Shock Therapy

By Coral Lights

 

Selected

 

 

"You've been selected."

 

            "What! All's I know I was drugged, or knocked out -- or something. And now I'm sitting before some --some -- man, I've never seen before, in some room I have no clue where I am. And now you're telling me I've been selected?" Evans was furious. He fidgeted in his chair, because the steel door was obviously locked and he had no place to go. So he looked back at the only man before him.

 

            "It's the way it has to be," explained the man in uniform, to Evans. "You have two choices: follow what I tell you, or end your life." The man took a knife from a sheath on his belt and laid it roughly on the table.

 

            Evans stared at the knife’s beveled edges.

 

            "It's your choice," said the man, walking to the door.

 

            Evans jumped from his chair and tried to follow after him but the door whipped shut, nearly catching his shirt.

 

            Evans walked back to the table and picked up the knife. He walked around the tiny room, searching. But, the walls were flawless metal, he was sealed in.  And the door wouldn’t budge.

 

            "I'll call my lawyer!" screamed Evans.

 

            A voice echoed throughout the room. He'll never find you here.

 

 

Live by Choice 

 

 

"Ah, so you've made you're choice," said the man in uniform, returning.

 

            Evans raised his head from the table; he had been closing his eyes, thinking. The knife reflected his face, like a deadly mirror.

 

            The door closed again.

 

            "Can't you at least tell me what I'm here for? You can't just kidnap people. I've been locked in this room for hours." Evans lowered his head in defeat.

 

            The man took the knife off the table, twirled it deftly in his fingers. "I'm Paladin Refrees, you'll be doing whatever I say. And you will call me sir, or Paladin Refrees. And" -- the knife stopped with the tip pointing directly between Evans's eyes -- "you will be going to Mars."

 

 

Meat Inspection

 

 

Evans walked through the dark chambers. On either side, were transparent walls flowing with colored data.  Behind them, he could see nurses inspecting his every move. He was naked in here and walked only when the machine voice entered his head and told him. He learned quickly -- the first time he walked too many, he was shocked, the energy ripping at his spine -- the second time he stood stubbornly still, he was shocked worse, till his brain hurt.

 

            Two paces forward, said the voice in his head. And Evans moved exactly two evenly steps forward. He stood still and waited, looking at the back of a naked black man a few feet away in from of him. The black man must have heard the voice in his head also, because he mechanically took some steps forward. Ahead of his huge body, Evans could see a line of more men of various skin shades in the same predicament. But, didn't know why, how many, or how far the line stretched in front or behind him.

 

            Evans turned to look through the walls at a nurse pressing some glowing buttons. Face front, commanded a voice, and Evans looked dead ahead as a vapor of light enveloped him brightly enough to force his eyes closed.

 

            Five paces forward. And Evans moved five steps. The light disappeared and he waited. He knew he was being scanned for health problems, but he didn't know why. Behind him, somewhere further back in the line of naked men, Evans heard the shriek of a man who must be learning to obey the voice.

           

            Finally, Evans knew he was almost through with the medical tests, when the black man in front of him disappeared, pulled away by a moving floor.

           

            Ten paces forward. Evans counted them out in his head and was soon carried away from the chambers, underneath a metal span and into a darkened shaft. "This won't hurt a bit Mr. Evans," said a female voice; and for Evans, the world went dark.

 

 

Take Flight

 

 

"Where are we?" said Evans when he awoke. He vision went from mottled black, to vague grey shapes, to crisp clear colors as he noticed a man’s form sitting next to him.  He thought it might be the same black man who was moving ahead of him in the chamber line.

 

            Evans tried to move his arms, but noticed both were cuffed by metal links pinning him tightly to his seat. Heavy air pressure was pressing him gently against the backrest.

 

            "I'm Dirk," said the black man.  "But you can call me 771." Dirk’s eyes were looking at his own bare upper arm, a morose grin on his face. The glowing numerals 771 were tattooed deep in the dark skin.

 

            Evans looked at his own arm. "I guess I'm 772."  He stared horribly at the glowing numerals which caused no pain. And for the first time, he noticed he was wearing a white tank top, and so were all the other men to his front, rear and sides as he scanned the rows of seats, each filled by a man in the same predicament. "But, you can call me, Evans."

 

            "I'm Julio," said a voice on his left. And Evans turned to look at a dark haired man. "Looks like you're as lost as I am." The blue eyes studied Evans intently.

 

            "Where is this?" said Evans, staring at the glowing numbers on Julio’s arm: 773.

 

            Dirk stirred. "I think we’re on a shuttle to Mars.  I don't know why, or care, but I want off." He rustled with his strong arms against the metal cuffs. "No use."

 

            Evans felt sick and leaned back against the headrest. "Just a few...hours or days ago, I was walking down the street near campus to class. And now, now, I'm here. Some guy in a metal room, medical tests -- I don’t remember why --”

 

            "Hey, that's not bad," said Julio. "I was making love to a prostitute. The beautifullest petunia you've never seen. And some men bust into our room, slap the wench down and take me.” He tried to shrug against the seat cuffs. “Soon, I wake up and some crazy loon calling himself a Paladin tells me I've been selected."

 

            "Same here," says Dirk, shaking his bald head.

 

            Evans noticed a few other men in the shuttle seats nearby were also talking in a similar vein. A few even called out for help, or made threats, or jostled against the cuffs. And a few were still sleeping.

 

            Evans noticed beeps and blinks on the tubular ceiling and wondered, what the hell?

 

            "Lunch will be served," said a woman's voice entering the shuttle cabin. "Faces forward please." Tubes were lowered from the ceiling. Evans noticed they were plastic and he tried to turn his head away, but the wormlike hose followed his mouth and shoved its way in, even opening his teeth. "Suck to eat." Evans relented and tasted the most wonderful, liquidy food he'd ever have. After five minutes of breathing through his nostrils and sucking, the tube was retracted back toward the ceiling. Evans watched all the tubes disappear.

 

            "At least theys don't want us to starve," said Julio. "Only" -- he pulled at the cuffs -- "I wish I could rub my belly."

 

            Pretty soon Evans grew drowsy, and he thought he must have drifted off to sleep. In a dream, he saw himself going to biocreatics class.

