“
But it still isn
’
t too late. With the right treatments, you could still get your life back. But we warn you, the process will be slow if you are beyond the years of development. Still, wouldn
’
t you like limbs of flesh and bone, and for cheaper than the cybernetic replacements on the market that often times overload or malfunction?
“
Side effects include increased shedding of the dermis, an excessive need for vitamin D intake, lethargy due to cold temperatures, over activity in hot weather, and happiness from a life of never knowing loss!
“
Don
’
t forget, folks, Polyhelix, always better than a dual.
”
* * * *
“
My name is John. The first time I made an order, I had them create weather in the seventies in the early morning followed by brief snow flurries and heavy rain by the evening. I felt like a god. Everything happened
exactly
as I had told them. It was well worth the price.
”
“
You heard it yourselves. A very satisfied customer. No order is too heavy or obscure. We aim to please and our weather generators are able to respond and adapt quickly. It
’
s never a dull moment when you
’
re the one in control. Our only rules are no
‘
acts of god
,’
that is no weather event that would create catastrophic damages. Small pranks, however, or just the perfect occasion, are fine by us.
“
Don
’
t forget, Barometrics, order in a world of chaos.
”
* * * *
“
Do you think we are all work and no play? Most definitely not! Here at Synaptix, we offer nanobots aimed at the musical connoisseur wanting to hear something never before imagined.
“
With our patented Psyker Scream bots, you can enter into a new world of audio never before
heard
by
even the most hardcore
audiophile
s
. Once you hear Psyker Scream, you will wonder how you ever listened to those inane digital streams, or normal instruments.
“
There are many complications; side effects may include permanent deafness, catastrophic brain degradation, and in some cases, even death. But we assure you, this sounds so good you would be glad to die for it.
“
Synaptix, do what you
’
ve been thinking about.
”
* * * *
“
Wish you could turn back time to your youth? Wish you had a second life to do it all over again? Tired of all the aches and pains? What would you pay to have a fresh n
e
w body?
“
New from Polyhelix! The fountain of youth. Monetary cost can be negotiated; if you can
’
t make the full purchase up front, no problem! Don
’
t forget, you will have another seventy years to pay us back, but what fun is life if you
’
re fully indebted to us? You decide for yourself after you make an appointment with one of our specialists.
“
But now
,
let
’
s talk real cost. What requirements must you face to make this dream of revers
e-
aging a reality? Well, the process is simple. First we make a clone of yourself in one of our many laboratories from your own
DNA
and one of our donor
’
s eggs that would provide to you the best match.
“
After a short incubation time, the embryo is aborted and the raw stem cells are given time to
replicate
. Once the process is complete, you are ready for treatment, friend! All it takes is a quick, painless injection. The results will be seen in
mere
days as the stem cells rebuild your body from the inside out.
“
The only question is, does this bother your conscience? Because it certainly doesn
’
t bother ours. Call now! Due to concern of overpopulation, this is a limited supply run. Only a few thousand treatments are allowed each year.
“
Never forget, Polyhelix, always better than a dual.
”
* * * *
“
These are the gods of these days. These are what people seek out blindly and with fervor so fierce they will stop at nothing to obtain what they want. The laws only require that a company is outright with their product, no hidden dangers.
“
Nothing is required to go through multiple phases of testing to be sure it won
’
t harm the masses. If they want it, they can ha
ve it. The populace is the new g
uinea pig. Alexarien is the central laboratory for this new technological religion.
“
Depending on how you look at it, it seems to be spreading as an era of enlightenment. Or a blight causing nothing but death and destruction in its wake.
Its new fanatics are the every
day people, and with their bodies completely saturated with technology.
“
These are your priests, your crusaders, your Christ, your anti-Christ, your Imam, your cardinal, your fanatic, your zealot. These are your worshipers… Break free. Follow me. I am a partaker, but I shall bring to ruin that which I
’
ve partook.
“
Places like Ilyeion have already felt its effects. People consider places like that to be third world and unsophisticated, even barbaric. Why? They have all the same technologies that we do; the only difference is the poverty level is higher there. They have less people buying the crap these companies are selling. They still try to keep alive some of the old ways. Alexarien says get rid of anything older than six months
,
and we buy it!
“
What of the countries whose capitols we are unaware of? What of the less affluent areas of the world? What are they? Less than animals? Animals have value; we have turned our backs on them and, in effect, have said they have none.
“
Even in our own land, if you don
’
t have the money to purchase your own life, someone can buy it from you. Whether it
is
a black contract or slavery, your life can be purchased. I intend to rebuild this country and all the others around it, but I need your help.
