Violence & Variations Read online

  Sentry

  Part 1

  Violence & Variations

  By Thomas Shaw

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  © 2017 Thomas Shaw

  Terms and Conditions:

  The purchaser of this book is subject to the condition that he/she shall in no way resell it, nor any part of it, nor make copies of it to distribute freely.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Preface

  1.1

  1.2

  1.3

  1.4

  1.5

  1.6

  1.7

  2.1

  2.2

  2.3

  2.4

  2.5

  2.6

  2.7

  2.8

  2.9

  Epilogue

  Preface

  So here it is.

  After 13 or so years, I've finally gone and finished it!

  Sentry, although it's been renamed so many times, has been a part of my life since I was young.

  The story has twisted and turned and been rewritten at least five different ways, and it's finally reached that point where I just need to ‘put it out there’!

  Coming up with the concept back in primary school, the story has evolved and grown from a simple fifty pages long novel to just Part 1 being over 50 pages!

  To all the people who have read my earlier drafts and helped me develop the story further, thank you for your input, its helped shape the story in to what it is today

  So… enjoy…

  1.1

  30/11/2109

  In the future, we'll have flying cars, robots and probably be living on other planets. We'll have cured all diseases, eradicated hunger and brought upon world peace. Life will be bliss, we'll all be living in a futuristic utopia. These things have been said since the 1970s. And yet now, a few weeks off 2110, we still don't have flying cars, we don't have sentient robots, and we're still confined to this planet. Cancer is still a problem, Africa is still a poor nation and each country is just as uneasy with each other as it was in 2020. But this is the future...to anyone living back in 1999. To us it's the present. We live and hope everyday that these things will come true, yet don't do much to help towards them. I have friends who want robot butlers, yet don't pursue a career in robotics. I have family members who want world peace but would rather work a 9 to 6 job. The world has pretty much been the same since the 2030s. The world's not changing because our generation isn't making it change...

  David Woods stopped reading the screen. He sat back in his chair and folded his arms. He turned to Amy who was sat beside him.

  "Well, what do you think so far?" She asked with an eager grin, brushing her red hair back as she did so.

  David smiled at her, "I love the irony of you chastising your friends and family, yet you're the one taking a Sociology course"

  Amy's blue eyes widened and she pouted, playfully punching him on the shoulder, "You can be a dick sometimes" she smiled, "But it's ok?"

  David quickly scanned the text again, checking for spelling mistakes or anything else he could tease his friend with, "Yeah, it's pretty good for an opening"

  Amy gave a big smile, getting a thumbs up from David, she knew it must be good.

  David closed the laptop and stood up, "It's good. More work to do but yeah, good."

  Amy threw a fist in the air, "Woo!" She expelled, a little too loud. Everyone in the university library turned to look. She slowly lowered her arm and blushed, "I'll walk you to your car" she mumbled.

  David smiled, holding back a chuckle.

  As they walked through the university halls, Amy tried to convince David to meet her for drinks in the evening,

  "Look, just come for one, or maybe two"

  David shook his head, "I have too much on. Maybe next time"

  "That's what you said last time, and the time before that. Look, how about we meet for coffee before I go out?"

  David knew she wasn't going to drop this. He brought up a few more excuses, the usual: he was tired, he had no money. Both times, Amy had an answer, "The coffee will wake you up, and I'll buy. Come on, we never meet up that much anymore. Apart from messaging each other, this is the first time we've spoken face to face in just under a year"

  She really wasn't going to drop it. He rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Like I said, I'm busy all the time nowadays" he pushed open the door and walked out to the university car park. They stood by the door to let other people pass.

  Amy sucked her lips in and raised an eyebrow, "Busy what? Pining over her?"

  Saying this provoked David and he started to defend himself, "No, busy decorating, working, visiting family, drawing...other stuff. Just because I don't want to meet up, doesn't mean I'm still not over her"

  Amy looked away, raising both eyebrows, "Alright, calm down" She snapped her head back to him, "Prove it then. One drink"

  David walked over to his car, he opened the door and climbed in, "Ok, one" he said and then closed the door and drove off. Amy pursed her lips, something she did when she'd made a mistake, she shouldn't have brought her up.

  Later that day David laid on his sofa, going through the internet on his tablet. He started downloading a movie and whilst he waited he checked the news. He scrolled through the headlines, until one caught his eye:

  'Disappearance of top scientist leaves police baffled'

  David opened the link and started reading:

  'Police are on the lookout for Anthony Forster. Famed scientist and engineer Anthony was last seen on 21/05/2109, caught on CCTV leaving the nightclub Excelsior (see video below).

  Mr. Forster is famed as the one who made the leap into cybernetic enhancement, used mainly by the disabled or severely wounded. He was previously working with the government but moved onto work with RoBack, the people responsible for the design and manufacture of artificial limbs. After his transference there, he was put in charge of the entire science division within the company.

  One of his colleagues explained how they found his laboratory before he went missing as "in a state" and how it looked like "someone had wanted to destroy all his work".