 

           

Paladin Wright

 

 

"Men, listen up. You've all been selected for special reasons. Not one of you is here by mistake. Show respect, take your orders and you will do fine. If not, you will not do fine. And not doing fine here is as good as dead."

 

            There were some murmurs from the group of men who stood in the large cavern just off the ramp from the docking bay their shuttle had entered.

 

            Evans stood on his tiptoes to look around the various heads, to see who was speaking.

 

            "Silence!"

 

            Evans cowered.

 

            "You will only murmur if I tell you to murmur. Clear?"

 

            No one said anything. Evans looked back at the ramp and wanted to run back into the shuttle.          

 

            "Goddammit, say yes sir! are you guys dumb?"

 

            "Yes sir!" said the group of two hundred or so men.

 

            "No, I'm Paladin Wright. I run the show here. And this" -- he motioned to the huge observatory further down the passage -- "is my palace." All around the vaulted ceilings, videos, and flashes of light flowed. "You are not prisoners here, but neither are you free."

 

                                   

Cell    

 

 

Evans was claimed by two armed guards. They grouped him with three other men: Dirk, Julio and another man he didn’t know yet. The guards prodded them forward and through the passageways. The walls soon became transparent and appeared to be cell-like holding units of some sort.  Beds could be seen inside, but not much else.

        

            Evans watched a group of four other men get placed into one of these cells as he walked by.  

                    

            They continued down the winding walkway as more men were separated and placed into cells. Several islands of cells formed a maze.

 

            The guards told Evans and his group to stop before one of the transparent walls and it soon whisked open. Julio, then Dirk, the unknown man, and then Evans were pushed into the cell with inner walls rounded like the inside of a small water tank. Four beds spread evenly throughout were the only furnishings.

 

            The transparent door slid closed behind them, locking with a click. And then the guards’ boots stomped off.

 

            "Well," said Julio, "I guess we're roommates."

 

            Dirk surveyed their new cell. "I don't like this."

 

            Evans looked at the fourth man, a thin intelligent looking face, and offered his hand. "Evans."

           

            The young man looked back with a haunted eye. "Jakson," he said, not offering his hand and walked off to claim a bed closest to the back wall. Evans noticed 774 was glowing on his arm.

 

            "What do we do now?" asked Evans. He was rubbing his skin over the glowing tattoo absently.

 

            "Sleep," said Julio, walking over to one of the beds.

 

            Dirk took the third bed while Evans walked along the rounded walls. He felt a little niche in the back area and pressed with his palms. It opened and he stepped in. "Bathroom," he called back to the other fellas. It was small with a mini commode, sink and shower. A shiny spot in the wall served as a mirror. He noticed his face was scraggly; he hadn't shaved in a few days.

 

 

First Night

 

 

Later, after some confused chatting, two guards finally appeared at their door. It whisked open and they were shepherded and then herded along by other guards and more men from others cells.

 

            "Where are we going?" asked Evans to Dirk, watching warily as a group of four tough looking men exited their cell.

 

            Dirk said something unintelligible.

 

            Julio spoke up: "I think were going to learn why we’re here."

 

            Jackson said," I hate Mars."

 

            Evans: "I wish  --"

 

            "Quiet down men," interrupted a guard, shoving Evans in the back with his gun.

           

            After a short walk past all the holding cells, they passed through windowless passageways and then underneath spacious archways and Evans came upon what appeared to be cages. Cages with metal bars. Evans wondered what they were for, perhaps exotic animals?        

 

         Evans followed the crowd into a huge circular chamber with sandy floors.  All around the edges, stands were built high up into the walls. And several fashionable balconies were interspaced. At the top center, a huge globe with the likeness of Mars revolved slowly above their heads.

        

            “Guess we really are on Mars,” Evans whispered to Julio.

        

            Julio nodded.         

 

            The large group of tank-topped, unarmed men, of what Evans now thought of as 'prisoners', were ordered to halt. Packed sand sifted beneath their bare feet.

 

            "Men!" cried a voice from the balcony. All eyes turned. It was Paladin Wright, the same man who had greeted them earlier. "I look down upon you and see warriors. Some weaklings, some strong, some sane, some maybe not, some ugly, some handsome like princes, some dark, some not. But most of all I see warriors."

 

            Everyone waited. The men fidgeted and some eyed each other.

 

            Evans looked at the cages set into the surrounding walls, wondering if animals would soon be released to eat them alive.      

 

    The crowd of men was nervous. Coughing, rubbing noses, brushing back hair, staring, looking

presumably for doors to escape. The interspaced guards hushed any small talk.

 

            And as he stood dumbly in silence, not even hearing the words of the Paladin, all Evans could think about was how his stomach ached.  He waited.

           

Finally, Paladin Wright leant down over the balcony. "Dismissed."

 

 

Time

 

 

When the guards led the men back to their cell, one pointed to a monitor on the wall. Numerals and characters arranged themselves and began to glow. "There is your schedule," said the guard. "Consult it everyday. Be prepared at the cell door for each time and you'll be fine. It will be updated in real time -- so you shouldn't have any questions."

 

            "Can we leave the cells?" asked Evans.

 

            "No," snapped the other guard. The door slid shut and the guards left.

 

            All around him, Evans could hear the doors of others cells shutting prisoners in. And the boots stomping to and fro.

 

            Julio walked to the schedule. "Look here, we get free hour at eight o'clock." The clock embedded in the schedule read 7:57.

 

            "And then what?" asked Evans.

 

            "Don't know." Shrugged Julio. "Says Match (Evans, Bradley, Cromy)."

 

            Evans moved in for a better look.  In the 9:00 box was indeed his name with two others.  He wondered what type of Match it would be. Why was he selected?

 

            "Looks like you win the prize," said Julio, clapping him on the shoulder. “Listen if any of them punks come at you. Jab em in the neck like this.” Julio made a punching gesture dead center towards Evans’s larynx.

        

           

First Match

 

 

At 9:00 sharp, two guards appeared at the cell door. "Evans," one barked. And he was led from the cell.

 

            "Good luck," said Julio. Dirk and Jakson just stood there silently, and Evans was sure, thanking their lucky stars they weren't chosen.

           

            Evans was led away from the islands of cells. He could see prisoners peering at him through their doors.  He soon ascended a ramp near the arena and to his horror was shoved in through the barred door of one of the cages. Now he knew they weren’t for holding animals. It was dark but he could see a bit in front of him.  It was the arena floor; he could almost feel the sand. Panic turned to cold sweat.

