Sebastian found his eyes unable to focus fully on the projection in front of him, causing camera angle confusion evident from those monitoring. He shook his head, followed by another series of long, strained blinks. The glow from inside his visor showed he too had started succumbing to a lack of sleep as seen by the red around his eyes. “Yes, trying again now,” he responded with another jump. I don’t get it. I have done this kind of thing so many times it’s normally nothing more than second nature. What is wrong with me? As he depressed the pedals for initiating his jump boost, he felt sudden and intense vertigo, causing him to veer far off course and eventually crashed into a building. The jarring motion further magnified the effects of his vertigo, causing him to let out an unusual groan.

Sam, while listening to the exchange during her forced time for reflection, was just hit by the realization her body was technically at full rest yet felt like she had been violently slung around the city a few dozen times.

This machine’s operating system is simulating nervous responses through our neural mesh networks. This is all forcing us to feel what isn’t even happening, even motion. This means…

Pilots, who were all labeled as such once determined they were compatible to neural mesh implants, had undergone such surgical operations in order to enhance their data processing speeds, both input and output. It wasn’t until much later that stories of operating systems that could control sensory processing had been created, making the pilot an organic extension of the operating system itself as the human brain was so much more efficient of a processor than any manmade CPU.

Sam replaced her helmet back on its mount as she opened her cockpit doors, ignoring Danielle’s orders to return. She stormed past the other units to find Sebastian’s, opening it up with a shout: “Sebastian, take off your helmet!”

“Wh-… why? Sam what are you doing here?” he answered back with a flabbergasted response.

“Sebastian, get that off! You’re going into a neural overload if you don’t!”

He was unsure of what she meant, but by the way her voice carried such urgency, he was compliant and unbuckled his helmet, immediately feeling faint the moment he removed it from his head. Sam stepped up to help him mount it back up before he felt her hands on his face, one pulling his forehead back to hold his eyes open and the other for support. “What are you doing?”

“Exactly!” Danielle roared as she approached angrily. “Who the hell had you thinking our protocol was optional?”

“With all due respect, Director!” Sam had shouted back with her head out the opening, careful not to ring Sebastian’s ears. “He’s going into neural collapse if we don’t pull the plug!” She carefully eased his restraints off of his shoulders and helped him out slowly, nearly stumbling over on their way down. “He needs immediate rest, look,” she said to Danielle as she walked up beside the two. Sam supported his head in a similar fashion to earlier, this time allowing Danielle to see that Sebastian’s eyes were twitching erratically; it wasn’t major, but just enough to notice. Combined with his equally erratic breathing, Danielle let out a sigh as she stood back up.

“We might have a collapse, here. Prepare the medic just in case,” she called over her headset, now looking to the other two pilots approaching from their cockpit modules. “Leave the man space,” she advised as she looked back to Sam. “Do you know what you are doing?”

“Yes, I remember this from training,” she responded, easing Sebastian to the ground to let him lay flat. “Easy, look, just… lie down for me, ok? Breath easy, close your eyes.” She remained crouched next to him, keeping a hand gently laid over his eyes as she held his right hand, gripping it firmly but caringly, placed over his chest. “This is a neural mesh overload. These happen rarely, but this machine is causing it. You just need to let your nerves relax for a bit and you will be fine. Keep your focus on my voice and just listen. We will let your nervous system calm down, and we can all go get some rest in a moment.”

“What happened? What is she doing?” Kerry asked as she approached Danielle from behind with a notably slower, awkward gait. “Is he going to be alright?”

Danielle put a hand on her shoulder as if she were feeling remorseful. “A bad combination of jet lag, no rest, and Antares, Jr.”

“Who’s Antares?”

“The upgraded LTAC OS. The ones you are using now. They’ve heavily dialed it back from its original form, but he’s too new at this to handle all of this on no sleep or proper meals prior to full practice.”

Sam felt Sebastian’s breaths calm down to a slower pace as the twitching too fell to a slower pace. “Just hang in there a few more minutes. ” She looked over her shoulder to the others. “I believe it’s in his rights to ask for a break in simulations until the morning, Director.”

Danielle approached the two with a look of defeat, gaze trailing off to the side. “I guess it can’t be helped.” She turned her head to the two behind her to continue: “Melancon, Nguyen, stop staring and get back to training.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kerry responded without hesitation, but perhaps she was hiding hesitation with her slow return to the cockpit module. “Come on, Andre. Let’s get this over with.”

