《Path of the dilettante》


 it was all just so humdrum

    It was never the everyday problems that bothered Morgan, he could deal with debt and plan how to deal with life¡¯s up and downs. No what really set him on edge was problems that didn¡¯t need to happen. This morning looked like a good example.


    ¡°Ok where are the keys¡± he muttered going through the motions of searching while actually looking at the clock on the wall. His wife Joanne¡¯s creativity in tidying had been long established as superior to his ability to find where things had been put so the most productive strategy was waiting for her to tell him where she had put things this time. Watching Joanne as she came downstairs he felt a moment of satisfaction at how she had retained her looks. She was short but she had always been more concerned about her figure than he had about his and she still had some of the looks that he had been unable to ignore in his twenties. Brushing her short brown hair she stretched her diminutive frame and peering up at him asked what¡¯s the problem?


    I need to get Annie to school and the car keys aren¡¯t where I left them Morgan grumbled. Joanne asked ¡®have you looked in the draws in the downstairs toilet?¡¯. Despite long experience that the question was pointless it still slipped out ¡®ok why would they be there¡¯. Joanne just glared at him all traces of good humour evaporated and replies ¡®you never tidy up and just leave things lying around¡¯.


    Morgan let the well rehearsed argument go getting the keys and going to the car mumbling that was not an answer to the question. They had been married for nearly two decades now, some arguments could just be assumed to be worthless. He had to take Annie to school and then go straight onto work, the delay with the keys was not what he needed and arguing would just take more time leaving them both upset and hurt.


    Getting to the drive he eased himself in to his average but aging car trying hard not to think about how well that described him. Never accused of being handsome he was slowly morphing from middle aged spread to getting sympathetic looks from the doctor at his annual well man clinic. He was pleased that his hair was all still there but had to concede that the young man who had enjoyed kayaking would now sink anything he tried to paddle. Mercifully his introspection was cut short when his daughter Annie got in the car adjusting her school skirt. At 14 she was just developing into a woman and was already taller than her mother but Morgan thought he would always be taller than his little girl.


    While he drove Annie to school he tried to engage her in small talk but it was just met with silence until he got near the school gates. ¡®Pull over and let me walk ¨C they laugh if my dad brings me¡¯ she suddenly piped up. ¡®Thanks dad ¨C love you!¡¯ she says as slamming the door closed and running off. Taking a moment to watch her mingle into the crowds at the gate he headed off with a faint smile which persisted until he reached work.


    Lfanda shipping factors was a company that arranged for exotic items to be shipped around the world and had a small but growing reputation for getting items on time and safely to the customer. Morgan had worked there ever since leaving university with a history of philosophy degree. His competence and time served had pushed him up the ranks almost despite himself. As he did every day he put on what he liked to call his game face when he walked in, he may have preferred a more junior role but he had reached middle management now and a certain demeanour was expected. Nodding hello as he met the staff he sat in a chair which creaked alarmingly as he sat down. Senior enough to have his own private workspace his desk was always clutter free, the chaos was in the draws hidden from others. He started to pull out printouts covered in notes. With another glance at the clock he organised his days work.


    All meetings are boring. Morgan¡¯s mind briefly wandered into thoughts about if the purpose of meetings was to test if people cared enough to attend. As the most senior person in the room it was his job to encourage and motivate others to talk, Gareth had enthusiastically agreed to explain Shanghai portage certificates and had been droning now for several minutes. Pulling himself together he saw Gareth finally stop talking and beam expectantly at the room where everyone else also seemed to be rousing from a stupor ¡®yes thank you for that it was quite clear and informative¡¯ Morgan said raising some laughter from a few attendees, the talk had clearly been neither. The interrogation began but Gareth gazed with fury at the man who he thought had encouraged then mocked his presentation.


    The meeting ran long with lots of people wanting to have their say. Being negative is always easier than being positive and provided nobody is directing it at you more fun as well. Morgan¡¯s attempts to rein some of the feedback in had failed miserably and after the meeting Gareth had taken him to one side to berate him for organising an attack on his ideas. Despite really not caring that much he offered to help in the future but even that was rebuffed. Obviously Gareth had a bruised ego which would need to be soothed in the future, now however was not the time.


    It would with hindsight have been somehow fitting if anything abnormal had happened but it was just another day. Leaving work the radio seemed to be full of some sort of speculation about the weird lightshow in the southern hemisphere 3 days ago. Seemingly there had been some strange gravitic effects at the same time and this could mean things that alleged experts guessed about for a fee. It might have been important to people who cared about this kind of thing but Morgan was not one of them.


    Morgan changed channels looking for music and finally some eighties beats soothed him, whatever that science stuff was he assumed in a year or two he¡¯d watch a documentary explaining it. For now the media just seemed to be finding new ways of shrugging their shoulders. Traffic home was light and he was actually home before Joanne for once. Shouting upstairs to Annie to turn the music down he relaxed in his favourite chair.


    His phone ringing woke him less than an hour later, Joanne was going to be late as her relief had not arrived. He had initially been glad when the call centre had made her a team leader. He had hoped that progress and responsibility would help her, help them somehow to connect. Instead she just seemed to prioritise work over both him and Annie. He couldn¡¯t call her out on it she would just use the same arguments he had about doing it for the family, still something about the situation made him sad.


    Suddenly restless and looking for purpose he had a thought, stop moping and start acting. In the next 15 minutes Annie was palmed off on the neighbours and a Chinese restaurant near the call centre had a table for two booked. The drive into town was surprisingly clear and humming the words ¡°Act not react¡± to something which might once have been a Gina G tune he felt positive. When he got to the call centre he parked up and approached the building planning how to sweep Joanne off her feet.


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    The security at reception knew him and after a quick call up asked him to wait while Joanne came down. He wondered if he should have brought flowers, if he was going to act on impulse maybe go the whole hog? While pondering this the lift doors opened and Joanne edged out with a confused look and tone asking ¡°why are you here¡±. Standing up and sweeping towards her he embraced her then leaning back told her about the restaurant. Joanne hesitated then with a frown asked ¡°yes but why? What¡¯s happened?¡± then her face fell ¡° Oh you¡¯ve been sacked haven¡¯t you. This is your way of breaking it to me gently¡±.


    Morgan frowned and with a slightly irritated tone corrected her. ¡°No I have not been sacked, I wanted to surprise my wife who works hard and does well for her family¡± then after an awkward pause asked ¡°what¡¯s wrong with my job?¡± Joanne visibly reset herself hugging him saying ¡°No I just worry you know, the worst thing and all that. Its just me being silly. Look let me get my purse and then you can treat me to some expensive wine¡± going back to the lift and pressing the call button she turned back with an odd look on her face. If he had to guess it was part irritated and part relieved.


    A few minutes later on the way to the restaurant whilst chatting about everything and nothing the question about his job still ran through his mind. There are few things he is sure of but one of them is that he is good at his job, his knowledge of obscure customs regulations and procedural approach might be mind numbingly dull but he has never had a customer lose a shipment or pay a fine. In his role that counted as a major feat. People requested him. By name.


    His irritation with that was enough that he could not see how distracted Joanne was. A more aware man might have been disturbed that she texted someone and then turned her phone off. He might have wondered why she was wearing her best jewellery and expensive perfume. The speed with which she was able to leave her important work. Oblivious to all these cues and clues as they sat down to eat he tried to talk to her about his day but the lack of response eventually ground the conversation down. The last third of the meal was ate in silence.


    The food was excellent as always and the bill was also large again as always. With the nagging feeling that he had missed a subtext somewhere the bill was paid. Smiling at Joanne he suggested they should do this again, a suggestion which met with reluctant agreement.


    They piled out as soon as the food was finished eager to avoid imposing on the neighbour or to hear Annie complain about being abandoned and threatening to send them therapist bills when they were in nursing homes. Radio on they both settled into the comfortable silence which most journeys composed of. Traffic still light edging onto the A road to home he thought about flowers and then thought about buying rosebushes and planting them. It may have distracted him but the jolt and the bang on the rear focused him as he pulled over glaring in the mirror at the white van that had rear ended him. Joanne gave a little shriek then looking over started to root round in the glove box for the insurance documents ¡®lets just exchange details and get home¡± she said ¡®bout time the premiums did something¡¯. With that she pushed the documents at Morgan and sat back glaring at him as if this was somehow his fault.


    Rallying his thoughts Morgan got out approaching the van ¡®don¡¯t worry were alright are you all ok¡± but his next sentence died in his mouth as a young redheaded man got out and stalked towards him shouting ¡° you senile old fart what the bloody hell have you done to my Van¡±. After some shock he tried to do the British thing, calm it down with false humour and bonhomie but his joke about modern art was never completed as his shirt was grabbed and suddenly someone was shouting in his face. Someone who was younger than him, fitter than him, seemingly stronger and very aggressively shouting something about the van being his livelihood and why had he being driving slowly anyway.


    Very few people can make the mental leap from a normal day encounter to incipient violence fast enough to make a difference in any developing situation. Everyone after an event knows how they could have been the hero, what they should have said. Some people even convince themselves that they have, that they are the cool ones who keep calm and do the right thing. Really the chances that is true are quite small. Most people do what Morgan did, he panicked and started apologising.


    It did not help, instead of calming him down the young man seemed to take the apologies as validation that he had been wronged and just became more incoherent. Suddenly he was being dragged to the van and then pointing to a damaged fender he was asked what he was going to do about that? Grabbing on to a solid sensible thought Morgan with some relief realised he knew the answer to that produced his insurance documents waving them vaguely said ¡°look let¡¯s not worry, just exchange details and let the brokers deal with it eh?¡± because yes he realised that would get him away from this lout and let¡¯s see how his aggression dealt with lawyers anyway.


    ¡°Hows that gonna help¡± the young man screamed into his face and suddenly the very real threat that this manhandling might move onto an actual assault rose to the top of Morgan¡¯s mind. If he didn¡¯t want to exchange details was he even insured? Was he drunk? High? Just a yob who dealt with problems with his fists? It had been a long time since he had been in a brawl but his breathing and heart rate started to pick up. What to do, what to do, photograph the man and the van and the car and do it without antagonisi...


    The first blow took him completely by surprise interrupting his thoughts. A sudden pain in his ribs that he reached down to protect. Too late he realised that he had dropped his arms and a burst of white light splayed across his vision as what seemed to be an enormous hand bounced off his eye socket. Another blow took him close to his already hurt ribs and his attempt to guard was again foiled as he instinctively moved to protect the injury. He was never sure whether this occurred to him at the time or later when he thought about it but it seemed to him that his attacker had a plan, that he knew how to use pain to make peoples bodies betray them. Whether it was training instinct or experience he was beating the snot out of him.


    He was struck many times and lost track of what was happening to him, at one point starting to curl into a ball better to endure. Suddenly a moment of clarity came to him, he may be older slower and weaker than this thug but he was bigger and heavier. Perhaps he could grab him and smother him somehow. Rolling up he burst into action flailing and grabbing caught hold of him and started shaking him. Remarkably this seemed to work for a few seconds and the redhead broke free. For a moment they just stared at each other then the thug looked down and screamed ¡°now you¡¯ve done it¡± going back to the van he pulled out a long piece of wood. He should have run or called the police or anything, instead he just looked at him and asked ¡°Whats that for? You need that for an old fart like me?¡±


    ¡°No just fed up of hurting my hands on your thick skull¡± at which point he strode in with a hard expression on his already twisted face, less skilled with the wood than with his hands he did not need to be subtle. It was perhaps a mercy that the second blow took Morgan on the temple as he never got to hear the sounds of wood hitting and breaking flesh.


    Even as his vision whited out, details becoming indistinct something distracted him. His brain was not working and he could feel that his thoughts were wrong but even though his leg had not been hit yet the agony from his leg was sudden and shocking. In panic he stared down and saw the blood pumping out of his left leg the red vivid in the white haze. The pain was over whelming and seemed entirely without cause. As his head was struck by the wood he at least could stop worrying about it. As everything went dark he did note once more that this was not a sensible way to be thinking.

 Sorry but what did i just agree to?

    When he became aware of anything at all his body was somehow absent. He was in a featureless white space lit from above. When he tried he was unable to see what was causing it. The white light kind of made sense he supposed, you move towards it according to most Hollywood films but what were you to do when you were already in the middle of it?


    Name? The sound was not loud or overwhelming but it filled his world. That was when he noticed strange blinking geometric symbols floating in front of him. They had not been there moments earlier. Pushing back confusion he thought and tried to whirl around searching for the source of the sound. The symbols stayed exactly in the middle of his field of vision and he assumed he had failed. Blinking back tears as he thought of his life now lost he asked ¡°don¡¯t you know? Isn¡¯t this heaven¡± and then with a shudder ¡°or hell¡±.


    Help functions not available at this time


    Name? Before replying Morgan looked round at what was essentially nothing. The white space contained nothing except himself, the glowing symbols and a voice he could not locate. No clues, no directions, just that. After an unknown time he concluded that nothing else was going to happen without him doing something. Picking a direction to look whilst setting his shoulders back he stated ¡°Morgan William Oxbridge¡± then relaxing added I answer to just Morgan. Only after he had done that did he wonder what that meant without a body.


    Initialising function log. Entering interrogation mode.


    What do you need?


    Clearly heaven needed personalising. Well he supposed that made more sense than clouds and angels so started to think seriously. The question repeated twice more before he finally asked the voice what can you do?


    Help functions not available at this time. What do you need?


    Unsettled by how disturbingly like a chatbot this was going he noticed that the symbols in front of him had morphed into a readable form. The words Function log initialisation were now floating in the middle of his field of vision. Morgan hated chatbots and had over the years worked out various strategies for breaking them and getting referred to a human who he could actually explain things to. Game on he thought, and then used his first strategy, answers too vague to be parsed.


    ¡°I would like to be better, in all the unmeasurable ways¡± and waited for the inevitable request for clarification rehearsing the next gibberish in his mind.


    Synergies are unpredictable from general augmentation. Outcomes will be dependent on input and this course is not recommended. Please restate desired outcomes.


    Ok well this was at least feedback. ¡°I want to be perfect, I want all I can do to be things I can do, I want to have the time to master them all, I want to be as smart, sane, healthy and  vigorous as possible¡±. Hey if this was heaven no point in thinking small. Smugly he waited for an error watching the symbols in front of him change colour. He watched as they went through several different shades and then settled on one he could not name.


    This course is not productive and inefficient. Capacities would have to be augmented gradually. Function would not be consistent or reliable, training time would be unpredictable.


    Change path : new question ¨C what do you want to do?


    Ok, a bit more robust than phone companies automated switchboard but he was only starting. Smirking slightly ¡°Everything ¨C with eternity to consider I want to do everything. I don¡¯t mind being bad at things, in a few millennia I can improve¡±


    Taking a quick breath he added ¡°as long as I can improve and have both the time and ability to practice then why choose? Give me everything you can. So I can do everything I can¡±


    The pause was shorter this time.


    Help functions not available at this time. This has high probability it would result in dangerous and unstable system. Unacceptable outcome. Would you like to restart?


    Ok getting close to an error that will require admin intervention here so Morgan kept it up. ¡°No thanks I like this, if it was predictable that would be boring¡±. Pausing a moment he said ¡°unless specific feedback or guidance can be issued then this is what I want¡±


    Help functions not available at this time.


    Query host integrity ¨C Process will take time to form, initiate, integrate and then to achieve functionality. Can host integrity be assumed?


    You let me worry about that - you just do your bit. He wished there was a chair to sit on, this was getting boring. A bunch of prompts appeared before him and waving through he just repeated his demand that he got everything. Not really paying attention one thing bothered him though.


    He had always made a point of reading commercial agreements and warnings on products. Even with computer forms it was worth reading if only to know what was happening.  Looking over what he had already agreed he picked two floating tabs and decided to read them in detail.


    The first was called overview and described the formation of a ¡°core suite¡± apparently he was agreeing to having core suites placed in him to control unspecified things. These cores were apparently four dedicated assemblers ¨C a functional assembler, a library function, a power source and a battery. Frankly the whole thing read like the technical manual. He only got halfway through that document before moving to the next.


    This one was initially more promising as its title had his name on it ¡°Installation proposals ¨C Morgan William Oxbridge 0000000¡± so it was at least tailored to him. The form seemed to be filled with maths about power ratios and calculations on feedback loops. He recognised a standard bell curve at one point but the only number that he stuck in his mind was 2 to the power 22 assemblers required to achieve maximal options. He had done enough maths to get a feel for that as a big number but that was all.


    Ok this level of techno babble was just too much and he resumed flicking stuff through without reading.


    A few prompts later a big yes or no was floating in front of him.


    Please note this decision is final. Help functions not available at this time. Do you wish to proceed Y/N?


    He paused for a moment staring at that prompt, it looked like he¡¯d failed there was no customer help. He was going to have to deal with this new reality. Was he going to screw up heaven because being a jerk usually broke chatbots? The prompt flashed in front of him while he thought and thought. His mind wandering he realised that his life had not flashed in front of his eyes, some of that shit had been worth reliving. A fear, a nagging worm of self doubt oozed into his mind.


    He had not been shown his life and maybe that just meant there was a merciful god after all. How after all had he lived his life? Always the safe path, always playing the odds just so he could be beaten to death by a maniac on the roadside. Joanne would not be joining him her life would be better without him and Annie would find someone else to taxi her. Really a life of caution and calculation ended by a chance encounter, not even the chance encounter to be fair. He could have learnt self defence. He could have gone to the gym. He could have been better.


    And now here he was in a featureless void too scared to say yes to a prompt. ¡°Yes do it, get it over with just don¡¯t bother me. No more tedium not in my heaven or hell¡±


    Process initiation commencing. Please note that due to large volume of interfaces system integration will be automated for each function suite. This will cause considerable delay to the process. Host will be immobilised and rendered unconscious to avoid ¡°tedium¡± during  procedure. Help functions will be available after completion. Morgan William Oxbridge your profile is being prepared.


    ¡°Wait immobilised what do you mean?¡±


    Help functions not available at this time


    It all faded to grey while the frustrating message filled his view.


    He was just uncomfortable, for some reason he could not seem to move. There was a beeping noise that had changed tone and he just felt sticky. He tried moving his arms and then his legs but they were flopping wildly like he had forgotten how to use them. His eyes wouldn¡¯t work ¨C no his eyelids were stuck together like he had been asleep and a crust too thick for him had formed over them. Normally a quick wipe of his hand and he would be sorted but he just couldn¡¯t coordinate. Overwhelmed by frustration at his inability to work out what was going on he focused his ire at his arm to no effect.


    Outside he heard voices, someone arguing about the alarms on the winkle in seven. He tried to work out what he was hearing then a door opened and a male brummie accent asked ¡°so how¡¯d you get your arms off mate¡± and then someone or something was moving his arm. Morgan tried to snatch his arm away and complain. Both attempts were laughable being too feeble to give much resistance and his attempts at speech coming out as halfway between a burp and a groan. Nevertheless the effect was noticed as the attempt to move the arm stopped and he heard ¡°Jesus mate what was that. You¡¯re one of the quiet ones¡±.


    Morgan tried to get his attention, to shout and scream, to flail and jump. What he managed was a moan and to shift his legs slightly. He felt the man withdraw hearing him step back. ¡° Look mate dunno what¡¯s happening let me get a nurse ok?¡± and then the sound of a door closing. Morgan realised a nurse seemed reasonable, he had just taken a beating and maybe he was in hospital. Thinking he was getting a handle on what was happening perhaps just waiting to see who came to help was reasonable.


    Having worked through that he heard a lady berating someone called Jason for wasting her time coming closer. Give Jason a break he thought. Something about the sound of the door opening made him think that someone rather large had entered.


    ¡°Patient 8328 Moran Oxbridge long term care, Responsiveness test due to staff getting willies up them¡± Ignoring the protests in the background she continued ¡°Mr Moran do you consent to a consciousness test using the Glasgow scale at this time?¡±


    Ok this was pissing him off get my bloody name right why don¡¯t you he shouted. Well he tried, a low groan nevertheless startled everyone in the room. ¡°Mr Moran are you responding to me?¡± groan. ¡°Say that again please?¡± Groan groan. Suddenly the tone changed in her voice ¡°Jason stay with him while I get the locum, I think this is actually happening¡± and there was a sound of waddling footsteps. The Brummie voice he assumed was Jason sounded just a little bit smug ¡°well you put a rocket up her alright. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen her fat arse move that fast¡±.


    Very little changed in the next 15 minutes. Firstly, Jason prattled for a while about trivia in the hospital and the latest goings on with the TV soaps¡¯. Whilst Jason did that Morgan just got himself under control slowly testing the limits and strengths of his movements. He had just managed to crack his eyes open and croak for water at the young boy who he supposed was Jason when a young lady in a shell suit arrived her only concession to clinical expectations being a stethoscope wrapped around her neck.


    Grabbing a clip board at the base of his bed she looked at him and noted the open eyes. Pulling an uncomfortably bright penlight out of her pocket she waved it around in his face. The young man who Morgan deduced was Jason said ¡°he asked for water, can I give it?¡±


    ¡°Mr Moran did you just ask for water?¡± she asked again in a brummie accent. Finally getting himself under control he croaked a few times and then said ¡°Yes. Morgan¡± collapsing back after the effort. Despite her apparel the young lady took charge of the room turning to Jason and instructing him ¡°get him some water and leave a message for admin ¨C not going to process him but we can check his vitals and make him comfortable¡±. He faded out this time into a much more natural sleep.


    His rest was interrupted by the lady in the tracksuit opening his left eye and shining a torch into it. ¡°Good pupil response but apparent intermittent response to verbal stimuli¡± she intoned into a microphone. ¡°AArgh just ask¡± Morgan grumbled while his arms twitched and to his delight heard the words not just in his head but also in his ears. He assumed it was his voice but it sounded horrible. The  effect on the room was sudden and as he opened his other eye and focused on the lady he saw a fleeting moment of shock quickly replaced by a professional veneer.


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    ¡°Mr Moran can you hear what I am saying? You can respond by blinking if speech is difficult but it is important you respond if able so that I can perform a baseline evaluation of your recovery¡± Her spiel was rushed out as if by rote. Her face was probably quite plain but she filled his view and he found himself not focusing for a second. ¡°Yes I can speak but my throat is sore, my name is Morgan. MORGAN there¡¯s a G in it.¡± She smiled and it seemed the first genuine expression he had seen, ¡°apologies Mr Morgan I will make sure that¡¯s corrected before I leave today. Mr Morgan I need to do some tests to establish your current condition and to document level of responsiveness¡±. A slight pause and a muttered comment about some of them being a bit redundant.


    Wait where¡¯s Joanne? Did that thug harm her? Is she ok? How¡¯s Annie? Suddenly his priorities changed. How could he have spent so long worrying about himself. What had that little bastard done after dealing with him. He tried to move again and this time he was much more coordinated managing to fall all the way out of bed.


    Jason and the doctor (her name was Marie according to the name badge) hauled him back into bed untangling tubes that should probably have hurt more being moved, it occurred to him whilst that was happening that there must be a lot less of him than he recalled, he was almost stick thin now. Unaware of his musings Marie interrupted that line of thought by telling him to calm down, she only had  medical details on him, presumably NOK details including contact information are at the main offices.


    Staring down she said ¡°you have had the misfortune of regaining consciousness both suddenly and on a Saturday morning. Its currently 03:42 and nobody is going to be getting at those records right now. Nobody. Your presentation is unusual. People recovering from long term non responsiveness normally show signs of increasing awareness and responsiveness several days before verifiable cognition. That gives us time to get everything in place including NOK contact details. Its noted that you showed the first signs 22 minutes ago and are already engaging in cogent verbal interaction. That¡¯s beyond weird so I advise you to concentrate on yourself right now. Your NOK will be contacted as soon as possible as we get the full file. Now whatever happened it was a long time ago and rushing to fix things now is just pointless. Lie back and rest, let me do my job¡±. That speech probably contained a lot of useful information. He only focused on one thing not really hearing the rest.


    ¡°Doctor how long ago did this all happen? How long did.. wait winkles? Rip van winkle? How long have I been here?¡± For some reason whilst he was asking this the whole Rip Van Winkle story flashed through his head as if it was being read to him at insane speeds and yet somehow he was able to hear and comprehend the whole story instantly. The distraction that provided was shattered by the doctor¡¯s next slow careful words ¡°you have been in the William Grove long term facility for ten years, eight months and eleven days. If my notes are accurate the incident occurred just over eleven years ago. There is no record of any visitors, family or friends. I don¡¯t know anything about your family.¡± The enormity of that statement washed over him, in shock he wanted to complain that the dates were wrong, that his family and friends must have been here in a constant vigil, that people would have missed him and the world could not move smoothly on without him. ¡°Huh?¡±  he said.


    The next two hours left Morgan confused. He looked where he was told, reacted to poking and prodding, answered questions about current/past events, failed to laugh at some poorly told jokes and finally read from some flashcards. Eventually he asked Marie if she had run out of tests which got a chuckle.


    Marie flipped her hair and smiled at him saying, ¡°A doctor never runs out of tests or diagnoses¡± she eventually replied when her  laughter ended, ¡°it¡¯s called defensive medicine. Look more seriously we want to know that we are doing the right thing¡±. Though she continued talking her voice took on a sing song tone like this was a rote speech for her. ¡°Most of the time we know fairly quickly but if we get a non standard presentation we get nervous, we get nervous we get cautious, we get cautious and we start scanning stabbing and prodding. Get used to it.¡±


    Eventually even Marie despite her earlier assertions ran out of things to do to him and he lay alone in bed and thought about the time that he had missed. His planned retirement at 65 had come and gone a year ago. Annie would be an adult and Joanne had probably moved on. This time when he slept he managed to wake normally.


    He was absolutely the most exciting thing the morning shift had seen in a long time. Perhaps the thing that really stood out was the staff member who came in and took his fingerprints as the doctor in charge just refused to believe that he had been patient room7 yesterday.


    He went through the same rigmarole as he had the night before but at the end of it he was surprised to be told that he was a conman, there was no way he could have recovered this fast and be feeding himself solids less than 24hrs after coming round. Lacking either the energy or the will to fight, he kept chewing his toast. Ignoring the abuse because he had no rebuttal the doctor gave up.


    With nothing else to do but listen he had managed to eavesdrop on quite a lot of gossip and banter amongst the staff. Apparently they were the lowest of the low on the medical hierarchy basically doing little more than looking after warm bags of meat and his revival started up several discussions about euthanasia amongst the more vocal. Those had the feel of rehearsed arguments done with the familiarity of practice not expecting or producing any changes in anyone¡¯s position.


    The desk got a phone call that seemed to be about him most of it related to obscure funding issues that he filed away for later but he was inexplicably smug to be confirmed as who he had always thought he was. It was after this call that the staff started to treat him with a little more respect and less caution.


    The nursing senior (his eavesdropping had revealed that she was called Pam complained of sore legs, had two kids and a special needs brother which for some reason made her colleagues envious) came in after midday and apologised for the fuss. Then she got to the bad news.


    ¡°You made a request that we contact your family so we called someone to come in even though it¡¯s the weekend. Well they looked but your NOK details appear to have not been updated since a hard landing. I am sorry to say that they appear to be out of date and we have had no response.¡± With a hint of resignation she continued. ¡°Presumably its old information and our social work department will try to track them down Monday for you so don¡¯t worry it¡¯ll just take longer to give them the good news¡±. There was no reason why that should have relieved him but he felt a huge sense of relief that just maybe neither his wife or daughter would have to see him immobile in bed. When he murmured something about getting fit enough to impress them with a dad bod Pam pursed her lips.


    ¡°Mr Moran ¨C sorry Mr Morgan its not my place to discuss your plan of care with you but you might want to reset your expectations. We will help you recover and you will get Physio but I don¡¯t know how much of your former function you will regain. Whilst you are recovering faster than any case history I recall there is a rule of thumb for immobilisation ¨C for every day immobilised you need two and a half days rehabilitation to regain full function. We are testing for muscle wastage, bone loss, spastic gastric function and a hundred other things but you have been down for over ten years. That means a normal expectation of at least 25 years to reach full recovery. Obviously you will cooperate with your rehabilitation, I am not sure how you will do your part but you will leave hospital in a wheelchair and I do not expect that to be this year. Its possible you might beat the odds but it would not be ,be ... sensible to hope for it¡±. Presumably to allow him to process the speech privately she quickly left promising  to come back.


    Head reeling and in serious danger of emotional collapse his perceptive hearing suddenly picked out Pam talking to the asshole doctor from before ¡°well I¡¯ve started in on expectation management with him, you can do the follow up in a couple of hours¡±


    The doctor grunted ¡°oh great ¨C so I get to tell him the bad news eh?¡±


    Morgan went still for a second and suddenly hearing nothing but a roaring hiss in his ears and the vision slowly turning white he realised that he had just been told that nobody could find his family, that he had lost eleven years of his life, that he was going to be crippled for the foreseeable future ¨C realistically until he died but that they were trying to avoid telling him the bad news. He  lapsed into depression wondering what he was going to hear next. If there were any tears of self pity he had enough dignity to ensure they were wiped away before anyone saw them. He lost consciousness a mix between exhaustion and despair closing his eyes.


    He woke about an hour later according to the clock on the wall and when he stirred more beeps and alarms went off bringing asshole doctor in again. Paying attention to him he saw that his badge identified him as junior Dr L Mac Ford. The doctor busied himself with taking measurements but Morgan had had enough, doing his best to give a hard stare he asked ¡°Ok what¡¯s the bad news Doc?¡±.


    The doctor smiled in what was presumably meant to be a reassuring way ¡°Oh no problems I mean fainting is almost reassuring given your rapid recovery so far, you know makes me feel like my trainings useful after all¡±. Irritated by the reply and realising that the answer given technically was an answer to his question he tried to be more explicit.


    ¡°Thank you but that¡¯s not what I was asking. No. I was asking about your conversation with Pam earlier ¨C the one where she claimed to have started my expectation management and you moaned about having to tell me the bad news. Lets just get it over with. What is the bad news Doc¡±.


    The doctor to his credit recovered quickly and did not bother to deny it.  He turned round then reached round for a chair and sat down leaning back. Without any further rigmarole he started talking ¡°Mr Morgan the world has changed. Literally the world has changed and while you have slept through the changes since hard landing they are important and some of them are urgent.  You dropped this on me and I¡¯ve not had time to prioritise the list for you so my apologies if stuff seems out of order. Hard landings presaged a change in our government, we are now only nominally a democracy ¨C The police turned out to be too incompetent to manage a police state so we have active military participation in most levels of civil society though its referred to as MACA, military aid to civilian authority. What that means for you is that at some point you¡¯re going to be asked to ¡°do your bit¡±.


    The doctors hands made air quotes as he said it. ¡°For you that means that you probably are not going to be allowed sufficient time to recover before you are expected to contribute. I cannot honestly imagine how you will ¡°do your bit¡± and that¡¯s just bad. How bad depends on the assessing magistrate but they have broad leeway and I¡¯ve never heard of an appeal being even allowed. Secondly The records got scrambled in hard landing so finding out anything about your life previous to it is going to be a tall task. You might get lucky but we are doctors, luck is something to be avoided.


    Morgan grunted, distressing but he assumed he would find a way to deal with it but the doctor was being vague and behaving as if Morgan should already know what he was referring to ¡® look you keep mentioning hard landing. You say it like its something definite and it explains things. Not to me. What do you mean by hard landing?¡±


    Settling back in the uncomfortable green plastic chair the doctor gave a short bitter laugh. ¡°Well I guess that is the thing that started the mess. Ok. Ok we are not alone Mr Morgan ¨C I understand that you used to say the truth is out there you just need to find it or some such. The people who said that deserve to be shot. Ignorance was bliss. The first contact with an ET was in Canada and I think it was just over a decade ago. You were lucky enough to be injured in the idyllic days when we were alone.¡± He paused and took a deep breath, a grimace flashed across his expression while he organised his thoughts.


