Wolfish: A YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Techno Thriller: Wolfish, #2

2

STEAK AND STARVATION

Iawoke with a start as whiteness blinded me. A nutty whiff of lemony air freshener, soft blankets covering me. Sat up in the enormous bed, taking in the excess luxury: rich beige carpets, mahogany dressers, the World News Network (WNN) on an ultra-res virtual screen floating near the window. All of it was too much. Easily three times bigger than our burned to the ground ex-hovel in Kiag. The home that was no more, thanks to Thorn’s treachery, which, in a way, had buried my entire family.

And now, I was stuck in Caen, living the high-life in a fifteenth floor penthouse. I’d never felt so alone. Everyone was dead…

Waved my hand to deactivate the needless screen and opened WNN’s homepage in my peripheral field-view and slipped into my automatic wheelchair, surgically repaired bionic foot still not ready for walking. Should be good by tomorrow.

Compared to everything else, that was Calter’s least scaring gift.

Visions swam of my bloodied unborn son, of the future we’d have had together. Zedda would have made a great mom. But all that was gone, and all that remained was suffocating emptiness. Pushed it aside, all of it, as I rolled into the cookie-cutter granite kitchen, hoping the news, coffee, anything, could distract me from my ever-expanding dark cloud.

It didn’t.

Nothing mattered. Not a damn thing.

The leaders were convening again, trying to sort through the chaos I’d unleashed. I couldn’t care less. Iyanna and Ganla had come calling several times, trying to lure me into their pointless political wheelings, but it wasn’t happening.

Why did they think I could lead? Look at the damage I’d done and the lives I’d destroyed. The carnage was staggering. Screw what Zedda had said in her final recorded message. I wasn’t up to the challenge, I wasn’t worth following.

Things were broken beyond repair. It was my fault, and I had no idea how to fix it. Even the animote townships were worse off than before. The supply chains were broken and starvation was rampant. At least the damn hunting permits had been abolished. A brief ray of hope. If we’d been allowed to hunt growing up, we wolfish wouldn’t have gone hungry so much.

There was nothing interesting on the web, only more of the same. They’d ratified the Subspecies Treaty, finally. The elections were in two weeks, the first equal one in decades. And the emulate faction had died down for the moment. Without their immortality, they weren’t a threat, other than their wealth. Though that could certainly use a bit of spreading around.

A message from Henk about food appeared as a notification in my field-view display. He was staying in the hotel as well, but it’d been a few days since I’d seen him. He’d been busy with the majority of ex-Resistance leadership who’d been put up here by the ass-kissing enhancer owners. To the victors go the spoils, I supposed. It was ironic. Was this what winning felt like?

Down the lift, and I crossed the plush lobby to the bearish mountain in three quick rolls. Henk’s bulging, furry arms swallowed me in a blood-brother’s embrace. How you holding up? There was an awkward pause as he let go, picking at his unkempt brown beard.

No one liked talking about it, let alone asking me how I was doing. Couldn’t blame them. I must look like a sack of shit. Certainly felt like it. Henk fidgeted his hulking frame and looked at the floor, saying nothing.

I shrugged, sparing him the worst of my darkening void. I’ll survive.

He tried to grab my chair’s handles and I shot him an icy look. I can manage just fine. I didn’t need his help or his sympathy… Didn’t deserve it. My stomach rumbled as I pushed toward the lofty dining room where we were seated at a table by the far window overlooking the quiet street. The mouseish waiter slid a fancy high-back from the mahogany table to make room for my rolling trap, whiskers twitching into a reserved smile

What would you like, sirs?

Henk ordered a steak without hesitating.

I was starving but not interested in food—or life, a black pit of nothingness. Whatever. Just make it two.

The skinny man hurried off. No one said anything until he returned with overflowing, blood red goodness I’d have normally scarfed down.

How’s your ribeye? Henk’s mammoth elbow thudded my side in playful jest. Bloody, just the way you like it.

I took another meaningless bite. Even the lab-grown slab couldn’t stir a reaction as I chewed the tasteless beef. I’d have killed for this back in the good old days, back when I was still a kid and the world wasn’t so damn senseless.

Henk put his arm around me. I know, bud. I miss ‘em too. Miss Ashlo. A pained expression crossed his hard face. We’d been through a lot together.

You okay, man? I asked, realizing how selfish I’d been. He must be hurting too.

I’ll survive. The good news is the war is over. Treaty was ratified yesterday. We’re in for big changes.

