Project Sable Rose, Wolfheart [online e reader TXT] 📗

/> “Mr. Derran!” Somebody called from their left. “I need to speak with you about your checking balance!”
“Shit…” Sable looked over to see a man in a business suite.
“What? Are you put on a limit?”
“Yes.”
“Is that a problem for you?" She teased, expecting a definite no. It’d never been a problem for her…
“You could say that…”
She looked at him, a little more than surprised.
“What in the Empire do you spend it on?!”
He sighed. “It’s a low budget…”
He was wheeling her over with the monkey suite.
“Why don’t you ask for a raise?”
“Because they don’t realize how little they’re giving me compared to what I need.”
“Prove it.”
“He’s tried.” The man looked about as annoyed as he did amused.
It was odd, to see those expressions on such an old man’s face. He was gray and grizzled, with a weathered face and callused hands. He wore a banker’s glasses and had his hair clipped and gelled back. He shook a little, and his small stature made him look frail. The only admirable part of him was the intelligent gleam in his eyes. I blinked and there was data on my bionic eye.

Name; Samuel Riley
Age; 75
Occupation; H.A.D Financial Manager

Sable shook her head, trying to understand why that came up now and not on the wheelchair operations.
“I’m sorry, sir, but if you would try to spend the money we give you on your systems and career, you would have a bit more money to buy that new computer you’ve been wanting. Could you explain to me why you bought a seven hundred dollar, handmade violin two weeks ago? Oh, and why in one month, you spent fifty dollars on sugar? What is this; a hundred dollars on cigarettes? Twenty dollars on pedigree dog kibble? Ten dollars on a dog sweater? A hundred dollars on a Dachshund? What in the Empire is a Dachshund?”
He looked embarrassed as Sable starred at him.
“It’s a small dog, sir.” He almost whispered. “They’re adorable…”
“Do you understand that we can’t raise your kind of man’s budget?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You spent only a grand on The Project. Is that why no other handler will take her? There was something about not being capable of adding the obedience program to Technist Sable Rose. Is that correct?”
“She’s right here, sir.”
He looked at Sable, who watched him with some curiosity and distrust.
“I see. Her rehabilitation isn’t complete?”
“She’s been awake for only three days now. Half of her body was destroyed; this requires at least four months.”
“Don’t baby the brat, Mr. Derran. Have her ready to shoot a gun in a month, even if she can’t stand. And get her properly updated.”
“Her brain will overload. I can’t, sir.”
“Then why don’t you remove the unnecessary information about her personal life?”
“Why don’t we remove all your personal memories, Mr. Riley?” Sable snapped back, furious.
“And correct her mouth.”
“I’ll correct yours, asshole!” She tried to stand, but Jayson pushed her back down.
“I will not. I am handling her, sir, and you’re concern is my spending. I will be more careful about it in the future. The violin is for a physical exercise that will increase control and movement in her arms. Dogs need food; short hair dogs need protection from the harsh winter chill and dogs relieve stress. Unless you want me to quit or have a heart-attack, I suggest not commenting about my decision to get one; my blood pressure is high. I have a form of diabetes that forces me to consume sugar, or I’ll go into a diabetic coma. Is there anything else you have to say to me, sir?”
Samuel Riley looked a little shocked as Jayson wheeled Sable out of the café and into the gardens out back. They ate their meal in silence.
He stood up for me…didn’t he? Why? Why would he buy a violin when he could simply have me preform normal exercises twice a day?

When they were finished, he rose and wheeled her back to the room, helped her into the bed and went to his computer, where he began to click on links and type.
“Thanks.” Sable said quietly.
He looked over at her. She yawned, closed her eyes and told herself to go to sleep until twelve hundred; lunch. In a matter of seconds, her body responded to her half-electronic mind.

*****

Terra Lain lay in bed, on the other end of the building, and cried, holding her leg. Something in the back of her mind kept picturing a man moving Sable Rose’s leg, making it feel as it was on fire. She hated that man, right then. The other side of her mind kept a close eye on the man who called himself her handler. He watched her just as carefully, knowing what was wrong by looking at her movements. He’d offered her something for pain and she’d refused. Since he’d been trained to handle this, it had seemed to finalize things. He looked strained and angry. Looking closely at him, Terra wondered how the boy had became a handler and remained so passionate. He was young – only seventeen – and apparently he’d seen a lot of shit. His memories often gave her nightmares.
“Alex…” She whispered. “It’s alright; it isn’t my pain.”
“They’ve hurt you and your sisters. They put Deseray into isolation, and it’s their fault she’s blind and a pyrotechnic. Sable is half machine and computer, and has no personal memories.”
He was all worked up. It was making it hard to ignore the anger she felt in him; the anger that was building from his concern and brotherly love for her. She watched him begin to pace. There was a small meow at his feet. He paused, looking down. She blinked, rubbing her leg as he picked up a white Turkish Angora cat.
“I still can’t believe you convinced them to allow me to buy her…” Her handler stroked the cat between the ears and gave her chin a scratch. Terra could hear his cat purr from here.
“Stress relief, I told them.”
Yes…keep him off this…keep him focused on the cat…instead of my pain…