[I feel like shit,] Sebastian mumbled as his breathing returned to normal but still appeared completely drained and off kilter. “I don’t know if I can stand up.”

“Here,” Sam responded with a quick motion of her hands to help him sit upright, slowly and carefully. She then looked up again to Danielle. “He’s talking under full control, now. Did you willingly put him in there knowing he might have an out-of-code mesh implant?”

“What are you talking about?” Danielle replied, taking offense to the remark. “Look, I appreciate you helping your friend here, but a pilot is a pilot and we have two weeks. I see he needs a night of rest, but you do realize taking this job was optional for you.”

Sam bit her tongue, knowing all too well she had by now been told her unfiltered and loose cannon, smart-mouthing attitude would only dig themselves into an unnecessary rut. It burned her to do so, looking back to see Sebastian still in incredible discomfort and slight delirium. And that in itself was already a lot to bear, seeing someone nothing like their usual self and not being able to help anymore than what she could.

“Let’s get an implant check upstairs. Open the exam room,” Danielle spoke over her headset as she looked back down at the two. “Listen, Knight, before we get you help escorting him back upstairs, I want you to take one more good look at him.”

Sam looked back at him and then back at Danielle, confused.

“You didn’t really do the assignment like I know you should have. This right here is how you need to be able to react with your team captain and your other teammate. Bonds are critically important to develop, and that’s equally as important as learning how to cope with and master this adjusted OS… while learning new formations.” She let out a weak laugh before finishing. “I realize how hard this must be for you kids. Just know I have been through hell enough before to know exactly how upset you must be right now. Internalize it, get stronger from it, and let’s get better from here out.”

..

..

▽　▽　▽

Sam was sitting on a waiting bench outside of the exam room where Sebastian was being checked up. The halls were sterile and brightly lit, void of all except the sounds of walking feet and chatting officers and technicians passing through nearby walkways. She laid back against the wall, picking her left arm up to check her watch. She tapped the screen to bring up a holographic display of a news journal site she was browsing earlier that read “Ongoing Investigations on Allied Health International’s NMO Implant Equipment Production” dated fifteen years back.

“How’s it looking, Sam?”

Sam, startled by the sudden question, looked up to see Kerry approaching to sit next to her. “Oh, hey, they’re supposedly finishing up. They will explain everything, I assume.” She closed her holographic watch display and made room for her.

“You seem to know a lot about what’s going on. Is it something to do with a disease or disability he has?”

“No. I think it’s a faulty implant or procedure. Or maybe it’s because his were put in at too late of an age… I don’t know. You know, I haven’t ever heard about near-shutdowns happening in real life. This comes from hours on end with simulations, even.”

Wait a second…

She then remembered the exchange from earlier before she and Sebastian were brought up for the checkup. Her gaze hardened as she looked straight at Kerry. “You saw this guy suffering and you didn’t seem bothered. Why are you worried now?”

Kerry dodged the invitation to verbally throw hands and kept her relative calm. “Excuse me, but I care about anyone on my team because that’s my damn job.” She too was appearing quite worn out from the initial practice run. “Whatever issue it is y’all got with the Director, that’s y’all’s business, but I still feel like I have a right to be worried while doing as I am ordered at the same time. You feel me?”

As much as she wanted to, she was too exhausted to argue. Rather, she closed her eyes and let out a long sigh in concession.

Kerry settled in her seat as she continued. “I’ve been long, long used to how Ms. Norris throws new things at us on the fly when it comes to training, so no surprise with today’s freaky experience, but…” she said as her voice trailed off into a long, uncomfortable pause. “Do you know what she was talking about when she said Antares or whatever it’s called? This is the first time I feel like I am being left out.”

Sam laughed a bit to herself at the irony of that statement. You think you of all people are being left out?

“And I mean that with all seriousness, like…”

“-I get it,” Sam replied with a wave of her hand. “I don’t go too far off with life stories with, well, you’re technically still somewhat of a total stranger to me I’ve only known for a day. I will spare you my personal tales, but this operating system is quite infamous from the last war. I doubt the Confed’s ever spoke of Antares as it was a Union thing, but that shit almost killed my dad when it he tried to pilot the fully activated version. Then again, I can’t help but think about all the stories I was told about not just him, but people close to me, others who were famous, infamous, hell… it even reminds me of the Kaylen Melleney incidents.”

Kerry had heard that name throughout the past decade along with every popular, negative connotation, especially since joining the piloting ranks. “You know of her, too?”

