Babylon Lost

Chapter 9

When Jiro passed the border parameter, he didn't even bother asking Pax about the status of the alarm. It didn't matter, he'd already been made. Some weird part of him hoped that, by not asking, he had inadvertently passed undetected. If he never knew the answer, it could always be good.

With the same blind fear he also didn't ask about his pursuers, Pax hadn't mentioned anyone coming up on them so he left it at that. Since leaving the yard and crossing back over the interlock Jiro had relentlessly pushed forward, no longer caring who or what saw him. He staggered past non-citizens not caring if they recognized him or not.

All that matter now was getting to 2012.

"We're entering the part of the interlock that should house the enclave" Pax said. "If the listing is accurate."

"Can you pinpoint it?" Jiro asked but it was more hope than anything, he already knew the answer. That technically nothing was supposed to live in the interlock, whatever communities or peoples existed down here were off grid.

He'd have to find the exact location himself. What if it was hidden? Or guarded? Or what if the information had been wrong - what if it was long gone or taken over or converted into something else.

"How much time is left on the battery?" Jiro asked in a panic

"Approximately one hour and fifty-eight minutes" Pax said.

"What!? How could that be?" Jiro froze "we can't have been moving more than thirty, forty minutes."

"Given our critical state, battery consumption is extremely volatile, my estimations will fluctuate"

Jiro's anxiety doubled, he now had visions of just collapsing without warning. Dead on the spot.

Then another dreadful, more sinister feeling washed over him. There was something watching him. Perhaps he was starting to get used to the sensory nature of being in a robot body but he could tell there was something stalking him.

"Jiro!" pax warned but there was no need, Jiro already knew they were in trouble.

Instinctively turning his head skyward Jiro could see high above that there was something hovering in the sky, a surveillance drone.

It was them.

Jiro hobbled on, not really knowing where he was going, looking all about for something, anything that might tell him where the enclave was. He spotted a small fire where five people were huddled around the flame.

"I'm looking for a church of the corruption" Jiro said marching up to them, trying to mask the desperation in his voice "church of 2012"

No one responded. They all looked at him with blank expressions, exchanged passing glances at one another before looking back at the fire.

"Church of the corruption, 2012" Jiro said again, this time more urgently "where is it? Is it here? Please tell me where I can find it?"

No response.

This time Jiro took a step toward the fire, into the light, he cast off his rotten hood, revealing his robotic form.

There was sudden movement all about the fire. All five stood quickly. Again, exchanging glances but this time with panicked eyes.

"Where is it?" Jiro asked them again, stepping closer "Where!? You have to tell me?"

No one said a word. But all kept their eyes on him.

There was a loud crashing sound in the distance. No one except Jiro looked. The five still fixed on him.

Jiro began to back off slowly, shooting looks in the direction the noise came from. He would get nothing from these people. He shook his head and then left them in their daze.