Life on Mars

Chapter Twenty-three

Twenty minutes later, Vic's Mag Pod was pulling up outside his accommodation. It'd been another long day and he was mentally shattered. He slumped out of the transport and sauntered towards the block entrance. As he walked along the short public area between the towering buildings, he became aware of a presence behind him. It could just have been a waste drone, but something made him feel uneasy. Vic didn't look back, but suddenly the world closed in and darkened, he felt very alone.

These people had seemed non-violent to him, but he couldn't be sure. Every race has crazies his fame might be too much for them to cope with. On top of that there were these humanists, maybe they'd found him after all, perhaps they were dangerous? He felt, rather than saw, the figure that dropped out of the shadows and was walking directly behind him. His heart was pounding, recalling images of those before him, left for dead for no reason other than fame. It takes just one lone head-case. Lennon, Kennedy and Reagan could tell you that.

There was no reason to target any particular area because this was no affluent part of the city. Heathen just didn't work like there was no real segregation because any affluence that existed took place within the homes rather than the outside. Relatively speaking, it was possible to live next door to a high spec accommodation or average without knowing. The main front facade of any apartment was academic; there was no way of knowing what lay behind it. He'd certainly heard rumours that one or two people suspected he lived here, but they would never expect to find him in the street, alone. Suddenly he felt stupid for leaving himself so exposed. He heard the footsteps behind him break into a trot as he lunged towards the DNA scanner. His only chance was to get behind the security of the block and ask questions later. He reached out, placing his flat palm against a plate on the door, which simultaneously read his DNA and unlocked. The door gave instantly and Vic stepped across the threshold as the figure bore down on him. Knowing that no unauthorised person could follow him across the doorway boundary, he stepped inside. The scanner would have detected any unauthorised organic bodies and set off the security. The hairs on his neck seemed to bristle as he crossed to the safety of the interior.

"Nova!" a familiar voice shouted.

He made sure he was across the door line before spinning around to see the doctor standing in the centre of the path illuminated in the yellow light. He held out a palm to stop the door closing but stayed inside.

"Fuck, man. You scared the shit out of me!" he screamed in annoyance. The doctor looked breathless and sinister in the darkness. "Apologies, I had no intention," he stuttered. He had stopped a few yards back from the doorway as if not wanting to come closer.

"What the hell are you doing here? How come you didn't broadcast or something?"

"Old school, you call it?" said the doctor nervously grinning. "Just stopped by to see if you were interested in some real-world travel?"

Vic laughed. It was probably one reason he liked Dr. Touchreik so much. He would really tune into stuff. Having spoken a lot about how things used to be with Vic telling how people would physically interact, call around to the house and hang out. He'd explained that's how they did things 'old school.' It was typical that the doctor would try and please him in that way. Vic had been off the grid for a long time and Bluu would want to be able to detect him soon.

"It's kinda late now, the shows and everything?" he said, slapping his forehead.

"The thing is," said the doctor taking a step closer.

Vic waited, looking up the stairs knowing that Bluu might be concerned about him.

"I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to talk?"

Wow, this was kind of unusual, not just for the doctor but for any of the futures. In fact, it was outright odd that any of them would use that language at all. Nova took a single step outside, letting the door close behind him with another whispered whoosh. Late as it was, maybe the doctor could help him out a little too? Why not?