“
Many will say that you are insane for joining my cause. Many will say I am trying to destroy civilization. Many will say that I am wrong, but let me ask you this. Who is it that is cannibalizing their own to turn a profit, or make an advancement?
”
This was the first video log broadcast by Crimson Rose. 3033 C.E.
Aftermath
The weather was dry and hot. Seasons didn
’
t mean a whole lot ever since the invention of the Pilvikones. One day, the weather could be like this, over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit after sundown. The next it could be negative twenty. Today, Zarfa would have preferred for there to be some semblance of moisture in the air, regardless of the temperature.
He stumbled down the streets in Ilyeion. Sand storms brought in lots of dust regularly and one had passed by recently. Dust and sand was caking up in his open wounds and creating clots of blood and dirt. It would clump up and fall off as he walked. He was getting woozy from all of the blood loss.
“
The Sheik
’
s Tavern,
”
Zarfa muttered under his breath as stumbled in through the door.
He had managed to hobble his way three miles from the train station to here. He felt as if he might die and anything he did tonight would be pointless. As he stumbled in through the door to The Sheik
’
s Tavern, he heard loud music. Two old fashioned acoustic sitar players were battling one another.
The crowd was clapping and chanting a traditional song as each of the musicians tried to best the other in a game of wits, skill, and musical prowess. Alcohol permeated the air and tribal belly dancers performed in the dim lighting. For a price, any of these girls would take a person into a back room and give a private show. With all of the commotion, it seemed as if it would be difficult to gain anybody
’
s attention. It would have been, if it weren
’
t for the fact that everyone knew who Zarfa was
and loved him.
As Zarfa stumbled into the tavern, blood still dripped down from all of his injuries and splashed on the floor. Clots of blood and dirt fell from his body. He smelled as if he had just risen from the grave and the scent of his blood could rise above that of the alcohol itself.
“
What the hell happened to you, my brother?
”
came a concerned shout as the entire place dropped to dead silence.
The sitar battle ended abruptly and nobody would argue who the victor was tonight. The dancers stopped and even ones who had retreated to the private rooms made their way back to the main hall of the tavern. Five men surrounded Zarfa before he could even respond to the voice.
He couldn
’
t make out who the men were. His vision was getting blurry and he was tired. Before he even realized it, they had lifted him up and taken him to a pillow-top mattress and laid him down. Some of the female performers immediately began washing him off and tending to his wounds.
“
Zajifa, they have a new weapon… The Faraza, we need to be on guard. I don
’
t know how many more they have, or if they will attack again soon.
”
“
Calm down, Zarfa… Don
’
t expend too much energy; you can
’
t die on us here.
”
Zajifa sounded shaky.
He was truly worried about the condition of his friend and leader.
“
Send a call—
”
Zarfa paused and held his breath as two of the women sprayed medifoam into every wound on his body. It stung, but it wasn
’
t worse than what he had already been through.
“
Send out a call to the Legion. Get all of the
soldiers that could qualify to be
platoon leaders together, bring them here. We need to develop a plan
now!
We need to be more organized than we have ever been!
”
“
Zarfa, surely it can wait until the morning. What you need right now is rest!
”
“
Zajifa, listen to me. We do not have time
. T
here is much I need to fill you in on
,
but I fear we do not have enough time for that right now. Kick out all who are present that aren
’
t members of The Legion and bring in our upper echelon.
”
“
But my liege—
”
“
Now!
”
Zarfa
’
s breathing had slowed and become less labored. The medifoam was helping him to regenerate already. He would still be injured in the morning, but not nearly as badly as if he hadn
’
t received care. His body no longer hurt; it felt numb and comfortable
, it was a pleasant change from how he had been feeling the last several days
. One of the women
still washing him with hot water and removing his tattered, bloody clothing felt
like
a centipede crawling on his bare skin.
He could feel the touch, but it didn
’
t seem human, though
he
was certain that without the medifoam
’
s analgesic effects, he would have been writhing in pain under her careful touch. He stared at her with a steely gaze, one that told her he was appreciative, yet that he feared she may wind up in his condition this night.
Nobody in the room had ever seen Zarfa so close to dead. It was a familiar feeling to him, however. He had been worse off the first time he had ever dealt with the Faraza. He was afraid that ones he cared for would be lost tonight. They were afraid that he would be lost and that Zajifa would be left to command Legion Nine on his own, something he was not yet ready for.
Zajifa returned to the room and kneeled next to Zarfa, resting his forehead on Zarfa
’
s bare stomach. Tears were streaming down his eyes onto Zarfa
’
s flesh, but he wasn
’
t audibly crying. He kept taking deep breaths and kneading his head into Zarfa before he finally spoke.