Merge branch 'canon' into 04-b
This commit is contained in:
commit
c19878dd5a
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@ -47,13 +47,6 @@ reviewed by the current editor(s) and the author(s).
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Modifications to the build system are expected to have been tested, but will be
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tested again.
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|
||||
### Style guide
|
||||
|
||||
The only real requirements are that you follow the 80 character per line rule.
|
||||
In vim, this is easy to set. Simply issue a `:set tw=79` and be on your way.
|
||||
Additionally, issuing vim command `gqG` applies textwidth from current mark to
|
||||
end of document, while issuing `gq}` will set for current paragraph.
|
||||
|
||||
### Git Arch
|
||||
|
||||
We are now leveraging the fact that we have a git server. Development and
|
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|
|
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|
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@ -1,431 +1,217 @@
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The day was as normal as any other. I sat by in the corner of my long dusty
|
||||
room, tapping away at the keys of the laptop provided by my employer. Writing
|
||||
one steady line of code after another. Today was the day that the team would
|
||||
be assigned tasks. I'd been late with my tasks this week, another matter all
|
||||
on its own.
|
||||
The day was as normal as any other. I sat by in the corner of my long dusty room, tapping away at the keys of the laptop provided by my employer. Writing one steady line of code after another. Today was the day that the team would be assigned tasks. I'd been late with my tasks this week, another matter all on its own.
|
||||
|
||||
"Have to check the mutex here," I mumbled to myself, a fresh line of code
|
||||
spilling onto the screen in step with the little taps on the keyboard. I was
|
||||
already in the hot pot for a slew of other events. A lack of focus for the
|
||||
last month had caused my productivity to slip. Just a few more lines and I
|
||||
could start running tests.
|
||||
"Have to check the mutex here," I mumbled to myself, a fresh line of code spilling onto the screen in step with the little taps on the keyboard. I was already in the hot pot for a slew of other events. A lack of focus for the last month had caused my productivity to slip. Just a few more lines and I could start running tests.
|
||||
|
||||
With the tests underway, I got up and walked to the mini-fridge. It wasn't a
|
||||
far walk, just a few meters away. The whole apartment was rather small,
|
||||
hosting enough room for my twin bed, a small kitchenette, a rather small
|
||||
closet, the restroom, and the mini-fridge I was now in front of. I opened the
|
||||
door of the small box and pulled one of my last sodas, some cherry-vanilla
|
||||
flavored drink.
|
||||
With the tests underway, I got up and walked to the mini-fridge. It wasn't a far walk, just a few meters away. The whole apartment was rather small, hosting enough room for my twin bed, a small kitchenette, a rather small closet, the restroom, and the mini-fridge I was now in front of. I opened the door of the small box and pulled one of my last sodas, some cherry-vanilla flavored drink.
|
||||
|
||||
"I guess it's time to get dressed for the meeting," I sighed. I hated seeing
|
||||
myself on camera, but since I stopped coming to the office (a rather short
|
||||
affair given it was just downstairs), management wanted the cameras on during
|
||||
meetings. Constant social anxiety caused me to resent all of my peers. My
|
||||
brain was just messed up like that. At least, it was recently.
|
||||
"I guess it's time to get dressed for the meeting," I sighed. I hated seeing myself on camera, but since I stopped coming to the office (a rather short affair given it was just downstairs), management wanted the cameras on during meetings. Constant social anxiety caused me to resent all of my peers. My brain was just messed up like that. At least, it was recently.
|
||||
|
||||
Anxiety welled up inside me as I picked out a business casual outfit to put on.
|
||||
Just a few more meetings until the project was complete, right? I didn't know
|
||||
anymore. Time was a hard concept to grasp when your circadian rhythm was an
|
||||
ever-changing beast nobody could tame.
|
||||
Anxiety welled up inside me as I picked out a business casual outfit to put on. Just a few more meetings until the project was complete, right? I didn't know anymore. Time was a hard concept to grasp when your circadian rhythm was an ever-changing beast nobody could tame.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked into the remaining shards of mirror hanging above the sink and a sigh
|
||||
escaped by throat, a much longer, deeper sigh. I should have made sure there
|
||||
were no shards left the last time I punched the mirror out. A tear rolled down
|
||||
my cheek. Another crying fit, as if I hadn't had enough in the last two
|
||||
months.
|
||||
I looked into the remaining shards of mirror hanging above the sink and a sigh escaped by throat, a much longer, deeper sigh. I should have made sure there were no shards left the last time I punched the mirror out. A tear rolled down my cheek. Another crying fit, as if I hadn't had enough in the last two months.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked down at my hands, trying to avoid the specter in the mirror. In a
|
||||
shout of frustration, I had found more glass in my hands. Damn it. I'd have
|
||||
to fix my fists before the meeting. Again. I was crying harder now. Not
|
||||
because I was in pain, but because I couldn't control myself. I had no clue
|
||||
what was causing this, and I wished it would stop tormenting me.
|
||||
I looked down at my hands, trying to avoid the specter in the mirror. In a shout of frustration, I had found more glass in my hands. Damn it. I'd have to fix my fists before the meeting. Again. I was crying harder now. Not because I was in pain, but because I couldn't control myself. I had no clue what was causing this, and I wished it would stop tormenting me.
|
||||
|
||||
A quick shower and a decent amount of scrubbing later, my hands were no longer
|
||||
bleeding. I just couldn't be too rough on them or they'd split open again. In
|
||||
that moment I wished I could have more control over myself, manage my emotions
|
||||
better. Instead of letting them overflow into pain, resentment, and...
|
||||
whatever that feeling I didn't have a name for was.
|
||||
A quick shower and a decent amount of scrubbing later, my hands were no longer bleeding. I just couldn't be too rough on them or they'd split open again. In that moment I wished I could have more control over myself, manage my emotions better. Instead of letting them overflow into pain, resentment, and... whatever that feeling I didn't have a name for was.
|
||||
|
||||
The rest of my day was nominally uneventful until the meeting. I had pulled an
|
||||
all-nighter to get the projects assigned to me done, so I was reasonably tired
|
||||
by the time the meeting came around. I could feel myself dozing off.
|
||||
The rest of my day was nominally uneventful until the meeting. I had pulled an all-nighter to get the projects assigned to me done, so I was reasonably tired by the time the meeting came around. I could feel myself dozing off.
|
||||
|
||||
"Talon!" a deep voice erupted from my laptop, "wake up you moron!"
|
||||
|
||||
My eyes rushed open as fast as they could. I was greeted by many faces, all
|
||||
with looks of concern save one. The red faced man was the manager of the
|
||||
project, Kaden. He was also new to the project. The other faces in the call
|
||||
were concerned, mostly.
|
||||
My eyes rushed open as fast as they could. I was greeted by many faces, all with looks of concern save one. The red faced man was the manager of the project, Kaden. He was also new to the project. The other faces in the call were concerned, mostly.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hey Talon," another man said, cutting off Kaden, "are you doing okay bro?
|
||||
We've all been worried sick about you, but things have really taken a turn in
|
||||
the last few weeks..." he trailed off. I felt pangs of worry and hurt as I
|
||||
properly processed my name being said this time. Who was that? Vance. He
|
||||
must have been referring to my recent tiredness during the meetings.
|
||||
"Hey Talon," another man said, cutting off Kaden, "are you doing okay bro? We've all been worried sick about you, but things have really taken a turn in the last few weeks..." he trailed off. I felt pangs of worry and hurt as I properly processed my name being said this time. Who was that? Vance. He must have been referring to my recent tiredness during the meetings.
|
||||
|
||||
Vance was overall a good guy. Just trying to get things together and make sure
|
||||
the team was good. His heart laid with the project though. At least he was a
|
||||
bit of a humanist when it came down to making sure the project went smoothly.
|
||||
Can't let colleagues having a bad month setback our timeline. Now that I
|
||||
thought about it, I needed to do code review for a few of his revisions.
|
||||
Vance was overall a good guy. Just trying to get things together and make sure the team was good. His heart laid with the project though. At least he was a bit of a humanist when it came down to making sure the project went smoothly. Can't let colleagues having a bad month setback our timeline. Now that I thought about it, I needed to do code review for a few of his revisions.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm fine," I muttered, lying, "Just had to pull an all nighter with this set
|
||||
of problems. After the meeting I'll take care of whatever revisions I need to
|
||||
review, then take care of whatever projects I can, then go to bed."
|
||||
"I'm fine," I muttered, lying, "Just had to pull an all nighter with this set of problems. After the meeting I'll take care of whatever revisions I need to review, then take care of whatever projects I can, then go to bed."
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't worry," another developer spoke up, "we'll give you the light load this
|
||||
week." Brent. Another good guy. Just sometimes really weird. Not like I
|
||||
could talk.
|
||||
"Don't worry," another developer spoke up, "we'll give you the light load this week." Brent. Another good guy. Just sometimes really weird. Not like I could talk.
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you," I said, genuinely, "I appreciate that, though if all aren't in
|
||||
agreement, I can take one of the other workloads." There were unanimous nods
|
||||
from all but one. Kaden. He's new. \emph{I should give him the benefit of%
|
||||
the doubt, shouldn't I?}
|
||||
"Thank you," I said, genuinely, "I appreciate that, though if all aren't in agreement, I can take one of the other workloads." There were unanimous nods from all but one. Kaden. He's new. \emph{I should give him the benefit of% the doubt, shouldn't I?}
|
||||
|
||||
"Kaden!" another senior developer exclaimed, "Talon's just been having an off
|
||||
month. His code is top notch and beyond stellar. We should let him recover."
|
||||
A pang of pain shot through me. I wasn't sure why. I didn't know this
|
||||
developer's name, though he's certainly seen my code. He wasn't lying either.
|
||||
My code was top notch.
|
||||
"Kaden!" another senior developer exclaimed, "Talon's just been having an off month. His code is top notch and beyond stellar. We should let him recover." A pang of pain shot through me. I wasn't sure why. I didn't know this developer's name, though he's certainly seen my code. He wasn't lying either. My code was top notch.
|
||||
|
||||
"I don't care!" Kaden yelled, still red in the face, "If I don't see your face
|
||||
in my office this afternoon, Talon, I'll put word in to your manager."
|
||||
"I don't care!" Kaden yelled, still red in the face, "If I don't see your face in my office this afternoon, Talon, I'll put word in to your manager."
|
||||
|
||||
I chuckled slightly at his threat. My manager was already mostly aware of what
|
||||
was going on, and my job wasn't in jeopardy.
|
||||
I chuckled slightly at his threat. My manager was already mostly aware of what was going on, and my job wasn't in jeopardy.
|
||||
|
||||
"What's so funny? Do I look funny to you?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Just dole out the assignments for the week," I said, plainly. "I'm not coming
|
||||
down to your office. You've already yelled at me enough in an unprofessional
|
||||
way. Just because you manage the project \emph{doesn't} mean that you're
|
||||
somehow in control of my job. That is my manager's decision."
|
||||
"Just dole out the assignments for the week," I said, plainly. "I'm not coming down to your office. You've already yelled at me enough in an unprofessional way. Just because you manage the project \emph{doesn't} mean that you're somehow in control of my job. That is my manager's decision."
|
||||
|
||||
Kaden's face went red as a tomato and I got a few cheers from the other
|
||||
developers, but others simply responded with worry.
|
||||
Kaden's face went red as a tomato and I got a few cheers from the other developers, but others simply responded with worry.
|
||||
|
||||
"Talon," one spoke up, a thin figure of a woman, "don't speak of being
|
||||
unprofessional while you respond in kind. We know there's friction, but at
|
||||
least respect the appearance of authority." Becky, I think her name was. It
|
||||
didn't matter.
|
||||
"Talon," one spoke up, a thin figure of a woman, "don't speak of being unprofessional while you respond in kind. We know there's friction, but at least respect the appearance of authority." Becky, I think her name was. It didn't matter.
|
||||
|
||||
"Just," I started, then gave up, letting out a big sigh, "let me know what my
|
||||
assignments are. I'll start working on code review now." I hit the big red
|
||||
'hang up' button.
|
||||
"Just," I started, then gave up, letting out a big sigh, "let me know what my assignments are. I'll start working on code review now." I hit the big red 'hang up' button.
|
||||
|
||||
Anxiety pushed me over the edge and before I knew it I was crying again. Why
|
||||
had I done that? What stupid thing possessed me to take a hostile course of
|
||||
action?
|
||||
Anxiety pushed me over the edge and before I knew it I was crying again. Why had I done that? What stupid thing possessed me to take a hostile course of action?
|
||||
|
||||
I shoved myself into bed and pulled the covers up over my head. Easy way to
|
||||
hide from the anxiety. Fuck. Why had I done that? Why had I done that?
|
||||
I shoved myself into bed and pulled the covers up over my head. Easy way to hide from the anxiety. Fuck. Why had I done that? Why had I done that?
|
||||
|
||||
I could hear the dings of direct messages coming in. I pulled my head out from
|
||||
under my covers and checked them. A few asked if I was okay. A few cheered my
|
||||
actions on. A few told me I should have been a little more tactful. And my
|
||||
manager, Esmerelda. I opened the DM window.
|
||||
I could hear the dings of direct messages coming in. I pulled my head out from under my covers and checked them. A few asked if I was okay. A few cheered my actions on. A few told me I should have been a little more tactful. And my manager, Esmerelda. I opened the DM window.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: Hey. I just heard about what happened. Kaden's really
|
||||
pissed off and Becky feels awful. Do you need some time off?
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: Hey. I just heard about what happened. Kaden's really pissed off and Becky feels awful. Do you need some time off?
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Talon}: No, I don't need any time off. I just need Kaden to get off
|
||||
his high horse. He's only been here a week and he's already threatening my
|
||||
job.
|
||||
\textbf{Talon}: No, I don't need any time off. I just need Kaden to get off his high horse. He's only been here a week and he's already threatening my job.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: LOL. -er sorry. Don't worry. He's being corrected. The
|
||||
whole team have had issues with his... behaviors. Especially the women.
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: LOL. -er sorry. Don't worry. He's being corrected. The whole team have had issues with his... behaviors. Especially the women.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Talon}: Ugh. Of course. When it comes time to fire him, let me walk
|
||||
him out the door. It'll be a big momentous occasion for him to see me afk.
|
||||
\textbf{Talon}: Ugh. Of course. When it comes time to fire him, let me walk him out the door. It'll be a big momentous occasion for him to see me afk.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: I understand. I'll see what I can arrange. Don't get your
|
||||
hopes up. \underline{Here} is this weeks work. The team decided to give you
|
||||
only one task to work on, on account of your all-nighter. Be careful Talon. I
|
||||
don't need you working yourself into the ground.
|
||||
\textbf{Esmerelda}: I understand. I'll see what I can arrange. Don't get your hopes up. \underline{Here} is this weeks work. The team decided to give you only one task to work on, on account of your all-nighter. Be careful Talon. I don't need you working yourself into the ground.
|
||||
|
||||
I chuckled to myself slightly and clicked the link. The web browser opened to
|
||||
our issue tracker with a list of open issues. Only one was assigned to me.
|
||||
I chuckled to myself slightly and clicked the link. The web browser opened to our issue tracker with a list of open issues. Only one was assigned to me.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{[OPEN] [Flight] [Debug] [Regression] Current Version not decoding data%
|
||||
correctly}
|
||||
\textbf{[OPEN] [Flight] [Debug] [Regression] Current Version not decoding data% correctly}
|
||||
|
||||
I switched tabs to the version control software and counted the reviews I had
|
||||
to do. Three. Not bad. I can knock them out in an hour. Probably. If I
|
||||
don't break down crying or fall asleep.
|
||||
I switched tabs to the version control software and counted the reviews I had to do. Three. Not bad. I can knock them out in an hour. Probably. If I don't break down crying or fall asleep.
|
||||
|
||||
I began with the first review in the queue. I found it to be passable, and
|
||||
gave it an approval. The second was less passable, so I rejected it and wrote
|
||||
a quick note about the test that it failed, and the overall syntax and format
|
||||
of the code.
|
||||
I began with the first review in the queue. I found it to be passable, and gave it an approval. The second was less passable, so I rejected it and wrote a quick note about the test that it failed, and the overall syntax and format of the code.
|
||||
|
||||
The third review was Vance's. It was actually far better than all of his
|
||||
previous submissions. I gave it an approval and wrote a very good note on it,
|
||||
complimenting all of the techniques he'd learned since his last code review,
|
||||
then gave some further advice for more improvement.
|
||||
The third review was Vance's. It was actually far better than all of his previous submissions. I gave it an approval and wrote a very good note on it, complimenting all of the techniques he'd learned since his last code review, then gave some further advice for more improvement.
|
||||
|
||||
I copied the link to the note and sent it to the general chat. Good work
|
||||
deserved public recognition, after all.
|
||||
I copied the link to the note and sent it to the general chat. Good work deserved public recognition, after all.
|
||||
|
||||
Then I began work on the open issue. It was relatively easy. A parser wasn't
|
||||
working properly. A quick test to confirm that was actually the case. And it
|
||||
was, but I was working on a development branch, so my errors were actually a
|
||||
lot more strange than the examples provided in the ticket.
|
||||
Then I began work on the open issue. It was relatively easy. A parser wasn't working properly. A quick test to confirm that was actually the case. And it was, but I was working on a development branch, so my errors were actually a lot more strange than the examples provided in the ticket.
|
||||
|
||||
I quickly did some digging through the version control system, finding every
|
||||
edit to this particular subroutine since the last version, then went through
|
||||
them line by line. Nothing that would cause this garbled mess of data stood
|
||||
out at me. I took note of which functions were being used in the subroutine
|
||||
and examined each of them for changes.
|
||||
I quickly did some digging through the version control system, finding every edit to this particular subroutine since the last version, then went through them line by line. Nothing that would cause this garbled mess of data stood out at me. I took note of which functions were being used in the subroutine and examined each of them for changes.
|
||||
|
||||
Two functions had massive changes, and one had several sets of changes since
|
||||
the last version. I took a look through it first. It was a deserialize
|
||||
function, so it made the most sense to look at anyway.
|
||||
Two functions had massive changes, and one had several sets of changes since the last version. I took a look through it first. It was a deserialize function, so it made the most sense to look at anyway.
|
||||
|
||||
Another few hours and I had found the problem. A stray line someone had let
|
||||
through code review. It wouldn't have caused any other problems because the
|
||||
other use cases for the deserialize function wouldn't be passing as much data
|
||||
as this particular user.
|
||||
Another few hours and I had found the problem. A stray line someone had let through code review. It wouldn't have caused any other problems because the other use cases for the deserialize function wouldn't be passing as much data as this particular user.
|
||||
|
||||
The line was easy to fix. All I did was change the way that the data was
|
||||
processed to ensure there were no overflows during data consumption. Counting
|
||||
data was easy, but not if you're using a counter that rolls over at 32,767. If
|
||||
any structures came in longer than that, it would roll over to -32,768, causing
|
||||
the subroutine to exit early.
|
||||
The line was easy to fix. All I did was change the way that the data was processed to ensure there were no overflows during data consumption. Counting data was easy, but not if you're using a counter that rolls over at 32,767. If any structures came in longer than that, it would roll over to -32,768, causing the subroutine to exit early.
|
||||
|
||||
I then got to work writing a test that would make sure the function was tested
|
||||
to its actual expected data size. I crafted an example serialized structure
|
||||
that was nearly 100,000 bytes longer than any real data would have been, just
|
||||
in case.
|
||||
I then got to work writing a test that would make sure the function was tested to its actual expected data size. I crafted an example serialized structure that was nearly 100,000 bytes longer than any real data would have been, just in case.
|
||||
|
||||
It was now nearly midday, but all my work for the week was done. I let out a
|
||||
big sigh, and set the code to do a full rebuild. Setting the laptop on my
|
||||
nightstand and ensuring that it was plugged in, I settled myself into bed.
|
||||
It was now nearly midday, but all my work for the week was done. I let out a big sigh, and set the code to do a full rebuild. Setting the laptop on my nightstand and ensuring that it was plugged in, I settled myself into bed.
|
||||
|
||||
My mind drifted around, not finding a particular topic to settle on before bed.
|
||||
This was a fairly frequent occurrence, but today was especially bad. So I
|
||||
settled on looking around my apartment.
|
||||
My mind drifted around, not finding a particular topic to settle on before bed. This was a fairly frequent occurrence, but today was especially bad. So I settled on looking around my apartment.
|
||||
|
||||
It was a single room, of course, with an attached bathroom. My bed was nestled
|
||||
into a corner, so I could see the whole room. The brick walls near my head
|
||||
made sure that there was always a slight chill, so I could sleep easier. Not
|
||||
that it ever helped.
|
||||
It was a single room, of course, with an attached bathroom. My bed was nestled into a corner, so I could see the whole room. The brick walls near my head made sure that there was always a slight chill, so I could sleep easier. Not that it ever helped.
|
||||
|
||||
On the other side of the room from my bed was the kitchen. A simple affair,
|
||||
really. A small counter for preparing food, a little fridge, a sink, and a
|
||||
simple range. You could almost be forgiven for not knowing this campus was the
|
||||
cutting edge of space travel by looking at it. Next to the kitchen was the
|
||||
door. Then a small closet containing my sparse sets of clothing. Then the
|
||||
bathroom with the broken mirror.
|
||||
On the other side of the room from my bed was the kitchen. A simple affair, really. A small counter for preparing food, a little fridge, a sink, and a simple range. You could almost be forgiven for not knowing this campus was the cutting edge of space travel by looking at it. Next to the kitchen was the door. Then a small closet containing my sparse sets of clothing. Then the bathroom with the broken mirror.
|
||||
|
||||
In the other corner was my workstation, for all the good it did. There was
|
||||
nothing I did on it anymore. Most days I didn't even get out of bed anymore.
|
||||
Just booted up my laptop and worked. I let loose another sigh and looked
|
||||
toward the bedside table.
|
||||
In the other corner was my workstation, for all the good it did. There was nothing I did on it anymore. Most days I didn't even get out of bed anymore. Just booted up my laptop and worked. I let loose another sigh and looked toward the bedside table.
|
||||
|
||||
The laptop's screen was only barely bright, compared to the sunlight that
|
||||
leaked through the window just beyond it. My last thought before sleep came
|
||||
was about how I should find a better way to block the light that filtered in
|
||||
from that single window.
|
||||
The laptop's screen was only barely bright, compared to the sunlight that leaked through the window just beyond it. My last thought before sleep came was about how I should find a better way to block the light that filtered in from that single window.
|
||||
|
||||
Next thing I knew, I stood before a big brown stone building. If I turned
|
||||
around I could see the familiar fountain at the center of the campus. The
|
||||
building in front of me was unmarked. Nobody knew what was inside it, either.
|
||||
And women were the only people you could see going in or out, if you saw them
|
||||
at all.
|
||||
Next thing I knew, I stood before a big brown stone building. If I turned around I could see the familiar fountain at the center of the campus. The building in front of me was unmarked. Nobody knew what was inside it, either. And women were the only people you could see going in or out, if you saw them at all.
|
||||
|
||||
I was dreaming again, that much was obvious, to me at least. I'd seen this
|
||||
building every time I'd slept since I'd seen it. The last several months it
|
||||
had gotten far worse. I'd once asked my manager about it.
|
||||
I was dreaming again, that much was obvious, to me at least. I'd seen this building every time I'd slept since I'd seen it. The last several months it had gotten far worse. I'd once asked my manager about it.
|
||||
|
||||
"What's in that brown stone building at the back of the campus?" I cringed as I
|
||||
heard the reflection of my own voice in my thoughts.
|
||||
"What's in that brown stone building at the back of the campus?" I cringed as I heard the reflection of my own voice in my thoughts.
|
||||
|
||||
Of course, she'd not known either. And she was told to ignore it in its
|
||||
entirety. She'd instructed me to do the same. I figured I should heed that
|
||||
warning. But my brain always had different plans. I visited the outside of
|
||||
this building so many times in my dreams, it was getting tiring.
|
||||
Of course, she'd not known either. And she was told to ignore it in its entirety. She'd instructed me to do the same. I figured I should heed that warning. But my brain always had different plans. I visited the outside of this building so many times in my dreams, it was getting tiring.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hello, Talon," a voice chimed, "We meet again."
|
||||
|
||||
"I've never been here," I said, then asked, "so how can we have met the first
|
||||
time?" I turned to look at her. She was beautiful. Her blonde hair perfectly
|
||||
accenting her slender face. Her green eyes nearly the same color as
|
||||
aventurine.
|
||||
"I've never been here," I said, then asked, "so how can we have met the first time?" I turned to look at her. She was beautiful. Her blonde hair perfectly accenting her slender face. Her green eyes nearly the same color as aventurine.
|
||||
|
||||
She leaned over in a quick bow, the long sleeves of her dress almost concealing
|
||||
the errant movement her hand had made. "It won't be long before you meet me,
|
||||
don't worry."
|
||||
She leaned over in a quick bow, the long sleeves of her dress almost concealing the errant movement her hand had made. "It won't be long before you meet me, don't worry."
|
||||
|
||||
I blinked. Was this a dream? And why was she so pretty, but so weird?
