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Killer
Instinct Revelations:06
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Brazil: Deep Within the Rainforest
Anna strolled peacefully through the Brazilian
Rainforest. She let no little detail go unnoticed; the way the sunlight
filtered in through the trees, the sound of animals scurrying past, the
gentle wind blowing through her hair. She stopped for a moment, and
took a deep breath, absorbing the scenery around her. However, her
peacefulness was suddenly interrupted by a voice.
“Anna! Anna!”
Anna spun around. “Oh, Kain! It’s
you!” She smiled. “What are you doing all the way out here?”
Kain emerged from behind a tree. “I
was testing one of my systems.....uh.....heat tracking sensors, I think
that’s what Allan called it. I thought I was stalking a deer, but
it turned out to be you.”
Anna laughed. “I guess I should take
that as a compliment.”
“What are you doing out here? Did you
get lost?”
“Me? Oh, no. I like to talk a
walk out here sometimes. Y’know, get away from the village.
It’s very peaceful, and it lets me think about things. Being one
with nature, I guess.”
“Oh. Sorry for interrupting you then.
I’ll be leaving now.”
Anna extended her hands towards Kain.
“No, you don’t have to. In fact, I’d like it very much if you stayed.
Come on, join me please.”
Kain nervously approached Anna.
“So, which way were you going?”
Anna’s eyes widened. “Gee, I don’t know.”
she laughed. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Let’s pick a direction....oh,
how about this way?” She pointed to her left. They both began
to walk in the direction Anna choose.
Anna sighed, and smiled. “So, this is
your third day of life, is it not?”
“Yes.” Kain replied.
“I haven’t seen you since the first.
What’s been going on with you?”
“Oh, well, I’ve been spending a lot of time
with Drew and Allan. Allan has been helping me to explore my own
systems. Drew keeps trying to get me to remember something- anything-
about my past. The Elder dropped by yesterday to see how I was doing.
That’s about it. No one else has been by to see me.”
“That’s because they’re afraid.” Anna
said.
“Afraid?”
“Yes; but not in the way you’re thinking.
Everyone in the village is curious about you, and they’re itching to drop
by and talk to you, but they don’t want to do it to soon, and they don’t
quite know what to say.”
“Oh.” Kain laughed. “I thought
you meant they were scared of me hurting them. I gotta admit; whoever
built me gave me a rather intimidating appearance.”
“It’s’ok.” Anna blushed. “I kinda
like your eyes.”
Kain’s eyes widened. “Really?
What about them?”
Anna gave Kain a smile. “Now that would
be telling. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Isn’t it weird, not knowing anything about
yourself?”
“Yeah. Especially considering that I’m
a cyborg. I have a million questions, and I know the answers are
somewhere in my head, but I just don’t know them. I mean, who created
me? Why? Why was I made to be so.....human? And how did
I end up here in such a damaged state?”
“It’s quite a mystery.” Anna said.
Suddenly, Kain stopped walking. He stared
at something off in the distance.
“What’s wrong?” Anna asked.
“Who are they?” Kain pointed to a small
group about fifty feet ahead of them. A man in a blue blazer stood
with his back turned towards Kain and Anna. There was a crew of men
standing around the man wearing the blazer, holding sophisticated television
cameras. Behind them, there was a large white van with a satellite
dish atop it. A camouflage colored hummer was parked parallel to
the van.
“Oh......it looks like another television
crew.” Anna remarked.
“Huh?” Kain seemed confused.
“Eh....sometimes, the television crews come,
to do stories about the Rainforest. They have even come into the
village a few times. We’ve all gotten used to it by now.” Anna
paused. “But, we should avoid them and keep a low profile, considering......”
“Who I am?” Kain interjected. “A good
idea. Should we go back?”
Anna looked around. “No.....wait, I
know! Come, come, this way!” Anna grabbed Kain by the arm and
led him off to the left. Kain followed, only half voluntarily.
Eventually, they entered a small clearing. Near the back of the clearing,
the landscape took a sharp, ninety-degree elevation up about twenty feet.
Water ran down the middle of the elevation, almost like a miniature waterfall.
At the base of the elevation, there was a rounded out area, which formed
a small pond. Rocks were arranged around the edge of the pond, as
if they were chairs. Anna led Kain to one of the larger rocks, where
they both sat down.
Kain took a good look around. “It’s
beautiful.”
Anna grinned. “Yes, isn’t it?”
She sighed. “To my knowledge, no one in the village knows about this
little spot. I come here every now and then when I really want to
be alone and in my thoughts.”
“You know, from what I’ve heard, you spend
a lot of time alone.”
Anna blushed again. “Well, friends are
nice, but there’s a lot to be said about your own company.”
Kain looked around again. “You said
you haven’t told anyone else about this place. Why have you brought
me here?”
“I’m not sure. I didn’t say I haven’t
told anyone about this place; they just don’t know.”
“And you haven’t bothered to inform them either.”
“I guess you could look at it that way.”
Anna closed her eyes. “If they find it, they find it. I won’t
mind. But while no one else knows, this is my little spot, and I-”
“I understand.” Kain cut her off.
He put his heavy hand softly on her shoulder. Anna blushed again.
“I get the feeling,” Kain continued, “that whoever I was, I used
to be kind of a loner. I don’t know why, that’s just the feeling
I get.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a loner.”
Anna said. “So....what will happen to you once you get your memory
back? Will you be leaving us?”
“I don’t know. I guess it all depends
on what my life was like, before I came here.” Kain turned towards
Anna. “I don’t know what I was, but it scares me. Look at what
Allan and I found this morning......” Kain extended his left arm.
Anna gazed at it, somewhat confused. Suddenly, there was a loud “schlink”
sound, and a large, blue claw popped out of a raised outlet on his arm.
It resembled a harpoon with jagged edges. The claw extended
about a foot out from his clenched fist.
“Oh my.” Anna said, taken aback.
“Yeah. I know.” Kain said.
“You know what the scariest part is? Once I get my memories back,
I may not be the same person I am now.”
“That would be a shame.” Anna remarked.
“I barely know you.”
“As I barely know you. Whenever we both
have the time, we should get to know each other better, before I get my
memories back.”
“Well, I’m not doing anything today......”
Kain paused. “Hmm. Allan was expecting
me back, but he can wait I suppose. Who knows when I’ll get my memories
back; it could be as early as tomorrow! I’d hate to waste a good
opportunity.” Kain paused again. “I’m kind of embarrassed to
say this, but I do hope we become good friends. I could use one.”
Anna smiled gently. “So could I.”
Kain looked away, towards the waterfall.
He watched it intently for a few moments. Finally, he spoke again.
"I.......I was wondering......could I ask
you something?"
"Ask me anything you like."
"Okay.......well......I guess I just wanted
to know why you've accepted me so easily."
"Why shouldn't I?"
"I'm......I'm so different."
"That does not matter."
"It doesn't?"
"It doesn't."
".................I don't understand."
"Of course you don't. But you will.
One day, you will."
Kain gave Anna a funny look. “If you
say so.”
Anna smiled again. “Trust me.”
Kain looked away. “Well, you know, you’ve
asked me a lot of questions about myself; do I get to turn the tables?”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
Anna asked simply.
“Well, for one, what’s it like to live in
the village?”
“Hmm. Life in the village, eh?
I’d have to say routine; every weekday the men get up with the sun and
head out to the fields to do some work. The women
wake up a few hours later and do the things a woman should; cook, clean,
etc. As soon as they’re dressed and fed, the children run out and
play. Although it’s pretty routine, it’s calm, and peaceful, and
a great way to live. Here, let me tell you about one of my typical
days.......”
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