Big changes indeed. I sighed. At least we’d done it. In some sick, twisted way, maybe it’d all be worth it. That’s what Zedda wanted, wasn’t it?

Congratulations, by the way. You seen the latest polls? He smiled. Readying that acceptance speech?

I was about to respond when Iyanna appeared. The beautiful enhancer entered the busy restaurant with a stunning smile that silenced animote and enhancer waiters alike. Her brown hair billowed as she made her carefree way toward us.

Henk blushed and looked away.

But I knew I’d never love another woman. Not even a genetically-altered one, not after Zedda.

Raek, Henk, I thought I’d find you two here. She gave me a warm smile, sat, and motioned to the waiter. Ready for the big day?

I grimaced. It’s not going to happen. Can we not talk about it?

Her jaw dropped. How can we not? It’s all anyone’s talking about.

Embarrassed guilt washed over me as I avoided her eye.

Look, Raek. The people need you. The world needs you. A dramatic wave of her hands. "Raek Mekorian, slayer of the Global Democratic Republic, freer of mankind. A new kind of leader."

My face flushed as I reached for my water, stomach contorting as Zedda’s dying words hammered through me, ‘You’re capable of more than you know.’ Why did people keep saying that?

Henk gave me a told you so look, but said nothing. And neither did I. I’d done enough, damn it. Hadn’t I sacrificed enough?

Thankfully, Iyanna dropped the subject, and we finished our meals in awkward silence. The pair left not long after for some sparring club on the northern edge of the city, and I was alone once more. I needed distraction, anything to free my reeling mind.

I exited the double doors of the highrise, turned left, and hurried down the busy street. Soon, a wave of commuters enveloped me and I got sucked into the twists and turns of the capital. For a time, it worked. I passed abandoned VR dens, several boarded and graffitied shops, and the Library of Caen where I’d almost died. So many memories. I was one weak bladder from being scorched earth. But the universe had chosen wrong. Paer or Obowe should have made it. They’d make great leaders, not me. Not after what happened.

A tingle touched my spine as I walked on. Something was off. But what? Checked my shoulder, but no one was following me. Must be getting paranoid. I continued on, passing a shuttered store until the prickling unease intensified, and I stopped to look closer at the scribbled sign on the door. Closed until further notice. There was a long-winded apology from the owner. She couldn’t afford to pay her animote workers, not with rising wages following the treaty’s ratification. The realization hit me like a brick. We hadn’t thought of that.

A scratchy noise behind me made me spin, leveling my blasters. It was a scraggly bum with perfect jawbones, miserable but intelligent eyes, and a ratty evosuit. Hadn’t seen many down-and-out enhancers before.

Didn’t mean any trouble, sir, she said. Could you spare some credits? Anything for a meal. Her pleading eyes searched me, begged me. How could I say no? After all, Lars had left me with a small fortune.

I extended my hand and tapped her gray smartband, sending her a few days worth of stashed crypto. Good luck.

She blushed and looked away. Thank you, sir. We—we lost everything: immortality, our children, our home… It means so much.

An emulate… in this condition? Raw shock as goosebumps gripped me. To fall so far… How was that even possible?

Don’t mention it. The last thing I needed was praise and gratitude. She didn’t know who I was, what I’d done, the anguish I’d caused. She’d die one day because of me, and had no idea.

The fallen angel hurried away, limping toward the Amazon cafe. Such a sad sight. At least she wouldn’t starve or resort to squirrels. I should have given her more...

A phone call from Ganla flashed my field-view. What’d she want now? I couldn’t handle anymore congratulatory bullshit so I ignored it. A second later, she rang again. Darn, must be urgent.

‘What’s up?’ I said as soon as it connected and her furry face appeared.

‘Raek, you’re there. I missed you last time. We need to talk. It’s about next steps and the Treaty. A group of us are getting together tomorrow night. Most of the Subspecies representatives.’

Acid filled my gut as I grimaced. ‘What do you want? I told you, I’m done. I’m out.’

‘We both know that’s not true. Besides, I need you, Raek. I need someone there who has my back. Someone I can trust.’

Damn it. She always knew which strings to pull. ‘Fine. What time?’ She gave me an address and hung up after a quick apology, something about a meeting with the mayor.

So, The Top, huh? I’d never been to Caen’s most exclusive bar for high rollers and heavy hitters, but had heard stories. It’d been such a frequent meeting place of the GDR’s Board, Lars and I had considered bombing it. But why were we meeting there? And who were we exactly?

It wasn’t a good precedent, unless tyranny was on the menu.