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes and no," she answered, "its more like an alternate space inside your mind.
|
||||
And I'm not really that weird." I could feel her staring at me as my face
|
||||
became slightly contorted with confusion and fear.
|
||||
"Yes and no," she answered, "its more like an alternate space inside your mind. And I'm not really that weird." I could feel her staring at me as my face became slightly contorted with confusion and fear.
|
||||
|
||||
"But how can you be here, in my dream?" I asked aloud, terrified that she had
|
||||
read my mind only a moment before. I needed answers, my curiosity wouldn't let
|
||||
the unanswered questions stand.
|
||||
"But how can you be here, in my dream?" I asked aloud, terrified that she had read my mind only a moment before. I needed answers, my curiosity wouldn't let the unanswered questions stand.
|
||||
|
||||
"No need to be scared," she said, "but we will meet outside of here soon."
|
||||
|
||||
"What's that mean?" I asked. Even more questions were rattling around in the
|
||||
back of my head now, but she didn't appear ready to answer them. Even now I
|
||||
could feel the anxiety building up in me.
|
||||
"What's that mean?" I asked. Even more questions were rattling around in the back of my head now, but she didn't appear ready to answer them. Even now I could feel the anxiety building up in me.
|
||||
|
||||
"Nothing you need to worry about with that anxiety laden heart of yours," she
|
||||
said gently, reaching out and cupping my face in her hands, "I'll see you
|
||||
soon." She planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Now wake up."
|
||||
"Nothing you need to worry about with that anxiety laden heart of yours," she said gently, reaching out and cupping my face in her hands, "I'll see you soon." She planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Now wake up."
|
||||
|
||||
I jolted out of my nap. The full build hadn't even completed yet. Why would
|
||||
it have? I'd only been asleep an hour. My head clouded, I still tried to
|
||||
shake the sleep from my eyes. My body was very awake, despite the fog in my
|
||||
brain.
|
||||
I jolted out of my nap. The full build hadn't even completed yet. Why would it have? I'd only been asleep an hour. My head clouded, I still tried to shake the sleep from my eyes. My body was very awake, despite the fog in my brain.
|
||||
|
||||
I felt like I was running a fever, so I went into the bathroom and took another
|
||||
shower, the water set as hot as it would go. Of course it burned a little, but
|
||||
that was the point.
|
||||
I felt like I was running a fever, so I went into the bathroom and took another shower, the water set as hot as it would go. Of course it burned a little, but that was the point.
|
||||
|
||||
Having a hot shower tells your body that your environment is hot, so it's
|
||||
supposed to self regulate and lower your temperature. At least, in theory.
|
||||
Having a hot shower tells your body that your environment is hot, so it's supposed to self regulate and lower your temperature. At least, in theory.
|
||||
|
||||
I went back to bed and fell asleep almost instantly. No dreams this time.
|
||||
Just deep, deep sleep.
|
||||
I went back to bed and fell asleep almost instantly. No dreams this time. Just deep, deep sleep.
|
||||
|
||||
I woke up to my laptop ringing. I rolled out of bed just barely in time to
|
||||
watch the call end. I missed it. I clicked on the phone application and it
|
||||
opened up.
|
||||
I woke up to my laptop ringing. I rolled out of bed just barely in time to watch the call end. I missed it. I clicked on the phone application and it opened up.
|
||||
|
||||
I tried checking the call log as another call window popped up on the screen.
|
||||
It was Esmerelda. I sat up and tried to gather myself for a second, then
|
||||
answered it.
|
||||
I tried checking the call log as another call window popped up on the screen. It was Esmerelda. I sat up and tried to gather myself for a second, then answered it.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hey Esmie," I said toward the laptop.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hey Tal," she replied, "look, I'm sorry, but you have two visitors headed up
|
||||
to your apartment. I tried to get a hold of you, but it looks like they were
|
||||
in a hurry."
|
||||
"Hey Tal," she replied, "look, I'm sorry, but you have two visitors headed up to your apartment. I tried to get a hold of you, but it looks like they were in a hurry."
|
||||
|
||||
I sighed. "Alright, thanks for the heads up." She hung up.
|
||||
|
||||
The next three minutes were me frantically getting on a set of casual clothes
|
||||
and packing my kit. A simple set of black cargo pants and a nicely fitting tee
|
||||
shirt. Unironically these were the best looking clothes I had; I'd nearly \
|
||||
ruined all the others.
|
||||
The next three minutes were me frantically getting on a set of casual clothes and packing my kit. A simple set of black cargo pants and a nicely fitting tee shirt. Unironically these were the best looking clothes I had; I'd nearly \ ruined all the others.
|
||||
|
||||
My kit was simple, to be sure. Laptop, phone, compact set of lock picks, and a
|
||||
small device used for wireless sniffing. Call me crazy if you'd like, but I
|
||||
had this thing on all the time when I left my apartment.
|
||||
My kit was simple, to be sure. Laptop, phone, compact set of lock picks, and a small device used for wireless sniffing. Call me crazy if you'd like, but I had this thing on all the time when I left my apartment.
|
||||
|
||||
A knock at the door. I took a breath and moved to open it. My fever was
|
||||
making things a little harder than I had anticipated.
|
||||
A knock at the door. I took a breath and moved to open it. My fever was making things a little harder than I had anticipated.
|
||||
|
||||
As the door opened, I saw two beautiful women standing in my entryway. One was
|
||||
wearing a beautiful flowing blue dress that matched her eyes. I was captivated
|
||||
by her eyes. They were like glowing sapphires. "Davis," she said, holding out
|
||||
her hand.
|
||||
As the door opened, I saw two beautiful women standing in my entryway. One was wearing a beautiful flowing blue dress that matched her eyes. I was captivated by her eyes. They were like glowing sapphires. "Davis," she said, holding out her hand.
|
||||
|
||||
"Young," I replied, "I'd shake your hand but I'm kinda feverish right now."
|
||||
|
||||
"We're actually here about that," the other woman said. She was a beautiful
|
||||
young woman wearing a finely tailored suit. Her eyes were a dark color, but
|
||||
they shined with a bright light. "I'm Tamaki. We're with Research and
|
||||
Development. Special intelligence division."
|
||||
"We're actually here about that," the other woman said. She was a beautiful young woman wearing a finely tailored suit. Her eyes were a dark color, but they shined with a bright light. "I'm Tamaki. We're with Research and Development. Special intelligence division."
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay," I said, "and this has what to do with my fever?"
|
||||
|
||||
"We'll explain under more secure circumstances," Tamaki said, "but you really
|
||||
need to come with us before it gets worse."
|
||||
"We'll explain under more secure circumstances," Tamaki said, "but you really need to come with us before it gets worse."
|
||||
|
||||
"Define secure circumstances," I said.
|
||||
|
||||
"We have a secure facility here on campus," Davis said, her eyes captivating me
|
||||
again. It was like I didn't have a way to really combat her gaze. It was hard
|
||||
to focus on anything else.
|
||||
"We have a secure facility here on campus," Davis said, her eyes captivating me again. It was like I didn't have a way to really combat her gaze. It was hard to focus on anything else.
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay," I said, "let's go, then."
|
||||
|
||||
They walked down the hall a bit, before Tamaki stopped and turned around, then
|
||||
said, "and whatever's making that horrible noise in your bag needs to be turned
|
||||
off."
|
||||
They walked down the hall a bit, before Tamaki stopped and turned around, then said, "and whatever's making that horrible noise in your bag needs to be turned off."
|
||||
|
||||
I turned each of my devices off as we walked down the hall. Each of them on
|
||||
either side of me. During this time I noticed that they were armed. Davis had
|
||||
a pistol, I couldn't tell what kind. Tamaki had a short sword, it looked
|
||||
Japanese, but I wasn't sure.
|
||||
I turned each of my devices off as we walked down the hall. Each of them on either side of me. During this time I noticed that they were armed. Davis had a pistol, I couldn't tell what kind. Tamaki had a short sword, it looked Japanese, but I wasn't sure.
|
||||
|
||||
We'd turned the corner toward the stairs, a quick two minute walk, when Kaden
|
||||
had spotted us. He was at the top of the stairs talking to someone at the
|
||||
bottom. He gave the women around me a look over and a quick courteous smile.
|
||||
We'd turned the corner toward the stairs, a quick two minute walk, when Kaden had spotted us. He was at the top of the stairs talking to someone at the bottom. He gave the women around me a look over and a quick courteous smile.
|
||||
|
||||
He gave me a smug look.
|
||||
|
||||
"So, Talon," Kaden said, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "what'd you do to get
|
||||
walked out by sexy security officers?"
|
||||
"So, Talon," Kaden said, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "what'd you do to get walked out by sexy security officers?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Got a fever," I said, a wry smile on my face. It was there to cover up the
|
||||
anxiety.
|
||||
"Got a fever," I said, a wry smile on my face. It was there to cover up the anxiety.
|
||||
|
||||
"I called security and told them you're fired," he said, that smug look still
|
||||
there.
|
||||
"I called security and told them you're fired," he said, that smug look still there.
|
||||
|
||||
"We're Research and Development," Tamaki said, "and you are?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Kaden," he said, extending his hand, "Project Manager for Flight Software."
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," Davis replied, "you manage Young's project. I suppose that makes sense,
|
||||
this is the flight software building." She merely shrugged.
|
||||
"Oh," Davis replied, "you manage Young's project. I suppose that makes sense, this is the flight software building." She merely shrugged.
|
||||
|
||||
"We're taking Mr. Young for opportunities you couldn't possibly understand,
|
||||
Elon," Tamaki said, "it is okay if I call you Elon, right?"
|
||||
"We're taking Mr. Young for opportunities you couldn't possibly understand, Elon," Tamaki said, "it is okay if I call you Elon, right?"
|
||||
|
||||
Kaden was caught off guard. He opened and closed his mouth a few times. "I
|
||||
suppose," he stammered. "How did you know my name?"
|
||||
Kaden was caught off guard. He opened and closed his mouth a few times. "I suppose," he stammered. "How did you know my name?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Magic," she replied, pausing for a moment, "or something akin, now, we don't
|
||||
have much time to loiter, please give us a six foot berth."
|
||||
"Magic," she replied, pausing for a moment, "or something akin, now, we don't have much time to loiter, please give us a six foot berth."
|
||||
|
||||
"Definitely security," he mumbled as he stepped away from the stairway to the
|
||||
wall.
|
||||
"Definitely security," he mumbled as he stepped away from the stairway to the wall.
|
||||
|
||||
We moved as a group again. As we descended the stairs, Tamaki moved in front
|
||||
of me while Davis smoothly stepped behind me. They easily took position on
|
||||
either side of me once we'd cleared the stairs. My office was in full view
|
||||
now.
|
||||
We moved as a group again. As we descended the stairs, Tamaki moved in front of me while Davis smoothly stepped behind me. They easily took position on either side of me once we'd cleared the stairs. My office was in full view now.
|
||||
|
||||
The looks I'd been given walking out of the building with two extremely
|
||||
beautiful women gave me an odd sense of terror. Either they'd get the wrong
|
||||
idea, or they'd get the right idea.
|
||||
The looks I'd been given walking out of the building with two extremely beautiful women gave me an odd sense of terror. Either they'd get the wrong idea, or they'd get the right idea.
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't worry," Tamaki said as we passed through the buildings large glass
|
||||
doors, "the likelihood of you interacting with these people again is extremely
|
||||
low."
|
||||
"Don't worry," Tamaki said as we passed through the buildings large glass doors, "the likelihood of you interacting with these people again is extremely low."
|
||||
|
||||
"Why's that?" I asked, slightly alarmed.
|
||||
|
||||
"Those in our department are considered classified," she replied, a smile on
|
||||
her face, "besides, we aren't very personable people, so it works out fine."
|
||||
"Those in our department are considered classified," she replied, a smile on her face, "besides, we aren't very personable people, so it works out fine."
|
||||
|
||||
We'd already walked to the water fixture. It was a large pond with a statue of
|
||||
an airplane in the middle. The Eastern Hills Space Company's first product,
|
||||
back when the company was named Eastern Hills Aerodynamics. A design
|
||||
commissioned by the United States Space Force nearly 120 years ago.
|
||||
We'd already walked to the water fixture. It was a large pond with a statue of an airplane in the middle. The Eastern Hills Space Company's first product, back when the company was named Eastern Hills Aerodynamics. A design commissioned by the United States Space Force nearly 120 years ago.
|
||||
|
||||
It was a space jet. I mean, it was a really cool fighter jet capable of
|
||||
operation in both low Earth orbit and in atmosphere. But it was also just a
|
||||
space jet.
|
||||
It was a space jet. I mean, it was a really cool fighter jet capable of operation in both low Earth orbit and in atmosphere. But it was also just a space jet.
|
||||
|
||||
Honestly, thinking about it made my head hurt. The company had to build a
|
||||
whole new engine to get the damn thing to work and I couldn't really imagine
|
||||
how hard that engineering team worked. They must have put in more overtime
|
||||
than the company could have afforded.
|
||||
Honestly, thinking about it made my head hurt. The company had to build a whole new engine to get the damn thing to work and I couldn't really imagine how hard that engineering team worked. They must have put in more overtime than the company could have afforded.
|
||||
|
||||
"Young," Tamaki said, breaking me from my thought, "you okay? We need to keep
|
||||
moving, we don't have enough time to be admiring the art."
|
||||
"Young," Tamaki said, breaking me from my thought, "you okay? We need to keep moving, we don't have enough time to be admiring the art."
|
||||
|
||||
"Sorry," I mumbled, "I guess my brain is just taking vacation on me."
|
||||
|
||||
"We need to hurry," Davis said, "you wanna?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah, that's probably for the best," Tamaki replied. Then she whispered
|
||||
something quickly. It sounded almost Gaelic. Before I could contemplate more
|
||||
on it, my brain went fuzzy.
|
||||
"Yeah, that's probably for the best," Tamaki replied. Then she whispered something quickly. It sounded almost Gaelic. Before I could contemplate more on it, my brain went fuzzy.
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,293 +1,150 @@
|
|||
I'd been planning this run for a week. I wasn't going to let a small
|
||||
abnormality stop my attempt on the biggest corp I'd ever taken on alone. It
|
||||
simply wasn't an option.
|
||||
I'd been planning this run for a week. I wasn't going to let a small abnormality stop my attempt on the biggest corp I'd ever taken on alone. It simply wasn't an option.
|
||||
|
||||
"You can't make this run, Eilidh," the middle-aged woman yelled at me from the
|
||||
other side of the living room, "It is far too dangerous and you've clearly not
|
||||
prepared enough." She was my hookup, someone who fielded and verified clients,
|
||||
and also the closest person I've ever had to a mother.
|
||||
"You can't make this run, Eilidh," the middle-aged woman yelled at me from the other side of the living room, "It is far too dangerous and you've clearly not prepared enough." She was my hookup, someone who fielded and verified clients, and also the closest person I've ever had to a mother.
|
||||
|
||||
She was irate because I'd decided to infiltrate the Eastern Hills Space Company
|
||||
at their Denver Headquarters in order to steal as much data as I could walk out
|
||||
with. I was going to start preparing for the run in just a few hours, and
|
||||
Berdie just didn't want me to go.
|
||||
She was irate because I'd decided to infiltrate the Eastern Hills Space Company at their Denver Headquarters in order to steal as much data as I could walk out with. I was going to start preparing for the run in just a few hours, and Berdie just didn't want me to go.
|
||||
|
||||
"I know you think it's dangerous," I admitted to her with a sigh. There was no
|
||||
decent way for me to say this without Berdie feeling bad. "We haven't had a
|
||||
proper payday in almost a month and you need your medicine."
|
||||
"I know you think it's dangerous," I admitted to her with a sigh. There was no decent way for me to say this without Berdie feeling bad. "We haven't had a proper payday in almost a month and you need your medicine."
|
||||
|
||||
"We have so many credits saved up still," Berdie protested. She held her frail
|
||||
lips in such a tight frown. Under the dim lighting in our safehouse, you could
|
||||
barely tell she was frowning; it was so thin. Her eyes were what really gave
|
||||
it away.
|
||||
"We have so many credits saved up still," Berdie protested. She held her frail lips in such a tight frown. Under the dim lighting in our safehouse, you could barely tell she was frowning; it was so thin. Her eyes were what really gave it away.
|
||||
|
||||
"I don't care if we have a million credits saved up," I countered, "Your
|
||||
medicine would wipe it all out in just a few months."
|
||||
"I don't care if we have a million credits saved up," I countered, "Your medicine would wipe it all out in just a few months."
|
||||
|
||||
Berdie narrowed her eyes in anger. You could almost feel the daggers she'd
|
||||
started staring at me. "At least I care enough about you not to lose myself to
|
||||
something completely insane!" Berdie yelled, throwing a glass across the room
|
||||
at me. She missed; it burst against the wall behind me.
|
||||
Berdie narrowed her eyes in anger. You could almost feel the daggers she'd started staring at me. "At least I care enough about you not to lose myself to something completely insane!" Berdie yelled, throwing a glass across the room at me. She missed; it burst against the wall behind me.
|
||||
|
||||
I sighed. "Would it help ease your worry if I hired an analyst to help me
|
||||
through this?" I asked, pushing my blue hair out of my eyes.
|
||||
I sighed. "Would it help ease your worry if I hired an analyst to help me through this?" I asked, pushing my blue hair out of my eyes.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes, but you're planning for \emph{tonight}," she continued protesting, "You
|
||||
better not be basing this heist off of a small enough amount of data that an
|
||||
analyst can analyze it all in twelve hours!"
|
||||
"Yes, but you're planning for \emph{tonight}," she continued protesting, "You better not be basing this heist off of a small enough amount of data that an analyst can analyze it all in twelve hours!"
|
||||
|
||||
"Even if I've got an analyst who I've been working with for the whole thing?" I
|
||||
asked, batting my eyes innocently. After all, I had one friend I trusted
|
||||
unconditionally with all my data, and he'd been looking at it all along.
|
||||
"Even if I've got an analyst who I've been working with for the whole thing?" I asked, batting my eyes innocently. After all, I had one friend I trusted unconditionally with all my data, and he'd been looking at it all along.
|
||||
|
||||
Marvin was his name. He was the hacker I sold all of my data to. He'd resell
|
||||
it on various bulletin board systems, BBSes, or hand it directly to other teams
|
||||
making runs similar to mine.
|
||||
Marvin was his name. He was the hacker I sold all of my data to. He'd resell it on various bulletin board systems, BBSes, or hand it directly to other teams making runs similar to mine.
|
||||
|
||||
Berdie was silent for a while as she mulled through this. "Marvin doesn't
|
||||
count; Eilidh you know that."
|
||||
Berdie was silent for a while as she mulled through this. "Marvin doesn't count; Eilidh you know that."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes, Mother," I whined. Why did she always have to ruin my fun? I was trying
|
||||
to take care of her. The corps that made her medicine were all making back
|
||||
room deals so they could charge an arm and a leg for it. Even though the
|
||||
formula for her medicine had been leaked by runners, we still couldn't
|
||||
manufacture it ourselves. The equipment needed to do so was, similarly to the
|
||||
medicine itself, far beyond the price range of any makers I knew of. It was
|
||||
also incredibly hard to steal.
|
||||
"Yes, Mother," I whined. Why did she always have to ruin my fun? I was trying to take care of her. The corps that made her medicine were all making back room deals so they could charge an arm and a leg for it. Even though the formula for her medicine had been leaked by runners, we still couldn't manufacture it ourselves. The equipment needed to do so was, similarly to the medicine itself, far beyond the price range of any makers I knew of. It was also incredibly hard to steal.
|
||||
|
||||
Eastern Hills Space Company was just a single step towards that much larger
|
||||
goal: I eventually wanted to liberate the machines that PharmaCo used to build
|
||||
its meds. If we became a burrow in the Colorado Free State with one, we could
|
||||
produce their drugs at their real cost, and not their capitalist bullshit
|
||||
price.
|
||||
Eastern Hills Space Company was just a single step towards that much larger goal: I eventually wanted to liberate the machines that PharmaCo used to build its meds. If we became a burrow in the Colorado Free State with one, we could produce their drugs at their real cost, and not their capitalist bullshit price.
|
||||
|
||||
That's what this was all about: My burrow needs things, and I need to pay for
|
||||
Berdie's meds. Two birds with one stone.
|
||||
That's what this was all about: My burrow needs things, and I need to pay for Berdie's meds. Two birds with one stone.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd started running with easy jobs, fielded by local merchants who just needed
|
||||
gear or information. Eventually I'd made a run I was utterly unprepared for
|
||||
trying to grab an industrial kiln for one of the artisans in the burrow.
|
||||
I'd started running with easy jobs, fielded by local merchants who just needed gear or information. Eventually I'd made a run I was utterly unprepared for trying to grab an industrial kiln for one of the artisans in the burrow.
|
||||
|
||||
"Grab", because I had two guys who were supposed to be my muscle. Of course,
|
||||
they ran at the first sign of trouble. I'd almost been snatched by the
|
||||
security forces while trying to escape. My panic upon returning home had let
|
||||
Berdie pry more information out of me than I'd realized.
|
||||
"Grab", because I had two guys who were supposed to be my muscle. Of course, they ran at the first sign of trouble. I'd almost been snatched by the security forces while trying to escape. My panic upon returning home had let Berdie pry more information out of me than I'd realized.
|
||||
|
||||
She'd then declared herself my hookup and started giving me jobs.
|
||||
|
||||
I should have realized that I couldn't keep jobs from her, even in her
|
||||
declining health. "I'm going on this run," I stated, "I've already invested
|
||||
hundreds of credits into information gathering. Its not going to waste, and
|
||||
the data I need is going off planet tomorrow at 0800."
|
||||
I should have realized that I couldn't keep jobs from her, even in her declining health. "I'm going on this run," I stated, "I've already invested hundreds of credits into information gathering. Its not going to waste, and the data I need is going off planet tomorrow at 0800."
|
||||
|
||||
"Fine," Berdie said, defeated, "but you better be back before breakfast young
|
||||
lady." I nodded. What else could I do? If I wasn't back it meant I'd failed.
|
||||
And I'd be dead, or worse.
|
||||
"Fine," Berdie said, defeated, "but you better be back before breakfast young lady." I nodded. What else could I do? If I wasn't back it meant I'd failed. And I'd be dead, or worse.
|
||||
|
||||
I walked to my room. The door slid open as I approached it, the automated
|
||||
system having recognized my face. An automated greeting sounded on the
|
||||
speakers I'd rigged the room with. "Play my electro playlist."
|
||||
I walked to my room. The door slid open as I approached it, the automated system having recognized my face. An automated greeting sounded on the speakers I'd rigged the room with. "Play my electro playlist."
|
||||
|
||||
The speakers started playing, filling the room with lively music. I assessed
|
||||
my things. A bed was in the far corner, simple, but the mattress was garbage.
|
||||
Every time I laid down for rest it was on the bean bag on the opposite wall
|
||||
anyway.
|
||||
The speakers started playing, filling the room with lively music. I assessed my things. A bed was in the far corner, simple, but the mattress was garbage. Every time I laid down for rest it was on the bean bag on the opposite wall anyway.
|
||||
|
||||
The room's lighting was provided by many strings of pink, blue, and green
|
||||
electroluminescent wires, all placed in seemingly random places. Some hung
|
||||
from the ceiling; others laid across the floor or hung from the walls. My
|
||||
computer's many monitors lit up, washing out the scene with blue and white
|
||||
light.
|
||||
The room's lighting was provided by many strings of pink, blue, and green electroluminescent wires, all placed in seemingly random places. Some hung from the ceiling; others laid across the floor or hung from the walls. My computer's many monitors lit up, washing out the scene with blue and white light.
|
||||
|
||||
I sat in my computer chair and began carefully formulating my plan. Even a
|
||||
single unknown variable could cause this run to go up in flames. I'd lose my
|
||||
life if I wasn't careful.
|
||||
I sat in my computer chair and began carefully formulating my plan. Even a single unknown variable could cause this run to go up in flames. I'd lose my life if I wasn't careful.
|
||||
|
||||
About an hour into reviewing data and making notes, a video call request popped
|
||||
up on my main monitor. I jumped at the sudden noise before regaining my
|
||||
composure and accepting the call.
|
||||
About an hour into reviewing data and making notes, a video call request popped up on my main monitor. I jumped at the sudden noise before regaining my composure and accepting the call.
|
||||
|
||||
"Marvin," I said, trying to keep the adrenaline away from my voice.
|
||||
|
||||
"Eilidh," Marvin replied. He was grinning a wide grin, making his blue eyes
|
||||
crinkle. "I just uncovered something in your recon data."
|
||||
"Eilidh," Marvin replied. He was grinning a wide grin, making his blue eyes crinkle. "I just uncovered something in your recon data."
|
||||
|
||||
"Tell me about it," I said, going back to drawing my plans. I'd just been
|
||||
reviewing guard rotations and paths in the research and development building.
|
||||
"Tell me about it," I said, going back to drawing my plans. I'd just been reviewing guard rotations and paths in the research and development building.
|
||||
|
||||
"They are guarding something big in the secondary building," he laughed,
|
||||
pleased with himself, "No guards on the outside of the building, but I
|
||||
cross-referenced some of your data with that of another band of runners who
|
||||
tried to get in. Their recording devices were blank when they came back out,
|
||||
and they couldn't even remember what they saw in there."
|
||||
"They are guarding something big in the secondary building," he laughed, pleased with himself, "No guards on the outside of the building, but I cross-referenced some of your data with that of another band of runners who tried to get in. Their recording devices were blank when they came back out, and they couldn't even remember what they saw in there."
|
||||
|
||||
"How's that possible?" I asked, looking up at the camera above Marvin's face.
|
||||
"Are they working on memory alteration?"
|
||||
"How's that possible?" I asked, looking up at the camera above Marvin's face. "Are they working on memory alteration?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Maybe, but it gets better," he says, his excitement is very visible on him.
|
||||
He's nearly bouncing out of frame. "Their security team kills people, Eilidh.
|
||||
These guys walked out of their failed run not remembering it at all. They
|
||||
don't want people to think there's anything there worth running against."
|
||||
"Maybe, but it gets better," he says, his excitement is very visible on him. He's nearly bouncing out of frame. "Their security team kills people, Eilidh. These guys walked out of their failed run not remembering it at all. They don't want people to think there's anything there worth running against."
|
||||
|
||||
"I gathered," I sighed, "that doesn't make it any more appetizing of a target,
|
||||
Marvin. Get to it, what else did you find?"
|
||||
"I gathered," I sighed, "that doesn't make it any more appetizing of a target, Marvin. Get to it, what else did you find?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Rumors," he replied. His red hair was a mess from the excitement he could
|
||||
barely contain in his thin frame. "They say there's ghosts there. And magic!
|
||||
Real magic!"
|
||||
"Rumors," he replied. His red hair was a mess from the excitement he could barely contain in his thin frame. "They say there's ghosts there. And magic! Real magic!"
|
||||
|
||||
"Marvin," I snapped, "I know you've been trying to prove magic exists for the
|
||||
last fifteen years, but you're twenty-seven now. Can we drop all the childish
|
||||
games?"
|
||||
"Marvin," I snapped, "I know you've been trying to prove magic exists for the last fifteen years, but you're twenty-seven now. Can we drop all the childish games?"
|
||||
|
||||
"It couldn't hurt to look, Li," he said, using my nickname from when we were
|
||||
young, "Please, whatever is in that building is really high priority."
|
||||
"It couldn't hurt to look, Li," he said, using my nickname from when we were young, "Please, whatever is in that building is really high priority."
|
||||
|
||||
Another change to the plan. I didn't like it. I'd spent most of my time
|
||||
looking into the main R\&D building. It would likely be too risky to run
|
||||
against the secondary. "Alright," I said giving up, "but you're going to
|
||||
sweeten the pot for me if I walk out of there with nothing. And you're going
|
||||
to be on vid with me the whole time."
|
||||
Another change to the plan. I didn't like it. I'd spent most of my time looking into the main R\&D building. It would likely be too risky to run against the secondary. "Alright," I said giving up, "but you're going to sweeten the pot for me if I walk out of there with nothing. And you're going to be on vid with me the whole time."
|
||||
|
||||
"What do you want?" Marvin asked. He'd started typing frantically, his already
|
||||
big smile widening.
|
||||
"What do you want?" Marvin asked. He'd started typing frantically, his already big smile widening.
|
||||
|
||||
"You'll pay for Berdie's meds for the next four months." A run like this could
|
||||
pay for that much, probably. I wasn't actually getting paid, just hoping I'd
|
||||
get enough data for a good payday, so this was a baseline of pay at the very
|
||||
least.
|
||||
"You'll pay for Berdie's meds for the next four months." A run like this could pay for that much, probably. I wasn't actually getting paid, just hoping I'd get enough data for a good payday, so this was a baseline of pay at the very least.
|
||||
|
||||
"Fine," he sighed, "but that's a lot of money, so I'll be recording your whole
|
||||
run. And I'm sending a drone with you: one I'll be piloting."
|
||||
"Fine," he sighed, "but that's a lot of money, so I'll be recording your whole run. And I'm sending a drone with you: one I'll be piloting."
|
||||
|
||||
"More help is more better," I said, "but now that you're in, help me with the
|
||||
damn plan."
|
||||
"More help is more better," I said, "but now that you're in, help me with the damn plan."
|
||||
|
||||
A few hours of planning later, I found myself sighing deeply. "Marv, wanna go
|
||||
to the club before I get myself killed?"
|
||||
A few hours of planning later, I found myself sighing deeply. "Marv, wanna go to the club before I get myself killed?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Sure," he replied. His face was no longer lit up with excitement. The
|
||||
planning had taken a lot of effort and I could see that he was frustrated.
|
||||
"This plan is now solid enough to stand on, but I can't help but feeling like
|
||||
you're walking into a deliberate trap."
|
||||
"Sure," he replied. His face was no longer lit up with excitement. The planning had taken a lot of effort and I could see that he was frustrated. "This plan is now solid enough to stand on, but I can't help but feeling like you're walking into a deliberate trap."
|
||||
|
||||
"You wanted me to hit the secondary building," I said, shrugging. "See you at
|
||||
the club."
|
||||
"You wanted me to hit the secondary building," I said, shrugging. "See you at the club."
|
||||
|
||||
"Wait!" he cried before I could hang up. "Which club are we going to?"
|
||||
|
||||
I shrugged. "Which one is open at 1500?"
|
||||
|
||||
He started typing again, fingers moving fast enough that they were just blurs
|
||||
in the camera. "Looks like Railgun and TripSmash are open."
|
||||
He started typing again, fingers moving fast enough that they were just blurs in the camera. "Looks like Railgun and TripSmash are open."
|
||||
|
||||
"TripSmash," I said. "Railgun was boring as, last time."
|
||||
|
||||
"See you there," he said, cutting the connection. With the video call now
|
||||
disconnected, my music started playing again. The music had resumed in the
|
||||
middle of a drop, so the sudden noise caused me to jump, knocking my chair
|
||||
back.
|
||||
"See you there," he said, cutting the connection. With the video call now disconnected, my music started playing again. The music had resumed in the middle of a drop, so the sudden noise caused me to jump, knocking my chair back.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd ended up on the floor. I couldn't help laughing. It was kinda funny.
|
||||
Before I could pull myself off the floor, the door was sliding open. Berdie's
|
||||
face held a firm expression, but her eyes were red and puffy.
|
||||
I'd ended up on the floor. I couldn't help laughing. It was kinda funny. Before I could pull myself off the floor, the door was sliding open. Berdie's face held a firm expression, but her eyes were red and puffy.
|
||||
|
||||
"Marv and I built a plan," I said, finally getting back up on my feet, "We're
|
||||
gonna go meet up at the club, I wanna dance with some girls before I end up in
|
||||
a Corp prison."
|
||||
"Marv and I built a plan," I said, finally getting back up on my feet, "We're gonna go meet up at the club, I wanna dance with some girls before I end up in a Corp prison."
|
||||
|
||||
She exploded in laughter, the somber kind of laughter. When she finally
|
||||
regained her composure, she was biting her lip in that worried anxious way she
|
||||
always does. "You kids take care of each other out there."
|
||||
She exploded in laughter, the somber kind of laughter. When she finally regained her composure, she was biting her lip in that worried anxious way she always does. "You kids take care of each other out there."
|
||||
|
||||
"We will, Mom," I said. Her worry over me did make me feel good. I knew this
|
||||
was a risky run, but I had to do it, to prove to myself I could be independent
|
||||
again.
|
||||
"We will, Mom," I said. Her worry over me did make me feel good. I knew this was a risky run, but I had to do it, to prove to myself I could be independent again.
|
||||
|
||||
As she left my doorway, the door slid shut. I breathed slightly. "Time to
|
||||
pick clothes and hit the shower, I guess. Should I do makeup? Probably. Will
|
||||
I? Maybe. I \emph{do} want to dance with some pretty women. Maybe I will
|
||||
doll up just a bit."
|
||||
As she left my doorway, the door slid shut. I breathed slightly. "Time to pick clothes and hit the shower, I guess. Should I do makeup? Probably. Will I? Maybe. I \emph{do} want to dance with some pretty women. Maybe I will doll up just a bit."
|
||||
|
||||
I settled on a black crop top and a simple pair of black jeans. I'd be wearing
|
||||
a brown jacket with a black hood to keep the cold off. And my black combat
|
||||
boots would tie the outfit all together. I sighed; there was no way I'd pick
|
||||
anyone up wearing this. At least Berdie never had to worry about me bringing
|
||||
anybody over.
|
||||
I settled on a black crop top and a simple pair of black jeans. I'd be wearing a brown jacket with a black hood to keep the cold off. And my black combat boots would tie the outfit all together. I sighed; there was no way I'd pick anyone up wearing this. At least Berdie never had to worry about me bringing anybody over.