 

            He could hear a faint buzz, crowd-like, coming from the balconies above. But he couldn’t see, they had some sort of blinders in the front of the cage. He stood perfectly still for a few moments.

 

            "Evans," an amplified female voice burst through the arena. Evans turned his head around, searching for escape. And Evans was thrust with a rush of air from his cell and onto the sandy floor. He stumbled and fell, then tasted the dirt. He got quickly to his feet. All around him the arena stands were filled with people. The Martian globe above spun wildly. A spotlight was on Evans.

 

            "Bradley," the voice called, and across the way, another cage door opened into the arena and another man was thrust onto the sand.

 

            Obviously, this is Bradley, Evans thought. Are we to fight?

 

            "Cromy," said the woman, and to Evan's right, another man was cast into the arena floor.

 

            "Men, fight!"

 

            Evans looked up and saw it was Paladin Wright leaning over a balcony balustrade who had made the last order.

 

            The three men just stood there in the dim light.

 

   Evans felt a terrible shock run up his spine and into his brain.  He grunted in pain and clawed at the pain pulsing in his head.

        

            "Fight, or die!" said Paladin Wright.

 

            Evans got moving and noticed there was no shock. Colored spotlights blinked and hummed, blurring his vision.

 

            He ran in a wild semi-circle and then to the first man he saw, and kicked him in the groin. "Uhf."

 

            Someone jumped onto Evans’s back and pulled on his neck. Evans began to choke and threw an elbow into the attacker’s ribs.

 

            Evans looked up, but knew it was too late. He saw a metal pipe coming hard at his face.

 

            He collapsed into darkness; barely registering it was swung by Bradley.

 

 

Visit    

 

           

Evans awoke, starring straight up at the model of Mars. He will still in the arena. Bright lights shined in his eyes. Reflexively, he rolled to do more battle.  But no one else was there. Even the stands were empty; the model of Mars had stopped revolving. He heard a cage door open and he turned in the direction to see Paladin Wright striding toward him.

 

            "You were horrible," said the Paladin. "You hardly put up a fight -- "

 

            "It wasn't fair," said Evans. "I don't want to do this...." He pleaded with his eyes. Tears began to form much to his embarrassment. "I'm hurt." Evans wiped at the tears. "I don't want to do this." He wiped blood from his cheekbone and felt a swollen eye. His head and ribs also ached. They must have kicked me while I was down.

 

            "All men fight," said the Paladin.

 

            "No, not like this." Evans was dizzy, and fell back into the sand. I’m a man of learning.

 

            "You'll learn."

 

            “I don’t want to fight.” Evans felt his consciousness leaving.    

 

            The weight of the Paladin’s boot on his shoulder. And then he kicked sand in Evans’s face. “What kind of man are you?”

 

 

Talking

 

 

Evans was vaguely aware of being carried on a gurney between two hulking guards. Blinking lights in the passageways distorted his vision and he turned and wretched off the side.

  

When he arrived back in his cell, Evans lay on his bed, flat on his stomach like they had left him, and in pain. He could hear the voices of his cellmates as they talked in the dark, and caught snippets of their conversation as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

 

Dirk’s chatter: “What happened to him? He looks messed up. Man, this is crazy.”

 

Julio, angry: “He fought a match man, ain’t it obvious.”

 

“Maybe we should stay quiet so he can sleep,” said Jakson. “We’re probably gonna have matches too.”

 

“Sh -- , you don’t want me fightin. I’ll mess eeveryone up.”

 

Julio’s voice: “What were you on Earth?”

 

            “What?”

 

            “Like I was a carpenter,” Julio explained. “What were you?”

 

            “Oh, network security,” said Jakson. “Nansen Corp.”

 

“The man’s gone crazy,” said Julio, from his bed.

 

   Dirk: “When we getting out of here?”

 

            “Oh, before that I sold garden supplies,” said Julio. “You, macho man?”

 

            “I don’t remember,” grumbled Dirk. “Trying to sleep.”  

                         

            “Prison,” said Dirk, slowly. Rustling of bed sheets.  “Just got released, walking home. Get knocked out by the side of the road and they come and take me. Now I’m here.”

 

            “Feeww,” whistled Julio. “Man gets out of one prison -- goes someplace worse.”

           

            The voices faded.

  

 

Still Alive

 

 

Eventually Evans came around and the achiness in his body relaxed. He had no idea of how long he had laid in bed, only had the vague impression of his cellmates coming and going.

 

         He figured he had a small fever, as his sheets were damp with sweat. He wondered if he had a concussion and probed his cheekbone which felt fractured. He figured he must have had some fairly sophisticated medical treatments when he was unconscious, for he had a feeling he wasn’t as bad as he should have been.

 

         He heard the cell door whisk open and Julio appeared. “Where are the others?” Evans asked. He groaned as he tried to sit up.

 

         “Some training sh -- “ said Julio, sitting down on his own bed.

 

         “For what?”

 

         Julio lay back and relaxed. “I think they want us to stay. Once we have the training. I think they want us to become guards here.”

 

         “We can become guards?”

 

         “Yeah, Paladin guards. They say they got plenty of perks to do so.”

 

         “Like what?”

 

         “I don’t know. I need sleep macho.” And Julio rolled on his side, turning his back to Evans.

 

         “Did you fight yet?”

 

         “Nah, Jakson does though. Says on the schedule.”

 

 

No

 

 

Evans felt a light pressing on his sore back and body. And then it became heavy, crushing the winds from his lungs. He felt the heavy jostling at his buttocks and he cried out: "Off!"

 

            He was soon awake and thrust an elbow at his attacker. He heard a sickening crunch when his elbow connected with cartilage and the pressure fell back off him. In the dark he couldn't tell who it was that fell off his bed and back onto the floor.

 

            But then, in the faint hall light entering into the cell, he saw Dirk scramble back across into his own bed.

 

            "You bastard," croaked Evans.

 

 

Complain

 

 

"He tried to rape me," complained Evans, the next morning, during an early free hour.

 

            Evans looked back to the cell’s bathroom door, where Dirk was using the commode.

 

"So?" said the Paladin guard, looking into the cell.