    ¡°The media dubbed it as a hard landing for some reason but it essentially was a combat drop on Ottawa. It started with a pretty light show first thought to be shooting stars but when they reached ground, well it was an artillery bombardment of some kind. We thought it was some type of exotic non nuclear explosive but eventually the forensic types said they were just some odd metal shafts with steering  vanes on doing damage from just the raw kinetic energy of falling from orbit.¡±


    Morgan interjected ¡°an extreme example of that old canard about if you throw a penny off the empire state building it would kill someone if it landed on them?¡±


    The doctor frowned ¡°Surely terminal velocity would, oh you know what, maybe. Anyway Ottowa.¡±


    ¡°After that a landing craft arrived in the centre of the rubble and some armoured metal forms came out and started killing indiscriminately. It was also fairly random, they would kill everyone in some place and then half the people in another room. No rhyme or reason that we can tell and a lot of people spend a lot of time making guesses.


    That lasted for about 2 hours, Canada¡¯s army was at the time more of a concept than a reality so nobody was surprised that they did nothing. Some form of Bio-Weapon was used on the survivors. The death toll was debated but more than 30 thousand died. To be fair that¡¯s high and these days we have drills and facilities for dealing without panic. A lot of people died from each other rather than the aliens to be fair.


    Though terrible it was just the first landing and since then we have had plenty of opportunities to get used to that sort of death toll. There were three more landings across the world that day in population centres with again 30 to 40% casualties. To be fair most people died in the initial bombardments or the Bio Weapons. To be frank the landings and slaughter seems trivial but always happen. Its kind of a worldwide hobby trying to make sense of this. Some of the theories are pretty insane but given how many have died its not right to criticise¡±.


    Morgan nodded along then interjected ¡°Ok so how many people were killed. I mean if three hundred thousand in one city is a start how bad is it¡±.


    Scratching his ribcage the doctor replied ¡°The UN has few actual functions anymore but it collates data well and they estimate that 17% of the planetary population has died, roughly one and a quarter billion. The split between deaths due to hard landings and the consequences of those landings ¨C famine, useless roads, riots etc. The political ramifications, well I mean there are speculations and conspiracy theories but what¡¯s certain is no one and I mean no one is under the same form of government. Dictatorships have fallen to be replaced by communes, republics or different dictators. Democracies have become republics or dictatorships. Essentially everywhere has changed. Luckily we are in the United Kingdom not anywhere else. We had the constitutional monarchy to fall back on. What had seemed to be a historical anachronism showed its value in suppressing chaos.


    When the riots started the police responded to our politicians and made things worse by enforcing whatever political hobby horse they had. The Monarch, god love him, had the ear of the armed forces and ultimately won enough battles that people stopped fighting. It helped that he really did not seem competent to rule just fight so he had to bring people in. Technically we still have a parliament as a debating chamber but votes can only be called by black rod. Its still a work in progress and nobody knows how its going to settle. Don¡¯t know if we are waiting for a Cromwell or a Henry but it will change.


    Until it does the country is peppered with small scale military camps and a massive recruitment drive into national service is artificially depressing unemployment. Service is mainly but not only armed forces and the camps are forward deployed rapid reaction in theory against another UK hard landing. In practice boredom induced suicide is not unknown so there¡¯s that.¡±


    The room was silent for a while and then Morgan just leaned back shaking his head. After a time he stared at the doctor then still shaking his head asked ¡°what¡¯s the effect on me. I mean, I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s too big for me so how does this affect me. What do I need to know about me¡±

 changes, near and far

    The answer as it turned out was quite a lot. The doctor¡¯s quick visit turned into a several hour discussion. Essentially the problem was the country under the stress of alien assault and civil strife could not afford the National Health Service anymore but politicians keen to avoid the reputation for killing it had instead changed it. Medical treatment was still free at the point of delivery but now people were expected to pay back the cost of care once treated. The debt could not be avoided via bankruptcy and leaving the country already difficult due to alien assault was forbidden until NHS debts were paid. If you had unworkable debts you were allowed into ¡°Community service programs¡± and accommodation was provided. Generously and at no extra cost. There was an illegal song about it called working on the vomit gang.


    Morgan clearly was never going to pay back the cost of his treatment even if his assets were found and still available. Eleven years of hospital care was going to run into an eye watering cost and that was before rehabilitative care was considered.  Funding Panels met every six weeks and most people went to heroic lengths to get discharged before they went before the panels as these were the primary means that you ended up in ¡°community service programs¡±. Apparently if you were not at a hearing then judgement was deferred for some reason.


    Morgan had four weeks three days. It was going to be impressive if he was eating solid food by then. Even if his family could be found there was a good chance they would deny him rather than be saddled with his health debts.


    Other things included that the UK had become like Europe, it was now a papers please society. Identity cards were issued and you better be able to produce them. Punishment ranged from detention until you could be verified to long term incarceration. Technically that was also until you had your ID verified but if the person who couldn¡¯t be bothered to do his job was in charge of your release, well, get comfortable.


    The talk ended when Morgan asked if he would have been better off staying unconscious and the doctor in all seriousness told him that he was grateful to only have to deal with health difficulties.


    Sleep caught up with him quickly but he woke up just as exhausted as before he slept. A buzzer had been placed near his bed and he jabbed it viciously. Suddenly the thought of debt bondage for the care he was getting made him much less sympathetic and appreciative of the care staff. He was almost disappointed when an auxiliary he didn¡¯t recognise arrived quickly. ¡°Ah Mr Moran just in time, your breakfast was going to be returned¡± the man said while propping him up in bed. Ignoring the protests about his name the man left returning with some glop that was in a tray and probably was meant to be food.¡± Now doctor says see what you can stomach, you¡¯re going to start with some porridge and I¡¯ll help you with it¡±. Ignoring the look of disgust and sitting in front of Morgan the man picked up a plastic spoon and started to feed him.


    A lot of emotions were boiling up, frustration, rage, grief, irritation and mostly disgust at the taste of the stuff boiled up within him and suddenly his arm shot out grabbing the wrist with the spoon. A tense moment of eye contact the carer tried to laugh it off whilst pulling the hand off of his wrist. Morgan would normally have let go having made his point but this day this situation was hardly normal so he hung on glaring at him, even going so far as to tighten his grasp. After all he was still recovering so his grip was going to be a joke. The auxiliaries face went from surprise to irritation to alarm and then with a loud crack from his arm to shock. The sound was so unexpected that Morgan released his grip staring at the carer who clutched his arm protectively .Backing out of the room pale faced he called for help while Morgan suddenly collapsed back to sleep.


    The sensation of hunger is what woke him coupled with a heavenly smell of delights. Hunger driving him on he forgot he was infirm and needed Physio before he could move and climbed out of bed. Staggering through the doors he found the source of the wonderful smells, a sandwich left on a chair. Not at all interested in working out who it belonged to it was wolfed down immediately and then he set out to hunt for more food.


    That was the theory anyway, the practice involved more staggering and bouncing off objects. Eventually he caused enough of a ruckus for someone from the nurses station to come find him. Wary of rushing to help the nurse backed off and he asked ¡°are you alright ¨C what can I do to help you?¡±. Shocked at how hard it was to speak Morgan croaked ¡°Hungry. Thirsty¡± and then started to look for a chair. The nurse seeing this found him a wheelchair and then after assisting him to seat safely wheeled him back to his room. The chair was so loud, was oiling wheels a thing of the past?


    Once back into bed the nurse looked at him and then asked ¡°now if I bring you food you promise not to break my arm?¡±. When Morgan gave a confused look he continued ¡°do you know? Ray got a colles fracture today where you grabbed him. He insists you did it¡±. A what fracture? How could I do anything I¡¯m helpless, can¡¯t move or do anything.¡¯


    Eyebrows raised the nurse walked out. A few minutes later he returned with some packets of sandwiches and a jug of water. Placing them down looking away from him he stated ¡°To answer your earlier question, a colles fracture is the name for a type of wrist fracture usually caused by compression¡±.


    He busied himself by tidying up various surfaces before he continued ¡°You claim you¡¯re helpless, immobile, useless right? I can understand why with your probable care path but you know for a immobile patient you just walked a fair distance. My advice? See what you can actually do¡± and then turning to look at him added ¡°the chances of anyone in this facility waking are absurd. Why don¡¯t you try to beat the odds again I say¡±.


    Alone Morgan started to eat, demolishing sandwich after sandwich he suddenly realised something. That was the first positive thing anyone had said to him in quite some time. Sleep soon caught up with him once he had finished eating though for the first time in a while there was a smile on his sleeping face.


    Time was something he had trouble keeping track of fading in and out but when he next woke though still ravenous he was significantly less tired. In addition the curtains were drawn and it was daytime. He got the impression it was morning but supposed it could have been evening just as easily. A press of the buzzer and a quick head round the door resulted in a round of medical measurements after which some soup was put in front of him. He did note that people seemed to be giving him a wide berth, it was an odd feeling. Since this meant that nobody was trying to spoonfeed him he could live with that for now but it did bother him.  Several helpings later and finally feeling full a tall muscled man walked in. With a smile and introducing himself as Geoff he sat down.


    Geoff opened the conversation with ¡°Lets talk about Physio then ¨C I¡¯m here to perform an initial evaluation. If you have any difficulties tell me straight away. This is not a test and you can¡¯t fail it, just tell me what you can do¡±. The tests went on for some time starting with simple movements and then moving eventually onto body weight resistance. After pushing Geoff¡¯s arm back in a palm push exercise Geoff excused himself and Morgan listened as he demanded to check the case history. The acoustics in this place kept fooling people into thinking they could not be heard Morgan concluded as he shamelessly eavesdropped. Though uninteresting it was still better than staring at the walls.


    After 15 minutes Geoff returned and apologised saying ¡°I am going to recommend a full physical on you. At this point in time not only do you need minimal physiotherapy, mostly stretching exercises for movement, you are better than some of my private sports clients. I would ask if you had taken a specials test but you have been down years before any incidents and have not been exposed to a hard landing so it would just be a waste of time and money¡± with which he walked out then suddenly popped back in ¡°see you tomorrow ¨C prepare to be pushed mate¡±. After a pause it seemed that this time he had actually left which prompted Morgan to sit and rest.


    The next week could be characterised by one common theme ¨C why are you responding so well to treatment? Geoff may have been the first person to use the word special around him but each time checking the file it was dismissed as he had not been near a hard landing. As the only active and responsive patient in the facility he ended up talking to the staff quite a lot. It was a few days later when he asked Marie, the locum doctor he had first talked to about the test and peoples reluctance.


    Marie made some notes before replying ¡°Mmm yes I can see why people are thinking about it. These days its an explanation trotted out almost every time there¡¯s a non standard test result. Ok er lets explain  why everyone¡¯s wary ¨C right firstly I in common with just about everyone have no idea what they test or how. All I can tell you is that the test itself seems to take very little time but that it seems to be done in batches. So when people ask how long till they get results its less than three months really is the only honest answer. Frankly these days the test is almost useless, I mean if you grow wings or start spitting fireballs you¡¯re a special, the test is superfluous¡±.


    Though he started to laugh Morgan stopped ¡°wait wings and fireballs. Are you serious?¡±.


    Marie nodded adding ¡°sometimes both¡±. After checking he was not going to scoff she continued ¡° but the problem is not all specials are that showy. I mean if your special ability is to hear thoughts or see radio waves then a doctors observational skills don¡¯t help. And then we get to the reason this largely superfluous test is over subscribed. Mental health. Every loony or wannabe crawls out of the woodwork if there is a nearby hard landing each claiming to be the great mumpum or gibberish and we cant just dismiss it out of hand.¡±


    Morgan stretched in the grotty sofa in the staff room and thoughtfully asked ¡°would that help with the batching issue? And really is being a special so special? Ok so you have wings and assuming not vestigial you fly around a bit. Other than saving on Uber what is that good for¡±.


    Marie giggled ¡°vestigial huh, suppose I¡¯ve heard of worse. I mean fair point some abilities are only useful in combat and they get drafted either to the army or to some national service group if there a conscientious objection. Other abilities would be a liability in combat for example one person I know is an EMT who can make everybody around him glow in a certain range. Terrible if you don¡¯t want to get shot and great if you¡¯re looking for people in rubble after a battle or disaster or something.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Morgan mused  ¡°ok so he puts sniffer dogs out of business ¨C other than kudos what does this do for him?¡±


    Marie smiled ¡°Well no sniffer dogs are still needed if someone is out of sight but look never mind that. The point is that though you get registered and put on a demand list so that people can call you out for a deemed need you get a bonus income, a kind of on call fee for the country. That varies according to assessed usefulness but is never minor. In addition in most circumstances you stand outside the chain of whatever command is trying to tell you what to do.¡±


    Morgan frowned ¡°so money, independence, kudos & mental health are all reasons why people might want to make exaggerated claims of specialness. Makes sense. Why are people so reluctant to test?¡±


    Looking slightly irritated She replied ¡°thought I¡¯d already said its a limited resource ¨C People want to get tested, its the testers who don¡¯t want to get swamped ¨Cto stop from getting buried under frivolous requests rules were put in place. It needs two doctors to sign to agree a test and if its later judged by a review panel to be frivolous those doctors can be censured which ranges from a telling off to fines and disbarment. I mean you¡¯d really have to work at it for disbarment but even so everyone¡¯s cautious. Look I have no real responsibility for your care but reading your file tonight there is no reason you haven¡¯t been discharged. My advice? Nobody here will stick there neck out. If you¡¯re unlucky enough to get caught up in a hard landing and survive try to get tested. Send me a copy of the results. Otherwise forget it unless you grow wings¡±.


    They chatted amiably for the rest of the night. Marie took some gentle ribbing on the way out about chatting up a crusty with a wry grin.


    The following day when Morgan awoke in the afternoon he got dressed and decided to take the advice he had received by looking for a way to discharge himself. After all how hard could it be? Petty martinets across the world can always find a way to answer that question and being an administrator for the interests of patients in a building where they are all in a coma does not usually attract the best and brightest.


    ¡°So I can discharge myself at any time if I sign a discharge waiver?¡± Morgan stared at the quite trim middle aged man fiddling with a well kept beard. The office was larger than he would have expected for a function that must be almost never used. His first impressions had been quite positive, well kept desk, neat stacks of paper, well maintained to do list on a whiteboard and a open enthusiastic person watering plants. All that had been before he started talking of course. Relaxing back in his chair the bearded man nodded with a frown. ¡° Well yes but that might be awkward ¨C you need to prove that you are you. I understand your ID was misplaced during your convalescence? Do you remember your ID number at all for us to rustle up a replacement for you? It would be irresponsible to just let you get carded as soon as you walk out.¡± Not yet irritated Morgan sat down and reminded himself of the three steps to bureaucracy ¨C first get the information about what you need, second give them whats needed, third get the result. He was on the first stage.


    ¡°No sorry I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever had documentation for my ID. Needing it is a new development for me¨C oh whats your name by the way?¡±


    ¡°Paul MacKen but you can call me Paul. Oh dear well you have some details surely. Look fill in this form and lets get the ball rolling.¡± Though there was some further chit chat most of the rest of the meeting was simply form filling combined with some bio metric measures. It filled most of the remains of the day and though if asked he would have claimed to be irritated by the whole situation form filling just somehow felt like he was taking steps to take control.


    It took three days for the forms to go through and for a provisional ID to be issued. In all honesty Morgan was surprised by the efficiency. Of course his name was wrong but he could live with being Moran again he supposed. Proudly showing it round caused the preparations to get rid of him to swing into gear. Firstly he had a full series of fasting bloods and annoyingly whilst hungry a full physical workout with the physio. After that both the pharmacist and the lead doctors came round and chatted to him both of them basically telling him that he was fine and stop wasting the time of busy people. The words bed blocker were sprinkled quite liberally through both conversations.


    The problems came from two dimensions. The first was a psychiatric consult who just claimed that he was too woefully informed about current conditions to be unsupervised. That led to the second problem ¨C the community discharge team. Essentially they refused to believe just about everything about him. The Psychiatrist was a tall painfully thin lady who only answered to Dr Scott (its about boundaries with patients she coldly asserted) and she agreed to drive him to a discharge facility basically to put him in front of them and point to him so they couldn¡¯t deny his existence. As his first trip outside it was an opportunity to look around. Initially bothered it soon came to him that she hadn¡¯t driven through any large urban concentrations and he had kind of assumed he would. Dr Scott pursed her lips when he made that observation.


    ¡°See this is the sort of thing that worries me. Obviously hard landings have been discussed with you but it takes time to understand the consequences. Hard landings they target large populations. Cities are a response to industrialisation by concentrating populations near the work and dispersal of populations is a response to orbital bombardment. We ¨Cthe people who have lived it- no longer notice it except to get uncomfortable in crowds. Seriously agoraphobia is a major part of my caseload these days.¡±


    After a pause to consider Morgan decided to ask ¡°if you think I¡¯m so under prepared why are you helping?¡±


    She laughed before replying ¡°the freedom to make decisions include bad ones ¨C my job is to make sure of sanity not wisdom¡±.


    The discharge team was called Jake and Jake capitulated when he was presented with a person in front of him. He arranged for a one month stipend to be credited to his ID all the while apologising that it wasn¡¯t longer to give him time to find work and accommodation. The only other useful thing he did was leave him with the lost property to get clothes. After forty minutes three sets of clothing and a rucksack later they drove back to the William Grove facility.


    Dr Scott was silent for a while then asked if he was bothered by wearing dead peoples clothing or the fact that it was all out of date style wise? ¡°No not really, its charity and beggars cant be choosers. Cheers though I was trying not to think of that.¡± An awkward silence grew and wanting to fill it Morgan decided to scratch an itch in his curiosity ¡°Actually I was wondering about the yellow doors on some of the buildings we passed. What¡¯s that about anyway?


    ¡°Shelters. If you get warning of a hard landing find one and get underground. The Kinetics mostly ground burst and do very little penetration so getting underground is how people survive at least the bombardment in a hard landing. The raiders always target a few of them for the slaughter stage which is you know. Grim. Most have more than one entry/exit but even those lucky enough to get out still face exposure to the bio-weapons that create specials¡±.


    Morgan jerked ¡°Bio weapons? Why do you call them that, I was told that people desperately try to get exposed for the chance to be more than normal¡±, Dr Scott sighed then signalling pulled into a lay-by.¡± Remember what I said about bad decisions earlier? Well its true that some people do that. The cynics call it evolution in action. Fact is most people do not appear to be infected - roughly one in 20 and of those infected 2 in 7 die. That last one by the way seems fairly consistent over time and worldwide though data is not shared from all countries. Of the remaining 5 only one or two get anything useful. Not sure of the stats on that but those are the last I heard.¡±


    Staring into the distance she was silent for a while and then stated talking again. ¡°Personally I think everyone in the area of a hard landing is contaminated but some people are lucky enough to fight off the disease or whatever it is. Some people have managed to get themselves to multiple sites and no change occurs. There are cases who develop after multiple exposures but not many.¡± She flicked her hair and Morgan suddenly realised that he had not been with a woman for quite a while. Dr Scott was not really his type being too thin for his tastes but for some reason that did not seem to be making a difference.


    Trying to ignore the traitorous voice in his head that was urging him to examine her more closely he decided to ask for more details. ¡°Well that¡¯s a different view alright. What happens to those who don¡¯t get anything useful ¨C what¡¯s useful mean anyway?¡±. Hopefully distraction would get his wandering mind back to the job at hand.


    With a chuckle she unclipped her seatbelt and relaxed back ¡°Ok this is stuff I was looking up for our next session and my notes are in the office but here goes. Useful is defined as having an ability or characteristic that has civilian or military benefits. Strength is an example of something that would have both. Useless is an ability that has no conceivable use but is not harmful, the ability to change the colour of your faeces would be an example I recently heard of.¡± Morgan found himself relaxing as she talked, her voice when she was not being sarcastic had quite a soothing tone.


    ¡°Lastly detrimental abilities are those unfortunates whose abilities are harmful to themselves, others or the general civic good. There are several unfortunate examples but a general go-to is the Korean case of Min-Jun a 15 year old musician who suddenly exuded a deadly nerve gas that killed his entire city block and was slowly spreading. It bypassed filters so it killed the response team as well. Eventually snipers resolved the issue. Tragic. He was by all accounts an average to nice kid but he was just too dangerous to live. Anyway ratings are debatable and can be appealed. There¡¯s a German pensioner who compels honesty for a mile around him. Great for interrogations but the murder rate around him just keeps climbing over time. His value is always argued, rarely when he is nearby though.¡±


    They both went quiet for a second thinking about that and then she continued.


    ¡°What else, umm yes, all specials once registered are subject to call up if anyone finds a use for the power. There¡¯s a retainer for being available that varies according to rating which is the main reason to appeal your rating. So should I tell Marie that you¡¯re staring at my legs?¡±


    Morgan realised with shock that she was right and suddenly started stammering out an apology which she cut off with a laugh ¨C ¡°Its ok, normal in fact. Just be aware that you seem to have a higher testosterone count than is normal for your age, almost teenage boy levels in fact. But you haven¡¯t answered my question, should I tell Marie?¡±


    Morgan¡¯s mouth opened, then it closed. This repeated a few times until Dr Scott started laughing and waving a wedding ring in front of her face he had not noticed ¡°Calm down patient boundaries remember. You should be aware though that your Endocrinology is haywire especially for someone of your age. Marie and I trained together so I have been teasing her recently about the gossip. Should I stop?¡±


    Morgan just paused and then sitting upright replied at last ¡°Sorry. I had not realised I was being rude. As for Marie erm well look as far as I¡¯m concerned I¡¯m also married. Joanne may have moved on over the last eleven years but I have not. Marie is just a doctor who was looking after me. And you know flattering but why would I think an old crusty is interesting to a young woman like her?¡± It was Dr Scotts turn to sit back with a thoughtful look and stare at him for over a minute. Even despite the apparent hormones there was no confusing this as anything other than study of a sample in front of her. ¡°I think I missed a symptom ¨C so have you. When we get back use a mirror.¡± At that point the conversation was apparently over and they drove back.


    After his journey settling back he decided to go and look in the mirror. A scrawny young man stared back at him probably late 20¡¯s maybe early 30¡¯s with a hard life. Though not an athlete or bodybuilder he was also in what looked like reasonably good condition maybe a bit barrel chested. It was not a 68 year old office worker who was suffering from decades of immobilisation. Only the face looked familiar and that was from pictures of himself as a young man.


    What the hell?

 ok i am just going to do my own thing?

    Marie came into his room and winced at the light coming in from the open curtains. With a slight stumble she pulled the curtains closed and then flopped down next to his bed. The bleary eyes and the slight groans when she moved suggested she didn¡¯t feel well.


    Morgan grinned; today she was out of the shell suit or even the lab coat but instead was in some sort of skirt suit made from different shades of grey fabric. It did give a better impression of her shape, previously the shell suits or the lab coat had hidden more than it revealed. Partly due to curiosity and partly due the conversation with Dr Scott two days earlier he found himself appreciating the view. Her brown hair was tied back in what was too short to be a ponytail tight enough to make the skin on her face taut. She was not fat but not a waif either, a thick body which suggested an athlete going soft. Her chest did her no favours either being small or maybe just hidden. Her legs effectively concealed by dark grey woollen tights it was obvious some thought had gone into her appearance.


    Despite how much effort it represented and how well she wore it the result of the formal attire was somehow sexless. The net effect, that of a serious and important person was ruined by the bloodshot eyes and the clumsiness. The conclusion was obvious but he decided to play dumb. ¡°oh dear are you ok-got the flu?¡± a two finger salute was the instant reply.


    She blearily looked up ¡°word to the wise, never try to match shots with Wendy¡±. At his blank expression she continued ¡°Thats Dr Scott to you. We went drinking last night. I tried to match shots. Bad idea¡±.


    Morgan not wanting to laugh instead waved at her vaguely ¡°the suit?¡±


    ¡°Interview ¨C I might be on track for a permanent post here. Presuming I don¡¯t mess the interview, I mean I¡¯ve put the hours in. Just need to put my best foot forward¡± She pulled herself up in the seat and tried to put forward an image of competent professionalism while squinting in the dark.


    Nodding seriously Morgan asked ¡°so you intend to be interviewed in a darkened room and claim that you¡¯ve done so many night shifts that daylight causes you to combust. Hmm do any of the interviewers routinely carry religious symbols?¡±


    Trying but failing to glare she said ¡°for that I might not tell you why I¡¯m here¡±.


    ¡°It¡¯s not to hide and sober up before the interview?¡± Morgan speculated out loud.


    Marie shifted in the hard plastic chair then looking at him said ¡°We talked about your car ride you know. Wendy likes to think she¡¯s all subtle being trained and all but its pathetic. She really thinks nobody notices what she¡¯s trying to say. So on that subject sorry I forgot about your family ¨C just checked this morning while trying to fix some er things I¡¯ll get to next. You are listed as a widower, apparently the road collapse you were injured in killed your wife. I am sorry. No other family is listed. Whatever happened to your daughter the hospital has no idea of¡±. The silence stretched out.


    Marie was clearly an expert in appearing sad but detached as she maintained a slightly sad but distant expression until Morgan laughed ¡°Well that¡¯s clearly wrong ¨C probably some poor sod with a similar name. Morgan, Moran of course. That¡¯s why my name is wrong. I wasn¡¯t in a road collapse. I was attacked. By a thug. Over a fender bender. He rear ended me. See it¡¯s all a mistake. My family is fine. Is that why I had no visitors, they were told I was dead? Yeh that makes sense. Ok back to Paul I suppose and start tracking down the real me¡±. Marie did a double take at the laughter and then blanched as she listened to his rambling which Morgan ascribed to the hangover.


    Getting up and examining his charts she looked away mumbling quietly to herself ¡°Ok Wendy guess this ones your problem¡± then replacing the charts looked at him and replied ¡°let¡¯s hope you¡¯re right though you should consider the possibility that head injuries distort memories and cause hallucinations. Dr Scott will go through some - probably memory drills as we explore that possibility¡±.


    ¡°Anyyyway that¡¯s not all we talked about, we discussed other aspects of your case as well. Specifically your birthday. Can you confirm your date of birth please? When he did she continued ¡°obviously you don¡¯t present as a 68 year old man. I cant remember all that we said last night and what pathways of care we considered but we had way too many shots¡±. Looking at him she got suddenly very serious ¡°really its the hospitals fault you know. There is no reason to make samples available at that hour. None. If this place was better run none of this would have happened. I might make a complaint and tell them that. Do you think I should wait to see if anyone notices?¡±


    Morgan thought about asking how the hell would he know but instead just wondered out loud ¡°is this the sort of thing a union rep should be hearing rather than a random patient? I mean I appreciate the trust and all but why are you asking me about this this whatever this is?


    Marie looked startled then replied ¡± Oh because its you of course ¨C you are the problem. Oh shoot I haven¡¯t told you what the problem is have I? Erm well look young. I mean you look young. You test young, you recover young no better than young. You recover like I should burn my textbooks. And I have a lot of textbooks. Just better than PDF¡¯s you know I retain more from paper. Its science¡±


    Morgan was a great believer in the longer the preamble the worse the problem and this rambling was beginning to scare him. ¡°Ok  what happened. Tell me how it effects me.¡±


    Marie blinked and then said ¡°Well apparently Wendy might not get hangovers but she is willing to countersign specials tests. Apparently so am I. It seems according to the logs that at 2:45 this morning we both came in to Wendy¡¯s office filled out a specials request form attached a sample and put it in the internal post.¡± A small uncertain grin crossed her face ¡°really not sure how we got your signature though¡±. She shifted uncomfortably ¡°I really don¡¯t remember much, did we, I mean did you want, did ¨C look did we get you to sign that form? I would really hate to have to reveal at my employment interview that forging patient signatures is part of my clinical repertoire right. So did I or Wendy get you to sign a form last night?¡± .


    ¡°No¡± Morgan replied, it would do no good to elaborate the answer was enough. She deflated in front of him. ¡°I was just getting a deposit together. Ok lets go face the music¡±


    She looked so bad and Morgan just didn¡¯t have the heart to not try to help ¡°I mean I would have. If asked. Pretty curious about the process. Do you have to tell people if no complaint is made? Not going to complain I mean like I said its something that would not be objectionable?¡± She turned to him with a face that seemed like a professional mask. ¡° not really an option. I might get sacked, I will get censured when I tell them what happened. But I will get a crappy job as a doctor elsewhere. If I try to hide it then I will lose my licence and I will have to worry about jail. It sucks but if I try to hide it well it would be bad. Just bad.¡±


    Morgan jumped out of bed. He had not thought about it and both he and Marie seemed equally startled when he arrived in front of her. After a moment he just ignored it and started talking. ¡°Look not a doctor but with all due respect have you thought this through? I mean have you talked to a rep? Have you talked to Dr Scott? Have you checked if the form was sent yet I mean there¡¯s a hundred and one things that could break in your favour. Don¡¯t throw yourself over the ledge if there¡¯s a path down alright. Alright?¡±


    Marie smiled faintly, ¡°Wendy is the one who told me because her department queried the time the form was filed. She¡¯s outside and I presume trying to listen through the door. The form is logged and filed ¨C already received and if the sample isn¡¯t sent that will be followed up.  No the form is part of the record now, I just hoped we had got your signature.¡±


    The door opened and Dr Scott looked at them both. ¡°Ah crap¡± she said and walked in. Given Marie¡¯s state she looked remarkably healthy and swept in sitting in the hard plastic chair that was just about the only furniture in the room. Looking at Morgan she pulled a face ¡°for gods sake close that gown, had enough of that view in pathology. Decided to join you hiding in here, apparently Wheeler is looking for me¡±.


    Given the circumstances for once he was just not ready to take snark ¡°nobody invited you in or told you to sit down ¨C I think the day you come in and tell me you¡¯ve submitted me to tests  without my knowledge or consent and in the process forged my signature apparently is not the day you get to tell me off for what I¡¯m wearing kappish?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Dr Scott laughed and got up ¡°oh its good to see you do have some iron in that backside-frankly I was starting to worry. Sorry but if you want to have your ass flapping in the open well you go ahead and make your own bad decisions. You know my opinion about them¡± smugly she leaned back on the wall with a curious expression.


    Ignoring the draft and ignoring that she was obviously right Morgan turned to Marie. ¡°Well at this point I might be willing to perjure myself and claim it was her idea and she faked your ID. Look do what you have to do but talk to a rep first. I am leaving here as soon as I organise some transport to Conwy. Paul probably wont be easy to convince and well if its my family then its down to me to sort it  .Conwy¡¯s my home and probably the best place to start looking for my family. I have extensive project management experience as well as an accounting diploma none of which mean anything if I can¡¯t prove it so hopefully will find some of my colleagues there to write some sort of background references for me. All of which means I wish you luck and if I can help you need to get it soon because I am out of here. If nothing else I was told to avoid funding panels and the next one is in eleven days or so..¡±


    Marie snapped a glare at Dr Scott who was starting to open her mouth ¡°Shut up Wendy ¨C I did tell him about his family. He claims its a mistake, classic denial yes but thats your problem Doctor, and as for the consequences of the form well I was getting to that.¡± Huffing slightly Wendy settled back and made a waving motion for her to carry on with it then. Marie turned and taking a breath said¡± you¡¯re not going anywhere. The form includes where the subject can be found in case the results indicate a harmful or urgent outcome. The hospital was listed we think. That is why it¡¯s kind of bad that we can¡¯t remember what¡¯s on it. Or doing it. Or much at all really. If its not the hospital well wherever it is you are not leaving until the results come in.¡±


    Morgan stared blankly for a few moments barely registering the occasional draft flapping his gown. Finally he looked down and then looking back up and positioning himself to look at both of them growled ¡°No. Just no. You have been great, I really appreciate the care and attention though you are only a part of the team but I am not going to wait here and ignore my family because you two went on a bender last night. Good luck with your job interview, good luck in your mind games with the next agoraphobic you meet but I am getting dressed and buggering off now. If you are that concerned about my dignity get out while I dress.¡± They both just stared at him so he turned his back and started pulling clothes out of his rucksack.


