Soul of Desire

Chapter Three

I should have shut my mouth. I thought as I looked through chart after chart of ship schematics. I sat on the floor in my room with a screen lit in front of me. With a wave of my fingers, I could turn the schematic over. I took another sip of the surprisingly good coffee in my hand. A chime at the door sounded.

“Yeah,” I called out still studying the chart to the reactor core. The door slid open and Brik walked in with Jeg.

“Hey Hex, what’s doing?” Jeg asked as he tapped his coffee cup to mine. My real name had spread like wildfire. I flashed him a grin.

“Howdy gents. I am trying to get up to speed on the engines. The sub lights seem straight forward; it is the warp core I am worried about. We’re nowhere near this tech back home. What do I owe this visit? I doubt you’re here to exchange recipes and hair tips.” Jeg and Brik grinned at each other.

“Haze mentioned you can’t fight. There is this technology, we happen to have in our possession. It is called coding. It has a fancier name, that’s just what we call it. We put this patch on your head and we can download data into your brain. I am talking things like weapons use, combat skills and the ability to understand warp tech.” Brik announced smugly. I looked up at both grinning males.

“You know; I saw a movie like that once. They shoved a big spike into a port in the back of their heads.” I said with a shudder. The Therros exchanged a worried glance.

“Ah, well here, in reality, we put a patch on your forehead and connect to your neuro pathways via a computer. From there we access your memory cortex and implant the data.” Brik explained patiently. I sprang to my feet and put my empty cup on the dresser. I turned off the screen and placed it on the bed.

“Sounds fun. Let’s get this over with then.” I said motioning for them to lead the way. I followed behind the two males. I’d never tell them, but I was anxious. I hoped they could not smell it on me. We walked into the room next to the infirmary. Brik nodded to Cleo. She smiled encouragingly back at me. I sat in a huge chair, Brik and Jeg placed straps over my arms. I swallowed, nerves jangling inside me. I breathed deep and slow, trying to control my heartbeat. All three Therros nodded and growled their approval. Jeg placed a sticky patch to my forehead. I leaned back against the headrest as Brik strapped my feet to the chair.

“Human beings have the unique ability to be coded. Meaning we can add memories to your cortex and your body simply follows suit. It does not compute that the memories are false. Given to you, not created by you. Now, you are going to feel an extremely uncomfortable pinch in your head, before the data transfer and your muscles with clench slightly.” Cleo explained standing in front of me.

“Anything in the computer about the ship's schematics and how to fix and operate your sublight engines and warp drive capabilities?” I asked curiously. Cleo nodded.

“There sure is. I can upload everything mechanical to you if you like?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Alright. We will also upload, weapons capability and freehand combat.” Brik added. He held a device a lot like an iPad. He was typing fast.

“Are you ready Luca?” Cleo asked. I nodded, still trying to get used to using my real name again. I figured what was the use in hiding, it wasn’t like the man who killed dad was going to find me here and I couldn’t go home.

“Yeah, do it,” I said closing my eyes.

“In three, two, one. Now.”

A pinch she said. Cleo and I were going to have words on what the definition of the word pinch meant, I thought a split second before the lights within the whole ship flickered. I screamed, a spine-shivering, blood-curdling, agonizing sound. Time seemed to elasticize, I fazed in and out of consciousness. My body jumping around the chair like I was being electrocuted.

“Don’t touch her! If you do, her mind will shatter!” Cleo yelled frantically as Haze and Nix sprang through the door. I began to convulse again. Brik forced a guard between my teeth with his immense strength. My eyes were rolling back in my head when the machine suddenly finished its transfer. My breath was coming in rapid, pained gasps. The muscles all over my body clenching and unclenching in little spasms.

“What have you done! She could have died!” Haze roared turning on Brik with savage fury.

“Stop. Not. Their. Fault.” I whispered panting.

“She’s conscience.” Nix murmured as he caught his raging second. The female turned towards me, she ripped the restraints from my arms and legs.

“Luca, look at me. Come on, that’s it, open your eyes. How many fingers?” She cupped my face staring into my unfocused gaze and holding up one hand.

“Three. I’m good. I ah, knew what I was getting into. Cleo, extremely uncomfortable pinch was not the phrase I would have used. Mind shattering, brain pulverising and agonising pinch.” I stated. I was tired, and my brain was throbbing. I needed to lay down. Cleo winced.

“It says pinch, sorry Luca.” She murmured.

“This is why coding was outlawed fools! It melted more brains than it enhanced!” Haze snarled.

“I’m fine, perhaps make a note in the margin so no one else underestimates the size of the pinch and maybe follow it up with f*****g painful, in brackets.” I squeezed Cleo’s arm as Haze led me past and back to my quarters. I fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of a warp core.