by Wolfe Locke
Niles checked his wrist for the time and remaining distance before reaching the top. The response was immediate as numbers illuminate the small interface on the back of his hand from the SynaCAID implant everyone received at a young age. The data showed that his run still had another 2 miles to go before completion, and at his current pace, it would be about 15 minutes.
Without complaint, Niles continued and began to hum a different cadence, a faster one whose pace count was only double what he was currently running. The after image was left behind. It wasn’t programmed to match his pace in real-time.
He wanted to pick up more speed to get more out of the training session and see just how hard he could push himself.
Beads of sweat ran down his face as the scenery blurred around him as he ran faster and faster, forcing his legs and muscles to their limit as he increased his speed and lengthened his stride. The serenity of the movement was everything to him, and it was ruined with a flash of light, forcing him to abruptly stop.
In front of him, a small blue window appeared, much like a television screen or monitor. Niles silently cursed his luck as he saw the man on the other side of the call, a man he could have gone the rest of his life without seeing. A man that was basically a flat-top behind a uniform.
Colonel Grisham Fairway of the 33rd Sustainment Brigade, the man who’d once been his best friend. A man who’d betrayed him when he’d let the military medically retire him after getting injured when he’d served over a decade faithfully.
[Transmission: Niles, I see you’re doing the Tahoe run again. Shame, most of the Sierra Nevada range burned down in the Reno Fire of ‘41. You always were one for nostalgia.]
Niles looked at the man in the window and lessened his pace as he responded less than pleased as he tried to catch his breath.
“Can I help you, Grisham?” Niles emphasized the name, reminding the Colonel he was no longer in the military and beholden by commands and regulations. “This is a private sub server for a reason. I don’t work for you anymore Grisham, and you’re not exactly a friend who can call in favors these days.”
On the screen, Grisham remained stoic and unmoving. If the Officer was bothered by Niles’ surly attitude, it didn’t show. The only thing that changed was a thoughtful expression, an expression that Niles knew to mean the man was wrestling with what he wanted to say and was trying to buy himself some time in the meanwhile.
[Transmission: Niles, I know you’ve never forgiven me for med boarding you, but you know in our line of work, your health had made you a liability. But that’s not why I called you today. This isn’t a favor.]
Niles felt his blood rise in anger. “This better be good then, Grisham, because you’ve already pissed me off. I got hurt, Grisham. It happens. People get hurt all the time. It’s not like I had the plague. You must want something to reach out. My rates aren’t cheap. But I know you’ve got the money to pay for it in some contingency slush fund.”
The Colonel grimaced as Niles mentioned the slush fund. Niles knew that grimace. Yes, the money was there, but it was never easy to get it. It always required work and time to navigate the red tape. He stopped completely to wait for Grisham’s answer.
[Transmission: You know this isn’t a secure line Niles, I can’t go into details. But I’m prepared to pay 3 times your usual rate for time exclusivity and until the assignment is finished. This includes hazard pay and hostile fire pay as an added bonus.]
“And if I say no?” Niles asked curiously though the offer was lucrative, and he was already considering it.
The Colonel’s face hardened, and Niles knew he had managed to get under his skin.
[Transmission: I hope it doesn’t come to that, Niles. You used to be one of us, you know how things work around here, and we’re looking for a free agent to hire. I would hate to have to contact my guy at G1 to pull your records and reflag your RE code and pull you back involuntarily on a recall order.]
Truthfully Niles was unsure if the Colonel had that sort of pull, and if he did, the recall would be doing Niles a favor. He wanted to get back in. Even now, years later, it was all he ever dreamed of.
“I’ll do it. Send me the instructions. I’m disengaging now.” Niles called out as Colonel Grisham nodded appreciatively.
With a flick of the wrist, the screen disappeared. Then another mental command was given out as Niles’s scenery completely faded away into a dark nothingness, as Niles gave the verbal command to the SynaCAID system to start the logout process.
Chapter 3: The Rig
* * *
The darkness disappeared, and an electric ping let him know he was back in the real world. Niles opened his eyes and saw only stars and blurry lights. It’s like this every time, the temporary blindness, he thought about how disorientating the logout process was. But overall, he tried to not complain. The System gave him a myriad of opportunities to experience life in a way nothing else did anymore.
Once his vision had fully returned, Niles initiated the verbal disengage command. He looked down to see the clear immersion gel had begun to separate from him as short bursts of electrical current forced the gel to let him go loose.
With a bit of effort, Niles put one hand and then his robotic prosthetic on the sides of the pod, feeling around until he could grab onto the steel safety handles. Once he got a decent grip, he began to lift himself out of medical-grade immersion gel that was a staple of the eRehab System.
Even though this is a huge hassle and a massive effort to use, if it wasn’t for the gel, I wouldn’t be able to seamlessly interface with the SynaCAID platform. I wouldn’t be able to feel myself run or snow drift onto my face. Niles knew what that meant, it was the difference between controlling a character on a computer or being the character. Traditional Rigs just couldn’t match what he had.
