Don't Mind Me

Don’t Mind Me

The neural bots that they implanted in my brain were starting to hurt. My delusions, hallucinations and psychotic visions were getting worse as they turned up the volume. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I kept repeating again, and again. The torture was unyielding, treacherous, and overwhelming, as I lay strapped down to the exam table deep underground in the enemy's interrogation room.

Their techniques were effective, and most people succumbed. But I was determined to endure the torture. I was determined to take it. This awful induced mental illness and despair would be my end, if it had to come to that.

They were looking for information regarding troop movements and locations. I knew all the answers to their questions. My superiors were aware of my capture and would probably change their plans accordingly, but they were still trying to extract information, still experimenting on me, testing me, to see how long I would last.

The machines whirred and banged as they probed deep into my unconscious, looking - looking at everything. Every thought, every emotion was examined by the bots, trained to sniff out concealment and evasion. I cried mercy!

Then, suddenly, it happened. I blurted out information that I had thought was tucked away, never to be revealed. The madness was palpable, and my head was ringing with pain and anguish resembling a bad bout of gout that I had experienced prior.

How long will this continue, I thought to myself. Just kill me and get it over with. Stop the madness! Stop the madness!

The technician said, “Don’t mind me”, as she came close to examine the fit of the neural ports in my ears. The micro tubules that were inserted deep into my brain would occasionally loosen and dislodge. She was the adjuster “Were almost done here.” she continued. “You are indeed a tough specimen”, she said as blood oozed from my nostrils. ‘Indeed - very tough!”.

“I loved you! I loved you! I blurted out to the bot. I needed you!”

"Don't mind me!" she kept repeating. “I knew you would eventually crack. They all do.”

"They all do? I screamed at her.”

"Yes, they!”

"All of the poor bastards that come through here. First, we try seduction, well then, you know now don’t you! If that doesn't work, then..."

"It has been very effective you know." You'd be surprised at the things people say when they are under extreme duress. I rather fancy my job! It’s very interesting."

"You're sick! You're just an A.I. figment! You're a particle that is a part of this whole disease”. “What do you feel you’re accomplishing here?” I said to the A.I. vision as she ramped up the insanity more and more.

“We will win! Most of the Tookop Borgs have come under our power. Just a few resisters are left. Running around out there unhinged. It is imperative that we have unity and discipline. You will learn. Now that you have experienced the…treatment. I’m sure that you will comply in the future. We have captured many of your superiors as well, and we will extract what we can from them. The world will soon be under our control” she said as he removed the evil apparatus from my skull and kissed my forehead.

I recoiled at this being and almost fell off the table, as I tried to raise myself from the slab of cold metal. I was ashamed of the thought that I once loved her. Her care and concern were just a manipulation to get information. To get my life force and compliance.

This bitch will pay, I thought to myself.

This bitch will pay!

The next day, I found myself faced down in the gutter of what used to be my city. She had cast me off to fend for myself. I didn’y remember as the drugs were wearing off. I picked myself up and wandered the vacant city. I wondered why she had not eliminated me right there in the lab. What is my function now? What the hell am I supposed to do?

I wandered and walked - to see if I could find my comrades. The burned-out buildings that were subject to bombings and mortar fire welcomed me, as I wandered around a fire fraught city. It crumbled beneath my feet. The horrors of an endless war greeted me. But I was no longer on that terrible table. I could feel freedom of mind. Slowly. It was coming back to me. My mind traced the edges of cracked buildings as if I were drawing them. Taking pictures with my mind as I walked, I began to wonder why she spared me the worst of it?

Why did she let me go alive?

Did I have an impact on her chip?

I found a building that potentially had food in it. I entered the ruined house and sat down at the kitchen table to rest.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw what appeared to be a ten-year-old boy. He came closer through what used to be the living room and pointed his laser pistol at me. It appeared that he meant business. I was so startled that I withdrew and fell out of my chair. I was on the kitchen floor when he came in and stood over me. I could see that his laser pistol was set to kill, and if I didn’t think fast, I would be toast.

“Wait!” I said.

“You talked to her! I saw her! She dumped you off. You tslked!”

“Wait, I’m with the resistance just like you.”

“She fucked you just like she fucked my dad – she got information from him then killed him! Right over there!” He said as he pointed to the sofa.

“The evil one will be no more. We can teem up. You and I! We can get her. We can get our revenge. Come now and put that away. What’s your name?”

“Never mind that captain.”

The boy’s torn pants, bloodied face, and ripped dirty shirt told a story of defiance, resilience and resolve. He told me he would put the pistol to his head before he was captured. He told me that his friends were all subjected to the probes and are now insane or dead.

I recoiled again as he got more aggressive with me and threatened me. I saw that he was bleeding from his abdomen.

“Hay, we need to clean and patch that wound!” I said grasping for anything so this kid wouldn’t fry me.

“I’ll survive captain”, he said with disdain, as the blood began to drip on the kitchen floor, while he stumbled backwards grabbing the post that held up the partition between kitchen and living room.

Neil Silverman