“Wait up a second.” Heinz said, tapping Rosa's arm.
They were on their way back from the Shop together. Each group member had purchased the Rest I augment before splitting up with the hope that a bit of time away from each other would reduce the tension.
It was dark now but the stall owners were only starting to pack up. They’d stayed later than usual, hoping for some last minute buyers for their stock. The stall in front of Heinz still had stacks of loaves in all baskets.
“How much?”
The baker turned and looked at his product. It seemed he gotten the hang of baking with a pizza oven as the loaves weren’t as burnt as badly as they had been previously. The baker grimaced at how much was left.
“4 loaves for 3 credits including the tax. It will all go to the council and hospital otherwise.”
“Deal.” Heinz said and held out his hand.
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The baker made the transfer with a handshake which left Heinz blinking in surprise. He took the offered loaves in plastic bags and rejoined Rosa.
“Planning on making a system sandwich?” Rosa asked with a raised eyebrow.
“No but I’ve had a long day and I only have another 9 hours before I’m going out again. I’m going to invite Jack and Maggie.” He passed two of the loaves to her. “You’re going to invite Jamie and whoever else you can find. Meet on the boat in half an hour for some food and drinks.”
“Jack and Jamie are at Maggie’s for bodyguard duty. None of the delegates wanted strangers in their homes.” Rosa said, hesitating and pursing her lips.
“Then you can spend the time searching for more food and drinks.”
“Fine.” Rosa answered and strode away.
Jack answered the door when Heinz knocked. It didn’t take much to recruit him. He welcomed Heinz inside but froze with a flinch when Heinz revealed the capsule in his hand. With a nod and a pat on the shoulder, Jon promised they would wait a bit before heading over.
The streets were empty on the walk back. The tidy towners had finished up work in the town square as the sun went down.
Heinz was stopped at the gate but the guard had stopped him before and let him in with a wave after getting a good look at his face. He let her know that a few friends would be by later which was not taken so well. While the job had initially been there to stop diesel thieves it was becoming more of a community thing. While she was hesitant she relented when Heinz promised to keep the noise down.
Heinz swallowed the metallic pill as he boarded Rennziege and made himself comfortable at the table in the centre cabin. He tidied up his immediate area while he waited. The augment could take effect at any time and he didn't want to be out on deck when it hit. He placed a bucket beside himself. While he didn’t puke for Vision I, he didn’t want to have to clean anything up if he could help it.
A light itch making its way up his chest was the first sign of change. Heinz gripped the berth cushion and tried to take deep breaths as his muscles tensed in anticipation.
The itch seemed to gather at the base of his neck before shooting up into his head. Stabbing pain drove into the back of his head only to disappear a second later.
Heinz remained tense but the feeling was gone. He released the berth cushion and felt pins and needles as the blood rushed back into his fingers. His heart beat with deafening thumps. Each breath was uneven until he opened his mouth wide for a yawn. His eyes grew heavy. Heinz closed his eyes for a moment.
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“Heinz?”
The boat rocked as someone stepped onboard. Heinz blinked and pushed a cushion away. Someone had arrived too early.
“Inside!” He called back. The hatch scraped open and Jamie stuck her head in.
“Good. Lights were on but we weren’t sure that you were here when you didn’t answer.”
“I’ve just taken the Rest I augment.” Heinz explained.
“Hello Heinz.” Maggie poked her head around Jamie’s. “I hope we aren’t late. I wanted to cook something up.” Maggie pushed at Jamie to move aside and let her in.
“Wait a second.” Jamie laughed and fixed herself in the way before turning to Maggie. “He’s just taken an augment. He'll need a few minutes.”
“Only now?” Jack’s muffled voice called out from outside. There was a rattle. “Well we can set this up then.”
“What time is it?” Heinz asked around a yawn. Had he told Jack the wrong time?
“Half seven.” Jamie replied as Maggie disappeared from sight.
Heinz reached for his phone in surprise. The confirmation was there.
“You alright? Is Rest I a bad one?” Jamie asked, leaning into the cabin with a frown on her face.
“Yeah.” Heinz said and stood. His muscles felt a little stiff. “I think it’s already passed. I took it about 20 minutes ago.”
“Oh. It couldn't have been too bad then. Breathing I was nothing but pain.” Jamie and Heinz shared a shudder. “Well you can help set things up.”
Heinz followed her out to see Jack passing bag after bag up to Maggie. They were starting to fill up the cockpit.
“Are you planning on moving in or something?”
“Hah you wish.” Maggie snorted and bent over a little far to take the next bags from Jack. “Blankets, lights, trays and some food. Everything we need to make this comfortable.”
Heinz wanted to complain at the slight to Rennziege but he didn’t have enough blankets for everyone. One of the few he had was soot stained and shoved in a locker. Instead he sighed and opened one of the bags.
“Hello all.” Rosa called out as she appeared on the pontoon finger beside Rennziege. A smiling Nico with tired eyes trailed behind her. Rosa carried the bread while Nico held a few bottles.
“Hop on!” Heinz called from the cockpit. Claire was walking by behind them but when Heinz waved she hurried passed.
The deck had been transformed. Solar garden lights had been placed around the boat, tied to the rails or hung from the lines. The lights led to the cockpit which had been taken over by cushions and blankets. In the centre of all this was a table with an oil lamp. The relic from the previous owner of Rennziege saw little use but the flickering light it cast was perfect for nights like this.
Nico was introduced and they started on the bread. Rosa brought butter, Heinz set out small dishes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and Maggie finished the spread with a pesto.
It came out that Nico was a doctor and the conversation turned to Heinz’s loss of time and the augments.
“We don’t know.” Nico said tiredly. “We’ve started examining reclaimers before and after augments now that the hospital's backlog is clearing up but everything is preliminary right now. Some of the doctors who used to work in Cork University are leading the work but Kinmore doesn’t have the equipment for detailed investigation. They are focusing on taking samples currently.”
“What about all those warnings at the shop then?” Jamie asked as she dipped a slice of bread into the balsamic and oil mix.
“Reclaimers have been checking in with a variety of symptoms after getting augments, in particular those from the second set or the adrenaline one. Their use strains the body and expends more of the body's nutrients and minerals. People who got Healing II without the first version have been badly affected. We’ve had some success relating the symptoms to known conditions and using related treatments.” Nico’s face grew more strained and frustrated as he spoke. “The system is turning everything I know about the human body on its head. The changes it's making shouldn’t be possible. The body should be fighting itself and rejecting the augments but it isn't.”
“Maybe we should have a ban on all work or system talk.” Rosa said, placing a hand on Nico’s arm and sharing a chilled look with Maggie.
“Works for me.” Heinz said and reached for more bread. He was eager to get away from the falling asleep on the job jokes.
Nico took the opportunity to open the bottle of Ouzo he brought. He poured a glass for everyone and they sipped at the dry anise flavoured liqueur.
Jack broke into complaints about the state of his ‘White Horses’ horsebox turned coffee box. He had recovered it today from I38-KA and the salty air had gotten at the machines and the swarm at the food. It was slightly system related but practically everything was these days.
They broke up when the clock struck 11. Jamie and Jack had duty in the morning like Heinz. Maggie, Nico and Rosa all had duty of a different kind when the sun came up. Heinz walked them up to the marina entrance before heading back.
He smiled at two garden lights left tucked under a seat before heading to bed.