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed my worry away only slightly. I just wanted to dance with someone
|
||||
cute; was that so much to ask for? Yeah. Probably. I sighed and took my
|
||||
clothes to the bathroom with me.
|
||||
I laughed my worry away only slightly. I just wanted to dance with someone cute; was that so much to ask for? Yeah. Probably. I sighed and took my clothes to the bathroom with me.
|
||||
|
||||
My shower was quick and cold, but it got me clean. I had been pretty dirty
|
||||
after the recon I'd done last night. I'm amazed Berdie was able to argue with
|
||||
me for so long when I stank that badly.
|
||||
My shower was quick and cold, but it got me clean. I had been pretty dirty after the recon I'd done last night. I'm amazed Berdie was able to argue with me for so long when I stank that badly.
|
||||
|
||||
After getting dressed I decided I would do my makeup. I neglected foundation
|
||||
and coverup, but focused on my eyes. A little blue eye shadow to pull out the
|
||||
blues in my eyes and hair. Big wings drawn in eye liner. Mascara to thicken
|
||||
up my lashes. Sky blue sparkles on my eyes and cheeks to enhance the pale look
|
||||
of my skin.
|
||||
After getting dressed I decided I would do my makeup. I neglected foundation and coverup, but focused on my eyes. A little blue eye shadow to pull out the blues in my eyes and hair. Big wings drawn in eye liner. Mascara to thicken up my lashes. Sky blue sparkles on my eyes and cheeks to enhance the pale look of my skin.
|
||||
|
||||
Finally I picked some black lipstick and put it on. It was so black in
|
||||
comparison to my pale skin, chosen intentionally for the contrast.
|
||||
Finally I picked some black lipstick and put it on. It was so black in comparison to my pale skin, chosen intentionally for the contrast.
|
||||
|
||||
So I liked the color of my face being washed out. It looked good, okay?
|
||||
|
||||
Looking at myself in the mirror, an odd idea crossed my mind. "Any deities
|
||||
that might smile upon me, I ask for a blessing in my endeavors tonight." I
|
||||
knew deities weren't real, but on the off-chance that I'd gained the favor of
|
||||
one, I might as well ask, right?
|
||||
Looking at myself in the mirror, an odd idea crossed my mind. "Any deities that might smile upon me, I ask for a blessing in my endeavors tonight." I knew deities weren't real, but on the off-chance that I'd gained the favor of one, I might as well ask, right?
|
||||
|
||||
The club was a short ride from the safehouse on my motorcycle. Ten minutes
|
||||
after getting on the bike, I was walking into TripSmash. The club wasn't much
|
||||
to look at from the outside: it was a simple old warehouse covered in graffiti
|
||||
with a sign out front.
|
||||
The club was a short ride from the safehouse on my motorcycle. Ten minutes after getting on the bike, I was walking into TripSmash. The club wasn't much to look at from the outside: it was a simple old warehouse covered in graffiti with a sign out front.
|
||||
|
||||
On the inside, TripSmash was a den of cyberdelia love. High-tech lights pulsed
|
||||
to the music as lasers shone into the smokey dance floor. The bar was on the
|
||||
wall right as you walked in, and a seating area was across the floor from it.
|
||||
On the wall directly opposite the door stood the DJ at their perch, looking at
|
||||
pink-tinted holographic displays. They looked badass.
|
||||
On the inside, TripSmash was a den of cyberdelia love. High-tech lights pulsed to the music as lasers shone into the smokey dance floor. The bar was on the wall right as you walked in, and a seating area was across the floor from it. On the wall directly opposite the door stood the DJ at their perch, looking at pink-tinted holographic displays. They looked badass.
|
||||
|
||||
"When did you get that?" Marvin asked, sliding up next to me and pointing at my
|
||||
belly button ring.
|
||||
"When did you get that?" Marvin asked, sliding up next to me and pointing at my belly button ring.
|
||||
|
||||
"Last year, I think," I said, heading to the bar. "After my run on Xycell."
|
||||
|
||||
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked, flashing me a smile.
|
||||
|
||||
"What ever fruity drink you recommend," I replied, giving the bartender a
|
||||
courteous smile. He wasn't my type, but he was cute.
|
||||
"What ever fruity drink you recommend," I replied, giving the bartender a courteous smile. He wasn't my type, but he was cute.
|
||||
|
||||
"And another Fringe," Marvin said from next to me, then turned to me, "So you
|
||||
got a belly button ring after Xycell. Why?"
|
||||
"And another Fringe," Marvin said from next to me, then turned to me, "So you got a belly button ring after Xycell. Why?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Saw one on the cute receptionist as I entered the building," I laughed,
|
||||
"thought, 'I really can't not look that cute,' and now here we are." Marvin
|
||||
joined in my laughter. The bartender came back to our side of the bar and
|
||||
handed us our drinks.
|
||||
"Saw one on the cute receptionist as I entered the building," I laughed, "thought, 'I really can't not look that cute,' and now here we are." Marvin joined in my laughter. The bartender came back to our side of the bar and handed us our drinks.
|
||||
|
||||
"The Fruity Tootie," the bartender said, "but your limit is two, especially
|
||||
after your friend here nearly brought our network down."
|
||||
"The Fruity Tootie," the bartender said, "but your limit is two, especially after your friend here nearly brought our network down."
|
||||
|
||||
"Marvin!" I exclaimed, turning back toward him, "you nearly brought their
|
||||
network down and you let me drag you here?"
|
||||
"Marvin!" I exclaimed, turning back toward him, "you nearly brought their network down and you let me drag you here?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Uh, yeah," Marvin replied, sipping on his new drink. It was a pretty blue,
|
||||
almost two shades lighter than my hair. "I uh, forgot I did it. I was pretty
|
||||
turned up by this designer amphetamine I'd taken earlier in the night. Wild
|
||||
party though."
|
||||
"Uh, yeah," Marvin replied, sipping on his new drink. It was a pretty blue, almost two shades lighter than my hair. "I uh, forgot I did it. I was pretty turned up by this designer amphetamine I'd taken earlier in the night. Wild party though."
|
||||
|
||||
I shrugged. "I'mma go hit the floor, watch my drink?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Sure," Marvin replied, "have fun." I walked out there, trying my best to
|
||||
saunter toward a beautiful woman in a short black dress. She met my eyes and
|
||||
smiled. Her eyes were a pretty gray.
|
||||
"Sure," Marvin replied, "have fun." I walked out there, trying my best to saunter toward a beautiful woman in a short black dress. She met my eyes and smiled. Her eyes were a pretty gray.
|
||||
|
||||
As I got closer I started dancing, giving her looks that I hoped would invite
|
||||
her over to come dance with me. She smiled, a pretty smile, almost a
|
||||
challenge.
|
||||
As I got closer I started dancing, giving her looks that I hoped would invite her over to come dance with me. She smiled, a pretty smile, almost a challenge.
|
||||
|
||||
Should I move closer to her?
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -297,164 +154,100 @@ She'll come around, right?
|
|||
|
||||
Yes!
|
||||
|
||||
She inched closer and closer to me until she was right in front of and dancing
|
||||
with me. I gave her a sly smile; she gave me a grin. Her eyes were much
|
||||
prettier up close. They were only gray under the pink the lights had turned,
|
||||
the pink matching the holoscreens. Now that I was closer, I saw they were
|
||||
actually a beautiful lavender.
|
||||
She inched closer and closer to me until she was right in front of and dancing with me. I gave her a sly smile; she gave me a grin. Her eyes were much prettier up close. They were only gray under the pink the lights had turned, the pink matching the holoscreens. Now that I was closer, I saw they were actually a beautiful lavender.
|
||||
|
||||
"Nice eyes," I whispered into her ear, the music slipping into a more chill
|
||||
track. "They're beautiful."
|
||||
"Nice eyes," I whispered into her ear, the music slipping into a more chill track. "They're beautiful."
|
||||
|
||||
"Thanks," she replied, hesitantly threading her fingers in mine. "Yours are
|
||||
pretty, too. You did good with your makeup."
|
||||
"Thanks," she replied, hesitantly threading her fingers in mine. "Yours are pretty, too. You did good with your makeup."
|
||||
|
||||
I smiled. "Thanks, wanna go grab a drink?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," she replied, "I haven't had anything to drink in a bit. Lose myself to
|
||||
the beat." She shrugged.
|
||||
"Yeah," she replied, "I haven't had anything to drink in a bit. Lose myself to the beat." She shrugged.
|
||||
|
||||
"Makes sense," I laughed, "Come on." I pulled her to the bar next to where
|
||||
Marvin was sitting on a stool.
|
||||
"Makes sense," I laughed, "Come on." I pulled her to the bar next to where Marvin was sitting on a stool.
|
||||
|
||||
"Wow," Marvin said, looking my dance partner over. "She's really cute,
|
||||
Eilidh."
|
||||
"Wow," Marvin said, looking my dance partner over. "She's really cute, Eilidh."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yep," I said, a blush working its way into my voice, "she's really gorgeous."
|
||||
|
||||
"Lucere," she said, squeezing on my hand. I took a gulp of my drink and turned
|
||||
to her.
|
||||
"Lucere," she said, squeezing on my hand. I took a gulp of my drink and turned to her.
|
||||
|
||||
"Nice to meet you Lucere, I'm Eilidh," I said, squeezing her hand.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm Marvin," Marvin said, obviously trying to trip me up, but I didn't feel
|
||||
any of the normal anxiety with Lucere. She was easy to look at, her pretty
|
||||
black dress clinging to her frame, highlighting every curve. Her beautiful
|
||||
eyes were captivating.
|
||||
"I'm Marvin," Marvin said, obviously trying to trip me up, but I didn't feel any of the normal anxiety with Lucere. She was easy to look at, her pretty black dress clinging to her frame, highlighting every curve. Her beautiful eyes were captivating.
|
||||
|
||||
"Did you want a drink, Lucere?" I asked as the bartender came to check up on
|
||||
us. She looked at me for a moment under diffuse white lighting.
|
||||
"Did you want a drink, Lucere?" I asked as the bartender came to check up on us. She looked at me for a moment under diffuse white lighting.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, then broke her gaze to tell the bartender, "Gin martini,
|
||||
stirred, two olives." He nodded and hurried off to prepare it.
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, then broke her gaze to tell the bartender, "Gin martini, stirred, two olives." He nodded and hurried off to prepare it.
|
||||
|
||||
"Martini, huh?" I asked, shivering under the weight of her returning gaze. It
|
||||
felt like she was drinking the look of me up.
|
||||
"Martini, huh?" I asked, shivering under the weight of her returning gaze. It felt like she was drinking the look of me up.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," she replied, "Martini. A brother-in-arms used to drink them. I try to
|
||||
have one every once in a while before kissing someone. One of his old
|
||||
traditions."
|
||||
"Yeah," she replied, "Martini. A brother-in-arms used to drink them. I try to have one every once in a while before kissing someone. One of his old traditions."
|
||||
|
||||
"You were in the war?" I asked. A war broke out in the Colorado Free State
|
||||
last year. It lasted roughly a week, but the battle had scarred the Denver
|
||||
cityscape permanently. Several corporate towers had been leveled within a
|
||||
handful of hours.
|
||||
"You were in the war?" I asked. A war broke out in the Colorado Free State last year. It lasted roughly a week, but the battle had scarred the Denver cityscape permanently. Several corporate towers had been leveled within a handful of hours.
|
||||
|
||||
"Something like that," Lucere laughed. She began pointing up. "Been off world
|
||||
a few years on assignment. Got back today."
|
||||
"Something like that," Lucere laughed. She began pointing up. "Been off world a few years on assignment. Got back today."
|
||||
|
||||
"Woah," Marvin exclaimed. "What's it like up there?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I missed the ground," Lucere admitted. The bartender slid her drink up next
|
||||
to her. Her face lit up before she snatched it off the bar and gulped it down.
|
||||
I chuckled. She set the empty glass down on the bar before reaching down and
|
||||
kissing me.
|
||||
"I missed the ground," Lucere admitted. The bartender slid her drink up next to her. Her face lit up before she snatched it off the bar and gulped it down. I chuckled. She set the empty glass down on the bar before reaching down and kissing me.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere's kiss felt electric against my lips and her hands like fire against the
|
||||
skin of my waist. I moaned.
|
||||
Lucere's kiss felt electric against my lips and her hands like fire against the skin of my waist. I moaned.
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh shit," I laughed, breaking away from the kiss. "That was pretty sudden and
|
||||
really nice, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't expecting, um, \emph{that}, quite
|
||||
so soon."
|
||||
"Oh shit," I laughed, breaking away from the kiss. "That was pretty sudden and really nice, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't expecting, um, \emph{that}, quite so soon."
|
||||
|
||||
"Sorry," she said, blushing, "I just, its been a while since I've been in the
|
||||
Free State, a while since I've been anywhere but the medical ward of a
|
||||
starship."
|
||||
"Sorry," she said, blushing, "I just, its been a while since I've been in the Free State, a while since I've been anywhere but the medical ward of a starship."
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't be sorry," I said, reaching up to kiss her again. "It was really
|
||||
endearing. And a lot of fun."
|
||||
"Don't be sorry," I said, reaching up to kiss her again. "It was really endearing. And a lot of fun."
|
||||
|
||||
She smiled, broke away from my embrace, then looked at Marvin with a
|
||||
contemplative face. "You look sufficiently nerdy. Know any runners?"
|
||||
She smiled, broke away from my embrace, then looked at Marvin with a contemplative face. "You look sufficiently nerdy. Know any runners?"
|
||||
|
||||
I coughed, nearly spilling the fresh sip of my drink on my crop top. Marvin
|
||||
pointed at me. Lucere's eyes lit up as she looked at me. Oh, that was a
|
||||
feeling I could get used to.
|
||||
I coughed, nearly spilling the fresh sip of my drink on my crop top. Marvin pointed at me. Lucere's eyes lit up as she looked at me. Oh, that was a feeling I could get used to.
|
||||
|
||||
"Why do you need a runner?" I asked, trying to avoid looking outright curious.
|
||||
I tried for a look of calm and collected.
|
||||
"Why do you need a runner?" I asked, trying to avoid looking outright curious. I tried for a look of calm and collected.
|
||||
|
||||
"I work for Eastern Hills Space Company," she replied. Her eyes looking for
|
||||
any cracks in my mask. "Looking for someone to break in as a security test. I
|
||||
want it to be as real as we can manage."
|
||||
"I work for Eastern Hills Space Company," she replied. Her eyes looking for any cracks in my mask. "Looking for someone to break in as a security test. I want it to be as real as we can manage."
|
||||
|
||||
Shit. I was spooked and even Lucere could tell. Did she know I had planned a
|
||||
run for just a few hours from now? How did she know? What was I doing still
|
||||
standing here holding her hand?
|
||||
Shit. I was spooked and even Lucere could tell. Did she know I had planned a run for just a few hours from now? How did she know? What was I doing still standing here holding her hand?
|
||||
|
||||
"So you were going to hit us tonight," Lucere mumbled. "No worries. I can pay
|
||||
you right now: double whatever you were going to get from it and protection for
|
||||
you and your crew. But for that I suppose you'll have to become a runner for
|
||||
us. I understand how that could make you feel."
|
||||
"So you were going to hit us tonight," Lucere mumbled. "No worries. I can pay you right now: double whatever you were going to get from it and protection for you and your crew. But for that I suppose you'll have to become a runner for us. I understand how that could make you feel."
|
||||
|
||||
"How about we drop you right here," Marvin suggested. His eyes fell down to
|
||||
where I was still holding Lucere's hand. I looked down and saw that she was
|
||||
still holding my hand, calmly and happily.
|
||||
"How about we drop you right here," Marvin suggested. His eyes fell down to where I was still holding Lucere's hand. I looked down and saw that she was still holding my hand, calmly and happily.
|
||||
|
||||
"You could \emph{not} hurt her," I offered. Finally, I gave up and relaxed.
|
||||
"I kinda wanna just keep kissing her, if that's alright with everyone."
|
||||
"You could \emph{not} hurt her," I offered. Finally, I gave up and relaxed. "I kinda wanna just keep kissing her, if that's alright with everyone."
|
||||
|
||||
She giggled.
|
||||
|
||||
Marvin threw his hands in the air, then brought them down hard on the bar.
|
||||
|
||||
"Bartender," he yelled, "can I get, well, anything? I need some chemical help
|
||||
to understand the world I find myself in."
|
||||
"Bartender," he yelled, "can I get, well, anything? I need some chemical help to understand the world I find myself in."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," Lucere finally said, cutting off her giggling. "I'll kiss you some
|
||||
more, but you realize that if you don't take this job, we're gonna walk away
|
||||
from here enemies."
|
||||
"Yeah," Lucere finally said, cutting off her giggling. "I'll kiss you some more, but you realize that if you don't take this job, we're gonna walk away from here enemies."
|
||||
|
||||
"Guess I better make the best of the time we're friends then," I replied after
|
||||
finishing my drink. I ran my free hand along her jaw. I couldn't help myself.
|
||||
Something about her was electrifying.
|
||||
"Guess I better make the best of the time we're friends then," I replied after finishing my drink. I ran my free hand along her jaw. I couldn't help myself. Something about her was electrifying.
|
||||
|
||||
"One last question before we kiss, Eilidh," Lucere said.
|
||||
|
||||
Oh \emph{wow}. The way my name came off her tongue sounded like honey. I
|
||||
nodded quickly before I could lose myself in that feeling.
|
||||
Oh \emph{wow}. The way my name came off her tongue sounded like honey. I nodded quickly before I could lose myself in that feeling.
|
||||
|
||||
"Do you feel the pull?"
|
||||
|
||||
I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
|
||||
I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
|
||||
|
||||
She merely pulled out a mirror in response and used it to show me the small of
|
||||
my back. There was an interesting mark, but I couldn't make out what it was.
|
||||
Regardless of that, it was new. Hadn't been there when I showered an hour or
|
||||
so before.
|
||||
She merely pulled out a mirror in response and used it to show me the small of my back. There was an interesting mark, but I couldn't make out what it was. Regardless of that, it was new. Hadn't been there when I showered an hour or so before.
|
||||
|
||||
"Shit," I exclaimed, "When the fuck did someone have the time to tattoo me in
|
||||
the last hour?"
|
||||
"Shit," I exclaimed, "When the fuck did someone have the time to tattoo me in the last hour?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Not a tattoo," Lucere replied. "I have one just like it." She turned. Her
|
||||
dress' back disappeared. Or was it always like that? In the small of her back
|
||||
was an almost wireframe representation of a simplistic lotus.
|
||||
"Not a tattoo," Lucere replied. "I have one just like it." She turned. Her dress' back disappeared. Or was it always like that? In the small of her back was an almost wireframe representation of a simplistic lotus.
|
||||
|
||||
Without thinking I put my finger to the mark and felt its ridges. As I ran my
|
||||
finger over the mark, it began to glow along the outlines. A faint purple glow
|
||||
that was reflected in my hands.
|
||||
Without thinking I put my finger to the mark and felt its ridges. As I ran my finger over the mark, it began to glow along the outlines. A faint purple glow that was reflected in my hands.
|
||||
|
||||
"Woah!" Marvin exclaimed. "What the fuck?"
|
||||
|
||||
"We leave here as friends," Lucere stated, a smile on her face again. "And
|
||||
that felt really good. You have to promise to put your hands all over me
|
||||
sometime soon, okay?"
|
||||
"We leave here as friends," Lucere stated, a smile on her face again. "And that felt really good. You have to promise to put your hands all over me sometime soon, okay?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Will someone please talk to me?" Marvin asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Magic," I whispered, realizing instantly that I'd been wrong. "Its real.
|
||||
Look at it. Its beautiful."
|
||||
"Magic," I whispered, realizing instantly that I'd been wrong. "Its real. Look at it. Its beautiful."
|
||||
|
||||
"I need you both to come with me," Lucere said urgently, "Eilidh has about a
|
||||
week of transformation to do, and I suppose Marvin could be a good artificer.
|
||||
You look nerdy enough for it."
|
||||
"I need you both to come with me," Lucere said urgently, "Eilidh has about a week of transformation to do, and I suppose Marvin could be a good artificer. You look nerdy enough for it."
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,203 +1,112 @@
|
|||
Just like that, I had let a corporate entity take me away. Lucere had paid for
|
||||
our drinks and motioned toward the door.
|
||||
Just like that, I had let a corporate entity take me away. Lucere had paid for our drinks and motioned toward the door.
|
||||
|
||||
A flying taxi hovered outside, the driver motioning us to come in.
|
||||
|
||||
Once we were safely inside the taxi lifted off. After a few minutes, we were
|
||||
staring directly at the Eastern Hills Space Company campus, directly into their
|
||||
headquarters. Spread over a four-block section of the city and comprised of
|
||||
five buildings, the campus almost didn't fit in with its surroundings. Almost.
|
||||
Once we were safely inside the taxi lifted off. After a few minutes, we were staring directly at the Eastern Hills Space Company campus, directly into their headquarters. Spread over a four-block section of the city and comprised of five buildings, the campus almost didn't fit in with its surroundings. Almost.
|
||||
|
||||
The building we were headed directly for was the secondary R\&D building Marvin
|
||||
and I had planned to infiltrate later tonight. A hatch on the roof began to
|
||||
open as we approached, large enough to let the taxi land inside.
|
||||
The building we were headed directly for was the secondary R\&D building Marvin and I had planned to infiltrate later tonight. A hatch on the roof began to open as we approached, large enough to let the taxi land inside.
|
||||
|
||||
"That's our facility," Lucere said, moving her arm from around my waist to
|
||||
point at it, "We do lots of really cool stuff in there, but we're primarily a
|
||||
strike force."
|
||||
"That's our facility," Lucere said, moving her arm from around my waist to point at it, "We do lots of really cool stuff in there, but we're primarily a strike force."
|
||||
|
||||
"Why would Eastern Hills need a strike force?" Marvin asked, finally lifting
|
||||
his head from the window. He and I had never been in a flying taxi before, so
|
||||
he was getting as much of the view as he could.
|
||||
"Why would Eastern Hills need a strike force?" Marvin asked, finally lifting his head from the window. He and I had never been in a flying taxi before, so he was getting as much of the view as he could.
|
||||
|
||||
"Likely something to do with discovering magic," I replied, looking into
|
||||
Lucere's eyes, searching for confirmation.
|
||||
"Likely something to do with discovering magic," I replied, looking into Lucere's eyes, searching for confirmation.
|
||||
|
||||
"Eilidh is right," Lucere said, giving me what I wanted, "but we aren't
|
||||
technically run by Eastern Hills. We are self-governing: we have power equal
|
||||
to the CEO and we take profits from the company before the board members get to
|
||||
siphon off their overly-large portions."
|
||||
"Eilidh is right," Lucere said, giving me what I wanted, "but we aren't technically run by Eastern Hills. We are self-governing: we have power equal to the CEO and we take profits from the company before the board members get to siphon off their overly-large portions."
|
||||
|
||||
"And what do you do with those profits?" I asked pointedly.
|
||||
|
||||
"Well, each member of the strike force is awarded one share of it per quarter,
|
||||
which is a rather large chunk," she explained, "We also keep a discretionary
|
||||
budget, equipment budget, upkeep costs, and award shares on a per-operation
|
||||
basis."
|
||||
"Well, each member of the strike force is awarded one share of it per quarter, which is a rather large chunk," she explained, "We also keep a discretionary budget, equipment budget, upkeep costs, and award shares on a per-operation basis."
|
||||
|
||||
"So this strike force is structured after runner groups," I noted, quickly
|
||||
adding, "At least financially."
|
||||
"So this strike force is structured after runner groups," I noted, quickly adding, "At least financially."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," Lucere confirmed, "and similar goals as well. As runners, I'm sure you
|
||||
saw the data leaks from the Kai Heavy Industries dig sites."
|
||||
"Yes," Lucere confirmed, "and similar goals as well. As runners, I'm sure you saw the data leaks from the Kai Heavy Industries dig sites."
|
||||
|
||||
"I remember being really impressed by the runners behind the leaks," Marvin
|
||||
stated, a look of fancy lingering on his face.
|
||||
"I remember being really impressed by the runners behind the leaks," Marvin stated, a look of fancy lingering on his face.
|
||||
|
||||
"It wasn't runners," Lucere said, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
|
||||
|
||||
"This strike force was behind the leaks," I stated as her implication started
|
||||
to make sense, "But why?"
|
||||
"This strike force was behind the leaks," I stated as her implication started to make sense, "But why?"
|
||||
|
||||
As the taxi started a descent through the hatch, wind caught its large rotors
|
||||
and the whole vehicle jostled to the right. I started feeling uneasy.
|
||||
As the taxi started a descent through the hatch, wind caught its large rotors and the whole vehicle jostled to the right. I started feeling uneasy.
|
||||
|
||||
"Letting Kai's digs continue unchecked would have destroyed something important
|
||||
to the planet," Lucere answered. She didn't betray any worry at all on her
|
||||
face, but her voice filled the air with sorrow.
|
||||
"Letting Kai's digs continue unchecked would have destroyed something important to the planet," Lucere answered. She didn't betray any worry at all on her face, but her voice filled the air with sorrow.
|
||||
|
||||
Marvin blinked a few times. "Why would you care about that?"
|
||||
|
||||
"It is in the nature of our benefactor to care about this planet," replied
|
||||
Lucere, "even if we can't do terribly much to reverse the hellscape that it is
|
||||
now."
|
||||
"It is in the nature of our benefactor to care about this planet," replied Lucere, "even if we can't do terribly much to reverse the hellscape that it is now."
|
||||
|
||||
"Your benefactor?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Eilidh, \emph{our} benefactor, the Deity responsible for giving us our magic."
|
||||
|
||||
"Our benefactor," I repeated slowly, letting it sink in. I was still in
|
||||
denial; it felt so absurd. Then my brain caught up. "Wait, deities are
|
||||
real?"
|
||||
"Our benefactor," I repeated slowly, letting it sink in. I was still in denial; it felt so absurd. Then my brain caught up. "Wait, deities are real?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes and no," Lucere explained, "It's rather complicated. Deities aren't the
|
||||
same as mythology makes them out to be. They aren't all powerful, nor are they
|
||||
capable of directly affecting the world. They can only interact via pocket
|
||||
dimensions and the mirror world."
|
||||
"Yes and no," Lucere explained, "It's rather complicated. Deities aren't the same as mythology makes them out to be. They aren't all powerful, nor are they capable of directly affecting the world. They can only interact via pocket dimensions and the mirror world."
|
||||
|
||||
"Mirror world?" Marvin asked, "like, the world behind the glass of the mirror?"
