Uni's Unicorn

Chaper 10 - Holograms

A hologram of Tyson rose from the hold as the cover began folding back. He looked so real, even his eyes were blue like their mother's.

"Oh no," she cried, believing it really was him.

"We have him now. Shoot him. Shoot to kill!" the director commanded.

"No! No!" she shouted. It was a cry from her heart. Hologram or not, this Tyson should not be shot at.

"It's not me, Uni, it's my hologram. I'll see you later today," he promised, his voice loud in her ear. "When you're alone and I'm able to come unseen; I'll come..."

The hologram rose and the men lifted their weapons, aiming at it. As gunfire sounded, the hologram darted across to the bridge, above Uni. She covered her ears and closed her eyes. Some marksmen at the stern shot at it, but not before the hologram darted out above the ocean. More shots rang out as the hologram dipped and rose and swayed. Uni opened her eyes to see what appeared to be Tyson falling backwards as though limp and lifeless, falling, down, down, into the ocean with a splash. Then, he was gone, as though the waters hadn't been disturbed.

"Get the divers up here! I want his body!" the director shouted, adding, "We must have the body!"

"Oh no!" she cried in anguish. Tears sprang to her eyes. She felt sure it was Tyson. How could a hologram make a splash?

"It's an amazing hologram, isn't it Uni. Keep looking sad, weep as though you believe I'm dead."

She couldn't speak now for both joy, angst and horror that Tyson would do this to her. She remembered how he liked scaring her. It must be the hologram in the ocean, it must. The mixture of emotions caused bile to rise in her throat. Leaning forward against men's grips on her arms, she vomited. It wasn't substantial vomit. She hadn't been offered any breakfast. She retched and retched. Tears ran down her face... this is a cruel trick, she told herself.

"I'm down in the hold, but I can still see you, Uni. Well done. Good vomit. Remember, you'll see me tonight. It's best we escape first thing in the morning as first light is best for holograms to be lifelike. I'm going to design one of you while I'm down here, then, I'll make sure all the lights down here are on full so I can have you seen in lots of places along these passages. Shadows can make the images more see through unless I make our clothes in certain shades. The real ones of both of us will escape from here. I'll tell you about it later. We can talk when you're alone so tell them you need to lie down. Goodbye for now, Uni."

Unable not to tell him something she had only ever said to her mother, she called, "I love you Tyson, I love you more..."

Remembering they thought he was shot dead and down in the ocean, she said, "I'll miss you so much." She tried to imagine him really dead and in the depths of the sea... she spluttered and howled, feigning a mixture of sobs and cries. "Tyson! Tyson!" she called, putting her hands out towards the ocean.

"That's so bad, Uni, it sounds real, too real. And I love you more, that's why I'm here."

"You went. You said goodbye..." she felt an arm around her shoulders . "You didn't say goodbye, Ty..." She looked up to see the director's face. Without his glasses now, she looked right into the blue eyes boring intently into hers. Working to keep focus on the piercing nature of his eyes, hating him, forever, she told herself. I will do better at playing his game, she determined, I will say what I would say if my real dad behaved like this man...

"You said you'd take me to Mum... Dad. I want to go to Mum. I want to tell Mum about Tyson. She should know that you shot him down and he's lost in the ocean."

Turning and pulling away, she found herself held and spun back to face him. His arms surrounded her. She felt anger rising from her stomach. Pounding her fists on the director's chest, she shouted, "You killed him! What are you? A monster?" she remembered, she was supposed to pretend this man really was her father. Grunting, he grabbed at her hands. 

"I hate you. I thought you were a kind man, but you're not..."

The voice in her ear, Tyson's, said, "Don't overdo it Uni."

"I thought you were gone!" she yelled. Changing it, she screamed, "You went away for so much of my life already! But now, you're here, and Tyson's not! He's gone! He's gone because of you!" She wanted to say that he wasn't anything like her father who loved her, she knew her real father loved her. But, his face, here, it was confusing. People could wear colored contacts... how could she have known he always shaved his face? I was only seven, but yes, his eyes always seemed so warm and kind. This man's eyes are icy, cold, dark, like he has bad secrets...

The director took her wrists before again enfolding her into his arms. He put a hand around her head and drew it into his chest as a father would, but held her in a vice-like grip. Choking and feeling like vomiting again, she turned her face and managed to move her hand up over her mouth. She choked, but there was no bile, just a horrible taste. Feeling his grip slacken, she struggled to free herself from him but he pulled her closer and brushed his hand over her hair then back up on the top of her head. Turning her cheek away from him with her hand still over her mouth, she pressed outward, bending as far forward as she could, turning her face to the floor, whispering, "I hate him, I hate him." She heaved and tried to make a retching sound...

Taking her wrists, the director pushed her away from him with disdain on his face, saying, "Don't vomit on me." Turning he called, "Gillian —at last. Take Eunice down and look after her. She's upset and confused, very confused. Also, much too strong for a girl her age. Pounding on my chest." He coughed and said, "Perhaps the spa then food and sleep. Put her to sleep for the rest of the day. I'm going in a diving orb to be there when they find the body. And make sure they find out where that static's coming from!"

Uni started to shiver. It wasn't an act, it was real shivers. Again, the feeling that this was a nightmare washed over her. Was it a nightmare? Was it real? Was Tyson still alive?

"Don't overdo it, Uni. Just go with that guard, Gillian..."

But Uni closed her eyes, pretending to faint but wanting to scream. Was that really Tyson's voice? Was he really alive, or was this a terrible nightmare? If so, it was the worst nightmare she'd ever had. How can I be in a nightmare and imagine it is a nightmare? Is it possible for someone to get into your head like this?

Opening her eyes, she said weakly, "I just want to wake up and be at home with Mum..."

Gillian managed to support her before she fell. "Carry her down for me," she ordered a guard.