Nimda

Summary – Alex Reed is the son of a senator and former government agent, except he couldn't care less about politics and just wants to be left alone. When a family friend informs him that his uncle's disappearance has gone unreported, he accidentally gets involved in a government cover up and coup.

Or was it accidental?

After a little debate, his captors decide to recoup some financial losses and sell him into slavery in the fast growing underground market. Alex struggles to maintain composure, stay alive and sane and plot revenge, even as hints of an underground resistance reach him in the midst of his captivity.

Author's notes: I would like to take this moment to briefly explain a bit. First, yes there is slavery and non consensual sex, but I love my craft and try to present these themes as realistically as possible. Also, they will not be the only themes of the story and will simply serve as a backdrop to a much bigger (and hopefully long) story of hatred, suffering and revenge. I hope that doesn't deter anyone from reading. I'd also like to emphasize that the tags apply to the most basic of things as I don't know exact specifics at this moment in time. If I think something is coming up that a person may not like, I might warn you in the A/N but, imho, if it bothers you that much, you should just skip it.

All feedback is welcome. While I won't say this is my best attempt at writing, I still put effort into it and desire any criticism. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it.


Chapter 1 - Interface

Alex Reed felt his eyes slowly open to the dimness of his apartment. His bed shifted slightly, conforming to his body in an attempt to get him to sleep, the Smart Life computer sensing his distress. “Di...who's at the door?”

A soft, technical voice answered. “It's a man named Samuel Bateman.”

Alex covered his eyes and sighed, irritation clear in his voice. “Let him in.”

“Shall I make you coffee and turn on the main screen?” Alex felt the bed become rigid and uncomfortable, forcing him to get up.

“Just the coffee, thanks.” He stood, stretching, one hand rubbing his eyes as he walked toward the kitchen. There stood the man who had tried to contact him at three in the morning. He was shaken, his hair disheveled and his eyes red, with large, black circles outlining them. “Sammy, what the hell do you want?”

The man bowed deeply. “I'm sorry, it's just, I didn't want to bother your mother at this time of night.”

“So, you decided to bother me, instead?” Alex grabbed the cup of coffee that had been set on the counter. “Thanks, Diana.” He heard the computer whir in response.

“You don't understand. It's about your uncle.” He reached into his pocket, retrieving a videophone device and handed it over. “He hasn't contacted me in over twenty-four hours.”

Alex took the device and checked it, seeing the icon next to his uncle's name that read unavailable. “That's not like him. Uncle Thomas knows he needs to be open for communication at all times.” He handed it back, reaching for his own. Sure enough, the symbol remained the same, with a small message reading currently unavailable on the videophone screen. “Have you contacted the bureau?”

“N-no. I don't want to cause any alarm...”

“Damn it, Sammy, that's the first thing we need to do!”

“No wait! I don't think we should. I mean...” Alex now saw that Samual was shaking, his lip trembling and his eyes wide with fear. “I just get the feeling that wouldn't be a good idea.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I-I don't know!” He grabbed at his hair frantically. “I just have this feeling.”

Alex shook his head. He's a mess without Uncle Thomas. Poor guy. He set the phone down and instead headed for a couch situated from across a large, wall sized screen. “Diana, get Kurt on video.”

“Right away.” Immediately, Alex was met with a tired face, a large metal plate in one hand and a can of energy drink in the other.

“What? Alex? It's three in the morning.” Kurt rubbed his eyes, straining against the light of Alex's apartment. “I'm not on the big screen am I? Jesus, man I'm studying.”

“I need you to try and find out if my uncle has been reported missing. Run a script through Peach and let me know.”

“Your uncle?” He looked around the room and sighed. “It'll take a while and she's charging right now. I'll bring her over tomorrow. You have a better connection anyway.” He didn't wait for an answer, setting the metal plate down and downing the rest of the drink.

“Fine. But be here first thing tomorrow.”