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere smiled."Exactly." Her smile was so pretty. The way it lit up
|
||||
her face made it contagious, until she started focusing on something I couldn't
|
||||
see and it faded into a scowl.
|
||||
Lucere smiled."Exactly." Her smile was so pretty. The way it lit up her face made it contagious, until she started focusing on something I couldn't see and it faded into a scowl.
|
||||
|
||||
"What's wrong?" I asked her, lightly touching her face. In that moment, I had
|
||||
not a single care that the taxi just landed.
|
||||
"What's wrong?" I asked her, lightly touching her face. In that moment, I had not a single care that the taxi just landed.
|
||||
|
||||
"Looks like we have a two for one deal going," she replied, focusing on me
|
||||
again. Her smile returned, but it looked like a tired smile instead of the
|
||||
genuine one I'd seen just a moment before. "One of our own was properly
|
||||
blessed by the Goddess, which means I'm trapped here for a month at least while
|
||||
they complete their transformation."
|
||||
"Looks like we have a two for one deal going," she replied, focusing on me again. Her smile returned, but it looked like a tired smile instead of the genuine one I'd seen just a moment before. "One of our own was properly blessed by the Goddess, which means I'm trapped here for a month at least while they complete their transformation."
|
||||
|
||||
"A month?" I asked, "Mine's only a week, right?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, "Theirs is a bit special of a transformation. You asked
|
||||
the Goddess, even if you didn't realize it. They didn't. They are a full
|
||||
mage while you're only a demimage. Now based on your purple effects, it's
|
||||
likely you'll be a little more powerful than the average demimage, as you can
|
||||
utilize magic even without your body being rebuilt."
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, "Theirs is a bit special of a transformation. You asked the Goddess, even if you didn't realize it. They didn't. They are a full mage while you're only a demimage. Now based on your purple effects, it's likely you'll be a little more powerful than the average demimage, as you can utilize magic even without your body being rebuilt."
|
||||
|
||||
"What's a demimage?" Marvin asked, a curious look on his face.
|
||||
|
||||
"Well, lets explain mages first," she replied, rubbing her temples, "I'm a
|
||||
mage; that means I have a full magical circuit embedded in my body, so I may
|
||||
utilize all of the magical energy around and within me. A demimage has a less
|
||||
powerful version of that same magical circuit in theirs. It means that
|
||||
demimages, while much more magically talented than an average human, can't ever
|
||||
really match up equally against a mage. The process of transformation is what
|
||||
reconfigures your body to accept a magical circuit. You following me on that?"
|
||||
"Well, lets explain mages first," she replied, rubbing her temples, "I'm a mage; that means I have a full magical circuit embedded in my body, so I may utilize all of the magical energy around and within me. A demimage has a less powerful version of that same magical circuit in theirs. It means that demimages, while much more magically talented than an average human, can't ever really match up equally against a mage. The process of transformation is what reconfigures your body to accept a magical circuit. You following me on that?"
|
||||
|
||||
Marvin and I nodded.
|
||||
|
||||
"So I have to go through this process of transformation to get a magical
|
||||
circuit embedded into me," I noted, staring off into the distance as we landed
|
||||
inside the building, "and that magical circuit was given to me by a deity, in
|
||||
this case a goddess, because I asked for it?"
|
||||
"So I have to go through this process of transformation to get a magical circuit embedded into me," I noted, staring off into the distance as we landed inside the building, "and that magical circuit was given to me by a deity, in this case a goddess, because I asked for it?"
|
||||
|
||||
"That sums it up," Lucere said, kissing my forehead before hopping out of
|
||||
the taxi. "You coming Eilidh?"
|
||||
"That sums it up," Lucere said, kissing my forehead before hopping out of the taxi. "You coming Eilidh?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," I mumbled and scooted out of the taxi to stand next to Lucere.
|
||||
|
||||
"You are adorable, getting caught up in your head like that," she said,
|
||||
grabbing my hand and leading me into the building. I looked back quickly to
|
||||
see Marvin following us at a short distance. He smiled at me, showing how
|
||||
anxious he was about all this.
|
||||
"You are adorable, getting caught up in your head like that," she said, grabbing my hand and leading me into the building. I looked back quickly to see Marvin following us at a short distance. He smiled at me, showing how anxious he was about all this.
|
||||
|
||||
I found the door into the stairwell a little odd: no visible method to open
|
||||
it. Instead, it vanished as we approached and reappeared behind us. It was
|
||||
kind of jarring. Marvin was visibly gawking at it. I wasn't sure I wanted to
|
||||
try and figure it out.
|
||||
I found the door into the stairwell a little odd: no visible method to open it. Instead, it vanished as we approached and reappeared behind us. It was kind of jarring. Marvin was visibly gawking at it. I wasn't sure I wanted to try and figure it out.
|
||||
|
||||
Once we were down two flights of stairs, Lucere made a sliding motion with her
|
||||
arm out front. The wall reconfigured itself into an entryway. The
|
||||
room beyond was a rather rapidly put-together medical ward, cots six feet
|
||||
apart along each wall and a decent path leading to a large machine with bed-like
|
||||
chambers along each side of it.
|
||||
Once we were down two flights of stairs, Lucere made a sliding motion with her arm out front. The wall reconfigured itself into an entryway. The room beyond was a rather rapidly put-together medical ward, cots six feet apart along each wall and a decent path leading to a large machine with bed-like chambers along each side of it.
|
||||
|
||||
There was a man sealed in one of the chambers, ice and water covering him above
|
||||
his head. He had an air mask hooked up to him, presumably feeding him fresh
|
||||
air so he could breathe. Two women stood on either side of the chamber he was
|
||||
in.
|
||||
There was a man sealed in one of the chambers, ice and water covering him above his head. He had an air mask hooked up to him, presumably feeding him fresh air so he could breathe. Two women stood on either side of the chamber he was in.
|
||||
|
||||
"Welcome back, Manafed," one of them said, turning around to greet her, "Sorry
|
||||
your leave was cut short by two strays, but we'll get you through it as best we
|
||||
can, then you can have a month to yourself."
|
||||
"Welcome back, Manafed," one of them said, turning around to greet her, "Sorry your leave was cut short by two strays, but we'll get you through it as best we can, then you can have a month to yourself."
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you Tamaki," Lucere said, giving a tired salute. She walked over to
|
||||
observe the man in the chamber, "this Young?"
|
||||
"Thank you Tamaki," Lucere said, giving a tired salute. She walked over to observe the man in the chamber, "this Young?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah, they have been blessed by our Pale Goddess, though," Tamaki replied, "so
|
||||
we'll see how they come out, as She has never been a particular fan of men."
|
||||
"Yeah, they have been blessed by our Pale Goddess, though," Tamaki replied, "so we'll see how they come out, as She has never been a particular fan of men."
|
||||
|
||||
"Her aspects and domains prevent it," the third woman stated, "We all know
|
||||
that. We all know how this is going to go. She'll wake up and fight her new
|
||||
form for a week or so, then realize she's never been happier and everything
|
||||
will just click."
|
||||
"Her aspects and domains prevent it," the third woman stated, "We all know that. We all know how this is going to go. She'll wake up and fight her new form for a week or so, then realize she's never been happier and everything will just click."
|
||||
|
||||
"They could have a different outcome, Davis," Lucere said, sighing deeply
|
||||
before turning back to me, "This is Eilidh, and her friend Marvin. Demimage
|
||||
and possible artificer, respectively. Tamaki, will you help me get our new
|
||||
demimage into a cryotube?"
|
||||
"They could have a different outcome, Davis," Lucere said, sighing deeply before turning back to me, "This is Eilidh, and her friend Marvin. Demimage and possible artificer, respectively. Tamaki, will you help me get our new demimage into a cryotube?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," Tamaki replied, turning to Davis, "you go get Marvin tested for
|
||||
artifact fitness and pair him up with a good partner."
|
||||
"Yeah," Tamaki replied, turning to Davis, "you go get Marvin tested for artifact fitness and pair him up with a good partner."
|
||||
|
||||
Davis gave a salute and began walking toward the entryway. She stopped about
|
||||
halfway to it and said to Marvin, "You coming? Or am I going to have to pull
|
||||
all your memories and dump you on the street?"
|
||||
Davis gave a salute and began walking toward the entryway. She stopped about halfway to it and said to Marvin, "You coming? Or am I going to have to pull all your memories and dump you on the street?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I'll come take a test," he replied, following her out of the room and down the
|
||||
stairwell.
|
||||
"I'll come take a test," he replied, following her out of the room and down the stairwell.
|
||||
|
||||
"So what happens to me?" I asked, the room suddenly growing far too warm.
|
||||
|
||||
"You get in one of these cryochambers or your fever melts your brain," Tamaki
|
||||
said in the midst of preparing one. Lucere was sitting down at a desk on the
|
||||
wall behind the machine, taking notes and filling out paperwork.
|
||||
"You get in one of these cryochambers or your fever melts your brain," Tamaki said in the midst of preparing one. Lucere was sitting down at a desk on the wall behind the machine, taking notes and filling out paperwork.
|
||||
|
||||
"We're going to need to get you into virtual to start training," Lucere stated,
|
||||
not looking up from her paperwork, "You have the option to choose whether or
|
||||
not you get a neural implant now or later. If you choose later, I can get you
|
||||
into virtual using a neural crown now."
|
||||
"We're going to need to get you into virtual to start training," Lucere stated, not looking up from her paperwork, "You have the option to choose whether or not you get a neural implant now or later. If you choose later, I can get you into virtual using a neural crown now."
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed. "Right, as if I'd be the fool to pass up a freaking neural
|
||||
interface. Give me the implant."
|
||||
I laughed. "Right, as if I'd be the fool to pass up a freaking neural interface. Give me the implant."
|
||||
|
||||
She sighed, pulled out another form, and turned to Tamaki. "Commander, why the
|
||||
hell are we still doing paperwork when we literally have computers in our
|
||||
heads?"
|
||||
She sighed, pulled out another form, and turned to Tamaki. "Commander, why the hell are we still doing paperwork when we literally have computers in our heads?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Because if we don't the archival department will kill us," Tamaki replied,
|
||||
motioning me to come over. Looking at me now, she finally said, "Come on, we
|
||||
don't have all day."
|
||||
"Because if we don't the archival department will kill us," Tamaki replied, motioning me to come over. Looking at me now, she finally said, "Come on, we don't have all day."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes ma'am," I said, walking over to the chamber and clambering in. Its 45-
|
||||
degree angle was awkward to get in, but it was a nice resting position.
|
||||
"Yes ma'am," I said, walking over to the chamber and clambering in. Its 45- degree angle was awkward to get in, but it was a nice resting position.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm going to hook some IVs up to you," Tamaki said, holding a needle, "is that
|
||||
alright?"
|
||||
"I'm going to hook some IVs up to you," Tamaki said, holding a needle, "is that alright?"
|
||||
|
||||
"No," I said sarcastically, "Please just stop my brain from melting already?"
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -215,60 +124,41 @@ There was that electrifyingly good feeling again.
|
|||
|
||||
I leaned into the kiss, a moan escaping from me.
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay girls." Lucere's voice shocked me. Did I seriously not notice her walk
|
||||
from her desk all the way here? "We need to prepare for surgery. Can we
|
||||
\emph{not} make out until after it's done?"
|
||||
"Okay girls." Lucere's voice shocked me. Did I seriously not notice her walk from her desk all the way here? "We need to prepare for surgery. Can we \emph{not} make out until after it's done?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Very good kiss," Tamaki said, pulling away from me, a funny look on her face
|
||||
as she tried to calm down. I was sure I had a similar look on mine.
|
||||
"Very good kiss," Tamaki said, pulling away from me, a funny look on her face as she tried to calm down. I was sure I had a similar look on mine.
|
||||
|
||||
"You didn't even get the IV in her Tamaki," Lucere said, a tired look spreading
|
||||
across her face.
|
||||
"You didn't even get the IV in her Tamaki," Lucere said, a tired look spreading across her face.
|
||||
|
||||
"Sorry," I said, reaching out to touch Lucere's jaw. Then I remembered. "Hey,
|
||||
you said you'd give me more kisses before we left the bar, and then we were
|
||||
both distracted by, um, magic stuff."
|
||||
"Sorry," I said, reaching out to touch Lucere's jaw. Then I remembered. "Hey, you said you'd give me more kisses before we left the bar, and then we were both distracted by, um, magic stuff."
|
||||
|
||||
Her eyes lit up as she remembered, "Oh, yeah. I figured you didn't care
|
||||
anymore."
|
||||
Her eyes lit up as she remembered, "Oh, yeah. I figured you didn't care anymore."
|
||||
|
||||
"Of course I care," I said, a little offended, "I liked kissing you."
|
||||
|
||||
Tamaki gave Lucere a look, "Well, looks like the new girl is going to fit in
|
||||
just fine."
|
||||
Tamaki gave Lucere a look, "Well, looks like the new girl is going to fit in just fine."
|
||||
|
||||
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, looking between the two women.
|
||||
|
||||
"You'll find out." Lucere leaned in and gave me a kiss. It was a quick kiss,
|
||||
but it felt just as good as the first time.
|
||||
"You'll find out." Lucere leaned in and gave me a kiss. It was a quick kiss, but it felt just as good as the first time.
|
||||
|
||||
As she pulled away I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into the chamber
|
||||
on top of me.
|
||||
As she pulled away I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into the chamber on top of me.
|
||||
|
||||
"You aren't about to get away with that," I said, panting with want. I pushed
|
||||
my needy lips against hers, kissing her as deeply as she'd allow.
|
||||
"You aren't about to get away with that," I said, panting with want. I pushed my needy lips against hers, kissing her as deeply as she'd allow.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere pulled away after a second. "Listen: we have a lot to do. We can make
|
||||
out in virtual. I can even take you to a beach of some alien planet, if you
|
||||
want, but we \emph{have} to get this done now before your skin becomes hot
|
||||
enough to burn me though your clothes."
|
||||
Lucere pulled away after a second. "Listen: we have a lot to do. We can make out in virtual. I can even take you to a beach of some alien planet, if you want, but we \emph{have} to get this done now before your skin becomes hot enough to burn me though your clothes."
|
||||
|
||||
I pouted at her, finally presenting my arm for her to put an IV into. I
|
||||
noticed Tamaki's face was as red as a cherry tomato, stopped pouting, and
|
||||
winked at her.
|
||||
I pouted at her, finally presenting my arm for her to put an IV into. I noticed Tamaki's face was as red as a cherry tomato, stopped pouting, and winked at her.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm going to give you something to put you under while I implant you, okay? I
|
||||
need you to start counting backwards from ten," Lucere instructed.
|
||||
"I'm going to give you something to put you under while I implant you, okay? I need you to start counting backwards from ten," Lucere instructed.
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay, I'm ready," I said, "Ten." Almost immediately I could feel whatever
|
||||
she'd given me was slowing my brain down.
|
||||
"Okay, I'm ready," I said, "Ten." Almost immediately I could feel whatever she'd given me was slowing my brain down.
|
||||
|
||||
"Nine." Wow, this felt amazing. I was about to get the best sleep of my life.
|
||||
|
||||
"Eight." Tamaki moved closer. I smiled at her. Her lips were so pretty.
|
||||
|
||||
"Seven." Oh, I was starting to slur my speech, wasn't I? Lucere was finally
|
||||
standing over me. Her eyes were twinkling. She was beautiful.
|
||||
"Seven." Oh, I was starting to slur my speech, wasn't I? Lucere was finally standing over me. Her eyes were twinkling. She was beautiful.
|
||||
|
||||
"Six." Tamaki said something I couldn't hear. Lucere nodded.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -4,33 +4,23 @@ Wait.
|
|||
|
||||
When the hell had I passed out?
|
||||
|
||||
I remembered the R\&D women who came to my room. I remembered Kaden and how
|
||||
he'd been trying to do something to get... I wasn't really sure what his game
|
||||
was.
|
||||
I remembered the R\&D women who came to my room. I remembered Kaden and how he'd been trying to do something to get... I wasn't really sure what his game was.
|
||||
|
||||
I remembered the big glass front door.
|
||||
|
||||
I remembered the space jet, in all of its marvelous absurdity.
|
||||
|
||||
But I couldn't remember anything after that. I could feel a disappointed frown
|
||||
forming on my face.
|
||||
But I couldn't remember anything after that. I could feel a disappointed frown forming on my face.
|
||||
|
||||
Maybe I'd remember later.
|
||||
|
||||
I began looking around. The room I'd found myself in looked like an improvised
|
||||
medical ward, looking at the cots and that large stash of medical supplies on
|
||||
the far wall. I could see people in a few of the cots.
|
||||
I began looking around. The room I'd found myself in looked like an improvised medical ward, looking at the cots and that large stash of medical supplies on the far wall. I could see people in a few of the cots.
|
||||
|
||||
"Finally awake," a voice said from my left, "That's good. We've had you in and
|
||||
out of the ice bath already."
|
||||
"Finally awake," a voice said from my left, "That's good. We've had you in and out of the ice bath already."
|
||||
|
||||
"For my fever," I said, "That makes sense." She moved in front of me. She was
|
||||
beautiful. Just as beautiful as Tamaki or Davis. Her eyes had an intense
|
||||
purple glow to them. Her hair was a pretty chocolate color. Her lips were a
|
||||
pretty cherry color. Her cheeks were perfectly curved.
|
||||
"For my fever," I said, "That makes sense." She moved in front of me. She was beautiful. Just as beautiful as Tamaki or Davis. Her eyes had an intense purple glow to them. Her hair was a pretty chocolate color. Her lips were a pretty cherry color. Her cheeks were perfectly curved.
|
||||
|
||||
"Medical Officer Manafed," she said, pointing to herself, "and your new
|
||||
designation is Tactical Officer Young."
|
||||
"Medical Officer Manafed," she said, pointing to herself, "and your new designation is Tactical Officer Young."
|
||||
|
||||
"Please," I said, "call me Talon."
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -38,38 +28,27 @@ designation is Tactical Officer Young."
|
|||
|
||||
"You're beautiful, Lucere," I said, still meeting her eyes.
|
||||
|
||||
"And you're running a hot enough fever that you're out of your mind," she
|
||||
replied, giggling, her smile infectious.
|
||||
"And you're running a hot enough fever that you're out of your mind," she replied, giggling, her smile infectious.
|
||||
|
||||
"That doesn't change facts," I said. Where did that come from? The anxiety
|
||||
was there, but subdued. "Did you drug me?"
|
||||
"That doesn't change facts," I said. Where did that come from? The anxiety was there, but subdued. "Did you drug me?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Well, you were tossing and turning in your sleep, so I gave you an
|
||||
anti-anxiety pill, and a mild sedative so you'd end up in deep sleep." She
|
||||
explained it like it was so simple and easy. "You should still feel the
|
||||
effects of the anti-anxiety, but the sedative left your system hours ago."
|
||||
"Well, you were tossing and turning in your sleep, so I gave you an anti-anxiety pill, and a mild sedative so you'd end up in deep sleep." She explained it like it was so simple and easy. "You should still feel the effects of the anti-anxiety, but the sedative left your system hours ago."
|
||||
|
||||
"So I'd be really forward if it weren't for anxiety?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Well, you are also experiencing a very high fever," she replied, "You probably
|
||||
didn't notice because we're running a bio-compatible cryofluid through your
|
||||
veins."
|
||||
"Well, you are also experiencing a very high fever," she replied, "You probably didn't notice because we're running a bio-compatible cryofluid through your veins."
|
||||
|
||||
"So you're chilling me using subzero fake blood?" I asked, "What's my
|
||||
temperature without it?"
|
||||
"So you're chilling me using subzero fake blood?" I asked, "What's my temperature without it?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Your temperature without the cryofluid? Oh that's a bit of a hard question,"
|
||||
she replied, "My best guess would be somewhere around 300, maybe 350."
|
||||
"Your temperature without the cryofluid? Oh that's a bit of a hard question," she replied, "My best guess would be somewhere around 300, maybe 350."
|
||||
|
||||
"Numbers that big, I suppose it doesn't really matter what measurement system
|
||||
it is," I said, immediately covering my mouth when I remembered Kelvin existed.
|
||||
"Numbers that big, I suppose it doesn't really matter what measurement system it is," I said, immediately covering my mouth when I remembered Kelvin existed.
|
||||
|
||||
"Celsius." She answered the implicit question with a smirk.
|
||||
|
||||
"Anyway, what's going on?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"You met our Pale Goddess," she replied, "meeting Her causes certain changes to
|
||||
happen. Your fever is caused by your body changing."
|
||||
"You met our Pale Goddess," she replied, "meeting Her causes certain changes to happen. Your fever is caused by your body changing."
|
||||
|
||||
"And she's what, an actual god?" I asked, scoffing at the thought.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -77,20 +56,15 @@ happen. Your fever is caused by your body changing."
|
|||
|
||||
"Magics?" My questions shrunk in the name of unrelenting bandwidth.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," she replied again, putting her hand up in front of me, "Like this." Her
|
||||
hand started glowing a bright purple light. "I can heal almost any wound with
|
||||
that." I knew I must have been staring because the glow in her eyes
|
||||
brightened.
|
||||
"Yes," she replied again, putting her hand up in front of me, "Like this." Her hand started glowing a bright purple light. "I can heal almost any wound with that." I knew I must have been staring because the glow in her eyes brightened.
|
||||
|
||||
"Is that why I can see light in your eyes?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
She gave me an odd look. "No, that's all you. You're able to see the magic in
|
||||
us. That's new."
|
||||
She gave me an odd look. "No, that's all you. You're able to see the magic in us. That's new."
|
||||
|
||||
"New?" I asked, "As in you haven't seen it before?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes, new as in we haven't got it in our catalog of magics," she replied,
|
||||
"That's neat."
|
||||
"Yes, new as in we haven't got it in our catalog of magics," she replied, "That's neat."
|
||||
|
||||
"So I'm what then, now?" I asked, "a witch?"
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -102,50 +76,35 @@ She squinted at me with a frown on her face.
|
|||
|
||||
"No, no, don't look at me like that."
|
||||
|
||||
"Mages do magic," she replied, her frown resolving to something decidedly less
|
||||
pained, "Witches are just nurses with a stupid costume."
|
||||
"Mages do magic," she replied, her frown resolving to something decidedly less pained, "Witches are just nurses with a stupid costume."
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," I said, "sorry to have insulted you like that."
|
||||
|
||||
"It's fine," she said, "We have to get you into virtual now, so you don't feel
|
||||
a lot of pain when your body starts changing. We'll also train you as best we
|
||||
can for your new role as our Tactical Officer."
|
||||
"It's fine," she said, "We have to get you into virtual now, so you don't feel a lot of pain when your body starts changing. We'll also train you as best we can for your new role as our Tactical Officer."
|
||||
|
||||
"And does the Tactical Officer have magic?" I asked, a silly smile on my face.
|
||||
|
||||
"Does the Tactical Officer embrace the power of the feminine?" she asked, a
|
||||
serious look on her face.
|
||||
"Does the Tactical Officer embrace the power of the feminine?" she asked, a serious look on her face.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm not even sure what that means," I replied, "but we can assume no for the
|
||||
time being."
|
||||
"I'm not even sure what that means," I replied, "but we can assume no for the time being."
|
||||
|
||||
"Then no," she giggled, "Other gods give in accordance with their domains, but
|
||||
the Pale Goddess' domains are femininity, motherhood, womanhood, lesbianism,
|
||||
and the likes."
|
||||
"Then no," she giggled, "Other gods give in accordance with their domains, but the Pale Goddess' domains are femininity, motherhood, womanhood, lesbianism, and the likes."
|
||||
|
||||
"You're telling me she's the goddess of lesbians?" I asked, "Who is she, Sappho
|
||||
reincarnated?"
|
||||
"You're telling me she's the goddess of lesbians?" I asked, "Who is she, Sappho reincarnated?"
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere looked at me funny. "I think I'll assume 'maybe' for the time being."
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay," I said, drawing the word out, "What's it gonna take to get me in
|
||||
virtual?"
|
||||
"Okay," I said, drawing the word out, "What's it gonna take to get me in virtual?"
|
||||
|
||||
"You have two options," she said, jumping right into business, "we can put you
|
||||
in using the neural crown, which is completely non-invasive, or I can put you
|
||||
back under and give you a neural implant. What's your pick?"
|
||||
"You have two options," she said, jumping right into business, "we can put you in using the neural crown, which is completely non-invasive, or I can put you back under and give you a neural implant. What's your pick?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Right," I replied, a little overwhelmed. Neural implants are still just
|
||||
science fiction. "Lets go with the crown for now, and we'll see about the
|
||||
implant later."
|
||||
"Right," I replied, a little overwhelmed. Neural implants are still just science fiction. "Lets go with the crown for now, and we'll see about the implant later."
|
||||
|
||||
"Are you sure?" she asked, "it comes with a snazzy optical implant for user
|
||||
interfacing."
|
||||
"Are you sure?" she asked, "it comes with a snazzy optical implant for user interfacing."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," I said, "I'm sure."
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay then, cutie, lets get you ready for go," Lucere said with a smile, "We'll
|
||||
be moving you into a permanent ice bath once you're in virtual."
|
||||
"Okay then, cutie, lets get you ready for go," Lucere said with a smile, "We'll be moving you into a permanent ice bath once you're in virtual."
|
||||
|
||||
Shit. She'd called me a cutie.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -153,42 +112,25 @@ I could feel my face getting red.
|
|||
|
||||
"Right," I said, "Let's get it done."
