{"data":{"id":13082,"title":"A Human Perspective - Episode 9 - Roberts Space Industries","rsi_url":"\/web\/20140712011443\/https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/13082-A-Human-Perspective-Episode-9","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13082","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13082","channel":"Spectrum Dispatch","category":"Lore","series":"A Human Perspective","images":[{"id":29099,"name":"HumanPerspFI_Clean.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/cmjxxjf2qh8uzr\/source\/HumanPerspFI_Clean.jpg","alt":"","size":3441449,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-18T18:33:50+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/29099","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/29099\/similar"}],"images_count":2,"translations":{"en_EN":"Home, mother, the army, Judy \u2026\nJoy, loss, remorse, contempt \u2026\nFaces and feelings, places and desires \u2026\nThe gamut of Charl\u2019s life experiences surfaced unwillingly from the depths as the Banu mind ripper stirred his memories. Rendered helpless by its strange neural technology \u2014 as well as who knew how many relaxing injections \u2014 he experienced it as if from afar, a spectral witness to someone else\u2019s chaotic dreams.\n\nAs this went on, his exterior sensations were virtually nonexistent. On a base level \u2014 perhaps it was his survival instinct \u2014 he craved any stimulus from outside his troubled mind. For the longest time he got no relief, but eventually he sensed there was an ebb and flow to the process. Like a fish in the sea, he dove into deep depths for a while, then came closer to the surface where he could \u2014 barely \u2014 see the sun and sky beyond.\n\nUncertain of his own perceptions, even of his own will, he concentrated against the waves of unbidden memories, and on each subsequent ascent he forced himself closer and closer to the surface.\n\nShapes and sounds.\n\nSwept deeper, Charl lunged toward the light.\n\nFaces and voices.\n\nEmotionally exhausted, he mustered his last reserves of strength.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom regaining consciousness.\u201d Charl blinked several times and saw as if through a fog. He choked a bit and that gave him an idea. He forced himself to choke harder and harder, which not only brought him further into consciousness, but got the attention of the Banu techs.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom in distress,\u201d one said, coming nearer. Charl feigned raspier, deeper choking and tensed himself as if he could no longer breathe, writhing desperately against his restraints. \u201cCharl-Grissom danger of suffocation!\u201d\n\nThe Banu tech began to unstrap him so he re-intensified his act. The only other tech came over with a syringe \u2014 something to calm him down, he wondered? One strap was undone, then another. The moment his arm was loose Charl grabbed awkwardly at the tech with syringe in hand and managed to plunge it into his throat. The Banu gurgled and collapsed onto the floor. By the time the second tech figured out there was a problem Charl was fumbling with his other straps.\n\n\u201cAlarm!\u201d The tech tried to restrain him and the two struggled until Charl managed to get a strap around the Banu\u2019s neck and pull it tight. The tech writhed but could not scream, and after a moment Charl let his blurry victim fall lifeless to the floor. He had thought his military years far behind him, but apparently his body retained its discipline.\n\nHe was alone now, shaking his head to clear his mind. He undid strap after strap until he was free. Unable to stand, he flopped onto the floor and crawled to put his ear to the door. Hearing nothing, he opened it and stuck his head out into an empty hallway. He dragged himself quickly into an open wet room across the way and closed its door behind him.\n\nThink, Charl. Think! Until now he had let simple survival guide his actions. Now his clouded mind obstructed more organized planning. He crushed his palms against his temples and rubbed hard.\n\n\u201cWhat the \u2026\u201d Charl caught himself in a mirror. He ripped the skull cap off his shaved head, still dangling wires that he must have yanked free from the Banu mind machine. He was pale and gaunt, wearing a paper-thin robe. How long have they had me under?