“Zoe, this is Dr Claire Brown, the finest cyberdoc in Brooklyn,” Tommy said introducing Zoe to the doctor, who was an older woman with hair starting to go gray. “Doc Brown, this is Zoe Blanco. Mr Capone is investing in her so she can become a courier.”

“I know. Tony messaged me before you arrived,” Claire curtly replied. She turned her attention to Zoe. “It’s nice to meet you, Zoe.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Dr Brown.”

“Let’s get you seated, and we can go over the options for your frame.”

“What options? She just needs a mid-tier frame,” Tommy objected.

“No. That’s all you and most people need. Couriers and other professionals need something more robust,” Doc Brown replied. “Why don’t you go wait out front with Jimmy and leave us girls to talk business?”

“I need to look out for Mr Capone’s interests,” Tommy said. “Zoe is an investment now.”

“That wasn’t a request Tommy,” Doc Brown replied holding up her left hand. The index and middle fingers changed into needle like objects. Zoe took a step back while Tommy threw up his hands in surrender. “Besides, from what I understand, Zoe only borrowed money from Mr Capone.”

“Alright! Alright. I’ll go. You don’t have to threaten me with needles,” Tommy complained. He shivered, turned, and walked back toward the waiting room.

“I guess cyberdocs take their patients’ privacy seriously,” Zoe commented.

Claire smiled as her fingers returned to human normal. “Indeed, we do. Follow me and we’ll talk.”

The cyberdoc led Zoe into her office. From what she could see along the way to the office Brown’s clinic was indeed a clinic and not the back alley dirty room she had imagined.

“This is a remarkedly clean clinic,” Zoe said.

“Expected some dirty room in a dark alley?” Claire asked. Zoe blushed causing Doc Brown to laugh. “Don’t worry about it. I get that a lot.”

“Ok,” Zoe replied sitting in the chair across from Doc Brown’s desk as Claire took her seat. The two women talked for a while and Zoe suspected the doctor was doing more than just making small talk. Some of the questions felt like Doc Brown was building a psych profile or something to her. Zoe finally said as much.

“That is indeed the case,” Claire laughed. “Are you sure you want to be a courier and work for the mob? I feel you’ll be wasting your talent and time doing so.”

“No, and I’ll be working with the mob, not for them,” Zoe replied.

“Are you sure Nucky agrees with that distinction?”

“Yes,” Zoe answered. She explained about slicing into networks while delivering data.

“Alright. That’s why you’ll need better hardware than Tommy stated,” Doc Brown said. Zoe nodded in agreement. “You’re not the first to think of that. Most corps do it and a few enterprising couriers have as well. They usually don’t last long once certain parties get wind of their actions though.”

“I’ll be careful,” Zoe replied. Claire stared at her. “I know, that’s what they all say.”

Claire laughed. “True. Will you take some advice?”

“Sure.”

“Get a second secure partition and don’t tell another soul about it.”

“Why would I do that?” Zoe asked.

“More ICE and to backup any sensitive data you want to keep as evidence or sell to more than one party.”

“I didn’t think it was possible for a courier to know what was in the data they carried,” Zoe said giving the doctor a thoughtful look.

“Oh, it’s possible. Corporate spies and even various government agents have worked as couriers in the past on rare occasions.”

“And you have access to the necessary apps to read the data?”

“No, but I someone that works with me does,” Claire replied, giving Zoe a smug look. “In fact, they might be interested in buying certain kinds of data that end up in your possession as well.”

“Hmmm. That might prove useful once I start working as a courier,” Zoe conceded.

“Indeed,” Claire agreed.

“Since I can only have so much storage space, I assume you would under report how much space I have and use the unreported about to create the second partition.”

“Indeed.”

“But won’t you get into trouble if anyone sees I don’t have as much storage as they think I should?”

“No. Scans will only show what is there and the second partition will be hidden from them since I’ll use a different kind of nanobot to create that storage space. Any scans anyone else does on you will only report what storage space you have in the main partition. Those that Nucky’s crew does will show the primary storage space since they already know you’ll be getting it and their knowledge of your storage will only be what I report to them,” Doc Brown answered.

“Why would you do this for me?”

“Because I don’t want to see you wasted working for the mob and I have a good feeling about you.”

“Your fall from grace wasn’t really what they think it was, was it?” Zoe suddenly asked. Claire gave Zoe a small smile.

“That is not something you need to know about nor something I know you well enough to talk about,” Claire replied. “Getting back to you, I convinced Nucky to kick in for at least some subdermal armor to help protect you and your new storage space.”

“Is that some kind of cybernetic implant and why would I need it?”

“It is,” Claire answered as her desk projected some information, video, and pictures for Zoe. “As you can see subdermal armor toughens the skin and offers good protection against blades and blunt objects. It’s ok against small caliber guns too.”

“That sounds useful, but I’m not sure it’s for me.”

“That’s a good answer and not because of how you were raised. You’re already getting chipped, so we’re past that hurdle,” Claire replied. The desk changed. “This is subdermal weave. This implant offers less protection than armor, but it protects against elemental damage unlike armor.”

“Elemental damage? Fire and the like?” Zoe asked.

“Exactly.”

“Is elemental damage that likely?”

“Yes. There are some daemons or attacks that heat up the body causing heat damage. Some others attack using a frame to create electrical damage and the like. Since you’re going the route you’ve chosen, you need to be aware of this. Corps don’t play fairly and if you transfer stolen corporate data to Nucky, as an example, you’re a target. Firearms will be the least of your worries in that case.”

“I see. How much protection does each offer from firearms and how much protection does the weave offer from elemental damage?” Zoe asked.

“Armor protects a user up to a .50 caliber bullet. Weave protects up to a .40 caliber bullet and against all elemental damage. Both can be overwhelmed if you’re being attacked by several people at once,” Claire said as the desk showed Zoe the difference in the calibers.

“The weave is more expensive, isn’t it?”

“Yes, though it’s worth it.”

“How well does the weave stand up to blades and blunt damage?”

“That’s the weave’s weakness,” Doc Brown admitted. “It’ll stand up to any blade that isn’t nano edged and offers little protection from blunt objects. Most people that use blades use nano edged ones.”

“And Mr Capone will pay for either?”

“Nope. He’ll pay for the armor since that is what 99% of gang members have including him and his crew.”

“How much more is the weave?”

“With me giving you a discount?” Claire asked. Zoe nodded. “10000 credits.”

Zoe groaned. “I don’t suppose you would let me pay you when I can?”

“I would and I’ll even throw in that data reader we discussed.”

“Sign me up for the weave then,” Zoe replied. She liked the idea of being protected from daemons that caused physical attacks.

“Alright. Let’s take a look at frames,” Doc Brown said.