    Dr Scott harrumphed and then started talking again ¡°is that view for me or Marie? Anyway you haven¡¯t considered¡±


    Morgan spun and then advanced waving a finger in her face ¡°Shut it. Just shut it alright. Do you think nobody notices the shock opener? Get them off balance with an almost insult and then head into your actual point. Is that taught to you in school or are you just a pratt in the wrong job. Whichever it is get a new act, that one has lost its shine¡± Seeing the look on her face it occurred to him that he might have been unexpectedly physically intimidating. Normally he would have apologised but she really had been annoying and he persisted with the glare. After a few seconds Marie put her hand on his arm and gently pulled him back.


    Ignoring Dr Scott she spoke very softly and slowly looking at his face near but not into his eyes ¡°Not wrong ¨C It can get rather annoying over time but lets calm things down a bit ok. I think Wendy was about to explain about ID checkpoints.¡± Marie had looked calm but she must have been on a razors edge because as soon as Dr Scott Started to move she whipped her head round ¡°leave ¨C I¡¯ll explain. Having you here is not the help it should be¡± There was an intense almost vicious look on her face as she watched her leave that vanished as soon as she turned back to Morgan. ¡°Your problem is checkpoints mainly but really anywhere you need to produce ID. Anytime someone checks it they will ask why you are not at your designated location. Most places will just warn you and call the cops when you leave. Checkpoints are fortified positions held by active military personnel. There is a , well there¡¯s a bad history about rogue specials and military checkpoints. A definite shoot first then shoot later kind of bad history ok?¡±. Morgan looked at the hand and then looked at her. She removed her hand and stepped back with a reassuring smile that might have worked if he had not seen her rapid change of expression earlier. ¡°We are just trying to stop you from making a mistake you know. Trust us we have put a lot of effort into your care and seeing it ruined with you getting a post mortem; not what Wendy or I want¡±


    How many of his conversations had been to script he wondered? Managing a patient was probably just part of the bedside manner and he might be over reacting but all of a sudden he just wanted to make a decision that was his and his alone. Everybody here had brummie accents so he was presumably somewhere in Birmingham. Marie was still talking but he would worry about what she had said later and go over it then. RECORDING . What, never mind that meant he would be about what 150 miles from Conwy? Get a train perhaps or maybe hitch hike. Call it a day to get there and then a couple of days to track down friends and family. A week tops.


    Ok time to make a statement, still not listening he dropped the robe and started to get dressed. The sound of the door closing came a few moments later and despite his aggressive calm he relaxed as Marie left the room. It took some time to get the clothes comfortable which was caused by them not fitting perfectly and his attention to detail. Though he justified the obsessive detail to himself as needing to be comfortable whilst hitch hiking eventually he felt like he was dawdling. Time to go. Wonder how they¡¯ll react he thought as he checked his rucksack. Finally he remembered to pick up his newly issued ID and put the rucksack on his back.


    Looking at his room door he had a moment of uncertainty as he realised that he was not even sure of the route out of this building. He had been going to take another day or two after all, learn more about the changes while he had been down. Suddenly a little worm of doubt reached into his thoughts, after all his only source of information about everything was Dr Scott. A moment of introspection as he realised that even though he knew she was called Wendy he could still only think of her as Dr Scott and then the doubt just permeated all of his thoughts. He was going to think for himself and stop worrying about what they thought END RECORDING . Again? Maybe not mention hearing voices as well or at least wait for a chat with a family GP someone else could vouch for.


    With a deep breath he walked through the door and took in the scene in front of him trying hard not to grin. Both Doctors were standing looking sheepish in front of a lab coated old woman Morgan had not seen before. Whatever had been said they both looked pale in a way that did not seem attributable to alcohol. How long had it taken him to change, this lady was either world class at bollockings or she had devoted some time to demoralising the two of them. Looking round he observed all the other staff desperately trying to be elsewhere so she was obviously very senior. While he had been working that out she had approached him and held out her hand to him.


    ¡°Mr Moran ¨C I am Doctor Wheeler and I am Senior Clinical Lead for this facility. I understand that you intend to leave my facility. Am I correct?¡± Impressed that he could hear the capital letters around her title he decided to minimise conversation ¨C he was starting to feel that you could be trapped by being reasonable, by being sensible.


    Without a definite reason he just wanted out and did not want to get tied in verbal knots. ¡°Yes¡±. Doctor Wheeler waited a few seconds and then just for a second started to crack a smile before her severe expression crossed her wrinkled face. When he was younger his mate Geoff  had a saying that beauty was skin deep while ugly went to the bone and Morgan concluded that she spent a long time frowning. It settled comfortably onto her face whilst a smile no matter how fleeting  did not seem to belong. ¡°Well we are not a prison and anybody that can leave can leave. I will need to get you to sign a DAMA and I would just not feel right if I had not convinced myself you had not got a full understanding of your decision.¡±


    Morgan Was determined not to be diverted but..¡±DAMA? . She clarified immediately ¡°Discharge against medical advice ¨C insurance. As an underwriter I am sure you understand Mr Moran¡± .


    ¡°Morgan ¨C theres a G in it. Never was an underwriter either¡±


    The old lady just kept talking ¡°Head injuries often cause confusion as does coma recovery. It takes time for your body to readjust and I understand your endocrinology results are haywire? I really do think you should stay in our facility at least until they are stable if not normal for a man of your age. I would also be happier with a baseline cognitive function test but I presume that you are not. Whatever your job was you can tell me while we prepare a discharge pack for you. I hope you will not be offended if I try to persuade you to stay at least until those have been done.¡±  Morgan allowed himself to be led by a finger touch on his elbow to a room with a desk.


    Three quite thick forms with DAMA written across the top were placed in front of him whilst Wendy and Marie hovered outside the room until dismissed by the old woman with a curse about not wanting to find out how much damage could you cause in one day if you were a pair of god touched idiots. Wheeler then told him to fill in the forms and she would be back. His uncannily sharp hearing heard her tell someone that she had him wasting time on the forms, in 15 minutes send someone and see if the forms have made him change his mind .  Smiling wryly he picked up the pen and basically doodled until nobody was looking at him then picked up his rucksack and following corridor signs walked out of the building.


    Maybe he should have spent more time sneaking as a young man but he actually enjoyed that. Standing outside the low grey building he looked round and sucked his first breath of free air in more than a decade.

 an unwelcome conversational partner

    Ok the bit about free air was melodramatic perhaps but as he walked towards the main road it occurred to him that until he actually collected some of the allowance that James had organised he really should stick to free as much as possible. It took him a few minutes to make his way to the bus stop and once there realising he had no way to pay bus fare just kept walking in what he hoped was heading to the town centre. By the time he could no longer see the medical facilities he had looked back several times to check for a response, whilst he was not sure what he expected it was disappointing that no reaction was visible from the outside. Feeling vaguely offended that there were no flashing blue lights or helicopters he started checking traffic signs.


    Forty minutes later seeing the first sign for the motorway he got to the northbound slip road and started thumbing. It took half an hour of waiting before a lorry stopped. Running to the door he was surprised that a balding middle aged to old man with an enormous belly stopped him from opening the door ¡°ID ¨C show me your ID before you get in my cab¡±. Digging it out the driver took a photo of it on his phone and then after hearing a chime opened the cab door. ¡°Hey Im Lenn whass the matter with you ¨C get your id up before trying to open the door alright. I nearly hit the panic button. Where you going?¡± Morgan slid into the cab and then ¡°Conwy ¨C what panic button?¡±. ¡°You kidding right. The social app. Not going to Conwy but stopping at the services you¡¯ll find someone who is there. That ok?¡± Nodding agreeably he settled back making a mental note to ask someone what the social app was but since his ignorance had already caused comment with this guy maybe the next guy would tell him. Lenn was starved of conversation and wanted to talk about politics, finding someone wildly uninformed he spent a great deal of time explaining his hopefully crackpot theories about the government organising hard landings to kill communist Buddhists. When they reached the services Morgan got out to use the toilets and thanking Lenn was grateful both for the lift and that the talk had ended.


    After freshening up he went to the lorry park and it took very little time finding someone who would get him home or at least Dolgarrog. He took that offer gratefully as he would walk from there. It seemed the social app was a social contribution program, show that you were doing your bit to help others and post it there to prove it. For hikers it had the added benefit of being proof about who picked up who in theory. It made sense he supposed. Another hour and a half later and he was dropped off outside a community much larger than he remembered around a largish power station. Ignoring the place he started walking.


    After another couple of hours walking he was approaching the outskirts of Conwy. It had been largely unchanged since the thirteenth century and he was pleased to see that another decade had not visibly changed the place. Taking a quick rest it was time to make some decisions. He wanted to find his family of course but unless he was crazy lucky that would take some time. Time during which food, shelter and water would get important. There was he recalled near the train station a YMCA that would take in vagrants ¨C bitter pill ¨C and then he could work out his status, resources and see what help was available to


    Help functions available. Would you like to see your status Y/N


    The voice in his head was back. What was this?


    This is the K32 monitoring system for functional development. This system is designed to assist incubation protocols by various metrics. Included in this monitoring is interactive guidance. Help functions available. Would you like to see your status Y/N.


    Well that seemed quieter at least, if not any clearer. To be fair why should the voices in his head make any sense anyway?


    Help functions will be less efficient if not understood. Would you like to see your status Y/N. Well insistent bugger aren¡¯t you ¨C no not now. Even if you were real I don¡¯t want to stand on the road arguing with myself, can we do this quietly anyway?


    Verbal input not required, Would you like to see your status Y/N. Morgan clenched the muscles in his leg and then relaxed each of them one at a time, it was a relaxation technique he had been taught as a child. While it had never worked before and was not working now it at least gave him something to do whilst thinking. Eventually that drill finished he silently walked on until he found a bus shelter. Sitting down he took the rucksack off and placing it between his legs and then sighed. Thinking carefully he decided to ask a few questions to his voice. Ok Voice a few things, wait until I¡¯ve finished before responding ok. First do you have a name or title, voice is irritating. Next what is a k32 Monitoring system, what is meant by functional development, what are incubation protocols, what metrics do you use and what¡¯s with the flaming status? Morgan then readied himself for a data dump of gibberish. He sat in a concrete shelter gazing across a slowly darkening sky waiting for enlightenment. After a few minutes he groaned and then added finished.


    This unit has no unique designation but when combined with planet code its numeric logging code forms a unique identifier. A Designation may be added to this unit at incubators request. This unit is a k32 monitoring system. Functional development is the development and refinement of function cores as they express functions and achieve integration with supporting systems. Incubation protocols are those protocols designed to allow maturity of function cores without destruction of incubating host. Metrics used are common Confederation notation metrics. Would you like to see your status Y/N


    Morgan thought about what he had just heard, there was probably a lot of information there but he lacked context for most of it. Also some of those answers were quite circular. He could either dig into those answers or try to get more information and hope it started to link up and make sense. Assuming any of this was real. Tell you what voice, lets see that status. Bracing himself for something arcane instead a series of charts appeared in front of him each blinking out when they made no sense. Eventually a table formed in the centre of his field of vision. Before reading it he moved his head around watching whilst it remained in the centre of his vision and then closing his eyes it was still visible. Deciding it was some sort of projection it was probably time to read it.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    87%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    97%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    2%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    5%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    63%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    36%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    99.99% pending


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    One million forty eight thousand two hundred and seven functional clusters installed of which one million forty eight thousand two hundred and six functional clusters are currently unassigned. Would you like me to list all clusters Y/N


    Oh definite no. Morgan read through the chart a few times trying to guess the implications of the numbers. Brow furrowed he slowly articulated his first question . ¡°Voice I have lots of questions but lets start with health ¨C why is my current score 87% and why is my maximum below 100%¡±


    Your current score is due to recovery from long period of immobilisation, your maximum is below 100% due to damage caused by long term immobilisation. Ok no surprises there, ¡°voice ¨C what is meant by senses assistance?¡±


    During initial parameter setting it was indicated that you wished to be as aware as possible ¨C for this reason your base senses were augmented by having unassigned cores not in a function cluster assigned to improvement. To allow assimilation increased functionality is being augmented slowly. Current augmentation is at 2%.Thinking back to over hearing conversations and being revolted by hospital food Morgan just decided to accept that. ¡°Ok Voice, warn me a day before any further augmentations. Can I assume the physical augmentation is similar?¡±


    Yes ¡°ok voice what are build systems and why are they not implemented?¡±


    Build systems are a function for reassigning modifications from non upgradeable systems to those that can be upgraded. As you have only one function core assigned earlier today no build systems are in place as they would be dangerous with no assigned output. ¡°Voice ¨C whats my assigned function core then?¡±


    Stealth ¨C it was assigned during your escape from medical facilities


    Morgan mentally shrugged, maybe not as good at sneaking as he had thought. Alright and what does power bleed mean? Its the only one where the numbers seem inverted.


    Power bleed is a measure of how much power is wasted during the functioning of a core. The lower that number the better. Why is my number so high, actually no better question what is a normal power bleed number?


    This unit does not have a statistical basis for establishing a normal number. Anything over 20% is flagged an urgent systems flaw and may indicate damaged systems. Ugh alright voice getting there I think now recovery systems, what are they and is 36% a problem?


    Recovery systems are the means by which damaged function clusters are repaired. This unit does not have a model for defining if that would be a problem. Current status 35%. Systems are suffering ongoing damage due to power bleed. And what can I do about that?


    Isolate damaged systems, allow repair functions to recover and then repair clusters one at a time. This system can implement that procedure. Implement procedure Y/N Well yes of course. How long will it take?Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Initiating ¨C Projected down time uncertain. Minimum time 1024 minutes, maximum time 32,768 minutes. This unit will be unresponsive during that time. So Voice -am I right in saying from a few hours to weeks depending on how it goes? Voice? Voice?


    After a few moments of silence he started to walk into town again and if he muttered something about idiot machines nobody heard him.


    The YMCA was where he remembered it but not how he remembered it. It used to be a beacon of cleanliness and pride in what was quite a shabby area of town frequented by homeless vagrants desperate for a warm night. Whilst it was still clean and well maintained the area around it had become gentrified and it no longer stood out amongst its neighbours. The lack of vagrants made him edgy, a response that would normally have been peculiar. He was exactly the sort that would cross the street rather than make eye contact with a beggar but today bitter pill though it was he was in that category. If there were no longer vagrants to be accommodated would he find the facilities he was after. Head held high he walked into a bright airy lobby with several people in workout clothes drinking concoctions that looked revolting. His growling stomach disagreed but it could just keep on growling, mush and gruel were not on his menu. Not today and with luck never. The sign still said YMCA but the look of the place was middle class gym. With a sinking feeling he approached the desk and rang the bell.


    A young lady wearing a uniform that hung loosely on her in places but stretched at others looked at him with a bored expression that slowly morphed into professional interest. ¡°Hello do you have your membership?¡± she asked in what was a fair imitation of caring. Morgan just launched into his spiel ¡°Hi when I was a lad I was told the YMCA helped those down on there luck. Sadly today thats me. Would you know if you still provide aid to those in need. You know. Homeless. Transient. Like me¡± looking at him her jaw worked for a few seconds and then she called out to her colleague ¡°Brian whats the policy on bums these days?¡±


    Inwardly wincing Morgan maintained a outwardly calm and polite expression turning towards a middle aged man who looked like he spent far more time at the barbells than the policy manuals. After an initial sour look at the girl he indicated towards some seats and sat down opposite Morgan. ¡°Ok well we do offer help and support still but its a much smaller facility than we used to offer. I¡¯m afraid there are just far fewer homeless at the moment ¨C with national service taking a lot off the street and much lower unemployment due to well you know fewer people around hard landings the facilities are no longer supervised. What we can offer is a room with a bunk bed, camp stove and privacy. Hygiene facilities are shared with the gym. Toilets are the public ones in this lobby. Showers are available during Gym hours only if no paying customers require the facilities. You can use them for a week only during which time you will be expected to sort yourself out. Staff here will help out¡± glancing across at the young girl with another grimace he continued ¡°though some staff may be more help than others obviously. Is that acceptable?¡±


    Morgan just nodded, he would have liked to hear about dinner being included but otherwise this was ideal. After a moment he responded ¡°oh yeah that sounds great ¨C where do I go?¡±. Brian chuckled ¡°Slow down there, unsupervised facilities can be abused so we need to know a bit about you then I need to read some rules of conduct. Breaching those rules will result in expulsion and we do keep a national database of the excluded. Before I start would you like a drink. I mean I guess thats the first question, I meant tea or coffee. Is drink a problem for you? ¡°


    The interrogation that followed was polite but thorough. Brian gained some points from Morgan when after observing him eating the biscuits with his coffee he ordered a meal from the food area. Essentially he prodded until he got an explanation that made sense to him ¨C he latched onto the concerns about the funding panel with an attitude of both sympathy and understanding. ¡°Well I guess we are all one bad break from those troubles. Should I guess that you would prefer it if we kept you off the books?¡± Rather than try to explain Morgan latched onto this explanation gratefully and just agreed. After that it all went quickly and Morgan was lead upstairs to a numbered room with a numbered keypad. Brian showed him round an impossibly small room with a bunk bed, sink and what he had thought was a cupboard opened up to reveal a tiny cooking area. Brian left him there after pointing out several cameras in the corridor and warning him that he was not entirely unsupervised. Morgan laid back on his bed and looked round. Ok this room was somewhere between half and a third of the size of the room he had been in at the hospital. The bed was lumpier and he was possibly on the run. All in all a productive day he mused.


    Waking up the next morning he called out ¡°Voice?¡± and waited. No answer came the reply so he started to perform his ablutions at the sink regretting the lack of a toothbrush. So what was his best plan for the day was the question. Ok lets think about it logically like this is a discussion at work. Using his favourite model ORI he started with objectives (resources and issues would probably depress him anyway). Ok he wanted to find his family, get a job, rebuild his life. The first of those was the most important but the job part may be more achievable in the short term.


    Resources ¨C alright he had local knowledge of his and Joanne¡¯s friends of family. Less about Annie but maybe school records would be a start there. He had work colleagues who might be able to help both with the family search and with work references. Bottom of the corporate ladder was at least one rung from rock bottom. The big unknown here was voice. Firstly whilst it was extraordinarily detailed maybe every lunatic thought the voice in the head was convincing. Secondly assuming that he was not crazy (or maybe he wondered with a mental giggle he was crazy but not delusional) so what ¨C what could this do for him? Like a bell in his head he suddenly remembered the discussions about specials. Right when voice came back he had question number one. If he was a special maybe he could sponge off the retainer fee Dr Scott had talked about and use that money to fund a search for his family? Speculation, leave it till later. He had a source of funds credited to him according to the discharge team but was wary about collecting it.


    Issues ¨C Lack of material resources, money home and food. A stunning lack of familiarity with the current social attitudes. An old fogey like he was would be forgiven but the trouble was he no longer could pass as an old fogey. Oh and that might be another issue, convincing people of his age and or identity. Last but by no means last he might be on the run from the police? Depending of course on how seriously the hospital took discharge.


    So looking at all that what was his plan for the day. Begging was out. At least at the moment anyway but lets not take anything off the table. Spend today getting information. Go to the council, check ownership of his old house. Check the electoral register for Joanne and Annie. Go to his company website and see if he recognised anyone ¨C find out how to approach any familiar names. While on the web search for any historical news reports that mention him. Actually any that mention Moran as well. Find out how to earn money, get food. If he got all of that done this was a very productive day, lets see how far down that list he could get.


    The first problem was having to wait until the showers were available. Eventually he left the YMCA feeling more human than he had for a while. The walk to the town centre was quite pleasant eating up about forty minutes but giving him time to look round. Something was not quite right but for the life of him he could not work out what the problem was. The yellow doors dotted about were new but he knew what they were for. After a while he let it boil in the back of his head and just forgot about it.


    Reaching the town centre he reached a point where he had to decide where to go first. Town hall or the library? After some fretting it occurred to him that police officers were more likely to be at the town hall than the library so turned to follow the street signs for the library. Though he was not going to avoid the police that did not mean go looking for them either.


    Walking into the library he looked at the garish horrible art that nobody dared scoff at since the sign above it proclaimed it came from the special needs school. Walking in he found a middle age man next to a fish tank stacking books. A quick discussion reassured him that there were public access internet terminals available for free though the connection speed was described apologetically as painful. Following the hand waved directions and eventually finding some chipboard cubicles he started in on some research.


    Well it was not the most encouraging of results. His home had been sold six years after he went to the centre due to non payment of council tax. It had been sold as an empty property and it was unclear what had happened to it after that. The excess monies were held in trust by the council as no family had come forward to claim them. After making note of the case number and details he moved onto the electoral register. That was just a complete bust, he suddenly regretted ticking the confidentiality box on the registration forms.


    Ok moving on his company was apparently still trading though the offices had moved to an industrial estate out of town. Going there would be a full day so that was out for today. No personnel were listed so it would be speculative if not purely sentimental. What the hell nothing wrong with being sentimental.


    It took some searching but eventually he found news reports about his assault. Strangely it was not in the local rag but in something called the fortean times. It had been speculated that demonic possession was the cause of a burst of fire that had injured two drivers. The assault was not mentioned but since the younger of the two drivers had spontaneously combusted in police custody eight hours later only this paper had carried any stories. Probably a waste of time but Morgan noted the listed journalist and started to look for a dude named Moran who was hospitalised at the same time. This was much easier, a poor unfortunate in Reading had been captured and tortured by a local gang over gambling debts. Things got out of hand and he was hospitalised with ¡°serious brain trauma¡± and assigned to you guessed it the William Grove facility. Was it possible that they actually had his contact details and if I just told them where to look his problems would be solved by someone else? Try that later as his trust was still damaged.


    Folding the loose leaf paper the library had been kind enough to provide him with for notes into his pocket he left the library and sat down to organise his thoughts. No real progress on the hunt for family but not a problem there were other options. Resolving to visit Joanne¡¯s family and friends until someone could give him a lead the next problem was food and money.


    Looking round for a job centre wasted some time until he was directed back to the library.  Apparently the job arboretum (why did every change of name just keep getting more stupid) was on the 1<sup>st</sup> floor. Getting back to the Library he saw the sign noting that he had probably been too revolted by the art to look in the right direction and headed upstairs. Once upstairs the signage was more obvious leading him quickly to the job arboretum. The idea was dumb in so many ways but after he got the idea at least he felt less irritated by the stupid name. The room was filled with pots labelled either with the name of a course or an employer and stick sculptures showed what jobs or careers they could lead to. Kind of like showing opportunities as a gamer¡¯s tech tree. Was this seriously how people thought information was best presented? After a brief impulse to run round knocking pots over was suppressed he looked for help from some staff. Finding the book stacker again he was told there would be a job fair in two weeks but all recruitment advertising was done on line these days. Register on a site tell them it what you wanted and let the AI¡¯s sort out your life and career. Not phrased that way of course, just let the website do its job and tell you what you were going to do.


    As disturbing as that idea was Morgan sat on a bench outside the library and wondered how he was going to get a job in the medium term. In the short term food was an issue that had to be addressed. Admitting defeat Morgan walked towards the town hall only to turn back when he saw a card machine at the door which people waved ID badges at. Still wanting to stay under the radar he made his way back to his room at the YMCA.


    Walking in he saw the same pair as yesterday on the desk who appeared to be half messing about, half practicing some sort of juggling act between them. Seeing him wander in Brian called a break and wondered over to talk to him. ¡°So how was your day, did you find any of your friends that could help you out?¡± Sitting down Morgan reflected that he had done an awful lot of walking today and though he expected to need a break the 5% physical augmentation must be kicking in because he felt fine but just anwered ¡°no, got some information from the electoral roll and old news reports on the web but no results just yet¡±. Brian nodded and seemingly ignoring the reply continued ¡°see the thing is I was asking round about work for people who are reluctant to show ID. Got some answers but I gotta say man. These people are sketchy ¨C By definition people casual about id are kind of sketchy¡±. Morgan heard everything he said but somehow tuned out everything but one comment ¡°A job? No questions asked a job without ID?¡± Frowning Brian slowly replied taking care to enunciate clearly ¡°Yes, but the work is ¨C I don¡¯t know what the work is ok? If you want to do this you need to be at the corner of Bradshaw at half six tomorrow morning. Payment is cash in hand. Make sure you agree a rate <u>before</u> you start. You hear rumours yknow¡± .  Morgan was ecstatic about finally making progress somewhere and looked up ¡°Well its not like my finances can get worse. Do you have an alarm clock I could use?¡±


    Half six in the morning was something he used to joke about. Now here he was on a street corner wondering what was coming his way and what he was going to get out of all this. A convoy of dirty beat up VW Vans rolled up and a rough looking man walked up to him. In an eastern European accent he asked him ¡°a doni pune?¡± then seeing his blank expression ¡°you want work?¡±.


    Morgan nodded vigorously and speaking slowly asked ¡°how much and what work?¡± earning a spit from the driver?boss?paymaster? and the contemptuous reply ¡°you lazy brit people ¨C good work good pay. Say yes or time wasted and I go. You eat? We give food¡±. This was obviously a squeeze to get him to go without agreeing in advance but there was a problem. His pitch was right on target, Morgan needed money and food. After a couple of seconds he just got in the van, if he got screwed then do something else tomorrow. How bad could it get?

 interlude one

    Major Channing was not pleased. This should have been a simple pickup, go to a medical facility and pickup a subject with anomalous results. He supposed that someone could comb through his record and check but he had done this dozens of times and it was a simple job, a private with aspirations to being a taxi driver kind of job. No the reason someone with his rank was sent was just in case he met up with problems or idiots. Today it looked like both.


    The old Lady radiated fury that anyone would interfere in the running of her medical facility. Noting her name badge and wondering whether he would have to commit it to long term memory he started talking ¡°Look Dr Wheeler your staffing issues are just that. Your staffing issues. Here is what is going to happen. You ARE going to produce Mr Moran Oxbridge. You ARE going to produce Dr¡¯s Scott and Boilson. You ARE going to explain why they are not already here or at least producible within a period defined as reasonable by the courts¡± He glared at the lady waiting. The moments stretched out but finally it happened, she started to object ¡°you just aren¡¯t listeni..¡± His hand slammed on the table with a booming sound that startled everyone except for the young woman in a military uniform there as his aid.


    She had seen him do this before and even groused behind his back after she had caught him practicing it one time. She also didn¡¯t react when he stood up and in his best parade ground bellow ¡°YOU WILL DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS YOUR DUTY. YOU WILL DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT. YOU WILL DO THIS BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT THE FULL FORCE OF THE COMPLIANCE ACT WILL BE LEVIED UPON YOU. FINALLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU WILL DO THIS BECAUSE I WILL MAKE YOU AND THIS INSTITUTION SUFFER A LIVING HELL UNLESS YOU DO AS I SAY AND DO IT NOW.¡± There was a pause where everybody sat back and just dealt with the shock, Channing waited a few seconds and then in a calm tone in marked contrast asked ¡°is that clear? If it¡¯s not or if you can¡¯t meet your requirements that will be noted in my report¡±. Channing hated reports but he loved how ominous they sounded. Truthfully he wished his threats were more than bluster but there had never been a serious incident of non-compliance. The act was still only a few years old and had not been tested. A test case was not wanted as it would mean that a potentially valuable asset had not been found, precedence would be a poor consolation. Everybody, everybody wilted at this point and produced the reluctant recruit.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Waiting expectantly he was shocked when instead of capitulating the old biddy glared back and then hissed ¡°No I won¡¯t be doing that. You can have Wendy and Marie, good luck to you but like I was saying you can¡¯t have Mr Moran.¡± She raised her hand to forestall an interruption ¡°not because I won¡¯t, because I can¡¯t. He buggered off.¡± Channing had always been taught the right tactic was to dominate any situation but he decided more information was perhaps in order


    ¡°Ok then. Explain¡±

 Paved with good intentions

    The drive was a short one and from Morgan¡¯s perspective a frustrating one. When he got in he tried to introduce himself to his fellow passengers but none of them seemed to be interested in talking. It didn¡¯t seem to be him, they wouldn¡¯t talk to each other either. Refusing to be discouraged Morgan grinned inanely at anyone who would look at him. Taking a more careful look around he saw that many of these men were wearing high visibility jackets under the overcoats. Combining that with mostly filthy dirty work boots and the occasional hardhat under a chair and some sort of construction work was looking likely. When he reached a building site a certain amount of satisfaction for his deductive abilities was felt.


    The vans pulled up and everyone started out so Morgan got out as well. Whilst everybody got changed (in the open) into more normal looking work gear Morgan just looked around until the driver walked up jabbering rapidly in some foreign language with too many k¡¯s and z¡¯s in it. He felt a brief moment of sympathy for English who visited Wales and then crushed it because they were English. The Driver looked at him and then grunted. Changing to English he started to berate him ¡°What for you waiting ¨C I know Brit lazy but dumb as well. Get your work clothes on. Are you too dumb for work clothes or too good. Lazy brit¡± with which he spat again. Wondering how he could spit so often Morgan tried to explain ¡°look nobody told me what to bring, just where to be and at what time¡±. Spitting again he stared at him then ¡°Skender fix this, you work for Skender so Skender fix this. You owe Skender, you work to pay Skender then you work for yourself.¡±


    As reasonable as this seemed it still set up alarm bells, Morgan raising his hands said ¡°look what am I going to owe you for? You still haven¡¯t said what my pay is either¡±. The eyebrows on Skender tried to reach the sky failing at his hairline and in a raised voice ¡°Skender fair pay ¨C no bastich say other. You owe for hat, you owe for jacket, you owe for trousers, you owe for boots¡±  waving his hand at a safety notice all those items did seem to be relevant. ¡°Skender pay good, Pay foreman for you to work here, you owe for that. Dont see food ¨C Skender get you food as well. Complain eh? Well Do you complain Eh?¡± He had moved closer and was almost but not quite invading his space so Morgan backed off hands out ¡° no no thats fine, you haven¡¯t said the rate?¡± Spitting again (was it something medical?) he said ¡°you look new, strong back I hope. Pay you twelve an hour. Stay here¡±.


    Morgan watched him walk off and realised he had no idea if that was a good rate. More concerning was that the majority of the rest had started to leave but the ones that remained glared at him with something between contempt and hate. Finally a tall blonde fellow walked over pushed him on the shoulder ¡°you should fuck off ¨C Skender will eat you alive and we¡¯ll just watch grateful its not us. Go on just fuck off. While you can¡±. Confused by what seemed to be an attempt to help coupled with aggression he tried to make sense of that while the blonde man stalked off.


