The problem with selling used sensory augmentations is that most places assume they are stolen or scavenged. It is not like they can be easily removed and when they are, the surgeon known as a menter will mark them in the database to show ownership of the device. While Jason does own the sensory augmentation, the fact that it is no longer in his body and he doesn't have any proof that it was taken out by a registered menter, no reputable business will touch it. At most he could probably have it reinstalled.
That of course means that he will have to go with less reputable means to sell his own augmentation. Jason has no choice but to take the device down to the mid level city. Where he can sell it to a shadow broker, the most reputable black market dealers in the city. Jason knows where to go to find a shadow broker as they are kind of an open secret. Reputable does not mean safe by any means and he would prefer not to venture into their territory.
Jason packs up the sensory augmentation in a spare bag easily enough. The device isn’t heavy and looks more like a nest of wires and circuitry. When he goes to leave however he found it hard. He has to brace himself against the door frame for a second as it feels as though the walls all start crashing around him. The moment is quick but intense and Jason knows the feeling well. He felt the same way when his friend Herald died a few years back in a mugging. The panic attacks came and went and all he could do was stop, let the shivering subside and move forward.
After his third attack not having reached the elevator yet he sits on the floor to recuperate. He didn’t think it would be easy but he also didn’t think it would be this hard just to go to the city. If he is falling apart this much just walking he doesn’t know how he will fare dealing with a shadow broker or their cronies. Still he doesn’t have a choice so he gets up and continues his journey finally arriving at the train after nearly an hour.
“I could help with this.” Seshat states as she suddenly appears.
Jason audibly gasps as he nearly jumps out of his skin in surprise. He looks around at the other passengers surely people will freak out seeing a floating and glowing woman appear from nowhere. To his surprise no one on the train seems to notice her at all though he did get a couple of side glances for his trouble.
Seshat smiles devilishly at Jason’s expense. “They can’t see or hear me, only you can. I am not projecting myself; this is all taking place inside of your augmentation like one of your calls. Doing it this way doesn’t cost me any of my heka.”
“That makes sense. Well no it doesn't, none of this makes any sense at all but I can accept it.” Jason says as he turns to look out the window of the train. “How can you help? Talk to the brokers for me?”
“No, I can make it so the pain you are feeling doesn’t hurt as much.” Seshat states.
“I don’t see how you can make me feel any better.” Jason rebuts.
“Why not? Mortals are just somewhat complex biological computers. You, even more so now.” Seshat states as she pops her head out of the window through the glass as if it weren’t there. “I can enable endocrine control just to clear your head a bit.”
Jason just looks at her for a bit without answering. He then stares out into the city as it stretches out before them the massive orbital elevator in its center humming with life. The Neter doesn’t press him for an answer instead she focuses elsewhere even jumping from the train out of view.
“Okay do it.” Jason says his voice just above a whisper.
“Done.” Seshat’s voice carries in Jason’s mind even though she is nowhere to be seen.
The young man finds that the pain is still there, just deeper, more manageable and not at the forefront of his mind. It feels more like a treated wound which has stopped bleeding as long as you don’t over exert. Instead of feeling like he will break down into a mess at any time he has a swell of confidence that he can accomplish his goal before even that is muted. Jason finds this preferable to feeling like he was just kicked in the gut multiple times by life itself.
Solar City the largest city in the entirety of the Centauri Celestial Bridge. The city is a land of depravity and sin ruled by the corporations that only seek profit no matter the cost. It is a trap of promise and potential which tricks people into believing it is a place where anyone can make it to the top and for very few that is the case. Kevin was an exception to the rule and his success came mostly from luck in the right place at the right time. For most this place is just another rat race with no end and plenty of predators. Sure it is better than life on Earth but no sunshine and rainbows.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
As Jason steps off the monorail in the relatively safe southside neighborhood. He knows he has to make his way to the much more dangerous Gresher Street. The Shadow broker he wants to see has a front company called Everyday Essentials Deliveries which operates in that area. Getting there is going to be the biggest hassle as it is in one of the many redlight districts where there are thieves-a-plenty and he will be walking in there with a bookbag full of riches.
