Exiting Boz's shop, my digital wallet a bit lighter but my body refreshed and fully healed, my thoughts gravitated toward the enigma of my receptacle. While I lay incapacitated at Noah's apartment, his body had mysteriously vanished, leaving a haunting question in its wake—had someone, against all odds, stolen the Soul? And what about the non-existent call from MainFrame?
Navigating the streets of Red Fusion, I decided to grab a quick bite and take a day off to process this bizarre turn of events.
Suddenly, a searing pain pulsed through my head. Instinctively, I popped a Beta-Blocker. This wasn't the usual discomfort. The headache intensified, nearly causing me to lose balance. Leaning against a wall, my vision flickered and glitched. Surveying my surroundings, I realized I was still close to home and opted to retreat to my safe haven.
Within ten minutes, I was entering my apartment. As I glanced at the door number, flashes superimposed into my view. The apartment number, 1885, held a peculiar spectacle—the digit 5 glowed and pulsated rapidly, demanding my attention amid the throbbing headache.
"5?" I muttered aloud.
In response, an invisible force struck me in the head, and I collapsed onto the floor. My vision, now enveloped in darkness, retained the persistent glow of the 5, multiplied and out of focus.
The pain within my head ceased abruptly. Lying on the worn carpet of my apartment, my vision gradually returned.
"5..." I murmured, and with each utterance, the number glowed in waves as if it was responding to my voice.
An idea struck me. I stood up, grabbing a random delivery menu from the kitchen counter and opened it. It was a Tawi menu, the contents irrelevant. My hunch proved correct—something or someone was attempting to communicate.
On the menu, multiple letters and numbers glowed in sequence. Some green, some red.
57 green.
A red.
V-A-N green.
N-E-O-D green.
C red.
C-A-F-E green.
The message was clear. An address unfolded before me, green denoting present letters, red indicating a gap. I recognized the location instantly.
5799 Avant Street, NeoDuck Cafe.
As the realization struck, I collapsed, succumbing to unconsciousness.
-----------------------------------
Nervously awaiting Lisa at the bustling cafe on Avant Street, I pondered whether she would believe me or lend a helping hand.
Neoduck buzzed with activity, a beacon of the area, its decor an echo of a more glorious era. A painting adorned the back wall—an idyllic landscape with a colossal yellow rubber duck riding crystalline waves.
"Refill?" a voice chimed.
Startled, I looked up. The waitress, carafe in hand, met my gaze. I nodded, and she replenished my drink.
Cradling the warm cup, panic surged, and my hand darted into my jacket pocket. There it was, the memory stick, waiting. "It's safe," I assured myself.
Ding!
The door swung open, and I instantly recognized her—Lisa. I waved, and she approached, taking the seat opposite to me. Beautiful with her blond hair accented by a flashing blue section, her eyes mirrored her mother's—large, green, a perfect replica. I was glad she didn't opted in for cybernetic eyes, yet a discreet connection trailed along her neck, blending into her scalp. Some kind of implant.
A cybernetic chrome hand, a signature of young programmers, and a simple T-shirt adorned with pop designs completed her look.
"So, what do you want?" she asked, yanking me from my reverie.
I looked down, guilt washing over me. "I wanted..." I began, mumbling. "I wanted to talk with you. It's been a long time—"
"A long time?" she interrupted. "I never even met you."
Her words sliced through me, a piercing blow. She was right. I left before she was born, and despite observing her life from a distance, we had never spoken or met. I abandoned her, and her mother.
"I know, I know," I replied. "I wasn't there. I left. And this will haunt me as long as my heart beats. But I wanted to talk. I wanted to reach out before. Just—"
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"You were too busy, yeah, I know," she said. "Listen, not that this family reunion isn't fanta-fucking-stic, but you left before I was born. I never heard of you, and then, out of nowhere, you reach out to me. How can I even know you are really my dad?"
"I am," I affirmed. "I'm your father. I sent you photos of your mum and me when she was pregnant—"
"Dude, photos can be faked. Aren't you a super mega smart engineer working for MainFrame?" she interjected. "Even if I couldn't find any trace of AI modification, it doesn't mean these are legit. Before we continue with this farce, I want proof."
As she finished, she jabbed a needle into my forearm where skin was still visible.
"Ouch!" I exclaimed.
"Relax, I just want to test," she replied, pulling out a device from her pocket—a DNA manipulator used by NeuroSlicers.
Inserting the bloody needle, she rapidly tapped on the device buttons. Her eyes widened as she looked up.
"Fucking fuck fuck..." she muttered, staring into my eyes. "You are my dad."
Unable to speak, I nodded.
"Why?" she pressed. "Why now? Why after so long?"
