Wiped

Jack Slowrise

I heard someone calling out for me and I turned. The Rurals fell away from me, and I was looking straight into Cuss-Bert's eyes.

- Oh, thank god! - she sighed. - I was getting worried about you.

- What happened? Did we loose him?

- Nah, he's fine. He stabilized as soon as you went in. But where were you?

- I was in the Rurals, in my old body. It was strange. I think I had memories from before the wipe come up.

- All right it's test time then. You need a check-up.

- I did the scans, there is nothing wrong in the system.

- Or it's a glitch that makes you think you're fine.

- Well, for a proper investigation we'd need the Halo. At the moment it is occupied. What do you propose? Oh, and as if it wasn't enough we have barely enough time to finish him for the festival.

- You'll finish nothing like this. Every time you connect to him, it seems that he is programming you instead of you programming him.

We stared at each other for a long moment.

- I don't know what to say Cuss-Bert, I have no idea what's happening. But we're running out of time.

- What other parts did you keep? - she asked suddenly.

- Why are you so hung up on this?

- Because I see what he is doing to you. I see what you are doing to you.

- What am I doing then?

- You are not yourself. He is a reminder.

- A reminder of what?

- Something is wrong. I didn't know you before the memory wipe, but you are running. You strayed so far off your path that not even the raindrops could lead you home.

- I used them to numb the pain. You don't know!

- I don't, that's true, but I can see.

- I swear to god Cuss-Bert, don't start this! There is no time to play around being psych. Jonah...

- Jonah won't care.

Her voice was low, sad even. That strange feeling of loss and sadness came over me again.

- What happened? - I asked but I knew already. Or maybe it was just another glitch in the system.

But even with him gone the threat did linger. The Handlers could still ruin me if they wanted. There were many new enhancers coming up fast craving to take my place. This was a perfect opportunity. If I succeed, I get to live until the next attack. If I fail, there will be a feast. My system taken apart because it couldn't handle something it was not meant to. A perfect crime. And Jonah, that sweet, sweet fool, too young to understand the intricacies of the night, yet too eager to prove himself. A perfect victim.

- It's still not over yet – I said looking up at her. - They wanted it. They knew this would happen. He was just a toy to entice me. I wonder who they'll choose as my successor. But I won't go without a fight.

- Is this all you ever wanted to do in your life though? Testicle enhancer? That's all you are? - she threw back at me. - Maybe this guy is here, maybe this whole Rurals thing is here to remind you of something else. Something you forgot when you had your wipe.

- Like what?

- I don't know. But if we have no option to fix it, maybe you want to look deeper?

- I don't want to look deeper, I want to move on – I yelped. - I tried. Like you said, not even the raindrops could lead me home. What makes you think this will?

- You showed up in the Black Iris, you came up with this translator implant just like that – she snapped her fingers. - I haven't seen you done that in years. You remember things from before. And you went in raw. The Cryo I knew never would have done that. She was way more cautious.

- That was reckless, I won't do it again.

- Then what happened just an hour ago?

- I had no choice. It was either that or we loose him. And everything with it.

She got to her feet and walked away.

- Fine, keep telling yourself that. But there is something changing within you, and that is connected to this guy.

- I named him Jack. Jack Slowrise

She started to giggle.

- That too.