 

            "Well, you have to remove him from my cell. Can't you change cellmates?"  He rubbed his sore head.

 

            "Where do you think you are?" said the Paladin. "The freakin' Grand Mars Hotel. Get the hell out of here."

 

           “Just kick his a -- ,” said Jakson, stirring in his bed. He had emerged unscathed from his match the night before and was completely alert.

 

           “Maybe I’ll ask Julio to help,” said Evans, wondering where Julio was. He hadn’t been returned to the cell yet.

        

           “Just do it yourself,” said Jakson as the commode door spun open and Dirk reappeared.   

 

            Before he went to bed that night, Evans gave Dirk his most evil glare. He knew if it happened again, he would have to finish this, or Dirk might try to ride him like a mule any night.

 

 

Again

 

 

Evans felt a light kissing on his cheek. He dreamt he was back home in Indiana, with a girl he liked from high school. Her hair was so soft and bright in the sun…

 

            Then he remembered and swatted at the face. "Ah! just hold still," whispered Dirk into his ear.

 

            Evans felt the breath being crushed from him and he jabbed his fingertips up into what he thought were Dirk's eyes. He felt the tips crawl up into the sockets.

 

            A horrible screaming like Evans had never heard and Dirk's weight fell off him to the floor.

 

            Evans jumped from his bed and ran to the cell door.

           

A guard came running in.

           

The cell lights came on and Evans looked back to Dirk lying on the floor rubbing his eyes.

           

Evans rubbed away the slime from his cheek.     

 

 

Replacement

 

 

"Hi, I'm Stein," said the short man, offering his hand. He shook hands around the cell and walked to Dirk's former bed.

           

"What happened to this guy?" said Stein, taking off his shoes and climbing into bed.

           

"You don't want to know," said Evans.

           

"Evans lays down the law," said Julio. "Stein" -- he nodded toward Evans--"take it from me, you don' wantoo mess with this one. Sheesh."

           

 

Weapons

 

 

An alarm awoke him, and Evans looked at the schedule. It was beeping loudly. Evans got up and walked to it. He turned to the others, who were now stirring in their beds.

           

"Weapons training," said Evans, reading the schedule. "Six o'clock."

           

"Aye Caramba," breathed Julio.

           

"Hell," piped up Jakson.

 

“Sh -- “ groaned Stein, rolling in his bed. Steein had had a match last night and his left leg was barely functional.

 

* * *

 

Evans embraced the laser rifle with his shoulder. It was light and fake -- the mask he wore provided the reality, and he aimed through the sights, and squeezed the trigger gently with his index finger, just like the instructors had spent hours showing him and the other prisoners.

 

An evil looking bird flew in from his right, and he nailed the target easily watching the blood patch get gory; and then he moved the sights on to another as it flew into the mask. He notched the next one easily, and so on.

 

He felt a pat on his shoulder. “Nice shooting, 772.”

 

 

Julio’s Luck

 

 

Julio was pushed back into his cell.

           

"You look like hell," observed Evans.

           

"But, I feel good," said Julio, voice purring. "Real good." The door whisked shut behind him, and satisfied the guards walked off.

           

Evans noticed, besides two black eyes, Julio was now missing several teeth in that mischievous grin.

           

Julio put his hand over his heart. "I saw women."

           

Everyone jumped from their beds and rushed forward.

           

"Where?" yelped Stein.

           

"Women," breathed Jakson.

           

"Everyone, just calm down," said Julio. "Let Julio tell you a story."

           

Evans sat back down on his bed. "Come on Julio we're waiting."

           

Julio took his hand off his heart. He made jerky motions with his hands, accentuating his speech. "Okay. I had my match last night.  I leave my cage and Julio kicked ass. Like an animal. I beat four men to a pulp." He made kicking motions.

           

"I was the last man standing. And afterwards, the man himself came onto the floor to see me."

           

"The Paladin Wright?" asked Evans.

           

"Yes," said Julio. "And he tells me, since I done so good he's gonna surprise me tomorrow.

           

"And I just thinks the slick bastard is lying. But then today, the guards take me from my cell early before you even awake -- "

           

"Get to the women," called Stein.

           

"Don't interrupt," said Jakson.

           

"And there they were," continued Julio. "In all their glory. Nurse in tight white dresses everywhere."

           

The whole cell was getting excited.

           

"And then they ask me to pick a lady. This floating head of a hot baby, she talking and she wants me to pick out which lady I like on a monitor full of ladies. And I pick out one that looks exactly like my petunia from home in Los Angeles. The same one I was about to hop in bed with when they damn Paladins stole me here." His eyes glazed. "They tell me if I continue to fight, I get to see her in a month."

           

"Total lie," said Jakson. He rolled over in his bed and covered his head in his sheets. "You ain't getting no real lady."

           

"It might have been some type of psych -- pyshc -- " Evans couldn't remember the word.

           

"Psychological," said Stein.

           

" -- Yeah, psychological test," said Evaans.

           

"Or maybe torture," said Stein. "Seeing all them nurses and no touchy, touchy musta been torture."

           

"It was all a sham." Jakson's voice was muffled.  

           

"Hey compadres. I still got to see live women. Not some computer sh -- "

           

"I'm jealous," said Evans, thinking the only women he saw lately were in quick glimpses so far away in the vague arena crowds. And then he had a thought which he spoke aloud: “Hey maybe that’s how they get us to want to stay here as Paladin Guards.”

 

“I’m not staying here,” said Jakson. “I don’t care what type of women that give me. I’m not for sale.”

 

“You didn’t see them like I did,” intoned Julio. "I wanted to pinch all their bottoms." Julio walked over and lay down on his bed. "All of them." He made pinching motions in the air. “I would stay…maybe.”

           

They all looked at Jakson. He felt the stares and peeped out.

           

"Oh, no," said Jakson. "I ain’t risking my neck to break into the palace networks. But I can't get ya -- you no live nurses."

           

"Oh, come on man," said Stein, limping over and pulling at his sheets. "I'm starving for women. I didn't know there was any here. And what if it takes forever for me to get my turn to pick a lady? Maybe I’m not Paladin material."

           

"Yeah," said Evans. "What if it’s not fair? what if we’re here alone forever?"

 

“God,” said Stein. “The only women I see, I hear. The arena announcer.” 