///

“Mornin'.” Kurt muttered as he stumbled through the door of Alex's apartment, a foot high case in one hand and a bag in the other. Without skipping a beat, two large cups of coffee were set on the counter beside him by a mechanical arm. “Damn,” he set the bag down and took a swig of the beverage. “I wish my parents could afford a Smart Life computer.”

“You can also have all the annoyances that come with political parents like higher expectations and arranged marriages. Also, every career except trial lawyer and accountant is a waste of time.”

Kurt polished off the first cup, grabbing the second. “Touche, my friend.” He set the case down on the coffee table, his bag now leaning against it, on the floor. “I ran a diagnostics of Peach this morning and she checks out. She's ready to run the script anytime.” He looked up for a moment, seeing Samual on the end the couch, his face pale, even with a cup of coffee in his hands.

Alex, seeing the stare, leaned forward, whispering. “Old friend of the family. He's the one who informed me of my uncle's sudden disappearance.”

Kurt simply nodded before undoing the clasps on the case. Out stepped a foot high woman in a long blue dress, her proportions slightly chubby. It was as though she were a doll stuck between looking like a full grown, miniature woman, and a baby doll. Kurt reached down, smoothing out the blonde fibers that acted as her hair.

“Good morning!” She smiled up at Alex, tilting her head only frowning at his queasy expression.

“No offense, Peach. You're a technical marvel, but I still find you a tad creepy.”

“Is it because she looks like a person?” Kurt reached into his bag, pulling out his videophone, a glasses case and gloves with wire sensors attached.

“No, it's because she acts so human. It's like she has emotion and intuition. Well, that and I know why some guys buy the female models.”

“Hey! I think the new sexuality features are creepy too. My sister just bought one that looks like a runway model. He's programmed to act romantic and crap. I mean, Christ, they're computers.”

Peach sat down on the edge of a decorative bowl. “OS142 – model b12 is designed to act as a tutor. Personality enhancement is only meant to foster social expression in the owner.”

“That doesn't stop some owners from doing dirty things to them.” Alex gave her an awkward smile and laughed when she looked disgusted. “See, that's what's creepy. You have the ability to find disgust in that. Was she programmed that way or did you teach her that?”

“Her personality is that of an authority figure, like a tutor or teacher, so she automatically feels that way.” Kurt sighed turning to the small girl that now looked at him impatiently. “Run the script, Peach.”

“Okay.” Seeming happy to have something to do, she bowed her head and became motionless.

“I'd like it if you let me leave her here occasionally. She seems to like Diana a lot.”

“Really? Diana's more like a butler than anything else. I don't even know what she thinks of in her spare time or if she does that at all.” Alex paused, glancing at Samuel. “Are you alright?”

“I'd feel better if I could get some straight answers.” He remained completely still through their conversation.

“We're working on it. It should only take Peach an hour to come up with a resolute answer.”

Samuel began wringing his hands. “That long?”

“Well, if you want we can call the bureau?”

“No!” Both young men were startled by the sudden outburst and wide eyed gaze of the disheveled man.

“Sammy, what's wrong?” Alex shifted in his seat, reaching a hand out.

“I just want to know some things before we go there.” Samuel had calmed down slightly, his voice more even. “That's all. That's all, I promise.”

///

An hour later and Kurt had put on the gloves and some contacts and was now typing away at the report Peach had given him. To the casual observer, it would look as though he were pantomiming being at a PC, even as his eyes darted back and forth, absorbing the information. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“No reports. Not a single one of missing agents. In fact, it says that they still have contact with him at this very moment.” Alex twisted his mouth, confused even as he felt Samuel's sharp intake of breath.

“Do you think your communicator is just messing up, Sammy? Maybe the connection isn't reaching you for some reason?”

“But what about yours?”

Alex closed his eyes. “That's right...mine too. Maybe we should go down to the bureau.” He half expected Samuel to protest and was surprised when he heard nothing. The look on the man's face was pained as though he were tossing life and death options around in his head. “You don't have to come with us.”

“No, I-I want to.”

