Patience breeds awesome: New Chapter 1 for Eugenic Reprisal

Since y'all have been awesomely patient with me. Here is chapter 1 now that I have it typed up.

Sensory deprivation. Being trapped in an infinite well of darkness and silence. It is the worst feeling in the world, but even that is a fabrication of the mind and not actually a feeling.

Jacob’s consciousness floated in that darkness. He was completely alone, and he had no contact with the outside world. Time was a novel concept that held no meaning in the darkness.

Jacob had gone through this before. When he joined the Reactionary Force and been chosen for more, “they” had done things to him. He was thrust back into the first room he had entered. The water was cold, and the darkness was total. He felt panic grip his heart as he frantically searched for an exit, but all he found was unyielding metal. His panic intensified as he took his last gulp of air before the room filled up completely. His last thoughts were of Lisa. The darkness claimed him as his air finally escaped lungs.

Jacob was back in the room. He was still sitting in the chair, sweat beading along his brow. His breathing was labored, but he was breathing. Relief washed over him, but he was confused. He stared at his reflection, and it stared back at him. There was a click.

“You felt fear,” a gravelly voice stated. “You felt concern. You felt panic. You felt despair.”

“Now, you feel confused,” the voice mused. “These are basic emotions, primal emotions. They are useless.” The voice growled.

“Emotions are weakness. Survival requires action. Action requires thought. Thought requires clarity. To achieve clarity, you must cast off your weakness.”

“I don’t understand,” Jacob said quizzically.

“Understanding is not required at this juncture. You will be made to understand, but that will happen later if you are deemed able.”

Jacob felt his resolve harden. He set his jaw, sat up straight, and squared his shoulders.

“I am able,” Jacob said. “I will not fail.”

“Your pride is a weakness, and you will fail,” the voice said absently. “You have no choice in the matter. We will break you, shatter your spirit. Your resolve will falter and crumble. If we deem you able after all of this, we will rebuild you, make you stronger. By the time we are finished, you will have no equal in the normal world.”

Jacob stared at the glass and narrowed his eyes.

“If I fail?” he asked.

“Failure?” the voice responded. “You do not understand this basic point: failure is not available to you. You either survive, or you die.”

Jacob opened his mouth, but the voice spoke before he could.

“Enough words. You passed the first test. Now, we begin the real program.”

Jacob was plunged into darkness, and he lost consciousness.

His memory faded, and he arrived back at his mind in the black nothing. Other memories were bright flashes in the darkness, but each one was fleeting. Images of his parents, his home in London, Heathrow on a busy morning, Lisa’s carefree smile; nothing stayed long enough to study in any detail.

Jacob couldn’t remember why he was in the darkness. Just out of reach, the answer eluded him, but he knew it was important.

How could he forget? It was extremely important that he remember.

What was his purpose?

“Your purpose,” the gravelly voice from before started, “is to do your job.”

“I don’t understand,” Jacob heard himself say.

“Understanding is not required,” the voice explained. “In fact, the less you think about understanding it, the better you will be able to complete your mission.”

Jacob frowned. Wasn’t it important to think and understand?

“Quite the opposite,” the voice responded. “If you concern yourself with understanding, you will miss important details.”

“Doesn’t that imply understanding?” Jacob asked quizzically.

“Understanding is a hindrance. You understand how a fabricator works, and it is working properly. Is there something wrong with it?”

“You just said that it was working properly. Nothing is wrong with it.”

“Wrong,” the voice stated dryly. “Because of your complacency that is bred by your so-called understanding, you have failed to notice a small fluctuation in power. A terrorist cell is now armed and in control of the reactor.”

“But that is so unlikely as to never happen,” Jacob said.

“And that is why you would fail.” The voice shot back. “Question everything. Take nothing at face value. Never make assumptions. You no longer have the luxury.”

Jacob sighed.

“How will I know if I have the complete picture?”

“When the remaining questions are irrelevant,” the voice responded.

The conversation continued, but the voices quickly faded into nothing.

Once more, Jacob floated alone in the darkness, the only being in existence.

His thoughts turned to what he needed to know. He was with someone else, a friend. They were more than friends. No, theirs was something words could barely describe. Brotherhood.

“Lieutenant,” a voice said from behind Jacob.

Jacob spun around and snapped a salute.

“Captain.”

“At ease,” the man said. “I’m retired, LT. No need for the ceremony.”

“If it’s all the same, sir, you’ve earned the ceremony more than most.”

“Is that so?” the man asked as he crossed his arms.

“Yes, sir. You served with honor and distinction throughout your career in the RF. You quickly rose to the rank of Captain where you remained, by choice, until you suffered severe injuries in the line of duty and were given the option to muster out with full benefits due the rank of Colonel, but you refused the promotion to remain at the rank of Captain. Nobody living has given more,” Jacob finished.

The man scratched at the stubble on his chin absent-mindedly with his left hand. He dropped it back to his side.

“I supposed you’re right, LT.”

“Please, sir, you can simply call me Jacob.”

“In that case, Jacob,” the man said as he stretched his left hand and reached out with his right, “call me Mason.”