“You’re a wonderful cat, Isabel.” He coed. “Now, be a good kitty and go eat the Emperor’s balls off!”
Terra sighed, trying to stop crying.
The pain suddenly stopped. She felt utter exhaustion.
“It stopped.” She told him as the connection with Sable Rose faded. “I’m fine now.”
“The pain just cut off?”
“Her handler was hurting her leg; I think she’s in physical therapy. She’s sleeping now.”
“Good. Why don’t you try to get some?”
She sat up, exhausted but unwilling to show it.
“Naw. Let’s go out to eat instead. I’m hungry.” She got out of bed, making sure she went slowly enough not to stumble, grabbed her coat and shoes and walked out. Alex quickly followed her, laughing. Terra zoned in on the cat’s thoughts.
He’s so nice. I’d like to get down now. Human girl? Yes, you. I don’t want to go anywhere. Can I get down? I don’t like human balls…

She laughed. “Alex?”
“Yes?”
“Put Isabel down. She doesn’t want to go out with us.”
He laughed and put the cat down.
I’ll be on the porch, human girl. I like you. Pet me later.

“Do you like tuna?”
That is absolutely horrid! I want chicken!

“Let’s get Isabel some chicken, Alex. She doesn’t like tuna.”
“Chicken for the kitty, then, and sushi for us.”
They left their room and slowly made their way to the café. Terra ignored her exhaustion; Alex needed some fun tonight…

Chapter Three
Jayson’s Gift

The light was dull with the blinds drawn shut. Sable Rose looked again around the room she’d been moved to two days ago. It was small – no more than a cubical with a kitchen stove, a mini-fridge, a bed and a chest. There was a door with a closet-sized bathroom. She also had a laptop that sat on the table doing nothing. She wasn’t able to get it to turn on – it hurt to get close to it Right next to it was that violin.
Maybe I should try to play…Jayson did spend seven hundred dollars on the stupid thing...

There was a knock at the door. She sighed, rose and walked to the door. She opened it for the only person she ever saw; Jayson. He was carrying a backpack this time, surprising her for once.
“Well? Can I come in?”
“You want to come in?” Now she was shocked. He never came in. “Why?”
“Today is your birthday, that’s why. Didn’t I program that back into memory?”
“You’re two days off, genius.” At least…she hoped he was…
He sighed. “I know, but I wanted you to have these today, and on your real birthday we have plans.”
“We do?”
“You’ll understand if you’d invite me in and open your gift.”
She sighed, irritated. “You’re my master, remember? Why do you need my permission to come in my room?”
He handed her the backpack.
“You’ll need what’s in there. I’m no master; I’m your handler. I make sure you learn what you need to for survival in the battle field. Now may I come in, or would you like me to wake you up early tomorrow morning without having any idea what we’re doing?”
She sighed. There was no point in arguing with the guy. If he saw himself as her super-trainer or whatever, she wasn’t going to crush his make-believe world. “Fine.” She left the door wide open and walked to her bed, though as he followed her in he shut it. She set Jayson’s parcel on the bed and sat down, staring at it for a moment.
“Before opening it…why don’t you play something on the violin? I haven’t heard any complaints today, and I’d like to hear your progress.”
Yes, pretend you care. Lovely. Let’s hold hands and sing love songs now…

She went over and grabbed the violin.
At least I can walk now. Let’s see if I can play this in front of him like I did earlier; without shattering windows and ear drums.

She stood and placed the violin under her chin, holding parallel to the floor. Placing the bow on the strings, she began. There were so many ways to move her arm that hurt, and her movements weren’t quite right. But from beginning to end, she only had to stop once, and she only messed up badly four times.
He clapped. “Not quite right, but that was such an improvement in two days that I’d think you’d practiced.”
I have.

“Whatever.”
She tried to ignore the pride his praise had brought her.
“Alright, now I’d like you to open the backpack and take out its contents.”
“Usually presents are wrapped.”
“These would be a little difficult to handle wrapped.”
“These?” She cocked an eyebrow, trying to pry the information from him.
“Open it up and you’ll see.”
She unzipped the backpack and reached inside. Grasping cold metal, she lifted out a 9mm Smith and Wesson MP pistol. There were two of the black, small guns. There was also a box of ammunition in it. A screw driver and other tools she wasn’t quite familiar with were the last contents of the pack. Sable stared at them. Seeing them made her feel…hungry. She wanted to pick them up and begin immediately. She wanted to dismantle them a hundred times. She wanted to…
The thought frightened her.
“It’s a part of your programing to enjoy