The Center

By G. G. Gregory

Imagine a time when doctors can attach robotic parts to your body, and they work just like human parts. I see it in the news all the time. The man who had his arms amputated in an accident, received robotic arms and hands that he controls with his brain. The little girl that was born without the ability to hear, gets antennas placed in her brain stem, and with special hearing aids that send a signal to her antennas, she now hears with her brain. It is all happening right now. The Center, is the Center for Birth Services. It is a military hospital with a secret. They design and manufacture products, human products, for use in military and domestic police, hit men and women, surveillance and special operation experts. Men and women are cloned for that purpose, their bodies rebuilt with highly advanced robotics, enslaved by the US government, and forced into service. The hospital and the directors that run it, are as evil as Satan, although, using their products to protect innocent American’s. The cloned, advanced robotic humans are highly intelligent, and know they are slaves, created by something evil to do good things, and sometimes created for the wrong reason. Although, some of the products do not turn out as hoped. Some learn that not everything is as it seems, realizing the changes in the direction of thought from the people that created them. The slaves realize that things are changing, and not for the better. War is coming, and the advanced robotic humans take over.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. G. Gregory
• Release date: Jul 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301884902

G. G. Gregory

I am originally from Michigan, and now live in the great state of Oregon. I spend a lot of time hiking and snowshoeing in the Cascade Mountain Range. I always wanted to be a writer. I was given many clues that I should pursue that dream. When living in Michigan, one day I walked into a Psychics Boutique looking for self help books. The lady that owned the store, walked up to me and asked what I was doing here? I answered looking for a book. She said no, what are you doing here? You do not belong here. You should be on the west coast somewhere doing something artistic, like writing music or books. You do not belong here. As strange as I thought that was, I took it to heart and moved. Being on the west coast is very insperational for me. They say writers write, and I do that every day. Some of my stories come from personal experience with a twist. I watch people in situations, and then I twist them into stories. I have dreams that wake me, and send running to my keyboard, or, jotting the idea on paper. Some people think I am insane, crazy, and they ask, "How do you come up with this stuff?" Maybe I am a little crazy, or totally nuts. My mind is always looking, going over the scenes, running through dialogue. I love hearing , "Oh, I was not expecting that," or "That's scary. What if it is true." My friends are always asking when I am going to be done with my next story or novel, because they know I will let them read it the day after I publish.

Book preview

The Center

By

G. G. Gregory

Published by

G. G. Gregory on Smashwords

a

Smashwords Edition

The Center

Copyright © 2013 by G. G. Gregory

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your retailer, and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table

of

Contents

Part 1 Kera

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Part 2 Alex and Caitlyn

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Part 3 Timothy

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

The Center

Part 1

Kera

Chapter 1

Narrated by Jon

July 2010

Feeling physically and mentally drained, I needed some peace and quiet, and took a sabbatical from my custom home designing company. I left everything in the hands of my business manager, Lisa. She urged me to see a doctor, but I didn’t. With her in charge, I felt confident enough to leave. Contracts at the time were thin, but we were surviving without laying anybody off.

I drove to my cabin in the mountains on the eastern edge of Darrington, Washington. It was small, with a seasoned cedar wood-shingled exterior. The inside was all knotty pine walls and floors throughout. It had one bedroom, a bathroom with a three-foot square mint green tiled shower stall, and matching colored toilet, sink and pine wood vanity. My furniture consisted of one couch and matching armchair colored chocolate brown and a rectangular coffee table made of knotty pine.

The cabin was in a remote area nestled in pines. There wasn’t another cabin or home for miles, I needed this time of quiet, lately I hadn’t been feeling my best. For a thirty-five-year-old, I should not be feeling this way, it had me worried. I was always feeling worn, tired and achy, with pains coming and going low in my belly. I didn’t get a consultation from a doctor, because they scare me. I thought that coming here was going to be my last peaceful moment on earth.

Standing on my wooden front porch, breathing in the fresh pine scents, I saw movement in the brush, forty-feet to my right. I went inside, grabbed my .357 magnum pistol, and went to have a look. I approached slowly, thinking if it were a bear or cougar, I would need the gun if they did not run away from the noise I made.

It was a naked woman, with light-brown skin; she was bald, hairless head to toe. I stuffed the gun into the waistband of my pants, behind my back. She was on her knees looking down and away from me. She didn’t have breasts, although she had four nipples, halfway between where her breasts should have been and her navel. Looking at her feet, they were short with longer than normal toes. The one ear I could see, pointed at the top, and reminded me of depictions, drawings of elves.