  Relating to Anthony's disappearance, one of his staff, Rachel Cox, has been found dead in her home by her husband. The police have determined that asphyxiation is the cause of death and are now worried for Mr. Forster. At this point it has been determined that he is not a suspect as the two of them had "a very close relationship"

  P.C. Webb had this to say, "We have reviewed all security footage at Mrs. Cox’s apartment, but could see no one entering or leaving. With the laboratory being destroyed and Mrs. Cox’s death, we are suspecting someone is looking for information. We are urging Mr. Forster to come in for questioning"

  This story is still updating'

  David’s screen flashed and the tablet dinged. His movie was done. At the same time, he received a message which flashed up on his tablet, then buzzed on his phone and then finally his watch vibrated. Too many things for notifications, David thought to himself.

  He opened the messages on his tablet and read aloud to himself, "Come on Sparky, meet me downstairs in ten" he chuckled. He noticed Amy had changed her profile picture from a black and white somber one to a colorful selfie. Her bright red hair was a mess and she was pulling a silly face.

  David smiled, shook his head and replied, "See you in a minute Hot Stuff"

  Getting up off the sofa, David sighed. He didn't want to go, he really couldn't be bothered. But he had got dressed up: a neatly ironed black shirt
, steel grey tie and he had combed his dark blonde hair in a back-sweep style. He grabbed his keys off the table and headed towards the door.

  Amy sat on a stool whilst David stood, leaning against the bar. The place was busy, even though it was still pretty early. But on a Saturday in this town, even on a cold night like this, it was guaranteed to be full. Amy was wearing a slim fitting, fire-red dress. It was fairly plain apart from the gold zipper going up the middle back. It complimented her straight red hair. She sipped her whiskey whilst watching David play with the label on his bottle. He'd hardly drank anything since he got it.

  "Stop nursing it" Amy shouted over the loud pop music.

  David didn't look at her but he took a sip, "I can't believe you're starting on whiskey"

  Amy chuckled into her drink and knocked it back, "I like to start with something strong, then work my way back up from the bottom" she signaled the bartender and ordered a bottle like David’s, "So what have you been up to?"

  David turned to face her properly, "Mainly work..."

  "Still going for the manager’s job?"

  "I got that" He nodded and gave a small smile, "A bit more money for a bit more work, but it pays the bills I suppose. That and I've been helping my dad redecorate the kitchen"

  "How is Charlie?" Amy asked.

  "Grumpy as always, more so now Mom is making him do the wallpapering"

  A guy approached Amy, offering to buy her a drink. She declined as she put her arm around David. The guy backed off and Amy quickly let go of him, laughing and taking another drink, "This is why I like you being out with me"

  "Amy, we're like brother and sister. It's really weird when you act like I'm your boyfriend"

  "Shut up and drink up, woman" Amy laughed.

  "Speaking of boyfriends, what happened to…erm… whatshisface you was seeing?"

  "Ended it" Amy answered, the glass still at her mouth.

  "Why?"

  She rolled her eyes, "He wanted to settle down" She could see the confusion in David’s look, "I'm young! I want to focus on my studies, focus on getting a good job and have a bit of fun"

  "To be fair, I'm kind of relieved, never liked the guy anyway"

  "David, no one will be good enough for me in your eyes"

  "Somebody will, someday"

  "Do you honestly see me as the sort of person who settles down and has a family?"

  "I suppose not, you are kind of hot headed"

  Amy smiled as she finished her drink, "Is that a pun?"

  David looked at her then smiled, "It was unintentional, but yeah, that's pretty funny"

  They drank more than the only one David said he was going to drink, both laughing and catching up.

  "Do you think I should text her?" David mumbled a few hours later, his face was nearly in his tumbler.

  Amy looked shocked, "Laura? I wouldn't, she's still pretty pissed. Don't think she'll ever not be"

  He looked up in a flash, "You've spoken to her?"

  "Dude, we're all friends, I'm not picking sides. I speak to her nearly every week"

  "How is she?" David downed his vodka and leaned in over the table.

  "Tired. Busy. You know Laura, always likes to be doing something so she hasn't got time to think and dwell on things" Amy swept her hair behind her ears and pulled out her phone from her small handbag, "But it’s been about a month since we last spoke. I invited her for lunch but she was saying she couldn't afford much to eat. I told her I'd pay but I got no reply"

  He couldn't tell if it was the alcohol, the dreary music that was playing or the talk of Laura but David wanted to go.

  "Why did you run? You still haven't told me" Amy asked, putting the phone back in her bag.

  He felt around behind him for his coat. Trying to put it on whilst still sat, he managed to get one arm in but the other proved too difficult. Amy stood up and he helped him to his feet, "How come you seem less drunker than me?" He asked, wobbling slightly.

  "The heaviest thing I've drank all night is that first whiskey, I've been on bottles since then. You on the other hand..." Amy looked down at the table at the six tumblers that once held two whiskeys three vodkas and a pretty strong rum. She guided the sleeve of his coat to his arm so he could put it on easier.