///

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” Alex sat alone in a large, intimidating office, wallscreens showing various interactive paintings, the windows showing a sunny beach scene, even if the actual beach was 300 miles away. His hands were sweaty when he placed them on the arm rests of the chair, taking in a lung full of air before letting it out slowly.

“Nonsense. Your father was a great man. I was proud to work with him.” Mr. Hall, the current leader of the Bureau of Investigation, sat back, his hands together in a thoughtful way.

“You remember him?”

“Of course! He was one of our best and he married into one of the most affluent political families. Shrewd, intelligent and quick on his feet—he was the ideal agent.” He seemed to have a far away look, his gray hair and bushy eyebrows giving away his age. There were deep bags under his eyes as evidence of a life of little sleep and his hard set mouth made him look determined in everything he set out to do.

Alex felt himself shake just a bit. Why had Sammy been so afraid of coming here in the first place? He couldn't shake the look the frightened man had given him. “My uncle.”

“Ah, yes, Thomas. Marie, do me a favor and pull Thomas Reed's file for me.”

“Yes sir. What do you want to know, sir?” A technical voice, not unlike Diana, whirred through the room.

“Status report, Marie.”

“Confidential, sir.”

Mr. Hall paused after pulling up a digital file only he could see, glancing at the boy in front of him. “I see.” He licked his lips, pondering as his eyes darted about it thought. “Listen, son. What I am about to tell you is highly confidential and you must promise to keep it private until its publicly released. No telling family, friends or anyone else.”

Alex simply nodded, wanting to ask why the man was telling him, but afraid that the question would make him stop.

“You uncle is...most likely dead. As a matter of fact, quite a few agents have been killed. We're trying to keep it under wraps in order to avoid a mass panic. You must understand the importance of keeping this a secret.”

Alex nodded, not realizing the death grip he had on the arms of the chair. His uncle was dead? How many others? He felt himself biting his lip when the man put a hand on his shoulder. Taking the hint, he stood.

“Here.” Mr. Hall offered a infochip. “It was your father's. I don't feel right not giving it to you and, considering the age of the case, nothing on it is confidential anymore. It's only his files but, I thought you might like to have them.”

“Why do you have this?” Alex stared at the small chip in his hand, his mind swirling with questions.

“I was going to give it to your mother but I never worked up the courage. It's been sitting in my desk for the better part of a year.” He chuckled dryly. “Better late than never, I suppose.”

Alex pocketed the chip and nodded, leaving the office, his face still painted in concern and sickness.

“Hey,” Kurt approached him, though Samuel stayed back, his back to the wall, wringing his hands. “Well, what is it?”

“I can't tell you.”

“What? Jesus, you look like crap.” Kurt stared, his brows knit with concern.

“Can we just go?” Alex felt as though someone was squeezing his chest. “I feel dizzy.”

///

Kurt had since gone home, taking Peach with him and saying things about a study date and calling him the next morning. Samuel, on the other hand, had simply left without a word, still shaking and sweating as though he were on trial.

“Sorry for dragging you into this, Kurt.” Alex mused aloud as he rolled the chip around in his fingers. It was well past midnight but he couldn't bring himself to sleep, even at Diana's insistence. She was currently playing relaxing music and releasing a soothing scent into the air and, though it failed to make Alex feel tired, it did help him relax. He sighed, walking to an access panel on the wall and mounting the chip. “Diana, display, please.”

There was a loud static noise followed by hissing. The screen turned on, filled with different colored squares that shot in and out of existence. The hissing noise reached a fevered pitch as Alex covered his ears. “Shit, Di, what the hell is going on!”

“A...m...g...shh...” The computer's voice was drowned by static, coming in an out in spurts. Alex pulled out the small chip and, still covering his ears, he ran into his room, immediately removing a larger chip from the wall and pulling a lap computer out from under his bed. It was a dinosaur, but it would have to do. With the removal of the large chip, the hissing stopped and there was an audible sound of something large and electronic shutting off. He connected the larger chip to his computer and booted it up.

