Read Prisoner 3-57: Nuke Town for Free Online Page B

numerous rooms, supplies and equipment. It was like
the game creators had put every single thing they could think of in
here. The medical bay was one entire floor of the safe house. I could
hear people moaning and groaning down the corridors, as round headed
medical robots treated their injuries. The robots looked pretty basic
in facial features and body shape, but their limbs were like a Swiss
army knife of medical tools and devices. I had walked the halls three
times now. It looked secure, but one thing I had learnt in this war
game was that nowhere was safe. The bad things always found a way in.
That was just how life was. I began to head back up towards Rose and
the others. The walking wounded in the hallways had to be about
twenty to twenty-five people. I was surprised by how many people had
actually been able to fight their way out of that shitty situation,
but then again these were hardcore players. These people have
survived more hellish missions than me. They were turning into a real
life fighting unit.
    Outside
of Rose’s private room was Fiona.
    The
beautiful woman in white was kneeling down in front of a young girl
of African descent. The girl was sat up straight with a faraway look
upon her face. She was covered from head to toe in blood. Fiona was
slowly wiping the gruesome mess away from the girls face.
    ‘ Who
is the girl?’ I asked.
    ‘ I
don’t know,’ said Fiona, ‘she hasn’t said a
word.’
    ‘ Is
she part of the game?’
    Fiona
gave me a puzzled looked, as if I was as thick as shit.
    ‘ What?’
    ‘ Is
she part of the game? Is she like a computer game character?’
    Fiona
said nothing for a moment and then replied with, ‘No. The girl
is real.’
    It
was my turn to look confused.
    ‘ Who
would bring a child into this?’ I waved a hand at the world
around us.
    ‘ Someone
who loves their daughter,’ said Rose from behind us.
    I
turned to look at my sister. She had a look of relief on her face. I
caught sight of Clay on the bed, as she closed the door to his room.
Clay was fast asleep. A drip was in his arm. His eyes were completely
bandaged.
    ‘ You
would bring someone you love here?’ I asked Rose.
    ‘ You
don’t know what it is like out there, Brother,’ replied
Rose. ‘The life we have is a constant struggle. The ships are
cold, damp and smelly. The food is limited and what we get is just
nutritious sludge. We don’t have homes. Three different
families will share a living quarters, which was originally designed
for two soldiers. The toilet facilities are terrible. We have power
for two hours a day, which means heating for two hours a day only.
Sickness is everywhere. The government force people into abortion, as
giving birth is now a crime. Murder and rape are everyday
occurrences. Mass suicides are a reality. Riots happen on a weekly
basis. The people have no hope. They exist purely to exist. We are
travelling through space without a destination.’
    ‘ I
thought you were heading somewhere.’
    ‘ Perhaps,
but we won’t see it in our generation,’ countered Fiona.
    ‘ Why
do you say that?’
    ‘ It
is just how things are,’ continued Rose. ‘Humanity is a
dying breed. We are floating through space in tin cans. They have the
two Jump Gates, but they are no good without a destination to get to.
This game allows for a better existence. When a player gets to a
certain level and a certain amount of credits they can pay for a
relief program.’
    ‘ What
is that?’
    ‘ It’s
like a virtual holiday.’
    ‘ They
pay for a three or four week break,’ explained Rose. ‘They
can live on a tropical island, eat amazing food, and spend time with
a lady or man that will do anything they desire. It is sort of a
paradise created by your own mind. They can do anything they want to.
They can be happy.’
    ‘ I
think I get it,’ I replied. ‘Is that why you are here?’
    Rose
frowned and put her hands on her hips.
    I
laughed.
    I
didn’t mean to.
    She
always did that when she was a