Mind Games

Loss of Control

I follow Ethan closely, keeping one hand at my ear so I can turn my comms unit on when I need to talk to Mark – or when he needs to talk to me. I'm not used to being the strong one, but I'll do it. I tighten my grip on the maintenance jack as if to solidify the notion.

"Marlene, c'mere."

"What is it?"

"Some kinda control panel."

I peer around the corner, following Ethan's gaze. There is indeed some form of control panel, manned by a single Working Joe.

"Is it worth the risk?" he asks. "We don't know what it does."

"No... But it might be useful." I breathe. "Aren't all the computers linked on one database?"

"You're right." Ethan replies. "Give me the jack."

"Ne?!"

"You stay here." Ethan states. "I'm going to try get the jump on that thing."

"Marlene, what the hell are you doing?!"

I toggle the comms unit in.

"Mark? What are you seeing?" I whisper.

"You and some blonde guy standing right behind a fricking robot! Are you crazy, or am I?!"

"No... Where are you?" I ask.

"In a vent. If I'm... Just look up and to your left."

I follow the instructions, seeing a vent running along one wall. I scan it for a moment, finding a grate in it. I squint.

Mark waves at me, trying to hurry me back from the Working Joe. I grab Ethan's wrist and pull him back.

"What are you-"

"Come on, Mark's in the vent." I whisper. Ethan pulls back against my wrist, stopping me.

"How do you know you're not the one hallucinating this time?" he asks softly. I pause for a split second.

"It's debunking a hallucination or risking our lives." I reply. "I'm going with Mark this time. He's done his best to look after me; I trust him."

Ethan pulls his wrist from my grasp, stepping back.

"Give me the jack," he says.

"What-"

"We're parting ways, and I want that jack." Ethan states. The topic's not up for discussion, as far as he's concerned. But I'm a frigging diva, so he's either gonna change his mind or be left in a deep moral dilemma.

"I trusted you," I breathe. "You said we were gonna find our partners and get out of here, together."

"If you're going to be this kind of stupid, I'm leaving now." Ethan retorts.

"You're heartless, and a hypocrite." I whisper. "What happened to the guy who didn't want anyone to experience the MI's death simulation?"

"He gave out to the guy who didn't want it himself, now hand over the jack!"

Ethan grabs the maintenance jack, trying to wrestle it from my grip. I fight back with all my strength – which is pretty good for a teenaged girl. Even so, Ethan's older, taller, and pumped up with testosterone and adrenaline. I can cling like a limpet, but he's throwing his weight around, trying to fling me off. I'm losing my footing.

The robot!

"You're going to kill me!" I hiss.

"Tough break." Ethan replies callously.