by K. A. Kerr
Tarik pulled up his own footage last. He was not pleased with himself. He did have a few good moments. He managed some really terrific shots and he could not have thrown that hand explosive any better. On the bad side some of his other shots went too wide to even say he was aiming in the right direction and his footwork could have been better. The group on the mountainside who shot his kidney were obviously untrained forces; it was honestly a lucky shot. The round that hit Rye was just a ricochet from that same group. He got to the point where he turned to get to the door and he couldn’t find the shooter who hit him with the burrowing round. He replayed that scene seven times and none of the known forces fired that shot and there was no muzzle flash to indicate where it had originated from. It was perfectly timed, if it weren’t for the small shake of the drop ship ramp it would have been a kill shot.
He sent the file to Lamb to get his opinion. Maybe he could point out his mistake and shooter. Lamb had years of experience and could read this battle much better than he could.
Tarik grew bored quickly. He pulled up his log to see if anything was scheduled for him over the next few days. His log read that his schedule was free and there was an optional meeting for Fighter Two’s funeral service.
Tarik really wanted to be there for Scout Three, he sent a message to Tilla asking for her to help him there. Tilla replied shortly thereafter stating that he was restricted to the chair until the doctor cleared him. In other words, he was going to be stuck there for a long time.
Tarik wanted to send a message to Scout Three apologizing for his absence but he wasn’t really sure what the proper etiquette is for this situation. Tarik had never lost anyone that close so the idea of it was too foreign for him to relate to. After mulling it over he decided just to send a short message since Scout Three probably had his hands full and wouldn’t have time to read some long winded message.
Tarik didn’t have anything left to do he just looked to the ceiling and thought “So now what?”
Tarik spent the night watching entertainment videos. He normally didn’t watch those types of things but he really had no other options. It was either watch video or go to sleep and according to the ship timer he’d been asleep for three days.
He'd managed to get another hour of sleep in before he woke again. It was just in time because he had a visit from Tilla.
She played it off as a health check but she could have done that from remote by just getting the read outs from the pod. She told him about her studies to become an actual doctor and how she thought about going back home. She told him about her abuse as a pup which is one of the reasons she acts the way she does. She had been disregarded in her own culture because of things out of her control. It seemed very cruel to Tarik but again this is an alien culture so he could not project his morals on them. She told him about her want to go back and show them how well she had done in spite of them.
Tarik learned so much more about her that he wasn’t sure if it should change his opinion of the Flarr. One thing was for sure, it's funny how much people tell you when you don't talk back.
Daze came in and told him about Rye. She was taking the death of Fighter Two very hard. She had to guess it brought back memories of her sister. Without a bottle to turn to nobody knew what she would do but hoped she would confront her demons head on. Out of all the bad that happened people still wished for the best. She got off that subject and told him a story about her former husband. Tarik never had a clue she'd been married before. Daze told him it was a young love situation back when she first left the ship. In the end their marriage was toxic and she was happy to find her way back home.
Scout Three came in and told him about the service. Tarik couldn't help but cry. It wasn't so much the death itself but that he couldn't be there for his friend. Scout Three cried with him but for reasons entirely his own. Scout Three hugged his head and the awkwardness of hugging someone in a medical pod actually brought a small laugh. Scout Three seemed like he would be better, Tarik did not have to worry about his friend as much. Scout Three had a long road ahead of him but Tarik would help him along the way.
Mange and Goddess came in but didn't say much. Mostly Mange talked about honor and the joy he felt for Tarik killing for his crewmates. Mange said to do so was highly respected in his culture much like human culture and he would drink to him later that night.
Goddess said nothing at all, Tarik wasn't even sure she wanted to be there. Her face did show worry for a few moments but he could have been mistaken. Thinking back on he was sure that she just liked to confuse him as much as possible.
When Dav finally came in he knew for a fact he had chosen correctly. Just the visitors he had made him feel like he could never leave these people. When last he was last laid up like this the only person who came to visit him was his boss and that was all business.
“So Tarik, I won't make this hard on you and nobody is going to judge you. Blink once to stay and twice to leave.” Dav told him.
Tarik blinked once. Dav stared at him for a good twenty seconds to make sure there wasn't going to be a second blink. Tarik wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. He knew what he wanted and if it took getting his good lung getting ripped out along with the bad one then so be it.
“I'm happy that you have decided to stay. I want to apologize again for putting you in this position. It will never happen again.”
Tarik blinked once to acknowledge him.
“We will be in port to drop off the TRDR fuckers in three days. I'm highly pissed they wouldn't chip in to help you out. That is the last contract we take with those cocksuckers. Get your rest, the surgery will happen on station since doc can't do it here.” Dav said then left him alone to his thoughts.
