This Sci-fi short story contains characters from a novel WIP called Vector H+. The events takes place long before the events of the novel, but knowledge of the characters is not necessary for enjoyment of the story. It centers on The Twins. For short, Amber and Silver. They do not have names, only codes. Silver-SR-0042, lovingly called Sister by Amber, is given special treatment by Dr. Ulster. The doctor’s ‘special treatment’ is not the innocent sweets and a movie that it seems, however. Somehow Silver’s treatment is also making Amber sick even though he isn’t there. Amber knows things because Silver knows them. She learns them from the movies. Things about guns, violence and gore. Things that she dreams about, that no eleven year old should dream about.
The arrival of a stranger, Gold, clues them into far more than they understood, and gives them hope. Is it even possible for them to escape some day?
Content Warning: Violence between children, children under experimentation and containment
Excerpt:
Raising her head with a start, Lian drew a sharp breath then crossed to Dr. Ulster. Only eleven, the girl could still see the fear that the woman tried to hide. Perhaps she and Dr. Ulster were to play the game now. Dr. Ulster gestured for her to follow. Walking over, she blinked up at Lian. The woman gave a polite nod, scanning past the child’s gaze, then left. She watched with passivity. “She did not tell me what the words mean. Brother will not say either.”
“And which words are these?” Dr. Ulster guided her from the lab and down a barren hall with security at each end.
“Zhenren and Niren.”
“Hmm.” He pondered a moment. The girl leaned forward to look at his eyes. The shifting of his eyes indicated the doctor was looking them up with his brain computer. Their eyes moved differently when they used their brain computer. “The cultural connotations could affect the meaning but, I suspect that Miss Xiao meant to reference, “true person” and the Buddhist antithesis.”
“A liar?”
The man chuckled and looked down at her, his muted brown eyes sparkling. “Not quite, although, I suppose in some ways. I think she means more in the sense of ‘real’ and ‘not real’.”
Considering this, the girl was silent a long time. Only their footsteps filled the space around them. When he guided her into another room, she looked to him again. “I conclude that I am Niren.”
“How so?” The man arched a brow as she lowered to sit on the single cushion, the only item in the spartan room.
“Brother would not have refused to tell me if Lian called me Zhenren. He always tries to say things he thinks will make me happy. And he gets angry when someone is mean to me. He does not like Lian. So, I conclude that she named him Zhenren and I am Niren.” Looking at him expectantly, she folded her cleaned hands in her lap. “Is this correct?”
There was a flicker of something in his eyes, a disapproval. Perhaps she had been wrong. Failing a test was bad, the punishment for failure was unpleasant. The flicker was snuffed and he smiled, “Excellent logic, Silver-SR-0042. I’ll inform Miss Xiao that you successfully completed this test. No more Zhenren and Niren.” He crouched beside her and produced a candy from his pocket. “You’ve earned a treat, and I have a new film for you to watch today. It is very old, but I want you to pay special attention. Yes?”
“Yes, Dr. Ulster.”
“Good girl.” He beamed a smile at her and caressed her hair a moment before standing. She watched him, feeling nothing, only a tiny spark of relief she had passed her test and won the game. Brother would be pleased.