 

Julio caught on to Stein’s drift. “Yah hah, I bet she’s a tamale.”

 

“You guys are nuts,” said Jakson. “Sure ask me to do everything dangerous.”

           

"Please," begged Stein. "We're starving. Can't you at least rig this thing" -- he pointed at the wall schedule -- "to show us the nurses. Maybe they got security cameras there...."

           

Jakson looked passionate. "If I could, I would. For you guys." Jakson looked around the room.  "You're all good guys."

           

"Hey," said Julio, from his bed. "Don't get all funny on us there Jaky. Didn't you see what Evans did to the last man in this room when he got funny? Nearly poked his eyes out."

           

"That's enough," said Evans.

 

Access

 

 

"Evans, you don't look so well," said Julio, eyes wide in amazement, as Evans was pushed into the cell by the guards.

 

"I just got the shi-- beat out of me by five men. Two got the bamboo sticks and beat the rest over the head. I was one of them on the ground.”

 

            Evans went straight for his bed. "I'm gonna die," he said, rubbing his head. "What are you guys so happy about?" He noticed his cellmates were grinning. "You like seeing you roommate beat up?" Evans pulled up his sheet.

           

"But look at what my man, Jakson has done," said Julio, leaning over Evans. "Wake up," he urged, pulling Evans by the hand. Evans slapped it away.

           

"My man Jakson, he don' say much, but he's a genius." Julio nodded.

           

Evans looked to Jakson, whom he'd hardly noticed upon entering the cell. Jakson stood by their schedule monitor.  His tiny hands were tapping it gently.

           

"I don't know how he did it," Julio whispered over Evans's shoulder, "but he did. He got access."

           

Evans walked to Jakson's side. "It's the palace network," Jakson simply said. "I broke in and can access whatever whoever is using it in cell 432 is viewing. Wherever that is." For the first time, looking close, Evans noticed their usual daily schedule wasn't there, but pictures of naked women.

           

"Holy smokes," said Evans, smiling.

           

"Some in room 432 is a horny toad," said Julio.

 

“I think it’s one of the guards’ rooms,” said Jakson.

           

Stein stood on tiptoes. "Nice," he said. "But, I can't see around your shoulders. Step aside fellas --"

           

"I can project it across the room," said Jakson. He tapped a few buttons that weren't there before and the images formed on the opposite side of the cell. They were enlarged and very graphic.

           

"I've needed to see this," said Stein rubbing his hands.

           

The boys all oohed and aahhed as the various images were sifted on their walls.

           

"It's moving!" said Julio. "The bastard's dirty like me." Soon, the images became a pornographic movie.

           

The boys all slapped high fives and felt their eyes bulge.

           

"How can they keep this away from us?" shouted Stein. "Like animals. We need this."

           

"Freedom," intoned Jakson.

           

"Love," said Julio, grinning. "Men need love."

           

"We are men -- " agreed Stein.

           

"And you are in trouble," interrupted a stern voice.

           

"Ut-oh," said Julio, as the cell door slid open and an armed guard walked in.

           

Jakson shut down the schedule and the images faded.

 

 

Caught by a Lion

           

Paladin Wright stood with his hands on his hips. "Men, we are here to be disciplined -- "

           

"For what?" asked Julio. “No women, no -- “

           

"Silence!" said the Paladin.

           

Stern silence.

           

"Men, what you did tonight is the antithesis of discipline I am trying to instill. You may think it is your freedom as men to view such trash. I myself, have a different view. You will be punished. Go back to your cells." 

 

 

Torture

 

 

"When will this stop?" For what seemed like days, Evans, Stein, Julio, and Jackson were stuck in the torture cell. Again and again pornographic movies and images covered all the rounded walls. And even the floor and ceiling. The sound was played so loudly it tore at the inside of Evans's ears.

 

When he was too exhausted, Evans actually tried to sleep, but all around him the moans of passions and shrieks of orgasm kept him awake. The movies played above his face when he opened his eyes and sometimes through his eyelids when he tried to close them.

 

         Evans tried burying one ear into the mattress and stuffing the other with the end of his sheet, but it only made his sleeping position more uncomfortable. The movies were so loud.

           

         "No, turn em off." Evans thought he heard Stein howl above the ruckus. He could see Stein tossing and turning in his bed. The movies casting all over his skin.

           

         Off to his left, it didn't like the Jackson was doing much better. He actually was curled up in a ball and plugging his ears -- looked like painfully -- with two fingers. A grimace so powerful, it looked like a cheesy smile.

         

         Julio was writhing in the middle of the floor, tearing at his hair. A trail of puke ran from his mouth. 

 

Evans broke and ran for the cell door. "Let me out!" he screeched into the corridors. "Please!"

 

          When he awoke, Evans found himself curled up against the cell door. It was dark in the cell and the movies were gone. No one in the corridor stirred. It must be late or early in the morning. Stein, Jackson and Julio were sleeping peacefully, and Evans was so relieved and exhausted, he fell back asleep on the floor.

 

 

Rage

 

 

That night Evans fought like there was no tomorrow. It now fully hit him, there might not a tomorrow. He was tired, angry and frustrated. Every punch connected, with the extra energy of a demon. He was surrounded by twelve men and he landed one uppercut so vicious, the lights went out of his eyes.

           

He kicked and clawed and spun, out of his mind until he realized he was the last man standing.  A bald man struggled to get up, but Evans fixed that with a swift kick to the neck.

           

The crowd cheered and he raised his fist in triumph. He held the bleeding wound in his side and headed back to his arena cage to be released out the other side.

           

The guards let him pass through the barred door and he entered the hall, going toward the mandatory showers.

           

"Excellent," said Paladin Wright, approaching from a tunnel. "Such rage, such fury. You will be rewarded.”

           

Evans did all he could to fight back the urge to punch him.

 

 

Choose

 

 

"Evans," called the guard. The stern face poked inside the cell.

 

“This is it," said Julio, propped on an elbow in his bed. "You're going to the land of honey."

 

Evans stood and followed the guard wordlessly out into the corridor.

 

"Where are we going?" asked Evans with nervous excitement.

 

"I don't know," said the guard.

 

Evans followed, and looked back at Stein and Jackson watching him through the door.

 

"Face forward," commanded the guard.

