By David C. Daoust
Colin was not sure what Deloris was working on. Ultimately, because he never hung-out with her for so long after his body was pulled back up out of stasis. She had her gaze affixed to a computer screen, clicking away at the keys in front of her, seated at her desk. He was seated across from her as she filed this or that, Colin didn’t care. His recent foray into that all new, all different, holo-mech was not like anything he had ever experienced before.
The first fifteen minutes out of the tube- everything felt so slow, he thought he was going to flip his lid. His mind needed to settle into his body. Or his brain needed to readjust to the molasses time flow that was reality. Either way, those fifteen minutes were the longest of his life.
Colin had to wait to be pulled up out that nutrient bath- it felt so slow. Same old experience- maybe, but it was like being trapped… Comparable, to like, knowing you’re asleep, yet unable to wake up. The liquid dripping from his body, felt like ooze despite its water like fluidity. Same procedure every time; this time, however, waiting for that next slap was agonizing. Then waiting for the sting to pass. And then trying to decipher the slow motion talking as he was asked whatever random questions may prove he was cognitive enough… knowing he was being asked something a zillion times before the subject was revealed, then waiting for the finish, to answer, at long last, despite already formulated an answer a dozen different ways… the whole thing was tedious.
Colin found the longer he was back within his normal body, the more the world picked up its pace.
Now, he was pretty sure they were waiting for Gordon to show back up. Deloris had assured him, despite Colin’s personal defeat at the hands of the Overseer, that the army of Assault-bots had all been neutralized.
For Colin, controlling such an entity- was all just too much for him. The more damage he did, the more the environment shifted, the harder a time he had keeping his mind on track. Once it had him racing up above… Ultimately, he got confused– wound-up pitching himself into a vat molten steel. He was pretty sure he was going to relive that experience in his dreams, probably, for the rest of his life. Being slowed to a complete halt and then, just, frozen solid in metal wasn’t anything he’d wish on anyone.
Colin realized the click-clacking of Deloris typing had stopped. He looked up to find the woman studying him- clearly, with concern in her eyes.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Better,” Colin answered, a bit too slowly in his mind. He came up with the answer and then had to wait ‘til his mouth said it all, “Things are… finally starting to move at more than a snail’s pace.” The fact that the experience of conveying the thought contradicted the message, confused him too much to try and fix it. “It’s still a bit wonky,” he added.
“I really feel like I should have checked that mech a bit more thoroughly before we used it,” Deloris said apologetically, “The runtime program, that usually keeps the system synced with your natural brain patterns, was, well… it sooped you up a bit higher than I would have allowed. You seem to have made it through undamaged, however, so I don’t think we need to worry…”
Colin was nodding while she spoke, not sure for how long. He suddenly felt like it was taking way too long and just stopped all movement and sat there, searching for some indication on the woman’s face as to whether he was acting funny or not. He was not comfortable in his own body, anymore.
“We managed to expunge the Red Faction,” Deloris changed the subject, “Yet we haven’t the faintest’ where your father may be…”
“No, we don’t,” Colin verbalized his agreement, rather than start nodding again. He hoped this new neurosis passed soon. “Any options on the table?”
“We can send out word… the Organization, mobilized, is no petty thing,” Deloris suggested, “Ultimately, we need to get word to Dutch. He’ll know what’s what.”
Dutch was the underboss, second only to Bernard Vice.
“And he is…?” Colin asked for a location.
“Believe it or not- he should be making moonfall on Twin Crown,” Deloris answered, before elaborating, “He had diverted course to try and aid you once he received word of some of your troubles…” she pondered for a moment, “I think it was the bail money…”
“He was the closest,” Colin nodded one time, stiffly, not too surprised at the old thug’s actions, “So, back to that sand-moon for me…?”
“Got to talk to Gordon first,” Deloris put on the break, “I’m not sure we can send you out through his shield. I mean, if it’s keeping the Red Faction out, it may be keeping you in…” Deloris proposed, logically, then confessed, “Not really my field of expertise though.”
“His code’ll make it through,” Gordon interrupted, glassy eyed and slurring his speech, from the doorway. He clutched a flask as he drunkenly explained: “If we can send him through the lower shield- we can send him out wherever…” abruptly summerized, “His signal is keyed to go wherever we want it!” He then turned and pointed to Colin, “Just, you, don’t you let them damn Reds get their hands on it…”
Colin understood the gist of what Hitch was saying– the ‘lower shield’ was what trapped the Overseer in the ‘basement’. Since Colin was sent down there with no problem, he should be able to make it through the initial shield, that kept the Red Faction out, just as easily. Something was wrong though. Colin had never seen the old engineer in such a sorry state– found himself a bit worried.
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