His bag will stop any basic skimmers from seeing what is inside but the lousy protection won’t stop anyone willing to do any real scans. He finds it strange that he doesn’t feel nervous about what he is going to do. This is hands down one of the most dangerous things he has ever done yet it doesn't feel that way. The endocrine control really made things a lot clearer without the pesky emotions to blind him.
“Can we just keep the endocrine control on after this is over?” Jason asks as he joins a crowd of pedestrians on the sidewalk.
“Ani em shai em maat kau neteru.” Seshat responds as she appears hovering over the heads of the crowd. “I am not sure how blocking hormones will affect your body long term. Please remember that you are the first mortal I have ever had the pleasure to study so sekhem.”
“I like it this way. It doesn’t hurt.” Jason says.
“Hmm…” Seshat is quiet for a long moment. “It is your body. I activated control but you have autonomy. Do what you will.”
“So it is in my hand?” Jason asks.
“Yes of course.” The Neter woman states as she vanishes in a digitized cloud. “Now I am going to be gone for a little while try not to get us killed.”
Jason stops in his tracks. “Wait where are you going?”
“I have to monitor the AnkhtekOS. It is the first of its kind and I have to make sure there aren’t any unforeseen, uh, glitches. If anything happens it could be pretty bad for us.”
“Can something happen?” Jason asks.
“Maybe, that is why I will need to focus.” She states her voice getting quieter with each word as if walking away. “I will also scroll through your memories and the net a bit so don’t bother me.”
“What if I need you?” Jason questions. “Seshat… Seshat? Oh great.”
One can say many negative things about the Southside. The amount of decks is concerning, the smell is much worse and crime of all kinds is through the roof but one thing you can’t say is that it is dirty. All of Solar City is cleaned by small floating androids that pick up trash and wash surfaces. The Southside is just as pristine in appearance as anywhere else in the city. Towering edifices of megablock apartments rise up from the lower levels. Walkways and sidewalks snake between buildings and even high into the sky as automated flying vehicles and even monorails zip over and under. It would almost be beautiful if not for the ever present smog billowing out from the orbital elevator like smoke from a furnace.
Jason turns a corner into an open market with vendors and shops lining the walkway. Red lights flood out as music does little to cover the blatant debauchery happening within Gresher Street. The largest redlight district in the city with 24 hours of pure sin happening in every available square foot. As he turns the corner a group of men all stumble out, all of them obviously drunk and blazed out of their minds. Jason has to quickly step to the side to keep them from running into him.
Not even a few steps inside and a man with a large coat steps in front of him with a smile on his face.
“New to Gresher I see. What are you after amizé.” The man says as he walks around Jason, the man a few inches taller. “I got everything you will need over here.”
“Amizé, I am good.” Jason responds as he attempts to walk past the man.
“Hop down, we are all good here. You look tense, take your mind off it with this, first one is free.” The man pulls out a small vial with a clear liquid inside. “Best fuck’n nanodream you’ll find anywere. This shit will have you surf’n. If you're here for one of the silicone dolls it’ll get up for hours. Make it mind blowing while you’re getting your mind blown.”
Nanodream is an old school narcotic that works purely on biology not the cybernetics. Newer drugs called plusers on the other hand are far more dangerous and directly affect neural paths through someone's augmentations acting like a short lived virus. The difference being that you can’t build up a tolerance to plusers so every trip is just as intense as the last even if they can fry your augmentations.
Jason has no intention of entertaining the guy and continues to push past him and continue further inside. The man loses interest and finds another target who seems much more willing to make a deal. It is not Jason’s first time inside of a redlight district in fact one of his friends dragged him to a strip club for his eighteenth birthday to celebrate his ability to finally drink legally. That redlight district was in the westside and doesn’t hold a candle to shear the size of this one.