Tailspin, page 53
Please ask me if there’s anything I can do afterward or at any time. Anything.
I will.
I had seen the inside of the first operating theater on Rise when they fixed my hand. It was something else. But by the time they wheeled us into the theater, I was shaking with nerves. Roe slipped a needle into my arm. “You’ll be asleep a while.”
“Don’t let me sleep too long.”
She smiled, leaned forward, and said, “I won’t.”
63-Shay/Anada
“Are you sure you understand what you’re doing?” Anada asked, tucking Pim into Shay’s hood for him, though the both of them would manage if she hadn’t.
“I’ve to pick up a few items from Korel tomorrow morning, take them across town to two different locations, and take payment. I’m staying overnight, not sure where as yet. I’m to collect another item, take it back across town and to a doctor under…” Shay tapped the side of his head. “Under a doctor at Laronda’s medical center.”
“Good,” Anada said. “This job…well, all of it, it’s worth a lot to us.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have asked me,” Shay said, reaching under his hood to pat Pim.
“You’re the only one I know who could do this. No one would know what you’re carrying, no one would guess. It’s easy to move stuff like that at first. Till the other gang’s cotton on who you are.”
“I just feel very under protected,” Shay said honestly.
Janet whirled into the room, her hair wet from a shower. Anada went to her. “Hey,” Janet said, wrapping her into a hug. “What’s wrong?”
Anada frowned. “You are both off, leaving me here with Tellier.”
“Ahh.” Janet fingered a stray wet hair behind her ear. “You can handle Tellier.”
Anada shook her head. “This, this is different. You’ve been running stories that are well past dangerous…seriously. The underdark. They’re going to cotton on to who is tipping you off.”
“Maybe,” Janet said. “Look, you both know what we all do is dangerous. Tellier runs a huge underground network. But she’s being threatened. The hotel murder, the gang fighting. I have to figure out what’s going on to protect everyone around us. You’ve got her locked down here, so I’ll be fine. Shay is off running to gain Korel’s trust and gather even more information for us.”
“I’m worried,” Anada said. “It’s a long way to go, away from here.”
“I know.” Janet shot Shay a look. “Go. You have to be on the other side of the city by dark.”
“You both okay?”
“Yes,” Anada answered for them. “Just be safe.”
“I will,” Shay answered. “I have to earn my way around here. If I can do this, even for just a few days a week, to pay for things, I will.”
Anada shooed him off, and he left, leaning on the door before taking the door handle in his grip to leave.
“You think Korel will really trust him?” Janet asked Anada.
“I don’t know. Misty said he’d do a few small jobs, then the big one.”
Big one? Shay thought. What do they mean?
“That’s a critical piece of tech for someone.”
“Yes, it really is,” Janet said. “There are no TAPs which M-Corp can get hold of anymore. This was a hell of an organizational trip, swap, buyout. He better run, and he better run fast, under all of their radars. If anyone gets a sniff of what he’s carrying—”
“I know. They’d take him out.”
“Yes, he wouldn’t survive. They would take him out, take his TAP and that pet.”
“Hey, he’s not a pet,” Shay complained softly as Pim nudged him hard in the neck.
When he heard movement, he had to leave. Quietly, he turned the handle, slipped out the door, and headed onto the street again. This time, he was heading away from here, back over the tracks, into the beyond to find Korel’s shop on his own and do a few days running to and from…wherever.
“What’s a TAP?” Shay asked Pim as he walked on soft-soled boots.
“You’re the one with access to Aug-World,” Pim said. “I have no idea.”
“I might be able to if I’m quick. I don’t have much to spend.” Shay crossed the street and headed to a stand where he might be able to catch a shuttle. That would at least reduce the time he had to walk before dark. The streets weren’t safe, especially then. He knew that more than anyone.
Shay walked on and on. Eventually, reaching the station. He paid for the trip and went to sit. Hopping into Aug-World as soon as he could, he found the first thing he could and read:
Spinal TAP – Public Information – Version 1.1
The TAP connection requires a specialized implant to function properly—a hardened metallic structure that replaces all vertebrae of the spine. This implant is designed to seamlessly integrate with the body’s neural network, allowing for precise control signals between organic and inorganic constructs to be sent and received.
The implantation process is delicate and complex, requiring a team of highly skilled surgeons and medical professionals to ensure that the implant is installed correctly and fully functional. The implant is composed of various advanced materials, including carbon fibers, titanium alloys, and biocompatible polymers, all carefully selected to provide the necessary strength, durability, and compatibility with the human body.
Once the implant is in place, the TAP can be activated, allowing the user to control many vehicles and devices without needing physical input. The control signals are transmitted through the neural network, utilizing a series of specialized sensors and processors integrated into the implant. This allows for precise and responsive control, even in high-stress situations where split-second decisions are necessary.
For those who rely on the TAP for their daily activities, the implant is a crucial and life-changing technology, allowing them to interact with the world in previously impossible ways. It is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the remarkable capabilities of modern medicine and engineering.