 

Evans followed for fifteen minutes or so, down vast winding corridors, up elevators, down declining shafts until they reached an arched panel with the word Experimental written above. It whisked open and underneath, the guard; then Evans passed.

 

All around him, lights hummed and whirled, and busy nurses rushed by.

 

A few fountains baubled in the background.

 

The guard stopped by a desk and pointed Evans to a tall, brunette lady. "Hi, I'm Tammy. I'm your escort." She didn't offer her hand. What I would do for a night with you, Evans thought. Even five minutes.

 

Evans followed the twisting hips of the escort over the plush pink floors and dark silver halls. Tammy stood aside, and motioned for him to enter a small room.

 

Evans brushed by her, treasuring their momentary contact. "Sit," said an echoing woman's voice, shrouded in darkness.

 

Evans sat.

 

"I'm gonna give you a few tests," said the voice, coming forward as the head of a woman, drifting into the light. A monitor was pushed before him.                      

 

“You can call me Vicky,” said the head. "…What do you like in women?"

 

"I don't know -- I don't know what you mean," said Evans.

 

"Okay," said Vicky. "Let's start with this: what color hair do you prefer? in a female"

 

Evans paused. "Black or brunette."

 

"Good," said Vicky, eyes turning away and Evans noticed on his own monitor the faint outline of dark hair appear.

 

"How long?"

                             

Evans pointed a few inches below his shoulders and noticed the hair grew a little longer.

 

"I'm gonna show you a series of face shapes." Another monitor floated in his direction. "Tell me which appeals to you."

 

Evans chose the one with the most oval shape. "This one," he said, pointing. And then the oval shape formed underneath the hair of the first monitor   -- the beginnings of a face.

 

"Tell me which eyes you like, color and shape." Evans chose the green eyes and then a catlike shape.

 

And the tests continued so on, until the full face and then figure of a woman covered the monitor.

 

                                    “Which one do you like best? choose."  She urged.

 

Evans looked at the monitor and it filled with a dozen or so rows of thumbnail images of various women.

 

                        “You have twenty seconds."

 

Evans noticed a ticker counting down: 18, 17, 16, 15.... He scanned the faces as quickly as possible but couldn't cover all rows. The ticker was down to 5 and so he chose a friendly, but beautiful honey face from the third to bottom row.

 

"Good," said Vicky.

 

"Do you like her?" Vicky nodded and vapors in the room formed the full face and figure of the likeness of a woman. The woman he supposed, he had chosen on the monitors.

 

"You can stand up and look." Smiled Vicky.

 

Evans walked around the illusion and felt the faint stirrings of long welled up passions. "I do, so," he said, walking a circle around his choice. He touched the vibrant colors, but his hand only passed through.

 

The floating head looked him seriously in the eyes. "We will find her."

 

 

Tina

 

 

"Hi, I'm Tina," said the woman. It was the exact replica of the vapor girl he had designed.

 

            “I’m seven seven two,” said Evans, showing her the glowing numbers on his arm. But the joke was old.

 

            She smiled, hesitantly.

 

Evans took her delicately extended hand. It was real, he could touch her. Soft, unlike the men he had been fighting, working with, living among.  She was dressed in a blue dress that sparkled various colors of coral lights.

 

"You're the girl from the vaporgram. How did you get here?"

 

"I don't know," she said. She suddenly looked sad, but only in her eyes as if she was hiding it.

 

Evans looked with the corner of his eyes to the ceiling. Of course, they were watching.

 

Evans asked: "You're from earth?" -- Tina nodded, yes -- "And you don't know how you got here?" -- Tina nodded, no -- “and...."  Evans's voice faltered.

 

"Come with me," said Tina, pulling at his hand. "I'm allowed to take you to our room."

 

"Our room?"

 

"Yes." And she smiled so sweetly, with her eyes, her mouth, she instantly became irresistible.

 

They padded down the halls and up a flight of stairs. They were going higher in the Palace than Evans had ever been. Up here where waterfalls, fish ponds, and gardens dazzled. And balconies, with people in fancy dress, dined. And -- soon they were there, at their room.

 

Tina opened the door and led Evans inside the small chamber. There were throw pillows everywhere, and silk curtains, silk king-size bed. Aroma of cinnamon. One wall was formed by a fish tank and the other by a monitor showing jungle scenery.

 

On the far wall, a digital clock was counting down from 10000.

 

She caught his gaze. Desperation in her voice: “We only have so much time.”

 

         Monkeys shrieked in the background and Evans pulled Tina close. “Are there cameras here?” he whispered.

 

         “Yes.” She nodded.

 

         “Then we won’t give them a show. Not yet.” He looked at the walls. “This is enough.”

 

         And he just held her. 

       

 

                      

For Her

 

 

"Do you like her?" asked Paladin Wright. He sat atop the desk in his office, his folded leg kicking nervously.

 

            "Of course," said Evans. "I designed her -- it's like she came out of my dreams."

 

            “Why didn’t you make lover to her? In the mating chambers.”

 

   “It wasn’t the right time.”

 

   Paladin Wright scoffed. "So would you fight for her?"

 

            "I don't know," said Evans. "I think so."

 

            "Good, then tonight, if you lose your match, she will be taken away. Go to her now," he urged. “Remember her before she is taken away.”

 

            Evans looked at Paladin Wright, flabbergasted, and hated him to his back as he left the room.       

 

 

 

Last Meeting

 

                         

Once back in the mating chamber with Tina, Evans made her sit down on the bed.

            

            “This may be the last time I see you.”

 

“What do you mean?” she said. “I’d kind of given up hope of escaping. But it doesn’t matter what you see…”     

 

He didn’t know what she meant. He grabbed her by the shoulders; he wanted her to feel what he was saying. “My life here feels likes torture…but now you’re the one thing that makes me want to keep going.”

 

Tears welled in her eyes and her hands covered his.

 

He continued, “…no longer curiosity about life…nothing…and now you’re going…”

 

She embraced him. “Our time’s almost up.” She looked at the digits on the wall, counting down.

             

           The door soon slid open and four guards rushed in.         

           

Evans struggled against the burley arms. “Don’t give up on me,” he called to Tina. Evans swallowed hard. He pushed at one of the guards, who had grabbed his throat. He choaked. “Or I die.”

 

She took a wicked open-handed smack to the face.