    A few minutes later having decided that he did not want to walk back to town and that he might as well get paid Morgan watched Skender stalk back with a bag full of clothes. Throwing them down on the ground and spitting near them he waved his hand ¡°Shit clothes off, find fitting and use them. Leave old clothes here Skender look after them¡±. He then just stood there staring at him. Morgan looked round ¡°is there somewhere to change?¡± but that just got a laugh. ¡°You think scared of tiny peepee, just change no one cares about little problem¡±. Finally seemingly bereft of options he started to sort through the clothing finding items that seemed reasonable, after a few moments helped by Skender. It took a few minutes but a reasonable facsimile of workwear was found for him.


    Taken through to the work site a well muscled man with a belly just on the edge of moving from a pot belly to too big looked up and asked ¡°why did this one take so long ¨C don¡¯t need another runner you know¡±. Skender did something uncharacteristic, he smiled. ¡°No Mike this ones no runner, look I listened to your complaints. This guys English¡±. ¡°Like hell I am¡± Morgan interrupted ¡°Welsh, not English. Local actually though not recently¡±. Mike looked up ¡°Really. Got a trade?¡± ¡°No, just a need to work¡±. Mike looked to Skender then back to Morgan ¡°Well that must be true I suppose. Can you carry bricks? Theres a hod outside, go find Jason on the mezzanine you¡¯ll be his brickies mate ¨C understood?¡±. Skender stopped him on the way out giving him a bag, opening it up there was a fried egg sandwich. Gulping it down he found the hod and went looking for Jason.


    Jason was eventually found. Grateful to have an assistant who spoke English he nevertheless kept Morgan busy. Most of the time his job was to make sure there were always bricks available for Jason to lay. Occasionally for variety he would carry bags of mortar for Jason to mix, Jason seemed to think he was doing him a favour letting him watch how to mix the mortar but any benefit just passed Morgan by. It was hard gruelling work and Morgan was not bothered by it at all. Halfway through the day he was reprimanded for skipping whilst carrying a full hod. Not at all bothered by the hard physical effort he was whistling happily to himself when Skender came round and spat. ¡°Dinner, you not cause problems yet so me not angry¡±.


    Morgan smiled back taking the greasy bag with its unknown contents ¡°Piss off. The accents phony. I heard you talk to Mike¡±. Skender looked at him for a few seconds and then said ¡° the rest expect it ¨C if I don¡¯t have an accent they assume its an immigration sting. My name really is Skender though and I really will kick your ass if you piss these people off on your first day. Besides you didn¡¯t bring any ID so I don¡¯t think you really want to annoy me. No more comments about the accent ok?¡± Morgan agreed and he left. It took Morgan some time to wonder how Skender knew he had not brought any ID with him.


    By the end of the day Jason made him promise to work with him again if he came back here. That was an easy promise to make, the work was constant and physically demanding but that was not bothering him and Jason seemed a nice fellow if a little bit obsessed with spirit levels. Humming he went back to the van and sat in beaming at his fellows, there was just something about being appreciated for an honest days work. The other occupants did not return his good spirits. The tall blonde guy who had pushed him earlier just looked at him with shock on his face and muttering ¡°you have got to be kidding¡± turned away. Skender got in the van and they drove back to town. When they got back to the street corner they all got out and as they left they got handed an envelope with a name on, presumably there¡¯s.


    Morgan waited patiently but soon there was no envelopes left. The driver stared at him waiting. Morgan decided to oblige ¡°Pay?¡± which of course prompted a spit. ¡°Yes you will. Ok The first hour is my pay for driving you sons of bitches. After that the second hour is my bribe to the foreman for not looking at your documents. Food, don¡¯t forget I bought your food. And then we get to the big items. Hard hat seventy. High Viz jacket one twenty. Work pants are cheap, thirty. Boots ninety. All in all you owe me three three eight. Against which you have 7 hours wages at twelve an hour. On the plus side you got good reports so I can place you easily tomorrow so not going to demand it now. I expect you here tomorrow. On time. Enthusiastic. If I keep buying you food should only take a week for you to actually earn some wages. If you don¡¯t turn up well lets just say I don¡¯t take kindly to people welching on debts.¡± He glared at Morgan, then as if to signal he had finished he spat.


    Morgan protested ¡°I worked, for wages. I worked and you damn well owe me wages¡±. Skender grinned again this time not a happy smile more with satisfaction ¡°heard it all before mate. Hope you do not mind if I do not care enough to hear it all again. My heart bleeds it really does. Now that we got the sympathy out of the way you owe me and that means I own you. You¡¯re mine. See you tomorrow or I¡¯ll get the debt some other way. You won¡¯t like that.¡± With that he just turned round got in the van and drove off.


    How had this happened, it had all seemed so reasonable. Get work, get paid and spend money. Now his whole free week at the YMCA was going to be used up just breaking even. That of course assumed that there was no other debts that could be piled onto him, breakages maybe? Skender owned him. Owned him. Had Brian known? Who could he talk to. Suddenly the sullen looks on the other occupants seemed more ominous than anti-social. Mind going in circles Morgan started to walk back to the YMCA.


    On the way back he saw a large DIY shop and decided to check a few things out. Upon reaching the catalogue he decided to check the prices of the items Skender had quoted but despite his initial optimism those prices seemed about right. It was only while idly flicking through he saw a word that resonated with his dilemma, chuckling to himself he continued back running conversations through his head. His problem really had been being surprised and just not knowing how to react, next time he would have the arguments, be able to prove his point and get paid.


    Despite some misgivings he was on the corner again next morning. Skender acted as though it was the most natural thing in the world, of course he was there. Opening the van door he was told to hop in but Morgan just stood there. When Skender turned to him he picked up a bag with the work items and proffered them to him. ¡°Heres the items I <u>rented </u>yesterday. Pay me the deposit back and the wages held for surety and we need never see each other again¡±. ¡°Dumb lazy stupid bastich brit ¨C you too dumb to know sold. Get in van or beat your lazy ass¡±. So far Morgan mused no surprises, Walking up to the van he reached in and took the keys. Pocketing them he turned to look at Skender ready with another demand. He had heard a metallic click but not understood its significance so the collapsible rod swinging towards him was a surprise. Really ¨C he had gone straight to assaulting him, surely there would be more conversation first. Morgan¡¯s reaction was both astonishingly fast and incredibly dumb. Even while trying to process his surprise his arm shot out and grabbed the end of the rod. The pain in his hand was sudden and took up all of his attention. By grabbing the swinging end all of the force had been directed into his hand, broken bones seemed the only explanation for the mind numbing shock.


    His primitive body reacted much better than his mind was ¨C by simple instinctive reaction he pushed Skender away, palm in the face and shoving. Even while trying to decide what to do his arm was pulling back and a spray of crimson was coming from the big man¡¯s cheeks. Somebody had hit him so hard that Skenders cheek had ripped against his teeth. Was that him? Shit was that him? What should he do ¨C pulling himself together he decided to stay on script. Keeping his left arm behind him protecting it he pointed at the reeling Boss. ¡°Give me my money now. Its gonna be much easier than hotwiring your van¡± Dumb. That threat sounded great in his bed last night but things had gone way beyond that already.


    Skender it seemed did not react to pain the way Morgan did. Instead of becoming alarmed he became enraged, looking at his slightly bent rod he hissed ¡°you¡¯re gonna regret that. After I finish beating you with it you better believe that the replacement is coming out of your wages. Property does not fight back. Not twice¡± . He settled himself and then came forward clenching the rod.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Morgan might have been amused by how quickly the accent had gone but he crushed the urge to comment, maybe later might be appropriate but at the moment his left hand was sending throbs of agonising pain each one turning his vision momentarily white. Wasn¡¯t adrenalin supposed to suppress pain. Maybe shock. Something anyway really should be suppressing or looking at Skender he was going straight back to long term care if he couldn¡¯t focus to fight. The pain reduced as he thought about it which was a relief now he just needed to be stronger and faster. As Skender swung a massive overhead strike which was going to hit his head or collarbone Morgan stepped into the technique, his right arm going under Skenders shoulder to smother the strike and his right knee aimed to his thigh to give him a numb leg. Well it half worked anyway, the striking arms movement was halted by having nowhere to go smothered by a body check but the knee strike missed and instead hit him in the buttocks ineffectually. With no idea what to do next he pulled Skenders hair down with a yanking motion to the back of his head schoolyard fights coming to the fore, the results were shocking. There was a ripping sound as Skenders head was pulled down taking his body with him. Hearing a sharp thud Morgan did not look to see what had happened. He was looking at  the lump of hair and flesh in his hand.


    Apparently that was enough even for Skender to seem shocked. Whether it was the blood, the lump in Morgans hand or just the experience of bare bone striking concrete the fight was fast leaving him. He scrambled backwards and then threw his wallet at Morgan. Even in these circumstances though he could not stop threatening ¡°Take it you bastard ¨C this isn¡¯t over, take it, enjoy it. Ill be back and you will need to have¡± he tailed off seemingly unsure of how to finish it. Putting a hand to the back of his head and it coming back bloody he just hissed ¡°bastard¡± and staggered to the van. The other occupants seemed as shocked by the events as anyone. Skender threw them out of the van with curses and then started to wrap a towel round his head. Morgan approached and holding out the lump of flesh in his hand asked in a slightly dazed way ¡°do you want this back?¡± receiving profanities in reply. With his other hand he tossed the van keys at him ¡°Whatever. Pretty sure you need these if you¡¯re driving to hospital¡±. It was a cool line and Morgan would have been basking in self congratulation the whole day if he had thought about it but instead he was confused. He had just used his left hand. Naturally, easily, pain free. A cloud of exhaust brought him back, walking over to the wallet he saw it was full of large denomination notes. Picking a few out for himself he walked over to the agitated group and passed it to one ¡°Sure you folks are owed something as well. If any of you see him again can you make sure he gets his stuff back.¡±


    That had worked out. It had not gone anything like to plan but it had worked out. After getting out of sight of the corner he looked at his hands. One was covered in blood and little gobbets of flesh, was that called viscera he wondered? The other looked perfectly normal. Not even bruised. His heart rate was normal and his breathing was regular. He should be panicking, he should be in hysterics. Instead he was calm collected, maybe even relaxed. Wondering whether he should be worried or congratulating himself for growing as a person. Morgan snorted, hopefully there was some outside influence because the alternative was that he was capable of thinking such pompous thoughts. Looking at the handful of notes he had grabbed they were all fifties and he had nine of them. Ok that was a few days work at twelve an hour. For the first time in a long time he looked for a cafe to get breakfast.


    The plate in front of him was startlingly clean given the full English breakfast that had been on it minutes before.  With a quiet gentle burp he sat back and gazed at the tea pot wondering if he would be charged if he asked for hot water to refill it. Something about this place appealed to him, the timeless indefinable aura of a greasy spoon .The cafe looked like it had been stuck in a time warp since the 70¡¯s with plastic chairs and some sort of plasticized cover on the tables. Why should things change he supposed, the people who ate at a place like this would really not care about the decor, calories for fuel. He had a wicked moment of wondering what he would get if he asked for the vegan option but quickly realised beans on toast could get repetitive.


    Looking back he had anticipated that there might be violence though he yet again had underestimated the speed it could occur. Obviously he had been right that 5% physical augmentation would help him deal with anything that might happen. For a moment he felt disgusted with himself for being so willing to lower himself to others expectations but then found himself wondering how stupid it had been to offer Skender the lump of scalp back he had accidentally ripped off. Nonchalant perhaps, Bond like maybe. No he was not cool enough to pull that off at least not to anyone who had seen it but if he ever started to tell stories about that horrible incident it was going to be a suave moment. The other problem was that he had not had any problem. No panic or exultation just calm analytical acceptance .Was something messing with his head or was he just more violent at heart than he had wanted to believe. Another question for voice he supposed. ¡°Voice?¡± he asked out loud drawing a few disinterested stares from the men around him. With no reply he decided to do a daily check if voice was back but perhaps find a more private spot next time.


    Another belch and a waft of black pudding scented air convinced him it was time to get on with his day. Now that he had the fare for a taxi a visit to his old company was much more achievable. Alternately maybe he should invest in a wardrobe. He was never going to be able to afford a business suit without stealing it and that stealth function did come to mind. Ninja style fantasises were dismissed with a single thought, every suit he had ever bought off the rack had needed adjustments. Getting a suit adjusted while trying to sneak was an absurd idea. Nevertheless if he was going to meet his old colleagues a work suit may be excessive but street hobo was an indignity too far. These were people who had either respected him or been respected by him, showing the dignity of dressing just felt like anything else would just be lessening him. Ok todays plan was made.


    Whilst he could afford bus fare this money was hard come by and his time was by far the cheapest resource he had so he started to walk uphill into the town centre past the historic battlements. It made for a pleasant walk that lifted his spirits but also it seemed to help him burn off excess energy from what he assumed was some sort of adrenalin high. He thought about Dr Scott and wondered if he could ring and ask what was normal both during and after a violent confrontation. No some bridges were burnt, better to work out himself what was normal for himself. He resolved that next time there was some sort of incident ¨C and despite fifty odd years of quiet normalcy he did assume there would be a next time ¨C he would try to keep a note of his mental state. Not getting stomped would take priority of course.


    The main clothes shops were all fashion outlets and combining quite appalling colours with outrageously high prices he gave up on those quickly. Despite his best intentions it was back to the second hand and charity shops which to his pleasure had exactly what was needed. His rummaging and searching got more organised as the day went on and shortly after dinner found a pair of work suits exactly his size. There was accompany logo on each for some sort of onsite maintenance firm that he would have to pick off but he managed to persuade them to throw a needlework kit in. The old lady running the shop seemed intent to mother him and dragged him to a box filled with old shoes. ¡°I like to see a young man making something of himself but your mother should have told you. Good shoes are important¡±. As amusing as that was it was meant kindly and whilst he didn¡¯t need the guidance it was true so he started checking shoes against his feet.


    He also ended up buying a shoe polish set and some knitting needles. Apparently young men these days needed something to do with hands that otherwise were the devils plaything? Not willing to throw them away he bundled everything into a bag and started to make his way back to the YMCA. Walking in the bored young lady was drinking some sort of glop that actually looked like it might be tasty. When he walked in and gave a casual wave to her she sat up and sharply told him ¡°Go see Brian now. He was very insistent that you go see him. I think he¡¯s in yoga room 2 scrubbing the mats but he was really insistent so go anyway¡±. Impressed by the sentence length he put his purchases away and went looking for Brian.


    Brian was indeed scrubbing rolled up mats, it looked like a tedious and unpleasant task but there was a significant difference in shade between the ones drying and still to be washed. With no smell of bleach presumably Brian was doing a good job, one which he eagerly stopped when Morgan walked in. ¡°Ok its Mr Popular here to tell me why he has so many fans and followers today¡± Brian stated. It wasn¡¯t a question but Morgan answered anyway. ¡°Skender stiffed me of my wages yesterday; I confronted him today; he attacked me and I won. Grabbed some money, too much to be honest but not really the time or place to stand there with a calculator. Bought some stuff. Came back. Should I assume a problem?¡±.¡±Yes you ruddy well should. What bothers you more, police thugs or bystanders?¡±. That last threw him for a second and Morgan just tried to understand ¡°Bystanders, I, well the other workers didn¡¯t seem upset and not sure I¡¯d call them bystanders anyway. What do you mean?¡±


    Brian threw a sponge into a bucket and sighed ¡°Head wounds bleed. A lot. Apparently Sken made it nearly to hospital before passing out from blood loss behind the wheel of  a van doing just over 20 miles an hour. Luckily he was able to park it in somebody¡¯s living room. According to the cops nobody was injured except Sken but they are looking for several someone¡¯s who performed a vicious assault. Sken apparently told a tale of his work gang all ganging up on him, I assume he is worried about his boss or something. Anyway in hospital so not your immediate problem.¡± Morgan wrinkled his brow then asked ¡°they had insurance right? I mean the people whose house has an unplanned bay window, they have insurance right?¡± Brian nodded ¡°Or maybe the landlord. Hopefully. No your problem is you now are a person of interest to the cops in an assault leading to actual bodily harm and property damage as well as later in the day some guys I have never met with Slavic accents asking for you. Here. Ok heres the thing. The room is yours for a week unless its not. Any trouble on site? Its not. Is that clear? Do I have to explain myself?¡± Morgan shook his head vigorously ¡°no that¡¯s fair.¡± To which Brian stood up straight and pulling his shoulders back snapped ¡°Fair? Fair is not the problem. Clear, is it clear?¡± Morgan nodded this time ¡°yes clear no problems. Clear¡±  Brian stared at him for a few seconds and then went back to the bucket with the sponge shoulders dropping once more. ¡°So tell me what happened¡±.


    After the situation was explained Brian was actually quite unsympathetic, he seemed to think the prices were fair for those items and that Skender was being fair. ¡°look you just come out of nowhere he gives you stuff, of course he¡¯s going to keep some money back so as not to be out of pocket¡±. Morgan tensed his legs, it was still a rubbish relaxation technique and then replied ¡±You weren¡¯t there, maybe I didn¡¯t explain well enough but you were not there. This was wrong, he was talking in terms of owning me. It was wrong. I hope we don¡¯t fall out but I am not sorry about this.¡± Brian scrubbed at a spot on the mat, maybe there was a stain not obvious to anyone else and just said ¡°Yeh well known him for years. Sent a few people to him for work and always thought he was a useful resource. Maybe I cant do that anymore, cant offer that help. For reasons that sound sketchy to me. Excuse me if congratulations for your prompt brutality are not my first response¡±


    There seemed very little else to say so leaving the sound of scrubbing behind him Morgan left the room and Brian to his ruminations. The sound of scrubbing came through clearly much longer than it should. Were his perceptions and senses that much better while still only 2% improved?

 Family time

    Next day he avoided everybody and darted out of the YMCA before he could have another awkward conversation. Mulling it over whilst unpicking the threads on the suits logo last night he had decided that he did need to check on a few people and see what the consequences of his actions were. The feedback part of a feedback loop. He should try to check on the other workers, Skender in the hospital, maybe the work site if they had fallen behind due to expected workers being a no show and at the outside the home owners with a new ventilation system. That last was probably more Sken than himself but he was somewhere on the chain of events so he might see what he could do.


    It was time to be selfish though. All of that was secondary to finding his family. For that reason it was back to the offices of Lfanda resource management. See if anyone remembered him. He walked to the train station and went to the taxi rank. Sitting in the cab who had been at the front of the rank he watched the grey low buildings whip by. Twenty minutes later he paid and walked into a two storey building. In all honesty it was a surprise to see, it looked like a large amount of effort had gone into making the place look it was just another patch of parkland. The entry and the car park were both underground but the two floors above ground seemed just too much effort. It looked like the building had been built in some sort of ziggurat style and then covered in top soil which had ¡°wild¡± plants artfully placed around it. The net effect was a giant green boil in the middle of an industrial estate.


    Curious Morgan walked round the estate and noticed three other buildings whose decorator had done the same. Eventually he formed a theory, from the ground these arrangements looked silly but maybe that was not where they were supposed to be viewed. Was this camouflage from aerial viewing? Seemed a lot of effort but maybe he was still thinking in pre alien terms. Questions, add it to the list he supposed. The third time round the estate he was ready to go in and approaching Lfanda entrance saw a couple of security guards outside the building start to approach, he guessed they were looking for him. ¡°Excuse me sir but you¡¯ve been observed wondering through the estate. Could you tell us what you¡¯re doing here and show us your ID. If you have no business I will have to remind you that this is private property and ask you to leave.¡± All very polite and reasonable but it was the first time anything approaching officialdom had asked for his ID so he tried to squelch any nerves whilst handing it over.


    The guard talking to him took the ID passing it to the second who took out some sort of laptop which scanned it with a beep, then it was handed back. Looking at the display the second man asked  ¡°So Mr Oxbridge could you explain what you are doing here? And why were you moving around and between lots?¡± Truth or lie? With a mental shrug he went with lie. ¡°I have an appointment with a Gareth Manson at  Lfanda. I was early and decided to kill time by looking round.¡± More tapping on the phone and the second guard looked up at his colleague, ¡°there is an employee there with that name. Lets escort him so that he doesn¡¯t get lost¡±. Without resisting he followed them to the Lfanda unit. Stepping up to reception they told the receptionist to get Mr Manson. They didn¡¯t leave until he was told to sit and wait, whilst polite and professional he found them just a little bit intimidating and was glad when they left.


    Sitting and wondering what to do next he almost laughed. Approaching him was a portly fellow in a suit nothing at all as Morgan remembered him. Gareth had been a young man straight out of uni obsessed with Tai Chi, yoga and orienteering. The middle aged spread on him was a shock and one that he had to fight to keep off his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr Oxbridge but I don¡¯t seem to have any notes about our appointment. If you¡¯ll go through to meeting room 7 I will try to find what the status of your account. Coffee and tea are both available¡± Lfanda was or at least had been a company that purchased rare commodities and shipped them for companies that did not have in house expertise to do that themselves. Confident competence was what they sold and admitting they could not find a file must be grating. Morgan relented ¡°don¡¯t bother looking this is a speculative visit on a personal matter. I have no appointment, there is no file.¡± Clearly shifting mental gears Gareth relaxed and with a much less obsequious tone ¡°oh. Alright well come along anyway and tell me what Lfanda can do for you.¡± So far so expected, it had been hammered in that you never knew who your next customer could be when he was there and that ethos seemed to still apply.


    Sitting in the meeting room some things just did not change. The fact that all meeting rooms looked like this room was still true. They both busied themselves getting a drink and then sat across from each other. Morgan thought about explaining but worried about being asked for proof or just assumed to be insane continued the strategy that had got him here. Lying.


    ¡°I am looking for my Uncle Morgan William Oxbridge. Our families drifted apart and well family history is kind of a hobby. This is the last place we knew he worked and I used your name as he had described you as a up and coming young man in the company. I am hoping that he left some sort of forwarding details or maybe HR has an address for pension payments? That would be ideal but anything really.¡± Gareth sat back with a pained expression ¡°Morgan. Now theres a name I have not thought of for a while, shame really we were good friends.¡± Looking at his tablet he frowned. ¡°It was all quite a shock. Mr Moran I am sorry to say that you have come to a quite literal dead end. If I remember right he was injured in a car accident, maybe a bridge collapse? Something anyway, the point is he got a really bad head injury and was permanently hospitalised. After a while it became clear that his condition was not going to change and because he was still alive there were no death duties for the family. His wife needed that money so she petitioned the courts to turn off the machines, it became this really big legal battle about rights and Catholics and who knows what else so it got sent to the high court. The old Bailey. That families luck, well they were there for the drop. They were in the bailey bunker when the aliens went in. Dead, all of them just dead. If you were looking for some sort of family reunion then sorry but no. The monument to the dead has the names of the departed, I understand some people find comfort in that¡±


    There was more talk. Lots of dignified silences when several of his colleagues came round and told him how sorry they were and what a wonderful family they had been. He left and they hid the relief well. He had got what he came for. Damn it all he had got what he came for. Reception organised a taxi .  He had no idea why he gave the address where his parents had lived. It just seemed right to go back to where he had first met Joanne. Dropped off by the taxi he looked round looking for familiar sights. That afternoon he just walked round his old neighbourhood. The park where Annie had first cut her lip and come crying to him. Joannes favourite hairdressers. The registry office. He was numb to it all, he should be screaming, getting drunk, something. Instead it was like his head was filled with a white noise that was trying to suppress the horror that he could feel slowly overcoming the barriers. He had no idea how he ended up talking to the priest. Apparently he was the priest at the church his parents went to when they were alive. And now he was outside the church quietly sobbing and a priest was talking to him.


    This would not do. Grief is private, shame is public. Crying in public was shameful he should go before he disgraced himself further and tried to go even while sobbing. Father Emmett was not having that, not letting him go he took him into his accommodations next to the church. Mindful that a moment to pull himself together was really going to be essential he stopped struggling. Never very religious Morgan was not sure if seminary training included grief counselling or if empathy was a developed trait but over the next ten minutes with gentle coaxing and encouragement from the man opposite he pulled himself together enough to at least know what was going on around him.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    It had become popular to ask what Britishness was before his assault and based on nobody being able to define it the claim was made that it didn¡¯t exist, it was a shame that those making that claim did not watch Morgan realise he had become a bother. Manifesting that most British of emotions embarrassment he stood up ¡°Oh father I must apologise, what can I say, oh goodness I, I¡¯ve imposed on you¡±. Raising a hand the priest cut him off ¨C ¡°Nonsense. Do you prefer your testament old or new? I mean we could talk about acts 20:35 but I much prefer my admonitions old school, Hebrews 13:16. If you don¡¯t know them look them up. The gist is I serve god and I do it by helping those in need. No offence but you strike me as a man in need. Allow me to feel useful, tell me what ails you¡± His face settled into calm patience and Morgan normally would have assumed it was an act but something radiated sincerity. His embarrassment bled away and he sat down. Wiping at his face with a tissue the priest had produced like a stage magician out of nowhere he started. ¡°Well Father I guess the long and short of it is I have been away. Away for a long time and I have come back looking for my family only to find them dead. I just had hopes of getting back to my life and they are just ..gone¡±. The priest nodded sympathetically muttering something about jail being cruel in so many ways.  Realising he should explain more fully Morgan started to tell his tale.


    It took about 20 minutes and a second pot of tea with sponge for the whole sad sorry story and the priest who had named himself as Father Emmett sat back shaking his head. ¡°I find myself thinking about a talk in seminary by a visiting lay fellow. He talked about how god was present in all things and that miracles are in the small words and deeds of others. He had this whole thing about not one of us ever seeing something large so learn to revel in the glory of the small. Morgan. How would you go about proving anything you have said to say a sceptical priest?¡± Sitting back he fixed Morgan with a hard stare ¡°You really should you know ¨C god is divine but I¡¯m not and before I can do something irrevocable I try not to rely on faith.¡±


    It had been cathartic and a bone deep weariness was replacing the anguish. Much as he wanted to retreat to his room and never come he did not have the rudeness in him to ignore Father Emmett so he struggled to think ¡°Well I¡¯m not sure I can. I mean I could bench press a lot to prove my strength but I could just be strong. You could probably get in touch with the hospital and they could prove I was discharged, well sort of discharged and Brian at the Y could confirm some of it but you cant hear voice I assume and I don¡¯t look like I used to even if I found old photos so.¡± He petered off and made a vague hand wave.


    Father Emmett stood up, ¡°I have a service in half an hour and though I feel the hand of God in this my parishioners have fire insurance to pay. Mr Oxbridge come here tomorrow if you would, it would be troublesome to have to come find you and I think you owe me for the tissue and the sponge cake. We will continue this conversation tomorrow. Oh and I won¡¯t be listening to this voice even if I could hear him, I have rather firm theological concerns about amoral voices .Say quarter past ten? Yes quarter past ten. I look forward to seeing you then. Unless you wish to attend services please leave me time to prepare¡± and somewhat sharply he pushed him out of the rectory.


    Morgan realised there was a lesson there-even those dedicated had other things in their life. Still the time had been valuable to allow him to pull himself together. He could feel the fear, the anguish and the horror bubbling up fighting to reduce him once more. They would succeed, he was ready to be destroyed but he would at least do it in private. He would return to his room and let others have peace. The walk home was brutal and he nearly cracked several times, it was the strangest things that set him off. The smell of bread made him think of family breakfasts, the sound of a car stereo reminded him of complaining to Joanne about music from Annies Room. It was a triumph to get back to the YMCA but not one that could have been explained to others, nonetheless if there was an award for the stoic suppression of grief it should have gone to him. Ignoring everyone he went to his room.


    For dignities sake his night was his own. Next morning he came late to the cafe area and seeing nothing available left anyway. His stomach had emptied itself several times in the night and he was feeling light headed but he did not want to beg or wait while some sort of plastic cheese was melted onto cheap bread. He was aimless, drifting and the only thing that seemed like worth doing was thanking the priest who had talked him down. That phrase had suicidal connotations and he just hoped they were misplaced. Walking to his old family church he realised he was going to be late but kept to a sedate pace anyway. Arriving about half past he knocked on the door and waited.


    A middle aged Nun opened the door and glared at him. ¡°Morgan?¡± she accused. Lacking the energy to be bewildered he just agreed and asked if Father Emmett was there. ¡°No, well yes but its me you¡¯re here to see. Now come in and tell me this cock and bull you have turned the fathers head with¡± and with that she turned and strode into the rectory.  Following her he came to a familiar room with a familiar set of chairs with a familiar face.


    Father Emmett stood up with a grin and said to the Nun ¡°See Joan, god provides. I told you to have faith and now he is here.¡± With an attitude of long suffering trials she ignored Father Emmett and indicated where Morgan should sit. Turning to Father Emmett ¡°Look Richard this is my meeting, my responsibility. I thank you for your guidance but get out¡±. ¡°John 16:22 add it to your reading¡± he said to Morgan while exiting. Sitting down she fixed him with a steely gaze and made him recount his story once more. Sitting back as he finished she took a long breath and exhaled slowly.


    ¡°We have checked what we could. You have school dates right for your daughter, there was a patient with your name at the William Grove Facility but without contacting them directly not a lot more to be said. Brian does not like you but has not contradicted what you said. May god forgive me but I was pleased to find out that Mr Skender was no longer plying his trade. So what can be checked has been checked.¡±


    This all seemed like a lot of effort for a walk in but maybe this was what churches did. Old jokes about Vatican conspiracies ran through his mind as he thought of the church as an international detective agency and he almost smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but why am I telling you this? Are you some sort of Catholic social services and this is an assessment? What¡¯s going on.¡± She sat up and after a pause started talking ¡° The sisters of St Loreta  believe in worldly works in addition to intercessory prayer so yes sometimes I do feel like a social worker but no today I am here to help a novitiate. Father Emmett thought you could help a novitiate who has been having trouble taking her vows. Having heard you I agree, I might even listen to his stupid sermon about the miraculous everyday¡±. At that she stood up and started to walk towards the door, Morgan started to follow but she turned round pointing an accusing finger at him ¡° I am going to ask for cleaning supplies, we keep this rectory clean and you sir are dropping crumbs everywhere¡± and she left. Bemused he sat down again and decided to have a slice of cake, his first despite her accusations, while waiting.


    It was a short wait as she came back with another nun this one in slightly plainer garb grey rather than black. She was a tall young lady with her left arm free and the right strapped tightly to her body. Her black hair was short and poorly maintained but none of that overrode her face. Morgan stood up the cake falling from his hands ¡°Annie?¡± he croaked.


    As the grey robed novitiate turned to look at him Joan exclaimed ¡°What did I say about crumbs!¡± pointing at the fallen cake.

 interlude two

    Nine years earlier


    <u>Landing -1 hour </u>


    Joanne had expected something dramatic on this day. They were talking about ending a mans life after all. Her husband may not have been spectacular but he had been a good man who tried his best. Still that was the problem though wasn¡¯t it? He had done the right thing got insurance, got a good job and then that bloody thug had beaten him near to death. Bloody typical. He couldn¡¯t get the top job, he couldn¡¯t get the best car the nicest house. He didn¡¯t make enough for her to stop working. He couldn¡¯t get any bloody thing right. Now the feckless bastard couldn¡¯t even die properly. So here she was watching a group of people in silly robes who had taken wigs off arguing about the colour of paper in bundles. The issue appeared to revolve around that they should all be identical but someone had taken a ruler and measured finding the cream paper bundle was 1.5 cm bigger. The hospital barrister was arguing it was because they used better paper demanding a set of scales to weigh a sheet of each type of paper. The guilt at the thought about him not dying faded quickly, it was just a grim reality. She needed that insurance and they would not pay out death duties without, well, a death. So here they were the grieving not quite widow and the not quite orphan asking someone else to finally kill her husband and Annies father. There were other things going on in the world, that dreadful incident in Canada and reports being vigorously denied about someplace in China called Huangshan suffering something similar but really how could she care. This slow motion death was worse than she could imagine. With a cry of triumph drawing her attention she looked over at the tables once more seeing the hospital barrister wave her hand at a set of scales. Joanne started banging her head on the table and stopped when a hand came to rest on her shoulder. Annie was looking at her scared. She had to keep it together for her daughter. One of the ushers approached and she was chivvied out whilst her barrister this time argued about the appropriateness of a relief Lis Pendens hearing. This was important but she just could not stay here.