\n\nVague memories came back to him. The mission, the Banu who hired him, even the android. Charl struggled to put names to them, but every thought scurried off like a rabbit looking for its hole. He felt a terrible chill. Had they wrecked his mind, he wondered? Revulsion swept through his very being. Think! He babbled nonsensically, fearing discovery but fearing a scrubbed mind even more.\n\n\u201cThe \u2026 the \u2026 uh \u2026\u201d he struggled, trembling on the wet room floor. \u201cCome on \u2026 the \u2026 the Reacher!\u201d He caught his breath. Yes, he thought, my ship is the Reacher! And the android was \u2026 uh \u2026 Angela!\u201d He collapsed on the floor in relief, ecstatic at these simple recollections, but that relief was short lived.\n\n\u201cAlarm! Charl-Grissom escape!\u201d Excited voices gathered in the hallway, and he knew it wouldn\u2019t be long before someone poked a head into his wet room. Charl wiped the sweat from his brow and forced himself to his feet. His legs complained weakly, and he had to practically climb up the sinks to stand, but stand he did. More shouting ensued, and an electronic alarm whined loudly through the orbital facility.\n\n\u201cChecking wet room \u2026\u201d The door opened and Charl yanked the yellow-coated tech inside by his throat, shutting the door quickly behind him. He slammed the Banu\u2019s head against the wall and forced him to the floor, snapping his neck loudly. Sonsabitches! They had turned him into a murderer. A quick flip and he pulled his victim\u2019s lab coat off and squeezed into its narrow sleeves. I\u2019ll never pass for a Banu, he thought, but it\u2019s better than running around half naked!\n\nHis only hope was to get off the station. Any Human station would have escape pods, and he was pretty certain the Banu followed the same safety protocol. Once he got free of this place he could trust to his piloting skills to get away, but first things first. A computer link to the station\u2019s layout would be handy, but there was nothing like that in this wet room. He would have to chance some other room, but from the wall\u2019s tight curve he got the impression the station itself wasn\u2019t too big to begin with. He worked his jaw and popped his neck, listened at the door for a quiet moment, then burst out.\n\n\u201cSearch corridors here!\u201d Charl heard pursuers in their native language. Several Banu ran across the t-intersection to his left, forcing him to turn his head away quickly and walk briskly to the right. Around one corner, then another, he heard more voices and footsteps approaching from both directions. He picked the first door and dove inside.\n\n\u201cWho the hell are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cAngela!\u201d She was in some kind of plexi-glass habitat, surrounded by workstations and monitoring devices, but the techs were all gone, probably looking for him. Her head was shaved, but he couldn\u2019t mistake her face and voice.\n\n\u201cWhat are you, another damned robot?\u201d she asked contemptuously, and his addled brain struggled.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re the real Angela,\u201d he said, quickly putting the pieces together. He could see her reach a similar conclusion.\n\n\u201cWhoever you are, you look too ragged to be an android! Can you get me out of here?\u201d She came up to the plexi-glass wall between them, close enough that her breath fogged her side of it. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen another Human in, like, forever!\u201d Then a second doubt struck her. \u201cYou\u2019re not working for them, are you?\u201d With that she backed away again, eying him warily.\n\n\u201cNot voluntarily,\u201d he half-confessed, deciding to keep his story for later, assuming there was a later. \u201cIs this the door?\u201d he asked, indicating a portion of the plexi-glass with a hairline seam.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d real Angela came up to it and traced its outline with her finger. \u201cThey operate it from that panel over there.\u201d A rattle of footsteps rolled through the hallway outside, and Charl braced himself to face their wrath. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? The lab rats all ran off a few minutes ago.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re looking for me,\u201d he said, clicking around on the control panel.\n\n\u201cWere they mind probing you, too?