This is huge, Shay said.
They are.
Expensive?
You know it.
Shay stared at the different tiers of a TAP and wondered what kind of person would do that to themselves.
He brought up the operation and watched till his stomach churned. Why would anyone do that to themselves? Why?
Pim brought up a different video, one of someone using a TAP to control a set of drones on a farm. It makes things more accessible and cheaper than hiring ten or twenty people. If you can manage it yourself, why wouldn’t you?
That pain, though?
Pim didn’t have any answers for that.
The shuttle settled into its rise and fall within the city grounds. It passed stop after stop, and Shay watched,
I’ve never seen the city from this height before.
Neither have I.
It’s beautiful.
Do you wish you could go higher, further?
Maybe one day, Shay said. I’d like to fly above her one day and see what she contains. What Artem is.
A city of hope?
For some, maybe it was. It feels mostly like—
A prison?
Shay hid from that question. He didn’t want to answer it at all.
The shuttle stopped, and he hopped off alongside a few other people, heading towards those rail tracks. Crossing the tracks without Anada had the nerves in his stomach running riot again. That meant he had to find a loo. Not much out here. Shay snuck behind some bushes and relieved himself. Listening for the sounds of any train, the feel of any mana.
I have to do this on my own. I have to.
His mind drifted back to that day with Anada. The noise. He focused on that in the distance, wondering how far exactly that was from them.
The noise grew louder and louder.
Timetable? Quickly he searched for his answer, his credits ticking away. He wouldn’t have much left.
The noise whooshed. The speed train from Central Artem rocketed past once again, nothing but a blur. He felt the energy disperse around him and grinned.
Nothing else for a while.
I don’t like it. Still, Pim said.
Shay put his hand inside his hood to calm the squirming, shivering walrat again. Pim settled with no issues, and Shay ran for it.
Straight across the tracks without looking back.
The surrounding mana filled the air like static. “I’d love to be able to use it,” Shay said.
“Really?”
“Who wouldn’t want to be able to use magic?”
“I guess I never really thought about it.”
The walk to Korel’s was excellent. The sunset gave Shay more courage, even if the area was new. He felt much more at home in the dark than in any daylight.
The ground changed to the stone he recalled that day, and he knew he wasn’t far. The barrier would be ahead.
Shay stopped before it and reached out to touch it. Electricity pulsed through him and blew him backward.
“You are late,” a voice boomed.
“I’m sorry. It took me longer to walk than I recalled. I even caught the shuttle.”
“Get inside. You really will have to run to do the first job,” Korel said.
Shay picked himself up and dusted off the wet bits of stone and grass, walking over the barrier, knowing it would be off but not feeling it. Electricity still burned inside him.
The large metal doors loomed at the front, but he headed in the same way Anada did in the small side door.
Korel stood at his counter, all the more terrifying than he remembered.
“Did you grow bigger?” Shay asked.
Korel’s face turned darker. “Flattery will not get you out of this.” He reached below the counter and pulled out a bag. “You have tonight to deliver this. Get back tomorrow for the next job.”
Shay took the bag. “No problem. I’m good at being fast.”
“Well, you weren’t today. You need to prove yourself, or I’ll hire someone else.”
Shay secured the bag. “Best be off. Deposit the money soon as I’m there. I’ll need somewhere to stay, which means somewhere I can sleep, even only for a few hours.”
“Done,” Korel said. “Now fuck off.”
Shay left. Once outside, he pulled up the details of this delivery.
It was several hours away. “Fuck, I’ll be going all night.” He quickly planned his route out and started to run.
Run he did, stopping only to grab them something to eat at the side of the road.
“Do you think to drop this off tonight literally means tonight, before midnight?”
Pim just nodded, chewing his food.
“Then I’m going to have to grab a car and take the hit on paying for that.”
“Have you got enough?”
“Just about.” Shay sighed.
It was the wait on the car that mattered. Ordering one was okay. The funds were there, but it was time out that if it didn’t show, he’d never make the drop.
As the battered old car pulled in beside him, he sighed. “Winter?” the driver asked.
“Yes.” Shay hopped in. “Can you hurry? I’m going to be late.”
“Sure thing, you’re paying the bill. There’s a rush fee of one credit.”
Shay cursed. “Fine.”
The car rocketed off, the whole chassis vibrating beneath him. At least this way, he had some chance. And he could rest a bit. He was exhausted and really needed more food.
When the car stopped a while later, he looked up. “We’re here?”
“You fell asleep. It didn’t feel right to wake you to keep me company.”
“Thanks,” Shay said. “I needed it.”
“You say things in your sleep, kid,” the driver said and turned to face him.
Shay sank back. “What kinda things?”
“I have a kid your age,” he said. “Be careful falling asleep with someone you don’t know, that walrat you have. You have no idea what he is either, do you?”
Shay shook his head, his hand instinctively resting on Pim’s back. “He’s my friend.”
“Then look after each other. If he needs to sleep with strangers,” he said to Pim, “don’t let him.”