At the end of the three days Tarik had tried to escape from his medical pod twice. He couldn't stand to be so sedentary. He had so much pent up energy that needed to get out. He'd had visitors of course but they were only a few minutes spent out of several hours of nothing. He'd worked as hard as he could while he was stuck there having mastered in simulation another twenty six battle scenarios. He missed the physical aspect of life, he wanted to run or lift or fight. He wanted to do just about anything that got him moving and out of the damned chair.
When his pod was closed up and he was sent to the station surgery center he wished there was a larger window. He really just wanted stimulus, after rotting his brain on entertainment videos he craved real life again. Metal arms clamped on to the pod and he could see the station but it all blended together.
When the pod unsealed and the surgeon greeted him he was ready to leap out. The surgeon was the most attractive human woman he'd ever seen. He thought about it and came to the conclusion that he should have expected it from someone who had the funds and knowledge to make herself that way.
Dav was in the consultation room with him when the doctor was going over the procedure.
“Tarik, I am Doctor Kinny. I will be performing the surgery for your augmentations. I want you to know what this all entails before we move forward. I understand your speech is limited so if you need me to clarify something tap the metal plate in front of you. Tap once if you understand.”
Tarik found the metal plate and tapped once.
“Your ship doctor told you have one damaged lung. That was correct at the time but both lungs are now damaged beyond repair. The doctor thought it in your best interest not to inform you.”
Just like that asshole Tarik thought. He let the Doctor Kinny go on.
“The easiest way for us to go in is through the front of your chest and up into your ribs.” The doctor said as a smart wall behind her showed an animation of just that.
“Once the replacements are in place there will be two days required for healing and adjustments. The adjustments are automated so you won't need to come back in. You will have some scarring but over time it will heal up nicely. I have personally done over seventy of these procedures so you are in good hands.”
“While we have you se
dated we will begin the other augmentations.”
Tarik tapped his metal plate. What other augments?
“I'll take this one doc.” Dav said. “Tarik you are going to be the most deadly being on that ship. I told you I would never send you into a situation like that again. Two years Tarik, that's all I'm asking for. The lungs are yours no matter what, hear her out. I think you will like what I have set up for you.”
Tarik blinked at Dav, he'd at least hear what he had planned. Dav asked the doctor to continue.
“Moving on then” she said acting like she didn't want to know the background. “The neural upgrade will be done in parallel to the retinal implant replacement. They typically only require a few hours of convalescence. The neural upgrade will change your reflex time so some of your movements will be off for a few days but you should adjust quickly. Your new retinal sensor will allow you to see more bands of light but shouldn't affect you nearly as much. Next we come to the electronic pulse sensors; these will be implanted at the base of your spine.”
Tarik tapped his plate.
“You must not be familiar with an EPS unit. I shall elaborate for you. EPS units give you the ability to sense electronic systems over great distances. It's a mimic system based on old Earth predators called sharks. You are getting a top of the line model. This model allows you to detect even small systems like the impulses in muscle systems at around half a mile away. You should be able to detect something larger like a pulse rifle at three miles. Still larger things such as power generation units at ten miles. The larger the EM leakage the greater the distance. Please, bear in mind this allows for detecting signals not controlling them.” She said the last part like she was asked the question all too often.
“We will finish off with the statoconium enhancement.”
Tarik tapped a few times because he wasn't even sure he could say the word.
“It's an implant that will serve you better than your inner ear. It enhances your balance and sense of direction. It will also help you judge velocity better. This should actually help with the adjustments needed for the neural implant. All told you’re looking at six hours of surgery and five more days in a pod.”
Tarik hated the idea of spending more time in the pod but this was too good to pass up. Everything has a price and his was five more days in a pod. These types of alterations would give him a huge edge on any opposition. He knew the laws and if he was right this would put him at the upper end of allowed augmentation.
“Tarik if you agree with the outlined surgery I need for you to tap the plate twice.”
Tarik looked at Dav, Dav simply nodded. If Tarik could have shrugged his shoulders he would have. He settled for tapping twice.
Ten hours later Tarik woke up to a world of pain. He hadn't even opened his eyes but he knew where every piece of equipment was. He could tell that the ship was in a slow rotation; which meant they were still in system. He could see Tilla scrubbing something a few rooms away. The muscles of her upper arms were releasing energy with every thrust. The amount of information was too much for him to process. He turned down his EPS system and breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been moved back to the Beetle which was a sign his surgery went well. He opened his eyes and the room was bathed in purple. Orange bands cut through the purple and left yellow tracers. He tried to yell but his voice was still being inhibited. All that came out was a meek whistle.
He forced himself calm and queried his implants. The EPS and retinal implants were interacting to give him this strange ultraviolet vision. He switched his retinal implants to passive and was given a much better picture. The room went almost back to normal with the exception of a few swirls of orange. This was going to take some getting used to. He played with the settings until he was happy with the static image. He set the image to default so he wouldn't wake up like that again. His neural upgrade worked well with the new systems, it even allows automatic profiles for fast changes in situation.