\u201d she asked, looking at his bald head.\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry. The confusion\u2019s only temporary.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks, that\u2019s reassuring,\u201d he said, and they shared a tight smile through the clear barrier, before more running footsteps renewed her fear.\n\n\u201cPlease get me out of here!\u201d she pleaded, shifting anxiously on her feet and clawing at the door with her fingernails.\n\nThe controls were in Banu computer speak, so anyone who couldn\u2019t read it would never be able to get it open. But he could, and he did. The plexi-glass door lifted upward with a whoosh of air. Real Angela stood there for a moment as if in disbelief, then stepped out of her cage. \u201cIt\u2019s good to be out of there, you have no idea. What now?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to get off this orbital \u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re on an orbital?\u201d She cocked her head in disbelief.\n\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t know?\u201d\n\n\u201cHow would I know? You see any windows in my glass apartment? And they keep me drugged up most of the time.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, we are, so we need an escape pod or something.\u201d\n\n\u201cTry that workstation over there,\u201d she suggested. \u201cMaybe we can pull up building plans on it. Or orbital plans, I guess.\u201d Charl punched up the screen, and clicked through menus.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your story?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cI pissed somebody off,\u201d she said simply.\n\n\u201cJoin the club,\u201d he replied, and she chuckled.\n\n\u201cI was a journalist doing contract work for Torreele. They said I broke their contract or some crap.\u201d\n\n\u201cSounds familiar. Got it \u2026 yes, here we go!\u201d Charl found some intelligible plans, locating where they were and what appeared to be escape pods. He traced his finger along the route. \u201cOkay, we need to get down a couple of levels. Let\u2019s move out!\u201d \u201cWait! Come here,\u201d real Angela insisted, grabbing his yellow lab coat by the collar and pulling him into an unexpected, wet kiss. Open mouth. Deep. He pulled her close just as she broke it off.\n\n\u201cOkay, you\u2019re real.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you mean \u2026?\u201d\n\n\u201cAndroids kiss funny,\u201d she said simply. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d He decided he could wait until later to find out how she knew that. Wow!\n\nThey listened at the door and hearing nothing, opened it and slipped out into the hallway. But no sooner had they turned the first corner than he heard a familiar Banu voice behind him.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom, contract breached second time.\u201d It was Tech Two, flanked by a couple of Banu security guards holding laser carbines. Real Angela gasped in frustration.\n\nTo Be Continued \u2026","de_DE":"Zuhause, Mutter, die Armee, Judy ...\nFreude, Verlust, Gewissensbisse, Verachtung ...\nGesichter und Gef\u00fchle, Orte und Sehns\u00fcchte ...\nDie ganze Bandbreite von Charl's Lebenserfahrungen tauchte unwillk\u00fcrlich aus der Tiefe auf, als der Banu-Gedankenfresser seine Erinnerungen aufr\u00fchrte. Durch die seltsame neuronale Technologie - und wer wei\u00df, wie viele entspannende Injektionen - war er hilflos und erlebte das Geschehen wie aus der Ferne, ein geisterhafter Zeuge der chaotischen Tr\u00e4ume eines anderen.\n\nIm weiteren Verlauf waren seine \u00e4u\u00dferen Empfindungen praktisch nicht mehr vorhanden. Auf einer grundlegenden Ebene - vielleicht war es sein \u00dcberlebensinstinkt - sehnte er sich nach jeglichen Reizen von au\u00dferhalb seines aufgew\u00fchlten Geistes. Die l\u00e4ngste Zeit konnte er sich keine Erleichterung verschaffen, aber schlie\u00dflich sp\u00fcrte er, dass es eine Ebbe und Flut in diesem Prozess gab. Wie ein Fisch im Meer tauchte er eine Zeit lang in die Tiefe und kam dann wieder n\u00e4her an die Oberfl\u00e4che, wo er - gerade noch - die Sonne und den Himmel sehen konnte.\n\nUnsicher \u00fcber seine eigenen Wahrnehmungen, ja sogar \u00fcber seinen eigenen Willen, konzentrierte er sich gegen die Wellen der ungebetenen Erinnerungen, und mit jedem weiteren Aufstieg zwang er sich n\u00e4her und n\u00e4her an die Oberfl\u00e4che.