Ky

Water seeped into my boots as I stepped out of the droner onto the flooded ground. I wrinkled my nose as a hideous stench wafted up to me, encasing me in its filthiness. It was the heavy scent of decay mixed with sewage. I could discern objects floating in the water as they bumped into my shoes, likely cheap wrappers and other kinds of garbage the Drowners filled their streets with.

I have never been on the ground before, I thought with distaste. It was one thing that if I could’ve avoided it, I would much rather have never experienced. Things smelled much better up in the towers, back at home.

A group of ECCO recruits made their way down the steps behind me, their heavy boots rattling against the metal as soldier androids marched along beside them. I could tell the difference by the measured precision of the android's steps in comparison to the human men.

My men.

I sucked in a breath. Today was the day I had been waiting for; the day that I finally took control again. This was something I needed, and my father knew it. That was why he had tasked me with the most important project of all in ECCO history.

The Marilyn recall.

Acid filled my mouth just thinking the name. Marilyns. I could still remember the day of the explosion in vivid clarity. It had been the last time I had seen the world outside of the one that only existed in my head. The last time my eyes had really worked.

I turned raising my chin to watch as my group arranged themselves around me. Or, I tried to. Everything was dark, my vision enhancement visor filling in the gaps with infrared images where my eyes couldn’t. As far as the eyes went, I could either get the illusion that I had a pair of working ones or something that could actually try and do their job.

I had chosen to see, or at least something close to it.

The cool metallic device settled and molded into my skin, forming to my face from temple to temple. Sometimes I tried to forget it was there, but it was hard to forget the scars burned into my skin under it.

Which was why today would be so satisfying.

I rose my chin, trying to settle on a direction where I was facing the bodies glowing red—the human ones. The androids stood on the other side, their cool metal bodies eerily still in comparison to the living, breathing, human men who all waited for me to speak. The silence hoving over them was anxious and tense.

Today was a big day, and they knew it.

“Thank you for joining me today,” I said, trying to channel the tenor of my father's voice. I felt uncomfortable in front of so many people, usually preferring the sidelines. Even without being able to see the expressions on their faces, I knew they were staring at my visored face. People always did. I was Darius Edden's blind son, after all.

But, could they see the scars that would forever mark me?

Today I was not just Darius Edden’s son. I was more than just Ky Edden, the poor kid that lost his sight in a tragic accident. I was the leader of a revolution. And it all started with today.

I breathed in deeply, wishing I could settle myself with subtly scented hallways of our apartments. They always smelled of Lavender, Mother's preferred scent. Instead all I could smell was this dump the clones called home.

“We gather here today in order to implement a very important task. My father, Darius Edden and the founder of ECCO, has been long calling for an end to the clone contamination of our cities. And it all starts here, today, in New Atlantis.” I paused, letting my words sink in, feeling bolder as I spoke, my father's words echoing through my head. The men remained silent, but I knew I had their attention. They now stood as still as the androids.

“Clones are volatile and full of flaws. Manufacturers have long stopped obeying standard protocol, cutting corners. Letting the defects slid through in order to make some quick cash. They eat up our food, dirty our water and pollute our beautiful city”—I held out my arms for emphasis, indicating the disgusting housing district—”and for what? So that we can live some fantasy with a pretty face? A face we can see on every street corner, in every shape and size? Will we continue down this long road until we are nothing but another City of Sin?”

I heard a few murmurs, sounds filled with disgust. I drew more on the words of my father, the same ones I had heard over and over again every day of my life. The words I had started to really listen to when I could no longer see.

“Not anymore. We will not stand for any further contamination. The End of Clone Contamination Operation officially starts today. Today we initiate the Marilyn recall. Be quick and efficient. Use your droids to scan and apprehend the subjects in your assigned sectors. Do not return until you have them all.” I waited, waiting for anyone who dared to object. I could feel the buzz of anticipation in the men as I let the moment draw out.

I stood back.

“Dismissed.”