  "Good points. Thank you for this" David raised his arms, indicating the help with the coat. He fell into a hug from Amy and slowly straightened himself. He walked away, heading towards the door.

  "David!" Amy shouted after him, "You going to be ok?"

  David didn't answer. He pushed open the wooden doors and was outside in the cold. A cloud of cigarette smoke blew into him. He turned to see a group of guys all smoking and having a laugh with one of the bouncers. David stumbled slightly and his ears adjusted to the quietness of the street. His apartment was only a few streets away so he started walking, in a very unbalanced way.

  As he got to his apartment he felt the phone buzz in his pocket but he didn't bother getting it out. He raised his arm to check his watch but it had died, "Too many things to keep charged" David muttered to himself as he fiddled with the key pad entry to the building. After three failed attempts, he got it right and pulled the door open. He took a walk down the short corridor. Everything was spinning one way and his stomach was spinning the other. He turned to go up the stairs when he bumped into his neighbor, John.

  He was in his early twenties, a couple of years younger than David. He was dressed in a t-shirt with a bands logo on the front, with well-fitting blue jeans. He usually had his fringe styled up in a quaff, but at the moment it was just a scruffy mess of light brown hair. In his hand he held his wallet, and in the other a piece of paper, probably a list of things to buy as he could be quite forgetful. John had moved in a few months ago across the hall, along with his Fiancée, Eve. David had met them after he had been invited to their housewarming party. Every now and then they would pass in the hallways or meet up whenever someone in the building would throw a party.

  "Evening David" John said with a smile. David didn't say anything, just nodded and grunted. John stopped after David walked past, "Everything ok?"

  David shook his head as he walked upstairs. John raised an eyebrow and followed David up, joining him by his side and placing a hand on his back.

  Once they both reached their floor, John overtook David and opened the door to their part of the apartment.

  "Thanks" David mumbled with a slight slur.

  "No problem. Hey, you sure you're ok?" John questioned, "Just a bit too much to drink?"

  David nodded as he lent against his door. He reached in his pocket for his keycard but couldn't find it. He started checking his coat pockets but still couldn't find it. He tapped his head on the door and kept it rested there in a sleepy frustration.

  John stood behind him, "You lost your card?" He asked, "If you want you can stay-"

  Before he could finish his sentence, he watched as David hovered his hand a few centimeters over his key card reader. A flash of lightning shot out of the tips of his fingers, covered the reader and the door unlocked! John pushed open the door and collapsed to the ground.

  1.2

  Music shot out of David’s phone, waking him up. He picked up the phone in a tired panic and turned off the alarm. Two missed calls and three messages from Amy. He tossed the phone onto his duvet and rubbed his head, he had the worst headache he'd had in years. He looked around the bedroom. The curtains were still open so the morning light shone in, brightening up the mostly empty room. He tried to, but couldn't, remember getting in bed. In fact, he couldn't really remember anything after the fifth drink! He yawned and got out of bed. His shoes were still on so he kicked them off and stumbled out of the room. He walked past his front door and saw his key card on the floor. Next to it was a scrap of paper. He bent down, groaned in the process, and read it as he walked into the living room:

  'Found this in the bar last night, I can see by the scorch marks on the lock that you managed to get in. Call me in the morning. Amy'
r />   David looked up at his door, "Great" he muttered to himself sarcastically. He wandered back to the front door and opened it. Stood outside, about to knock was John. He looked like he was ready for work: white shirt, blue tie and ironed black pants. His hair styled this time in the upwards quiff.

  "John?" David started, his voice was weak, probably from the shouting he was doing in the bar, "What's up?"

  John seemed nervous, like he didn't really know how to respond, "Well, I wanted to see how you are. I helped you in to your apartment"

  David started to get concerned, "Helped me how?"

  "You got the door open, and then collapsed on the floor. I helped you up, walked you into your bed and you collapsed again on the bed. I tried to lock your door but you seem to have broken the lock on it" Johns eyes looked down at the card reader. David stuck his head out of the doorway and looked at the burnt-out reader.

  He stood to the side to let John in, "I think we need to talk"

  John took a step back, "Erm, no it's-"

  "Get in, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm too hungover anyway" David was, of course, joking but he didn't think John got the joke. He carefully walked past him and headed into the living room. David closed the door and followed him.

  Unlike Johns apartment, which had the same layout, there was no wall separating the living room and kitchen. David went over to the kitchen at the end of the room and started going through cupboards. He grabbed two glasses, and a box of paracetamol, "Drink?" David asked as he poured himself a glass of water from the sink.

  John shook his head, "No. I'm fine thanks"

  David threw the pills in his mouth and had a mouthful of water. He swallowed and had another drink, "Urgh, feel like crap today" he put the glass down and walked over to John, "Sit down, no need to be so tense"

  John sat on the small armchair under the large windows overlooking the town.