\n\nFormen und Ger\u00e4usche.\n\nEr wurde tiefer gezogen und Charl st\u00fcrzte sich auf das Licht.\n\nGesichter und Stimmen.\n\nEmotional ersch\u00f6pft, sammelte er seine letzten Kraftreserven.\n\n\"Charl-Grissom kommt wieder zu sich.\" Charl blinzelte einige Male und sah wie durch einen Nebel. Er w\u00fcrgte ein wenig und das brachte ihn auf eine Idee. Er zwang sich, immer fester zu w\u00fcrgen, was ihn nicht nur weiter ins Bewusstsein brachte, sondern auch die Aufmerksamkeit der Banu-Techniker erregte.\n\n\"Charl-Grissom in Not\", sagte einer und kam n\u00e4her. Charl t\u00e4uschte ein raspelartiges, tieferes W\u00fcrgen vor und verkrampfte sich, als ob er nicht mehr atmen k\u00f6nnte, wobei er sich verzweifelt gegen seine Fesseln wehrte. \"Charl-Grissom droht zu ersticken!\"\n\nDer Banu-Techniker begann, ihn loszuschnallen, so dass er sein Schauspiel noch verst\u00e4rkte. Der einzige andere Techniker kam mit einer Spritze her\u00fcber - etwas, um ihn zu beruhigen, fragte er sich? Ein Gurt wurde gel\u00f6st, dann ein anderer. In dem Moment, in dem sein Arm frei war, griff Charl unbeholfen nach dem Techniker mit der Spritze in der Hand und schaffte es, sie ihm in den Hals zu sto\u00dfen. Der Banu gurgelte und brach auf dem Boden zusammen. Bis der zweite Techniker merkte, dass es ein Problem gab, fummelte Charl schon an den anderen Gurten herum.\n\n\"Alarm!\" Der Techniker versuchte, ihn zur\u00fcckzuhalten und die beiden k\u00e4mpften, bis Charl es schaffte, einen Riemen um den Hals des Banu zu legen und ihn fest zu ziehen. Der Techniker kr\u00fcmmte sich, konnte aber nicht schreien, und nach einem Moment lie\u00df Charl sein verschwommenes Opfer leblos zu Boden fallen. Er hatte gedacht, seine Milit\u00e4rjahre l\u00e4gen weit hinter ihm, aber offenbar hatte sein K\u00f6rper seine Disziplin behalten.\n\nEr war jetzt allein und sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf, um einen klaren Kopf zu bekommen. Er l\u00f6ste Riemen um Riemen, bis er frei war. Da er nicht mehr stehen konnte, lie\u00df er sich auf den Boden fallen und kroch zur T\u00fcr, wo er sein Ohr anlegte. Da er nichts h\u00f6rte, \u00f6ffnete er sie und streckte seinen Kopf in einen leeren Flur. Er schleppte sich schnell in eine offene Nasszelle auf der anderen Seite des Ganges und schloss die T\u00fcr hinter sich.\n\nDenk nach, Charl. Denken Sie nach! Bis jetzt hatte er sein Handeln vom einfachen \u00dcberleben geleitet. Jetzt verhinderte sein vernebelter Verstand eine organisierte Planung. Er dr\u00fcckte seine Handfl\u00e4chen gegen die Schl\u00e4fen und rieb sie kr\u00e4ftig.\n\n\"Was zum ...\" Charl ertappte sich in einem Spiegel. Er riss sich die Sch\u00e4deldecke vom rasierten Kopf, an der noch Dr\u00e4hte baumelten, die er aus der Banu-Gedankenmaschine herausgerissen haben musste. Er war blass und abgemagert und trug ein hauchd\u00fcnnes Gewand. Wie lange haben sie mich schon da unten?\n\nVage Erinnerungen kamen in ihm hoch. Die Mission, die Banu, die ihn angeheuert hatten, sogar der Androide. Charl bem\u00fchte sich, ihnen Namen zu geben, aber jeder Gedanke huschte davon wie ein Kaninchen, das seinen Bau sucht. Er sp\u00fcrte ein schreckliches Fr\u00f6steln. Hatten sie ihm das Versetand geraubt, fragte er sich? Abscheu durchstr\u00f6mte sein ganzes Wesen. Denken Sie nach! Er brabbelte unsinnig vor sich hin, weil er eine Entdeckung f\u00fcrchtete, aber noch mehr f\u00fcrchtete er einen geschrubbten Verstand.\n\n\"Die ... die ... \u00e4h ...\", strampelte er und zitterte auf dem Boden der Nasszelle. \"Komm schon ... der ... der Reacher!\" Er schnappte nach Luft. Ja, dachte er, mein Schiff ist die Reacher! Und der Androide war ... \u00e4h ... Angela!\" Er brach vor Erleichterung auf dem Boden zusammen, ekstatisch \u00fcber diese einfachen Erinnerungen, aber diese Erleichterung war nur von kurzer Dauer.\n\n\"Alarm! Charl-Grissom fl\u00fcchtet!\" Aufgeregte Stimmen sammelten sich auf dem Flur und er wusste, dass es nicht mehr lange dauern w\u00fcrde, bis jemand den Kopf in seine Nasszelle steckte. Charl wischte sich den Schwei\u00df von der Stirn und zwang sich auf die Beine. Seine Beine schmerzten und er musste praktisch das Waschbecken hochklettern, um aufzustehen, aber er stand. Weitere Rufe folgten und ein elektronischer Alarm heulte laut durch die Orbitalanlage.\n\n\"Pr\u00fcfe Nassraum ...