    <u>Landing</u>


    The ushers name was Gillian and she stayed with them claiming that as a court family liaison officer having a coffee with her was actually work. They had stayed off the subject of the case and the conversation was starting to wind down when the fire alarm went off. Joanne beckoned Annie who got her coat and they started to look for fire exits. Gillian was staring at a text on her phone, ¡°follow me. Its some sort of air raid, we have bunkers from the second world war that were supposed to use just follow me¡± Following after her Joanne struggled to keep Annie calm despite feeling that some of her concerns were very well placed. I mean probably not the one about cursed tombs and lung rot but certainly air raid sirens? Eventually they reach some archaic doors where a man in a janitors uniform chivvied them inside. There are a lot of scared looking people around so discretion being the better part of valour the three of them just find a quiet place to sit down. They found a little cubbyhole to stay in and congratulated themselves on having a view of the door.


    <u>Landing +2 Hours </u>


    Shortly after the alarm horrible crashing noises started and the ground shook in time with each crash. Whoever had built these bunkers had done a brilliant job, while the ground shook so hard portly men wobbled like a blancmange the walls held, the doors stayed firm. All in all it gave a reassuring air of solidity. Though some overly pedantic people argued that it was making assumptions to call it a barrage the barrage lasted about twenty minutes. Even before the bombardment had commenced it had become obvious that there was no sort of Wi-Fi signal so it took not very long at all for people to get bored and irritated. At first fear had kept people in line together with ingrained deference to the ushers but eventually someone started to agitate for the doors to be opened. They wanted to leave and were ok with taking their chances outside before the all clear. It was soon taken up by a sizeable group, somewhere over 20 people Joanne guessed and listening to the urgency she wondered if any of them were claustrophobic. From their little cubby by the door the three women watched the mood turn ugly. Soon there was shoving and heated faces, the ramping up of aggression which leads to worse. Finally the usher stepped aside letting them to the door. It was opened and consternation spread. There was some sort of glowing barrier blocking the way out. It was translucent glowing orange harmless to touch but unmoved by the efforts of anyone who tried to shift or break it.


    <u>Landing +11 Hours </u>


    It had been a major problem with two people going absolutely berserk and needing to be restrained when the barrier was found. There was another exit but it was found to be similarly blocked. Eventually order had been restored, toilet visitations regulated and bottled water handed out. Joanne had idly wondered if the fact that the water had been handed out only after the toilets had been sorted was genius level planning or just dumb luck but no answer was forthcoming. Eventually people settled down and though there was some grumbles about rations the complete absence of any food made them stop. It was eight or nine hours later the noises outside started to become regular. Gillian was the first to notice the door barrier change colour to a yellow hue and her cry brought a rush of people who seemed to think that salvation was at hand. It stayed like that for a few minutes and then a bulge or maybe a bubble started to form on the inside pushing people out of the way. One particularly stubborn man got his leg trapped and started to scream but nobody seemed to be able to do much while the bulge was still growing. It disappeared and inside was the most bizarre thing that Joanne could ever recall, looking something like a lopsided starfish a creature was revealed. It was just over 5ft tall making it short in comparison to those surrounding but due its body shape it was she guessed probably much heavier than a person of the same height. With seven limbs it moved on three legs and had four arms arranged radially on the body. It had no obvious head but several bulges on its surface when they opened contained eyes and what looked like nostrils. His garb made Joanne think about denim dungarees with several dull metal pieces about three inches across attached to it. Ignoring everybody it headed into the bunker, when a small thin man with a Scottish accent tried to grab it he slid off his hand unable to get within an inch of its surface. Over the next ten minutes the futility of attacking it was demonstrated on multiple occasions to many people as it blithely ignored everyone and went into every room. After that it left through the barrier with no difficulties at all and no explanation offered.


    <u>Landing +22 Hours </u>


    Over the next few hours judging by clothing and arrangement of discs five more similar creatures arrived. Nobody was relaxed about it but the total indifference of them combined with the futility of trying to interact had made people simply get out of the way and carry on with what they were doing. Mostly what people were doing was looking for food. Joanne¡¯s handbag had been emptied twice by suspicious groups who either hoped or believed she had food in it and the ugly expressions had made her acquiesce without protest. Having started to name the alien starfish by clothes this was red denim and grey cloth and they were carrying a box between them. Opening the box they approached a young man who had been a defendant in some sort of contract dispute and red denim grabbed him by the leg. Lifting his leg Grey cloth reached into the box holding out another of the discs. Red denim Calmly cut a deep wound between two and three inches long into a buttock which Grey cloth jammed the disc into. The man was immediately released and they moved onto the next person. Joanne screamed, she wasn¡¯t the only one and it didn¡¯t help.


    <u>Landing +30 Hours </u>


    As far as anyone could tell they had inserted one of these devices into everyone. It took a while but they seemed to have a accurate idea about how many people were here. Joannes had been inserted into her throat, somehow the cut though agonising had managed to avoid anything life threatening. The real problem occurred about half an hour after the task was over as suddenly everyone sprouted from the cut some sort of flat metal surface covered with a display of incomprehensible symbols. It wasn¡¯t clear who first suggested it but it soon became the accepted wisdom. They had been tagged.


    <u>Landing +31 Hours </u>


    Red denim and dungarees both arrived via bulge carrying another box which they set down in the area near the exit. Annie stopped complaining about her tagged right arm being sore; if it was genuinely sore she was the only one who had that problem. Joanne just assumed she was a scared hungry teenage girl who clearly could not blame her mum about the aliens but she could moan about being in pain and why didn¡¯t mum have some tablets. It was childish and irritating but if it made Annie feel better then it was a mothers burden to endure it. Besides she was far too wrung out to care enough to respond. While tuning out the complaints she looked at the two aliens nearby and idly wondered what was in this box. Perhaps it was food? If they were going to be pets you had to feed and groom your pets after all and at this point quite a few people were making fundamental reassessments about what they would do for a bite to eat. The box telescoped up into some sort of table with draws underneath. The two aliens stood around doing nothing until a new alien bulged in. Waving some sort of wand in his hand at the bunker the yellow smocked alien looked to dungarees who grabbed the nearest person and hauled them to the table. Once there the wand was waved over him Yellow smock gave a signal and he was hauled onto the table. Yellow smock somehow produced an enormous blade, way too big to have been hidden and sliced the man in half at the torso. Gillian retched, Annie went quiet and started to move behind her mother who was just starting to realise. Maybe not pets.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    <u>Landing +37 Hours </u>


    23 times. That was how many times the scene was repeated before people started to organise. Yellow smock stayed with the table whilst Dungaree or red denim collected somebody. They would then have the wand waved over them and then be brutally dismembered. Sometimes they appeared to be sedated and sometimes not. At least the screams stopped quickly. That was a small mercy. A plan was formed. Despite not being able to actually touch or harm them it was theorised we could still hurt them. The collector would be lured to the latrines. Once there he would be rushed and pushed into a room and locked up. There he would be held prisoner until all were released. The latrines would be emptied on him as a negotiating tactic. The plan was stupid dumb and desperate but it met with universal approval. Everybody; absolutely everybody wanted to do something. Show them we mattered.


    The first part of the plan involved everyone drawing back to one point and leaving a goat out to be chased. Joanne got the job. She was one of the few who had not got a leg or arm damaged plus the disc in her throat meant she could not complain loudly anyway. The pre planned escape route worked quite well and red denim followed her as expected. The defendants in multiple cases may have been claiming to be strangers to violence but no jury who watched the fury of the charge would have had any trouble convicting. Even if it was a speeding ticket. Hard as it was to read these things red denim seemed surprised and whilst unharmed was pushed into the room which was immediately locked. Due to speed and disorganisation the two people leading the charge got locked in as well but that was ignored in the round of mutual back slapping whilst others piled items in front of the door. Suddenly the celebration stopped. Ghost like Red denim slid through the wall holding one of the two people who had been trapped with him. Once out he stopped and rotated looking at them all. After a few seconds he tapped one of his discs. Joanne saw everyone fall at the same time as her, her limbs like rubber. Red denim left them like that for a few seconds then performing a sliding motion on the same disc Joanne caught fire. Her skin crisped and her flesh was destroyed, the horrible terrible burning hot air ripped at her lungs causing unimaginable agony as her vision faded. Then she was fine, uninjured. Red Denim grabbed the guy he had been carrying and trotted off. The discs seemed to be more than just labels.


    <u>Landing +41 Hours </u>


    Several people agitated for more action .Its not like the argument about having nothing to lose was not obviously right, just until there was a better plan there seemed nothing to gain either. One of the ushers had decided to try and make a mark on the universe. He had taken everybody¡¯s name and a picture of the tag which he promised to hide. Three others had started to write a log that they were going to hide with his list. Annie had gone listless while Gillian had loudly found god. Joanne had been thinking about Morgan, she no longer had the heart to blame him for her being here. The poor bumbling fool had always tried. He probably would have been enthusiastic about the latrine plan as well. Dungarees came out and grabbed Graham, a mechanic who had been trying to evade jury duty due to solvency fears for his garage. By this point not even he fought and he was led away and everyone waited for the screaming. It never came. After a moment the break in the monotony attracted Joanne, Gillian and a few others to look in the slaughter room. The barrier was open and some grim faced men in army fatigues were pointing weapons inwards.


    The soldiers were ignored instead Graham was picked up by both Dungarees and pink Sash (red denim seemed to have gone off shift) and bodily hurled through the open portal. It immediately closed behind him. Pink Sash grabbed Lesley ignoring her moans and scanned her. She was passed to smock and yet again the screams were mercifully brief.


    <u>Landing +46 Hours </u>


    The excitement of someone leaving and seeing soldiers outside had buoyed spirits for a while but the slaughter continued. Every 20 to 30 minutes someone would be grabbed scanned and slaughtered. Fight? Paralysis and fire. Hide? Sure some had done that but if the inserted discs could cause pain surely they could track as well. Suicide? It seemed the only actual option, control when and how you go. Someone, a now dismembered someone had made DIY knives out of broom handles and tin lids. The level of craftsmanship was for the circumstances impressive and the edge scarily sharp for improvised materials. Joanne had taken one. Even now she was not sure if it was for her or yellow smock but she had it.


    <u>Landing +59 Hours </u>


    Lethargy depression and starvation affected everyone still alive. Joanne was listlessly staring round. The latest person was grabbed right next to her and she just didn¡¯t react. She watched the woman go floppy and just allow herself to be dragged in. Too tired, too drained she did not look away as the wand was waved by green smock ¨C yellow smock had left eventually ¨C but then the wand beeped. Odd. It was waved over her again. It beeped again. Green Smock and Black Wrap picked her up fiddling with a disc. The barrier opened, still soldiers behind it, presumably different ones and the woman was just thrown through hitting a crash mat presumably placed there by the army. The Barrier closed once more. Joanne tried to be excited that someone else had got out. She tried to think of ways to trick Green smock into opening the barrier. Instead she just kept thinking of the woman¡¯s calf holding the inserted disc. Something about it bothered her.


    <u>Landing +63 Hours </u>


    Joanne sat and watched the hospital barrister being dragged into green smock. It was too much. Nobody responded or cared. Gillian was asleep. Annie had about an hour ago just stopped responding. She sat mumbling something about twitch feeds and ignored everything around her. The disc in her right arm sparkled orange unlike the black of the two had been thrown out. Wait what? Joanne struggled to think, was she right? Had she seen other black chips? Pulling out a vanity mirror hers was orange, Annies was green and Gillians. Gillians was black. It was BLACK. Calmly she had a quick look round. Gillians was the only one she could see with that colour. Think. She had to think.


    <u>Landing +64 Hours </u>


    Joanne found movement difficult. Finding a brick had been easy. Getting it had been a herculean effort but when she got back things were as she had left them. Gillian was asleep. Annie was rocking quietly.


    Joanne fell to her knees next to Gillian whose breathing seemed shallow. The brick to the skull stopped it altogether. Taking the knife she sliced quickly at the corpse. It had to be a corpse ¨C fresh corpses still twitched didn¡¯t they? The disc was easy to find due to the surface extrusion and was quickly removed. In this slaughter a little more blood barely mattered and would not be noticed. Annie rocked and ignored her mother grabbing her arm. She did not ignore being stabbed in the arm. The fight was frankly pathetic, neither had the strength to actually fight and Joanne soon had cut a great gobbet of flesh out of Annies arm. Importantly it contained the disc and now it was time to gamble. Gillians disc was jammed into the open wound and with a will she had not known she possessed Annie was dragged by her to the table. Only able to grunt due to the disc in her throat she could not explain why she was doing this, why she was making her watch another slaughter. Instead she pushed her at Red Denim who paused before grabbing her. Instead of passing her to green smock he walked over and looked at Joanne. It might have been years but was probably seconds until it turned and pushed Annie at Green smock. The wand beeped. It was waved again and beeped again. Annie found the strength to struggle as she was thrown through the open barrier. The last thing she saw of her mother was her covered in blood, knife in hand, smiling crazily while behind green smock scanned her.


    Landing +70 Hours.


    Only one other person was thrown out a few hours later. The aliens worked at their own pace unmolested despite the efforts of those outside the barrier encompassing most of the building. Eventually they left. Of Course journalists claiming that though it had taken time they had been driven off by the actions of our brave blah blah blah. Garbage, utter garbage. They had done whatever they came to do. They had done it at their own pace and in their own time. And then they left. The slaughter would take months to catalogue never mind clean. The old bailey that great bastion through the centuries was rubble. And a young girl in an ambulance was refusing to answer questions. The medics had told her she might lose the arm. The soldiers had asked for descriptions of weapons and numbers. The journalists had asked if some gormless celebrity called PL had finished his divorce before dying or had there been reconciliation. She sat there through it all silent.

 Things just keep escalating dont they?

    It was fair to say that nobody else gave a damn about the cake. Morgan did not know father Emmett well enough to know if the expression on his face was delight or smug glee. Into the moment of silence Father Emmett decided to break the moment. ¡°Well since it appears introductions may be superfluous let me just tell you Mr Oxbridge that it is a common mistake that nobody survived the Bailey Bunker incident. There were four survivors and though their names were withheld due to concerns about safety when you came to me, well as I said I think about the miracle of the everyday¡±


    Nice speech Morgan supposed but he completely ignored it. His gaze was on her drinking in her appearance. His first impression was that she had been dressed all in gray but looking closer she seemed to be wearing some sort of light blue blouse underneath a shapeless dress. Her right arm was in some sort of strapped up arrangement of Velcro and elastic holding it immobile tightly against her body. Despite her youth her health did not seem to be the best with a sallow complexion and possibly some hint of redness in her neck again on the right side. Her brown eyes had a hint of bloodshot in them as they focused in on him. She opened her mouth and croaked something then waved her arm around frenetically.


    Sister Joan took charge. Bundling both flabbergasted people into chairs she pointed at Annie ¡°Stop, let me get you some water first¡± and leaned over to Morgan ¡°give her time ¨C not really sure what she¡¯s been through. Unless its at the confessional she never talks so give her time¡±. Father Emmett waved his hands whilst nodding his head, somehow conveying he did not know either. Turning to Father Emmett she indicated another seat he sat in. He sat down promptly while trying to give the impression that this had always been his plan and he was not following instructions. That ruse was shattered when she continued pointing and said ¡°Explain ¨C and none of this gods wondrous ways right now. They need solid facts to hang onto. Both of them need to trust what¡¯s happening so save the sermons for later. I will get some water. Oh and a dustpan and brush for you to use young man¡± she said whipping her head round to Morgan with an intense stare.


    As she left Morgan looked to father Emmett and asked ¡°has she forgotten that I¡¯m older than her?¡±. Before a reply was made Annie croaked, coughed and started speaking. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead. Mum wanted you dead so she could be a widow and get money. Why aren¡¯t you dead?¡±


    Though her words were harsh her bewildered tone made her father want to weep. Instead he turned to her ¡°I was in hospital and I eventually recovered. That was a few weeks ago. As soon as I could discharge, wait what do you mean she wanted to be a widow?¡±.


    At that point Father Emmett Coughed and said ¡°Would you mind if I put some context into this discussion ¨C I did a lot of reading this morning on this young ladies case notes and I would appreciate the chance to appear well informed.¡±


    Morgan looked at Annie waiting for a reply but when none was forthcoming turned his head ¡°go on but I will want to read them myself at some point¡±.


    Nodding his head in agreement with the point Emmett continued. ¡°Obviously after your unfortunate roadside encounter insurance claims were made both against your car insurance and your life insurance. While I understand the liability was somewhat disputed eventually the main issue became the life insurance. They pay out when you die and you did not die. Your wife had lost her job due to excessive hospital visitation and money was a problem. Eventually she got some doctors to claim it was hopeless and cruel to maintain your lifeless body. She tried to sue the hospital for damaging her family ¨C it was littered with legal terms but the gist was by unnaturally extending your life they were preventing her from moving on with her life. Obviously the hospital fought the claim. Various groups took issue on both side of the claim against the hospital and soon it ran outside of her control with you I am afraid as Cause Celebre of many who knew less than nothing about the case. And so they all trundled off to court. Before anything could be settled the aliens landed maki¡±


    He was interrupted by Annie¡¯s sudden outburst ¡°Not true. They weighed the paper and the colour of the paper made a difference¡±.


    Both men looked at each other confused and Emmett after a pause continued ¡°Well besides weighing paper nothing was settled and the hard landing occurred. I wont go into the details of it, there are several books. I recommend bloody justice as a particularly fair account according to most. Anyway during the ordeal for reasons unknown four individuals were ejected from the bunker. They are the only survivors, most of the accounts of the three days inside came from three of them. The fourth and youngest survivor Annie here has not talked about it or answered any questions about the subject at all. She doesn¡¯t, my apologies, didn¡¯t talk at all.¡± Both men turned to look at her and wait for a response. After a moment when none arrived Father Emmett continued.


    ¡° It has always been presumed the effects of trauma. So there she was, no family, no money and clearly traumatised. She was sent back to her home town and placed in long term care as a minor. The sisters run a child care home despite all the jokes about Catholics and child care.¡± He paused to cross himself then offered a silent prayer to the roof. ¡°When she reached adulthood the sisters were not willing to simply throw her out, half crippled and mute. She stayed on site and eventually became a novitiate. As the priest attached to the convent I got to know her story. So as you can see it¡¯s not that coincidental. You both needed help, the lord provided and because you both came to the same place you met someone who could make the connection¡± with a hand wave towards himself he settled back with what was really definitely a smug look.


    Morgan thought he had more to ask about all of that, perhaps most of all about the legal case but he decided to focus on what was in front of him. ¡°So this is my daughter, she¡¯s all grown up but its my daughter right¡± not pausing for a reply he turned to her ¡°Annie, oh god Annie you¡¯re alright. I¡¯m here now. Been away for so long but I¡¯m here now. Clean bill of health, well cleanish, and what can daddy do. Oh let me hug my little girl¡± and he shot forward to hug her.


    Everyone¡¯s reaction was off with Annie looking startled and Emmett looking scared. What was, oh his speed. Ignoring it he held out his arms to hug Annie but she held herself stiff. After a second he turned to Emmett ¡°what happened to her arm?¡± Emmett looked and then said ¡°yes alien tech was found in all the escapees, most of them had it simply fall out whereupon it was confiscated presumably for research purposes but in your daughters case it has remained in causing bouts of pain and ever increasing necrosis. At some point it is assumed amputation will be performed on that arm, just below the shoulder. Until it is imminently life threatening though it was not going to be done without consent and she was not showing signs of understanding¡± .


    Annie looked up ¡°Understood. Not stupid. Don¡¯t want. Mums last gift and I¡¯m keeping it. For her.¡± Neither man quite sure how to respond they stared at her.


    Sister Joan suddenly piped up having come in unnoticed ¡°Whats this then, after so long quiet cant stop now it seems. Ok here¡¯s some water your throat is not going to be used to this much chatter. Oh and you ¨C here.¡± She thrust a hand containing a dustpan and brush at Morgan who despite confusion took it and following sister Joans mimed instructions started to do a very poor job at cleaning. While he did so Annie suddenly started talking, speaking so fast her words were running into each otter


    ¡°itsyourfaultwhydidyoufightyoualwaystoldmenottofightweweresohungryandthenshestabbedmedidtheykillheryouneedtofixthisnunsareboringmyclothesareawfuliwantaboyfriendtheyshouldbekilledthefirewastoomuchtobeareveniftheburnwasntreal¡± and then she ran down. Looking at everyones startled faces she started crying. Joan sat her down and then hugging her told her to just cry it out and then wordlessly stared at the two gawping men, when they didn¡¯t get the hint she mouthed get out. They did, grateful for the direction to be honest.


    The rectories kitchen was best described as cosy but it could just about fit the two of them sitting down holding mugs of tea. Father Emmett shook his head ¡°no idea what I expected but suppose I should have anticipated some sort of breakdown. It just seemed so fortuitous that I never thought it could go wrong.¡±


    Morgan nodded sympathetically ¡°well obviously it was a surprise to me, hope you had some sort of hidden camera show ready, be a shame to waste that moment. No I had not thought about what I was going to say if I met my family. Guess I assumed we would just settle down to a normal family routine. Stupid, just stupid.¡± Both of them stared at the mugs in their hands and then Morgan asked ¡°The NHS has changed but I assume she¡¯s still able for counselling. I mean obviously it was offered at the time but now is when...¡±


    Emmett nodded ¡°of course,of course. You¡¯ll have to pardon me but she has drifted into the novitiate so we will also have to check if she has a genuine calling. If not then the convent is not for her.¡± This was said as if it was the obviously the first thought on everybody¡¯s mind.


    Morgan frowned ¡°I have nowhere and nothing right now, is she going to get kicked out? Because of me?¡± ¡°Oh no no no. She has her cell and she can stay there until she wants to leave. I think until as you say the counselling is over these discussions are speculation anyway. See to your own future Mr Morgan your daughter is an adult without your help and each of you must make your own way.¡±


    Joan came in and announced that they were leaving. Annie had said she wanted to be alone and pray for guidance. They all walked out to the car and at last an awkward one armed hug was given. A business card with the convents address was passed and then the two of them drove off. Morgan stared at the road watching the car receding and then started to swear softly. Father Emmett said nothing for a few moments and then said ¡°I am sure you wished that had gone better. Be grateful by gods grace you found your daughter. Do not spoil that miracle with petty doubts or regrets.¡±


    Morgan let his shoulders slump and registered a vein beating in his forehead. ¡°Ok father I guess I won¡¯t be good company for a while, I should go. Can I come back tomorrow and we will arrange when Annie and I can meet again?¡±. The next few minutes were filled with diary consultations that might have gone on much longer if Morgan had not been utterly free all of the time. Eventually it was decided that three days time was long enough for her to get over the shock and see him again. Walking back to the YMCA Morgan was whistling a quite complex little ditty and mentally making up dirty limericks about moving into a convent with his daughter when he got kicked out of the Y in three days.


    While he was doing that sister Joan parked her car at the nunnery. Mentally bracing herself for disappointment she turned to Annie and asked ¡°will you need help taking your strap off after compline?¡±.The pause was excruciating and lasted a very long ten seconds but then she turned and shook her head saying ¡°No. Thank you, no. I can do it¡± getting out of the car she walked off. Head held higher than Joan remembered her. Joans stern visage did something for which it was ill prepared as she smiled getting out of the car herself. Her duty was clear so she made her way to mother superior. Her guess that she would be tending to the gardens proved to be right as she was casting a critical eye over the potato crop.


    Catching sight of Joan approaching she extinguished her cigarette and putting the shovel to one side waved and said in a broad Yorkshire accent ¡°So Joan, whilst god provides and it feels wrong to question the good father have you had the lunatic locked up for his latest brainstorm?¡±.


    Joan harrumphed and replied ¡°Phyllis I have sad news. We will need to listen to his everyday miracle sermon again. This mad idea was actually right. The Bum is clearly a vagrant, penniless, aimless and godless. About the only good thing I can say is that he does actually appear to be Annies father. At least she says he is. No I did not misspeak ¨C she <u>says</u> he is¡±.


    ¡°Merciful god be praised. She <u>talked</u> to him?¡± Phyllis asked. Joan looked grim ¡°Aye that she did. I still have little idea of what had happened to her but my bowels turn to water at some of the hints¡±.


    Phyllis pulled a rosary out and led Joan in a decat. After they had finished she said ¡°I think you needed that, you always talk funny when you get stressed. Now go check she¡¯s alright I have some calls to make.¡±


    Joan gave a tired nod of agreement and walked off stopping after a few yards ¡°Its not talking funny, I cant help it if not everybody has had a proper education¡± then carrying on before a reply could be made.


    Sister Phyllis called over another sister and asked her to put her tools away for her. Rank had its privileges after all. Changing out of the work clothes she made her way to her offices and unlocked a file cabinet. After some searching she withdrew a folder with a picture of a much younger Annie on its front and labelled QUIET GIRL. Sitting at her desk she opened the folder and located a phone number. Every silver lining hid a cloud, the order would miss the stipend for looking after her if she left but until she did the agreement was to notify authorities of a change in her condition. Talking and meeting her father were she was sure both events that those paying the stipend would like to know about. Ultimately they wanted a more complete picture of what had happened in the bunker so the child was probably not going to get the help she needed but instead go through interrogations that differed from torture only in degree. Still an agreement had been reached and duty was a heavy burden.


    ¡°Helen, hello its mother superior here. I need to make a report to your dashing Major and its a bit more urgent than the quarterly status. There¡¯s been a breakthrough with quiet girl.¡±


    Ignorant of any developments Morgan had decided to try something he remembered reading about, walking meditation. He had no idea what it was but it sounded grander than thinking whilst walking. His attempt to talk to voice earlier today had failed which was a shame since he was starting to think that things had changed and it would be great to able to check his status


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    89%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    98%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    6%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    10%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    29%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    67%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    99.99% pending


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    One million forty eight thousand two hundred and seven functional clusters installed of which one million forty eight thousand one hundred and eighty six functional clusters are currently unassigned. Would you like me to list all clusters Y/N


    SPECIAL ¨C this system is not currently available for user manipulation. External support systems were given permission by user to make alterations. This interface is limited to information requests only until returned to user control.


    Much to his shock as soon as he thought deliberately about his status the table appeared in front of him. He called out to voice a few times but got no response. Returning his attention to the screen? He decided to call it a screen rather than display or interface. He had to call it something.


    So reading through he started with the completely new note first. Mulling it over he concluded a few things. Firstly voice was not the core system. Obviously his first thought about a natural language interface was wrong. Voice had said it was going to fix the power bleed issues and those numbers whilst still high looked better. Actually it all looked slightly better. The first question about percentage augmentation was clearly answered. It seemed to have been ramping up a little at a time and the results were getting much more noticeable. Recovery systems also looked to be working much better presumably fixing itself as the ongoing damage from power bleed reduced? Without someone to ask that seemed a reasonable guess.


    No the interesting one was the drop in available cores. Had he assigned more or lost some? Concentrating he thought ok system, list active clusters.


    Stealth, Navigation, Information Gathering, Searching, Bargaining, Bargaining-sub category Pleading, Bargaining  - sub category selling, Soothing others, Library usage, Records research, Records Legal, Juggling, Scavenging, Carrying, Building materials preparation, Brawling, Intimidation, Tailoring, Knitting, Theology, Whistling.


    How was knitting a core? What the hell use was whistling? He could see how some of them came about but some just confused him. How was soothing others a special ability. Was he going to be super nanny? Concentrating again he thought ok system how are these assigned and left it there wanting answers to be as clear and direct as possible.


    Cores are assigned functions in one of four ways.


    1) At Integration base functions automatically assigned. You have 207 cores assigned to health, one hundred and six cores assigned to longevity, twenty cores set to one side for build functions, twenty four cores assigned to system maintenance, ten cores for power allocation, three cores for updating and reporting.


    2) Assigned as part of a suite of functions. Example ¨C for those persons assigned as fire guards in ceremonial duties they are assigned Fire Generation level 3, Fire Projection Level 2, Assess Combustibility Level 2, Fire resistance Level 1. You currently have zero cores assigned in this manner


    3)  Assigned as direct manual intervention by user. Both active and passive systems may be directly implemented by user. CAUTION this is an extremely risky procedure and should not be attempted without emergency core dump facilities in place. CAUTION this method cannot be used to create any core with a level higher or equal to your current build systems management. Your current build systems management level is zero. You currently have zero cores assigned in this manner.


    4) Passive Accumulation ¨C This is often used as an experimental setting in new environments. New environments include new planets, new species, new challenges. Whilst this is often wasteful of test subjects physical well being it is the recommended method for testing to destruction what facilities, skills and abilities allow local dominance. This system is currently in use.


    Ok another set of things to consider, this didn¡¯t get any easier. Thinking over the list of skills and what he had been doing he could make links ¨Csome more tenuous than others- between the skills and his activities. He had been going to ask how skill cores actually affected him but first concentrated and asked if cores are assigned based on my activities can I get more cores assigned by doing more things?


    Yes


    Ok how do skill cores affect me?


    Effect of cores will vary by level. At level zero (formation level) Skill core will be mostly informational. Information about subject will be absorbed and collated by core, presented as advice or warning during commission of activity. At higher levels more functions will be unlocked. View individual skills for more information.


    OK how many cores do I actually have?


    You have 4,194,304 generator cores organised into 1,048,576 function cores. A function core is usually specified as an effect generator, a library, a power source, a storage system. Warning ¨C this system refers to cores usually meaning function cores. This is not the case in manual core formation and failing to include a required function or placing an excess of function can cause difficulties. Example. Placing an extra power core in a function suite may lead to faster cycling but bodily detonation is usually an undesirable side effect.


    Thank you for that warning. Er how long until voice returns?


    No information.


    Ok that made sense. Can I control notifications this way? After a pause he decided to rephrase that in his head. Can I request that you notify me when Voice A becomes active again?


    Yes. Please indicate nature and duration of notification.


    Ok projection of text as semi transparent letters onto my field of vision lasting until dismissed by me. Please place a test message for me to check it out. The next couple of minutes Morgan essentially played with screen design trying to make sure that he could not ignore or worse fail to notice a message without it obscuring his vision. When he was satisfied he reassured himself that he call up status at any time and resumed walking back to the YMCA after dismissing any and all displays. He headed back to the Y and reflected that whilst he may have been pleased to be given a week free time was marching on and he still had not got either a job or accommodation.


