The Kingdom: Becoming The Enemy

Chapter Seven:The King's Payment

They did it. They really did it. Patrious' new body astounded even him so much that he forgot what had happened for a moment.

Numbers, symbols and words covered his vision. He wished that it would stop and it was reduced to a few measurements of distance to objects in the room and simple labels of everything around him. Objects that he focused on showed more detailed information.

A guilt fell over him in response to remembering that his body is now on a crusade to destroy the resistance and everything he's ever worked for or loved. I should've just let myself die in the pit. Patrious started thinking about what his body is capable of, I should've expected them to do this.

Patrious was alone in the room, still tied down to the chair. Never had he felt so alone. I'm not even a real thing, I shouldn't exist. Nothing on this planet has more in common with me than that monster that's going to be the end of any freedom on this planet. I'm that monster.

"Patrious, my dear friend." King Louis entered the room. He wasn't quite as shiny as usual, not needing to try and impress Patrious.

"You." Patrious pointed his free arm his new tinny voice him every time he spoke, the shredded wrist restraint still attached. "You fucking bastard!" His robotic hands formed into fists.

"Now, now Patrious." The king began. "Is that any way to treat your king?" "You're not my king you piece of shit."

"Besides, you're the beginning of a new era of human life as we know it." The king loved his kingdom's newest invention, despite his hate for Patrious. "And you're still in control. There aren't any up links or controls to that dummy but your brain. You are still as free as you ever were Patrious." Patrious' name was mocked. The meaning of the name, Patriot, was mocked. Patrious hasn't been free for two years and every facet of him yearns for freedom and the freedom of his planet.

"Why did you choose me for this?" Patrious questioned.

"Because Patrious, you are the strongest person we've ever seen in the coliseum. We needed someone who was likely to survive the procedure."

"You can't just experiment on whoever you like!" Patrious' voice marred with pain.

The king smirked, "You'd say I can't do a lot of things wouldn't you? I do them anyway don't I?" The king paused, searching for any emotion on the dummy's solid face. "You have no power Patrious. No one does but us, the rightful rulers of this world," he leaned in, "and there's nothing you can do about it."

The dummy's hand came across it's body to meet Louis' cheek. The king's eyes widened with fury as he landed on the tile with his back.

The king stumbled to his feet. "Let's see if those pain transmitters work. We made sure we are still able to torture you. If not, we'll just slaughter resistance children in front of you." The dummy's eyes glowed brighter at the idea, I hope I can still feel pain.

Louis pressed a red button on the console across the room. A clicking noise coming from Patrious' chair was heard but nothing seemed to be happening.

Fuck, Patrious thought. I've gotta do something.

The dummy shook in the chair, the king seemed pleased. A cry was pushed out of the dummy, he held the button for a few more seconds until he let go the moment Patrious stopped faking it.

"That'll teach you some respect."

A smirk would have slipped out from Patrious if the dummy's mouth was able to shape into one.

The back of Patrious' head was suddenly smacked into the chair as the restraint was tightened from a command on the console.

"Patrious, you enjoy a good show don't you?" His question was granted no response.