“Di?”

“V...virus...system...m-m-mal...function...”

“Shit! What the hell kind of virus acts that fast!?” He grabbed his hair, panting, thinking quickly. He had never encountered anything like it. The damn thing had destroyed the virus protection, proxies and firewalls, and in seconds had destroyed the failsafe AI. “Oh my God...” Alex set the computer down on the coffee table and picked up the discarded infochip on the floor. Memories of the day shot through his head and his knees felt wobbly. But why? Why would he?

As the thought left him, he heard the sound of the front door being hacked. In seconds it was open and an entire team of men in dark uniforms was piling into his apartment. One of them approached him with cuffs.

Alex's mind swam, the air leaving him as desperation filled every bone. He didn't need to ask why they were here. He knew, and the feeling was terrifying.

“Alex Reed, you are under arrest for running an illegal script through a government database.” The man continued on, reciting the same rules he used for everyone as two of the men held his hands together behind his back.

“W-what? But that's not an arrest worthy offense...that's only a fine and-”

The men ignored him as the first one walked behind him with the cuffs in hand, his speech finished. Alex felt his hands grow sweaty again as the world seemed to still. His breathing was fast and he could hear it rushing in and out of him. He threw a punch connecting with one of the uniformed men in from of him, followed by a kick to the one behind. He thrashed and struggled, hitting a few men here and there and causing them pain, though it did nothing to stop them from beating him to the ground and cuffing him all the same. One of the men removed a taser from his belt and fired it, the prongs latching into Alex's skin and delivering a shock whenever the officer felt he needed on.

The pain was enough to make him lose balance and coordination as he vaguely registered being pulled up and nearly dragged to the cruiser. The men were quiet, efficient and not a single neighbor had heard the exchange, their own Smart Life computers helping block out the external noise of other tenants. Alex briefly wondered what they would tell his landlord. Or, hell, his mother.

///

“Put it on the books. There's to be an official trial with witnesses, however it won't be broadcast. Yes, yes, just hire some people to compile and stage a case, get a computer in there to record it and ship it off. Just keep it quiet. We're almost there. We just need a few more and it's ready. This last one will be a big hit to their stability.” Alex felt his head pounding and he reluctantly opened his eyes. He felt cool floor under his cheek, but when he moved to stand up, he felt resistance. There was a dim light above him, and a voice carrying on behind him and after a little struggling he found his arms and legs were bound and his mouth had been gagged.

The voice continued. “I don't think you understand this woman's importance. One word from her and nearly half the senate is rallying. She wages power on her own. Anything attempting a takeover wouldn't stand against her. It's simple. We just take out the queen and the bees have no where to go. Trust me on this, Senator Reed is our ticket to weakening them. She's a rallying spirit. Without her, they'll break.”

Alex felt his heart pound so hard, he thought it might leave him. Mother.

“I really wouldn't worry about it.” The voice was still talking, Alex assumed it was a simple telephone conversation, considering he couldn't hear the other person, even as he slowly approached him. The footsteps echoed off the walls in a way to suggest the room was big, empty and made of stone.

“Alright then. Good bye.” He heard the voice sigh and put the device away before closing the gap between them. “Good morning, sleepy head. Did we have a good rest last night?” Alex felt a foot on his shoulder forcibly turn him onto his back. “I didn't expect to see you back here so soon.”

Alex squinted, unable to made out the distinct features of the shadowy figure above him, though the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

“Took you long enough to put in that chip, didn't it. I thought we'd be out there all night.”

His heart pounded faster in his chest, blood rushing to his face. The man's face became clearer as he leaned down close enough for Alex to smell his breath. Mr. Hall was smiling, the amusement on his face sending shivers down the young man's spine. Alex felt his stomach tighten in a knot as sickness built up in him. The man stood, letting him curl into a fetal position while he made another phone call.

///

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions I will be more than happy to respond. The more readers I get, the more encouraged I'll be to continue. Remember, criticism is more than happily accepted so feel free to leave it.

- Athena