“Duly noted.”
Shay hopped out of the car and ran for the nearest building. Within a moment, he had handed over Korel’s bag, and funds were in his account, along with the location of where he could stay for the night. “Let’s get out of here. I really need some sleep.”
“That sounds good, very good. Maybe some more food?”
“More food also sounds good, then back in the morning, at my own pace.”
“Even better,” Pim said and yawned.
64
The headache at level ten was brutal, but waking this time…I turned instantly and vomited. Something was wrong, very wrong. I couldn’t see, at least not out of both eyes.
Alba was at my side, her eyes wide. “Hey, it’s okay. I got you.” She had a cloth to my lips in a moment, and she then popped a mint strip in my mouth to take the taste of bile away.
“What,” I stammered out. “What happened?”
“It wouldn’t take,” she said, her forehead scrunching. “We had to remove it.”
My hand automatically lifted to my face, but she stopped me, taking hold of me tightly. “You can’t feel it. It’s all wrapped up.”
“My eye?”
“Gone.” Alba lowered her head with shame.
I swallowed and leaned over to throw up again. Nothing but bile came out.
The operation stats flashed in my HUD.
OPERATION - FAILED - OPERATION - FAILED - OPERATION - FAILED
It was my fault. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t take it.
We were doomed. Without it, the headaches…
Eye Operation = FAILED.
Eye Removed - Yes
X16A - Fitted - No
Your eye was not replaced. You are now right-side blinded.
“Sit up,” Alba ordered, and she helped me, even if my head swam. “I’ll get Jim. He can explain it more.”
I sat up, and Alba ensured I had an anti-sickness drink and felt better before she left me.
The annoying flashing, though, wouldn’t leave me. It took me back to the race failure, the accident.
OPERATION - FAILED - OPERATION - FAILED - OPERATION - FAILED
Moments later—though I think it was longer than that—Jim came in. “I’m glad you’re awake.”
“Run me through it,” I begged. “I need to know what went wrong.”
“You crashed. There was nothing we could do. We kept trying to go on with the operation, but you crashed again every time I tried to attach the eye. It was clear something was wrong, and I had to stop.”
“You couldn’t put my own eye back in?”
“We’d sent it to someone else. We never thought—we’ve never had a rejection at that level. Never.”
“Someone else has my eye?” I had to ask because it really didn’t sink in. I wanted it back. I needed it. “I can’t DP without it.”
Jim shook his head. “The corp wouldn’t let you.
I put my hand on my bandage, even though that was all I felt. I couldn’t see anything out of it.
“You need to put me back under,” I begged.
“I can’t. I don’t have authorization.”
Apex? We can’t do without it.
Apex wasn’t answering.
“Jim, I can’t do this, not now. They’ll just harvest all of me, sell my tech off to someone else. I won’t survive. You have to put me back under and try again.”
“If you crash this time, you might not make it out.”
“Then at least, I don’t know,” I said. “But I have another chance, right?”
Alba stood at the door. “Jim?”
“Call the team back,” he said to her and waved her out. “Rusty, you’ll get me struck off.”
Apex, I crashed because of you, right?
I’m sorry. It was too much.
I tried to think fast. You gotta tell me what they can do to stop your pain levels to stop it from crashing you, us.
He has to stop the X1 core processors for as long as it takes to connect to the X16A.
What does that entail?
The X1 can’t be turned off like before; if you sever the connection with a very strong shock like lightning, unlike an EMP, it will stop the core while you work. You can only get it going with another shock.
I reiterated Apex’s instructions.
“Have you any idea what that could do to your body?”
“I’ve seen lightning strikes,” I said. “It can do a lot of damage, but so will being without the X16.”
“I can’t hit you that high. I’m not sure the grid could take that kind of power surge.” I cursed. “There is someone that can, though,” he said crossing his arms. “If he agrees.”
“He?”
“Mage Baron,” Jim said. “He’s the only one here with that control and the power to do it.”
That would work.
It will come at a cost for him.
What cost?
He won’t be back at the wall in a few days.
Jim was about to get up, and I presumed to go to ask him. “Wait,” I said. “The wall.”
“That’s his decision,” Jim said.
“No,” I said. “No, it’s—”
“As your doctor, it is his decision. It’s the only way I’d ever consider taking you back under. If he’s there to…”
Jim left, and Roe stepped back in. She looked tired. “Been sleeping on the job?”
She laughed. “I got my head down in the nurses’ bay if you must know. You really thought any of us would leave you like…” Her voice trailed off.
“Hideous, aren’t I?” I waved to the bandage.
“They can do wonders with glass now, and other fake eyes.”
“My life is ruined,” I confessed.
When she smiled and came to my side, she frowned. “Not yet it’s not. Give them some time.”
I took her hand in mine. “It’s okay, I’m trouble. I get it.”
Jim returned, wheeling a chair in with him. He chased Roe out. “He wants to see you,” he said. “You think you can do that?”