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm going to move closer now and fit the crown over your head," she said,
|
||||
"Don't bite."
|
||||
"I'm going to move closer now and fit the crown over your head," she said, "Don't bite."
|
||||
|
||||
As she moved closer to me, I started talking, maybe a bit too fast. "So I'm
|
||||
gonna guess how this thing works. It uses electromagnetic fields to induce
|
||||
tiny pinpoint electrical signals within certain parts of my brain."
|
||||
As she moved closer to me, I started talking, maybe a bit too fast. "So I'm gonna guess how this thing works. It uses electromagnetic fields to induce tiny pinpoint electrical signals within certain parts of my brain."
|
||||
|
||||
"Sort of," she said, "it doesn't use EMF, but if you want all the details on
|
||||
that, you should talk to our resident tech mage."
|
||||
"Sort of," she said, "it doesn't use EMF, but if you want all the details on that, you should talk to our resident tech mage."
|
||||
|
||||
"I may just have to," I replied. She'd been messing with something I couldn't
|
||||
quite see, just above my head.
|
||||
"I may just have to," I replied. She'd been messing with something I couldn't quite see, just above my head.
|
||||
|
||||
"Use your limited ability to move your head and let me slip this over you," she
|
||||
instructed, holding a stretchy fabric band. As I pushed my head forward and up
|
||||
slightly, she slipped the band over my head. "Good, now think happy thoughts
|
||||
while I put you in the environment."
|
||||
"Use your limited ability to move your head and let me slip this over you," she instructed, holding a stretchy fabric band. As I pushed my head forward and up slightly, she slipped the band over my head. "Good, now think happy thoughts while I put you in the environment."
|
||||
|
||||
I thought about her, in front of me. Lucere's arms curled around me. Her lips
|
||||
meeting mine. I couldn't tell you why I thought about her. I'd never really
|
||||
thought about women like that, never really wanted to kiss anyone before.
|
||||
Thinking about it made me feel an odd warmth through my chest.
|
||||
I thought about her, in front of me. Lucere's arms curled around me. Her lips meeting mine. I couldn't tell you why I thought about her. I'd never really thought about women like that, never really wanted to kiss anyone before. Thinking about it made me feel an odd warmth through my chest.
|
||||
|
||||
Maybe it was just the fever. Before I could think on it anymore, the crown got
|
||||
a little warm around my head. Then the world dripped away in large liquidy
|
||||
globules. Everything I could see simply melted away.
|
||||
Maybe it was just the fever. Before I could think on it anymore, the crown got a little warm around my head. Then the world dripped away in large liquidy globules. Everything I could see simply melted away.
|
||||
|
||||
I don't know when I'd begun screaming, but it stopped when I felt my body
|
||||
stretch. It felt roughly like I'd expected being sucked into a black hole
|
||||
would have, except far worse: I was actually experiencing it.
|
||||
I don't know when I'd begun screaming, but it stopped when I felt my body stretch. It felt roughly like I'd expected being sucked into a black hole would have, except far worse: I was actually experiencing it.
|
||||
|
||||
The feeling got worse and worse, like a pressure building up. It almost became
|
||||
unbearable. Almost.
|
||||
The feeling got worse and worse, like a pressure building up. It almost became unbearable. Almost.
|
||||
|
||||
Then I heard a popping noise and dropped very lightly into a grassy environment
|
||||
at the top of a hill with what looked like an endless void surrounding it.
|
||||
Then I heard a popping noise and dropped very lightly into a grassy environment at the top of a hill with what looked like an endless void surrounding it.
|
||||
|
||||
Damn.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -198,30 +140,21 @@ I jumped, startled. She wasn't there just a second ago.
|
|||
|
||||
"Are you okay?" she asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"You didn't warn me that it would do \emph{that}," I said. My voice sounded
|
||||
hoarse.
|
||||
"You didn't warn me that it would do \emph{that}," I said. My voice sounded hoarse.
|
||||
|
||||
"I told you to think about happy thoughts," she stated as if that was some
|
||||
excuse, "Happy thoughts prevent the black hole from eating you between
|
||||
environments."
|
||||
"I told you to think about happy thoughts," she stated as if that was some excuse, "Happy thoughts prevent the black hole from eating you between environments."
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh, and I suppose that is supposed to mean something to me!" I shouted. I
|
||||
didn't mean to shout. I hated yelling. She just stared at me.
|
||||
"Oh, and I suppose that is supposed to mean something to me!" I shouted. I didn't mean to shout. I hated yelling. She just stared at me.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," she said, "It's supposed to mean, 'think about times you were happy.'"
|
||||
|
||||
"Lucy," I heard a familiar voice say, "what the hell are you doing yelling at
|
||||
officer Young?"
|
||||
"Lucy," I heard a familiar voice say, "what the hell are you doing yelling at officer Young?"
|
||||
|
||||
"He accidentally experienced the black hole, Ai." said Lucere, the familiar
|
||||
voice coming into view. Tamaki. She was wearing a robe now. It was
|
||||
colorfully decorated and reminded me of the Renaissance festival, in how old,
|
||||
yet new, it looked.
|
||||
"He accidentally experienced the black hole, Ai." said Lucere, the familiar voice coming into view. Tamaki. She was wearing a robe now. It was colorfully decorated and reminded me of the Renaissance festival, in how old, yet new, it looked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Getting ready for a seance?" I asked, completely baffled by the outfit.
|
||||
|
||||
"No," she replied, little emotion coming through her voice, "I'm getting ready
|
||||
for the welcoming ceremony."
|
||||
"No," she replied, little emotion coming through her voice, "I'm getting ready for the welcoming ceremony."
|
||||
|
||||
"Welcoming what?" I asked, confused.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -229,36 +162,25 @@ for the welcoming ceremony."
|
|||
|
||||
"Oh." I laughed.
|
||||
|
||||
"I see you two made a bit of a connection," Tamaki said, "Lucy I thought you
|
||||
only got kicks out of women."
|
||||
"I see you two made a bit of a connection," Tamaki said, "Lucy I thought you only got kicks out of women."
|
||||
|
||||
"Commander," Lucere said, feigning shock, "Don't you know that love is love?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah yeah," Tamaki giggled, "back in line soldier."
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere gave an exaggerated salute, bowed deeply, and pranced off to some unseen
|
||||
spot.
|
||||
Lucere gave an exaggerated salute, bowed deeply, and pranced off to some unseen spot.
|
||||
|
||||
"Forgive our medical officer," Tamaki said, "for her lame jokes and her
|
||||
impeccably bad timing. And me, for making fun of her at your expense."
|
||||
"Forgive our medical officer," Tamaki said, "for her lame jokes and her impeccably bad timing. And me, for making fun of her at your expense."
|
||||
|
||||
"No need for that," I replied, giving a salute almost as exaggerated as
|
||||
Lucere's, "Commander."
|
||||
"No need for that," I replied, giving a salute almost as exaggerated as Lucere's, "Commander."
|
||||
|
||||
Tamaki Laughed. "We won't have any issues with chain of command from you, will
|
||||
we?" Her question rang of obvious sarcasm. She started walking, but stopped
|
||||
when she noticed I wasn't following. She beckoned me over. I sighed and
|
||||
started walking, following behind her while keeping a distance of a few paces.
|
||||
Tamaki Laughed. "We won't have any issues with chain of command from you, will we?" Her question rang of obvious sarcasm. She started walking, but stopped when she noticed I wasn't following. She beckoned me over. I sighed and started walking, following behind her while keeping a distance of a few paces.
|
||||
|
||||
After a few-minute walk through total nothingness, only seeing Tamaki in front
|
||||
of me, trees started appearing. We walked through a dense wooded area for
|
||||
another few minutes before we came to a clearing. Once in the clearing, I saw
|
||||
clearly a ring of logs with hooded figures sitting on them.
|
||||
After a few-minute walk through total nothingness, only seeing Tamaki in front of me, trees started appearing. We walked through a dense wooded area for another few minutes before we came to a clearing. Once in the clearing, I saw clearly a ring of logs with hooded figures sitting on them.
|
||||
|
||||
I counted five such figures. With Tamaki and I we would be seven in total.
|
||||
|
||||
"Come on," Tamaki laughed, "you don't need to be scared of women in hooded
|
||||
robes."
|
||||
"Come on," Tamaki laughed, "you don't need to be scared of women in hooded robes."
|
||||
|
||||
"And yet," I said, "I am. Maybe something to do with the whole magic thing."
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -268,56 +190,39 @@ robes."
|
|||
|
||||
"Don't be." She laughed again.
|
||||
|
||||
As we approached, each of the mages stood up, their black robes still reaching
|
||||
the ground, their hoods large enough to obscure their faces.
|
||||
As we approached, each of the mages stood up, their black robes still reaching the ground, their hoods large enough to obscure their faces.
|
||||
|
||||
I mean, we're talking about literal mages wearing mage robes and doing some
|
||||
sort of mage thing.
|
||||
I mean, we're talking about literal mages wearing mage robes and doing some sort of mage thing.
|
||||
|
||||
Did I get whisked away into a cult?
|
||||
|
||||
Should I be worried?
|
||||
|
||||
"Center of the circle," Tamaki giggled, "Facing me. On your knees, but make
|
||||
yourself comfortable, because you'll be sitting like that for a bit."
|
||||
"Center of the circle," Tamaki giggled, "Facing me. On your knees, but make yourself comfortable, because you'll be sitting like that for a bit."
|
||||
|
||||
I sat myself in the circle, on my knees. For comfort, I rested on my feet and
|
||||
placed my hands on my thighs.
|
||||
I sat myself in the circle, on my knees. For comfort, I rested on my feet and placed my hands on my thighs.
|
||||
|
||||
I heard a few hums of excitement from the mages around me.
|
||||
|
||||
"Now," Tamaki said, taking point in front of the group, "for the first time
|
||||
among us, we have a man. Unprecedented since the discovery of magic nearly
|
||||
seventy years ago. Mages are a rarity, as we all know, and our Goddess has a
|
||||
penchant for making them."
|
||||
"Now," Tamaki said, taking point in front of the group, "for the first time among us, we have a man. Unprecedented since the discovery of magic nearly seventy years ago. Mages are a rarity, as we all know, and our Goddess has a penchant for making them."
|
||||
|
||||
"May I ask questions?" I asked before she could continue.
|
||||
|
||||
"You may," Tamaki replied, "but keep in mind, we are slightly pressed for time.
|
||||
Our officers are quite busy, especially our medical officer."
|
||||
"You may," Tamaki replied, "but keep in mind, we are slightly pressed for time. Our officers are quite busy, especially our medical officer."
|
||||
|
||||
"Right," I said, giggling slightly, "when was magic first discovered?"
|
||||
|
||||
"When the first mage was born on this campus," she replied, "in our medical
|
||||
wing, the same one your body is in now, actually. In 2091, August third. The
|
||||
medical staff had no clue what was wrong with her. When she woke up in a new
|
||||
body nearly a month later, the medical team having used ice baths to cool her,
|
||||
she did her best to figure out what happened."
|
||||
"When the first mage was born on this campus," she replied, "in our medical wing, the same one your body is in now, actually. In 2091, August third. The medical staff had no clue what was wrong with her. When she woke up in a new body nearly a month later, the medical team having used ice baths to cool her, she did her best to figure out what happened."
|
||||
|
||||
"Of course," Lucere cut in, "she went in much like your body is now."
|
||||
|
||||
"A man?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Probably not," Lucere replied, "but she was incorrectly labeled a boy at
|
||||
birth. We aren't here to judge. That's for the Pale Goddess, and we've all
|
||||
already been deemed worthy in Her eyes."
|
||||
"Probably not," Lucere replied, "but she was incorrectly labeled a boy at birth. We aren't here to judge. That's for the Pale Goddess, and we've all already been deemed worthy in Her eyes."
|
||||
|
||||
Fuck, was that what was going to happen to me? They must have seen my anxiety
|
||||
spike, because they all stopped making noise. I was starting to
|
||||
hyperventilate.
|
||||
Fuck, was that what was going to happen to me? They must have seen my anxiety spike, because they all stopped making noise. I was starting to hyperventilate.
|
||||
|
||||
I fell backwards and felt my chest heave as my body tried its hardest to get
|
||||
air in me.
|
||||
I fell backwards and felt my chest heave as my body tried its hardest to get air in me.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd never wished I were a woman. It was ridiculous.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -325,26 +230,16 @@ It's impossible.
|
|||
|
||||
...Right?
|
||||
|
||||
I guess I'd have to think on that later. Focusing on my breathing, I managed
|
||||
to calm down.
|
||||
I guess I'd have to think on that later. Focusing on my breathing, I managed to calm down.
|
||||
|
||||
Could I even pass out from lack of oxygen in virtual?
|
||||
|
||||
"Are you okay?" Tamaki asked, kneeling down in front of me. When did she get
|
||||
in front of me? I shook my head, not trusting my voice. "Alright ladies," she
|
||||
said, "Group hug time. You can go back to your duties after."
|
||||
"Are you okay?" Tamaki asked, kneeling down in front of me. When did she get in front of me? I shook my head, not trusting my voice. "Alright ladies," she said, "Group hug time. You can go back to your duties after."
|
||||
|
||||
The six mages around me all huddled in, wrapping their arms around me,
|
||||
squeezing in. I felt like I was being enveloped in a heavy weighted blanket,
|
||||
something Eastern Hills hadn't let me keep when I moved into the campus. It
|
||||
was too big a safety risk, they'd said.
|
||||
The six mages around me all huddled in, wrapping their arms around me, squeezing in. I felt like I was being enveloped in a heavy weighted blanket, something Eastern Hills hadn't let me keep when I moved into the campus. It was too big a safety risk, they'd said.
|
||||
|
||||
After a little bit, each of the mages unwrapped their arms and disappeared.
|
||||
Lucere looked me in the eyes, her hood back, and kissed my forehead. "You'll
|
||||
make it through this," she whispered in my ear before returning to her duties
|
||||
outside of virtual.
|
||||
After a little bit, each of the mages unwrapped their arms and disappeared. Lucere looked me in the eyes, her hood back, and kissed my forehead. "You'll make it through this," she whispered in my ear before returning to her duties outside of virtual.
|
||||
|
||||
Eventually, Tamaki and I were the only ones left sitting in the clearing.
|
||||
|
||||
"Come on," she said, offering her hand, "we've got a lot to talk about."
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,279 +1,169 @@
|
|||
"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Tamaki told me, "Being trans isn't an issue
|
||||
here, nor will it ever be. Our lineage is that of the first chosen, and we
|
||||
hold that very proudly."
|
||||
"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Tamaki told me, "Being trans isn't an issue here, nor will it ever be. Our lineage is that of the first chosen, and we hold that very proudly."
|
||||
|
||||
We were in what she had called her mind space. I figured it was a 'scape she
|
||||
built to represent her mind. She hadn't mentioned much about it though, so I
|
||||
wasn't certain.
|
||||
We were in what she had called her mind space. I figured it was a 'scape she built to represent her mind. She hadn't mentioned much about it though, so I wasn't certain.
|
||||
|
||||
She'd poured me a drink and sat me down by a window overlooking Earth. Fitting,
|
||||
considering our employer.
|
||||
She'd poured me a drink and sat me down by a window overlooking Earth. Fitting, considering our employer.
|
||||
|
||||
Something told me she just liked looking at Earth, though.
|
||||
|
||||
"I understand that." I took a sip; it was fruity, sweet, and delicious. "And
|
||||
you'll have no quarrel with me over it. People deserve rights and to be treated
|
||||
fairly. It just feels like there's a lot of pressure to be, um, trans, I
|
||||
guess."
|
||||
"I understand that." I took a sip; it was fruity, sweet, and delicious. "And you'll have no quarrel with me over it. People deserve rights and to be treated fairly. It just feels like there's a lot of pressure to be, um, trans, I guess."
|
||||
|
||||
"We certainly haven't been trying," she replied, "but I'll be extra careful
|
||||
around the topic. You deserve that at least."
|
||||
"We certainly haven't been trying," she replied, "but I'll be extra careful around the topic. You deserve that at least."
|
||||
|
||||
We stared at the beautiful planet in silence, close enough to see cities
|
||||
lighting up the surface.
|
||||
We stared at the beautiful planet in silence, close enough to see cities lighting up the surface.
|
||||
|
||||
After a short while I broke the silence. "I've never really thought about
|
||||
myself. I wasn't supposed to be around this long. I always thought I'd
|
||||
have died already, probably doing something really stupid. Somehow I never got
|
||||
around to doing anything stupid enough to die by misadventure."
|
||||
After a short while I broke the silence. "I've never really thought about myself. I wasn't supposed to be around this long. I always thought I'd have died already, probably doing something really stupid. Somehow I never got around to doing anything stupid enough to die by misadventure."
|
||||
|
||||
"The Pale Goddess always pleases," she said, "Even if you don't know what you
|
||||
want yet, you'll get whatever it is you're meant to have."
|
||||
"The Pale Goddess always pleases," she said, "Even if you don't know what you want yet, you'll get whatever it is you're meant to have."
|
||||
|
||||
As if that was supposed to soothe me.
|
||||
|
||||
She gave me a look and a forced smile.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm not really sure," I admitted, "That's the thing: I never thought about
|
||||
what I want, what I deserve. None of it. And now, knowing that options I
|
||||
never saw on the ta... ble..." Nope. Not finishing that.
|
||||
"I'm not really sure," I admitted, "That's the thing: I never thought about what I want, what I deserve. None of it. And now, knowing that options I never saw on the ta... ble..." Nope. Not finishing that.
|
||||
|
||||
She cast a genuine look of worry my way. "You're scared?"
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded. What else could I do? Of course I was scared. My anxiety was playing
|
||||
double-time since she showed up on my doorstep. I let out a whisper. "I've just
|
||||
got so many options now for my future, for everything."
|
||||
I nodded. What else could I do? Of course I was scared. My anxiety was playing double-time since she showed up on my doorstep. I let out a whisper. "I've just got so many options now for my future, for everything."
|
||||
|
||||
Options for these feelings I'd had for so long. Could I finally fix myself
|
||||
because of this? Could I reinvent myself as more than a fucking code monkey?
|
||||
Options for these feelings I'd had for so long. Could I finally fix myself because of this? Could I reinvent myself as more than a fucking code monkey?
|
||||
|
||||
"Hey." She was wiping my face gently with her sleeve. "No need to cry. I'm your
|
||||
commanding officer now; I'm here to help you through all of this. It's my job as
|
||||
your leader."
|
||||
"Hey." She was wiping my face gently with her sleeve. "No need to cry. I'm your commanding officer now; I'm here to help you through all of this. It's my job as your leader."
|
||||
|
||||
The tears didn't end. I raised my voice, to the obscene volume of... a mumble.
|
||||
"Then let me cry."
|
||||
The tears didn't end. I raised my voice, to the obscene volume of... a mumble. "Then let me cry."
|
||||
|
||||
She nodded, moved closer and wrapped her arm around me. "I can do that for
|
||||
you." She put her glass down on a nearby table to free her hand for me.
|
||||
She nodded, moved closer and wrapped her arm around me. "I can do that for you." She put her glass down on a nearby table to free her hand for me.
|
||||
|
||||
I cried; for some untracked amount of time I cried. At some point Tamaki must
|
||||
have let me go because I found myself in a corner, crying myself to sleep.
|
||||
I cried; for some untracked amount of time I cried. At some point Tamaki must have let me go because I found myself in a corner, crying myself to sleep.
|
||||
|
||||
I woke up under a warm, heavy blanket. Apparently a pillow snuck under my head
|
||||
while I was asleep.
|
||||
I woke up under a warm, heavy blanket. Apparently a pillow snuck under my head while I was asleep.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked to the wall and found Tamaki sleeping in a tiny built-in cot. I
|
||||
wondered about her past, and where she learned how to sleep in such a tiny hole.
|
||||
I looked to the wall and found Tamaki sleeping in a tiny built-in cot. I wondered about her past, and where she learned how to sleep in such a tiny hole.
|
||||
|
||||
After being entranced from the view of Earth, I turned my attention inside the
|
||||
'scape. It reminded me of the inside of a small cargo hauler. A wall split the
|
||||
space in twain, with a single-stair step jutting out into the half I was in. The
|
||||
space in the wall tapered toward me, hinting at a possible doorway.
|
||||
After being entranced from the view of Earth, I turned my attention inside the 'scape. It reminded me of the inside of a small cargo hauler. A wall split the space in twain, with a single-stair step jutting out into the half I was in. The space in the wall tapered toward me, hinting at a possible doorway.
|
||||
|
||||
The section up the step looked like some kind of workspace. Little components
|
||||
lay scattered along the floor everywhere. A simple desk spanned the far wall,
|
||||
covered in shelves, bins, bits, and other things my brain tried to process.
|
||||
The section up the step looked like some kind of workspace. Little components lay scattered along the floor everywhere. A simple desk spanned the far wall, covered in shelves, bins, bits, and other things my brain tried to process.
|
||||
|
||||
In the center of the main section stood a coffee table made of tinted glass,
|
||||
surrounded by comfy-looking cushioned chairs. In the corner blinked a little
|
||||
terminal, what it connected to I couldn't quite be sure.
|
||||
In the center of the main section stood a coffee table made of tinted glass, surrounded by comfy-looking cushioned chairs. In the corner blinked a little terminal, what it connected to I couldn't quite be sure.
|
||||
|
||||
A smaller table stood before the Earth-facing window, holding Tamaki's drink and
|
||||
an empty glass. I couldn't see anywhere for her to have prepared the drink or
|
||||
stored glassware, so I stopped thinking about that and started thinking about
|
||||
me.
|
||||
A smaller table stood before the Earth-facing window, holding Tamaki's drink and an empty glass. I couldn't see anywhere for her to have prepared the drink or stored glassware, so I stopped thinking about that and started thinking about me.
|
||||
|
||||
Every time I tried, however, another question crept to the forefront. "Who am
|
||||
I?" it asked in place of anything about what I wanted.
|
||||
Every time I tried, however, another question crept to the forefront. "Who am I?" it asked in place of anything about what I wanted.
|
||||
|
||||
"Who am I?" I said aloud. I tried thinking of an answer before giving up again
|
||||
and sitting there in front of her coffee table.
|
||||
"Who am I?" I said aloud. I tried thinking of an answer before giving up again and sitting there in front of her coffee table.
|
||||
|
||||
"Who \emph{are} you indeed." Tamaki giggled and slipped out of her cot in the
|
||||
wall.
|
||||
"Who \emph{are} you indeed." Tamaki giggled and slipped out of her cot in the wall.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm not even sure how to answ-" I stopped talking and averted my eyes to the
|
||||
ground. She'd been covered in her cot, so I didn't notice now, but Tamaki was
|
||||
walking around her 'scape in nothing but a pair of panties.
|
||||
"I'm not even sure how to answ-" I stopped talking and averted my eyes to the ground. She'd been covered in her cot, so I didn't notice now, but Tamaki was walking around her 'scape in nothing but a pair of panties.
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," she giggled, "don't worry Officer Young; this is something you'll have to
|
||||
get used to."
|
||||
"Oh," she giggled, "don't worry Officer Young; this is something you'll have to get used to."
|
||||
|
||||
I kept my eyes away from her. "Why?"
|
||||
|
||||
"This is casual wear for officers of the strike force," she replied, "but I
|
||||
can put some clothes on just for you."
|
||||
"This is casual wear for officers of the strike force," she replied, "but I can put some clothes on just for you."
|
||||
|
||||
"Please," I pleaded, "you're the first woman I've even seen naked. Just, put
|
||||
something on so I can avoid brain melt."
|
||||
"Please," I pleaded, "you're the first woman I've even seen naked. Just, put something on so I can avoid brain melt."
|
||||
|
||||
"Brain melt?" she asked, putting on a pajama shirt.
|
||||
|
||||
My brain fumbled for words. "You know, when you're, flustered and, uh, this, I
|
||||
guess." I could feel my face heating up.
|
||||
My brain fumbled for words. "You know, when you're, flustered and, uh, this, I guess." I could feel my face heating up.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm safe for your innocent eyes now," she laughed, putting her finger under my
|
||||
chin and lifting my eyes up to hers. "Officer Young, am I pretty?"
|
||||
"I'm safe for your innocent eyes now," she laughed, putting her finger under my chin and lifting my eyes up to hers. "Officer Young, am I pretty?"
|
||||
|
||||
My face flushed; it was bright red I knew it.
|
||||
|
||||
She laughed. "Don't worry." She brought herself to a giggle. "I'm not the only
|
||||
one that'll tease you. You'll have to take a few weeks to adjust but we're all
|
||||
a little, um, \emph{friendlier} around here than you're used to for sure."
|
||||
She laughed. "Don't worry." She brought herself to a giggle. "I'm not the only one that'll tease you. You'll have to take a few weeks to adjust but we're all a little, um, \emph{friendlier} around here than you're used to for sure."
|
||||
|
||||
"Will you all respect my boundaries?" I asked with a serious look on a red face.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," Tamaki replied, "it should go without saying, but if anyone needs a
|
||||
reminder, I'll see to it."
|
||||
"Yes," Tamaki replied, "it should go without saying, but if anyone needs a reminder, I'll see to it."
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you," I said, my serious look fading, "and for the drink. And the
|
||||
blanket. And pillow. And letting me cry on you."
|
||||
"Thank you," I said, my serious look fading, "and for the drink. And the blanket. And pillow. And letting me cry on you."
|
||||
|
||||
"You're welcome," she said, a look of subtle surprise on her face. She sat
|
||||
down on the chair across from me and looked at the wall her bunk was on. A
|
||||
holographic screen appeared and began playing the campus' news channel.
|
||||
"You're welcome," she said, a look of subtle surprise on her face. She sat down on the chair across from me and looked at the wall her bunk was on. A holographic screen appeared and began playing the campus' news channel.
|
||||
|
||||
I settled into the chair a little deeper and began watching whatever segment
|
||||
was on. It looked like some report of an HR employee getting fired for
|
||||
extortion and bribery. I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it: this was my
|
||||
first time watching the campus news.
|
||||
I settled into the chair a little deeper and began watching whatever segment was on. It looked like some report of an HR employee getting fired for extortion and bribery. I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it: this was my first time watching the campus news.
|
||||
|
||||
Tamaki clicked her tongue. "Of course that bastard got fired: I walked him out
|
||||
personally."
|
||||
Tamaki clicked her tongue. "Of course that bastard got fired: I walked him out personally."
|
||||
|
||||
"So you are actually part of security?" I asked, unable to hide my grin.
|
||||
|
||||
"\emph{We} serve many roles," she answered, "and represent whichever department
|
||||
gets us what we want the fastest."
|
||||
"\emph{We} serve many roles," she answered, "and represent whichever department gets us what we want the fastest."
|
||||
|
||||
"I see," I lied, "you'll have to explain in more depth."
|
||||
|
||||
"We have a provisional charter that places us under our own authority," she
|
||||
said, "officially we are under R\&D, but really we are above everyone. Except
|
||||
the CEO, and the board. Fun fact though, the only way this strike force can be
|
||||
disbanded is if the company dissolves."
|
||||
"We have a provisional charter that places us under our own authority," she said, "officially we are under R\&D, but really we are above everyone. Except the CEO, and the board. Fun fact though, the only way this strike force can be disbanded is if the company dissolves."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded. "Wow, so we are everything and above."
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes." She laughed.
|
||||
|
||||
I continued watching the news. The company's latest space fighter was
|
||||
released. It looked a little odd. It had the first fully electric impulse
|
||||
drive, though; that was kinda revolutionary, considering the idea of electric
|
||||
engines was abandoned some time in the last century.
|
||||
I continued watching the news. The company's latest space fighter was released. It looked a little odd. It had the first fully electric impulse drive, though; that was kinda revolutionary, considering the idea of electric engines was abandoned some time in the last century.
|
||||
|
||||
Of course, if the engineering team really got it working, and it looked like
|
||||
they did, it could be a game changer. Fuel costs would be lower, even if the
|
||||
range was slightly shorter. What governments were left would buy them in bulk,
|
||||
and corps would buy production lines full of them.
|
||||
Of course, if the engineering team really got it working, and it looked like they did, it could be a game changer. Fuel costs would be lower, even if the range was slightly shorter. What governments were left would buy them in bulk, and corps would buy production lines full of them.
|
||||
|
||||
"You much into politics?" Tamaki asked, breaking my train of thought.
|
||||
|
||||
"Not really sure," I replied, "Never been exposed to much, so I have no clue
|
||||
what I'd agree with."
|
||||
"Not really sure," I replied, "Never been exposed to much, so I have no clue what I'd agree with."
|
||||
|
||||
She giggled "I see. Makes sense: the company does that to reduce the chances of
|
||||
insider threats."
|
||||
She giggled "I see. Makes sense: the company does that to reduce the chances of insider threats."
|
||||
|
||||
"Well," I said, "I guess I'm impressionable enough for whatever you have
|
||||
planned for me."
|
||||
"Well," I said, "I guess I'm impressionable enough for whatever you have planned for me."
|
||||
|
||||
"You'll be spending the next several months in classes, don't worry," she
|
||||
replied, giving me a serious look.
|
||||
"You'll be spending the next several months in classes, don't worry," she replied, giving me a serious look.
