The Nightmare Dealers By Doug Klein
2117 AD, Eastern BreachGate Port, UCM
The expo had been over for about an hour, and Thomas Larsen was feeling good about how his presentation went. It was the biggest project he had been a lead on, and it seemed that the whole crowd was buzzing afterwards. Tasked with introducing private investors and large tech firms with his company’s new genetic-altering procedure, he had taken care to take its controversy and turn it into a selling point. And damn, did he nail it.
Larsen worked for HexCore, an energy company looking into unconventional sources for effective power. Thinking outside of the restraints of the world around them, HexCore had found a way to not only tap into a new source of power, but to also set the science world into a frenzy. HexCore had found a way to siphon energy from Hell.
The tech was still in its early stages, and Larson was more of a salesman than a scientist, but from his arduous work on the presentation he understood the basics. Through the study of real-world electromagnetism and the often scoffed at paranormal field, a link was created.
"A highly powerful energy drill focused on a point of a specific electromagnetic energy located within a space and time that was once thought of as just a myth." That was the way Larsen had described it to his audience. The actual workings of it had much more to do with an uncomfortable fusion of archaic rituals and high-tech experimentation, but the end result could not be hidden anymore. His opening statements were greeted with looks of skepticism, but as he delved into the details, curiosity had begun to peak. He had killed it, and he knew it.
Larsen had already begun to celebrate before heading out of the large convention center. A few of the onlookers in attendance had caught him in the VIP area and had bought a surprising amount of drinks, but Larsen was enjoying his moment in the Sun. Too drunk to drive himself, he called for an automated vehicle to drive him to his hotel. He waited in the lobby until the lights of a car flashed across the front doors. Larsen nodded at some other patrons of the expo as he exited the building and trotted up to the car. He swung the backseat door open a little harder than he had wanted and climbed in.
"Maridome Hotel, please." Larsen said as he sat slumped to one side, activating his wristband hologram to access the mech battles he had missed. He had bet on Jungle Death to beat Frost Fire, despite the overwhelming odds, but ever since Jackie Blade had taken over pilot duties Jungle Death had been on a tear. As the small holographic images danced on the band and slowly crushed his chance at winnings, Larsen noticed the car hadn't been moving. He also noticed someone was sitting in the front seat. This was an automated vehicle, there should not have been anyone but him in the car. The face that regarded him was scarred and dirty. A wry smile of broken and blackened teeth took Larsen's attention away from his bad beat.
"We ain't going to Maridome, pal." The stranger said in a shrill and jagged voice. In a blur of motion, the stranger produced a small pistol and before Larsen could move, a sharp pain jabbed at his neck. He reached up and fingered the dart that was now lodged in him, and the outer edges of his vision quickly darkened as the tranquilizer set into effect.
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Thomas awoke with a start, but was greeted by a shroud of jet black. He could not see anything at all, but he could feel a cold wet floor under him. Scuttling back, he backed into a wall and yelped in surprise. His cry had caused more movement to stir near him, and he could hear shuffling and metallic scraping sounds. Pulling in the cold air faster and faster with each breath, Thomas could now feel something attached to his wrists. He tugged back and felt the sharp jolt of resistance accompanied by the jingle of chains. Shackles. Was this one of those organ stings where he would have his innards removed and sold to the highest bidder?
The murmur of a feminine cry to his side made his head whip in the darkness. Blinking and squinting did nothing, the dark prevailed. Thomas could not take it anymore. He opened his quivering mouth and spoke with an exhaled breath.
"Hello?" Just as Thomas spoke, a tsunami of painful white light seared his vision. He tried to put his hands up to block the light, but the shackles disregarded that attempt. Thomas fell forward onto his knees as the echoes of other tormented shouts filled the space. Thomas kept his eyes closed a moment, but approaching footfalls caused him to open them. The light was still accosting him, but he stared at the grimy tile floor as his eyes adjusted. The footfalls grew in volume as a voice emanated from that same direction.
"Well hello. Welcome everyone!" The voice was chipper, but carried an air of superiority. Thomas finally was able to look upon his captor. A tall and lean man stood just at the border of the illuminated part of the room, hovering between the halo of the shadow and light. His face was scarred, and he had an eye patch over his right eye. Bleach blonde hair sat unkempt and just as grimy as the floor. He wore a black leather trench-coat with pink pulsating light along some of the seams. A sadistic smile sat upon his wretched face as he spoke.
"Quite an expo, am I right? Oh, don't look all so down in the dumps! I know the situation may seem a bit confusing, and, well, dire, but I must ask for your attention now. All of you." As he said this, his head scanned the room. Thomas followed suit to see he was not the only prisoner of this madman. A young woman wearing sleek business attire and a heavyset man with an augmented right arm were next to him, shackled and shaking. Thomas turned back to their host, anger now replacing the fear. The man seemed to take note, but continued on.
"Let me introduce myself. You can refer to me as Captain, it’s not my name, just a joke I've become somewhat fond of over the years. Well, we have gathered here some great representatives of the degradation of our society! You, sir! Stand up if you may!" The man gestured to the heavy man, who just sat in fear and awe. Captain shook his head and threw his arms up in an exasperated way, and then began pacing.