\" Die T\u00fcr \u00f6ffnete sich und Charl zerrte den gelb gekleideten Techniker an seinem Hals hinein und schloss die T\u00fcr schnell hinter sich. Er schlug den Kopf des Banu gegen die Wand und zwang ihn auf den Boden, wobei er ihm lautstark das Genick brach. Diese Hurens\u00f6hne! Sie hatten ihn in einen M\u00f6rder verwandelt. Mit einer schnellen Drehung zog er seinem Opfer den Laborkittel aus und zw\u00e4ngte sich in dessen enge \u00c4rmel. Ich werde nie als Banu durchgehen, dachte er, aber es ist besser, als halbnackt herumzulaufen!\n\nSeine einzige Hoffnung war, die Station zu verlassen. Jede menschliche Station hat Fluchtkapseln und er war sich ziemlich sicher, dass die Banu dasselbe Sicherheitsprotokoll befolgen. Sobald er sich von diesem Ort befreit hatte, konnte er sich auf seine Pilotenf\u00e4higkeiten verlassen, um zu entkommen, aber eins nach dem anderen. Eine Computerverbindung zum Layout der Station w\u00e4re praktisch, aber in diesem Nassraum gab es nichts dergleichen. Er w\u00fcrde es in einem anderen Raum versuchen m\u00fcssen, aber durch die enge Biegung der Wand hatte er den Eindruck, dass die Station selbst nicht allzu gro\u00df war. Er klappte seinen Kiefer hoch, lauschte einen Moment lang an der T\u00fcr und st\u00fcrmte dann hinaus.\n\n\"Durchsucht die G\u00e4nge hier!\" Charl h\u00f6rte Verfolger in ihrer Muttersprache. Mehrere Banu rannten \u00fcber die T-Kreuzung zu seiner Linken und zwangen ihn, den Kopf schnell abzuwenden und z\u00fcgig nach rechts zu gehen. Um eine Ecke, dann um eine andere, h\u00f6rte er weitere Stimmen und Schritte, die sich aus beiden Richtungen n\u00e4herten. Er w\u00e4hlte die erste T\u00fcr und sprang hinein.\n\n\"Wer zum Teufel sind Sie?\"\n\n\"Angela!\" Sie befand sich in einer Art Plexiglas-Habitat, umgeben von Arbeitsstationen und \u00dcberwachungsger\u00e4ten, aber die Techniker waren alle weg, wahrscheinlich auf der Suche nach ihm. Ihr Kopf war kahl rasiert, aber er konnte ihr Gesicht und ihre Stimme nicht verwechseln.\n\n\"Was bist du, noch ein verdammter Roboter?\", fragte sie ver\u00e4chtlich und sein verwirrtes Gehirn k\u00e4mpfte.\n\n\"Sie sind die echte Angela\", sagte er und setzte die Puzzleteile schnell zusammen. Er konnte sehen, wie sie zu einem \u00e4hnlichen Schluss kam.\n\n\"Wer auch immer Sie sind, Sie sehen zu zerlumpt aus, um ein Androide zu sein! K\u00f6nnen Sie mich hier rausholen?\" Sie trat an die Plexiglaswand zwischen ihnen heran, nahe genug, dass ihr Atem ihre Seite beschlug. \"Ich habe schon ewig keinen Menschen mehr gesehen!\" Dann \u00fcberkam sie ein zweiter Zweifel. \"Sie arbeiten doch nicht f\u00fcr die, oder?\" Damit wich sie wieder zur\u00fcck und be\u00e4ugte ihn misstrauisch.\n\n\"Nicht freiwillig\", gestand er halb und beschloss, sich seine Geschichte f\u00fcr sp\u00e4ter aufzuheben - vorausgesetzt, es gab ein sp\u00e4ter. \"Ist das die T\u00fcr?\", fragte er und deutete auf einen Teil des Plexiglases mit einer Haarnaht.\n\n\"Ja\", sagte die echte Angela und zeichnete mit ihrem Finger die Umrisse nach. \"Sie bedienen es von dem Pult dort dr\u00fcben aus.\" Drau\u00dfen auf dem Flur klapperten Schritte, und Charl machte sich bereit, sich ihrem Zorn zu stellen. \"Was ist denn hier los? Die Laborratten sind alle vor ein paar Minuten weggelaufen.\"\n\n\"Sie suchen nach mir\", sagte er und klickte auf dem Kontrollpult herum.\n\n\"Haben sie auch Ihre Gedanken untersucht?\", fragte sie und sah auf seinen kahlen Kopf.\n\n\"Ja.\"\n\n\"Machen Sie sich keine Sorgen. Die Verwirrung ist nur vor\u00fcbergehend.\"\n\n\"Danke, das ist beruhigend\", sagte er und sie l\u00e4chelten sich durch die durchsichtige Barriere hindurch an, bevor weitere laufende Schritte ihre Angst wieder aufflammen lie\u00dfen.\n\n\"Bitte holen Sie mich hier raus!\", flehte sie, wackelte \u00e4ngstlich auf den F\u00fc\u00dfen und krallte sich mit den Fingern\u00e4geln an der T\u00fcr fest.\n\nDie Steuerelemente waren in Banu-Computersprache, so dass jeder, der sie nicht lesen konnte, nicht in der Lage sein w\u00fcrde, sie zu \u00f6ffnen. Aber er konnte es und er tat es. Die Plexiglast\u00fcr hob sich mit einem Rauschen nach oben. Die echte Angela stand einen Moment lang ungl\u00e4ubig da, dann trat sie aus ihrem K\u00e4fig. \"Es ist gut, da raus zu sein, Sie haben ja keine Ahnung. Was jetzt?\"\n\n\"Wir m\u00fcssen von diesem Orbital weg...\"\n\n\"Wir sind auf einem Orbital?\" Sie legte ihren Kopf ungl\u00e4ubig schief.