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," I coughed, "you're not joking."
|
||||
|
||||
"No, I'm not, Young, you will have to be educated on every topic you'll be
|
||||
overseeing."
|
||||
"No, I'm not, Young, you will have to be educated on every topic you'll be overseeing."
|
||||
|
||||
"What will I be overseeing?" I asked, not really knowing what to expect.
|
||||
|
||||
"You'll be overseeing the tactical operations unit," Tamaki replied, "hence
|
||||
your designation of Tactical Officer."
|
||||
"You'll be overseeing the tactical operations unit," Tamaki replied, "hence your designation of Tactical Officer."
|
||||
|
||||
"I see," I sighed, "when do classes start?"
|
||||
|
||||
"When you're ready." Apparently she read my face plain as day because she went
|
||||
on to clarify: "Oh, you really thought we were going to put you in a position
|
||||
you weren't ready for. We ensure that all of our recruits are trained for the
|
||||
position they are in. How could we run a strike force if our folks couldn't do
|
||||
their jobs?"
|
||||
"When you're ready." Apparently she read my face plain as day because she went on to clarify: "Oh, you really thought we were going to put you in a position you weren't ready for. We ensure that all of our recruits are trained for the position they are in. How could we run a strike force if our folks couldn't do their jobs?"
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed. "I'm not really sure." It was a silly assumption, really. How could
|
||||
I have expected them not to send me to classes? I'd never had any form of
|
||||
military training.
|
||||
I laughed. "I'm not really sure." It was a silly assumption, really. How could I have expected them not to send me to classes? I'd never had any form of military training.
|
||||
|
||||
"You will have combat training soon," she giggled, "along with all the other
|
||||
new recruits. I believe that class starts next week, so you at least have a
|
||||
break."
|
||||
"You will have combat training soon," she giggled, "along with all the other new recruits. I believe that class starts next week, so you at least have a break."
|
||||
|
||||
I chuckled and went back to watching the news, but it was amazingly boring, so
|
||||
with nothing else to do, I decided it would be easiest to start messing with the
|
||||
menu available via the neural crown. I could feel Tamaki's eye on me the whole
|
||||
time.
|
||||
I chuckled and went back to watching the news, but it was amazingly boring, so with nothing else to do, I decided it would be easiest to start messing with the menu available via the neural crown. I could feel Tamaki's eye on me the whole time.
|
||||
|
||||
Figuring out how to open it was weird. When I'd mentally aligned that I did
|
||||
want to open the menu, I felt an urge to put my hand over my right eye, and when
|
||||
I did, it opened.
|
||||
Figuring out how to open it was weird. When I'd mentally aligned that I did want to open the menu, I felt an urge to put my hand over my right eye, and when I did, it opened.
|
||||
|
||||
Options and buttons in cute self contained circles with brief labels exploded
|
||||
from inside of me, smattering my view with an overlay. There were circles
|
||||
labeled with normal and expected things, such as avatar, user interface,
|
||||
and accessability.
|
||||
Options and buttons in cute self contained circles with brief labels exploded from inside of me, smattering my view with an overlay. There were circles labeled with normal and expected things, such as avatar, user interface, and accessability.
|
||||
|
||||
There were stranger things, too, but they were all grayed out. Pain Threshold,
|
||||
Trauma Mitigation, Substance Effectiveness, and more. I played around with the
|
||||
accessibilities menu for a minute to figure out what kind of options had been
|
||||
built in.
|
||||
There were stranger things, too, but they were all grayed out. Pain Threshold, Trauma Mitigation, Substance Effectiveness, and more. I played around with the accessibilities menu for a minute to figure out what kind of options had been built in.
|
||||
|
||||
Apperantly this thing, while it talked directly to the brain, was still all
|
||||
about helping users acclimatise to having new uses. All of the options were
|
||||
sliders. I'd taken a particular interest in the visual section of the menu,
|
||||
which had been preset to align with how my eyes see the world, both in colour
|
||||
and lense shape.
|
||||
Apperantly this thing, while it talked directly to the brain, was still all about helping users acclimatise to having new uses. All of the options were sliders. I'd taken a particular interest in the visual section of the menu, which had been preset to align with how my eyes see the world, both in colour and lense shape.
|
||||
|
||||
Humans only have three types of structures in their eyes to detect colour, and
|
||||
they only detect red, green, and blue. With these options I could enable
|
||||
dedicated structures for purples, pinks, a whole range of different infrared
|
||||
and ultraviolet colours, and even change the effectiveness of my low-light
|
||||
vision.
|
||||
Humans only have three types of structures in their eyes to detect colour, and they only detect red, green, and blue. With these options I could enable dedicated structures for purples, pinks, a whole range of different infrared and ultraviolet colours, and even change the effectiveness of my low-light vision.
|
||||
|
||||
"You like all the options we've included?" Tamaki asked.
|
||||
|
||||
I jumped slightly. "Yeah. Do we have a way to actually enable all these out in
|
||||
the real?"
|
||||
I jumped slightly. "Yeah. Do we have a way to actually enable all these out in the real?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, a giggle tugging the corners of her lips into a smile.
|
||||
"Requires two optical implants if you want to do anything fancy like that."
|
||||
"Yes," she replied, a giggle tugging the corners of her lips into a smile. "Requires two optical implants if you want to do anything fancy like that."
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed. "Guess I may want two optics then."
|
||||
|
||||
"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" Tamaki asked, alarm in her voice.
|
||||
|
||||
"No," I chuckled, "but I figure having the ability to quickly switch between
|
||||
different wavelengths would be a decently good thing." Tamaki's reaction was
|
||||
to immediately lose herself in thought.
|
||||
"No," I chuckled, "but I figure having the ability to quickly switch between different wavelengths would be a decently good thing." Tamaki's reaction was to immediately lose herself in thought.
|
||||
|
||||
"Should I instruct our medical officer to begin the procedure while you're
|
||||
under?" she asked.
|
||||
"Should I instruct our medical officer to begin the procedure while you're under?" she asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Sure," I nodded, "no reason not to get it done now. Gives me more time to get
|
||||
used to all the different options."
|
||||
"Sure," I nodded, "no reason not to get it done now. Gives me more time to get used to all the different options."
|
||||
|
||||
"Get ready to reappear somewhere totally new," she instructed, "and we'll see
|
||||
you in a few hours."
|
||||
"Get ready to reappear somewhere totally new," she instructed, "and we'll see you in a few hours."
|
||||
|
||||
"Should I be worried?" I asked, alarm and anxiety filling my voice.
|
||||
|
||||
"No, but officer Manafed needs to do work on you, so she's putting you
|
||||
completely to sleep."
|
||||
"No, but officer Manafed needs to do work on you, so she's putting you completely to sleep."
|
||||
|
||||
"Alright, let me know when she's sedating me."
|
||||
|
||||
"As we speak."
|
||||
|
||||
I could feel the drowsiness rolling through my system, then the almost-stoned
|
||||
feeling of pain killers. I looked up at Tamaki with worry and fatigue. I'd
|
||||
started to fall, but it didn't matter. I was out before I'd hit the ground.
|
||||
|
||||
I could feel the drowsiness rolling through my system, then the almost-stoned feeling of pain killers. I looked up at Tamaki with worry and fatigue. I'd started to fall, but it didn't matter. I was out before I'd hit the ground.
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,100 +1,60 @@
|
|||
I woke up extra groggy to warm, damp air from someplace tropical. So I thought
|
||||
anyway: I'd never been in any such place. A girl could dream, though.
|
||||
I woke up extra groggy to warm, damp air from someplace tropical. So I thought anyway: I'd never been in any such place. A girl could dream, though.
|
||||
|
||||
"I figured you could recover on a beach," Lucere said from behind me. It took
|
||||
her running her fingers through my hair for me to notice she had them there at
|
||||
all. I hummed in pleasure and opened my eyes, and sure enough, she was actually
|
||||
sitting behind me.
|
||||
"I figured you could recover on a beach," Lucere said from behind me. It took her running her fingers through my hair for me to notice she had them there at all. I hummed in pleasure and opened my eyes, and sure enough, she was actually sitting behind me.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked out over the beach. The view of the ocean was great. Pink and yellow
|
||||
moons cast their lights on azure sands. The beach itself was more of an alcove,
|
||||
framed by three cliffs. I saw a dense line of trees, but not much past
|
||||
it. Obviously.
|
||||
I looked out over the beach. The view of the ocean was great. Pink and yellow moons cast their lights on azure sands. The beach itself was more of an alcove, framed by three cliffs. I saw a dense line of trees, but not much past it. Obviously.
|
||||
|
||||
If I were being honest, the scene was serene. It jarred me. That medical room
|
||||
needed a tonne more sanitizing while here was picturesque. My voice continued
|
||||
to slur. "Yeah, its a damn sight better than the alternative."
|
||||
If I were being honest, the scene was serene. It jarred me. That medical room needed a tonne more sanitizing while here was picturesque. My voice continued to slur. "Yeah, its a damn sight better than the alternative."
|
||||
|
||||
"I built this 'scape after visiting the beaches of one of Altair's
|
||||
planets." Lucere started pulling her hand out of my hair.
|
||||
"I built this 'scape after visiting the beaches of one of Altair's planets." Lucere started pulling her hand out of my hair.
|
||||
|
||||
"No," I begged, "Please don't stop; it feels so good."
|
||||
|
||||
She ignored my pleading, her voice cracking as if nervous. "Well, now that you
|
||||
are awake, I figured we could go diving."
|
||||
She ignored my pleading, her voice cracking as if nervous. "Well, now that you are awake, I figured we could go diving."
|
||||
|
||||
"How does that work in virtual?" I sat up and dipped my feet in the sand. I
|
||||
looked up to find her suddenly very close to me, just a few inches from my
|
||||
face.
|
||||
"How does that work in virtual?" I sat up and dipped my feet in the sand. I looked up to find her suddenly very close to me, just a few inches from my face.
|
||||
|
||||
She stared into me, peering at my soul. Her lavender eyes sparkled like
|
||||
polished amethysts. A woman with those eyes could get me to do whatever she
|
||||
wanted just by asking. "Well, we don't have to breathe, for starters, so we
|
||||
can go as deep as we want."
|
||||
She stared into me, peering at my soul. Her lavender eyes sparkled like polished amethysts. A woman with those eyes could get me to do whatever she wanted just by asking. "Well, we don't have to breathe, for starters, so we can go as deep as we want."
|
||||
|
||||
"I'd like to go deep in you," I murmered, lost in my fatigue and her eyes.
|
||||
|
||||
Shock riddled her face.
|
||||
|
||||
My breath stopped; I had just now realized what I'd said. "Oh shit. I'm so
|
||||
sorry."
|
||||
My breath stopped; I had just now realized what I'd said. "Oh shit. I'm so sorry."
|
||||
|
||||
She blinked the shock out of her eyes, filling her face with the
|
||||
scarlet blush of heavy embarrassment.
|
||||
She blinked the shock out of her eyes, filling her face with the scarlet blush of heavy embarrassment.
|
||||
|
||||
"Wow," I heard someone say, "She's forward. I bet you like that a lot, Lucy."
|
||||
The voice was very androgynous and sounded pretty unique.
|
||||
"Wow," I heard someone say, "She's forward. I bet you like that a lot, Lucy." The voice was very androgynous and sounded pretty unique.
|
||||
|
||||
I whipped my head around in search of the speaker. It didn't take long for me
|
||||
to realize I'd missed the thirty or forty people enjoying a nice beach day
|
||||
along with us. My own face started to burn with embarrassment as well. Fuck I
|
||||
was tired.
|
||||
I whipped my head around in search of the speaker. It didn't take long for me to realize I'd missed the thirty or forty people enjoying a nice beach day along with us. My own face started to burn with embarrassment as well. Fuck I was tired.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere huffed loudly and grabbed my hand before I knew what was happening,
|
||||
pulling me into a deep kiss. She was so passionate about it. There were real
|
||||
emotions in it, but I couldn't help feeling a bit hollow at it all. What if I
|
||||
was just a tool for her to experience her love for someone else?
|
||||
Lucere huffed loudly and grabbed my hand before I knew what was happening, pulling me into a deep kiss. She was so passionate about it. There were real emotions in it, but I couldn't help feeling a bit hollow at it all. What if I was just a tool for her to experience her love for someone else?
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere released me after a while of being blankly stared at, regret washing
|
||||
out her flush. "I'm sorry."
|
||||
Lucere released me after a while of being blankly stared at, regret washing out her flush. "I'm sorry."
|
||||
|
||||
"Its fine," I said, shaking my head, "We just met a handful of hours ago, okay?
|
||||
I barely know you. You barely know me. You're fun to kiss, but I'm so
|
||||
amazingly out of my element here. I don't want to be a part of your corporate
|
||||
machine."
|
||||
"Its fine," I said, shaking my head, "We just met a handful of hours ago, okay? I barely know you. You barely know me. You're fun to kiss, but I'm so amazingly out of my element here. I don't want to be a part of your corporate machine."
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere smirked. "And yet you let me implant you with a neural interface. That
|
||||
comes with a lot of risks, don't you think?"
|
||||
Lucere smirked. "And yet you let me implant you with a neural interface. That comes with a lot of risks, don't you think?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Shit," I whispered, barely loud enough to for even me to hear, "and that's how
|
||||
I'm here at all."
|
||||
"Shit," I whispered, barely loud enough to for even me to hear, "and that's how I'm here at all."
|
||||
|
||||
"Come with me," Lucere instructed, offering her hand, "Clearly we need to
|
||||
talk."
|
||||
"Come with me," Lucere instructed, offering her hand, "Clearly we need to talk."
|
||||
|
||||
I reluctantly took her hand and followed her into the water. I noted how
|
||||
perfectly warm it was; it felt wet and real.
|
||||
I reluctantly took her hand and followed her into the water. I noted how perfectly warm it was; it felt wet and real.
|
||||
|
||||
Wet, reveal, deadly. I shivered. "Is this going to drown me?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I've modified water physics for a bit," Lucere said, "We may not need to
|
||||
breathe here, but water in the lungs will still hurt like hell."
|
||||
"I've modified water physics for a bit," Lucere said, "We may not need to breathe here, but water in the lungs will still hurt like hell."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded and submerged my head. Trusting her, I took in a breath, and the water
|
||||
stayed out of my lungs. The anxiety melted into bliss.
|
||||
I nodded and submerged my head. Trusting her, I took in a breath, and the water stayed out of my lungs. The anxiety melted into bliss.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked around and a beautiful underwater landscape graced my eyes. The azure
|
||||
sand sparkled in beautiful light, filtered through the water. A reef lay in
|
||||
the distance.
|
||||
I looked around and a beautiful underwater landscape graced my eyes. The azure sand sparkled in beautiful light, filtered through the water. A reef lay in the distance.
|
||||
|
||||
"The sand is only a few shades lighter than your hair," Lucere noted aloud,
|
||||
"Very pretty. Never seen any hair as pretty as yours, those pretty curls."
|
||||
"The sand is only a few shades lighter than your hair," Lucere noted aloud, "Very pretty. Never seen any hair as pretty as yours, those pretty curls."
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you," I said quietly, and took a moment to think. I didn't want to give
|
||||
away any info I didn't have to.
|
||||
"Thank you," I said quietly, and took a moment to think. I didn't want to give away any info I didn't have to.
|
||||
|
||||
Eventually I decided to compliment her in kind. "Your hair is pretty too.
|
||||
It's slightly wavy and the colour of my favourite chocolate."
|
||||
Eventually I decided to compliment her in kind. "Your hair is pretty too. It's slightly wavy and the colour of my favourite chocolate."
|
||||
|
||||
"Is your hair naturally blue?"
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -102,57 +62,31 @@ I gave her an amused look and giggle. "Natural blue hair?"
|
|||
|
||||
Laughter was met with laughter. "It can happen."
|
||||
|
||||
"Are you using me?" my mouth asked before I could clamp it shut. Fuck. I
|
||||
hadn't meant to ask that. I hadn't meant to reveal anything so personal. I
|
||||
really didn't want to scare Lucere off. I supposed it was too late for secrets
|
||||
moonlighting as questions.
|
||||
"Are you using me?" my mouth asked before I could clamp it shut. Fuck. I hadn't meant to ask that. I hadn't meant to reveal anything so personal. I really didn't want to scare Lucere off. I supposed it was too late for secrets moonlighting as questions.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere paused a moment and replied: "I can understand why you'd be uneasy here,
|
||||
or completely distrust me. Just think about this, right? We're providing you
|
||||
a job, training, and the most advanced implant available. Once you're done in
|
||||
the tank, there's a process for leaving, too. We won't keep you here against
|
||||
your will."
|
||||
Lucere paused a moment and replied: "I can understand why you'd be uneasy here, or completely distrust me. Just think about this, right? We're providing you a job, training, and the most advanced implant available. Once you're done in the tank, there's a process for leaving, too. We won't keep you here against your will."
|
||||
|
||||
"That wasn't what I asked, Lucy." I took a slow breath between my sentences
|
||||
to try not to say something stupid again. "It's true I don't trust the strike
|
||||
team, but I have no clue where you fall. You've not given me any reason to
|
||||
distrust you specifically."
|
||||
"That wasn't what I asked, Lucy." I took a slow breath between my sentences to try not to say something stupid again. "It's true I don't trust the strike team, but I have no clue where you fall. You've not given me any reason to distrust you specifically."
|
||||
|
||||
"What are you asking, Eilidh?" There was that feeling again, my name flowing
|
||||
like honey from her lips. I had to think carefully about my next words.
|
||||
"What are you asking, Eilidh?" There was that feeling again, my name flowing like honey from her lips. I had to think carefully about my next words.
|
||||
|
||||
I fixed my eyes to hers. "Are \emph{you} using me?"
|
||||
I fixed my eyes to hers. "Are \emph{you} using me?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," she said, playing with her hair a moment before continuing, "I
|
||||
don't think so. Why?"
|
||||
"Oh," she said, playing with her hair a moment before continuing, "I don't think so. Why?"
|
||||
|
||||
"There were emotions in that kiss." I took some time to carefully phrase what I
|
||||
wanted to come out of my mouth next. "I'm not particularly good with social
|
||||
cues, but even with that, this all feels like its moving very quickly."
|
||||
"There were emotions in that kiss." I took some time to carefully phrase what I wanted to come out of my mouth next. "I'm not particularly good with social cues, but even with that, this all feels like its moving very quickly."
|
||||
|
||||
"I understand," she said, "but no. I'm not sure you have the context here.
|
||||
We've all vowed to be as open and honest with our feelings as possible. I like
|
||||
you. Both what I've seen of you, limited as it may be, and the file our
|
||||
intelligence crew has been able to put together."
|
||||
"I understand," she said, "but no. I'm not sure you have the context here. We've all vowed to be as open and honest with our feelings as possible. I like you. Both what I've seen of you, limited as it may be, and the file our intelligence crew has been able to put together."
|
||||
|
||||
"May I see it?" I asked, "My file, I mean."
|
||||
|
||||
"Sure," she said, "'Should have already been uploaded to your implant's main
|
||||
storage. I want you to know that I haven't read most of it. There's some
|
||||
pretty dark, and likely personal shit in there, and I'd rather hear your
|
||||
stories from you."
|
||||
"Sure," she said, "'Should have already been uploaded to your implant's main storage. I want you to know that I haven't read most of it. There's some pretty dark, and likely personal shit in there, and I'd rather hear your stories from you."
|
||||
|
||||
I still wasn't sure if I was being used or not: hard to tell based on those
|
||||
responses. I decided to ask more about the open and honest feelings she had
|
||||
mentioned, but if I was going to, I needed to open up a little first.
|
||||
I still wasn't sure if I was being used or not: hard to tell based on those responses. I decided to ask more about the open and honest feelings she had mentioned, but if I was going to, I needed to open up a little first.
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you." I took a breath. "I have been used and manipulated in the past."
|
||||
|
||||
I thought back for just a moment to my first girlfriend, Inara. She'd used
|
||||
me, convinced me to run a smash and grab against one of the local branches of a
|
||||
tech giant. I was able to pull a really fancy computer rig and just shy of
|
||||
four hundred thousand credits. I'd been shot though. Bullet collapsed a lung
|
||||
not long after I got away and Inara did her best to patch me up.
|
||||
I thought back for just a moment to my first girlfriend, Inara. She'd used me, convinced me to run a smash and grab against one of the local branches of a tech giant. I was able to pull a really fancy computer rig and just shy of four hundred thousand credits. I'd been shot though. Bullet collapsed a lung not long after I got away and Inara did her best to patch me up.
|
||||
|
||||
She was gone when I woke up, and so were our spoils.
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -160,79 +94,40 @@ I was sixteen.
|
|||
|
||||
Breathing was hard for months after that.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm relatively keen on keeping myself away from further abusive
|
||||
relationships." I waited for Lucere to say something before realizing she was
|
||||
waiting for me. "I guess I need to know why you would be feeling such intense
|
||||
emotions for me after such a short time."
|
||||
"I'm relatively keen on keeping myself away from further abusive relationships." I waited for Lucere to say something before realizing she was waiting for me. "I guess I need to know why you would be feeling such intense emotions for me after such a short time."
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere hummed. "I don't know. You're right that a few hours isn't really
|
||||
enough time for anything like love, but I promise you that I don't love you.
|
||||
Not yet, at least. Its very fun to kiss you, though. In front of everyone
|
||||
isn't really an issue, either."
|
||||
Lucere hummed. "I don't know. You're right that a few hours isn't really enough time for anything like love, but I promise you that I don't love you. Not yet, at least. Its very fun to kiss you, though. In front of everyone isn't really an issue, either."
|
||||
|
||||
"Not an issue?" I asked, "I wasn't really worried that you kissed me in front
|
||||
of everyone. It was the amount of emotion you expressed in that kiss. It was
|
||||
so intense. The expression of emotion, especially that strong, in front of
|
||||
everyone, none of whom I know? That was the problem."
|
||||
"Not an issue?" I asked, "I wasn't really worried that you kissed me in front of everyone. It was the amount of emotion you expressed in that kiss. It was so intense. The expression of emotion, especially that strong, in front of everyone, none of whom I know? That was the problem."
|
||||
|
||||
Shock riddled her face again. "Oh Goddess Above," she exclaimed, "Yeah I could
|
||||
see how that would be an issue. Like I said, we are open and honest here, so I
|
||||
suppose I should tell you now: I'm dating all of the officers, with the
|
||||
exception of Young, who is in the tube next to you out in the real. They
|
||||
called me cute earlier though."
|
||||
Shock riddled her face again. "Oh Goddess Above," she exclaimed, "Yeah I could see how that would be an issue. Like I said, we are open and honest here, so I suppose I should tell you now: I'm dating all of the officers, with the exception of Young, who is in the tube next to you out in the real. They called me cute earlier though."
|
||||
|
||||
"You are poly?" I'd had a few friends that were poly, so I was aware
|
||||
of what it was. I was always a little jealous of them: to be able to love
|
||||
more than one person was always just a bit much of an exercise in patience and
|
||||
communication for my previous partners. I'd tried to approach the topic, but
|
||||
they were never receptive of the idea.
|
||||
"You are poly?" I'd had a few friends that were poly, so I was aware of what it was. I was always a little jealous of them: to be able to love more than one person was always just a bit much of an exercise in patience and communication for my previous partners. I'd tried to approach the topic, but they were never receptive of the idea.
|
||||
|
||||
Was this my chance to explore my sexuality further? A bunch of corporate
|
||||
lesbians didn't feel like the best place to be doing this, though.
|
||||
Was this my chance to explore my sexuality further? A bunch of corporate lesbians didn't feel like the best place to be doing this, though.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere's voice derailed my worried thoughts. "Yeah; most of us here are."
|
||||
|
||||
I figured now was as good of a time as any. "You're all corporate goons,
|
||||
though. I'm not sure how I feel about that."
|
||||
I figured now was as good of a time as any. "You're all corporate goons, though. I'm not sure how I feel about that."
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere sighed. "We serve the Goddess, and She has some vested interest in
|
||||
keeping us here, for now at least."
|
||||
Lucere sighed. "We serve the Goddess, and She has some vested interest in keeping us here, for now at least."
|
||||
|
||||
That only raised more questions. A queer goddess who cozies up to corporations?
|
||||
Corps hated queer folk. We were always questioning the status quo. The status
|
||||
quo mades corps their money. Another question struck me before I could ask
|
||||
about that. "Who is the goddess?"
|
||||
That only raised more questions. A queer goddess who cozies up to corporations? Corps hated queer folk. We were always questioning the status quo. The status quo mades corps their money. Another question struck me before I could ask about that. "Who is the goddess?"
|
||||
|
||||
"We call her the Pale Goddess," Lucere said, "Her name is Anna, though. You'll
|
||||
meet her soon enough; we all have to. She'll answer your questions and give
|
||||
you some more. She claims to have been omnipotent in some other dimensions,
|
||||
but apperantly omnipotence isn't something that can happen in this universe."
|
||||
"We call her the Pale Goddess," Lucere said, "Her name is Anna, though. You'll meet her soon enough; we all have to. She'll answer your questions and give you some more. She claims to have been omnipotent in some other dimensions, but apperantly omnipotence isn't something that can happen in this universe."
|
||||
|
||||
"Anna," I mused, "Interesting that a goddess with enough power to bestow magic
|
||||
would have such a normal name."
|
||||
"Anna," I mused, "Interesting that a goddess with enough power to bestow magic would have such a normal name."
|
||||
|
||||
"Names aren't everything," Lucere said, "but they do carry meaning for some,
|
||||
though I suppose that's a topic that I can't particularly explain."
|
||||
"Names aren't everything," Lucere said, "but they do carry meaning for some, though I suppose that's a topic that I can't particularly explain."
|
||||
|
||||
"What do you mean by that?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Our commander, Tamaki, or maybe Melrose might be better at explaining that,"
|
||||
she replied, "I've never had to deal with how my name labels me. They have."
|
||||
"Our commander, Tamaki, or maybe Melrose might be better at explaining that," she replied, "I've never had to deal with how my name labels me. They have."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded. "Okay." I began to suspect that meant that they were trans, but I
|
||||
couldn't be certain. There were all sorts of reasons one would have to worry
|
||||
about their name. Sometimes I thought about changing mine. Not that my name
|
||||
was hard to write, but I didn't feel like an 'Eilidh' all the time.
|
||||
I nodded. "Okay." I began to suspect that meant that they were trans, but I couldn't be certain. There were all sorts of reasons one would have to worry about their name. Sometimes I thought about changing mine. Not that my name was hard to write, but I didn't feel like an 'Eilidh' all the time.
|
||||
|
||||
"You look like you've got a lot on your mind." Lucere motioned for me to stand
|
||||
up. "I have to go wake Sleeping Beauty. You can find Officer Melrose up on
|
||||
the beach. Tell faer that fae's in charge for me, okay? Can't leave this
|
||||
instance with nobody as admin, though I'm sure fae would have a way in anyway."
|
||||
"You look like you've got a lot on your mind." Lucere motioned for me to stand up. "I have to go wake Sleeping Beauty. You can find Officer Melrose up on the beach. Tell faer that fae's in charge for me, okay? Can't leave this instance with nobody as admin, though I'm sure fae would have a way in anyway."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded. "Alright." I tried to find words to express my thoughts as more
|
||||
than single word answers. There were too many questions racing around for my
|
||||
thoughts to produce meaningful conversation.
|
||||
I nodded. "Alright." I tried to find words to express my thoughts as more than single word answers. There were too many questions racing around for my thoughts to produce meaningful conversation.
|
||||
|
||||
One question in particular was ringing through my thoughts like a hammer
|
||||
shaping hot metal into something beautiful: \emph{How could I have gained the
|
||||
favour of a goddess that's cozy with a corp?}
|
||||
One question in particular was ringing through my thoughts like a hammer shaping hot metal into something beautiful: \emph{How could I have gained the favour of a goddess that's cozy with a corp?}
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,113 +1,62 @@
|
|||
My eyelids fluttered open and the world faded into view. Commotion echoed
|
||||
through my ears and around me. The lights above shone far too bright.
|
||||
My eyelids fluttered open and the world faded into view. Commotion echoed through my ears and around me. The lights above shone far too bright.
|
||||
|
||||
"Officer Young," a familiar voice called.
|
||||
|
||||
My brain was so foggy I couldn't place who it was. I tried to form actual
|
||||
words, but they didn't vocalize so instead I groaned. It felt like I hadn't
|
||||
spoken in weeks.
|
||||
My brain was so foggy I couldn't place who it was. I tried to form actual words, but they didn't vocalize so instead I groaned. It felt like I hadn't spoken in weeks.