For Niles, the digital reality provided by SynaCAID had become his second home. It afforded the man some of the only peace he could find. I was lucky Veteran Affairs approved me for the eRehab System, he thought with a half-smile, recalling how good it had felt to be running again and shuddered at the thought of having to commit to physical therapy at the local facility. Five times the work for a third of the quality. Niles shook his head at the thought before leaning his head back.
He clung to the edge for a minute after having pulled most of his body free. Completely unmoving, soaking in the moment before pulling himself the rest of the way out.
First one leg, then the other. Though it took longer to maneuver the damaged limb. Niles sat on the wide lip of the Rig and looked behind him as he waited for the gel to stabilize and reset itself back into place as the effects of the electrical pulse eased. Once done, he pressed the blue switch and watched as the machine covered itself and sealed itself closed with a mechanical hiss as Niles grabbed a microfiber towel to wipe off any of the excess gel that clung to his skin before hopping in the shower. Leaving behind only the steady hum of the machine undergoing the post-use sterilization cycle.
On the way out of what Niles had dubbed his war room, where he housed the eRehab unit, he grabbed the oak cane he’d left leaning against the wall and smiled when he realized he didn’t have to put quite as much of his weight on it. It’s already paying off. Maybe by Christmas, I’ll be running again for real. He hadn’t taken to the synthetic leg graft like he had the complete replacement of his arm.
He pushed open the door into the rest of his apartment and shivered. Remembering for the first time, he was mostly nude except for a pair of shorts and a reminder that he kept forgetting to turn the heating unit on when he was logged in. A safety thing, just like how you don’t leave food cooking and walk away. It might have been inconvenient, but Niles wasn’t big on negligence.
Around his neck, he wore a plain beaded necklace with a key and took a moment to lock the door behind him. It might not have seemed like much, but the eRehab unit was worth more than the combined value of everything else he owned.
On his way to the shower, the noise made by the cane and the way he partially dragged his synthetic leg irritated him as Niles winced involuntarily at the sound. It took only a few seconds before Niles decided enough was enough and clapped twice.
Once to trigger the heating units within the walls, which caused the panels that encapsulated his apartment to move aside and turned on the infrared heating units that glowed with warmth as screens showed fake fire, and then clapped again to trigger his playlist to start as the opening riff of The Clash’s London Calling filled the apartment.
The apartment was a combination of modern industrial and a throw-back to the Mod subculture of the prior decade. The only exception to style was how meticulously clean he kept it.
Honestly, thought Niles, I don’t even know why I pay for the place when the only thing I do is sleep here or spend my time in the pod. On the way to the shower, Niles touched the implant in his hand to check his portable for messages but had nothing in his inbox except for a vague message about a job offer stacking boxes for a company he hadn’t heard of.
[Transmission: Regarding the recent offer of employment. We are extremely pleased to offer you this opportunity and hope you will take it. Please be able to lift at least 25 pounds as you will be stacking boxes frequently. The address is embedded in the contact file. Please arrive at the earliest convenience for contract signing. Thank you.]
I’m guessing this message is from the Colonel, Niles reasoned as he looked at the details. 10035 Industrial Boulevard, Arcadia International Inputs/Exports. Looks like the 33rd Sustainment Brigade has moved and changed covers. The news shocked him. Even though it wasn’t exactly a surprise, it just cemented the truth that Niles wasn’t part of the group anymore.
No thanks to you, he thought darkly, looking at his withered leg that had mostly failed to take to the synthetic graft and cursing Colonel Grisham Fairway for retiring him. Still, if they were willing to still use him, it would be life-changing. Niles let out a tired sigh as he headed to the kitchen. He needed a drink.
Fifteen minutes later, he was ready to be out the door, freshly showered and with a full stomach from a nutritional smoothie whose packaging assured him was only organically and ethically sourced biofuel. The world’s on fire, and people still care about this nonsense. Niles shook his head.
Chapter 4: A Place Once Known
* * *
Niles grabbed his Private Investigator credentials and was ready to head to his vehicle to drive downtown for what some may consider a rendezvous with destiny. But with his mind focused on whatever the next few hours had in store for him, Niles almost walked outside unprepared and barely caught himself before turning the door and stepping out of the apartment.
Keeping his weight on the cane, he turned towards the left of the sliding door and pressed the “Scan” button on the amber-colored computer pad embedded within the wall. Immediately the robotic voice of the computer controller announced it was compiling an air quality report.
I really need to look at some of the voice packs I can pick up for the AI’s, maybe one of the celebrity packs. Niles promised himself uncomfortable with the cold and emotionless tone of the AI.
[Transmission: Current air quality is rated at *Green* you may safely leave the residence without the use of a filtration system. Please be advised there will be a dust storm advisory in effect tomorrow between 1300 and 1500 HLT.]