I looked down, clumsily gripping my cup. Taking a sip, I replied, "I need your help."
"You need MY help? What does that mean? Why the fuck did you leave us?"
"I was a different person back then, Sarah and I... Your mum and me, we weren't happy. It's really not complicated. I had something I needed to do. When I started to work for MainFrame, she could have come with me. She was a good engin—"
"She was GREAT, she was a genius," she cut in.
I nodded and continued, "She was. Way better than me. But she didn't want to work for MainFrame; she didn't trust them. She felt it was the wrong path."
"So you left."
"It's not just that. We kept arguing. I was blinded by my need to change the world."
She looked around, waving at the street. "Great fucking work, Dad."
I sighed; she was right, as was Sarah.
"I know," I admitted. "I was wrong. It took me 18 years to figure it out."
"And during this time, you never reached out? What about when Mum died? Never cared?"
She held nothing back. Her unrestrained demeanor reminded me of Sarah—they were more alike than I thought.
"I tried, but once I joined MainFrame, your mum and I never spoke again. She didn't want me in your life, and..." I paused. "And I was fine with that."
A heavy silence hung over our table.
"How did you find me?" she suddenly asked.
"I followed your life, from afar, but I did. I wanted to make sure you were okay, that both of you were."
"And when Mum died, why didn't you contact me then?"
"I..." I stayed silent, lacking an excuse. I didn't know what to say.
Awkward silence enveloped our table once more, both of us looking down.
"I reached out now," I finally said.
"Yeah, that isn't suspect at all," she replied. "You either are dying, or you need my help with money. Just so you know, I'm not swimming in credits."
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I do not need credits."
"So you're dying?"
I didn't reply.
Leaning back in her seat, she exclaimed, "So that's it, you're dying. Well, at least, I'm guessing you will have a nice little nest in MainFrame Heaven. Good for you."
"I need your help," I said.
She looked at me, staring into my eyes.
"Help? I got no credits, and it seems you don't need them anyway. What does a low-level infosec programmer like me can do for you? Need help in cybersecurity?"
She laughed full of spite.
I pulled the memory stick from my pocket and slid it across the table toward her.
"I want to take MainFrame down," I said, locking eyes with her.
Her eyes darted between me and the ancient technology. "Go fuck yourself," she retorted. "You left me, you left Mum. I never met you, and you suddenly appear with that shitty old-school memory stick, claiming you need my help taking down MainFrame, one of the four? Are you out of your mind?"
"MainFrame is doing something wrong, I know it. I just—"
"Wow! What shocking news!" she interjected. "MainFrame, one of the four, one of the biggest, scammiest corporations on the planet, is being the bad guys? This is not really a secret, you know."
"It is more than just corporate greed and illegal activities. I think there is something deeper, something dark going—"
"You think? That means you don't know."
"I have some information, on this key, I just need help. I believe they are onto me. I need help and some time. I do not know how much longer I have—"
With a swift motion, she stood up. "Hey, Dad," she sneered, leaning toward me. "Go. Fuck. Yourself."
Without a backward glance, she left the cafe, leaving me in silence, staring at the vacant seat.
What was I expecting? She didn't know me. She definitely didn't trust me.
"Lisa," I murmured softly.
Peering outside in the hope of catching a last glimpse of my daughter, I spotted two MainFrame security guards entering, scanning the area.
Quickly snatching the memory stick, I stuffed it into my pocket and discreetly exited through the back door.
Reaching the back alley, I noticed several MainFrame vehicles parked out front. . I was trapped. I pulled out the memory stick, staring at it. They couldn't get their hands on this; it took me too long, too many risks to lose it now.
Surveying the surroundings, I sought a secure place. At the back of the alley stood a junction box. I sprinted toward it and pried it open.
This was too risky; someone could find it. The box had a small cover on top, protecting it from the rain, thick enough.
Using my cybernetic fingers at maximum strength, I gently ripped and bent the metal cover to access the inside.
I secured the memory stick inside and closed it the best I could, surveying my surroundings to ensure no one saw me. It would be safe there.
I secured the memory stick inside the metal cover...
I secured the memory stick inside the metal cover...
I secured...
--------------------------------------------------------
"What the hell!" The words erupted from me, echoing in my immediate surroundings.
As consciousness reasserted itself, I found myself sprawled on my back, fixated on the intricate patterns of my ceiling. What had just transpired? It felt like another involuntary plunge into Noah's memories. My mind grappled with the disorienting aftermath. This time, the recollection was strikingly vivid, etching itself into my awareness. The scene unfolded, a glitchy loop playing out in Noah's past—an incessant repetition of placing a memory stick inside a metal cover.
"I need to get that memory stick."