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't try to speak, Talon." Lucere stepped into view. "We just had to make
|
||||
sure you woke up in the real before you go back into virtual." Her face was so
|
||||
close to mine her brown curls ticked my cheek.
|
||||
"Don't try to speak, Talon." Lucere stepped into view. "We just had to make sure you woke up in the real before you go back into virtual." Her face was so close to mine her brown curls ticked my cheek.
|
||||
|
||||
"Get them back into virtual Lucy," said another voice, "They will need their
|
||||
rest for the coming days. And would you help them setup a home 'scape?"
|
||||
"Get them back into virtual Lucy," said another voice, "They will need their rest for the coming days. And would you help them setup a home 'scape?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes Commander," Lucere didn't bother looking at what had to be Tamaki, instead
|
||||
brushing her fingers against my cheek. They felt amazing against my smooth-
|
||||
"Yes Commander," Lucere didn't bother looking at what had to be Tamaki, instead brushing her fingers against my cheek. They felt amazing against my smooth-
|
||||
|
||||
Smooth? I didn't remember having smooth cheeks. Ah well: I figured I wouldn't
|
||||
get a say in what I looked like coming out anyway.
|
||||
Smooth? I didn't remember having smooth cheeks. Ah well: I figured I wouldn't get a say in what I looked like coming out anyway.
|
||||
|
||||
"Now, Lucy," Tamaki shouted, departure pitching her voice down.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere whispered something into my ear. My brain melting again robbed my
|
||||
ability to understand what she said, but she probably knew that.
|
||||
Lucere whispered something into my ear. My brain melting again robbed my ability to understand what she said, but she probably knew that.
|
||||
|
||||
It was hard to describe moving to virtual with the implant and not the crown.
|
||||
It was a feeling between movement and stillness and yet it was neither; my
|
||||
senses were utterly confounded.
|
||||
It was hard to describe moving to virtual with the implant and not the crown. It was a feeling between movement and stillness and yet it was neither; my senses were utterly confounded.
|
||||
|
||||
I still had consciousness, if only for a second, before I was fully in virtual.
|
||||
The idea of having two bodies wasn't completely foreign to me: I often felt it
|
||||
would be fun to have two separate bodies, completely different in looks and
|
||||
configuration, to experiment with.
|
||||
I still had consciousness, if only for a second, before I was fully in virtual. The idea of having two bodies wasn't completely foreign to me: I often felt it would be fun to have two separate bodies, completely different in looks and configuration, to experiment with.
|
||||
|
||||
I shook the errant thoughts out of my head and gathered my bearings. I was
|
||||
nowhere I recognized, standing on a boundary between forest and clearing. A
|
||||
house of sorts stood before me, with walls of solid wood and a roof of
|
||||
branches, woven densely and covered in leaves. Supposedly it didn't rain here,
|
||||
otherwise she would've done something about that.
|
||||
I shook the errant thoughts out of my head and gathered my bearings. I was nowhere I recognized, standing on a boundary between forest and clearing. A house of sorts stood before me, with walls of solid wood and a roof of branches, woven densely and covered in leaves. Supposedly it didn't rain here, otherwise she would've done something about that.
|
||||
|
||||
"The implant manages your sleep for you." Lucere startled me from out of
|
||||
nowhere. "And you can be conscious in the real while managing things here in
|
||||
virtual. It's a bit of a weird feeling, but you get used to it."
|
||||
"The implant manages your sleep for you." Lucere startled me from out of nowhere. "And you can be conscious in the real while managing things here in virtual. It's a bit of a weird feeling, but you get used to it."
|
||||
|
||||
I turned by head toward her. "Then how come I can't feel my body now?"
|
||||
|
||||
She was looking at me now and \emph{wow}. Her eyes gleamed beautifully and
|
||||
locked to mine, as if gazing into my thoughts. "I've disabled it. Your implant
|
||||
is under remote management until you're ready to be completely awake in the
|
||||
real."
|
||||
She was looking at me now and \emph{wow}. Her eyes gleamed beautifully and locked to mine, as if gazing into my thoughts. "I've disabled it. Your implant is under remote management until you're ready to be completely awake in the real."
|
||||
|
||||
"Fantastic." Each syllable played a note of sarcasm. I figured that meant she
|
||||
could just scramble my brain if I offended her. She probably wouldn't, but the
|
||||
option being there is mildly scary.
|
||||
"Fantastic." Each syllable played a note of sarcasm. I figured that meant she could just scramble my brain if I offended her. She probably wouldn't, but the option being there is mildly scary.
|
||||
|
||||
"No, not really," she admitted, "It's actually super dangerous. We disable
|
||||
remote controls once you're capable of operating it on your own."
|
||||
"No, not really," she admitted, "It's actually super dangerous. We disable remote controls once you're capable of operating it on your own."
|
||||
|
||||
Worry and anxiety taintied my voice and face. "I assume you can kill me if
|
||||
things are set wrong?" My safety and privacy were things I worried about:
|
||||
after all, I needed to be alone with my thoughts so I could figure myself out.
|
||||
Worry and anxiety taintied my voice and face. "I assume you can kill me if things are set wrong?" My safety and privacy were things I worried about: after all, I needed to be alone with my thoughts so I could figure myself out.
|
||||
|
||||
"In theory," she said, "but I doubt reality would prove it; human brains are
|
||||
far more capable of dealing with new circumstances than we ever give them
|
||||
credit for. The real issue is privacy: I'd have total access to you without
|
||||
your consent if I wanted it."
|
||||
"In theory," she said, "but I doubt reality would prove it; human brains are far more capable of dealing with new circumstances than we ever give them credit for. The real issue is privacy: I'd have total access to you without your consent if I wanted it."
|
||||
|
||||
A blush crawled up my cheeks. The idea of being completely transparent to
|
||||
anyone was, a bit hot. "Oh."
|
||||
A blush crawled up my cheeks. The idea of being completely transparent to anyone was, a bit hot. "Oh."
|
||||
|
||||
She giggled. "Of course as the medical officer, I will always get full body
|
||||
reports from your implant. Those are kept confidental, and I don't look at
|
||||
them unless my screening programs determined a problem."
|
||||
She giggled. "Of course as the medical officer, I will always get full body reports from your implant. Those are kept confidental, and I don't look at them unless my screening programs determined a problem."
|
||||
|
||||
"Like if I'm taking abnormal amounts of pain?" I noticed my entire body was
|
||||
tingling. In hindsight, maybe getting the implant was a bit bad of an idea.
|
||||
"Like if I'm taking abnormal amounts of pain?" I noticed my entire body was tingling. In hindsight, maybe getting the implant was a bit bad of an idea.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah, among a host of other symptoms of disease that can be fixed," Lucere
|
||||
replied, "and those that can't."
|
||||
"Yeah, among a host of other symptoms of disease that can be fixed," Lucere replied, "and those that can't."
|
||||
|
||||
Sudden vulnerability overtook me and my tone dried in short order. "That feels
|
||||
invasive. Couldn't I have been given a rundown of all this before I decided to
|
||||
get it?"
|
||||
Sudden vulnerability overtook me and my tone dried in short order. "That feels invasive. Couldn't I have been given a rundown of all this before I decided to get it?"
|
||||
|
||||
She sighed. "Honestly, I'm the one who wants to wait on those things.
|
||||
Unfortunately it's written into our provisional contract that we have
|
||||
monitoring in place for all field and administration staff."
|
||||
She sighed. "Honestly, I'm the one who wants to wait on those things. Unfortunately it's written into our provisional contract that we have monitoring in place for all field and administration staff."
|
||||
|
||||
"And y'all chose implants?"
|
||||
|
||||
"No," she replied, "it was part of the contract. The company chose an implant
|
||||
they had designed the year magic was discovered. At first they could only
|
||||
record what the user saw, but as the years progressed we've added all sorts of
|
||||
features we deemed necessary, like inducing virtual reality and sending us
|
||||
medical information."
|
||||
"No," she replied, "it was part of the contract. The company chose an implant they had designed the year magic was discovered. At first they could only record what the user saw, but as the years progressed we've added all sorts of features we deemed necessary, like inducing virtual reality and sending us medical information."
|
||||
|
||||
"And connecting to this optical implant." I laughed when I finally noticed
|
||||
visual data in my peripheral vision. I focused my attention on it. The
|
||||
display exploded into full view: I saw my heart rate, a damage report on my
|
||||
body, a navigation map, and a handful of other readings about me.
|
||||
"And connecting to this optical implant." I laughed when I finally noticed visual data in my peripheral vision. I focused my attention on it. The display exploded into full view: I saw my heart rate, a damage report on my body, a navigation map, and a handful of other readings about me.
|
||||
|
||||
Oddly enough there was also a messaging system and web browser. I popped open
|
||||
the messenger and saw a bunch of contacts already logged: tactical operatives,
|
||||
mostly, but also all the other officers.
|
||||
Oddly enough there was also a messaging system and web browser. I popped open the messenger and saw a bunch of contacts already logged: tactical operatives, mostly, but also all the other officers.
|
||||
|
||||
I thought about one contact that stuck out: Medical Officer Manafed, Lucere. A
|
||||
chat window opened immediately. I thought about a message to send, eventually
|
||||
settling on something simple.
|
||||
I thought about one contact that stuck out: Medical Officer Manafed, Lucere. A chat window opened immediately. I thought about a message to send, eventually settling on something simple.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Young}: Testing?
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -115,126 +64,87 @@ I saw her laugh beside me, and she gave me a face.
|
|||
|
||||
\textbf{Manafed}: Tested.
|
||||
|
||||
"Thanks Lucy." It was just thought that drove it. "That's way easier than I
|
||||
thought it'd be."
|
||||
"Thanks Lucy." It was just thought that drove it. "That's way easier than I thought it'd be."
|
||||
|
||||
"It's really nice," she replied, "far easier than talking a lot of times."
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed. "Hey Doc, why's that massive headache gone?"
|
||||
|
||||
She returned a giggle. "Oh. Your implant is helping you manage your pain,
|
||||
don't worry."
|
||||
She returned a giggle. "Oh. Your implant is helping you manage your pain, don't worry."
|
||||
|
||||
"My headache is still here, but I can't feel it?"
|
||||
|
||||
Her giggle grew into laughter. "Yeah, so you're gonna have to realize that lack
|
||||
of pain no longer means all good. You've got that heads-up display for a
|
||||
reason. If you start feeling pain that's when you're really in trouble."
|
||||
Her giggle grew into laughter. "Yeah, so you're gonna have to realize that lack of pain no longer means all good. You've got that heads-up display for a reason. If you start feeling pain that's when you're really in trouble."
|
||||
|
||||
It made sense, so I nodded.
|
||||
|
||||
"We just gonna stand here talking, or are you going to come into my home?" she
|
||||
asked me with a smile.
|
||||
"We just gonna stand here talking, or are you going to come into my home?" she asked me with a smile.
|
||||
|
||||
"I suppose, sorry," I mummbled, "I just have a lot of questions and get
|
||||
distracted easily."
|
||||
"I suppose, sorry," I mummbled, "I just have a lot of questions and get distracted easily."
|
||||
|
||||
Another laugh. "No problem." She started walking to her house.
|
||||
|
||||
The path was short, but each step felt like miles. I could understand what she
|
||||
meant by lack of pain. It wasn't a pain, but more a feeling of weariness: my
|
||||
brain functioned perfectly but my body was sluggish. I lost my balance and fell
|
||||
back.
|
||||
The path was short, but each step felt like miles. I could understand what she meant by lack of pain. It wasn't a pain, but more a feeling of weariness: my brain functioned perfectly but my body was sluggish. I lost my balance and fell back.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hey hey!" Lucere swooped in and caught me. "Are you okay?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm not sure." I checked the body readout on my HUD. "It says I'm all
|
||||
orange. I assume that means good?"
|
||||
"I'm not sure." I checked the body readout on my HUD. "It says I'm all orange. I assume that means good?"
|
||||
|
||||
"No." Shock and worry mixed on her face. She set me on my feet. "Orange is
|
||||
not good. Not as bad as red, but not green."
|
||||
"No." Shock and worry mixed on her face. She set me on my feet. "Orange is not good. Not as bad as red, but not green."
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," I said, a bit dazed, "So definitely not good." At least it wasn't as bad
|
||||
as red. \emph{Don't freak out,} I thought, trying to keep calm.
|
||||
"Oh," I said, a bit dazed, "So definitely not good." At least it wasn't as bad as red. \emph{Don't freak out,} I thought, trying to keep calm.
|
||||
|
||||
"No, not good, especially since my sensors are not reading anything wrong for
|
||||
your current situation."
|
||||
"No, not good, especially since my sensors are not reading anything wrong for your current situation."
|
||||
|
||||
I tapped on my head. "You getting a feed from my implant?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Not yet," she replied, "It does need about twelve hours to get a proper
|
||||
baseline, but even then it shouldn't be reading orange. Your body is in
|
||||
perfect health according to all my- no wait." A couple seconds passed. "Your
|
||||
body just entered the next phase of transformation."
|
||||
"Not yet," she replied, "It does need about twelve hours to get a proper baseline, but even then it shouldn't be reading orange. Your body is in perfect health according to all my- no wait." A couple seconds passed. "Your body just entered the next phase of transformation."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded, then a massive headache split my skull, radiating from two points not
|
||||
far up in my hairline. The pain exploded and I fell over. The reverberations
|
||||
excruciated.
|
||||
I nodded, then a massive headache split my skull, radiating from two points not far up in my hairline. The pain exploded and I fell over. The reverberations excruciated.
|
||||
|
||||
"Hold on," Lucere's voice echoed through my brain, "I'm moving you back to the
|
||||
cryochamber."
|
||||
"Hold on," Lucere's voice echoed through my brain, "I'm moving you back to the cryochamber."
|
||||
|
||||
"Horns!" I screamed, "I've got horns breaking through my skull!"
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere stared at me, her eyes wide. "You do."
|
||||
|
||||
"What?" I asked, my prior volume not quite gone. I reached up to feel, but
|
||||
nothing was there.
|
||||
"What?" I asked, my prior volume not quite gone. I reached up to feel, but nothing was there.
|
||||
|
||||
"Your real body," she said, "I'm looking at you right now. They're pretty, and
|
||||
blue."
|
||||
"Your real body," she said, "I'm looking at you right now. They're pretty, and blue."
|
||||
|
||||
"Pretty?" My voice wavered. The pain nearly incapacitated me.
|
||||
|
||||
"Yes, pretty. I'm gonna give you some pain management medication, but you'll
|
||||
probably get knocked out."
|
||||
"Yes, pretty. I'm gonna give you some pain management medication, but you'll probably get knocked out."
|
||||
|
||||
"No," I said. The pain started to level off instead to climbing to yet newer
|
||||
heights. "I need to remain conscious, as hard as that's going to be with all
|
||||
this pain."
|
||||
"No," I said. The pain started to level off instead to climbing to yet newer heights. "I need to remain conscious, as hard as that's going to be with all this pain."
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere grumbled. "Fine. Let me get you inside at least." She lifted me up off
|
||||
my feet and bridal-carried me to a comfy couch inside. It felt odd, but not in
|
||||
a bad way: between the pain and confusion it was hard to tell whether the
|
||||
pulses were excitement or embarrassment.
|
||||
Lucere grumbled. "Fine. Let me get you inside at least." She lifted me up off my feet and bridal-carried me to a comfy couch inside. It felt odd, but not in a bad way: between the pain and confusion it was hard to tell whether the pulses were excitement or embarrassment.
|
||||
|
||||
The inside was quaint, beautiful, and easy to live in. The walls were as plain
|
||||
as the outside. There was simple wooden furniture, but in the corner, around a
|
||||
table, I saw comfier furniture too.
|
||||
The inside was quaint, beautiful, and easy to live in. The walls were as plain as the outside. There was simple wooden furniture, but in the corner, around a table, I saw comfier furniture too.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere laid me down on the small couch and set herself down on a nearby chair
|
||||
just as cozy. Mugs of unknown liquid and some small shortbreads appeared on
|
||||
the table.
|
||||
Lucere laid me down on the small couch and set herself down on a nearby chair just as cozy. Mugs of unknown liquid and some small shortbreads appeared on the table.
|
||||
|
||||
I giggled, despite all the pain it caused to radiate through me.
|
||||
|
||||
"I can't believe you're remaining conscious through all that," she said
|
||||
eventually. There was a hollow look in her eyes; the purple glow I was
|
||||
starting to get used to was alarmingly absent.
|
||||
"I can't believe you're remaining conscious through all that," she said eventually. There was a hollow look in her eyes; the purple glow I was starting to get used to was alarmingly absent.
|
||||
|
||||
"Holy shit Lucy," I exclaimed, "Your eyes are actually a soft purple, like um-"
|
||||
|
||||
"Lavender, most of the time, yes." She laughed, but the hollow look persisted.
|
||||
"You've just been seeing my magic through them."
|
||||
"Lavender, most of the time, yes." She laughed, but the hollow look persisted. "You've just been seeing my magic through them."
|
||||
|
||||
I coughed, another wave of pain searing my back. "I feel like I'm going to
|
||||
die." I felt as sombre as my voice, the pain keeping me awake by a margin.
|
||||
I coughed, another wave of pain searing my back. "I feel like I'm going to die." I felt as sombre as my voice, the pain keeping me awake by a margin.
|
||||
|
||||
"You won't under my care." I could hear the flex in her voice, and she sounded
|
||||
genuine in her belief. "But I know it feels that way. Your body is literally
|
||||
reforming right now, in so many \emph{interesting} ways."
|
||||
"You won't under my care." I could hear the flex in her voice, and she sounded genuine in her belief. "But I know it feels that way. Your body is literally reforming right now, in so many \emph{interesting} ways."
|
||||
|
||||
"You ever lose anyone?" I asked hesitantly.
|
||||
|
||||
False horror haunted her voice. "No! And how dare you ask!"
|
||||
|
||||
I laughed in spite of myself, in spite of agony. How could I not? She was
|
||||
being far, far too cute in defending herself.
|
||||
I laughed in spite of myself, in spite of agony. How could I not? She was being far, far too cute in defending herself.
|
||||
|
||||
Too cute? I don't recall ever thinking of anyone as cute.
|
||||
|
||||
I felt a frown pull at my lips. I didn't actually know what this meant, what
|
||||
this new range of emotions really meant.
|
||||
I felt a frown pull at my lips. I didn't actually know what this meant, what this new range of emotions really meant.
|
||||
|
||||
Did this mean I liked Lucere?
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -248,42 +158,30 @@ Lucere broke the silence for me. "What is your ideal body?"
|
|||
|
||||
"I have no clue," I admitted, "I've never thought about it."
|
||||
|
||||
"The Pale Goddess always delivers," she whispered, mirroring Tamaki's earlier
|
||||
words.
|
||||
"The Pale Goddess always delivers," she whispered, mirroring Tamaki's earlier words.
|
||||
|
||||
"You sound like Tamaki." I gave those words some thought. "May I feel my real
|
||||
body, just a little?"
|
||||
"You sound like Tamaki." I gave those words some thought. "May I feel my real body, just a little?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah, I'll make the adjustment; tell me if it's too much for you." A confused
|
||||
look appeared on her face. I could immediately tell when she made it: the pain
|
||||
filtered through much more consistently, the pulses nearly rhythmic.
|
||||
"Yeah, I'll make the adjustment; tell me if it's too much for you." A confused look appeared on her face. I could immediately tell when she made it: the pain filtered through much more consistently, the pulses nearly rhythmic.
|
||||
|
||||
But I could also feel my body, how it had changed, how it was changing. I
|
||||
tried moving my hand, my real hand. The movement was there, but it was very
|
||||
slow, likely from the cryofluid in my veins cooling me down.
|
||||
But I could also feel my body, how it had changed, how it was changing. I tried moving my hand, my real hand. The movement was there, but it was very slow, likely from the cryofluid in my veins cooling me down.
|
||||
|
||||
Eventually my hand and arm cought up with my brain and I could feel the horns
|
||||
growing. They were so small they barely poked out from just above my hairline.
|
||||
Eventually my hand and arm cought up with my brain and I could feel the horns growing. They were so small they barely poked out from just above my hairline.
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't open your eyes," Lucere instructed, "If you do, there may be a very long
|
||||
period of blindness. Still haven't got the cryofluid completely perfected
|
||||
yet."
|
||||
"Don't open your eyes," Lucere instructed, "If you do, there may be a very long period of blindness. Still haven't got the cryofluid completely perfected yet."
|
||||
|
||||
"My eyeballs will freeze, won't they?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Instantly."
|
||||
|
||||
"Fuck," I said, feeling thoroughly worn out, "Alright, I don't wanna feel my
|
||||
body anymore." And then I didn't. I was alone with my digital self once more.
|
||||
"Fuck," I said, feeling thoroughly worn out, "Alright, I don't wanna feel my body anymore." And then I didn't. I was alone with my digital self once more.
|
||||
|
||||
I could breathe again without the mortal tension. Breathing felt amazing.
|
||||
|
||||
"Anything else I can help you with before we go build your mindscape?" Lucere
|
||||
asked.
|
||||
"Anything else I can help you with before we go build your mindscape?" Lucere asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"A kiss," I muttered, nearly inaudibly.
|
||||
|
||||
She wore a sly smile. "What was that?"
|
||||
|
||||
A blush toned my face pink. "Nothing. Let's go build a 'scape."
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1,27 +1,18 @@
|
|||
I'd spent roughly an hour trying to figure out my place here. Everyone seemed
|
||||
easygoing, seemed friendly, \emph{seemed} anticapitalist.
|
||||
I'd spent roughly an hour trying to figure out my place here. Everyone seemed easygoing, seemed friendly, \emph{seemed} anticapitalist.
|
||||
|
||||
It was scary how easily the corporate machine could \emph{seem} pro-rights. It
|
||||
was scary how an absolutely beautiful gathering of demimages was okay with all
|
||||
this. I felt horrid in comparison, but that was to be expected.
|
||||
It was scary how easily the corporate machine could \emph{seem} pro-rights. It was scary how an absolutely beautiful gathering of demimages was okay with all this. I felt horrid in comparison, but that was to be expected.
|
||||
|
||||
"Down with the corps!" I heard behind me.
|
||||
|
||||
It was \emph{scary} how they could blend in so easily. Maybe I was paranoid
|
||||
and they weren't actually goons sent to seduce hacktivists into subversion.
|
||||
But if I \emph{wasn't}...
|
||||
It was \emph{scary} how they could blend in so easily. Maybe I was paranoid and they weren't actually goons sent to seduce hacktivists into subversion. But if I \emph{wasn't}...
|
||||
|
||||
I needed a diversion, stat. I could \emph{not} afford to be found out. "Who
|
||||
is Anna?"
|
||||
I needed a diversion, stat. I could \emph{not} afford to be found out. "Who is Anna?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Our Pale Goddess," said one of the girls around me, "What do you want to
|
||||
know?"
|
||||
"Our Pale Goddess," said one of the girls around me, "What do you want to know?"
|
||||
|
||||
"If you're all so anti-corp, why is Anna keeping you here, tied to Eastern
|
||||
Hills?"
|
||||
"If you're all so anti-corp, why is Anna keeping you here, tied to Eastern Hills?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I dunno," she replied, "Since our inception we've only done a handful of jobs
|
||||
for Eastern Hills. Haven't done any since we've been under Tamaki."
|
||||
"I dunno," she replied, "Since our inception we've only done a handful of jobs for Eastern Hills. Haven't done any since we've been under Tamaki."
|
||||
|
||||
Curiousity snared me in that moment. "How long has she been in command?"
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -29,226 +20,141 @@ Curiousity snared me in that moment. "How long has she been in command?"
|
|||
|
||||
I blinked. "That's a little young to be a commander, isn't it?"
|
||||
|
||||
"She was definitely a little green around the gills for a minute," an
|
||||
androgynous voice replied, "Nice to meet you, Eilidh, I'm Tech Officer Xela
|
||||
Melrose."
|
||||
"She was definitely a little green around the gills for a minute," an androgynous voice replied, "Nice to meet you, Eilidh, I'm Tech Officer Xela Melrose."
|
||||
|
||||
Fae extended faer hand with a smile, and both did I return. Fae were tall,
|
||||
androgynous, blessed of short green hair. It wasn't quite a crew-cut, but it
|
||||
was still the shortest I'd seen so far.
|
||||
Fae extended faer hand with a smile, and both did I return. Fae were tall, androgynous, blessed of short green hair. It wasn't quite a crew-cut, but it was still the shortest I'd seen so far.
|
||||
|
||||
"So can you answer my previous question?" I asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"Anna is a divicive deity," fae replied, "literally just waiting for the right
|
||||
time to pull it all down. Originally she just needed funding and Eastern Hills
|
||||
was the only source left: others claimed the rest. She finds the whole
|
||||
corporate thing to be completely asinine, and she's vowed to punish all the
|
||||
deities involved."
|
||||
"Anna is a divicive deity," fae replied, "literally just waiting for the right time to pull it all down. Originally she just needed funding and Eastern Hills was the only source left: others claimed the rest. She finds the whole corporate thing to be completely asinine, and she's vowed to punish all the deities involved."
|
||||
|
||||
"How many deities are there?" I realized a little too late that the numerous
|
||||
questions I'd asked were likely on a FAQ. "Well, I suppose you don't have to
|
||||
answer that: I'm asking a lot of questions."
|
||||
"How many deities are there?" I realized a little too late that the numerous questions I'd asked were likely on a FAQ. "Well, I suppose you don't have to answer that: I'm asking a lot of questions."
|
||||
|
||||
"Don't worry about it," fae replied, "You'll be getting a full run-down of the
|
||||
state of affairs when it's appropriate. Sometime during training, which should
|
||||
start shortly after you leave the tube."
|
||||
"Don't worry about it," fae replied, "You'll be getting a full run-down of the state of affairs when it's appropriate. Sometime during training, which should start shortly after you leave the tube."
|
||||
|
||||
"So that leaves me to just socialize." Ostensibly, anyway. What \emph{should}
|
||||
I be doing, anyway, really?
|
||||
"So that leaves me to just socialize." Ostensibly, anyway. What \emph{should} I be doing, anyway, really?
|
||||
|
||||
Xela laughed. "I've seen that look before; what trouble are you planning?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I hadn't thought of any trouble yet." Faer poke did get me thinking. "Maybe
|
||||
I could hack the gibson and get the jump on training."
|
||||
"I hadn't thought of any trouble yet." Faer poke did get me thinking. "Maybe I could hack the gibson and get the jump on training."
|
||||
|
||||
Xela rewarded me with an amazing look on faer face. "Your friend, what was his
|
||||
name? Brian? Monroe? Oh! Marvin. Marvin already tried; he can't get past
|
||||
me."
|
||||
Xela rewarded me with an amazing look on faer face. "Your friend, what was his name? Brian? Monroe? Oh! Marvin. Marvin already tried; he can't get past me."
|
||||
|
||||
"You?" I immediately cursed my mouth, or, tried to. "Wait, tech officer."
|
||||
|
||||
Fae nodded with a grin. "Yeah, and I'm the best living firewall that exists.
|
||||
Nothing escapes me and nobody gets access unless I grant it."
|
||||
Fae nodded with a grin. "Yeah, and I'm the best living firewall that exists. Nothing escapes me and nobody gets access unless I grant it."
|
||||
|
||||
"So you've traded a technical problem for a social problem." If someone were
|
||||
able to trick faer into giving access, then fae'd not be the best firewall in
|
||||
existence.
|
||||
"So you've traded a technical problem for a social problem." If someone were able to trick faer into giving access, then fae'd not be the best firewall in existence.
|
||||
|
||||
Faer face boasted triumph still. "Not without a stack of perfectly forged
|
||||
documents, some of which I have to sign myself."
|
||||
Faer face boasted triumph still. "Not without a stack of perfectly forged documents, some of which I have to sign myself."
|
||||
|
||||
"That sounds tedious." I thought of some trouble I could make in the time we'd
|
||||
been talking, though: I'd take admin of this 'scape. For now, though, I'd make
|
||||
casual conversation and familiarize myself with the implant.
