Rebound Read Free

through the motions.”
    They were coming after him.
    He also knew that it was only a matter of time before Stella was caught. She had a tracking device inbuilt in her brain. It was installed just for situations like this. All clones had them and none had ever escaped. Had she managed to evade them? The thought gave him a pleasant feeling.
    There was a whirring sound as a hovercraft came close to the building’s landing space. “Won’t be surprised if that’s Blumont coming for a drink.”
    Ryan turned to Beckett, “Don’t you dare order a regenerated organ. It ain’t worth it.”
    “There you go again. Why can’t you say dick?” he laughed.
    “I care for you Beckett. You’re like a brother. I just don’t want anything happening.”
    Someone was approaching. “Can you turn away and act disinterested like you had one too many?” Beckett said quickly with a pleasant smile relishing the chance to order Ryan around.
    “Hi tough guy,” It was Blumont from Babylon Transport. “You’ve been looking at those ads for energy packed dicks?”
    “The clones are pretty.”
    “They all look like angels with all the high tech they have in those labs,” Blumont said as he chewed gum noisily.
    “I’d do anything to be stranded somewhere with one of them.”
    “Don’t even dream about it.”
    “Cheer up Blumont. Can’t you take a joke?” Beckett said good naturedly.
    “Do your job. You’re too horny for your own good. Get me something strong to drink.”
    He mixed Blumont’s favorite drink and couldn’t help saying, “Heard one of the clones ran off.”
    This comment irritated Blumont, “You’re making that drink too strong again!” (Beckett gingerly put in a few ice cubes.) He mellowed down after taking the second sip.“Some of them probably want some adventure before they get caught,” he cackled.
    “Now you’re beginning to sound horny,” Beckett laughed.
    “It’s the things you put in my drink.” He was enjoying himself. His receiver clacked abruptly and he looked up.
    “Better get going.”
    “Thanks for sharing,” Beckett said unnecessarily,
    “I don’t mind. Besides BC owns this joint and all the buildings in these parts. Probably owns you too.” He stood up and finished his drink. “But you probably know that already.”
    Beckett made sure the hovercraft had left before casually going to Ryan and whispering, “What did he mean by BC owning me?”
    “Probably a joke that you are a kind of sleeper clone. Your guess is as good as mine,” Ryan laughed.
    “How did you know the escapee was a woman? I don’t recall mentioning it?”
    “You’re forever talking about cloned body parts and cloned girls and something must have led to another and I assumed it was a woman.”
    “I’ll level with you. It doesn’t sound convincing if the Babylon people cotton up to you. You be careful.”

Chapter 6: Flashes
    Mason was released after a week and he knew he was under constant surveillance. He often saw flashes of color. This happened whenever he thought about the BC slogan, ‘Genes create the future’ or the image of Stella or the stabbing pain of the vehicle’s impact. He wondered whether these flashes were due to the drugs that had been given to him in intensive care. It should have worn off by now. He had been careful not to let anyone know about these extra sensory perceptions.
    He went about his work at BC and waited for Karabos and her goons to come back.
    Nothing happened.
    The flashes of colored lights kept coming.
    He assumed that they would disappear after a week.
    But the flashes continued. It bombarded his mind and intensified with every passing day. Sofia had hinted that there was a concealed communication system that could not be detected by the bug in his head. Perhaps the flashes were a kind of smokescreen.
    He also noticed that he was reacting to the large art reproductions that stood demurely in the gigantic entrance hall made up of vast interlinked rooms at the BC