The Coordinate

Chapter 17: A Second Dangerous Experiment

            “Winter,” Rori said, peeking on her door, “Dr. Raven said its my time to help with the data gathering, experimental thing.”

            Winter let out a sleepy groan and lazily pulled the wire attached to the spacer chip on her neck. Data and symbols blinked on the screen sitting beside her bed before going green and making a satisfying beep. “I haven’t even eaten yet. Is the Doctor that excited?”

            “He seems like he’s excited over everything.” Rori let herself in, two mugs of chocolate milk in hand, and sat on Winter’s bed. Winter sat up too. Rori offered her one of the mugs, but she declined.

            “Thought you wanted something in your stomach,” Rori said.

            “I wanted it cold. Ice cold, preferably.”

            “Cold drinks in the morning upsets your stomach, you know.”

            “Do they? Jordan and I have been drinking iced coffee every morning since we were 8.”

            Rori took a sip from her mug and placed the other one on Winter’s bedside table. It didn’t take a detective to know that Winter was feeling terrible, and not just in a physical state, though, admittingly, she was paler than she was two days ago. The air was depressing, and gloomy, enough to drastically send a soldier’s morale into a sinkhole.

            “You two fight almost everyday.” Rori said, “But you seem bothered about this particular thing.”

            “Tensions between us just broke, that’s all. It’s been going on for a long time now. We just don’t like talking about it.”

            “Talking about what?”

            Winter inhaled, “He doesn’t want me to be a spacer. Says it’s too dangerous and he won’t be able to contact me. I told him once that he’s being controlling, and… all kinds of insults. We didn’t talk for like two weeks after that though. We had this silent agreement not to talk about it afterwards.”

            Rori let out a snort, “Overprotective, overly-attached, and, clingy childhood friend, alright. Or, brother, right?”

            Winter’s mouth opened, “He told you?”

            “Yeah, he did. We’ve known each other for three years and you never once told me he was your adoptive brother.”

            “I don’t see him as a brother.”

            “How do you see him then?”

            Winter paused, her hands on her chin, “Sometimes a pain in the a*s, sometimes a genuine best friend, sometimes my slave,” she laughed. Her face then turned serious, “And sometimes… something more.”

            Rori’s body stiffened. She shook herself out of it. “Oh? You two doing spicy stuff all alone in your house back in Alaska, huh?”

            “What, no!” Winter laughed, “Well… sometimes, but it’s not like that!”

            “Yeah, I understand. We girls gotta use whatever toys we have in our disposal after all”

            “Hundred percent. Anyway, come on, let’s go. Winter got off her bed, and as she stood, she immediately stumbled. Her body was heavier, or… was her legs weaker?

            “Oh s**t, Winter, are you alright!?” Rori yelped, helping her stand.

            Winter forced herself up, “What happened?”

            “That’s what I’m supposed to ask you!”

            “My legs feel weird…” Winter said. Rori put Winter over her shoulder and helped her walk.

            “Thanks.” Winter said.

             Waiting outside Winter’s room were two guards, ready to escort them to the Bay. They looked at her indifferently and started walking.

            “By the Zionous, how incredibly rude.” Rori whispered to Winter, “They didn’t offer to help you.”

            “Mm. Bunch of corporate assholes, I’d imagine. At least Dr. Raven seems genuine.” Winter whispered back.

            Along the way, Rori’s wrist vibrated and blinked. Their escort stopped wit h them as she opened her palm. A hologram came up, an incoming call request.

            From…

            Hannah Moa.

            Rori froze. Her eyes widened, her mouth wide open.

            Winter didn’t know what to make of Rori’s reaction, but her parents calling her was something nobody would expect. Winter wanted her to reject it. She should. Her parents had no right or business to call her after how they’ve treated her. But the look on Rori’s face told her their opinions differed.

            “Rori,” Winter said, looking at her friend straight in the eye, “You sure you want to answer that?”

            “B-but Winter… it’s mom. It’s been eight years…”

            “Yes, you had to claw your way alone into the life you had now for eight years. I bet they’re only calling you now because of the news and they want to have a share of your credits.” Winter reasoned,

             The ringing in her wrist still reverberated. It silenced her thoughts. The names of her parents on the hologram burned into Rori’s skull, an addition to the many childhood scars she bore, but this time… it might be different. They might just want to congratulate her, right? They’re going to acknowledge her this time, right?

            “But…”

            Every ring, a reason to reconnect.

            Every vibration, a reason to see them smile at her.

            Every blink, a hope to hear them call her their daughter.

            She flicked her wrist, accepting the call.

            “H-hello?”

            “Rori…?” a female voice said on the other end.

            “Mom...?” A lump in her throat formed. She covered her mouth with her hands and looked at Winter’s frowning face. “Winter, you go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

            Their escort nodded and helped Winter to her feet. Winter sighed, looking away at Rori and not looking back. Rori’s joyful bawling filled the halls, slowly fading with every step they took.

            Dr. Raven’s cubicle on the Bay was larger now, filled with notes, holograms, screens and illustrations. Upon seeing Winter, the man leapt with joy and energetically shook her hand. “Ms. Swan, might I say that we’ve learned so much about this kind of technology. Hypothetically, we could perhaps jumpstart another era of technology just with what we know!”

            “Thanks? I haven’t really done anything but activate the ship and nearly die though.”

            “That’s not true. Well, yes it is, sort of, but what that’s exactly all you need to do with the current subjects in hand! The metal patch on your spacer chip records transmissions from the ship to your brain, and its my job to translate it to a language we can understand and use.”

            “Oh. What did you learn?”

            “That’s confidential, Ms. Swan, but don’t worry! In the near future, you’ll find out long enough. Anyways, where’s Ms. Moa?”

            “She’s… err, busy.”

