In a world where advancement where accomplishments are measured by genetic advances, an officer of the Igmian Genetics and Breeding Institute makes a difference in a whores life.
Breeding Project - Recruiting - Angel Whore
Inside an apartment on the outskirts of town, a young woman sat huddled on a filthy couch listening to the rain batter windows. She kept her arms wrapped around herself as she shivered with memory of time gone by. Her name was Angel, and once upon a time, she had been someone else — someone with a life.
That was before the parties — before the drugs — before the abusive relationships — before she had sold her body to the unforgiving streets. Now, at just nineteen years old, Angel felt like little more than a ghost of her former self — hollowed out and broken by life — beyond repair.
She didn't flinch when the front door burst open with a bang, admitting two burly men dripping wet from the torrential downpour. They were regulars at this point — both clients Gorgo’s — abusers who paid to use Angel's body however they saw fit in exchange for heroine, a place to sleep, and enough food to keep her alive.
"Angel!" the taller one barked, his voice like gravel scraping against stone as he advanced on her. "Where's my money you little whore?"
Angel cowered back into the cushions, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to recall if there had been any cash laying around. She couldn't remember — everything bled together into a hazy nightmare these days.
"I...I don't know," Angel whispered, shrinking back further. "Please, I swear I didn't take it!"
The man's face twisted into an ugly sneer of rage at her feeble protests and he lunged forward. Grabbing Angel by the hair he wrenched her upright with a painful cry. Tears sprang to her eyes but she dared not fight back. She knew she would receive even worse if she did.
"You lying little bitch," he snarled. His breath reeked of whiskey and cigarettes as he continued berating Angel, "I’ll fucking kill you for this!"
The other man moved to stand behind Angel, his large hands gripping her shoulders, She shuddered in revulsion but remained silent.
"Hey now, no need for that," he chided as his fingers dug into Angel's flesh. "The whore just needs some incentive is all."
Angel whimpered but made no further protest as the first man released her hair and backhanded her across the face with enough force to send her sprawling onto the coffee table amidst a shower of empty beer bottles and dried food scraps.
She tasted blood in her mouth but refused to cry out. Tears leaked down Angel's cheeks as she curled into herself — her mind begging this nightmare to end even though she knew there was no waking up from a reality like hers.
The men where no longer paying attention to Angel — too focused on each other they argued over who would get the first go on her tonight. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to disappear into herself — imagining anyplace else but here, even though she knew it was pointless. This was her life now. This was all there ever would be for someone like Angel — a discarded toy, left behind by society, with no hope of reclaiming her stolen innocence.
Angel was resigned to submitting to whatever degradation was coming her way when an unfamiliar male voice cut through the din when the door slammed open once more. "Hey! Get your hands off her!"
Angel's eyes flew open in startled disbelief at this unexpected interruption and found herself staring at a tall broad figure silhouetted in the doorway behind her attackers. He looked familiar but it took Angel several confused moments to place him. He was the man who helped the new tenant move into the apartment next door last week. She had caught only a glimpse of him once, but he had made a big impression.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing pretty boy?" one of the men growled as they turned to face this interloper with murder in their eyes. "This is none of your damn business!"
The newcomer advanced further into the room until he was standing between Angel and her assailants. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and a strange serenity about him — as if he knew something they did not.
"It is now," he stated as his gaze flicked to Angel trembling on the floor. For an instant, sympathy sparkled in his deep blue and gold eyes before hardening back into resolve. "I won't let you hurt her anymore."
The taller thug snorted at this declaration but the other hesitated — eyeing up their challenger. It was clear these two were hardened criminals whereas this intruder looked like he belonged in a stylized photo shoot — not in a South-side brawl.
"You've got some nerve sticking your nose where it don't belong boy," the first man spat as he took a menacing step closer to their unexpected guest. "But if you want a taste of what we do to people who interfere with our business, then be my guest."
Angel's heart seized in her chest at this threat but before she could scream out a warning, the newcomer moved like lightning — his fist connecting with the taller man's jaw in a brutal uppercut that sent him staggering backwards with a grunt of pain.
The second thug lunged forward to retaliate but found himself blocked by a deft sidestep followed up with a rapid succession of blows to his torso and face. It was over in a flash — the newcomer dispatching both men with ease.
Angel watched in stunned disbelief, unable to process what she was seeing. Her rescuer turned back to her with concern etched into every line of his handsome face. He held out one hand palm up in silent offering as he met her gaze over the two fallen bodies. "Come on," he urged — an unmistakable undercurrent of command beneath the soft tone, "Let me help you."
Angel hesitated for a moment before placing her trembling hand into his and allowing herself to be pulled to her feet.
She tried not to stare at the two unconscious men on the floor but failed. "Are...are they dead?" Angel whispered, unable to tear her eyes away. She could feel tears threatening once more but blinked them back — refusing to let herself fall apart, no matter how tempting. She wanted to kick them but her savor had her walking out the door before she could commit actions to the thought.
"No," came the reassuring reply even as Angel's rescuer pressed a comforting hand against her lower back — guiding her down the apartment building center hall. "They'll wake up with some nasty headaches but they'll live."