I could hear her voice, she was whimpering. When I stepped closer to her, I asked, Are you okay? She winced when I spoke, but did not raise her head. I stepped closer while she briefly looked with quick glances and lifted her hands, outstretched toward me, keeping her head down. I reached out to her and she took my hand in both of hers, she was trembling. I thought that she was shaking so hard, breathing in gasps that she might faint. She was acting so terrified; I felt the need to help her.

Her hands looked odd; fingers were long with no fingernails. I felt like she was begging me not to hurt her, without words. I crouched in front of her and reached a hand out to her chin, gently pulling her face, to face mine. She raised her head slowly with eyes closed, her cheeks wet with tears. Her facial features were exotic with a narrow protruding chin and high cheekbones, but not distasteful in any way. Her lips were almost black, deeply contrasted to her light brown skin. I stroked the back of her hand, her still holding one of mine with both of hers.

She slowly opened her eyes and I gasped, shocked at what I saw. Her eyes were larger than a normal human, almond shaped, orbs jet black. She looked mostly human except for the oddities. Her eyes showed intense fear, but she also had a begging expression. I could not tell if she wanted my help or was thinking I was going to hurt her. I stood, pulling gently at her hands to get her to stand.

When she stood, she looked down and away, it seemed as though she could barely remain standing, trembling as she was. I guessed her height to be about five-foot-eight, two inches shorter than I was, her body thin, but healthy. The cords of her muscles in her legs and rippled belly showed strength. I needed her to know she could trust me, no matter how different we were from each other.

Placing my free hand on her cheek, I held it there until she looked at me again. I could see by her expression that my expression helped her calm, some. She pressed her cheek against my hand closing her black eyes for a second.

I led her from the bushes to the cabin and opened the door leading her in. I let go of her hand, she lay down on the floor, tears streaming from her eyes. She laid flat on her back with her legs spread, bent slightly at the knees. I gasped, crouched and pulled her knees back together. She looked at me surprised. She smelled bad, as if she had not bathed in a long while. She looked different but smelled human.

Taking both of her hands, I pulled her into a sitting position and shook my head, no, as I smiled at her. She turned and positioned herself on her hands and knees looking back at me. I was scratching my head, was this a way for her to protect herself, giving me a gift, her utter submission, or had she been abused and thought this was her only hope? She uttered some words in a language I have never heard. Taking her by her shoulders, I urged her to stand. She stood looking down and away from me, tears falling steadily from her face.

Putting one arm around her shoulders, I walked her to the bedroom, got a pair of light green boxer shorts and a white tee shirt from my dresser. She did not take them when I held them out to her, looking at me with a confused stare. I did not know what to think, could it be possible that she never wore clothing? I helped her dress. She needed a shower, but I did not know how to tell her. She rubbed her hands over the shirt and shorts with curious wonder in her eyes, and looked at me with the same wonder.

Leading her, holding her hand, I took her to my couch and had her sit. I turned, went to the kitchenette, got a glass, and filled it from a jug of filtered water as she watched, curiously.

I handed her the glass, she took it from my hand, smelled it, and then gulped the whole thing down. Not knowing the last time she had anything to eat, I fixed two salads in bowls, of green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, orange slices with an orange vinaigrette.

When I handed her one of the bowls, she smelled it and then I handed her a fork. She looked confused. I took my fork, stabbed it into my salad, and took a bite. She nodded once and did the same, this was the first time I saw her smile. Although, when she opened her mouth to eat, the inside was solid black, even her tongue, white teeth, but she had no canine teeth. She ate fast, as if famished. I offered her another; she ate slower and looked satisfied when she finished.

The sun was already set and she was looking sleepy. I went into the bedroom and got a blanket and pillow for her. Laying the pillow at one end of the couch, I motioned for her to lie down. Her expression changed, tears welled in her eyes. I smiled at her and put my hand on her cheek shaking my head, no. She laid flat on her back, head on the pillow, trembling. Again, I smiled at her and covered her with the blanket. She looked at me perplexed and then relieved, before I walked away.

Needing a shower myself, I left her to relax, went into the bathroom closed the door and started the water. After stepping in, I felt a tingle, as if being watched. Quickly turning, she was watching me from the open door. I was startled at first; she lowered her head and looked away.

Sorry, you startled me. She looked back at me bemused at what I was doing. I guessed that I gained her trust; she no longer seemed to fear me. She slowly walked to the shower stall and reached her hand in to feel the water, her expression showed curiosity. I did wonder, as I stood there naked in front of her. The nakedness seemed so natural to her, no shyness, and no staring at my man parts.