           

 

 

Main Event

 

 

An escort of guards led Evans away from Tina and the Mating Chambers.  Evans caught glimpses of the gathering crowd through the windowed arches leading into the arena. He could hear the rumble of their voices.

 

            "Hey," said Julio when Evans was inside the cell.

 

            Evans said nothing as the door slid closed.

 

            "Not so good, eh?" asked Julio. "Bad news?"

 

            "Bad news," echoed Evans. "I have a match tonight." He thought but didn’t say, And my life may be taken away.

 

            "Aye," said Julio, sympathizing.

 

            "Who with?" said Jackson, face laced with bruises from a match the night before.

 

            "Don't know. Does anybody ever tell me anything around here? I need help." Evans turned away in disgust.

                    

            “Look, you jab em like this,” said Julio, shadowboxing. His quick dancing feet caught Evans’s attention.

 

   “Come on man. I’ll show you how to take care of business.”  Julio took Evans aside and showed him some moves.

           

   “Yes, like that. Jab, jab. Punch!”

 

* * *

           

 

When the clock reached 9:00, two guards came to lead Evans to the arena.

 

            "Here," said the guard, handing Evans a knife. "A surprise." The guard winked.

 

            Evans was pushed roughly into one of the dark cages.  He held the bars and waited. Soon, he heard a rustling behind him. He looked back and saw Tina approaching. 

 

   She looked around and when saw no one watching, ran up to the cage.  "Good luck tonight." She was wearing a glowing mask; it twinkled like the stars and flowed like blue magma. And she took it off, uncovering vicious red marks and cuts all over her face. The guards had done that to her? But still she looked more beautiful -- the way she was struggling.  He reached out to caress her face. She leaned forward and he kissed her clumsily through the bars. She smiled back at him as she was pulled away by the guards. 

 

            He stood and waited in the darkness. He felt the pain of Tina being hurt and could barely stand it. Outside, he could hear the rustling of the crowd and see vague glimpses of the arena floor. He hopped lightly, to get the blood in his legs going. And dodged and danced a little, like Julio had shown him.

 

            “Evans,” the female announcer called and Evans was thrust out of cage. His palms dug into the sand and he jumped forward.

 

            The crowd roared like a lion.

 

            Across from him, another cage opened and a large black man was flung unannounced and topless into the arena. It was Dirk, Evans was sure of it. Could see the face rising from the sand.  

 

            "To the death," rang the voice of Paladin Wright through the arena.

 

            Evans clenched the knife and ran full speed into the spotlights, colliding with Dirk in the center of the ring. The impact jarred the knife free. Bare handed, they grappled for awhile until neither men gained a hold in all the sweat. Dirk was breathing heavy but was too big for him; so Evans backed off, looking for the knife in the darkness away from the spotlights.

 

            The asynchronous thud of metal behind him. And Evans lunged back to grab a metal pipe. Dirk was on top of him. Evans lost his breath and Dirk slammed Evans’s head deep into the sandy floor. Evans lost his grip on the pipe.

 

            Evans rolled to his side and noticed a metal chain clank to his right. He lunged for it, just as Dirk took a wild swing at him with the pipe.

 

            Evans ducked and scooped up the chain with his left hand. He swung it in a half circle above his head and launched it at Dirk.

 

            It flew threw the air and crunched Dirk in the face. Dirk went down, face covered in blood. Evans took the chance and grabbed the fallen pipe. Then, with the crowd cheering, Evans struck the prone Dirk with the metal pipe, over and over again until Dirk no longer stirred.

 

 

Won

 

 

"You did well, you had to do it," said Tina. "You wouldn't be here with me if you hadn't. You told me so." She caressed his face. She whispered, "I heard rumors Dirk is still alive. That should make you feel better."

  

"No, it doesn't," said Evans, pulling away from her. He slipped off the silk bed. He looked at the wall, the fountain water was frothing. "I don't want to have to fight -- to hurt another man just to retain you."

 

            "It's worth it," she said, standing behind him and holding his shoulders. He could feel the softness of her silk gown, and the silkiness of her sleek dark skin all at once. "For me it is."

           

Evans sulked in the corner; she walked up behind them. He felt the tickling of her lips at his ear. He looked into a picture window and it merged to show an image of Mars. He looked out across the iron colored landscape as it glided forward, and he flew across the surface. Her lips spoke gently: "Tonight we're being invaded." She looked up at the walls.

Move apart, said the walls. The cameras were suspicious.

"Meet me, go left and -- "

Your time is up, said the walls and guards rushed in.

                       

Martian Night

 

 

Evans awoke from a shattering explosion. He threw the sheet off, and jumped from bed. Alarms rang through the corridors.

           

Julio and Jackson were already on their feet. "What's happening?" Shaking heads.

           

"Wake up Stein," said Evans, shaking Stein's shoulder.

           

"What's going on?" he said, throwing aside the sheets. More explosions and gunfire.

           

"I think we're being invaded," said Evans. "Tina told me something earlier -- "

           

The cell door slid open. "Free!" shouted Julio running out.

           

All the men from nearby cells were running wildly into the corridors. And then Evans saw it: the most hellish moment he'd ever seen: A huge furry creature brandishing a chain-saw and laser gun.  The beast charged into one of the prisoners, cutting him with the roaring saw into pieces.

 

More beasts charged in from the various tunnels.

           

Paladin Wright's voice burst in through speakers, echoing: "Fight men! Fight!"

           

Some ran, some screamed, some died; and some men fought the on charging beasts.

           

Evans tripped one of the beasts from behind and when it fell it dropped its chainsaw. Jakson picked it up and tossed it to Evans.

           

Evans cranked it up, using the trigger and cut down another one of the beasts. The fur flew everywhere and do did the blood.  Evans slipped and fell. The chainsaw, slipped away.

 

A beast stood above him, ready to saw. But he felt no pain and he had to reach out to catch the collapsing creature. He shoved it to the side, where it died with a whole in its chest and Evans got to his knees. And there stood Julio was a laser gun, grinning.

           

         A prisoner collided with Evans in the panic and Evans wheeled and ran, following Julio down one of the passageways. Then he remembered what Tina said --  go left  -- and he chaanged directions, orienting himself with his cell and realizing which direction to go.

