Just a ghost girl

The ghost of Base IV

I stopped as far as I could from the door but as close that it would be clear where were we heading. There really should be more automated doors in the base. How easy it would have been for me right now. 

"Aren't you going to open the door?" Dylan asked.

Since I could only see his eyes, I wasn't 100 % sure but, he seemed like grinning at me. I looked at the door and back to Dylan. The best thing I had come up with was that my hands hurt or the door was too heavy for a weak girl like me. But I didn't think they would buy it. 

"We don't have all day to wait here," one of the rebels yelled.

"Open it!" said one another of them and tried to push me, but his hand went through my back and it looked like he was grabbing my breasts. 

I jumped away and covered my upper body with my hands. Everyone else seemed surprised but not Dylan. Maybe he was good at hiding his surprise or he had known all the time who I was. I wondered what should I do now. Could I find our unit faster than they would fetch Rebecca? 

"Maybe you left part of the introduction out when we met," Dylan said, "But I assume you are the ghost of Base IV?"

I flinched for the surprise that he knew who I was. How was that possible? Everyone in the base knew of my situation but I hadn't known anyone outside the base knew. 

"There is no need for you to take us to the control room anymore," Dylan continued, "We would rather like you to take us directly where your body is."

How much did they know? It would have been possible that I was just made by computer. But it seemed they knew that I was a real person. What did they want from my body? They're some kind of cult that didn't believe in technology and I needed to be destroyed. Or were they thinking that I was an actual ghost and my body needed purification so that my soul could find some rest? I didn't like any of the ideas that popped in my head. Couldn't figure out any good reason why this group of rebels wanted to see my real body. 

"If I take you, will you kill me?" I asked.

It was a really stupid question. Why on earth would they admit that they had come here to kill me? But it was not like I had any better questions on my mind and I wasn't just going to take them there because they asked. They might think I was simple-minded and even if I was, I truly wished I wouldn't be that simple. 

"Technically no," answered.

What would that possibly mean? It wasn't considered murder for them because technically I was already dead for them? I don't think there is any grey area in this. Either they would end up killing me or not. My face probably showed the million emotions and thoughts because Dylan hurried to continue:

 "We are here after the technology that allows you to be..." he waved his hand around me.

"Officially I'm a hologram but you can say ghost if you wish," I helped him because I really wanted him to finish that sentence.

"Yes, of course. We are after the one-of-kind technology that allows you to be a ghost. The machine is a prototype so when we took it this ghost part of you will die or vanish. But we don't have any reason to do anything to your body. We will just take the machine."

His story made sense. Since I was nobody why would they be here for me? Of course, they were after the technology. I was a little bit surprised to hear that the technology that made me a hologram was one-of-a-kind. It was pretty odd that they had given it use for a person like me. Or maybe because it was just a prototype they had really needed a person like me to test it out. I didn't mind being a guinea pig in this project but would have appreciated it if someone had just told me that this is the first time in human history that this machine was in use. 

To be honest I was kind of disappointed. It would have been like a fairytale if they had been here for me because I was special. I would have been kidn*pped by these evil rebels (although they didn't seem to be so bad behaving people). Then Matteo would gather a rescue team and come personally save me. He would then be very sorry for nothing having so much time for me. 

But the reality was always much darker and more boring so it was probably a very good thing that no one wasn't interested in me. Although it would have been nice if someone would once a while ask how I was doing.  Like Nicolas was just punishing me for everything I did. He had never asked how I was doing. it was not easy to be a ghost. On his behalf, I would have to admit that if I was the first ghost/hologram girl ever, they probably didn't know any of the side effects it did to you. For example when you were bored to death and just wanted some attention so that people would acknowledge that you existed and were a real person.

"Oh, I understand, " I answered.

"So you will take us there?" Dylan asked.

That was the problem. Did I want to lead them to where my body was? I didn't really care if they took the machine, it wasn't really my problem. It would be the leader's problem and that way maybe Matteo's problem. I wasn't sure if I wanted to cause him trouble. He might already be very disappointed in me. Of course, he might be just busy but I had a feeling that he was colder towards me than he used to be. Was it because I was a ghost or something more complicating. Maybe he was angry because of me running away. If I could just remember why I did that.

"Why do you want it?" I asked just to buy some time.

The rebels seemed more and more nervous while I was thinking. Of course, for them, the clock was thinking. Our unit could find them any time soon. But I on the other had all the time on earth. No need to go anywhere, no need for food or bathroom breaks. 

"We have some person in our camp that has been in a coma for many years." Dylan explained, "He's getting worse day by day, and when we heard of this technology we thought to give it a shot. It might not improve his condition but maybe his family would be able to talk to him for at least the short time he had left."

Oh! It was kind of a heroic goal considering that the punishment if they got caught, might be losing their freedom for the rest of their lives. Most of the intruders were send to working camps. It would be heavy work for decades or for a lifetime. And I was bored of this kind of life anyway. Maybe it would be better, that the technology went for those that really needed it. I should be wake in less than a year. But for some people might never wake up.

I was about to agree but thought it for one more second. It was too good to be true, wasn't it? They probably just saw me as an inexperienced girl that would believe any kind of sob story. And even if it was true I should at least show them that I wasn't going to believe every word they said. 

"That sounds kind of a made-up story," I answered, "What is the real reason you want it?"

Even though I couldn't see it because of the mask he was wearing but I'm kind of sure Dylan had a very wide smile on his face. Had he been testing me and how gullible I was?

"Part of it was true," Dylan said, "The person is real but why do we want the technology is to get some information before it dies with him."

Of course, there was an ulterior motive. If I had continued to dig a little deeper, I might be able to find out that the person wasn't even their friend but an enemy they wanted to interrogate. This really was a complicated situation although I was more and more sure that I should not take them to me.

"We don't have time for this," some of the others said, "We have to keep moving."

Dylan nodded and tapped his watch. Map of the base appeared in it and there was a different color of dots. They had probably broken in the main system. That's why they had been able to avoid our units so far.

"I'm guessing the body is in the medical level," Dyland said "She would have probably been willing to lead us to the upper floors where she thinks their units are patrolling. But because she is hesitating her body is somewhere else and because she is in a coma the medical level is our best choice."

Damm, he was clever. 

"And now that look on her face verifies my thoughts, "he then continued, "Let's go."

They all went past me to the stairs but instead of going up, they went down. The Medical levels were three floors down. I felt stunned. Had I just given them the information they needed to find my body and steel the technology they wanted. I had never felt so stupid before.