\n\n\"Das wussten Sie nicht?\"\n\n\"Woher sollte ich das wissen? Sehen Sie irgendwelche Fenster in meiner gl\u00e4sernen Wohnung? Und sie halten mich die meiste Zeit unter Drogen.\"\n\n\"Nun, das sind wir, also brauchen wir eine Rettungskapsel oder so etwas.\"\n\n\"Versuchen Sie es mit der Workstation da dr\u00fcben\", schlug sie vor. \"Vielleicht k\u00f6nnen wir darauf Baupl\u00e4ne abrufen. Oder Orbitalpl\u00e4ne, denke ich.\" Charl fuhr den Bildschirm hoch und klickte sich durch die Men\u00fcs.\n\n\"Was ist Ihre Geschichte?\", fragte er.\n\n\"Ich habe jemanden ver\u00e4rgert\", sagte sie schlicht.\n\n\"Willkommen im Club\", antwortete er und sie kicherte.\n\n\"Ich war Journalistin und habe f\u00fcr Torreele gearbeitet. Sie sagten, ich h\u00e4tte ihren Vertrag gebrochen oder so einen Quatsch.\"\n\n\"Klingt vertraut. Ich hab's ... ja, los geht's!\" Charl fand ein paar verst\u00e4ndliche Pl\u00e4ne, auf denen stand, wo sie sich befanden und was anscheinend Fluchtkapseln waren. Er zeichnete mit dem Finger die Route nach. \"Okay, wir m\u00fcssen ein paar Etagen tiefer gehen. Los geht's!\" \"Warten Sie! Kommen Sie her\", forderte die echte Angela, packte seinen gelben Labormantel am Kragen und zog ihn in einen unerwarteten, feuchten Kuss. Mit offenem Mund. Tief. Er zog sie an sich, gerade als sie den Kuss abbrach.\n\n\"Okay, Sie sind echt.\"\n\n\"Was meinen Sie ...?\"\n\n\"Androiden k\u00fcssen lustig\", sagte sie einfach. \"Lass uns gehen!\" Er beschloss, dass er bis sp\u00e4ter warten konnte, um herauszufinden, woher sie das wusste. Wahnsinn!\n\nSie lauschten an der T\u00fcr und als sie nichts h\u00f6rten, \u00f6ffneten sie sie und schlichen auf den Flur hinaus. Aber kaum waren sie um die erste Ecke gebogen, h\u00f6rte er hinter sich eine vertraute Banu-Stimme.\n\n\"Charl-Grissom, Vertrag zum zweiten Mal gebrochen.\" Es war Tech Zwei, flankiert von ein paar Banu-Sicherheitsleuten mit Laserkarabinern. Real Angela keuchte frustriert auf.\n\nFortsetzung folgt ...","zh_CN":"Home, mother, the army, Judy \u2026\nJoy, loss, remorse, contempt \u2026\nFaces and feelings, places and desires \u2026\nThe gamut of Charl\u2019s life experiences surfaced unwillingly from the depths as the Banu mind ripper stirred his memories. Rendered helpless by its strange neural technology \u2014 as well as who knew how many relaxing injections \u2014 he experienced it as if from afar, a spectral witness to someone else\u2019s chaotic dreams.\n\nAs this went on, his exterior sensations were virtually nonexistent. On a base level \u2014 perhaps it was his survival instinct \u2014 he craved any stimulus from outside his troubled mind. For the longest time he got no relief, but eventually he sensed there was an ebb and flow to the process. Like a fish in the sea, he dove into deep depths for a while, then came closer to the surface where he could \u2014 barely \u2014 see the sun and sky beyond.\n\nUncertain of his own perceptions, even of his own will, he concentrated against the waves of unbidden memories, and on each subsequent ascent he forced himself closer and closer to the surface.\n\nShapes and sounds.\n\nSwept deeper, Charl lunged toward the light.\n\nFaces and voices.\n\nEmotionally exhausted, he mustered his last reserves of strength.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom regaining consciousness.\u201d Charl blinked several times and saw as if through a fog. He choked a bit and that gave him an idea. He forced himself to choke harder and harder, which not only brought him further into consciousness, but got the attention of the Banu techs.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom in distress,\u201d one said, coming nearer. Charl feigned raspier, deeper choking and tensed himself as if he could no longer breathe, writhing desperately against his restraints. \u201cCharl-Grissom danger of suffocation!\u201d\n\nThe Banu tech began to unstrap him so he re-intensified his act. The only other tech came over with a syringe \u2014 something to calm him down, he wondered? One strap was undone, then another. The moment his arm was loose Charl grabbed awkwardly at the tech with syringe in hand and managed to plunge it into his throat. The Banu gurgled and collapsed onto the floor. By the time the second tech figured out there was a problem Charl was fumbling with his other straps.\n\n\u201cAlarm!