            Rushing footsteps echoed in the distance, and over at a hallway going to the Bay, Rori was running towards them. She arrived a few minutes later, gasping for breath. “Sorry I’m late.”

            “Well, that’s fine. Up to the ship, you two!” Dr. Raven pushed both of them to the ship. Suddenly, the ship’s hatch opened right as Winter approached.

            Dr. Raven’s eyes lit up. “It can recognize its pilot now!? Sublime! Now I truly need to find out everything about this ship!”

Winter then climbed up to the chair, and Rori followed. The hatch closed. The wires inside the cockpit glowed, dancing on Winter’s skin as it crept and wrapped around her.

            “That’s creepy. That’s really creepy!” Rori commented.

            Winter gave a nervous smile, “I don’t really get it either, but it’s okay.”

            Wires rose from Rori’s chair and dug into her back. She jumped. “Holy s**t, Winter, what is this!?”

            “Err, wires?”

            “This isn’t injecting lethal stuff into my body, is it?!”

            “No, it’s not.” Winter snorted, “Relax, okay? I’m going to activate it now.”

            Rori took a deep breath and laid back on the configurator chair, closing her eyes and waiting for Winter to activate it.

            Seconds passed, and nothing happened. “Hey, I thought you were going to-“

            Winter was shaking. Her head was low, gazing on her wire-covered hands. It looked like she didn’t want this anymore.

            Rori leaned forward, putting her hand on Winter’s shoulder, “Hey, come on. You can do this. This will all be over in no time. You wanna become a spacer, right?”

            Winter looked at her, “R-right. Right.”

            Winter inhaled, and suddenly, her body became limp. Her head fell to her shoulders, her hands fell to the arm rests, and her eyes were blank.

            “Winter?”

            Winter didn’t respond.

            “Hey, Winter?” Rori’s voice sharpened.

            No response.

            “Winter!”

            “Ms. Moa? What happened?!” Raven’s voice echoed outside.

            “Doctor, Winter’s not moving! Please help!”

            ----------------

             Graphite against paper, the scribbling echoing throughout the small room. Peaceful sounds that reminded him of the time back in the mountains, back when he was still alone. Sketching was all that took his mind off things. Though now, instead of sketching the waving grasses of the prairies or the mourning willows of the trees, designs and concepts were ingrained into the paper—machineries that’ll hopefully protect Winter from anything and everything. It’ll work, he thought, he just needed the know-how and the tools. Now that he’s here, he might even ask Dr. Raven, one of the best men of science and technology that he heard of, to take him up for an apprenticeship.

            The door parted on his rom, and came in Mrs. Finch.

            “I know you’re our advisor and all, but would it hurt to knock first?”

             “It’s not like you were doing anything that needed privacy.” Finch replied

            “Yes, I was.”

            Finch’s eyes panned over to the papers Jordan had on the desk. “I see. You already have your own planned projects in the future? That’s impressive, but why use pencil and paper? Your drive connection has programs that’ll let you store those kinds of things more conveniently.”

            “It’s not the same, Mrs. Finch. Paper has some sort of magic to it that helps me visualize what I really want. Besides, I wouldn’t want anyone hijacking into my drive connection and steal my ideas.”

            “Hijacking into a drive connection is much more difficult than stealing some papers, Jordan.”

            “Eh, well, whatever. I just like it this way. Anyway, what do you want this time?” Jordan said.

            “Nothing. Just wondering why you’re not back at the Bay.”

            “Winter’s being a stubborn i***t again, that’s why.”

            “Oh?” Finch leaned on the wall across Jordan.

            “You said Winter wasn’t going to get hurt.” Jordan’s voice deepened.

            “I didn’t say that, they didn’t either. They said they’ll try to make sure she isn’t, and will stop if she does, which they are fulfilling.”

            “Leading someone on like that with carefully chosen words to deceive people is f****d up, you know.” Jordan’s eyes furrowed.

            “This was Winter’s decision too. I’m sure you know that. We’re the only choice she has if she wants to still become a spacer.” reasoned Finch.

             “That not really worth reaching with the things that she has to go through.”

            “Yes it is, in fact. You should know that yourself since you’ve went through a similar experience. Tell me, if you are content with the life you have now, would you have undone what you did eight years ago to have a different ending?”

            Jordan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

            “See? Pain, sacrifice, and suffering are all catalysts that propels us to the things that we want to reach, Jordan. Us novasapiens know that better than anyone.”

            Jordan kept quiet, scribbling back on his paper. “Okay, okay. I get it. Leave me alone now.”

            “Look, I came here because we still need your cooperation. Besides, Dr. Raven said it would be a shame to lose the interest of one of the smartest kids they have ever seen.”

            Her wrist suddenly vibrated and rang. The tone was different from the usual social call or business ringtone. Jordan’s eyes stiffened and looked at her. Finch opened her palm, and it was an urgent request.

            “What is it?” Finch said after accepting.

            “Finch! The suspect has been caught on the docking station entrance just as you predicted! We’re awaiting your instructions.” A man said on the other side of the call.

            “I see. We’re on our way. I want weapon carriers and crowd controllers surrounding the perimeter. Keep your guns aimed at him. If you even look away for a second, he will escape.”

            “Roger that.”

            Jordan’s eyes lit up, “Suspect? You mean Swallow?!”

            “Mhmm. My gamble paid off. Do you want to accompany me and see how dangerous Swallow truly is?’

            “Yes, but…”

             “But…?”

            “Why would something this urgent concern you? Enforcers don’t need to report to institution advisors, do they?”

            Finch put her hands on her coat pocket  and smiled, “I’m not just some advisor, Jordan. Though, I don’t blame you if you didn’t know anything.”

            “Why’s that?”

            “You’ll know soon enough. Come on, you want to see our guest, don’t you?”