Angel shuddered at the thought of facing them again once they regained consciousness, which prompted a sympathetic look from Albert, who seemed to understand exactly how she felt without a word spoken.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he murmured as he led her through the door of the apartment next to the one where she had been warehoused. "But don't worry, I won't let them hurt you again."
Angel could only nod in response, too overwhelmed by everything that had transpired to form a coherent thought or actual words. She allowed herself to be ushered inside without protest. Every instinct told her she could trust this stranger — an odd feeling, even though he had saved her with gallant actions – her mind unable to latch onto the quandary well enough to question it.
The apartment was immaculate compared to the hovel next door — all clean lines and modern furnishings that made her feel out of place. Her rescuer ignored her embarrassment as he guided her towards a plush couch. Without thought she sank into the soft cushions with a sigh.
He crouched beside her peering into her eyes searching for signs of injury. "I know that must have been terrifying but I promise you're safe now. They will not look here for you. I have made sure of that."
Angel swallowed hard around the lump forming in her throat before managing a nod as reply. She didn't know why she trusted this man, but his presence was reassuring.
"My name is Albert," he introduced himself, "and I promise you that we'll figure everything out. You are now safe."
Angel took a deep breath through her nose in an attempt to calm the rapid fluttering of her pulse. He seemed so sincere — so genuine — so concerned for her well being, despite not knowing Angel at all. It made something deep inside her chest ache at the thought of freedom — the idea catching in her mind and forcing her to think deeper. Why had she trusted this man? Did he have any drugs? How would he hide her from her pimp Gorgo?
She did not know how long she sat there but when she realized he was just sitting there waiting she spoke up, "I'm Angel. Thank you for saving me."
Albert smiled and took one of Angel's hands into his own — squeezing it as he held her captive with those warm blue and gold eyes of his. "There is no need to thank me," he murmured as his thumb stroked over the pulse point on her inner wrist making goosebumps rise along her arm. "I meant what I said earlier. You’re safe now."
Angel felt tears threatening once more at this declaration but blinked them back even as a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth for the first time in longer than she could remember.
"You're kind," Angel whispered before clearing her throat and glancing away. "Most people wouldn't have…"
Albert shrugged — unwilling to accept credit for something he seemed to view as the right thing to do. He squeezed Angel's hand again before releasing it and rising to his feet.
"Why don't you make yourself comfortable here while I go fetch some ice from the kitchen," Albert suggested. "I'll be right back."
When he returned it was with an ice pack strapped to the back of his right hand and a first aide kit. He set everything down on the coffee table. He looked at her with a warm smile playing about his lips, and said, "There you are," as he reached out to probe at the bruises blossoming across Angel's cheekbone, making sure not to press too hard and cause further pain. "Let me just get these iced up for you and then we can see about getting some food into your system if you're up for it?"
Angel’s eyes lit up and she nodded at the mention of food.
Albert busied himself fussing over Angel as if he were determined to coddle back into health. When he had the grim on her face cleared way, he cupped her chin and lifted, saying, "Your red hair is so beautiful. He paused as he established a stronger link between their minds. Once comfortable with the connection he flooded her mind with acceptance and stirred up memories of her family and friends.
When he spoke again he said, “You might be wondering what's next. About how are you going to get away from Gorgo? Right?"
Angel flinched at her pimps name.
"Shh, Shh. It's okay. He can't hurt you anymore. I promise. I can help you get away from here so you can get your life straightened out."
Her mind snapped back to her old reality and a dry snort of a laugh burst from her, "how the fuck are you going to do that? You know I'm a whore, right? Get it! I’m Angel Whore. And no one fucking cares!"
Albert gave her a long wide smile, letting her anger subside before he told her, "I work for the Extra Solar Colonization Project and you are a prefect candidate to go off world."
Looking like she was going to protest he put a finger to her lips, saying, "You dark red hair and gold flecked freckles are exactly what my project leaders are looking for Rebecca."
A wash of emotions displayed and fought for prominence across her face when she heard her real name for the first time in so long she had lost track. She tried to speak but every word caught in her throat,"I... You… How..."
"Yes I know your real name. And I can also get you off the planet — if that's what you want. You'd have to join up, but hey, it's a fuck of a lot better life than whoring. What do you say?"
Despite everything — every nightmare experience she had endured thus far in her short miserable life — she couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of hope ignite deep inside her from Albert's words. "But will I get to see my family?"
He knew the answer to her question was yes. He also knew she needed reasons to work with specialist for those types of things, so as he pushed more images and emotions designed to enhance her memories of family into her mind, he replied, "Knowing the people who run this operation I am sure if you ask, they will help you with that. Are you in?"
Rebecca jumped up and flung her arms around Albert, saying, "Yes! Yes! Yes! A million times yes!"
He let her celebrate and connected to his Internal Immersive VR. Once he was at his VR desk he made some notes and called the Recruitment Help Line. It took him a few minutes to arrange for someone to bring a portable Einstein-Rosen Bridge to evacuate Rebecca Sans the next morning. He knew she would first go to Igmia’s National Mega City that covers the continent of Antarctica, and then the to moon and beyond. When he got off the call he told her about the plans and encouraged her with both words and mental powers to get something to eat and some sleep.
As she headed to the bedroom Albert, she asked, "You said they would be here tomorrow morning by six O'clock, right?"
"That's what they told me. Get some sleep, tomorrow is the first day of your new life."