\u201d The tech tried to restrain him and the two struggled until Charl managed to get a strap around the Banu\u2019s neck and pull it tight. The tech writhed but could not scream, and after a moment Charl let his blurry victim fall lifeless to the floor. He had thought his military years far behind him, but apparently his body retained its discipline.\n\nHe was alone now, shaking his head to clear his mind. He undid strap after strap until he was free. Unable to stand, he flopped onto the floor and crawled to put his ear to the door. Hearing nothing, he opened it and stuck his head out into an empty hallway. He dragged himself quickly into an open wet room across the way and closed its door behind him.\n\nThink, Charl. Think! Until now he had let simple survival guide his actions. Now his clouded mind obstructed more organized planning. He crushed his palms against his temples and rubbed hard.\n\n\u201cWhat the \u2026\u201d Charl caught himself in a mirror. He ripped the skull cap off his shaved head, still dangling wires that he must have yanked free from the Banu mind machine. He was pale and gaunt, wearing a paper-thin robe. How long have they had me under?\n\nVague memories came back to him. The mission, the Banu who hired him, even the android. Charl struggled to put names to them, but every thought scurried off like a rabbit looking for its hole. He felt a terrible chill. Had they wrecked his mind, he wondered? Revulsion swept through his very being. Think! He babbled nonsensically, fearing discovery but fearing a scrubbed mind even more.\n\n\u201cThe \u2026 the \u2026 uh \u2026\u201d he struggled, trembling on the wet room floor. \u201cCome on \u2026 the \u2026 the Reacher!\u201d He caught his breath. Yes, he thought, my ship is the Reacher! And the android was \u2026 uh \u2026 Angela!\u201d He collapsed on the floor in relief, ecstatic at these simple recollections, but that relief was short lived.\n\n\u201cAlarm! Charl-Grissom escape!\u201d Excited voices gathered in the hallway, and he knew it wouldn\u2019t be long before someone poked a head into his wet room. Charl wiped the sweat from his brow and forced himself to his feet. His legs complained weakly, and he had to practically climb up the sinks to stand, but stand he did. More shouting ensued, and an electronic alarm whined loudly through the orbital facility.\n\n\u201cChecking wet room \u2026\u201d The door opened and Charl yanked the yellow-coated tech inside by his throat, shutting the door quickly behind him. He slammed the Banu\u2019s head against the wall and forced him to the floor, snapping his neck loudly. Sonsabitches! They had turned him into a murderer. A quick flip and he pulled his victim\u2019s lab coat off and squeezed into its narrow sleeves. I\u2019ll never pass for a Banu, he thought, but it\u2019s better than running around half naked!\n\nHis only hope was to get off the station. Any Human station would have escape pods, and he was pretty certain the Banu followed the same safety protocol. Once he got free of this place he could trust to his piloting skills to get away, but first things first. A computer link to the station\u2019s layout would be handy, but there was nothing like that in this wet room. He would have to chance some other room, but from the wall\u2019s tight curve he got the impression the station itself wasn\u2019t too big to begin with. He worked his jaw and popped his neck, listened at the door for a quiet moment, then burst out.\n\n\u201cSearch corridors here!\u201d Charl heard pursuers in their native language. Several Banu ran across the t-intersection to his left, forcing him to turn his head away quickly and walk briskly to the right. Around one corner, then another, he heard more voices and footsteps approaching from both directions. He picked the first door and dove inside.\n\n\u201cWho the hell are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cAngela!\u201d She was in some kind of plexi-glass habitat, surrounded by workstations and monitoring devices, but the techs were all gone, probably looking for him. Her head was shaved, but he couldn\u2019t mistake her face and voice.\n\n\u201cWhat are you, another damned robot?\u201d she asked contemptuously, and his addled brain struggled.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re the real Angela,\u201d he said, quickly putting the pieces together. He could see her reach a similar conclusion.