She watched curiously, as I got my washcloth soapy and washed myself. I was a little embarrassed, but it was easy to see she hadn’t experienced these things. Looking at her with a questioning gaze, and holding the washcloth and soap out to her, she nodded once. I set them in the soap tray, rinsed my hands and stepped out, took a towel and wrapped it around my waist.

She looked at me and I could see that her mind was full of questions, and something else, she was shifting her weight from foot to foot. Pointing to the toilet, I nodded at her with a smile. Looking back at me, her eyes were asking help to understand. I lifted the lid and turned her so her back was to the toilet; her eyes studied mine. I pulled her shorts to her ankles and had her sit. She was a fast learner and relieved herself. When she finished she stood and I pushed the lever to flush. She watched the water intently as it swirled and disappeared. Every moment with her made me more curious, was she an alien? Her emotions and some of her mannerisms, even her body odors made me think human, but her appearance was another question. I was glad she wanted the shower.

I helped her to step out of the shorts and pulled the tee shirt up and off her, and then gestured with my hand for her to step into the shower. She raised her hands to the falling water with an expression of happy astonishment. I sat on the toilet waiting and checking on her from time to time, she seemed to be enjoying the warm water raining over her. I noticed the back of her right shoulder had a tattoo, the number sixteen and a bar code below the number.

Finished, she stepped out, I reached in, and turned off the water, she watched my every move, learning. Handing her a towel she wrapped it around her waist. I smiled, took the towel, and patted her dry, showing her how, her watching my eyes. I smiled at her, Well you certainly smell much better.

I then went to my bedroom and retrieved clean shorts and a tee, her following me, staying close. I helped her to put them on, and then led her to the couch. I put one hand on her shoulder and smiled gesturing to lie down, covered her with the blanket and turned to head for bed. As I turned to walk away, she reached out and grasped my hand. The way she was looking at me felt like a thank you. I placed my hand on her cheek, and again she pressed it into my palm, eyes closed briefly.

Of course, my thoughts were alien, the tattoo made me think someone caught, captured her, and then she escaped. The tattoo suggested she was not the only one, part of a group, and then marked, cataloged. She was not threatening in any way; she projected the need for help, protection, and someone she could trust. I headed to bed.

Two minutes later, after I had dressed in tee shirt and shorts, she was standing in the doorway of my bedroom, looking at me. Her eyes were pleading and I could see she was trembling. I reached out to her, took her hand pulling gently to bring her further in. She was still full of fear, but not a fear of me, I felt it as a fear of being alone.

I walked to the couch and retrieved the pillow I gave to her; she followed, staying close at my heels. I laid it on the bed and threw the blankets back for her, gestured with my hands for her to climb onto the bed. She calmed, nodded once, and climbed onto the bed. She laid flat on her back with a stiff persona, feeling the sheets with her hands, her eyes wide with a light smile. I turned off the light climbed in and pulled the blankets over us.

She took my hand and held it, trembling. Dimly lit in the bedroom, with only a nightlight illuminating, her expression exhibited uncertainty, questioning. I guessed she was wondering if it was okay to hold my hand. With my free hand, I gently rubbed the back of her hand holding mine, entwined my fingers with hers, and closed my eyes. A few moments later, I heard her breathing somberly, asleep.

Over the next few days, I got her into a routine, shower in the morning and night, breakfast in the morning, lunch, and then dinner. She became much more confident and comfortable, and seemed to appreciate my helping and protecting her. I bore the insecurity of not knowing who or what she was. She did not scare me. Maybe I should have been scared, but she was too submissive, happy to help and grateful, to make me think she was a threat.

There were times when her fears took hold of her. Those were the times when she glued herself to my side, would not let me go to the bathroom alone, and pulled me in there when she needed to relieve herself. I had to shower with her in the cramped shower stall. I began to wonder if she could feel things, like if danger were near, and sometimes that made me nervous.

Because of her appearance, I had to leave her behind when I went out for groceries. When I returned, I always found her hiding under the bed, covering her face and bawling. With just a few comforting words, I drew her out and showed her what I bought for us. She did not care about that and threw her arms around me holding tight, sobbing.

I needed a way to communicate with her and started teaching her words. With my laptop, I used different programs and taught her to spell and read. In three weeks, she was blowing my mind, spelling and typing everything I asked. Her speaking ability was hard to understand, and I worked with her to articulate.

After two more weeks, I finally was able to ask her some questions, What is your name?

She typed it first and said, Kera Sixteen.

I put my hand on my chest and said Jon, and she repeated it. I then typed it for her so she could see. After three more weeks, we were conversing.

I heard this language before, but never understood much of it. My sisters, brothers, and I were taught the only other language I know.