|
||||
"That sounds tedious." I thought of some trouble I could make in the time we'd been talking, though: I'd take admin of this 'scape. For now, though, I'd make casual conversation and familiarize myself with the implant.
|
||||
|
||||
"You look devious." Fae pulled me out of my head. "Not much of a poker face,
|
||||
huh?"
|
||||
"You look devious." Fae pulled me out of my head. "Not much of a poker face, huh?"
|
||||
|
||||
I gave a shrug and kept at working out the menu system. It was as simple as
|
||||
focusing on my peripheral vision. When I did, readouts exploded into full
|
||||
view. They were thought-driven, so I willed them to navigate.
|
||||
I gave a shrug and kept at working out the menu system. It was as simple as focusing on my peripheral vision. When I did, readouts exploded into full view. They were thought-driven, so I willed them to navigate.
|
||||
|
||||
"You found what you're after yet?" Xela asked, proving my train of thought was
|
||||
vulnerable by as little as six damned \emph{words}, "Must be a hacker at heart
|
||||
if you're getting lost in the menus that thoroughly."
|
||||
"You found what you're after yet?" Xela asked, proving my train of thought was vulnerable by as little as six damned \emph{words}, "Must be a hacker at heart if you're getting lost in the menus that thoroughly."
|
||||
|
||||
"Marv's the real hacker," I admitted, "I only know enough to get around."
|
||||
|
||||
"That's more than most." Apparently faer hair was long enough to twirl,
|
||||
because fae're doing that too, somehow. Maybe hacking the gibson let you fuck
|
||||
physics.
|
||||
"That's more than most." Apparently faer hair was long enough to twirl, because fae're doing that too, somehow. Maybe hacking the gibson let you fuck physics.
|
||||
|
||||
Faer hair looked soft, and my arm had already reached halfway before I caught
|
||||
it. "Uh, may I?"
|
||||
Faer hair looked soft, and my arm had already reached halfway before I caught it. "Uh, may I?"
|
||||
|
||||
Fae nodded slowly. "Yeah, I don't see why not, just don't make it weird,
|
||||
okay?"
|
||||
Fae nodded slowly. "Yeah, I don't see why not, just don't make it weird, okay?"
|
||||
|
||||
I changed course to faer wrist, pulling faer close so my other hand could run
|
||||
through \del{my prize} that precious hair.
|
||||
I changed course to faer wrist, pulling faer close so my other hand could run through \del{my prize} that precious hair.
|
||||
|
||||
Did you know my larynx could resonate at the frequency of ecstasy?
|
||||
|
||||
I swooped in. Fingers flanked faer hair on all sides, swimming through threaded
|
||||
clouds. My hum grew louder.
|
||||
I swooped in. Fingers flanked faer hair on all sides, swimming through threaded clouds. My hum grew louder.
|
||||
|
||||
"Here, sit down." Fae pushed me off my feet.
|
||||
|
||||
Chills zapped my spine, and my arms flailed frivolously. I screeched, and
|
||||
plummeted atop something soft. Eyes wide, I looked down to find a couch that
|
||||
most certainly did not exist two seconds ago.
|
||||
Chills zapped my spine, and my arms flailed frivolously. I screeched, and plummeted atop something soft. Eyes wide, I looked down to find a couch that most certainly did not exist two seconds ago.
|
||||
|
||||
I couldn't even turn to glare at my assailant before a head entered my lap from
|
||||
my blind spot. "Now continue," its bearer did bid.
|
||||
I couldn't even turn to glare at my assailant before a head entered my lap from my blind spot. "Now continue," its bearer did bid.
|
||||
|
||||
My face heated up again, and my fingers bathed in hair once more.
|
||||
|
||||
Fae took notice when my hand swam out of lane, and snatched it with faer own.
|
||||
"Access denied." Fae gently kissed the back of my hand and placed it back on
|
||||
the cheek it was about to invade. "Access, granted."
|
||||
Fae took notice when my hand swam out of lane, and snatched it with faer own. "Access denied." Fae gently kissed the back of my hand and placed it back on the cheek it was about to invade. "Access, granted."
|
||||
|
||||
I could get used to this. These were good feelings, warmth and care.
|
||||
|
||||
That and Xela and I hadn't drawn a crowd like Lucere and I had. Having the
|
||||
moment to ourselves really helped.
|
||||
That and Xela and I hadn't drawn a crowd like Lucere and I had. Having the moment to ourselves really helped.
|
||||
|
||||
I continued playing with faer fair hair, and I found an area on faer scalp that
|
||||
caused a far-too-adorable squeak. My delight skyrocketed, but a notification
|
||||
in my vision torpedoed it back to ground.
|
||||
I continued playing with faer fair hair, and I found an area on faer scalp that caused a far-too-adorable squeak. My delight skyrocketed, but a notification in my vision torpedoed it back to ground.
|
||||
|
||||
I focused on it for a moment, and a chat window appeared front and centre:
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Manafed:} Your boss needs some help and this is something I can't
|
||||
really deal with without some help. If you think about moving towards me
|
||||
you'll transfer from the instance you're in to the instance I'm in.
|
||||
\textbf{Manafed:} Your boss needs some help and this is something I can't really deal with without some help. If you think about moving towards me you'll transfer from the instance you're in to the instance I'm in.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked toward Xela and whispered, "Okay, who's my boss?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Your designation is Tactical Operative." Xela pulled faerself to a seated
|
||||
position next to me.
|
||||
"Your designation is Tactical Operative." Xela pulled faerself to a seated position next to me.
|
||||
|
||||
I didn't even bother to hide the disappointment in my voice when I followed up.
|
||||
"So what's that mean?"
|
||||
I didn't even bother to hide the disappointment in my voice when I followed up. "So what's that mean?"
|
||||
|
||||
"It means Tactical Officer Young is your boss. You need to go?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah." I said out to feel faer cheek again. "Probably now, but I wish I
|
||||
could stay."
|
||||
"Yeah." I said out to feel faer cheek again. "Probably now, but I wish I could stay."
|
||||
|
||||
"Time to go meet your boss though," fae said, "No need to be sad: we can pick
|
||||
up where we left off when you see me again."
|
||||
"Time to go meet your boss though," fae said, "No need to be sad: we can pick up where we left off when you see me again."
|
||||
|
||||
I smiled. "I look forward to it. Your hair is perfect and I want to get to
|
||||
know you."
|
||||
I smiled. "I look forward to it. Your hair is perfect and I want to get to know you."
|
||||
|
||||
"You will," fae assured me, "I teach the practical hacking class required for
|
||||
all tactical operatives."
|
||||
"You will," fae assured me, "I teach the practical hacking class required for all tactical operatives."
|
||||
|
||||
"Isn't that a bit of a conflict of interests if we decide to go much further?"
|
||||
Thinking about it, I really wasn't sure.
|
||||
"Isn't that a bit of a conflict of interests if we decide to go much further?" Thinking about it, I really wasn't sure.
|
||||
|
||||
"We work that out on a case by case basis," fae said, "Now go: if Lucy is
|
||||
interrupting your free time for this, its got to be important."
|
||||
"We work that out on a case by case basis," fae said, "Now go: if Lucy is interrupting your free time for this, its got to be important."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded and thought about moving toward Lucere, her pretty eyes, how lost I
|
||||
got in them...
|
||||
I nodded and thought about moving toward Lucere, her pretty eyes, how lost I got in them...
|
||||
|
||||
The next thing I knew, I was on a comfy chair around a wooden coffee table.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere was seated in a chair on the other end, and between us lay Talon on a
|
||||
couch. Or, I assumed: their body was warping and twisting about.
|
||||
Lucere was seated in a chair on the other end, and between us lay Talon on a couch. Or, I assumed: their body was warping and twisting about.
|
||||
|
||||
"They set their avatar to sync with their body, but their body is in active
|
||||
metamorphasis right now," Lucere explained, "They need the help of a hacker. I
|
||||
would have called Xela, but I figured you'd get more of a kick out of hacking
|
||||
the implant than fae would."
|
||||
"They set their avatar to sync with their body, but their body is in active metamorphasis right now," Lucere explained, "They need the help of a hacker. I would have called Xela, but I figured you'd get more of a kick out of hacking the implant than fae would."
|
||||
|
||||
"Aren't they in pain right now?" I asked, mildly appalled.
|
||||
|
||||
She smirked. "I guess you better work fast then."
|
||||
|
||||
Shit. I immediately opened a barrage of questions. "How can I connect to the
|
||||
implant? What protocols does it use? Where can I get access to a terminal?
|
||||
What tools does my implant have for this kind of operation?"
|
||||
Shit. I immediately opened a barrage of questions. "How can I connect to the implant? What protocols does it use? Where can I get access to a terminal? What tools does my implant have for this kind of operation?"
|
||||
|
||||
My questions were answered with a blank stare as Lucere started whispering
|
||||
words with cadence. I figured she was dedicating her entire focus on some sort
|
||||
of spell.
|
||||
My questions were answered with a blank stare as Lucere started whispering words with cadence. I figured she was dedicating her entire focus on some sort of spell.
|
||||
|
||||
Time to explore the menus some more. I quickly found a compiler, but for some
|
||||
sort of visual language. I opened it, and it blossomed into a full-on IDE. A
|
||||
small blue orb floated in front of me.
|
||||
Time to explore the menus some more. I quickly found a compiler, but for some sort of visual language. I opened it, and it blossomed into a full-on IDE. A small blue orb floated in front of me.
|
||||
|
||||
Thinking about wireless connectivity made a new orb appear. \emph{Okay, so I
|
||||
have two nodes, one that's wireless connectivity, and another that I don't
|
||||
quite understand yet.} I pulled them together and the program came to life.
|
||||
Thinking about wireless connectivity made a new orb appear. \emph{Okay, so I have two nodes, one that's wireless connectivity, and another that I don't quite understand yet.} I pulled them together and the program came to life.
|
||||
|
||||
I saw my thoughts being encoded into radio waves and beamed out of my head.
|
||||
|
||||
Gods, that was a terrifying thought: anybody in wireless range could just hear
|
||||
my thoughts.
|
||||
Gods, that was a terrifying thought: anybody in wireless range could just hear my thoughts.
|
||||
|
||||
I thought about a selector and another orb appeared. I erased the line between
|
||||
the central and wireless orbs, and re-connected them to opposite ends of the
|
||||
new selector orb. A configuration menu opened. I set it to select on incoming
|
||||
transmissions and waited.
|
||||
I thought about a selector and another orb appeared. I erased the line between the central and wireless orbs, and re-connected them to opposite ends of the new selector orb. A configuration menu opened. I set it to select on incoming transmissions and waited.
|
||||
|
||||
A moment passed and I picked up on Talon's implant. I configured the selector
|
||||
for bidirectional communications between our two implants. I wasn't sure what
|
||||
kind of communication this was, but it was incredibly fast. By the time I
|
||||
registered what was happening data flooded the line. I sifted through it as
|
||||
quick as I could and found a piece of a configuration file.
|
||||
A moment passed and I picked up on Talon's implant. I configured the selector for bidirectional communications between our two implants. I wasn't sure what kind of communication this was, but it was incredibly fast. By the time I registered what was happening data flooded the line. I sifted through it as quick as I could and found a piece of a configuration file.
|
||||
|
||||
I set the selector to find more like that, and data surged in once more. Much
|
||||
of it was the same, but I got enough of an idea how the file worked. I wished
|
||||
a new file into existence: one with a modified avatar setting.
|
||||
I set the selector to find more like that, and data surged in once more. Much of it was the same, but I got enough of an idea how the file worked. I wished a new file into existence: one with a modified avatar setting.
|
||||
|
||||
I opened the menu again and recalled seeing Talon in the chamber, tweaking the
|
||||
avatar accordingly. I took the familiar image and dialed it to be far more
|
||||
effeminate.
|
||||
I opened the menu again and recalled seeing Talon in the chamber, tweaking the avatar accordingly. I took the familiar image and dialed it to be far more effeminate.
|
||||
|
||||
Before I knew it, a cute girl appeared in my view.
|
||||
|
||||
I hoped they liked it.
|
||||
|
||||
Another thought exported the avatar and pushed it into the configuration
|
||||
payload I'd received. I had willed it forward to Talon's implant, but a loud
|
||||
buzzer slammed down.
|
||||
Another thought exported the avatar and pushed it into the configuration payload I'd received. I had willed it forward to Talon's implant, but a loud buzzer slammed down.
|
||||
|
||||
"Configuration file not signed," a voice in my head said, "Please sign the
|
||||
configuration with an authorized key."
|
||||
"Configuration file not signed," a voice in my head said, "Please sign the configuration with an authorized key."
|
||||
|
||||
Code signing was one thing, but configuration signing? That was another. I
|
||||
couldn't possibly reverse the key fast enough to help Talon; not even with all
|
||||
the compute in existence would I succeed in less than a century.
|
||||
Code signing was one thing, but configuration signing? That was another. I couldn't possibly reverse the key fast enough to help Talon; not even with all the compute in existence would I succeed in less than a century.
|
||||
|
||||
\emph{So who has the key?} I asked myself. The medical officer would have
|
||||
installed the implant, but might not have a key to sign new configurations.
|
||||
The technical officer would have the key, but I already knew faer strictness
|
||||
would hinder me too long.
|
||||
\emph{So who has the key?} I asked myself. The medical officer would have installed the implant, but might not have a key to sign new configurations. The technical officer would have the key, but I already knew faer strictness would hinder me too long.
|
||||
|
||||
\emph{Why not ask Lucere?} asked the back of my mind. After mulling it over I
|
||||
in. I summoned the messaging window again, and willed a quick message forward.
|
||||
\emph{Why not ask Lucere?} asked the back of my mind. After mulling it over I in. I summoned the messaging window again, and willed a quick message forward.
|
||||
|
||||
\textbf{Cantlin:} Do you have signing keys for configuration files?
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -264,8 +170,7 @@ Another moment.
|
|||
|
||||
I could tell she was having a rough time with her magic.
|
||||
|
||||
I figured I'd at least try. A mental command signed the update and I focused
|
||||
another send.
|
||||
I figured I'd at least try. A mental command signed the update and I focused another send.
|
||||
|
||||
Talon's implant replied: "Configuration accepted. Reloading. Complete."
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
@ -281,7 +186,6 @@ Lucere slumped over in the chair across from me.
|
|||
|
||||
I sighed and slumped over, closing all the menus I'd opened.
|
||||
|
||||
I'd been in stressful situations, but never had someone else depended on me
|
||||
quite like that.
|
||||
I'd been in stressful situations, but never had someone else depended on me quite like that.
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere regarded me evenly. "You passed." Not even a hint of emotion.
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
205
src/chapters/04-a-newfeeling.tex
Normal file
205
src/chapters/04-a-newfeeling.tex
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
|
|||
The world warped.
|
||||
|
||||
First it was pain.
|
||||
|
||||
Then it wasn't.
|
||||
|
||||
I had form.
|
||||
|
||||
I could feel its changes.
|
||||
|
||||
Its horrifying and very incomfortable changes.
|
||||
|
||||
An instant later, it stopped.
|
||||
|
||||
I knew I shouldn't have synced my physical and virtual bodies, but I really wanted to see for myself.
|
||||
|
||||
I figured my implant couldn't get a read on my const volatile fucking form and flipped out.
|
||||
|
||||
Reminder to ask Lucere about that.
|
||||
|
||||
I opened my eyes and colours pierced into me. I couldn't describe the impossibility I bore witness to; it would be like teaching a housecat technology.
|
||||
|
||||
Anyway my headache came back in full and I groaned. "What in the fuck did I do that for?"
|
||||
|
||||
With a fuzzy head I sat up. Chromatic impossibility aside, the room looked mostly the same, save the pretty woman slumped on a chair to my right.
|
||||
|
||||
Her shoulder-length hair looked ever-so-slightly-off-white with several highlights of yet another impossibility, framing a rounded face. Her eyes glowed a blue, familiar, yet alien.
|
||||
|
||||
"You passed," said Lucere.
|
||||
|
||||
I snapped my gaze to her, eyebrows raised. "Passed what?"
|
||||
|
||||
The melody in my voice signaled me an interrupt. "Wait. What the hell?" I looked down at two small lumps that \eph{were not there before}. "What. The. Hell."
|
||||
|
||||
The girl beside me groaned, her exhaustion evident. "You needed an avatar boss."
|
||||
|
||||
"So you just dropped me into a woman's-" Somehow I still had a modicum of awareness. "Wait. Boss?"
|
||||
|
||||
I wasn't her boss, was I?
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," Lucere replied with her own fatigue, "You are her immediate officer. We mentioned you were an officer, right?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Yeah," I whispered, "I just didn't think it was gonna be an immediate type of thing." I had no clue how to lead. Never had I worked a single day in that kind of capacity.
|
||||
|
||||
Before I flipped out again I did the smart thing and plopped back down with my hands on my forehead. "What's with the new colours?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Probably messed up a setting," my I-guess-an-employee said, "I was really rushed for time; fix it yourself."
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded and surfed through the menus to adjust my visual input processing. Before I knew it the world was normal again.
|
||||
|
||||
"Thank you," I said, realizing I hadn't earlier.
|
||||
|
||||
"Whatever; I'm Eilidh. Designation of, um... I guess tactical something-or-other."
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm Talon," I said for the first time with the new voice, "Shit. That doesn't sound right. Let's go with Vivian."
|
||||
|
||||
Where did that come from? Had I been thinking about it without realizing? Was my brain subverting me again?
|
||||
|
||||
Lucere laughed herself back awake. "Vivian... wow that fits really nicely. I figured you would go with something like Tali: keep the first letter a T."
|
||||
|
||||
I grew far too aware of myself and dropped my head straight down. I was a guy. Right? Guys weren't supposed to blush. Even if I looked like a girl.
|
||||
|
||||
I saw my thighs and lost myself yet again. They looked really soft. Before my brain could catch up my hand reached and bliss alit my tips.
|
||||
|
||||
"Woah," I mouthed.
|
||||
|
||||
"Are you good there?" Eilidh asked. I looked up to see her wearing a bemused look.
|
||||
|
||||
I felt my pulse in my face for a bit before I answered. "Um, I'm not sure."
|
||||
|
||||
"Looks like you aren't really in the headspace to build much of anything," said Lucere, "Do you want to keep that avatar or start on one a little more what you're used to?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I'll keep this one!" Did- did I say that?
|
||||
|
||||
"Like being a woman?" Eilidh asked.
|
||||
|
||||
"I-" I wasn't sure. This was all so fast and I got a say in none of it. Even my brain worked against me here.
|
||||
|
||||
I left my inner panic for a moment to see Lucere touching unseen menus. In an instant, we had returned to the cyan-sanded beach.
|
||||
|
||||
"I'm going to go join the others, \emph{Vivian}; please feel free to come join the party once you feel you're ready." Lucere walked toward a pop-up tent. "Eilidh, feel free to do whatever you like. Though, your boss looks like \emph{she} could use the company."
|
||||
|
||||
In the idea that Lucere would just abandon me I found sorrow.
|
||||
|
||||
I looked to Eilidh and realized her hair was a pretty blue maybe a shade darker than the sand underfoot.
|
||||
|
||||
Eilidh locked her gaze with mine, her eyes alight, a faint green. Seeing past her magic I found deep hazel interspersed with blue, green, and gold.
|
||||
|
||||
A pulse of heat radiated from me and electrified my skin.
|
||||
|
||||
"Wow," I whispered, feeling tears in my eyes, "I'm sorry; this is all really new to me and I'm having a hard time dealing with all of these new \emph{feelings}."
|
||||
|
||||
She shrugged. "Its fine; just do whatever you need. Cry, talk, sit there brooding like a maniac. Whatever, really. I'll be here for you. Obviously I can't tell you how to figure yourself out, but I'll offer what help I can."
|
||||
|
||||
I mumbled a thank you and leaned against the cliff towering overhead, feeling thankful to have a friend.
|
||||
|
||||
Eilidh sat next to me and fiddled with something out of sight. We sat in comfortable silence, despite my tears welling up, despite my thoughts. This body felt so much more comfortable than the guy I had been less than an hour ago.
|
||||
|
||||
It was odd, thinking about it; the guy was almost more cage than person. I still wasn't sure what to think of that.
|
||||
|
||||
The beach, Eilidh, it all faded away as I sat there, lost in thought.
|
||||
|
||||
This was a peculiar problem. I never thought it would feel so good to be a girl. Sure, I'd taken some trips in virtual reality before, but just seeing a girl when I looked down was a whole lot different than this. And this felt so very right.
|
||||
|
||||
Maybe they'd been right. "I am trans?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Maybe?" Eilidh replied, very much to my surprise.
|
||||
|
||||
I \emph{squeeked} and mumbled in embarrassment "Fuck. Don't startle me like that."
|
||||
|
||||
She gave a rather cryptic stare. "Wow. That was the most \emph{adorable} thing I've ever seen."
|
||||
|
||||
"Adorable?" I'd never been called adorable. It felt... nice? Certainly felt better than if I'd been called weak or childish for not being manly enough. My face risked permanent redness if people just kept telling me stuff like this. And I probably risked addiction.
|
||||
|
||||
Eilidh smiled and nodded. "You look like you're feeling a lot more comfortable. Wanna join the party?"
|
||||
|
||||
I resigned myself to fate. "I guess I'm just going to try this out for a while. No need to put a label on anything yet, so yeah; let's go join the others." I might as well, right? Maybe it would be good for me.
|
||||
|
||||
I got up and brushed the sand from my butt. Feeling my hips and butt so viscerally made me faulter. They were a lot wider than I'd expected. And softer, too. I tried putting it out of my mind.
|
||||
|
||||
One deep breath later I followed Eilidh to the tent in the middle of the alcove. Looking around I noticed a lot of people lounging in beach chairs, others resting atop towels, more playing volleyball, and yet more chattering amiably.
|
||||
|
||||
I estimated something like fifty or sixty people here, but wasn't certain. Despite that, and much to my surprise, I felt no aversion to the crowd.
|
||||
|
||||
I noticed I was confused.
|
||||
|
||||
I wouldn't question a good thing until later when I was alone, though. Well, for whatever value of 'alone' that my implant would allow. The very same implant that malfunctioned me into a weird painful void.
|
||||
|
||||
So what if I misconfigured it? It was still \emph{super dangerous!}
|
||||
|
||||
To be fair to it, most new technology is dangerous. Like, very dangerous.
|
||||
|
||||
For example, in the late parts of the last millenium, humanity decided to put all of its most important systems on the net without care for security.
|
||||
|
||||
Only later did we realize how insane that idea actually was.
|
||||
|
||||
In a virtual world nineteen decades later, we still hadn't recovered from that mess. If anything, security had become at least an afterthought; an improvement, but my stomach sunk nonetheless.
|
||||
|
||||
When I finally entered the tent an androgynous voice greeted me. "Hi. Xela Melrose, Technology Officer and massive pain in the ass to heterosexuality."
|
||||
|
||||
"Hi," I replied sheepishly, "Newly minted \emph{whatever} and not even sure what heterosexuality means anymore."
|
||||
|
||||
"Oh," fae responded, "its like, strai-"
|
||||
|
||||
"I know," I interjected, "Just, not sure if its applicable to anything I understand."
|
||||
|
||||
Fae laughed. "Ah. Well in that case, come by my 'what the fuck is gender, anyway?' fun house later. We're gonna have cake and break your idea of gender. Either that or bore the hell out of you, one of the two."
|
||||
|
||||
I wondered if fae wes joking. I couldn't tell and wasn't entirely sure.
|
||||
|
||||
I nodded. "I'm not really sure I'm ready for something like that. This is already a hard enough week."
|
||||
|
||||
Fae hummed with comprehension. "You must be Tactical Officer Young. Maybe next time then. How are you enjoying the new digs?"
|
||||
|
||||
"Its complicated," I admitted. Wow, was I really talking with someone I'd never met about this stuff?
|
||||
|
||||
"How do you feel about the absolutely stellar body you have waiting for you in the real?"
|
||||
|
||||
I blinked. "Um, I know I have horns, but why don't you enlighten me?"
|
||||
|
||||
Fae feigned a look of horror. "Oh shit, you don't even know? Goddess above, you're gorgeous! A step above anything we've ever seen before. Your perfect self is something that nobody else could have thought of. I mean, hell, your wings are this beautiful ice blue like morning frost covering an indigo bloom. And your skin is this beautiful mottling of..."
|
||||
|
||||
I tuned out faer ramblings about my body. It was neat, but those warm pulses were growing stonger along side my steadily rising anxiety. I did not want a panic attack right then and there.
|
||||
|
||||
Needing to make a clean break, I mumbled, "I'll catch you later I need to find Lucere."
|
||||
|
||||
Exit stage literally anywhere else.
|
||||
|
||||
Fae nodded and pointed toward the water. There were a few people and I figured one of them might be Lucere.
|
||||
|
||||
"Thanks!" With that I walked right off in the please-don't-scare-me direction with a few people in my path. They was nobody I recognized and I'd lost Eilidh in my conversation prior. She was somewhere, no idea where, but hopefully with Lucere.
|
||||
|
||||
I arrived to a familiar voice. "Hey, wasn't expecting to see you here."
|
||||
|
||||
I turned to Tamaki's smile and nodded.
|
||||
|
||||
"You look lost," she said in notes of sympathy, "Anything I can help you with?"
|
||||
|
||||
Curiousity took my larynx. "How'd you recognize me?"
|
||||
|
||||
"I get alerts when implants go into emergency mode," she replied, "I got a brief rundown of events and saw the new avatar." She paused, apparently noticing the worry on my face. "Only team members can upload new configurations when an implant fails like that but I still have to see what was done in case one of our own is malicious."
|
||||
|
||||
"No cause to believe that I hope," I said, asking a question really, but not wanting to be that direct.
|
||||
|
||||
She shook her head. "We've had a few cases where demimages directly threatened team members' lives, but never any issues where anyone uploaded faulty code. Implants haven't failed all that frequently. Emergency mode on those things only happens once every few years across the whole network."
|
||||
|
||||
I giggled. "Oh, so I really fucked up then."
|
||||
|
||||
Again she shook her head and smiled. "Not really; normally the implant can use predictive analysis to analyse the DNA structures as they're changing, but it appears yours isn't registering as-"
|
||||
|
||||
A long pause.
|
||||
|
||||
"As what?" My anxiety swelled, catalyzed by concern. My inner boiler wasn't looking good.
|
||||
|
||||
Tamaki's voice grew serious. "Let me preface this by saying you are obviously a living person and we will always treat you as such, but your DNA no longer appears to be registering as human. We've had some of the genetics experts looking into it, but your DNA is starting to look more demonic in nature."
|
||||
|
||||
"Okay, so I'm no longer even human?" On the surface I was surprisingly calm about this. Underneath, however... the boiler popped. Violently. If I didn't find somewhere to be alone and fast, I'd be a mess in front of all these people.
|
||||
|
||||
"We're not entirely sure; we're looking into it. There's a lot of overlap and a lot of fuzzy stuff. We're working on it."
|
||||
|
||||
Enter manic sarcasm . "Well fuck Vivian, jeez, its not enough to dump gender and sexuality in your lap; before you've had time to process that, let me also dump \emph{humanity} in your lap! And don't forget the entire concept of literal \emph{magic}. As a treat, you can also deal with the ridiculously advanced technology that I've implanted in your head \emph{without any warnings}! Yeah, you should be able to handle all that no issues, right?"
|
||||
|
||||
System Error: Expected "Anxiety" object, received "Rage"
|
||||
|
||||
Segmentation fault
|
||||
|
|
@ -133,6 +133,10 @@
|
|||
\textbf{Eilidh:}\newline
|
||||
\subfile{src/chapters/03-b-quicktimeactions}
|
||||
|
||||
\mkchap{0x06}{A New Feeling}{21 July 2158 - 1932}
|
||||
\textbf{Vivian:}\newline
|
||||
\subfile{src/chapters/04-a-newfeeling}
|
||||
|
||||
% Need acknowledgements before enabling this.
|
||||
% \mkack
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Loading…
Reference in a new issue