Commandadmin: Created page with "{{EnemyMe|title=Chapter Eleven|chapter text=Chapter 11

"Prax?"
"Yes, sir?"
"I was hoping to satisfy a curiosity, if you don't mind?"
"Mind, sir?"
Kent nodded, "Yes. It's about emotions."
Prax turned to fully face Kent. His blank expression was unnerving. He remained silent.
"Are you able to change your expression?"
"Yes, sir, I am."
Kent smiled, "And you choose to show a face devoid of expression?"
"Yes, sir."..."

2025-01-24T08:22:51Z

Created page with "{{EnemyMe|title=Chapter Eleven|chapter text=<center>Chapter 11</center> "Prax?" "Yes, sir?" "I was hoping to satisfy a curiosity, if you don't mind?" "Mind, sir?" Kent nodded, "Yes. It's about emotions." Prax turned to fully face Kent. His blank expression was unnerving. He remained silent. "Are you able to change your expression?" "Yes, sir, I am." Kent smiled, "And you choose to show a face devoid of expression?" "Yes, sir."..."

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{{EnemyMe|title=Chapter Eleven|chapter text=<center>Chapter 11</center> 
 
"Prax?" 
"Yes, sir?" 
"I was hoping to satisfy a curiosity, if you don't mind?" 
"Mind, sir?" 
Kent nodded, "Yes. It's about emotions." 
Prax turned to fully face Kent. His blank expression was unnerving. He remained silent. 
"Are you able to change your expression?" 
"Yes, sir, I am." 
Kent smiled, "And you choose to show a face devoid of expression?" 
"Yes, sir." 
"I see. If you were inclined to pick an expression, which one would it be?” 
“Sir, why would I be inclined to select an expression?” 
“One, it lets those around you know what kind of mood you are in. Kind of like a warning or a welcome.” 
“I see,” said Prax. “And you would like me to show an expression?” 
Kent nodded. “It would be nice. I know you were created, but I also know you are an independent thinker. Are you self-aware?” 
Prax paused a moment. “Is it necessary for me to be so, sir?” 
Kent slowly shook his head and pursed his lips into a frown. “Not at all. But the expression, Prax? Which one would you show?” 
Prax stood for several minutes. 
Kent waited. “Would you like to talk it out? You know, discuss the subtle differences.” 
“Annoyance, sir.” 
“Pardon?” Kent replied. 
Prax turned and started walking away. 
“Annoyance is it?” Kent was not surprised. 
“Yes, sir, annoyance.” 
Kent laughed softly. “Why annoyance?” 
Prax stopped and turned around. His expression slowly changed. “Sir, do I really have to explain?” 
Kent smiled. “I think not. Thank you, Prax.” 
Prax resumed walking. He stepped out the room to finish his daily chores. 
“Mike,” Kent spoke at the ceiling. 
“Yes, sir? How may I be of assistance?” 
“Radio, is radio still played?” 
“It is, sir. I can feed the audio into the auditorium.” 
“Thank you, Mike. I’d like that.” 
 
Hours later . . . 
 
Kent sat in the dark listening to a radio broadcast. The main screen was off, but Mike piped the audio through the main speakers.
Becky walked into the darkened theater and sat down next to him. 
“I can’t believe you still have radio.” He said. 
She nodded. “Mostly the fringe, conspiracy theorists, and church groups crowd the waves. There’s a few public stations, but not many left. Because of the Universal Radio Access Spectrum Spread Law of 2020 anyone can be a radio station. Filing fee is low and you are allowed a broadcast range of 2 kilometers. Shortwave is off limits, but Low power is allowed.” 
“Yeah. I listened to Sesame Street. Go figure. Sesame Street on the radio.” 
Becky reached out and felt Kent’s fingers. She gave them a squeeze. 
“I saw the news, the documentaries, hours of bullshit. Then the radio, and . . .” 
She held her breath. 
“The great economic divide never closed.” 
Even though he couldn’t see her she nodded anyway. Tears started welling up in her eyes. Her George talked like that. His voice held a resonance like sorrow. But Kent seemed to be affected more. 
“Becky, twenty years of political fighting. We lost the space race because of it. We suffered the greatest amount of brain drain the world witnessed because of political religious hijackers. It took four years under a conservative President, with a majority House and Senate to tear down sixty years of innovation, ingenuity, inspiration.” He shook his head. “Sorry, you lived through all of this. None of this is new to you.” He sighed. “I must sound pathetic.” 
“Not in the least. We think alike . . .” 
“You mean, you and George think alike.” 
Becky bit down a flash of anger. “No, you and I think alike. You are not George.” 
“I’m cut from the same mold, I’m . . .” 
“Not like George.” She said it a little too loud. “Look, Kent, if you were like anyone it’d be Pete.” 
“Pete?” 
“George had six years to diverge from Pete prime. You’ve only been here a few days. You add that up.” She let his hand go, got up and walked out. This is the part she was going to hate. The self-doubt and questioning. George had a hard time shaking off the specter of Kevin. Kent, now alone, couldn’t stop thinking of what Becky said. ‘. . . if you were like anyone it’d be Pete.’ This was going to nag at him for a while. 
Mike said, “Sir, shall I continue?” 
“What do you think I should do, Mike?” 
“Pardon, sir?” 
“I’m asking for your advice. What should I do?” 
There was a long pause. “Do nothing, sir.” 
“Nothing?” 
“Yes. Nothing.” 
Kent pondered that for a moment. “Mike, continue, please.” 
The broadcaster began, “It was written in Genesis 6 that the Nephilim took human females as wives and lovers. The spawned hybrid creatures, half human half fallen angels. As time wore on God decided he had to rid the world of these abominations and all of Earth’s wickedness. So, he tasked Noah to build the Ark.” 
Kent listened bemused. Hadn’t the coming invasion happened already? The Nephilim, Greys, Talls, all of them were supposed to reveal themselves to all of humankind. Twenty years ago. “Mike, I’m done with the fringe stuff.” 
The broadcast stopped. 
“Thank you.” Kent sat in the darkness and let the minutes slip into hours. He got up looking for Becky. He had to talk to her. He wanted her thoughts. 
 