You have brothers and sisters?

Yes, there are twenty each of us, ten each now including me, my real sisters and brothers, we all look like this, she used her hands, as if displaying herself. Standing next to each other, you would not know which was me.

Wait, you’re confusing me. You have nineteen sisters and twenty brothers, but only nine of the sisters are your real sisters and ten of the brothers are your real brothers, and you all look the same as the next?

Yes, sisters same, brothers same. The others are sisters and brothers, but not real. They look the same as my real sisters and brothers, but not part of real family. I do not know how to explain it another way. It is a bad story. Please, I cannot tell you that now because I do not know how.

I had to accept that for what it was. Where are you from?

Was born in hospital, and always lived there with my brothers and sisters. It is not a good story and the hospital is evil place. I am experiment. That scared me, and my eyes opened wide as I gasped staring at her. Her eyes opened wide looking at the shock in my expression. She looked away from me with head down; tears were falling from her face. Then I thought about that. If she were, some kind of biological experiment, the way she looked made more sense in a cruel way. Still I did not fear her, took her hand, and held it, rubbing the back with my free hand. I wanted her to know she had no reason to fear me.

Kera, I’m sorry. You are safe here with me, and I want you to stay. I like having you here. I reached out and placed my hand on her right cheek, gently pulling her face to face mine.

When she finally opened her eyes and looked at me, she pressed her cheek into my hand, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Then staring into my eyes, she said, You are a good man.

I began to teach her math. It was too easy. Her ability to understand the logic was as easy as breathing. I didn’t have anything more than basic math through geometry to teach her, and I could see she wished I had more, her expression showed disappointment.

One morning Kera looked at me, holding my face in her hands studying my eyes, her expression full of concern. This was the first time ever that she studied me that way. How long have you been sick? That question surprised me, and I looked at her wide-eyed. Again, with great concern she asked, How long?

About three months.

Kera stood and raced out of the cabin. I looked out the window; she was digging with a stick, ripping and collecting roots from different plants, chunks of a fungus from the side of a birch tree, using the front of her shirt like a basket. She then started pulling leaves from others, collected berries and then grubs from under a log, and one large beetle. She brought it all in and began to sort through it.

She put all she had collected in a pan with water and began to heat it. Working feverishly, she crushed stirred and crushed some more, even the grubs and beetle. After it boiled for about twenty minutes, she dipped a coffee cup in, filling it to the top. She set that aside and poured off the remaining liquid into another pot.

Kera, what are you doing?

I need you, cannot be alone, we need to hurry. She never stopped working. She ran into the bedroom and brought back one of the pillows and threw it on the floor. She was scaring me, but as I thought about that, I had been paying so much attention to her, I forgot about the way I felt.

She handed me the cup after testing the temperature. Drink all of it now, please? I smelled it and almost threw up in my mouth. Drink it, please? I do not want you to leave me here alone.

Her insistence and desperation drove me to comply. It went down easier than I thought it would. The flavor had a spicy appeal. Ten minutes later, I felt light headed. Kera held my face in her hands, looking at my eyes, checking each one repeatedly. It is working, she said.

She pulled me to the floor and had me lay on my back, head in the pillow. Moving fast, she unbuttoned my shirt and pants then pulled my pants off. Using the leftover stuff she boiled, which was like a gooey mass, she spread that on my bare belly. Stay there, do not move. She ran into the bathroom and came out with two bath towels. Raise yourself up; I need to get this towel under you.

Kneeling beside me, I raised my bottom up as she placed a towel under me. She placed one hand on my forehead and the other into the mass of goop, just above my pubic bone and closed her eyes. Pain began to radiate from deep within my belly, a burning sensation that intensified almost to the point of me not being able to tolerate.

Her eyes remained closed, Do not move. She gasped through clenched teeth holding her hands on me. I wailed from a sharp stabbing pain. She held me down, the pain intensified. I wailed again. I could feel an energy coming from her, it made me feel as if I were floating, but still in pain. It seemed like hours had passed as the pain slowly subsided.

Taking her hands off me, she was staring between my legs waiting. I smelled rotted flesh and could feel something thick oozing from my penis and anus, and felt powerless to stop it. Raise up, she said. I lifted my rear as she pulled one towel away and placed another under me. There was a second round of oozing, not as much as the first. Raise up, and she adjusted the towel.

Hardly anything came out of me the third time. She helped me to stand and led me into the bathroom. Looking at the towels, they were both soaked with something black, like tar. The horrid smell of rotted flesh hung in the air. I looked briefly at the window and noticed it was dark outside. She sat me on the toilet, left and returned with another cup of the liquid she made.

