not allowed to do that down here, just so you know.  If a robot heard him, he’d get a demerit, but I wasn’t going to report him.”

“Who, Kaldor?” remarked Thom.  “He’s no friend of mine.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.  Well, he’s out for a month before he can work in the mines.  He’s too strong for Liquidation, though.  He’s going to go stir crazy and wish he could go in the mines just to have something to do.  Yes, Darond, you’re the lucky one.”

“That’s not my name!” said Thom with bite.

The doctor laughed and said, “Well, my records say that’s your name.”

“My name’s Thomlin.  Darond is my brother.”

“Now that’s a new one I haven’t heard before.  Your brother did the crime and you’re doing the time?  That’s impossible.”

Thom answered, “We’re twins.  They thought I was him.”

“Indisputable Evidence is smarter than that.  No one comes here unless the computers are one hundred percent sure.  The cameras see everything.”

“Almost everything.”  Thom had a hard time hiding his hatred.  “We switched places in the bathroom.”

“Ah yes,” mocked Doc.  “No cameras in there—I see!  The computers can fill in the blanks, you know.”

“But how?  There’s no clue outside the bathroom that we switched.  I played along because I thought it was a game.  If I could only talk to someone on the outside, I have proof that I’m the wrong twin.” 

Doc answered calmly, “Well, none of that matters now.  Listen to me.  If I were you, I wouldn’t tell this story to anyone.  It won’t make you any friends.  It would send the message that you’re better than them.”

“What am I supposed to do?  Lie to everyone?  I can’t do that.  I’m Thomlin!”

“Even if what you say is true, there’s still no going home for you.  Nobody leaves—no exceptions!  You might as well get used to being called Darond, because that’s who you are now.”

Thom laughed and sighed.  Out of exhaustion, he fell back to the bed.  “I can’t believe this,” he said.  “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“So what if you have two names?” said Doc.  “That’s nothing!  In here we have three different names!  The first is the name you come with.  Darond or Thomlin—whichever it is, it won’t last long here.  As soon as the others figure out who you really are, you’ll earn your second name.  You be reborn into this new life.”

Thom asked tiredly, “Do I look like I’m interested in this nonsense?”

The old man looked offended.  He held his face up to Thom’s and said, “You young folk aren’t interested in anything anymore.”

Spittle hit Thomlin in the face, but he was too tired to care.

Doc continued, “You should be interested in the third name because it is the most important one of all.”

Thom rolled his eyes and they fell closed.  He didn’t appreciate this strange form of torture.

“Now don’t close those eyes!  I’ll have to send you to Liquidation, remember?  It’s the rules.”

Thom forced his eyes open and reluctantly pushed back up to a sitting position.  He said after another head rush, “Now, I guess I don’t want that.”

The doctor went back to his lecture.  

“You listen to me.  When you get into your permanent room, they’re going to brief you, and they’re going to tell you what few rules there are here, but that stuff isn’t worth crap.  I’ll tell you how to survive.  The third name is what you become.  It is your Destiny.”

Thom laughed, “Destiny!  You guys have that down here?”

“Destiny is Escape.”  

This got Thom’s attention.  

The doctor continued, “And Escape is Death.  There are many ways to die here.  The weak die by Liquidation, as you almost did.  If you die before you get your second name, then you’re nothing.  Everyone will forget you even existed. 

“If you can’t behave yourself, you’ll die the most painful death—Incineration.  This death leaves nothing behind.  You don’t want to die this way, as you will be hated for as long as you’re remembered.  This will most likely happen to your friend Kaldor.

“If you listen to me, your death will mean something.  You will leave your mark on this colony, and people will talk about you when you’re gone.  To become a legend is the best Escape!”

Thom was at a loss of words.  He talks as if Death and Escape are synonymous.  He just doesn’t get it.  This doesn’t help me at all.  My death won’t get back at my brother!  There’s got to be some other way out of here!  There has to be someone here who hasn’t lost hope like this guy. 

After an awkward silence, Doc said, “Oh dear, I’ve done it again.  You can worry about all this later.  I’m so sorry.  We have much more important things to attend to!  You must be hungry.  Wait here until I come back with your food.”

“As if I had a choice,” said Thom sarcastically.

“Well,” said the old man, “you do, but I suggest you stay here.  You don’t know when they’ll turn the juice back on in the halls, and I wouldn’t want you to get lost, especially in your state.”  The old man left and shut the door behind him.

Thom was really tired.  He closed his eyes while he waited for the man to return with his food.