Now that he had a good grasp of his surroundings he wanted to try it out with movement. He was still restrained in his pod and will be for the next few days but he didn't want to freak out if someone came into the room.
He saw a metal medical instrument just within reach and picked it up. If he just dropped it the odds were Tilla wouldn't hear it. He found a metal tray across the room. Ordinarily he doubted he could make the shot but he felt like he knew all the variables to get the desired result.
Tarik threw the instrument and it hit the metal pan. He didn't know he would throw it that hard and the tray went flying off the table in the same direction as the instrument. The series of bangs and clanks that ensued was actually kind of funny.
Tarik gradually moved up the sensitivity of his EPS to see if Tilla was headed his way. He thought about sending her a message asking her to come and stand in front of him but the delay would have defeated the purpose. She was getting closer and Tarik could see more of the electrical impulses in her body as she approached. He was quick to turn down the reception before it overwhelmed him again. He could see her upper legs muscles pulse with each step, her heart beating at a steady pace, and even the muscles of her tail tightening against her midsection.
When Tilla walked towards the fallen tray she glanced at Tarik figuring he would still be asleep. He smiled, much to her surprise.
“You were to be asleep for many more hours.” She said.
Tarik turned his hands up showing he didn't know why he was awake. He pointed at her then pointed to the floor in front of him. When she moved closer he held his hand for her to stay there.
“You want me to stand here?” She asked.
Tarik held one thumb up then went to work calibrating his systems.
“Is there something I should be doing? I'm not sure what you want.”
Tarik paused in his calibration, to point at his eyes then back at her.
“You just want to look at me? Are you toying with your systems?”
Tarik held another thumbs up; his calibrations were almost complete.
“Your systems shouldn't be active yet. I will have to alert the doctor.”
Tarik held up his hand again in a stopping motion. He didn't know why he was up or why his systems were acting this way. He would however use his time wisely before the doctor came and screwed it up.
“Hmm. He said your voice was still restricted but I did find a work around for when you want to call me. The messaging system is too slow so I bought this.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a circular metal device with a button on top. “It's an antique from your world they call it a bell.”
She set the bell within reach of his fingertips. Tarik hit the button and a delightful ding sounded. He could see the swirls of air and feel the concussion wave in his ears.
“I will go fetch the doctor.”
Tarik rang the bell again and held up a finger for her to wait. He was just finishing the final calibrations. He shut his eyes and let the imager reset.
Tilla was standing in front of him and she looked beautiful. Her eyes were a deep purple set against the consistent orange firing of her mind. He could see her tongue pulse in her closed mouth. Her brown snout had orange specks along her short whiskers. When her nose twitched it sent waves of glowing orange dots back to her mind.
“What are you doing?” Tilla asked him.
Tarik pointed to his eyes then back at her. He pointed at her again then smiled broadly pointing at it.
“You are happy to see me?”
Tarik gave another thumbs up.
“I am pleased you are in such a good mood. You wait here, the doctor needs to go over many things with you.” She said as she walked out of his vision.
Tarik saved those settings for when people were around. He felt good even if he was still confined to the medical pod. He still couldn't wait to get up and move around but he was looking forward to having a two way conversation most of all.
The doctor walked into the room and gave him a look of disd
ain. Tarik wasn't sure what he could have done to deserve the look. If anything he should be the one pissed off that he didn't tell him his other lung was damaged.
Even with the enhancements Tarik received the doctor didn't look much better. With a recall enhancement the doctor was well suited for his job but that was about it; he had no other alterations that Tarik's EPS could detect.
“You were not to wake for six more hours. I'm tempted to put you back under but I may as well get this out of the way now.” The doctor said as he sat down on a stool.
“Your surgeries went well. I have reviewed the files and have come to the decision that I will take your speech restrictions off in two days. After three days we can get you out of my medical facilities.
“You should know that you are at the limits of allowed human alterations. You are very close to becoming one of the monsters from the Hierarchy wars. If you are seriously injured again I will not risk my contract to save you. With that said there really is no reason for me to continue to monitor you. Tilla will care for you going forward with my standing orders.”
The doctor stood up apparently done with Tarik as he moved to the door he noticed the bell.
“I don't think you will need to keep Tilla from her work more than you normally do.” He said as he picked up the bell and moved it to the table.
Tarik gave him an evil eye as he walked away. To say he was angry would be putting it mildly. First, for comparing him to the modified humans of the Hierarchy Wars. Second, for taking away his means of communication. He didn't care that the doctor wouldn't work on him anymore, in fact he welcomed it.
Tarik tried to force himself to relax but the anger burned within him. He was not some mindless killing machine. Tarik had morals, he had friends and he didn't believe himself to be superior to all others. He was not this monster the doctor had suggested.