\n\n\u201cWhoever you are, you look too ragged to be an android! Can you get me out of here?\u201d She came up to the plexi-glass wall between them, close enough that her breath fogged her side of it. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen another Human in, like, forever!\u201d Then a second doubt struck her. \u201cYou\u2019re not working for them, are you?\u201d With that she backed away again, eying him warily.\n\n\u201cNot voluntarily,\u201d he half-confessed, deciding to keep his story for later, assuming there was a later. \u201cIs this the door?\u201d he asked, indicating a portion of the plexi-glass with a hairline seam.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d real Angela came up to it and traced its outline with her finger. \u201cThey operate it from that panel over there.\u201d A rattle of footsteps rolled through the hallway outside, and Charl braced himself to face their wrath. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? The lab rats all ran off a few minutes ago.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re looking for me,\u201d he said, clicking around on the control panel.\n\n\u201cWere they mind probing you, too?\u201d she asked, looking at his bald head.\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry. The confusion\u2019s only temporary.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks, that\u2019s reassuring,\u201d he said, and they shared a tight smile through the clear barrier, before more running footsteps renewed her fear.\n\n\u201cPlease get me out of here!\u201d she pleaded, shifting anxiously on her feet and clawing at the door with her fingernails.\n\nThe controls were in Banu computer speak, so anyone who couldn\u2019t read it would never be able to get it open. But he could, and he did. The plexi-glass door lifted upward with a whoosh of air. Real Angela stood there for a moment as if in disbelief, then stepped out of her cage. \u201cIt\u2019s good to be out of there, you have no idea. What now?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to get off this orbital \u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re on an orbital?\u201d She cocked her head in disbelief.\n\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t know?\u201d\n\n\u201cHow would I know? You see any windows in my glass apartment? And they keep me drugged up most of the time.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, we are, so we need an escape pod or something.\u201d\n\n\u201cTry that workstation over there,\u201d she suggested. \u201cMaybe we can pull up building plans on it. Or orbital plans, I guess.\u201d Charl punched up the screen, and clicked through menus.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your story?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cI pissed somebody off,\u201d she said simply.\n\n\u201cJoin the club,\u201d he replied, and she chuckled.\n\n\u201cI was a journalist doing contract work for Torreele. They said I broke their contract or some crap.\u201d\n\n\u201cSounds familiar. Got it \u2026 yes, here we go!\u201d Charl found some intelligible plans, locating where they were and what appeared to be escape pods. He traced his finger along the route. \u201cOkay, we need to get down a couple of levels. Let\u2019s move out!\u201d \u201cWait! Come here,\u201d real Angela insisted, grabbing his yellow lab coat by the collar and pulling him into an unexpected, wet kiss. Open mouth. Deep. He pulled her close just as she broke it off.\n\n\u201cOkay, you\u2019re real.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you mean \u2026?\u201d\n\n\u201cAndroids kiss funny,\u201d she said simply. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d He decided he could wait until later to find out how she knew that. Wow!\n\nThey listened at the door and hearing nothing, opened it and slipped out into the hallway. But no sooner had they turned the first corner than he heard a familiar Banu voice behind him.\n\n\u201cCharl-Grissom, contract breached second time.\u201d It was Tech Two, flanked by a couple of Banu security guards holding laser carbines. Real Angela gasped in frustration.\n\nTo Be Continued \u2026"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":33,"created_at":"2013-07-05T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-13 01:42:58","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13081,"next_id":13083}}