“Who doesn’t know of her? Operating systems that use the brain like a conduit scare me, to be honest, but with emotions aside, I saw the desperation in Director’s eyes. I think what we are about to face requires us to have some kind of advantage like this developed. So, don’t get me wrong. I still can’t quite trust the Director as things are, but at the same time I get it, she knows what we don’t.” She then looked back up to the exam room door as she sighed once more. “Thinking about those stories have me worried about Sebastian.” Her eyes then lit up as she saw a man approach the door through the small window.

The door opened to a young medical assistant who carried a tablet with him. He passed through quickly with purpose, letting the door close behind him in showing that they would not be allowed in the room. “Just as requested, I can give you a quick explanation of things,” he started with a tired but warm smile. “Here, if you can take a look,” he said as he opened up a holographic image from his tablet. It showed the neural mesh implant surrounding the upper hemisphere of Sebastian’s cerebral region highlighted and detailed. “As you see, the implants are fine. It turns out there was a firmware issue upon installation many years back with the microchip set, causing a minor incompatibility with whatever system it is he used. We’ve flash updated it and treated him. He will be fine by morning.” He saw the weight lifted off of Sam’s shoulders as he continued: “But don’t worry, we will make sure something is done about this. No pilot is ever allowed to operate Hexa equipment without compatibility screening. We will hold anyone responsible that-”

“-Wait!” Sam interrupted with upset confusion. “He’s been processed since a week ago. He was already cleared!”

“Well, then, someone ran a program he was not cleared for.”

Kerry was now picking up on what had Sam confused and concerned. Is this man trying to imply that Ms. Norris is responsible for this somehow? And is that what Sam here has been thinking as well? Gotta be shittin’ me.

“Ma’am, that is our protocol to act upon,” he insisted despite the objections both Sam and Kerry were telegraphing through their body language. “If you are to wait for Mr. Navarre here to be released, we will have him out here in the next five minutes, thank you.”

As soon as he turned his back, Sam quickly tapped her watch once more to set up a call to her father.

Kerry was now beginning to lose patience as she sensed more unfair anger directed towards the innocent. “What are you doing- who are you trying to call, Ms. Norris?”

“No, hold on,” she answered with a hush as she watched the door close. “Dad, real quick,” she spoke into a voice message delivery service in a suppressed tone. “One one nine for Director Norris and the OS compatibility screening. Thanks!”

She was now curious who Sam’s father was after listening in on the cryptic message but her immediate concern was still on the present predicament. “Don’t tell me you think Director had anything to do with this.”

“I think there are two different sets of strings getting pulled,” she replied without biting on Kerry’s strongly signaled suspicions. She then swiped over to a keypad screen and started typing away at her notepad, casually brushing the entire confrontation away. “Sorry, I’ll explain later.”

..

●　● Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Palace Gulshan Hotel building was one of the centerpieces to the redesigned and revamped town center for the Gulshan Precinct. This, along with Bashundhara Precinct, were two of the most financially well-off areas and they stood out in stark contrast to the abandoned Badda Precinct bordering them to the south. Not far from the walls was a large open square filled with demonstrators led by several men with a megaphones and campaign boards all around them. Looking between that scene and all around it from the penthouse’s view, Marian continued to scan the horizon for something else. The room was filled with businessmen and women, politicians, and various other highly regarded public representatives. She had been tuning out the bustle and commotion behind her, only periodically changing her attention from the outside view to her watch as if she had long been waiting for a response from someone.

“Ms. Cable?” a soft voice came from behind, causing her to turn to see a younger local male appearing in his early twenties, dressed in a lavish green designer business suit. “Excuse me, my father doesn’t know I am here, so just know he was not the one sending me; I was asked to find you by someone else so if you don’t mind-”

Marian had to stop him amongst his timid but fast-talking ramble enough to interrupt: “Sorry, but you will have to tell me who sent you.”

The young man smiled bashfully and approached more closely as if to whisper to her. “Mr. Revenant sent me. I am so excited to serve the famous group-”

“-That’s enough. If you have a message let’s bring it outside,” she said with an impatient huff, casually easing herself towards the door nearby to the outside patio. The hot, thick, humid night air was still heavy with the smell of after-rain which had kept the crowd inside with the comforts of conditioned air. This left the two alone, masked by the droning sounds of night life beneath them echoing up and between the high rises near them. Why would Isaiah pick this way of getting back to me? This is not what he said he would do. She turned to him once more to continue in scorn: “Control that loose mouth of yours before you speak to me in public.”