           

He hopped over one prone prisoner getting his arm torn off by one of the beasts. The screams were horrible and Evans ran faster.

           

He crossed into a guard zone and noticed they had their hands full fighting the beasts. Evans snuck by a checkpoint and headed for a window.

           

"Evans," called Tina, suddenly tugging at his arm and they ran together into a side-room. She closed the sliding door behind them.

           

They were in what looked like a conference room. Here they could hide. They walked around a large table, and knelt and waited. In the corner, they heard a gasping.

           

"Someone's over there," whispered Tina, nodding into the darkness. "Human, by the sounds."

           

Evans led the way and they crept up to a dying man.

           

"Help me," gasped the face. When Evans got close enough, he saw it belonged to Paladin Wright.

           

"Ah, Evans," croaked the Paladin. "Finally found a space to hide from those hideous monsters, eh?"

 

A huge thunderous quaking in the background rocked the walls.

           

"They'll be in here soon enough," said Evans. Tina clutched harder at his hand.

           

"Maybe we should go," she urged, scanning the door.

           

"What are they?" Evans asked Paladin Wright.

           

"Eh, they're Goolovs. Made by my enemy on Mars, Ian Villander. He grew thousands of them, half-man, half-bear.

           

"But I made my own army -- of individual men -- selected from Earth for their spirit. My agent on earth, the honorable Paladin Refrees made a wise choice in selecting you. Men with their own life experiences will always get animals…

 

“Do you remember when they abducted you?”

 

“No,” said Evans.

 

“No, of course not,” said the Paladin. “We erased the scene. But, Paladin Refrees informed me it took five men to finally get you down.”

 

 Paladin Wright eyed Evans with honor. "I'm glad you're part of my army. But, damn I’m afraid they cut off the head from the snake" -- he looked to the ceiling -- "that old bastard Villander surprised me with this invasion. We're not ready. My men are not fully trained -- I needed to distribute weapons -- "

           

"Hold on," said Evans. He knelt close to Paladin Wright's face. Blood smeared his eyes and was running down his nose. "Why did you take me?  Of all the people, why torture me?"

           

"Torture?" said the Paladin. "I was trying to help you. I could see you could never make up your mind. Your life was going nowhere. Let's say I gave you shock therapy."

           

"Well, I didn't want it!" Evans's veins seethed with angry blood. He could feel the veins pulsing at his temples. "Who made you decide my life? who lives and dies -- "

           

Paladin Wright, gasping in pain: "When your loins lusted for a female receptacle -- to mate, I gave you the perfect woman. OOne of your own choosing. Better than you could do on your own. And all you have to do in return is fight for me. Be my army!" A vague hint of inspiration in Paladin Wright's voice, like he thought he might win Evans over. "Don't you like her?"

           

"I do," said Evans, looking at Tina.

           

"And I taught you to fight," said Paladin Wright. "I taught you to fight for her. Without me getting you here, back on Earth you would have let another man take her. Without a fight."          

           

"I already know how. You didn't have to force me -- "

           

"Don't you like him?" Paladin Wright asked Tina. He winked at her.

           

"I do," said Tina. “This is ridiculous.”

           

"There, like man and wife," said the Paladin. "What's the problem?" He coughed up blood.

           

"Well, you forced me to choose," said Evans. "What kind of god is that?"

           

"We all have to make choices." And then Paladin Wright took his last breath, and his eyes froze.

           

"Let's go," said Evans.

 

           

Run

 

 

Hand and hand they ran together, through the mash of dead bodies and up the stairs to the light.

         

            Flashes of laser beams made them duck and stop.  

        

"Help me," called a soft voice, on the landing. 

           

"Dirk," said Evans, seeing the black man with a huge gash in his leg.

           

"I can't go on," cried Dirk, through the tears.

           

"Sure you can," said Evans. "Lean on me." He helped get Dirk to his feet and the big man leant over his shoulder, getting tears and snot, blood and sweat, on Evans's arm.

           

The trio hobbled together up another flight of stairs.  "I know this way," said Tina, and she led them up a ramp. "When they first brought me here, I remember this hallway.

           

“Hurry.” They ducked into one of the mating cells as a group of Goolovs shankled by.

 

Tina whisked shut the door.

           

"I'm glad you're still alive," whispered Evans to Dirk.

           

"You're my god," whimpered Dirk back.

 

Evans noticed a news monitor on the wall.  A female voice spoke: Lon, we’re reporting of explosions near the palace of Elgen Wright --

         

           Do we know what caused it?

 

           Probable cause. We detected twenty ships not of his belonging in the area. This is a battle with…

 

           “Some battle,” said Tina, looking away.

 

           And then they were off again. They passed by various balconies offering views of the arena floors far below.

           

"Wait!" demanded a voice.

           

And the companions looked back to see Stein hobbling. He nose was askew and clearly broken; part of his hair on one side of his head was gone. It looked like a horrible burn.

           

"I know a way out," said Stein. He led the way and the rest followed. They scampered down various corridors until Stein told them to wait. He pressed some buttons on the wall and two doors slid open. "Let's go," he said.

           

They came upon a small shuttle with bird like mechanical feet. Stein scampered around front and soon a plank lowered. "Get on," said Stein. And they followed him up into the belly of the shuttle.

           

Evans rested Dirk onto a shuttle seat. And then he helped Tina into hers.

           

Stein was fooling around with the controls near the front windshield.

           

"You need any help with this beast?" called Evans.

           

"Nope, I'm a pilot," said Stein. He smiled back at Evans. "How do you think I got here? I was born and bred on Mars. Sometimes I ate lunar dust for breakfast."

           

Stein fiddled with some more controls. "Hold on," he said.

           

Evans strapped himself into his seat beside Tina. "What were you doing on Earth before they took you?"

           

"A music video," she said, dreamily. "Dancing for a band called Holy Mars."

           

Evans must have looked startled, for she laughed a little. And he smiled for the first time in -- months?

           

A powerful build up of the engine became a deep hum, and then the small shuttle took off. They glided along a runnel until they reached sliding doors that opened before them and into the starry Martian air.

           

Evans turned in his seat and looked through a shuttle window back at the palace.

           

Evans noticed a gaping hole in the walls caused by an explosion.  It afforded one last look down into the arena floors.

 

She patted his hand. And together they flew away into the Martian night.