    When he got in Brian beckoned him over and gave him a coffee. ¡°Ok so I thought about your story with regards to Sken. He has been a useful resource for me. Helped me to get jobs and accommodations for a good many people. It just wasn¡¯t possible that he was a bad guy, that I had feeding him a supply of desperate people to exploit. So I spent some time today looking for the people referred in the last few years.¡± He paused giving Morgan a stare through raised eyebrows and pursed lips. Rather than working it out Morgan let him decide what he was going to say next. Brian shook his head ¡°only two would answer my calls. They both seemed quite happy and had no words of complaint. So thinking about what a shit you were I called my boss to discuss you. That¡¯s when things took a sudden turn. He referred me to the slavery crimes task force. Huh ¨C who even knew there was slavery crimes task force. Anyway naming my good friend Sken got quite an unexpected reaction. Any guesses?¡±


    Morgan had been waiting to be kicked out and started to untense his legs. That really was an awful relaxation technique. ¡°No. I suppose its significant they knew his name but no don¡¯t want to guess¡±


    ¡°Well it seems that he was well known to them. Apparently he runs an indentured servitude scam. Whatever that is. I can look forward to being interviewed next week as a potential accomplice. Joy. So maybe you are not the trouble I thought. Given the bad start and my part in it you can have another week, that¡¯s already cleared with my boss.¡±


    Morgan immediately grabbed his hand ¡°thank you, thank you. Found my family today but might have got them evicted so this is great¡±


    Brian pulled back ¡°we are not running a hotel here¡± and turned to leave.


    Morgan got up and grabbed his shoulder guiding back to face him ¡°any chance I could use the gym? Climbing wall, gymnastic equipment, boxing perhaps. I want to get a little experience in a lot of things¡±


    Brian frowned ¡°No. Not while paying customers are here anyway. If you¡¯re trying to get fit go for a run.¡± Thinking just be grateful for the week Morgan left and got changed.


    Running had never been his thing so he went to a nearby park and tried to get motivated by a running track. Deciding to test out his 10% Morgan started to jog then when not even close to getting winded started picking up the pace. Reaching a full on run he kept up that pace for minutes before slowing. Ten percent, what was 20 going to be like? For the next three or four hours he did every track and field event he could work out a way to fake. When he was starting to draw a crowd he made his apologies and walked back to his room. He had not heard clearly but it seemed that he was smashing the PB¡¯s of everyone at the park. Not sure what PB¡¯s were he nevertheless realised that he had out performed seasoned practitioners and people had noticed.


    It was while contemplating that he noticed some people outside the YMCA. At first his attention was drawn to a group of three people and whilst looking at them he realised that he recognised the tall blonde guy who had told him to leave before Skender got his hooks in. The two standing with him when he looked seemed quite well built as well. Obviously a bunch of muscle men standing outside a gym was easily explainable but ducking into a doorway Morgan scanned the area looking for whatever else was worrying him


    Searching ¨C Sub category surveillance assigned


    Dismiss. More worrying was he could see another group loitering about who occasionally looked over at blondies group. Sitting down he decided to see what his new senses could do for him at six percent, after all wasn¡¯t that how the bionic man did things? While his brain pinged that it was the bionic woman and started rerunning episodes in his head he told it to stop and instead focused on what he could hear. Damn that hurt, the answer was way too much. Ok he probably could work out some sort of method for focusing in on what he needed but for now that was no help. Looking back to the Y he tried to work out how he could get in without being seen


    Stealth ¨C Sub category intrusion assigned


    Dismiss. Damn that might get annoying. Working out a route he suddenly felt an existential pang as he wondered was the plan his or the cores? Without time to waste on philosophical conundrums he started forward.


    Strangely the nearer he got to the entrance the easier it was going to be, from some distance anyone could see him coming down the street. Morgans plan was to get close moving behind people then climb the nearest building and leap to the YMCA. It fell apart straight away as the middle aged woman he was trying to tuck behind turned to look at him and loudly informed him she had a boyfriend. He was immediately noticed and ran hoping that the core had indeed been responsible for this plan. The pursuit was short lived as he effortlessly outdistanced his pursuers before they got in there vehicles.


    Hearing the commotion he decided to take a gamble and doubled back on himself. Yes the entrance was clear with everyone having decided to chase him down. Result! Keeping what would be an unachievable pace for anyone else for that long he ran into the YMCA lobby. Any smugness died as he saw Brian and the young girl he still had not learnt the name of surrounded by a group with Skender head bandaged like he had a turban sitting down drinking what smelled like tea. As he staggered to a halt Skender looked up. ¡°The man of the hour. Knew you¡¯d be here, what did I tell you guys?¡±. The guys all looked blankly at Morgan ignoring the question. There was a moment when they all looked at each other, there was going to be trouble. Everyone knew it and frankly no effort was being made to hide it.


    Every time he had been in this situation recently he had waited. Waited to see if things would change and every time that had let them take the first shot. You know what? Not this time. Morgan looked at the guys around him. Three groups, a pair by the counter fumbling in pockets maybe some sort of weapons. The largest group was the four guys in front of him ranging in an arc starting on his left and ending just slightly past the centre line. Last was Skender and the guy next to him holding a wheelchair. Probably a carer but don¡¯t forget him. When one of the toughs in front of him started to pull something out of his pocket Morgan picked up a chair and flung it at the group. Disconcertingly one of them smoothly reached out and caught it by the legs before it hit anyone but that was fine as Morgan used the distraction to kick the nearest one in the balls as hard as he could.


    The sound he made was odd as he collapsed down grasping at himself. As unexpected as that was Morgan continued moving sliding under the flung chair held aloft by Mr quick hands towards the guy who had been pulling something out. He was moving so fast that he was able to slide underneath before quick hands got rid of it . Without checking what he had been taking out Morgan kept the momentum going springing to his feet and taking one more step drove his shoulder into the mans sternum trying to rugby tackle him. It was a poor tackle but delivered with such speed and force that barely mattered. Morgan stopped dead the full momentum of his movement transferred to the poor unfortunate. With an explosive expelling of breath that sounded like ¡°Glurk¡± he was knocked off his feet landing several feet back. He landed and started flailing like he was a turtle on its back trying to get some air back into his lungs.


    Ok two down. Two close, two far and Skender still threats. Five maybe six targets depending on carer. Quick hands was putting the chair down and his friend had not been idle. His friend bounced his fist off Morgans nose. Grabbing Morgans left shoulder he tried to manhandle him to the ground while his right hand pulled back for another haymaker. Morgan grabbed the hand on his shoulder with his right hand and dived into a forward roll making sure the hand stayed where it was. Puncher landed on the ground his elbow twisted at a horrible angle and started to scream which cut off as Morgan started a second forward roll still holding the hand in place. His scream became a gasp as Morgan felt things come loose in the arm and decided to let go. Standing up he was in punching distance of quick hands and jabbed at his face. Quick hands bobbed and drove two quick jabs into Morgans unprotected stomach.


    Morgan was pleased to note that it didn¡¯t bother him and tried to hit him this time with a hook. Leaning back Quick hands avoided the blow and drove two jabs followed by a cross into Morgans face. These were hefty blows delivered with precision power and control. Morgan was not bothered in the slightest and this time tried a backfist which also failed. Confusion crossed quick hands face and he delivered a fusillade of blows to Morgans body finally delivering a one legged punch straight onto the point of his chin. Morgan in the meantime noticing that he was not getting hurt switched tactics to adult restraining children mode. Ignoring the punches he waited and at the moment of full commitment grabbed quick hands by the neck. Though physically shorter than quick hands he pulled him by the throat to his face. Staring at him he spoke slowly ¡°Stop this. Stop it now before I decide to hurt you¡± and then just stiff armed him away.


    Ok quick hands was staring at him in consternation, Crotch man was down, Puncher was whimpering on the ground looking at his arm that was twisted in a way it really should not be and weapon guy was lying on his back still trying to catch his breath. Pockets one and two were approaching with some of the collapsible batons Skender had used a few days before. Stepping away from them Morgan gave them a chance ¡°still time to reconsider guys¡± he said. Quick hands pulled himself together and scooped up the rod weapon guy had dropped. The three of them formed a circle around him.


    All of them were clearly shocked by the turn of events but that was okay because so was he. They probably would have taken some time to work themselves into further movement but the click of the hammer being pulled back on the revolver drew everyone¡¯s attention. Skender was pointing a gun right at Morgan with a hand that showed no sign of wavering. ¡°Lazy fucking bastich. Nothing but fucking trouble. How are these fucks gonna pay me now. You just keep causing trouble to everyone around you. Selfish¡±.


    Keeping his eye on the muzzle Morgan decided now was probably not the time to point out the flaw in the logic. Skender turned to look at the other occupants ¡°Roel go get any tapes of this, this mess. Brian, Gwen sorry but you¡¯ve seen this so you¡¯re coming along as well.¡± Gesturing to the guy on the ground just recovering his breath he continued ¡°Dardan make sure they don¡¯t get lost.¡±


    In the next few minutes he had everybody organised to leave. The injured were sorted out when those who had chased after Morgan came back to report failure. Morgan had been waiting for Skender to be transferred to the wheelchair as his opportunity but Skender passed the gun to another who kept it fixed on him. The multiple and severe injuries around him seemed to convince him not to slack off the vigilance. While panicking internally Morgan tried to keep a poker face


    Bluff assigned


    Dismiss. Ok what could he do, that gun was always on him. Short of hoping it was empty Morgan was out of ideas. His panicked ruminations were interrupted suddenly ¡°Excuse me ¨C not sure what¡¯s going on here and really don¡¯t care. My Name is Corporal Helen Patel; Is one of you a Mr Moran Oxbridge?¡± A young lady in army greens had walked in and ignoring the scene had started talking.


    There was a pause as everyone looked at her and then Morgan cleared his throat before declaring ¡°There¡¯s a G. Why can nobody get the G right? I am not going to answer unless you can get the G right.¡±

 Dont forget the toothbrush

    She was small, slight, young, pretty and probably of Indian descent by skin colour. She also looked utterly unconcerned by the scene just looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but my paperwork does not have a G so neither do you¡±. Then looking round she raised her voice ¡°Again I am Corporal Helen Patel of the specials control and recruitment team. This man is coming with me and I have carte blanche authority to take all necessary actions to ensure this¡±. She looked round waiting and Skender eventually obliged.


    ¡°Rubbish. Oh I admire the bluff but a wee thing like you aint the Micro.  No nice try but no¡± and he swung the gun to face her. An orange glowing sphere formed around him cutting off his words and Corporal Patel looked round ¡°any other skeptics?¡±. There were no takers and people started to leave quickly shock at the sudden turn of events making them compliant.


    Outside a jeep was idling and a middle aged man in an officers uniform casually held a rifle pointed up to the sky. As each person came out it was swung in their direction and they were encouraged to move on. Finally Brian, Morgan and Gwen were left. Brian stood up looking at Morgan ¡°You¡¯re evicted. Get out. If you want your stuff go to the council tip because I won¡¯t let you go through our bins. Why are you still here GET OUT!¡±.


    The corporal put herself between them ¡°Sir I am going to have to ask you to leave. When I drop that barrier the remains are going to be quite irradiated and a NEST team will decontaminate the building in a few days. Until then get any personal effects and get out inside seven minutes. Well six and a bit minutes now¡± Brian and Gwen just gawped for a second and then ran behind the counter grabbing stuff. Apparently that bullshit was plausible.


    ¡°Do I wait for you or just go outside¡± Morgan asked suddenly keen to be polite.


    She turned and smiled which even in the circumstances made him feel better ¡°well Mr Oxbridge I am pleased that even without a G you are cooperating. If you go outside by our vehicle you will find Major Channing your current case officer. He is eager to meet you¡±. Those instructions were clear enough and case officer did not sound too worrisome he thought. Heading out he heard the young lady encourage speed from the others.


    The assault rifle held by a tall gangly middle aged man swung towards him and he called out ¡°can I assume that you are Major Channing? The nice lady in there told me you would be keen to see me¡±. The rifle holder weighed him up and then replied ¡°There is no nice lady in there. If we are making assumptions can I assume that you are Mr Moran William Oxbridge?¡± without moving the rifle at all.


    Confident that this was not a wise idea he decided to do it anyway and shook his head. ¡°Nope. Thats not me. Not without a G in my name¡±. The primary look on the mans face was amusement as he replied ¡°Ok Mr Oxbridge with a G. Are you the individual who absconded from the William Grange Medical centre?¡±. ¡°Yes¡± he replied.  ¡°Are you the individual who earlier today carried out an illegal interrogation of attack survivor Miss Annie Sandra Oxbridge?¡±. ¡°Interrogation? No but I had a reunion with my daughter¡±. ¡°Daughter. Huh. Ok well that answers my next question. From what I can see you were having some difficulties, don¡¯t worry that was the frying pan and this is the fire. You are under arrest for evading registration under the specials control act. You will also be charged with interfering with the recovery of an attack survivor¡± The rifle went back to being pointed in the air. The major grinned ¡°Gotcha¡±


    Sitting in the jeep Morgan watched as the Major dealt with police ambulance and fire authorities. He had been warned not to leave and at least previously he had ignorance on his side, if he ran again that would not be true. After a few minutes the young Corporal got in the driver¡¯s seat and started driving. As they got underway she looked in the mirror and with a grin asked ¡°Any progress on getting that G?¡±. Looking to make a link he shook his head and just said ¡°no¡±. She nodded seriously and said ¡°Yes Isobelle ¨C that¡¯s his wife- is very clear about how hard it is for him to find a G¡±. She laughed while he tried to decide how to react and then added ¡°Relax. I¡¯m the good cop. Supposed to get you at your ease and make you drop your guard. Then use anything you say to break you later. Its all bullshit in this case. One lawyer and 15 minutes of the easiest work he has ever done will get you out of this. You obeyed all lawful commands when you knew they were lawful commands right?¡±


    Morgan nodded relief flowing through him, he was not as far in the shit as he had feared. She continued ¡°So the worst that could happen would be a sentence of enlistment to the SCAR team and to be blunt from what I hear you are headed for that anyway. Just curious. Do you know what you did to get the science team in an uproar? Whatever it is they already filled out the detain for study requests.¡± She eyed him in the rear view mirror looking for a reaction. Not getting one she continued ¡°On the bright side Quiet Girl is coming in as well. I understand you are related to the survivor?¡±


    That comment about good cop was worrying Morgan so he stayed silent.


    Interrogation resistance assigned


    Dismiss. Well that was useful feedback anyway. Well if she wanted to build a rapport lets trade information. ¡°Look pardon my ignorance but who are you. I mean you gave your name and you seem to be dressed as some sort of soldier but what is the SCAR team. Are you part of it. How do you get sentenced to it. Why can some scientists detain me for study?¡±


    She looked in the rear view mirror suspiciously ¡°please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re some sort of sovereign citizen crazy. As Major Channing said to the last of you people we can detain you because we have the guns. Putting 3 rounds into her knee probably helped emphasise the point.¡± It was said in a jokey way the same way someone else might make a joke about an error at work but whether deliberate or not a threat had very clearly just been made.


    Trying again to get information he rephrased his question ¡°without pissing off anyone with a gun but I really don¡¯t know what SCAR is and how you got your apparently life or death authority.¡±


    She looked in the mirror for a few moments and then said ¡°look if I pull over for a coffee we can talk and if you run I will kill you so please don¡¯t. You sound like you really don¡¯t know and technically as the arresting officer I am supposed to explain your rights¡±.


    Morgan tried to assure her that he was trustworthy  ¡°Look I won¡¯t run and I promise you I really don¡¯t know what you do or how I fit in¡±.


    After a couple of miles they found a drive through and parked up. Whilst unbuckling his seat belt she turned round and really intensely staring at him growled in as low a tone as she could manage ¨C¡±I really will kill you if you run. If not now when we catch you again. I promise I hold grudges¡±.


    They found a seat and they ordered some coffees. After the first sip she started to explain. ¡°As I understand it you have been asleep for a while yes? Well I may have only been a tweenie when the crash started but I saw a lot of scared adults. Universities have full departments talking about this crap but all I can say is that when the aliens started bombarding people from orbit the economy went to shit. And not the nobody goes on holiday shit I mean international trade just stops kind of shit. Governments powered through for a while here and abroad but we had been financing ourselves with debt. Hard to believe nobody had a problem with that but not enough money for everything we did. Then people stopped lending money because the economy was shit. No mortgages or buying a cars. What had been considered normal transactions? Forget it. Nobody will lend any money to or between governments type deals. People start talking about paying off debts and seizing assets to do it. And globalism, that happy optimistic ideal died. It was shivved for a slice of stale bread. This is all fairly recent, eight years ago the freeze started. China fell first, then the North America¡¯s. Europe crumbled into nation states seven years ago then city states for the two years following. Recognisable governments have been reinstated in most places. Some percentage over 70% have some sort of stable government and let me assure you some of these places are scary. People will apparently put up with a lot to avoid anarchy. Even communism if you can believe that¡±.


    As she took a sip Morgan asked the obvious question ¡°And Britain how did we cope in this financial and military disaster.¡±


    ¡°Monarchy ¨C its a simpler more brutal form of government and it was made in and for more chaotic times. It was a joke and a soap opera but when needed it was a figurehead that held us together. Pardon me but like most people these days we are grateful to the king. We are a country because he made us act together. The armed forces were getting mutinous, no wages, no food and nobody in charge. He called the generals together. Not fair he called all the heads of the armed forces together. A deal was made. They would restore order and he would provide legitimacy. It worked. Oh I mean lots of smart people whinged and complained but theres some sort of quote about a whiff of grapeshot making people listen to reason. Technically we are assisting Civilian authorities, in practice we are replacing them. Police arrested people and let lawyers sort it out, we killed people and then fined the families as there entrails were litter.¡±


    Morgan objected ¡°you sound proud ¨C that cant be right¡±.


    Helen looked sadly at him and with a sigh kept on ¡°that if nothing else convinces me you are from another time. I grew up in a world where you did what you needed not what you should. Tyrants throughout history have said that apparently but for us that¡¯s the only reason, not a quest for power. Anyway we do a good job with keeping order but violence and unrest are always boiling up. An idiot with a placard, Police can deal with him. A bulletproof flying idiot with flame breath and a placard- That¡¯s where SCAR comes in. We control and recruit specials. We train indoctrinate and occasionally incarcerate those like you who are trouble makers. Our authority is remarkably broad, only results matter.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The coffee had grown lukewarm whilst she talked so the whole cup was downed in one. Looking at him she said ¡°breaktime over ¨C drink up and back in the jeep. Got an hours drive and I cant let you out of my sight so if you need the toilet, tough.¡± Drinking the rest of the coffee likewise in a gulp he got in the jeep. The rest of the drive was quiet and he used the time to think over what he had learned, nothing contradicted the hospital but it was a different and scarier slant on it.


    After a few hours they arrived at what a faded tourist national trust sign informed were the grounds of Perdervil castle. There appeared to be a few new permanent buildings but mostly the fields were littered with dingy tents. Pulling up outside one of the newer buildings he was led in and taken to a desk. Helen walked up and addressed the burly man behinf it. ¡°Case no 562409 ¨C Delayed response to test collection. Tag and assign quarters pending review. Assign queries to Channing¡¯s office.¡± They both then looked at Morgan expectantly. After looking behind himself to check he waved and said hello. Helen grabbed him by the shoulder and tried to push him to the desk failing miserably much to everyone¡¯s surprise.


    As the desk beckoned several people wearing armbands that said MP picked up weapons and started to approach so accepting the inevitable he let himself be lead to the desk. Ten minutes later a blood sample had been taken, a photograph made just for the records and a hard orange plastic bracelet was glued shut on his wrist. The Bracelet had his case number somehow inserted through it and he was told it would allow him three meals a day, clothing, and a place to sleep. He was also told it was a crime to damage it and the penalties for losing it started at death. He had no idea when these people were joking so just nodded away at everything.


    When he left he tried to listen to the conversation and caught the desk guy talking to Helen ¡° I thought you were a high physical. Why couldn¡¯t you shift him?¡± and her reply ¡°I am high physical- 12% with a max of 15% but he just wouldn¡¯t budge¡±. As interesting as that revelation was he decided to play dumb until he knew what was normal around here. A quick status check showed him to be at 10% still.


    Wandering around aimlessly some staff looked at his bracelet and then told him oranges were all in the tents. Eventually some young man took him to a quarter master who issued him with a tent, bed roll with blankets and told him induction was in two days for his intake and just to stay out of the way until then. He wondered out and started to try to put up a tent. It was not easy and the only  good thing was getting a skill notification for camping. Following a group of others he found the mess and got something to eat. Finding a table in one corner he sat down to eat while just absorbing the ambience of the place.


    It seemed, well, normal. Nobody looked scared or angry. After finishing his dinner he went back and got a desert this time sitting down next to a group of orange tagged people that seemed to be composed of a mixed range of ages. He was acknowledged and then after waiting for a lull in the conversation ¡°hey folks just got here today. What¡¯s the routine like?¡± The man next to him turned and grinned ¡°Thought I hadn¡¯t seen you before. Names Greg by the way.¡± Morgan introduced himself and a round of names was exchanged. After the pleasantries Greg continued ¡°well you¡¯ve got good timing. Training Cadres are set up once a month and the next starts in three days so you wont have to wait long. Until then just hurry up and wait.¡± Another piped up ¡°no red in your band so you aren¡¯t considered dangerous to be around but Condoyle house ¨C the building covered in vines  next to the pear orchard ¨C has the science block. They will sometimes talk about how best to develop¡±. Morgan perked up ¡°Oh advice from someone who knows what they¡¯re doing. Thanks for that¡± Greg snorted ¡°Don¡¯t let the name or the degrees fool you. This weird craps less than ten years old, nobody knows anything for sure. I mean yes they¡¯re useful but just remember its guessing same as you. Do what works for you¡±. Changing tack Morgan said ¡°trainings in three days, I was told inductions in two?¡± Another person offered ¡°we get assigned to trainers in 2 days and the training proper starts the day after¡±. Deciding that was enough interrogation he just let the conversation flow and a pleasant half hour passed.


    A few hours later after he had someone take pity on him and show him how to lay out his tent as well as what to do with his stuff he was lying down I his tent when his bracelet started to buzz. He looked at it for a few seconds and when it persisted he started looking for someone to tell him if that was unusual. A sergeant supervising ditch digging assigned a digger to escort him to the intake building which turned out to be where he had been given the bracelet. Deposited there he was looking for some guidance when Channing walked up carrying a leather document pouch. ¡°Follow me¡± and he just kept on walking. After another look round Morgan did exactly that. When they left the building he started talking again ¡°so they put you in genpop then. Fair, I have no specific threats about you. Anyway Michael and Graham are our two chief theoreticians and your test results excited them. You poor bastard. They moved your recruitment to an urgent collection and here we are. So lets you and me together find out why you are worth chasing all round the country.¡± Ignoring all further attempts at conversation they walked past a pear orchard and up to a quite large but really lovely old house covered in vines. Channing paused for a second then slump shouldered knocked on the door. His military posture had returned by the time the door was opened.  A short wiry man wearing designer gym wear opened the door, whilst not slight the muscle shirt seemed unearned. His hair was slicked back and a model perfect set of teeth flashed in a smile. ¡°Oh dear¡± he said looking at Morgan ¡°whats this one done?¡±


    Channing stiffened to attention ¡°little bit of light GBH, some evading the recruiters but that seems accidental. Interfering with an attack survivor of special interest ¨CQuiet girl-   but other than that nothing much sir.¡± The short man turned and looked at Morgan for a few seconds and still looking at him asked ¡°so why bring him here, you know what we do here, why are we the right hammer for this nail?¡± . Channing reached into his document pouch and proffered it to the man who took it and hummed for a few seconds. ¡°Oh its you. Oh this is exciting come on in what are you still outside for come on in ¨C you too major I will have questions for you as well.¡± They were guided into what looked like a normal and homely lobby and from there into a set from a movie. White walls. Machines that went beep. Bright lights and a man in a dusty tweed jacket writing equations on a blackboard. Wannabe Gym bro shouted over ¡°Michael ¨C your anomalous result just walked in¡±. Turning round a man who looked like he went out of his way to appear ordinary blinked at Channing then Morgan. ¡°Dont shout Graham you know its distracting¡±. He walked over grabbing the sheet out of Gym bro¡¯s hands and saying ¡°so imprecise. Which anomalous result eh, would it kill you to give all the pertinent information. OH its you. Sit down both of you sit down.¡±


    They sat down and Graham made a cup of tea for everyone. Michael fixed a stare on Morgan and said ¡°I want you to know you lost me a long standing bet. Next time I am in Oxford I will need to run ten laps of the quad for you¡±


    Graham interjected¡± it was a dumb bet. Besides Carly will enjoy your matchstick legs feebly flailing round the quad¡±.


    After shooting a glare at Graham Morgan continued. ¡°in several early attacks survivors were ejected with extremely advanced hardware inserted to them. That hardware could not be removed safely but there are eleven extracted systems that we know off in the world. Only seven are fully functional. Of those the UK has one. It appears to be a device for analysing and describing Functions. It shows core numbers, functions and build number. This information is not always comprehensible and a good deal of our time is spent interpreting gibberish results. One result is always clear and understandable. Build number is a hexadecimal count and we guess it shows how many people have these cores internal to them¡± Channing stirred and then asked ¡°locally or worldwide?¡±. Graham responded ¡°Worldwide, and it doesn¡¯t tell you where they are or if they are active. Its really only useful for cataloguing and making spread estimates¡±.


    Channing nodded muttering ¡°I always wondered where those numbers came from¡± and then asked ¡°so is that why Quiet girls potential amputation is so important?¡± Graham nodded ¡°yes-if we get another functioning read unit we can either double our throughput or trade it to an ally for something. I know the Aussies are screaming for one because they object to China having that kind of information.¡±


    Channing pointing at Morgan ¡°Well that explains her. Him?¡±


    ¡°A statistician at Bangalore tech asked an interesting question. Does the count show how many specials there are or how many there were before you? Obviously nobody knew and it was added to the list of head scratchers¡± Michael replied ¡°but then I made a dumb bet. I bet that we would never know for sure. The lowest number on record was 00013CC and I proposed that they started at an arbitrary high number.¡± Morgan saw where this was going ¡°let me guess, you made a bet on the number and I was below it¡±


    Graham grinned as he butted in ¡°oh yeh ¨C your build number was lower than 00013CC. It was zero. Actually it was seven zeroes but you get the point. You sir are patient zero. Nobody before you, no one.¡± There was silence for a good few seconds while that was absorbed. Channing eventually piped up ¡°Who knows? Until we decide if this is useful who knows? Can we contain this?¡±. Michael stared at him blinking a few times then said ¡°well we do. Whoever the data tech was who did the initial scan, Graham can you think of anyone else?¡±  Channing stood up, and pulled out his phone ¡°Keep thinking  I have some calls to make¡± at which point he left the room with the phone to his ear.


    Graham looked at him go then shook his head ¡°paranoid the lot of them. Now your name is Moran? We need to get a case history from you. Knowing the exact start point will really solidify data projections¡±. Morgan settled back ¡°No. My Name is Morgan. Theres a G in it. If youre gonna take my life story can at least one person get my name right¡± His voice had been rising and he was almost shouting by the end. Hands raised in mock surrender Graham sat down, as he was about to start Michael interjected ¡°tell me what you find ¨C I think there¡¯s a breakthrough here and maybe if I stare hard enough and just let it percolate I will get it¡±. Graham watched him go back to the blackboard then turning back ¡°More likely to go blind. Anyway ok Morgan with a G. Sorry. Lets start with your biographical data. Date of birth?¡±


    The questioning was predictable and humdrum for 15 minutes until it came to the assault. When he mentioned the pain in his leg Graham paused everything and took some sort of uv light and after instructing him to disrobe dropped examined both his legs. Taking a pen he drew on his left leg and shouted ¡°leg. Point of entry. Get this - seven inches¡±. Michael looked over ¡°what?¡± ¡°yup seven. They must have got a lot neater¡± looking at Morgans face ¡°FYI the normal entry point ¨C 2 millimetres. That must have been awful, people complain if the entry is over a millimetre¡± Michael walked over ¡°Ranjits size hypothesis?¡± Graham pulled a face ¡°well take blood and find out I suppose.¡± Looking at Morgan ¡°theres a conjecture that the larger the wound the more abilities you have.¡±


    While the blood was taken he listened to the sound of people bustling outside. A lot of people. Channing was talking to them but he could not make out exactly what was being said.


    The interrogation, sorry case history continued. Nobody asked about voice, nobody asked about the white room. Taking a chance Morgan just cut them out of his story. It seemed to work, nobody called him out on it. He was discussing his work on the building site when Channing returned with a bewildered looking teenager following him. In his parade ground voice he announced ¡°ok this is the Lab Tech who did the work. He will be staying to assist you in your blood work. Get him a bed. Morgan you will be staying here as well. You will be joined by myself and the corporal.¡±


    Leaving the room the teenage lad watched him go then looked round. ¡°Can I have a toothbrush?¡±

 Hurry up and wait

    Unlike the Lab tech it seemed that the Major and the Corporal had been given time to get a kit bag together. Whilst the two of them came in Graham demanded ¡°look date and time as precise as you can manage. Date and time of this incident. To the second if possible¡± Guessing at a few minutes past seven he gave the date. Only the data entry guy with a lost expression on his face was reacting in any sort of understandable way. Well it was time to be more assertive ¨C¡±Graham, sorry but I think we have plenty of time for this later. Where do we sleep?¡± Graham cut off and the residential part of the building was explored after some organising.


    Somehow inevitably Channing ended up deciding who went where once Graham and Michael refused to move from the rooms they used. Morgan ended up in a room he guessed at four metres by six metres if you included the attached washroom. Thinking about the tent he had just left he agreed that this was good enough. The room was unused and needed airing out so he started to tidy up and dust. After half an hour Corporal Patel turned up ¡°ok FYI I am three doors down and .. dear god what are you doing?¡± Morgan turned blanket in hand that he had been shaking to get rid of dust and looked at the mess he had made around him. ¡°Its a work in progress¡± he replied. She looked round and then with a sigh ¡°you haven¡¯t even been through basic have you? You don¡¯t know how to stow kit or tidy. Ok watch me, do what I do. Learn because I aint doing this again¡±. Twenty minutes later the place looked tidy edging towards pleasant. Morgan looked round and then said ¡°thank you Helen that would have taken me ages¡± and she huffed at him ¡°Thats Corporal Patel to you. Until you get through basic you do as I say and then shut up. Look basic training its basic ok? Its not about making you badass, its about making you not a liability. We teach you marching, shooting, drill tactics Etc but we also teach you how to look after yourself so nobody has to look after you. You at the moment are a SMACK, soldier minus ability coordination kit. I don¡¯t have the patience for training SMACKs so don¡¯t expect me to do that. However the Major asked me to make sure you were settled and that probably means you are my problem. Dont be my problem.¡± She strode out slamming the door shut then a few seconds later it opened again and she popped her head round the door ¡°yes three doors down. Shower and bath facilities are mine first and don¡¯t dare use them without checking.¡± The doors was again slammed. After a few seconds of watching dust settle from the door frame he shouted ¡°OK¡±.


    The next couple of days a routine of sorts was established. In the morning the science team would do there allotted routine tasks of testing and report writing. Major Channing would disappear for an hour reporting and presumably been given orders every morning making it clear that keeping Morgan out of trouble was the corporals problem. This was interpreted as make him do housework and physical exercise. As boring as that was he got a few notifications of core formation out of it so he assumed progress was being made even though extreme ironing confused him as a core.


