Saints in a Chip

The hounds were still far from Jude's location point, but even so, their growls could be heard clearly. He had no idea what to do. Stay hidden? Run? The fear began to creep in, and Jude seriously considered Barbara’s suggestion of praying. “For fuck sake, just let me survive this,” he muttered.

He activated the Expanded Vision Skills, willing himself to scrutinise his surroundings. The clear, precise view range extended smoothly from 8 meters to 2.8km, but all he could see was an endless stretch of sand ahead.

Just as he began to lose hope, something caught his eye in the distance.

A jeep raced toward him. He squinted, trying to make out the figures inside the vehicle, but they were still blurry behind a veil of sand. His mind raced, flickering between hope and angst. Maybe they were allies; at least, they looked like humans. But being human was never a synonym for safe and nice.

Suddenly, the sound of an automatic machine gun erupted, echoing across the dunes as the gunfire pierced through the air. Jude’s heart dropped as he realised it was aimed at the hounds charging toward him.

The bullets tore through the air, kicking up clouds of sand and sending the hounds scattering in every direction. But none of them seemed to wound the hoard.

“Holy fucking fuck—what the hell are they doing?” Jude shouted, his eyes wide as he watched the chaotic scene unfold. The jeep continued to advance, and he could see the two figures more clearly now. They definitely looked like humans.

“Jude, you need to decide quickly!” Barbara's voice urged, cutting through his daze. “You can either stay hidden and observe or move toward the jeep for safety! I will start, initiating countdown, starting, 10, 9, 8--”

"Cancel! Stop! I don't need a fucking countdown, for fuck’s sake!" Jude yelled at himself.

“7, 6…”

He hesitated between the sight of the hounds regrouping and the sound of gunfire, freezing him on the spot.

“5, 4…”

The horde’s focus shifted toward the jeep, their howling louder as they began to pursue the vehicle with frenzy. The jeep started to roll around him, circling like a predator playing with its prey. He couldn't understand the plan. Why were they just driving in circles?

“3, 2…”

The jeep stopped the shooting and spun around, the tyres kicking up clouds of sand. The hounds followed relentlessly, their dark, smoked forms darting obsessed after the vehicle. Jude could feel the adrenaline pumping through him, the fear of being caught clawing at his insides. But just as they had appeared, the horde seemed to dissipate, vanishing like sandcastles crumbling. How was that possible?

“1…”

The jeep continued to drive for a long minute in circles, its engine roaring, until it finally came to a stop right next to Jude. He blinked in disbelief, trying to process what had just happened.

“0! Countdown terminated.”

A large man with a full grizzly beard and a bandana on his head leaned out of the driver’s side window, a wide grin spreading across his face. “You need a ride, kiddo?” he asked, his voice booming louder than the jeep.

“Uh, yeah! I guess...” Jude replied, feeling a rush of relief and chuckled nervously. “I thought I was a goner back there!”

“Hop in!” the man urged, motioning for him to get into the passenger seat.

Jude wasted no time and jumped into the jeep, feeling the sun's warmth on the seat's leather as the vehicle’s interior enveloped him with its musky smell.

A woman with luscious black hair and vivid green eyes whose uniform left little to the imagination was in the back seat, cleaning and adjusting her gear. “Nice to see you made it,” she said with a smirk.

“I’m Delila, and that’s Bart,” she stated, gesturing toward the driver, who gave a brief nod in acknowledgement.

“Thanks for the save,” Jude said, still catching his breath. “What just happened with those aliens?”

“Just a little hack we have up our sleeves,” the man replied, shifting the jeep into gear. “They tend to get distracted easily when you know how to play the game. Now, let’s get out of this sand trap.”

As the jeep roared back to life, Bart said, his hands expertly manoeuvring the wheel. "Welcome to Nirvana, kiddo!"

Jude raised an eyebrow, confused by the mention of Nirvana. It could be the jeep's name or some nickname for the starting cell, but he wasn’t sure. He thought to himself it was yet too early to ask. But he could hear Barbara in his mind as she guessed his thought.

“Initiate analysis of the data Nirvana. Starting, loading data: 2%...”