Niles nodded, appreciating that he wouldn’t need to leave his apartment wearing a respirator, at least not today. Just a fact a life ever since the dust and pollution storms went global. With one last look around, he opened the door. He limped out of his apartment, his synthetic leg dragging slightly as he worked his way down the well-lit hallway of the interior courtyard of the apartment and out onto the street.
I must have been at it for a while. It’s easy to get carried away when I’m diving in the machine, he thought to himself with some concern after realizing it was night time. The glow of halogen lights shone brightly on the road and walkways.
The temperature had started to drop. And why wouldn’t the temperature drop? It’s already November. He rationalized as he began to shiver. Even wearing a thick overcoat, Niles still felt the bite of the cold as his breath grew visible and his hands grew cold from exposure.
Not wanting to linger out in the elements, he headed straight towards the attached garage where all the tenants kept their vehicles. The short walk usually triggered pain from his old injury, but not today after the dive. Little by little, his time in the eRehab machine was helping him regain full use of the limb and help him repair the damage. He was able to limp today, but a year ago, he couldn’t even walk.
The parking garage was kept locked by a digital key, and as Niles approached, he held up his hand to the scanner on the wall. With a low hum, the scanner read the implant in his hand that contained so much of his personal information. Within seconds, he could hear the shifting of gears and whirling cogs as the door to the garage moved aside, allowing him to breech the doorway.
Inside the garage and out of the cold, Niles felt the pleasant sensation of warmth as he looked for his usual parking spot marked by the blue sign on the wall and tapped the implant in his hand once to unlock the vehicle as it started up remotely. Before he had even sat down into the stabilizer, the car’s localized artificial intelligence asked him what the destination was to begin route analysis and planning.
Niles thought for a second, knowing he couldn’t just give the facility’s address, not even to his own AI, and instead opted for a nearby clinic that was a few blocks away from the Industrial Boulevard. He planned to walk the rest of the way once there. Even in the state he was in, a block or two was still doable.
“Take me to Grady Memorial. On the Southside near the Garden Lounge.” Niles answered as he sat his cane down on the passenger side and made sure to put up his handicapped placard for easier parking, and eased into his seat as the AI took over. Taking a second to flick on the warmer while the car began to adjust the inner temperature to match his historical preferences.
[Transmission: Trip confirmed. You will be arriving at your destination in approximately 34 minutes. This represents an additional travel time of 5 minutes to avoid an ongoing protest near Centennial Park. Please be aware of wet roads and understand that the best driver is a human controller.]
“That’s fine,” Niles responded, his mind on other things as he uploaded his favorite playlist to stream through the vehicle’s speakers. Even in a world where I could just download music directly into my thoughts, nothing quite beats hearing it the old-fashioned way. Niles thought as he sank back into his stabilizer, listening to the soulful tunes of musicians long since passed on.
The sky was grey, and rain began to drop in torrents as the vehicle pulled out of the garage and headed down the road. Always the rain, Niles thought as he flipped the car into hazard mode and let it continue self-driving. Not bothering to turn on the windshield wipers.
It was raining back then too. Niles recalled with a hint of bitterness as he looked at the cane on the passenger side and sat back, closing his eyes as he let the chorus wash over him while the AI started to drive.
Chapter 5: The Place Once Known
Tires screeched in the night as they pulled up in the getaway vehicle. The sniper rifle dissembled and tucked away neatly after taking the shot. They sped away with all the trained precision of somebody with multiple training sessions at the Farm and a lifetime of experience.
None of that mattered as a little girl ran out onto a road, she had no business being on. Why she was there, they had no idea,. Likely running from her own demons and issues.
As the car swerved to avoid hitting her, it flipped. A horrible pain erupted and spread throughout Niles’ leg as the vehicle crashed into a concrete wall, and pieces of rebar and metal were forced through the muscles and bones in his leg. Even through the pain, Niles saw the girl run aw
ay and he was grateful she was still alive as he struggled to escape the ruined vehicle with a shredded leg.
The vehicle’s interior lights started to gradually brighten as the guiding AI began the process of waking Niles up as gently as was feasible to ensure maximum comfort.
He opened his eyes and shrugged off the memory of one of the worst nights of his life and rubbed the little bit of sleep he had managed to get out of his eyes. The stabilizer disengaged.
Niles reached over and grabbed his cane, pushing a button in the center that collapsed the assistive device in on itself. For the time being, it would double as a weapon if he needed it to be, something akin to a Black Jack that he slipped discreetly into his pocket.
[Transmission: You are now arriving at Grady Memorial Hospital. The local time is 8:21. Please be advised the impending dust storm has become unstable and is no longer within set time parameters.]
The parking lot was still mostly full, and people continued to move in and out of the Hospital. Not a perfect cover, but close enough, I’ll blend in a little bit. Niles thought as he got out of the vehicle and locked it with a mental command through the implant in his hand. He heard a click and started to walk down the path around the Hospital.