#ShortStory: The Chronicles of Free & Stryker {The Suit~Episode 1}

In the year 2304, sentient androids enslaved mankind, as well as many other humanoids throughout the galaxy. Over the centuries, pockets of resistance rose to oppose them. These are the chronicles of one such team, who even in the face of impossible odds, fight to free the galaxy.

The weight of the lead lined blanket, pushed him down into the soft memory bead mattress. Stryker turned over, as the alarm assaulted his ears. Did he really have to get up? He lifted the covers and rolled out of bed. The light came on, as soon as his feet hit the floor. He stepped out of his sleeping quarter into the living room, looked to the left. The adjacent room’s door was open—bed made.

 Free sat in the living room at a huge white board. On the board was a half-finished picture of a bowl of grapes. Stryker lay down on the couch and propped up his head with one of the pillows. “How long have you been up?”

Free’s eyes never left the board. “Just a few hours. How was your date?”

“Not good,” Stryker said.

Free shaded in the edges of a single grape. “I guess this is not a long term thing?”

“No way. All she wanted to talk about was herself. Ugh. I could use a can of coffee.”  Stryker crawled off the couch toward a small refrigerator next to the recliner. “Next time, you should come with me…you know, a double date.”  Stryker pulled out a coffee can, sat crossed-legged, and opened the can. “You could be my exit strategy.”

 “Yeah, and during what part of the date should I tell her that I am a cyborg?”  Free placed his pencil down and admired his handiwork. “Hi, my name is Free; I am an android, human hybrid. I like olive oil, because it lubricates my inorganic parts.”

“There are other cyborgs out there,” Stryker said, “there are opened minded organics and why not date a Droid?

“All of my relevant body parts only simulate my former human ones,” Free said. “Most cyborgs are more than fifty percent organic, most organics are way too delicate and I have never met a gynoid with a soul.”

“Your standards are way too high,” Stryker said. “That is why you are sitting at home, drawing fruit.”

Free folded his arms. “Maybe.” He glanced at the clock and then at Stryker. “We have an evaluation in thirty minutes.”

“Oh, I forgot.” Stryker jumped up and ran to the sonic shower. After showering and shaving, he placed on his uniform. A black suit with a red collar and a red insignia just over his heart. The insignia was a simple circle. Free had explained to him the origin of the circle and what it stood for, but he only pseudo-listened.

By the time he came out of his shower, Free was dressed and drawing a chair. He really needed to get out more.  The doors slid open when Stryker was within a foot. Free followed and the two of them walked out of the living quarters and to the station transport system.  The station itself was a metallic version of an octopus, with maybe twenty extra legs. At the tip of each leg were living pods, for the squads stationed there.

The two stepped onto the circular transport. The transport sped through the space station, picking up passengers and dropping off passengers as it went. Near the center of the space station, Free and Stryker got off and walked the hundred meters to the command center.

Episode 2 will post soon.

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