“So, what’s the plan now?” Jude asked, eager to get a sense of direction.

“Now we go home, son,” Bart said with a wide grin. “I’m starving. What about you, Lila?”

Delila nodded, her hair bobbing slightly as she leaned forward. “I could eat something,” she admitted, shooting a playful glare at Bart.

“Let’s hope it’s Tom on kitchen duty,” Bart said. “His cooking is a bit hit or miss, but when he hits, it’s glorious.”

“Or it could be the infamous burnt veggie casserole special,” Delila grimaced, shaking her head. “Remember the last time?”

Jude couldn’t help but smile at their banter. “I’m in for whatever it is, as long as it’s edible. I'm not picky. I don't think anyone can really be picky nowadays.”

Bart glanced back at him now more seriously. “Don’t worry, son, we’ll make sure you’re well-fed. We take care of our people, you'll see.”

The jeep stopped abruptly, jolting Jude awake. He blinked, disoriented, realizing he hadn’t even noticed when he had fallen asleep.

Bart got out first, slamming the door behind him while Delila waited for Jude to exit before following him.

As they stepped out of the jeep, they found themselves next to what looked like a small military base. Jude squinted at the buildings, taking in the sight. Something felt off. No flags fluttered in the breeze, and the perimeter was eerily quiet—no guards patrolling or sounds of life. It almost looked abandoned.

The settlement had only a few units—four, as far as Jude could count—as they walked into the central block. It looked like a lobby space, with a kitchenette that hinted someone was cooking. A half-chopped board lay on the counter, with remnants of vegetables scattered around and a pan in the oven bubbled with boiling water, forgotten.

Bart stepped forward, quickly flicking his wrist to turn the oven off. “Tom? Tommy, are you there?” he called out.

Delila made no sound, her eyes scanning the area, visibly worried.

“Tom? Tomas!” Bart called again.

“Just a minute! I’m only one man!” a tall figure responded from within.

Jude could see the outline of the man's shirt clinging to his muscles. As he stepped into view, Jude noted the frustration etched below Tom’s moustache.

“Lazaro, he’s throwing up. I think he’s getting worse.” With that, he walked past them, a bucket in hand that smelled of foul vomit. Jude frowned at the stench as the man hurled the contents far from the entrance, the liquid splattering onto the ground. "We need to call Len."

“Wait a minute, Tommy. Laz has only been sick for two days,” Bart called out, following Tom outside.

Jude turned to Delila, trying to piece together what was happening. He didn’t need to ask any questions.

“Lazaro is one of us,” Delila explained, her tone serious. “But he has been... unwell. On and off, on and off. We think he is near to …dying.”

Jude recalled that most of the pod occupants were elderly people, and it was natural that their bodies would degenerate with time. They couldn’t be connected forever, and the toll was evident.

“What is the procedure?” he asked. “How do we help him?”

“We call Len. We always call Len.”

“Who is Len?”

Delila looked at him from head to toe and back again, a playful smile creeping onto her face. “Looks like I’m on kitchen duty! Wanna help?”

She was obviously avoiding the question about Len. He locked his gaze with her, hoping to dig some information; hence, he looked straight into her striking green eyes, but all he could see was the reflection of his face, smudged with dust and his hair glued to his forehead with sweat.

It wasn’t working; he couldn’t get into her. He needed a moment to regroup and clear his mind.

“Is there somewhere I could wash my face?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Oh yeah, next turn to the left and two doors on your left,” she pointed out while tying an apron around her waist.

“Thanks.”

He walked, following Delila’s instructions, until he noticed a door ajar on his right. Curiosity piqued, he approached cautiously, peering inside. The dim light revealed the silhouette of a young man sitting on the bed, struggling to breathe; all that came out was a wheezing sound.

“Completed analysis of the data Nirvana. Progress, loading data: 100%...” Barbara's voice interrupted Jude's thought. “Nirvana is a term derived from the Sanskrit word Nirvāṇa, meaning ‘blowing out’ or ‘quenching.’ In spiritual contexts, it refers to a transcendent state free from suffering, desire, and the cycle of rebirth—samsara. It is often described as a state of ultimate peace and liberation.”