Becky sat in the upper Living area looking at pre-recorded shows on a large flat sheet monitor along the wall. George and she purchased the sheet a year ago. She barely watched it, but as of late she was feeling nostalgic. 
“Becky.” 
She turned at the sound of George’s . . . Kent’s voice. 
He rushed to her side. “I need to talk to you.” 
She was still miffed at Kent, but forced a congenial smile. 
“I was thinking about George’s memories. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced it’s safe.” 
“But Mike is not sure, if . . .” 
“Becky, George had years to think about this. I can’t see him or me, not thinking this through. I need to do this.” 
Becky withdrew her hand. 
Kent shifted in his seat, “Becky, I need this. Otherwise, it’ll take months, if not years to know enough to do anything about Forever Life.” 
She nodded and bit her bottom lip. 
Kent picked up on the gesture. “There are other things I need to know . . .” his voice trailed off. 
“Such as?” 
His smile was slight, but he didn’t want to give away too much. “Stuff.” 
“Stuff?” 
He nodded. 
“You care to elaborate?” 
The smile remained on his face, but he said nothing. 
Becky stared into his eyes for a moment. Her vision adjusted quickly to the darkness. George would have blinked after 20 seconds. 
Kent, to his credit, didn’t blink. He needed Becky on this. 
“Okay. Mike?” 
“Yes, Miss. Becky.” 
“Prepare the seat, please.” 
“Yes, ma’am.” 
 
*** 
 
“You look nice, Sarah,” Rick said as he approached her. He was about two minutes late and feeling bad about it. 
Sarah blushed. “Thank you. You always look nice.” 
Rick paused. “Really?” 
She nodded, smiled sweetly, and brushed some hair from in front of her eyes. She had most of it bunched up in a ponytail, but almost always she missed some strands, which always drifted and dangled in front of her eyes. 
A couple of seconds ticked by as the silence crept into being uncomfortable. 
Rick finally cleared his throat and turned to look at what was playing. Nothing too interesting. “Anything in particular you’d like to see? Some of the titles look interesting, but . . .” 
Sarah stopped looking at him and glanced at the list of movies. “Yeah, I agree. I’m actually hungry, but, we can do a movie, if you’d like?” 
He pursed his lips and slightly shook his head. “Food sounds better. Your pick. I’m game for anything.” 
Sarah had been serving greasy comfort food all day. She did not want to consume the same. “Japanese?” 
Rick smiled, “Kabuki’s should be right around the corner.” 
Her smile was genuine and lovely Rick thought. 
He gestured for them to start walking. 
They walked in silence, but glancing at one another and being caught each time. Finally, Rick laughed. He stopped and looked at Sarah. They were in front of one of the niche clubs that dotted the promenade. This club’s name was “China Bay”. At the moment, “Anything Goes,” was playing. 
She stared him in the eye and suddenly got it. She laughed too and nodded. 
Rick held out his hand, not certain if she really understood. 
She grabbed it and squeezed lightly. She understood. Tonight was fun night. 
 
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Enemy Chapter Eleven - Revision history