    Michael and Graham took turns quizzing him for the first two days. An extremely detailed life story was established on day one and then it was gone over in detail the next day. On the third day they were both there waiting for him when it was time for the grilling to start. They indicated he should wait and after a few minutes Channing joined them. Sitting down he said ¡°So you gentlemen have some sort of preliminary conclusions for me?¡±. Graham nodded ¡°thats correct¡± and looked at Michael. Michael pointed at Morgan ¡°He¡¯s lying. I don¡¯t know how much but he is lying¡±. Morgan seemed to be the only one shocked by that because Channing just made a go on gesture with his hand. ¡°We have three major discrepancies. Firstly his memory is too good. His story has not changed at all, he has not forgotten any detail and everything checks out. Without going into the unreliability of eye witnesses that¡¯s just not possible. Secondly his recovery. I agree with those two doctors you arrested for defacing public records, even with physical augmentation he should not have recovered that fast. Caveat ¨C no physical augmentation yet measured. I¡¯ll get to the reason for that caveat later. Ignoring physical recovery his psychological stability is well better than you would expect. Lastly his story. He has just done much more than he should be able to. If he was telling us everything then he could not have dealt with those thugs so easily. Vince Crabson in particular was a semi pro boxer, welterweight and when questioned gave a terrifying account of someone moving with inhuman speed punching with inhuman power and ignoring his best blows. The attractive corporal is something special but frankly not sure even she could have done what was described. I confess to some confusion about why the late Skenders firearm was even noticed.¡±


    After that speech all heads turned to look at Morgan who was sitting deeper in his chair trying not to panic. The fact that he wasn¡¯t gibbering lent credence to the comment about psychological stability and he started to speak ¡°Its outrageous, what do you mean lying. You said yourself everything checked out¡±. Channing was cold both in demeanour and tone ¡°Everyone keeps stuff back. Your abilities however derived are part of you and it feels personal. We understand. Once. Let me be clear, omission is lying. If there is anything you would like to add to your account now is the time¡±


    The silence hung heavy in the air. Morgan swallowed once, twice and then said ¡°nobody has mentioned the status window¡±. Graham shuffled in his seat ¡°Explain what you mean by a status window¡±. The next six minutes were filled with various misunderstandings until Michael interjected. ¡°I think I am going to show you something. It might save time.¡± And then he led them down a wooden panelled corridor to a incongruous steel barrier with two armed guards. He signed them in and Channing muttered something about it being amazing what  these old house had hidden inside.


    Doors opened they were led into the first busy lab room Morgan had seen here. One side of the room was dominated by medical sample cases some labelled with foreign flags. Staff were taking samples out and placing them in a device attached to a metal disc with wires attached. When Channing tried to look at it Graham pushed him back, ¡°sorry but that¡¯s irreplaceable and you¡¯re not. Nobody touches that without authority¡±. Two people in lab coats were both staring at a screen. Every time a sample was placed in the tray they would say ¡°no¡± and the next sample would be placed. After about forty samples the screen flickered to life and a display appeared filled with bizarre alien symbols.


    <table>


    <tbody>


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    ??????????????


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    <td width="155">


    ????????????????


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    ??????


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    <td width="161">


    ???


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    <td width="155">


    ???


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    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    ?????????????????


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    <td width="161">


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    <td width="155">


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    <tr>


    <td width="300">


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    <td width="161">


    ??


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    <td width="155">


    ???


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    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    ??????????????


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    ????????


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    <td width="155">


    ????????


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    <td width="300">


    ???????????


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    <td width="161">


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    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????


    The sample was placed to one side and the routine recommenced. Michael ushered them out and once the guards had recorded them as absent he looked at Morgan ¨C ¡°so is that a status window?¡± Morgan considered then nodded ¡°well mine is in English but yeh it looks like its in the same format¡±. Graham said ¡°well gibberish is all we get. Could you at least tell us the column headings?¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    91%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    99%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    8%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    11%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not Implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    27%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    68%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    99.63% pending


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    One million forty eight thousand two hundred and seven functional clusters installed of which one million forty eight thousand one hundred and seventy five functional clusters are currently unassigned. Would you like me to list all clusters Y/N


    Pulling up his menu Morgan responded ¡±on mine the top two are current capacity middle row right most is maximum. The extreme left is describing what the numbers are assigned to. First is health,  second  is assistance sensory, third assistance physical, fourth build systems, fifth power bleed, sixth recovery systems, seventh is status other. I assume that is just miscellaneous junk. The writing underneath tells you how many functions are available and how many of those functions are currently working¡±. Graham nodded and pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket, looking at it he agreed ¡°Peru get the headings in Swahili and they translate pretty much as described. They don¡¯t get any data though do you? About yourself?¡± Morgan shuffled his feet before replying ¡°those numbers seem kind of personal to me¡± Channings red face and incipient tirade was halted with a raised hand from Graham ¡°we can talk through them and discuss what they mean for you. You know to help you improve¡± Aware it was bullshit he agreed with a nod. It was probably the best he was going to get.


    They went back to the lab he was used to and Channing turned to the two researchers ¡°does that satisfy you?¡±. Michael was silent for a few moments then ¡°No. It explains his speed of progress being able to direct his training. His memory is still too detailed. There are details as well about how and when he has trained his abilities that he could share to make his account more rounded¡±. They all stared at him again. This was rubbish. It was too much, was this rehearsed? Suddenly he closed his eyes and mentally asked is any core actively functioning right now?


    Resist interrogation core active, Bluff core active


    Bluff core? Well he was trying to look like he wasn¡¯t panicking so ok maybe that made sense. This may have looked like a conversation but this was an interrogation. Thinking for a second an answer came to him. ¡°I have no explanation for my memory except that its always been good. As for training that occurred as and when possible. Look I have cooperated and I am starting to feel  pretty under appreciated here. You have a job, ok but accept my good faith or go jump off a bridge¡± .


    They all looked at each other and some sort of debate was occurring. Eventually Channing stood up ¡°thank you for showing me the read device ¨C do what you will, my way is always open later¡± and left. Watching him leave Morgan spoke to nobody in particular ¡°For clarity, that was a threat right?¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Michael ignored that and showed him a photograph ¡°This picture was taken of the front room of a hoarders bungalow¡± when Morgan looked at it to see why it was being shown Michael replaced it in the envelope it had come from. ¡°See you tomorrow Mr Oxbridge. It seems today you have escaped incarceration¡±


    Waiting outside was Corporal Patel in Army PT uniform. Looking up at him she grinned ¡°PT for you today. Been told to see what it takes to make you sweat.¡± With a cackle she pointed to a pile of clothing ¡°thats your PT kit. Good luck keeping it clean soldier because it better be cleanly folded every morning as part of your kit inspection.¡± Morgan picked it up and whilst looking for a place to change idly asked ¡°What kit inspection?¡±


    Clearly that had been an ambush because as soon as he asked that she shouted at him to get changed and kept up a verbal barrage inches from his face whilst he got into his PT kit. As soon as he was vaguely halfway into the kit she shouted at him to keep up and ran. Fast, freakishly fast. Taking a few moments to realise what was happening she was out of sight before he started after her. Using his stronger senses he realised he could smell her soap (coal tar?) and hear her feet pounding and set off after her. Running out of the building for the first time in days he saw her lithe form racing across the grass into the pear trees. The game appeared to be catch me if you can. For the first ten minutes she just outpaced him but that was sorted as soon as he decided to take it seriously. As soon as he started outpacing her on the flats her tactics changed and she started to throw things at him whenever he got close. The juggling core made short work of that tactic and he tagged her by grabbing her shoulder easily.  Bad mistake as he flew through the air, bereft of traction unable to be sure if it was judo or raw power that had thrown him. Landing he looked up and saw her furious face. It was pushed straight into his ¡°NEVER TOUCH A SUPERIOR WITHOUT PERMISSION. NEVER TOUCH A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX WITHOUT PERMISSION. IS THAT CLEAR SOLDIER?¡±. Lying there he just said yes. He got up and she immediately started haranguing him about getting grass stains on him. Realising that this was all to keep him off balance mentally he closed his eyes and tensed his legs to relax. He went flying and he just assumed it was her fist that bounced off his head. ¡°AM I KEEPING YOU AWAKE¡± roared in the distance.


    During the next couple of hours he found he could be worked into the ground and this small young woman was sadistically gleeful at the sight. As she announced chow time he dropped the rucksack he had been issued with and it dropped with a definite thud into the wet soil. Periodically weights had been placed in it in addition to the basic 20 kilos of kit. Every time new weights had been added the routine was the same, chase the corporal, fight the corporal, take a beating, return to the house and recover whilst more weights were added. He assumed it was some kind of testing regime but other than getting cores of Hunting, pursuit, brawling sub category dodging  it just didn¡¯t seem to be doing anything at all.


    Patel came and sat down next to him her skin glistening with sweat in a way that made her glow. Morgan was too tired to care, he could barely listen. ¡°Well I¡¯ve got bad news for both of us. The estimate of your physical is somewhere about 10%. That¡¯s an issue for training. People need to be trained for combat by near peers otherwise they rely on power rather than skill. Round here the only one who fits that bill is me. So I¡¯m stuck with a SMACK. Lovely. For the record every time you screw up I will be there to tell you about it so at least some of it is going to be fun.¡± Standing up she said ¡°I am currently considered an active asset ¨C that means if a special needs to be smacked down theres a good chance me and the major will be doing it. If you¡¯re assigned to me you¡¯re coming along. That Ruck was holding 167 kilos and you were doing cross country runs fighting and obstacle courses whilst wearing it. Until told otherwise your job is pack mule. No more testing today-if nothing else none of even our augmented rucks could hold more. Tomorrow report to the grounds at 06:00 for basic induction. You will see me twice a week for PT. Dismissed¡±. It was lucky she walked away because there was no chance he could have.


    Despite the ungodly hour the basic induction seemed almost babyishly gentle compared to the corporals treatment of him. His fellow inductees were not so blas¨¦. Finding it difficult to line up and some vomiting after the first press up. The drill Sergeants  yelled pushed and bullied and until everyone was responding, not always correctly but responding. Once that was achieved they were herded to get uniforms and kit assigned and then split into squads. Morgan¡¯s was assigned to wood squad which had eight people in it including him. Wood squad was assigned to a draftey wooden  building with a dozen bunks in it. The four last bunks had a full kit laid out on them already so the remaining bunks were selected on a first come first served basis. Miraculously they were given a whole ten minutes to pick bunks and stow kit before bellows outside drew them outside. They were then made to stand while a new sergeant shouted at them about military law and how they would be treated. The speech was long, boring and contained a lot nobody could be expected to remember and could go to jail for forgetting.


    After some time standing and being shouted at they were all trotted into a building and sat down. A video was played ¡°You are easy to kill¡± which basically told them even with training and special abilities they still needed to be cautious. After that another video was played ¡°The OODA loop¡± and then they were told to return to barracks. Once there two corporals basically told them how to do everything. Wash shave dress tidy everything.  Then they were told to be on the parade ground for 06:00 tomorrow and left alone.


    Three of the squad wouldn¡¯t talk. The remaining four were all male from early teens to mid thirties and of varying sociability. The main introduction was every time ¡°so what can you do?¡±. When he just claimed enhanced physicality the conversation slid past him. Isaac was the youngest and he demonstrated levitation though only a few inches. Arthur and Ronnie both produced fire though in varying ways. Arthur could project streams from his hand whilst Ronnie could make object in his line of sight catch fire. Harvey whilst initially reluctant confessed to enhanced physicality plus heat vision. They all discussed what they would be used for and eventually even the other three joined in revealing one lightning thrower (James) one fast mover (Brody) and the last guy (Harold) who claimed to be immune to poison.


    The next day he learned that he had an extra task squeezed into his training routine, every day for 15 minutes he was interviewed by Graham the first 5 minutes of which every time were a memory test of the hoarders picture. In addition arithmetic tests and co-ordination were carried out by Graham. This was in addition to the battery of tests both academic and physical each squad was assigned to do .The squad were encouraged to do everything together and they were praised or punished by officers together. NCO¡¯s would provide individual critiques but the officers would punish or praise as a group and by the end of the third day everyone was starting to pull together. At the end of the first 5 days a sergeant got them together and told them that the tests would not be discussed until week 13 prior to first leave. At that time each would have individual test results discussed for specific roles, ie mechanic, medic paratrooper etc. They would be given a weeks leave to think about it and then return pick a military operations speciality (MOS) so the next ten weeks would be aimed at whatever was chosen. Then came the bad news, as specials the choice they made was irrelevant. They would only be allowed into SCAR and could only choose MOS relevant to that unit. By choose he added think more told outright.


    Brody and Harold were the only ones who complained, everyone else just went to sleep. Even Morgan despite his superior physical abilities was ground down by the exercises. What should have been an advantage soon had his whole squad resenting him as instead of being told to move a log up a hill they were given 23 and told not to let them touch the ground. When they managed that on the third try the instructors seemed to take it as a personal insult and got really creative.


    The next two weeks blurred into each other it all getting rather easy for Morgan despite the instructors though he picked up an enormous amount of skills related to cleaning and maintaining he was more excited by the military skills he was learning both as cores and as a result of the training. He did like the drill sergeants explanation about why they were spending so much time learning to clean ¡°You are all training to be big rough tough heroes, well It¡¯s a sad truth that nobody is a hero to the person who cleans their underwear. If you are going to be a hero wash your own ruddy stuff¡±.  The only time he was stretched was by Corporal Patels twice weekly visits. Every time he thought he was getting better she would grind him down again. He hoped it was cathartic for her.


    One change Morgan did make was to his display notifications, he found the arrival of the prompt in his field of vision was distracting to say the least. After some experimentation he decided to keep the prompts showing but turn them to invisible by default and only becoming visible when he gave the command to change display properties. This let him carry on through the day and review his progress when he had free time.


    On day 25 there was an incident that told Morgan a lot that everyone else just took to be common knowledge. They had been getting ready to close quarters battle drill when they were told to return to barracks and make ready for impending attack. The chit chat in the barracks immediately turned to what was happening and a consensus of an overfly was reached. Apparently the claim that nobody could predict alien attacks whilst not wrong was incomplete. The alien craft was trackable and SCAR units were put on alert when it had been detected in an orbit which would pass over the British isles. This was because SCAR had an actual objective of controlling specials to maintain public order but an officially stated objective of either preventing hard landings or more realistically getting some revenge in. They were being put on alert ready to respond following any assault on civilian population centres. A few hours later sombrely watching footage of the carnage in Bandol they were quietly stood down and training was rescheduled.


    His routine changed again on day thirty one when Channing arrived. After a quick conversation the drill instructor told him to accompany the major who wordlessly walked to a jeep and indicated the passenger seat to him. Once they set off Channing said ¡°off to meet your daughter. She has an important decision to make and seems to think you will help her make it. Her therapist has refused to help us persuade her so you are ordered to persuade her that the operation is required.¡± Morgan did not know what to say to the arrogance so he just gawped and then said ¡°What operation?¡±. Channing frowned ¡°Does it matter?¡± and Morgan unable to take the conversation seriously anymore just laughed at Channing. ¡°Ok guessing you and Isobelle are still having trouble finding the G?¡±. Channing failed to respond for a few seconds and then said ¡°I hope for your sake there¡¯s a reason for that insubordination soldier¡±. Uncaring and speech still interrupted by laughter he said ¡°Yes- I mean with a statement like that its clear you don¡¯t have children.¡± He stopped laughing. ¡°I will act in my daughters interest and orders be damned. Just accept that and tell me whats going on¡±


    Channing drove in silence for a while until he pulled up outside an office building off base. ¡°Two children, boy and a girl, 3 years and 1 year old. Your daughter has a potentially valuable alien tech implant in her right arm. It is causing severe medical difficulties including septicaemia. The proposed medical treatment is amputation since there appears to be no safe method of removal. Your daughter has refused consent for that operation. The therapist assigned has refused to declare her incompetent so we are left with persuasion. As her father know that this operation though brutal and life altering will save her life. Is that good enough an explanation for you?¡± As they got out of the jeep Morgan asked ¡°this implant ¨C its the one the eggheads are after?¡± .Channing nodded. ¡°She seemed stable when I saw her if not healthy, why has that changed?¡± Channing nodded again ¡°five days ago another piece of alien tech ¨C a power system of some kind was applied to the device to see if it facilitated removal. It did not. The device however reacted intermittently glowing. Purpose of that glow, if any, unknown. Your daughters condition has since then worsened.¡± Pointing to the building Morgan asked ¡°is she in there?¡± another nod. ¡°Well lets go see her then¡±.


    On the way in he asked ¡°I presume the doctors who applied the device were not medical ones?¡± to which Channing replied ¡°That¡¯s a fair assumption though they had told the doctors what they were going to do¡±. Carefully sorting questions in his head ¡°has this device been used in the past on one of these devices?¡± Following a shaken head he asked the next question ¡°how and from whom was consent obtained?¡±. Channing opened the doors ushering him inside just pulled a face and then said ¡°No idea, never occurred to ask¡±. Not satisfied but accepting a dead end when he saw it he went into the building.


    The office building turned out to be a very upmarket private hospital. Channing was ushered in and Morgan followed. A series of corridors and he came to a room with two squaddies outside. Channing just breezed past them and Morgan followed in his wake.The room led to a well appointed private room.  Annie was inside, face pale clinging onto the hand of a tall thin lady. Dr Scott looked at Morgan and visibly ground her teeth ¡°what¡¯s he doing here?¡±. Dr Scott, Annie, Morgan and Major Channing all started to talk at once.


    The next couple of minutes were hectic. Eventually a couple of things were established. Dr Scott had been sentenced to ¡®community service¡¯ with SCAR for frivolous use of resources. Assigned to help Annie adjust to the need for amputation she had instead blocked attempts to declare her incompetent. Annie was doting on Dr Scott though she occasionally referred to her as mother superior. Channing wanted the tech and was inches away from pulling out a kukri and doing it himself. Morgan somehow eventually managed to kick everyone out of the room by leaning heavily on the whole next of kin thing so he could talk to Annie.


    ¡°Hello, how are you looks like a stupid question so..whats your thinking honey?¡± he waved at the arm. It was the first time he had seen it not slung up or encased in some sort of dressing and it was frankly disturbing to look at. The tech itself was visible as a metal disc half embedded in the arm. Morgan thought of it as a 2 inch washer somewhere between half and three quarters buried in her arm. It was a dull grey colour except for a black band round the outside edge. The wound it created though was the stuff of nightmares. The flesh had somehow gone into a semi liquid state oozing puss, blood and by the looks of the dressings around it lumps of intact muscle tissue. The disc had metal filaments that seemed to be slowly moving through her arm. Looking carefully at her he reached out and prodded the disc with a pencil. Nothing happened except for Annie looking at him and saying ¡°well done, most people are terrified to touch it. I think some of them are surprised when I touch it¡±. He sat down taking her infirm hand in his. ¡°Look honey a lot of people want that thing. It seems like it cant be pleasant to have¡±  ¡°Its not¡± she interrupted. Pausing for a second he continued ¡°cant be pleasant to have in you. I get why an amputation seems extreme. Is there any other reason before we talk?¡± Annie stared at him for a few seconds ¡°I cant even believe you are alive. This isn¡¯t going to be sorted by calming me down dad.¡± He stayed holding her hand and eventually she started to talk ¡°It was bad dad, in the bunker it was bad. People were just being slaughtered. We fought, we tried. They barely noticed. Everyone just got kind of fatalistic after a while. We were going to die and we spent time just adjusting to that. It shocked me that nobody committed suicide. Well I don¡¯t think anyone did anyway.


    When they released the first it was almost worse than just watching another die. We had gotten used to death but hope was the worst cruelty. I¡¯ve not even told Wendy this bit¡± she was silent for a moment tears in her eyes. ¡°She was nice. The lady who was supposed to help us. Gail I think her name was. Not sure when mum noticed that she had the escape colours but she put us all in a cubby hole. To hide she said. Then she murdered her to get the chip. She beat me, she beat me as I said no but she beat me and put the escape chip in me then pushed me out the door.¡± Annie sobbed covering her face with her one good hand. Morgan hugged her wordless. After a few seconds his voice hoarse he said ¡°thats what parents do. They keep children safe. It sounds horrible but Annie in the same place I would have done it too. I would have helped her had I been there. You are here, alive. Its all that matters¡±. Grown men don¡¯t cry so we will gloss over the next few minutes.


    The protruding disc broke up the emotional babble both of them were indulging in by choosing to glow. Annie winced in obvious pain then wiped her eyes ¡°oh its been doing that every few minutes for days now. Everytime the tendrils move causing more damage. Thats why amputation has become more urgent¡±


    Morgan ignored her. He was staring at the wall his tear filled eyes riveted to a point in space. He heard her. He understood the point. It was just that when he had hugged her he had inadvertently directly touched the disc and now his vision was filled with text.


    K11 monitoring System ¨C Error report.


    This unit has been placed in a subject that displayed autoimmune response to system intrusion. After marking subject unsuitable for dissection status changed to Test subject type Far Recon. Anomaly needs resolution.

 Ominous answers

    He sat staring at the display, scared to say or do anything . The glow faded after ten seconds and about thirty seconds after that the text faded as well. After staring into space for a while he did something he had meant to do daily but the lack of privacy combined with being run off his feet all the time had made him forget. Voice?


    Help functions available. Would you like to see your status Y/N


    Hello voice, no I would not like to see my status. Can you communicate with other monitoring systems?


    Yes.


    Ok how is that achieved?


    Via established communication protocols or in case of emergency physical contact


    Good good. Can you override control, command or otherwise influence other monitoring systems?


    Yes. Override authority is designated by numerical designator. Higher numbers designate higher authority.


    If a K11 system was present and currently causing harm to a test subject could you order it to remove itself from the test subject?


    Yes.


    Ok. Lets think about this. Can you establish communications with a K11 system in this room?


    No.


    He stared over at Annie who was staring at him wild eyed. She was pale and sweating and seemed to be going through some kind of ordeal. When she noticed him looking she snarled ¡°oh now you¡¯re paying attention ¨C painkillers¡± Coming to a decision he said ¡°excuse me¡± walking over to grasp the protruding piece of alien tech. Voice can you communicate with a K11 system now?


    Yes.


    Ok voice is it functioning properly?


    No. Analysing. This System was moved without recalibration. DANGER this course of action could cause inaccurate results and damage to test subject.


    Ok voice. How would you recommend dealing with this whilst minimising damage to the test subject?


    This situation should be dealt with in three stages.


    Stage 1 ¨C Remove all inactive sensor probes from other monitoring systems still present for reasons unknown


    Stage 2 ¨C Remove all active sensor probes by retracting them to the K11 system installed


    Stage 3 ¨C Power down System then remove it.


    WARNING ¨C Current system has been in place longer than designed product life. Power systems need recharging prior to instruction.


    WARNING ¨C Current test subject is experiencing extreme trauma. Termination is advised. Should test subject termination be unacceptable build Far Recon has e2 unused cores. At least one core should be assigned to health prior to instigation of procedure.


    How is a health core assigned? How long does it take? How is the system powered up?


    Core status is assigned after build assigned either by a user who has unlocked edit controls or by any external monitoring system with physical access to the build. The system is powered up by accessing power bleed. High levels of power bleed are occasionally controlled by attaching multiple monitoring systems. This system is also sometimes used to keep field equipment charged in the absence of charging facilities.


    Ok Assign a health core now if you can to the test subject with a faulty monitoring system attached which you currently have direct contact with. Once that is done initiate power up. Maintain control of the K11 until the process is complete and the system is safely removed.


    Annie gasped as metal filaments started to extrude from her. From her everywhere, there was remarkably little blood but both she and Morgan looked on horrified as what looked like copper wires snaked out of her. Particularly horrific to Morgan was the wire coming out of her eyes but she clutched her crotch with her one good arm and roared. The rooms door shot open and Dr Scott came through followed by two nurses and Channing who all tried to pile through the door at once. Wendy rushed over staring in shocked horror at the writhing form of Annie. Ignoring her Morgan maintained a vice like grip on her dead arm. He shouted at the room ¡°I¡¯m fixing her¡± and looked at Channing who had made it through the door first with one nurse lying on the floor groaning who was staring back with fury in his eyes and going for his sidearm. This seemed like a good time to hide behind the bed.


    Process complete ¨C Test subject will require time to recover whilst health core restores function.


    Looking at the large coin sized disc that had come free in his hand he proffered it to Channing ¡°does this help?¡± he asked. Channing rushed over and took it. Examining it he snarled ¡°this better do something or you¡¯re going to a jail so deep you¡¯ll get two minutes of sunlight a month for good behaviour¡±. Morgan mentally queried voice will this function?


    No. It will require a power source and a reset.


    Holding up his hand Morgan waved at Channing to stop. Voice how do I do those?


    This unit will perform a reset once power is applied


    Ok any particular power source or is it not picky? Can it be damaged by over or underloading it?


    Performance will be affected by insufficient power supply. The system is buffered against overload. Any power source will suffice, mains power will take 36 hours to charge and with continual charge will function for 24 hours before ceasing due to power shortage. These numbers will change as charging facility changes.


    Morgan relayed all of this to Channing phrasing it as if this was something he just knew. Channing stared at him for a few seconds and then left clutching the disc as if it was more valuable than he was. Maybe it was? This just left two medical staff including Dr Scott in the room with him and Annie. The hospital doctor was examining her and muttering something about shock. Dr Scott stalked up ¡°I thought your family was dead¡± she accused. Morgan tore his gaze from a twitching Annie as a nurse entered and changed the IV bags. ¡°And I told you your records were wrong. Is it so hard to accept that I did what I had planned to do and found my family? I mean not how I had planned to but I found her anyway¡±. Doctor Scott tapped her heel distractedly  and then ¡°We were listening in. This rooms wired for sound. You sound like the kind of father who provides practical support and then wonders why its not enough. Not a crime lots of you out there. She needs and needed more. Traumatic events are confusing. It will take a lot of work for her head to have anything like an accurate recollection and most of the work is going to be making sure nobody puts a sanitised version in her head. Can I ask you to not make my work harder? Don¡¯t talk to her about the bunker. Preferably never but at least wait for her to talk ok? Also regard anything she said or says as rubbish until she has thought it through.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Morgan nodded, vaguely insulted but not quite clear where in that barrage the insult had been. ¡®So what are you doing here then? Follow me? Miss me?¡¯ That got a reaction from her and mostly it was impolite. More staff arrived and they allowed themselves to be led out.


    When he left the room Channing was nowhere to be seen. Dr Scott escorted him to the family waiting room then left him. Looking out of the window he saw Channing drive off and wondered how long people would forget about him. Hopefully a while, he had got a long list of questions to ask voice now he knew it was back and hopefully his situation would improve once he knew how to control it.


    The next 2 hours was enlightening. His training had included lectures about how cores worked and the best ways to use them. The problem had been covered in the second lecture. Nobody knew how they worked and as such all the advice was guesswork at best. Obviously informed by case studies but still guesswork. The lecturer had started by quoting Clarks maxim about advanced science and magic being indistinguishable to the layman and then listed case studies. Several in particular frustrated researchers. The Korean Boy with the poison gas was discussed (how did the gas get through the filters) but also an Israeli stage magician who could make lightning bolts turn 90 degree corners and a Russian soldier whose kit cleaned itself but never anybody elses even if his own kit was replaced without his knowledge. Voice explained all of this. Then when it was incomprehensible tried again with smaller words, several iterations later Morgan asked for it to stop.


    So Voice lets see if I have summarised this properly. Two types of cores. An internal core and an effect core. An internal core is used to create a system of nanites that infuse the person they are in. They are used to help healing, increase strength, athleticism, make people live longer, remember better and all sorts of things. They cannot be upgraded and to improve them just put more in. I have an unusually large number and further augmentation is just useless. On those we are past diminishing returns and into net negatives. Skill cores are effect cores reassigned to make a person better at a specific task rather than the general augmentation of internals. For example a javelin thrower might benefit from internal cores augmenting strength and coordination but a skill core will improve his technique at throwing. Same principle for shooting brawling etc.


    A core is actually four separate systems ¨C no belay that an effect core is four systems. Those systems work together to create and control nanites which are dispersed through a target area. Once a sufficient concentration is in the area those nanites create the effect they were designed for. Those systems are the Function core which inserts the circuitry or whatever by which the nanites function, The library core which has records of how that function is to be used, the battery core which controls how many charges or uses each nanite is capable of being used for and the power core which determines how much effect each nanite in the wild will produce? Ok so far?


    Incomplete but accurate. The power for example will determine the charge of a lightning bolt or the energy in an explosion. The battery will allow for a second bolt or explosion.


    Right. Ok using my squad as examples Arthur projects jets of fire whilst Ronnie looks at things and makes them combust. So if I understand both have fire function cores but the library applies different criteria¡¯s.  Arthur sheds nanites that essentially form a tube pointing where he wants it to go then ignites the tubes contents looking like a stream of fire. Ronnie directs nanites to coat something he is looking at and then to set fire to it. The guy with the 90 degree turn in his lightning has just arranged a tube with a turn in it?


    Correct


    Ok you talked about levelling up and how each level up was actually an opportunity to customise a single cores functions. So for example if Arthur levelled up he could increase his fire function core for dominance, whatever that is. He could upgrade his library to get a second effect for example copy Ronnie and set fire to things by looking at them. He could upgrade his battery and effectively double his rate of fire or upgrade his battery and burn hotter. Is that correct?


    Correct. He could have other options with oversight but what you listed is correct


    Heads already buzzing. Now dominance. If two people again lets say Ronnie and Arthur want to use fire cores to light a match the one who succeeds is the one who has dominance right. Dominance is established by who has the most nanites in a given area.


    Or who has the most effective power. Somebody with a low function core but a high battery could also establish dominance. A more typical example is two force core users one creates a sword the other a shield, the size and shape of the sword or the thickness of the shield are irrelevant. Whichever force core has dominance will determine whether a stabbing occurs.


    Alright. Not sure I got that but alright. You mentioned as an aside that one of the main differences between an internal and external core is that an internal core is not subject to dominance. A persons internal augmentations are not prone to suppression like the affects of on external core are so dominance only applies to external core functions yes?


    Yes. In addition an internal core cannot use modification functions during level up. These must be either reassigned or lost.


    So now a function core once assigned cannot be changed you said. So you can level up and expand your library but a fire function core is always going to produce fire function effects? Strange non intuitive effects are often due to combinations of function cores. I mentioned Patels domes for example and you suggested two functions in concert. One barrier function and one irradiater function. Put the irradiaters inside the barrier and you get Patels kill domes?


    Yes


    And that implies it could be easily altered, for example put the irradiaters outside the dome and keep those inside safe? Furthermore that could probably be done with a single alteration to the Library on the irradiater leaving her free to get new barrier functions or shapes at the same time?


    Yes


    Because when you level all functional cores are updated independently but at the same time. Right. For those with a lot of cores this needs planning, in particular you need to make sure that none of the augments will clash with each other. For example if you had a core that affects weight and you gave it two functions one to increase weight and the other to lower it problems happen? Usually indicated by high power bleed numbers as it fights itself.


    That is a source of inefficiency that would require further management


    And just so I am clear thats why I am screwed? This time he got no response so decided to rephrase it. I have over a million cores. Each of those will need to have a function assigned and to get sufficient whatever before it can level. I refuse to call it XP no matter what your translator wants to call it. No Levelling will take place until all cores are assigned and the whatever is available correct?


    Yes.


    So I have to assign a million cores, plan the upgrade route for each one collect sufficient whatever to level a million cores and only then will I reach level one where the majority of those cores will first start to function?


    Yes.


    Assuming I do it all perfectly so that no functions contradict each other I will survive the event. And even then I will have a million level 1 cores whereas somebody who has lets say 400 cores will have 400 level 2,500 cores with the same whatever?


    No. Levelling gets more complex and therefore more ¡®whatever¡¯ is required. The individual described would have 400 level 140 cores.


    Side question, what is the average level of core in the society you come from? Give me the average and the most common value.


    Due to large number of societies using this system for growth and control there is a large variance. Current user average level is 1A. Current median user level is C.