Jude swallowed hard. This man, Lazaro, struggling for each breath, was far from any state of peace.

Barbara made a small pause before continuing, “In popular culture, the term ‘Nirvana’ is also widely recognized as the name of the iconic rock band known for their influence on the grunge music scene in the early 1990s. The band was disbanded in 1997 when their vocalist lost his life.”

“That didn’t answer my question,” Jude muttered, shaking his head as he walked away from the door and finally found the bathroom. The light flickered overhead, and he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

He leaned against the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Water stains marred the glass. Taking a deep breath, he turned on the tap, splashing cold water on his face, trying to clear his mind.

“Thanks for the trivia, Barbara, but I’m more interested in understanding what’s going on here.”

He washed his face, and it was exhilarating. The water felt unworthly alive, refreshing against his skin. He splashed it on his face a few times, savouring the sensation as if it were the first time he had truly felt it. **

It felt different.

Jude looked at his reflection again in the small square mirror. He stared intently at himself, searching for something familiar. He looked the same—same tired eyes, same dishevelled hair—but there was something different, an intangible shift he couldn’t quite grasp.

As he rubbed his hands over his face, he noticed a small detail that sent a wave crashing over him: he didn’t have his wedding ring.

Panic surged through him. He instinctively reached for the empty space on his finger, feeling the smooth skin where the ring should have been.

“Where is it?” he whispered to himself, his mind racing. How could he have forgotten something so important?

“Barbara... where is my ring?” Jude asked, the frustration bubbling to the surface.

“Miss Cedar removed it before placing you into the pod,” she replied, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.

“Why didn’t you give me a replica?” Jude shot back, feeling his anger pile up inside him.

“You didn’t ask. I’m a C.A.I.N.; I assist, I suggest, but I can’t understand… emotional links. For me, a ring is a ring and has no function in the mission,” Barbara stated, her voice sounding more stoic than ever.

Jude clenched his fists. Her words struck a nerve. “It’s my fucking ring! It makes me feel safe,” he mumbled, frustration spilling over as he grabbed a paper towel to dry his face and hands. He tossed it into the toilet with a forceful flick, trying to release some of the pent-up anger.

“I understand that it holds significance for you,” Barbara replied, her voice softening slightly, but there was an unmistakable distance. “However, my programming prioritizes mission parameters. I do not have the capacity to interpret emotional attachments in the same way humans do.”

“Great, that’s just fantastic,” Jude retorted, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m stuck in this hellhole. I'm going to miss my son's birth, and I can’t even keep a piece of my life with me.”

"I am sorry."

"No, you're not. You have no idea what it means. You’re just a fucking program!"

Jude stepped out of the bathroom and joined Delila in the kitchen, where she was visibly upset.

“Is always the same thing! Why can’t I stay?” Delila exclaimed, her voice rising as she removed her apron and threw it over the counter, the fabric landing with a soft thud.

“Baby girl, Lila,” Bart said, holding her by the shoulders, his expression earnest. “You know it’s nothing against you, but if you stay, it won’t work.”

“But I’m not doing anything!” Delila almost shouted, her frustration spilling over as she turned to face Bart.

“Hun, you are amazing, fantastic and marvellous. You keep everyone in check,” Bart replied, his voice firm yet gentle. “But if Len comes, you will block him. You know that, right? This isn’t just about you. We need to help Laz. Len can save him. And you still have so much to learn!”

Delila’s expression softened slightly, but the fire in her eyes remained.

“Come on, for Laz, he doesn’t deserve what is happening to him,” Bart pleaded. “We need to focus on helping him. That’s what matters right now.”

She pointed angrily at Jude. “Why can he stay? He is dangerous, too!”

Tom approached slowly, his gaze steady as he walked toward Jude. Without a word, he reached into Jude's front pocket, pulled out his sunglasses, and placed them back on his face.

“Because this boy knows how to control himself, don’t you, Jude of James?” Tom said, calm yet authoritative.

Jude swallowed dryly, the weight of the realisation crashing down on him. He hadn’t formally introduced himself to Tom; he hadn’t said his name to any of them.

But they already knew who he was and what he was capable of, and the question left was: Did they know why?