3

A LONG DAY

The platinum lift raced upward as the city fell away below, poverty and problems vanishing into rarified air and a glittering array of progress. Wealth, power, perfection… The elevator dinged to a stop at the fifty-first floor, and the polished doors opened to dim chandeliers and flickering exclusivity. Inside, the bar was decked out, everyone in their tailored evo best, plenty of stripes and fur amidst lean cynetics and enhancers, as tuxedoed waiters carried trays of glowing cocktails and lab grown caviar that reeked of opulence.

I was about to turn on my newly repaired heel and hightail it out of there when Ganla appeared in a silky purple evo. She waved a muscled arm and gestured me over to the large circular table in the shadowy corner where Iyanna and Deane—two of the enhancer’s delegates at the failed Subspecies Talks—were deep in discussion with ex-GDR Board members Priya Patel and Jean Gileu. To Ganla’s right, a silent, stone-faced Henk scrutinized his once-enemies in narrow-eyed distrust.

Iyanna looked up from the debate when I reached them, eyes brightening with a genuine smile. Raek, you made it. Something about her warm enthusiasm was infectious, even given my mood.

Iyanna’s blond partner, Deane, grabbed another chair and everyone scooted over.

Once things settled, Henk said, As you were saying, we can’t afford to get complacent, especially with the election so soon. Just because the fighting’s stopped and there aren’t bodies in the streets, doesn’t mean peace will last. Or that we’ll have a fair vote. Certain subspecies might hope for otherwise, he added with a glare at Priya—the sole cynetic, other than me.

Deane nodded, seizing Henk’s torch. It’s no secret many cynetics would support a return to the way things were.

Enhancers and ex-emulates too! Priya snapped, bold eyes blistering as she defended her people. It’s not only us cynetics who lost everything. She shot me an acid glance.

I sighed. Not this again. Bloody effing politics. "Sure, let’s all point fingers… it was so productive last time. I smacked the table. Really guys? After all we’ve been through, can’t we be on the same freaking team? A hundred and fifty million dead… A hundred and fifty million."

Democracy is messy, you know that, Iyanna said. It’s been decades since we had a free and open election. It’s not going to be easy.

And regardless what you say, most animotes aren’t registered, Priya said. Sure, they’ve got smartbands, but electronic voting’s always been iffy. There’s a reason we thought Lin Zu’s Board seat was tainted. Darn emulate hackers! Her eyes raked Jean Gileu. We never said anything, of course, she added. Trust in the system and all.

We all turned to the slicked back ex-immortal, but Jean’s calculating blue eyes gave nothing away. If it was, I had nothing to do with it.

Bullshit! Henk snarled. If anyone had the tools to fake an election…

Be very careful what you say next, Jean hissed.

It spiralled downhill from there. Blame, resentment, pain... The Treaty hadn’t been the end of it, but the beginning. It was as if all those lives didn’t mean a damn. Zedda, Ashlo, Lars… my son. None of it mattered.

At midnight, Priya and Jean left to get back to their families and the tension lessened.

Good, they’re gone, Ganla said once it was just animotes and enhancers left and the pair were out of earshot. Now, let’s lay our cards on the table and talk facts. We can’t trust the cynetics, the emulates either, we know that.

Deane nodded. "Not in the slightest. The police and army need to be majority animote and enhancer led. We’ve got to be able to protect our people. Things could go south at any point. We need to be ready."

Ready? Ready for what? I scowled at all of them. What good will that do? The only thing it’ll accomplish is making them more scared, more alienated, and even more dangerous. Is that what you want?

What would you do? Nothing? Henk demanded with surprising anger. It’s only a matter of time, man.

Everyone except Iyanna nodded, even as I stood and made to leave.

Raek, wait, Ganla began.

No! I snapped, getting angry. The GDR treated us animotes like shit and we rebelled. History repeats itself. Do you want to make the same mistake?

Raek has a point, Iyanna cut in. If we push things too far…

But we have to be practical, Ganla replied, fiery Latin voice rising. There’s a reason you don’t keep a cat and mouse in the same cage. We need to look out for animotes and enhancers, first and foremost. Besides, they’ll control the vote and have had it the worst.

I’m with Ganla and Henk on this one, Deane said.

Henk gave me a sad look. There are always winners and losers, man. But history is written by the winners.

Were they all so shortsighted?

We’ll see how things play out, Iyanna said to put a stamp on it. Besides, it’s Raek who’ll be president, right? I grimaced, and she smiled. And until then, there’s a lot of work to do. Speaking of which...

I had to get out of there. It was all too much.