Drink only half. She watched me, and then took the rest and poured it in the sink. Stay sitting and let the medicine work. She walked more calmly now. I heard her open the front door, and then I heard two plopping sounds and heard the door close. I guessed that she threw the ruined tar-soaked towels out the door. She came into the bathroom, holding my face and looking into my eyes. She finally sighed, looking relieved and smiled at me.

An hour passed, I felt something dribbling out of me. She had me shower and then escorted me to bed. The next thing I remember was waking in bed, Kera lying on her belly next to me sound asleep. I stood up feeling good but weakened. Kera stirred, turned toward me, You need to heal, get back in bed. I climbed back in, she put her head down and went back to sleep.

Kera woke me, sitting on the edge of the bed holding a glass of water. I sat up and took it, feeling as if I needed it badly. Kera was looking tired, How long have I been asleep?

Two days.

What day is it?

Saturday.

Saturday? That means you gave me the medicine three days ago. I looked into her eyes and saw the strain of what she had been through. She looked so worn, and I took her hand and held it, What did you do to me?

I healed you, my eyes went wide with astonishment, it was either that, or be alone. She sighed, tears welling in her eyes, I need you, cannot be alone, her voice wavered.

I stared at her, saw the pain in her eyes, and shook my head, thinking of what she did for me. I rested the glass on the nightstand and then hugged her tightly and she hugged me. Did you save me from something bad?

She began crying, voice weak and wavering, Real bad. I pushed the blankets down and pulled her into the bed next to me, holding her tight as she cried, until she fell asleep. I rested her head on the pillow and pulled the blankets around her, and then went about cleaning the cabin, but there was nothing to clean. I shook my head, thinking about that, what she had done for me, somehow I had to return the favor.

That evening I fixed salads for the two of us and woke her. We ate and took showers. While we showered I asked her, How did you know I was sick, and how did you heal me?

Kera looked at me and shrugged her shoulders, It was a gift I was born with. She was still looking worn. I walked her back into the bedroom and got her into bed, kissed her cheek and turned out the light. An hour later, I went to bed. When I got in, Kera, snuggled up to me, took my hand and fell back to sleep.

Back to Table of Contents

The Center

Waiting

Chapter 2

I was sitting on the couch with Kera, late in the day, two days before the end of September. We were working on her English. She stopped, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath through her nose.

What’s wrong? I asked.

We have a visitor. But it is okay, he is a good man.

How do you know that?

I can smell him. I know him. We walked to the door and stood there waiting. Kera placed one of her hands high on the right side of my back, the other resting on my chest and right shoulder. There was a knock at the door. When I opened it, I felt jarred at the sight of a military man in forest camouflage clothing. There was a patch above his right pocket, it said, Lieutenant James Mitchell.

He looked at Kera, and then me, Hello Sir, Military Police, my name is Lieutenant James Mitchell. Tealosofo klian Kera?

Yes I am okay; he is like you, a good man, does not take advantage.

He looked at Kera surprised, and then he smiled, You can speak English. She nodded, smiled, and patted me on the chest. That’s good; you’re going to need that. Your family is still safe. Kera put her head down and sighed, loudly, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. Why did you leave Kera?

I went for a walk and got lost. I found him and hoped he would help. How did you find me?

One of your sisters helped me track you. Mitchell tipped his hat to me, My thanks to you Sir for helping her.

So what is going on here officer? I asked.

I am not at liberty to say, Kera will have to be the one to tell you, but I urge you to go home to keep out of harm’s way. I can keep Kera safe here until the worst has passed. If you remain here, expect visitors tomorrow, two men and two women. He handed me a slip of paper with the names of four people, Alex and Caitlyn Warren, and Alex and Caitlyn Cobb.

I looked at him confused, They all have the same name.

He gestured with his hand at Kera, tipped his hat, and walked away to his waiting jeep. I looked at Kera; I could see that she recognized my questioning gaze. She sighed and shook her head, It is not a good story. I need you, cannot be alone, but it would be safer for you to go.

No. You saved my life, you are a good person, and I like having you here, and like being with you. She sounded as if she had lost her breath for a second, threw her arms around me, and hugged tightly. She took my hand in hers and led me to the bedroom, took off my shorts, shirt and started taking hers off. I stopped her, No, I don’t want to take advantage of you. I really like you and never want that changed.

No, I need you! She pulled at my arm gently, urging me onto the bed.

The next day I heard the chopping of helicopter blades fast approaching. Stepping out onto the front porch, followed by Kera, it was landing in the front yard. Four people