"Oh, this will not do. No. Not at all. I mean, I do have a captive audience, but no, we need some participation for this presentation." As Captain spoke, he charged at the man, and with astounding strength, lifted the man by his throat to a standing position. His head snapped in the direction of Thomas and the woman.
"I would suggest you all rise, so we can begin." Captain's eyes radiated of violence, and Thomas stared back as he stood. The woman rose as well, trying to stifle her cries. Captain released the man and stepped back. The man reached for his throat and coughed for a moment before looking at Captain and forcing himself to stay upright.
"Now, you all had some very interesting presentations today at this expo of charlatans and sinners. Do you know the companies you represent have a nickname down here, on ground level? Here under the clouds of death and decay, in the mass of humanity from which you milk your blood money. Do you know what it is? You all work for the Nightmare Dealers. Yes, yes indeed. Those companies like yours!" Captain strode towards the fat man once again, finger pointed in accusation. The fat man flinched and nearly fell to the floor. Captain shook his head and addressed the others in the room.
"This man works for Advanced Mutations, and he gave his presentation on how they believe they can control mutations seen in the Bleak Wilds, and use them to our advantage! The audacity! Instead of healing those mutated and afflicted by horrible deformities, you wish to use it as a product! You have turned abominations into fashion. You disgust me." Captain spat on his chest and then moved to the woman, who was still visibly terrified. Captain got really close, and looked down his nose at her.
"And here, what do we have here? This little specimen thinks she is saving the world's food shortage problem with her master's new augmentations. Do you really think that, dear? Pathetic!" The last word erupted from Captain and sent the woman reeling back into the wall.
"You and your bastard employers are making augments to allow for the consumption of human flesh! Cannibalism! And you, you want to sell it as a form of fine dining! Fuck you and all you stand for my love." Captain reached his hand back as if to strike her, but Thomas could not let that be.
"Fuck you, asshole! What is it you want?" Captain froze as Thomas yelled, and then approached Thomas, that smile once again crossing his damaged face. Thomas did not flinch, and continued on.
"You keep going on and on, like you are some fucking holy man! Get to the point you fucking one-eyed prick!" Thomas had pushed out as far as his shackles would allow, and Captain remained just a hair out of reach.
"Holy man. Strong words from a man who wishes to sell us Hell on Earth. Then again when you deal with the Devil what do you have to fear? Well, that's what I have been going on about my dear sir. Fear. You and these lot have been selling us this nightmare world one curse at a time, and now, we are here to give a little back." Captain snapped his fingers and from the shadows more people dressed similarly to Captain came into the light. One carried a large metal tube hooked up to some sort of apparatus. It looked like a weapon.
Captain strode over and took the object from one of the silent newcomers and carried on.
"You see, you are all representatives of the things that are destroying our world. But here, we have something in common. We do. I am a representative as well. I represent the Neon Templars. We are what those living in the skylines and chrome seas of the metros need. A dose of fear from below. Now we do not have the resources you do, by no means, but we have our own inventions. Our own innovators. And, our own toys to show off. Like this here. This, by all means is just a prototype mind you, but what it does is so astounding that, well, let me show you."
In a quick motion Captain pointed it at the fat man and it belched a bright green flash along with a thunderous boom. Within the boom was a shrill but short scream, and as the aura of green diminished, the fat man was gone. On the wall behind where he was standing was a scarlet splatter that formed a gruesome silhouette. The blood on the wall bubbled from heat and began to run down the wall in tiny streaks.
"Ah, you see it is supposed to totally vaporize, but we haven't worked out all the kinks, but this effect is quite impressive, is it not?" Captain said to no one in particular.
The woman screamed and covered her face as tears began to flow. Thomas looked in utter shock, unable to process the death he had just witnessed. Captain reached into his pocket and pulled out an ID badge from the expo. He walked up to the sizzling silhouette and affixed the badge in the blood approximately where it would have hung on the man.
"Karl Belso. Exhibitor." Captain said as he stepped back and walked towards Thomas. He stopped in front of the distraught woman and cocked his head to the side. Swinging the weapon in her direction, another green flash illuminated the space as a second silhouette appeared on the wall.
"Fuck! For fuck's sake, why!" Thomas shouted as the woman who had been next to him was now just the permeating scent of burnt flesh and boiling blood.
"Ellen Hughes. Exhibitor." Captain read the badge as he placed it in the gore.
"Why? This is our mission statement. And you three will be our opening statement." Captain said as he leveled the weapon at Thomas. Rage had returned to Thomas and he stood defiantly, awaiting his fate.
"Got to Hell." Thomas spat at Captain. Captain just smirked.
"You already have." Captain said just before he created a third silhouette. He pulled out a badge with a picture of Thomas and his name. He snorted and placed the badge as the others had been. He stood back and for just a moment admired his work. He turned and snapped his fingers as he left the room, and the other followed.
As they left, the last one out set a timer on the door. Six hours. The clock ticked down in a silent room as the night passed and the morning came. When the timer hit all zeroes, large metal doors slowly slid open, and the hazy smog filtered sunlight came into the room and shone upon three figures of dark red. A crowd began to gather around the glass that the metal doors had concealed, the three figures stood with badges. Gasps of horror, screams, and murmurs of disgusted awe fluttered through the gathering. The glass began to have holographic words running across it like a news ticker. The message was simple.
WHAT ARE THE NIGHTMARE DEALERS SELLING YOU?
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