I’m headed home, I said before anyone could stop me. I’ll see you guys later.

Disappointed sighs. Louder voices jostled about what to do about the massive inquality as I hurried to the lift.

4

RESULTS

My mood soured as the fated election approached. People cheered all around me. Talk about a morbid contrast. If only they knew I was a fraud and a failure. An impostor at my own party. Iyanna tapped me on the shoulder, ripping me from my pained reverie.

The results are coming in. Come on. She led me through the crowded celebration hall as glowing eyes and beaming smiles followed my every step to the elevated electoral podium at the center, where Iyanna, Ganla, Priya, Deane, Jean, and a handful of other elites stood. Floating screens around the exterior showed real time polling numbers. I was already fifteen million votes ahead, and the polling had only opened two minutes ago. My knees sagged as my barchart raced higher, impossible momentum surging past fifty million, a hundred.

In the end, it was a landslide, and Ganla gave me an uncharacteristicly teary hug as I passed the four hundred million needed. You did it, Raek. We did it. Things are going to work out.

Easy for her to say. Angry dread rippled through me, and I held my tongue as Iyanna and Priya came to say their congratulations.

You’ll do great, Iyanna said, blushing as she touched my arm. How’s it feel to be president?

And with that, my fate was sealed. Words failed me. A confusing storm of emotions. A flurry of overwhelming high-fivers, until Henk seized me from behind and hoisted me into the air. President Mekorian, how about a speech?

A clamor ran through the crowd as he deposited me back on solid ground. Someone handed me a glass of chardonnay.

The heavy silence of expectant pressure enveloped the room. What could I say? Elected president… The first real election in decades. I looked out over the chaotic happiness of burning pride and anticipation. They needed a leader. They needed unity.

They didn’t need me.

I couldn’t be that, couldn’t answer their hopes and prayers. Their eager eyes turned to fidgety unease and murmured whispers. I still hadn’t said anything. Couldn’t make up my mind.

The literal weight of the world on my shoulders.

At last, I took a deep breath. First of all, I want to thank you all for coming, and for your support and trust. I’m beyond honored and humbled, I really am. I had to stop and catch my breath. There were almost half a billion staring me down this exact instant, their impossible expectations floating like sinking anchors around my neck.

I’m sorry, all of you, I said, as crippling doubt got the better of me. I have to decline. I—I can’t be president. I can’t be what you need. I’m sorry.

5

A HOWLING PACK

Ashockwave rippled through the masses as the crushing implication hit them. Whispers, rumors, and confused anger overwhelmed everything. Stunned eyes pierced me as I exited the podium and hurried toward the door.

Iyanna headed me off. Raek, what are you doing? Are you sure about this?

Ganla materialized seconds later, face furious. What have you done?

I can’t do this. My eyes slumped to the floor as theirs bore into me with a million glaring expectations. I rushed away as the gossip erupted.

What a coward!

How could he?

I pushed through the pulsing crowd, sweating, neck burning, desperate to escape—past shouting voices, people clamoring for my attention, and into the hallway. Darted to the elevator and was in my room within minutes of my meltdown.

Safe at last, until there was an odd whirring buzz at the window. I checked the blinds. There were reporters everywhere, drones too. An ever-narrowing net of nosy sharks as the tightening walls closed in, suffocating me. A knock on my door made me jump. I was losing it. I had to get out of here, out of this city. There was too much hope and painful memories here. Too many jostling voices to sway me. And now, this.

I’d never find peace.

I started hurriedly packing my things in a small waterproof rucksack. If they were going to force me to leave, I’d do it. I peered out the window again, but the street was even more crowded. It’d be impossible to sneak away.

I needed help.

I called Henk. I could always count on him. ‘Hey, Henk, can you help me with something?’

‘Good, you’re there. Ganla wanted me to talk to you. Give me two minutes.’

Exactly two minutes later, I let him in. He thumped my shoulder before his sharp eyes took in my bag and change of clothes. You going somewhere?

I nodded. I can’t stay here. Not after this. Not after everything.

Look, Ganla wants me to get you to reconsider. She’s worried about the enhancers taking power, what would happen without you… But we both know you’re stubborn as an ass. A half-hearted grin. So, what’d you need help with?

I need a diversion. I gestured to the crazy streets below.

He nodded. Consider it done. Give me five minutes. He turned to go.

Thanks. I knew I could count on you. I—I guess this is goodbye. I don’t know when I’ll be back.

Don’t get all touchy feely on me, man. He paused before sweeping me up in