“Yes, ma’am, apologies,” he said without dropping his smile. He then cleared his throat and took a breath as if to thoughtfully choose the next words he would speak. “I have a message to deliver from Mr. Revenant. He says you need to know this tonight and that it is very urgent- very important, er, yes, very important message.”

“…Well?”

“You are to change your informant from my cousin to me,” he continued with a wider grin.

She paused in utter confusion, shaking her head before answering. “To you? Who are you, and who is this cousin you speak of?”

“Mr. Revenant gave me the message because you seek someone in the Awami League Party, and that is me.”

Marian now saw the resemblance between his smile and Taneesha’s. Although his accent was heavier and more stressed, he could now tell this had to be who he was. “Are you that relative of Taneesha Sur… Sharif… Hossain?”

“Yes! That is me! So glad you were told of me. I am just a school student at the university, so no one here knows my real job. The other message I must give you is very critical.” He then happily extended his hand which contained a note written on paper.

This is Isaiah. Yep, of course he wouldn’t send me anything electronically- what was I thinking!? she thought to herself as she carefully accepted the note, catching sight of the handwriting.

“So,” he continued, “Read this and please let me serve. I am very excited to join the effort- to join the cause.” He watched in amusement as Marian’s expression went from anxious to confounded. “You need to stay away from my cousin as she is very sneaky. Cannot be trusted. Her father and my father have been for a long time almost enemies. Please take heed of this information and let me help you move forward more effectively. It would be my honor, Ms. Cable.”

She slowly looked back up, slowly digesting what she read. “Yes, thank you, Mr. Sur. This does answer the question I was waiting to have answered.”

..

..

..

She exited the hotel room, unescorted, yet confident in the fact she knew exactly where she was going. The packed, late evening streets surrounding the hotel area filled with shops, restaurants, and bars might be intimidating to the average first-time tourist, but it didn’t faze her as she made her way towards the nearest intersection. Amongst the swarming flock of micro cars, autorickshaws, and busses pulled up a nicer, all-black European model car, halfway riding up the sidewalk.

“Get in!” Revenant shouted as he popped his hand out the window with a hurrying gesture.

Marian hastily climbed in the back seat facing the sidewalk as the car quickly pulled away back into the flow of traffic. The car smelled as if it came off the dealer’s lot and the fuel cell drives hummed brilliantly and clean, bringing about her surprised reaction. “Where in the bloody hell did you get this from?”

“Present for working with the Sur’s! Aren’t they the best?!” he laughed as he kept his eyes on the road, coming to a stop at the red light. “Damn shame we can’t stay at the Palace Gulshan. That place looked nice. Ready for another hole up in the dust? Reap’s been missing you.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what the messenger pigeon deliveries and all would perfectly express to me.” She adjusted her posture and loosened her shirt collar. “So, how did you find Sharif? What’s his story?”

“Oh, you will not believe what he can get for us. The things he will do? … It’s like… how did we not find him sooner! Here’s the deal so you can know what’s up when we catch up to Reap’.” Rain then started to fall with a gentle pitter-patter on the roof of the car and the windshield. “Do you ever miss having controlled weather, by the way?” he said with a curious look behind him.

“Just tell me the plan,” she responded without realizing her tone. “I’m sorry, just really worn out after these past few days.”

“No, I get it,” he said with a defeated grin as he drove off as the light turned green, carefully navigating the slew of vehicles packing each lane. “Sharif is the son of, as you may or may not know, Rakib Hossain, one of the top military leaders. Crazy, right? Not sure how Reap’ worked things out beforehand as, look, even I didn’t know until earlier today, but they’ve gotten strings pulled and will send out the package ten days from now. Things will… ‘get moving’ before the election, and this will be bigger than just the mayoral election as originally planned. Since they want all our manpower, we just asked for information in return and we got everything we need.”

“So, we don’t need Ms. Sur for anything anymore, I assume. Who is-”

“-Oh, no, don’t think we are done with her. She still has a whole lot to provide for us. Let her continue to dig out anything that we can get from her as it’ll be icing on the cake. But in the end this country will be another big name to land on the Pro-Confed side of things. Another stop, another revolution, another one to go. Where are you hoping we end up, next?”

“Wherever it takes. You knew that.”

“Aw, have some fun,” he kidded. “But I guess since all the places that mean dearly to you are already on our side, it doesn’t leave much in the department of preferences, huh.”