    Hexadecimal makes my head hurt. I think that means average of 26 with the most common being 12? Don¡¯t answer its unimportant. Nearly there. So presumably at the point of reaching Level 1 I will be the most versatile cripple around. You said that I had an unusually high number of internal cores augmenting my health, mental, physical abilities and longevity. Can you explain that?


    During your initial evaluation you requested sufficient time to master everything. This was projected as taking a long time so a large number of cores were assigned to longevity. In addition you requested to be as strong, capable and healthy as possible


    I confess to some surprise that you listened. How long is a long time in this context and will I be healthy and strong for all of it?


    Mastery has been arbitrarily defined as level 20. By passive growth alone you would need 6 times ten to the 9 years to reach this level. Ten percent inefficiency was applied so your projected healthy life barring incident such as your sun dying would be 6.8 times E to the 9 years.


    That, whew ok that sounds like a lot but hexadecimal again so I¡¯ll do that in base ten later . Right why does anybody have unassigned cores then? Is it an oversight or are we being deliberately hampered?


    Unassigned cores are often used to prevent growth for various reasons. Children who do not understand, convicts who need to be controlled, Laboratory tests that will need to be exterminated once testing is complete.


    Dare I ask which humans come under?


    All three.

 Actually i did think people would be grateful

    Morgan spent some more time talking but voice was either engaging in techno babble or much more likely giving him answers he just could not comprehend with his current level of knowledge. After one particularly frustrating round of questions he gave up and started to look for somebody to either tell him how Annie was or to give him orders. Getting to her old room one of the staff told him she had been taken to the Medical Assessment Unit and so following signs for the MAU essentially wondered around the hospital.


    After a while he found the unit, he was confident he had done so because Dr Scott was outside talking to Corporal Patel. As he approached he wondered whether with Function nodes hate and hostility could form a physical barrier. The two ladies certainly seemed to be trying to make it so as they stared at him. Undaunted he approached and asked Dr Scott ¡°How is Annie?¡±.  She pulled herself up and then visibly organised her thoughts. ¡°Annie is suffering from abnormal clotting function and has an irregular heartbeat. These are serious but expected symptoms as part of recovering from septic shock and the team is working out a pharmacological regime to help her normalise. She will need to be observed for at least a week and then assuming no difficulties she will need medical supervision while we ramp down the pharmomedical intervention¡±. She took a deep breath and then continued at first calmly but her voice raising as she spoke ¡°I understand that you wanted to help your daughter and even accept that you did but you need to warn medical staff before doing something like this¡± . ¡°Can I see her?¡± Morgan interrupted. Dr Scott Dithered for a few seconds then turned to Patel ¡°Helen, will you come with and for gods sake stop him from doing anything?¡±. Patel nodded and then reaching up and grabbing him by the shoulder tried to frogmarch him in, after a second of futile tugging she glared at him and said ¡°MOVE¡±. Happy to do so as long as the direction was where he wanted to go anyway Morgan did just that and was soon in the MAU watching her. She was responding groggily to questions about of all things Good Friday prayer for the Jews.  Dr Scott leaned over and whispered in response to his mouthed why and whispered ¡°assessing her cognition. Heard shes a nun so asking her religious questions¡±. After a few minutes he had assured himself that she was okay and leaned in and said loudly ¡°back soon darling¡± followed by all three of them trotting out.


    Dr Scott directed them to the entrance and gave them a leaflet with the visiting times ¡°Not sure how that fits with your training schedule ¨C I understand that the Corporal is here to take you back to camp. Enjoy your trip.¡± Morgan waved his hand and said ¡°you want to stay a sec, I want to try something and would like an observer. Corporal, may I touch you?¡± Patel looked blank for a second and then just replied ¡°why?¡± ¡°I just want to try something, to see if I can repeat what I did earlier assigning a core¡±. Patel looked alarmed whilst Dr Scott looked confused and Patel pushed them both into a side room. ¡°Wendy, forget you heard that. Private Oxbridge consider yourself on a charge. Some things are confidential and for reason¡±. Well as bad as this was going Morgan decided to just rush through and get it done ¡°Corporal. I want to put my hand on your forehead for a few seconds. After that charge me. Nothing I am going to do should hurt you.  If something goes wrong Dr Scott can be a witness at my court martial. If nothing happens then I get to look like a fool and if something does happen Channing will want to know¡±. Irritation plain she snapped ¡°That is <u>Major</u> Channing to you <u>Private</u>. Get it done¡± as she pulled her short fringe back and glared at him. Without words he put his hand on her head and said out loud ¡°Status¡±


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    45%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    60%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    10%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    18%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    6%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    78.3%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    80%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Gamma Fast Mover


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Gamma Fast Mover


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Eighty six cores of which eighty are assigned to Gamma containment Fast Mover build. Six cores available for assignment.


    Patel jerked back incredibly fast, ¡°what the hell was that in my face¡± she demanded. Morgan turned to Dr Scott ¡°Did you see anything like a table or menu or any sort of writing appear anywhere¡±. While she shook her head he looked at the corporal ¡°Well that¡¯s partly answered-would you let me try again and finish my experiment this time?¡± With a wild look in her eyes she asked ¡°Wendy; you really couldn¡¯t see anything odd?¡± ¡°Other than him touching a woman without a rape whistle being used? No.¡±. Ignoring the slur Morgan raised his hand and raised an eyebrow at the Corporal who pulled her hair back again.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    45%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    60%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    10%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    18%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    6%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    78.3%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    80%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Gamma Fast Mover


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Gamma Fast Mover


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Eighty six cores of which eighty are assigned to Gamma containment Fast Mover build. Six cores available for assignment.


    Ok display assigned cores for me. The display listed all eighty assigned cores and Morgan scanned them quickly. He noted some absences and then completed his experiment speaking out loud. ¡°Ok please assign three cores. Assign one Strength core, one sensory core and one healing core.¡± The Corporal collapsed like she was a puppet who had her strings cut. Morgan looked at her then looked up at the ceiling saying to nobody in particular ¡°That was something I should have expected really¡±. Dr Scott looked at him then ran past opened the door and screamed for a nurse. Looking back she shook her head ¡°you really are a bloody menace¡±.


    As Morgan eyed the rent a cop trying to look menacing it occurred to him that before basic training he might have been intimidated by him. Whether it was lectures on the principles of sustained aggression or recalling parts of the you are easy to kill introduction to army life he was unable to work up much stress about this guy. People were still trying to find out what had happened to the corporal seven minutes ago and the main arguments seemed to be about whether to call the police or the army. Morgan confident that he had only to wait another few minutes for the corporals recovery and hopefully that would move things along decided instead to practice juggling. After a bit the guard noticed what he was juggling with and snatched his belt equipment back. Morgan beamed ¡°my pickpocket core thanks you for the practice¡± and then started whistling the most annoying tune he could think of. If people were going to treat him like an asshole he could at least get the benefit. After some experimentation he found the thing that seemed to annoy the most was two overlaid tones on top of a jaunty folk tune.


    Just when the rent a cop looked ready to kill him the corporal strode in and dismissed him. She then looked at Morgan ¡°Private Oxbridge you and I are returning to base right ruddy well now. Shut up, walk behind me and get in the jeep¡±. So saying she left and he followed grinning from ear to ear. He wasn¡¯t sure how best to work it but he knew his value had just gone up.


    His good mood seemed to irritate the Corporal, but her ire really did not bother him. As they approached the grounds Patel radioed in that she needed an urgent talk with her commanding officer.  Fishtailing into a parking space she ran out of the jeep and Morgan followed wondering about the rush. The desk saw her running in and tried to slow her down ¡°He¡¯s with the colonel, you¡¯ll have to wait¡± at which she turned right and started to run up the stairs leaving the protests behind. Morgan shrugged apologetically and followed. Coming to an area he had not seen before a man in civvies behind the desk tried to stop her getting slapped out of the way for his efforts. She pushed open the large doors beside the civvies desk and walked in where she stopped and stood at attention. Morgan walked in after her eying the thoroughly dazed man and then stopped seeing Channing and the base commander looking up in confusion. Also coming to attention he heard Patel announce ¡°Case vermillion sir. Reporting to my direct line command at earliest opportunity by all necessary means as per standing order 1489.¡± The base commander looked amused as he turned to Channing ¡°well at least she is studying for her promotion¡±.


    Channing got out of his seat and approached her ¡°Corporal I am already attempting to justify a screwup to my commanding officer. Why have you come here and reported case vermillion. In what ways have your abilities gone out of control and what harm have you done¡± . Whilst her face went through several contortions trying to decide how to respond the Colonel piped up ¡°Donal bring them here. Whatever shes done you will have to report to me anyway and I assume that this is the wild card that both you and the science team have been troubling me over. Might as well get a look.¡±


    They were lined up all three in front of the colonels desk waiting as he calmed down the secretary outside. As they stood Morgan whispered ¡°Can I touch her? Just want to check how it went.¡± Channing whispered back ¡°shut up. How what went?¡± and Patel hissed ¡°just let me report to somebody fast¡±. The colonel returned frowning at Patel. Sitting down he continued to stare as he said ¡°ok corporal ¨C report¡±. The report was swift, she had been sent to pickup the private who had been given permission to leave training to visit a family member undergoing major surgery escorted by Major Channing. Circumstances had arisen caused she understood by the private that required the Major to leave without the private and he dispatched the corporal .Once there she had found him with the aid of hospital personnel.. At the hospitals request she had escorted him to his family member and then started to leave.  Whilst leaving the private had sought and been given permission to touch her forehead. He had done this twice. On both occasions he had brought up some sort of display in the corporals view which appeared to be related to her special status. On the second occasion he had requested to assign ¡°cores¡± and she the Corporal had collapsed. Upon coming to she had found that she felt different being stronger and more perceptive than was normal. She had decided that it was a case vermillion and was currently reporting in.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The colonel looked to Morgan. ¡°Private¡± he started then shook his head. Looking at the other two he said ¡°wait outside. Actually better Channing go to room 5 write an account, Patel room 8 also write a report. Finish within thirty minutes both of you. Patel after that go to evaluation, Channing bring both reports to me. I will direct you as to the private after I have heard what he has to say. Private at ease¡±. Both saluted and left leaving Morgan with the Colonel.


    The colonel sat down eying him ¡°ok private. Tell me about your day. Start with waking up, end with talking to me, leave nothing out.¡± Morgan talked for a long while, at some point Graham arrived with a clipboard and took notes. Finishing took more than half an hour and at one point when refreshments were brought in for Graham he saw Channing standing outside looking murderous. When he finally stopped talking Channing was waved in and the two reports were given to both Graham and the Colonel. Still standing at ease joined by the major they watched them both read both reports.


    Reading done the colonel sat back after a while and stared at the ceiling humming tunelessly. After nearly a minute his attention snapped back to the pair ¡°Ok Donal you did nothing wrong but it still blew up in your face. 5 days AP. Keep me informed of what you do with national assets. And in case that¡¯s not clear I think he now is one. Dismissed¡±. Channing saluted and left. ¡°Private you have given me a lot of material to communicate to my superiors. I will see you again in two days when we have had time to evaluate the corporal and confirm your details of charging times for the tech. Until then you will be detached from your training unit and placed under Mr Sinclairs authority¡±. A nod at Graham implied that he was Mr Sinclair.


    Graham piped up ¡°ok what can we do. Can he have access to other unidentified tech. Can he experiment on other recruits. Other specials. Can we ask for advice either off site or even internationally?¡±. The colonel frowned. ¡°No live tests until the one already underway is evaluated. Show him to Tech that has no apparent value. You can consult in service but not civilian and certainly not international. In your evaluation bring in experts who include tactical analysis in their skills and game theory with regard  to his upgrade revelations¡± Tapping his finger he hummed for a while then added ¡°dont bring them in yet but we need some sort of think tank around the implications of the core deficit being there to prevent growth. That worries me and I don¡¯t know why. Get a list of names for that think tank together¡±. They were then both dismissed and Morgan followed along behind Graham.


    The next two days were boring. Morgan met a lot of people who all treated him like a lab rat. Every night he was given a box of junk to sort ¡°in his own time¡± to see what he could say about them. On the first night voice identified 30 of the 34 objects and got only six of them working. Whilst he was worried about that everyone around him seemed overjoyed so he stopped apologising. The next night he got 12 out of 20 but got 8 working. The first day was spent discussing the four types of core, in the morning a purely theoretical exercise and in the afternoon discussing various distributions of upgrade points and how each would affect a specific cores effects. The next day was spent with a group of maths geeks who decided to play games where they tried out different builds in some sort of top trumps version of specials abilities. Whilst it seemed silly it was fun for a while and when he looked at the various different types of tactics and mathematical specialisations it had given him there must have been a lot more going on than he noticed.


    Next morning he was taken to the disc that had been removed and asked if he could reset it to working. Voice claimed it was done and that the display would be set to English. Telling them it was done they seemed initially nonplussed that he seemed to have just looked at it then handed it back but took the disc and solemnly said they would test it.


    He was escorted back to his quarters and given some free time to make sure his uniform was pristine ready for meeting the Colonel again. While polishing his buttons Corporal Patel came in and watched him. After a minute of silence she asked ¡°Why three? It said there were six available, why three?¡± Morgan put down the brasso rag and replied ¡°it was a test. I picked three cores that you did not already have and it seemed unlikely you would complain about having. I left three as choices for you because well you¡¯ll be stuck with them. From what I understand once a choice is made its fixed. You might want to fly assuming that¡¯s a choice or live longer or breathe underwater or any one of hopefully a million other options, I dint know and beyond proving the concept wasn¡¯t going to make your choice for you¡±. She cocked her head to one side ¡°and the collapsing?¡± Morgan started polishing again ¡°as far as I can tell its part of the function formation. Presumably have to try with a few others to be sure but the next volunteer should probably lie on a bed¡±. She nodded ¡°why hopefully a million?¡± Morgan started to put the polish away and then replied ¡°just thinking about my problems rather than yours¡±. He laid out his uniform and looked at her ¡°how does it look¡±. A mix between resignation and irritation crossed her face when she replied ¡°like a raw recruit did it¡± and they both worked on it for a few minutes. Whilst doing that he asked how the evaluation had gone, though she had not seen the results she was confident her rating had increased and her healing had certainly sped up.


    An hour later they both joined Channing outside the Colonels office. Channing looked at them both and said ¡°Private Oxbridge just thought you should know. Pretty much exactly as you said the reader started to function. Furthermore its giving full displays and in English. It is the first fully functional reader we are aware of. Congratulations nobody wants to kill you. Well other than me¡±.


    Patel winced and said ¡°I¡¯d heard you were on administrative punishment. What have they got you doing?¡±. Channing looked pained for a second then replied ¡°I have to survey the sewers for security issues and structural issues. An hour after I finish theres a uniform inspection. Isobelle has thrown me out of the house for smelling and Trevor has started calling me poo daddy¡±. Morgan ignored Patels sniggers and started to apologise which Channing stopped. ¡°Dont worry private, I console myself that in two days I will once more be your commanding officer¡± and that seemed to end the conversation.  A few minutes later they were all ushered in to the colonel¡¯s office.


    The colonel was not alone. An elderly man wearing a generals uniform stared back and it took a moment for Morgan to recognise Charles the third. The King. He walked up and smiled a remarkably friendly smile at Morgan ¡°I suppose you are our man out of time- how is your daughter?¡± Panicking Morgan replied ¡°been cooped up here your majesty, no idea¡± and desperately wondered if he should be saluting. He stayed stock still and Patel was the next to get attention ¡°oh and Miss Patel, I hear a lot of good things about you not all from the press so its probably true¡± There was a polite chuckle from the colonel and Patel was ramrod stiff and quiet. Charles looked round and mumbled ¡°oh this will never do¡± and then told them all to sit down at a waved hand someone brought in a pot of tea.


    The next hour was just surreal probably for everyone but the king who just seemed to accept that nobody was willing to relax around him. The only tense moment came when Morgan asked about parliament. Charles it seemed was the only one not upset, he chuckled and asked ¡°do you want me to be a figurehead again¡± and after a hurried round of denials he added ¡°it would be nice if things were going that well. Oh I have heard the attacks and from people considerably less deferential than yourself. Duty Mr Oxbridge, duty. It was my Duty to keep this country together and so far I have done that. This country is my families burden and one we are proud to shoulder. When we are not needed we will return to our irrelevance. Open doors fund things. And when the next hammer blow to our government comes we will take this commonwealth in our hands and rebuild it bit by bit.¡±


    The meeting wound down and the king left but not before requesting no action be taken for ¡°a friendly discussion¡±.  The colonel escorted him to his vehicle leaving the three of them behind. Channing just raised an eyebrow to Morgan then as an aside to Patel ¡°thought I told you to look after him ¨C how did you let him talk¡±. Patel just stayed seated ¡°any suggestions about how to keep his foot out of his mouth would be appreciated¡±. The colonel took a while to get back as it seemed the whole thing turned into a tour causing mayhem in every department as senior personnel tried to appear ready for the king taking an impromptu stroll through the building whilst enlisted just tried to be somewhere else.


    The Colonel having eventually returned and beckoning them to stay seated paced the room until he sat himself. The silence become oppressive and he finally spoke ¡°he likes to meet the unprepared, its probably as close to normal as he gets. Ok Private Oxbridge. Patient Zero. Mayhem itself. So far everything you have said checks out though our best teams still cannot find any evidence of these nanites of yours either internally or around any specials manifestations of ability. Have you given any thought to what this means?¡± Morgan realised the silence was a cue for him to respond and replied¡± No sir. I mean Mr Sinclair has kept me busy sir¡± Saluting whilst seated was a terrible idea as he quickly realised and stopped.


    The colonel sighed. ¡°alright well person or persons unknown have introduced technology that could be fairly described as magical for reason or reasons unknown to individuals across the globe selected again by method or methods unknown for purpose or purposes unknown. Its a clue, its more than we had before but I¡¯m not sure it gets us anywhere.


    Your prevention of level rises is more ominous though. It means either we are not trusted with real power or it is assumed that we will use it to thwart their purpose or purposes unknown. I can see the children need to be controlled argument. I can see the lab rats argument. What I cant follow is the claim that we are somehow convicts. Private Oxbridge have you any further information on this matter to share?¡±. ¡°No sir¡± ¡°well we are going to progress anyway despite the lack of clear information. Sometimes its just go for it. In that spirit. Corporal, having been under the effect of his upgrade once before it is assumed that you have volunteered for further exposure. Private Oxbridge will be taken to the Laboratories and there will perform the same upgrades on seven volunteers that you have received. Specifically he will assign each of them three cores. Those cores will be sensory, strength and healing. He will assign them in a sequence and manner laid out by the supervising staff. Is that clear?¡± All three recognised a cue and snapped ¡°yes sir¡± in unison.


    ¡°Once that experiment has concluded he will then experiment on Corporal Patel. Corporal Patel it is anticipated that the private will be busy for three hours doing this experiment. At the end of those three hours you will tell him what you want as your remaining three cores and he will attempt to implement them. Other personnel may be further assigned by civilian authorities but after that we will stop whilst all experimental subjects are evaluated. Corporal Patel as the only subject who may be subject to ¡°levelling¡± you will be monitored and expected to describe the process.¡± The pause was less obviously a cue but again they all yes sirred. ¡°Donal you will be responsible for the safety of all test subjects until the experiment has run its projected course. Give my apologies to Isobelle but you are going to be on call for at least a month¡±.¡±Ok you are all dismissed and dear god private try to follow the protocols set down.¡±


    Marching out nobody made any comment until out of the building and approaching the jeep. The comment consisted of Patel grinding her teeth and then spitting out ¡°never volunteer. Basic training how did I forget never ******* volunteer¡±. As they got in the jeep Channing turned to Morgan ¡°on the plus side after your procedure they intend to attempt to use the monitor disc on another group of volunteers and see if we need you. Maybe you get to be useless again¡±.


    When he got to the lab he was surprised to see the remaining members of his squad all lined up in vest and boxers. At his confused look Channing spoke ¡°seven volunteers, people likely to trust you and since you are assumed to have started to form bonds of friendship and camaraderie people you are less likely to purposefully harm¡±. As he got in they all smiled and waved at him, Ronnie shouted ¡°we all wanted to join in on your skive¡± followed by laughter quickly stopped by the accompanying PFC. Worried and concerned about them he stopped and said ¡°you know this is serious right. That its not a skive right.¡± Brody looked round and somehow electing himself spokesman replied ¡°We know. We were told that this would help you and make us better soldiers but that more detail would be provided when needed so of course we all agreed¡±. All nodded so he shrugged and fell in with them whilst they were led to a briefing that more or less explained what was going to happen. Isaac made a joke about not letting old men touch him and then they went in. Taken to a lab the squad cued up outside and Arthur was the first. Morgan looked round the lab and asked where the bed was. A short delay and a bunk was made available. Told to do the first person one core at a time he did exactly that persisting after he lapsed into unconsciousness. As he was stretchered out all the volunteers looked much less keen.


    Only Harvey and Brody caused any difficulties as each already had relevant cores. Harvey had a health core that nobody had noticed and Brody had a sensory core that apparently only activated during running. Attempting to duplicate cores failed and they were left with one extra core free each. Having no idea how long each one was taking he was surprised to see Corporal Patel waiting for him. ¡°They told me about your million core problem whilst discussing my core plan. Only you. Only you could mess up becoming superman¡±. ¡°Thats hardly fair, lots of people could mess it up. Have you got a plan?¡± Morgan replied.


    She frowned, ¡°ok check my thinking. Healing is good but health is better. So a healing core as well as a health core. A longevity core because of course I want to live longer. A spatial awareness core ¨C I want to be aware of everything going on round me so I can identify and react to threats.¡± Morgan blinked then nodded ¡°ok no obvious problems. You¡¯ll continue to rely on your dome for kills?¡± To which she shook her head ¡°Guns. So much better. The dome is a great sudden death and good for demoralising folks but it takes too long. I need a good 5 seconds to aim and deploy it. Eternity in a battle. So no sticking to guns knifes and explosives to kill people who need to be dead. If you notice most of this is defence¡±


    Morgan agreed ¡°defence is good. Do you regret my earlier choices? Strength does not seem to fit this concept you are going for¡±. She smiled ¡°no, no it doesn¡¯t but if I don¡¯t use it much it becomes a nasty surprise for anyone who tries to pick on this helpless wee thing. Never been ill but assume the health core is good and the sensory stuff is really improving my marksman scores¡±. There being little else to say she lay on the bunk and pulled back her fringe. Morgan took her hand off and said ¡°sorry but one of the things tested. Any skin to skin contact works¡± He concentrated and she passed out. He looked at her prone form ¡°talking isn¡¯t needed either¡±.


    Two hours later she had not come round and the lab was filled with people who had no idea what to do.  Channing had been asked to pull up her status but all he got was a screen that said busy and much to his shock hold music. He was dismissed and went to join his squad. They had all been appraised of the results of there intervention with both Harvey and Brody now being called Feeb 1 and Feeb2. When they saw his face they asked so he told them about Corporal Patel not coming round and the mood in the room became sombre. Not much was happening so they started to clean kit and talk shit. They had the rest of the day free and the only orders were to report any adverse reactions none of which occurred.


    It was nearly eleven hours later that Channing entered and beckoned for Morgan to follow him. Once outside the barracks he took him to the labs where he saw Patel in a hospital gown drinking what smelled like hot chocolate. ¡°Thought you might like the news good and bad. Good news she¡¯s fine and apparently levelled to three straight away. Bad news only those you worked on seemed to have responded.¡± Putting that away for later consideration he approached and she turned to smile at him. ¡°Hello Morgan ¨C let me apologise if I seem distracted. Levelling up my senses core and getting a new spatial awareness at 3, its just a lot to get used to so if I seem distracted its because I am. Look these vultures are not going to leave me alone so I just wanted to say thank you. We¡¯ll talk later just I¡¯m ok alright¡± her gaze became distant and it seemed the conversation was at an end. After Channing also was reassured by her they were politely but firmly thrown out. At the barracks he called for the supervising staff and informed them that private Oxbridge had duties in the morning and that he was to be ready for pickup at 07:30 for an eight start. As he was leaving Channing whispered to him ¡°you¡¯re gonna try on today¡¯s failures. See if its them or you¡±. In the barracks Patels recovery triggered a celebration which made him really late to sleep.


    The next morning he was escorted to the labs and eight guys in PT kits all glared at him. ¡°This the arse who was too busy for us yesterday¡± one of them asked sotto voce. Suddenly pissed he asked ¡°are these my volunteers for the day?¡± and as the lab tech nodded he walked up and just ran his hands along their foreheads watching as they all collapsed. Only the last one tried to fight as he watched his squad all collapse but it was any skin contact so he went down too. The Lab tech looked at the pile of bodies and then turned to him¡± so... having a bad day then?¡±

 Making friends, impressing people...

    Channing knew he was good at bollockings. Literally trained and professional at it. Experienced too. So he knew when it wasn¡¯t working and Private Oxbridge was just beyond caring. He wasn¡¯t quite walking off whistling but that was his general air. Stopping he looked at him ¡°do you have a resist intimidation core there?¡±


    Morgan grinned and gave a crisp salute as he replied  ¡°sir, yes sir. This Soldier does have a resist intimidation core for when he is being intimidated, fortunately sir this soldier is not using said core¡±.


    Channing debated how to react and finally ¡°at ease soldier. Permission to speak freely. I mean what the hell, what possessed you to drop the lot of them. You must have known it would put you in it up to your neck¡±.


    Morgan relaxed and for the first time actually paid attention ¡°yeh well they pissed me off. I mean ok I over reacted but hell sir I was just an inconvenience to them. They wasted a day waiting for quote ¡®this arse¡¯ unquote instead of thanking me for something only I can do. Sir I appreciate that I am an irreplaceable resource at this moment and everyone is planning what I do and how I do it and when I do it. Every bastard but me has a say in my life. Look I am more than happy to apologise to those dicks but I can¡¯t honestly say it won¡¯t happen again. The only person who has asked about my daughter or how I am coping with the death of my wife is the King of Britain presumably because he is the only one who came to talk to me rather than work out what he can get out of me¡± Aware he might be pushing the whole speak freely he saluted again and shut up.


    Channing considered and then thought out loud ¡°Well soldier you¡¯re not wrong. We are putting a lot on you and not really crediting you with what you have done or as you say your value as a resource. I mean you haven¡¯t even managed to complete basic. You know a lot of people ask how his majesty gets such instant loyalty, I will think on what you said.¡± Motioning to a chair he said ¡°sit down while I think.¡± After a minute he said ¡°until we can somehow assign cores without you people will always regard you as too valuable to trust your judgement even about yourself. I am aware of three separate international attempts to find out more about you and many of our so called allies want you to visit. Above my pay grade responding to any of that but I have been asked to provide a security detail if you leave base. Dealt with it so far by refusing to allow you to leave so there¡¯s that¡±.


    Morgan grimaced ¡°I suppose any of those people looking at the expense of protecting me just think of me as a number then? Just ask why its worth humouring me?¡± Channing said nothing so he continued ¡°I used to have a secretary who had domestic abuse problems that she didn¡¯t tell anyone about. Her behaviour at work just started to get worse and worse. Eventually we had to fire her. Stress makes you do funny things and sir I am feeling it¡±.


    Channing leaned back in his chair and blew out before saying ¡°Stress is something the army gets a lot of so we do have  a pathway for action. Using it on a recruit not even completed basic? Bad for the career son¡±.


    Morgan interrupted ¡°and thats another thing. Son. I am probably older than your father, don¡¯t son me.¡± Sitting back he muttered ¡°just infantilising me¡±


    Channing paused and then continued ¡°Ok bad for the career private. Still great job in convincing me your judgement is impaired. Great job. Right I am supposed to be giving you a bollocking and then AP. Thats not appropriate obviously. I will assign you to medical referral today and spend some time discussing this with someone senior to me. Is that ok?¡±


    Morgan gestured helplessly with his hands ¡°I mean I guess it gets us out of this situation but no its not ok. Sir my career in the army ¨C do I have to remind you that I am not a volunteer? Climbing up the greasy pole, no not interested. My family my home my job. With the exception of my daughter all gone, I honestly can¡¯t think why I should care about anything you say. Go along to get along. Yeh ok. I suppose you could threaten Annie and get compliance but it would not be cooperation and eventually she will die. She will die and I will still be young healthy trained and holding a grudge and what happens then?¡±


    Channing harrumphed ¡°you are stressed. How long have you been thinking that? Go to medical and take a day to chill. Dismissed¡±.


    When Morgan left he put in a call and requested an appointment with the base commander. Walking over he planned what he was going to say. Walking up Rupert waved him in his black eye still healing after Helens charge through him. Coming in he saluted and asked for permission to speak freely. The colonel frowned but agreed. Channing started ¡°Sir I think we need to change our approach to Patient Zero. We need to start giving him a reason to work for us rather than demanding it. Oh and kill the snatch op on quiet girl. Not sure if he found out or worked it out but he gave some rather specific and credible threats about any outcome from that op. I think today¡¯s outburst might have been an experiment with malicious compliance and he has barely started.¡±


    The Colonel fussed with his pen and without looking up asked ¡°explain why I care Donal. Explain why I care what this upstart boy thinks about doing his duty. About his country, his king¡±.


    Channing replied instantly ¡°up to you if you care but if you want him to catapult this country to being a major player on the world stage once more then maybe pay attention to him. I just talked to an alienated man with no country, no family and no friends who effectively dared me to try and force him. Sir with the exception of an estranged daughter we have been manipulating to avoid him he has no ties. None at all.  Whats worse is I think he has just worked that out. He will stay here out of inertia but you know that when we run the sims if he tries to escape he gets out 60% of the time. Oh and by the way that number increases the more training he gets. I think his majesty is the only one to have played this right. Make friends and make him grateful, encourage him to set roots. The squad is good but its not enough. Quiet girl would be ideal but we have had that doctor who hates him drip poison in her ear and called it therapy because without her he would find some other ties. Its just not working.¡± Channing ran his hands through his hair ¡°we keep thinking he¡¯s a young hothead because he looks the part. He is the oldest person on this base and smelling bullshit was part of his job. So incidentally was getting rare goods safely across international borders. It was my plan sir; I am grateful you backed it. Its leading us to disaster.¡±


    The colonel looked at him ¡°ok what do you want to do-how are you going to chain him?¡±.


    Again the response was instant ¡°Demob would be a mistake. Pull him out of the current intake, say he has missed too much, our fault, dreadfully sorry and all that. Schedule him for the next cohort where he has seniority and make him squad leader, give him responsibility. In the meantime send him on a runner hunt with the corporal and I, give him a chance to be a hero. Go out get drunk get laid. Make him feel a part of something and I don¡¯t care if its the army, the church, the country or a golf club. We need him to have levers and only he can apply them to himself.¡±


    The colonel nodded ¡°ok I will kick it upstairs so hang fire for a few days but I am receiving reports from the directing staff that he is getting reckless and recommending a psych review already. This fits with that so it should be pro forma to get permission.¡±


    The medical facility was one of the few places Morgan had not visited. He simply didn¡¯t get sick or injured presumably courtesy of his cores. Walking in he looked round and an MP pointed him to a desk where a bored looking man held his hand out for the form. Frowning as he read it he said ¡°any further directions? This just says to give you a medical but no reason. I mean what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±. Still feeling aggressively unhelpful Morgan stared at him vacantly for a few moments then smiled and slurred ¡°hello¡±. The guy just groaned and wrote on the form check for concussion otherwise psych review. Morgan slurred ¡°your purty¡± and then sat in the chair. Asshole mode he thought. This could become too much fun.


    He was called into a cubicle and told to strip down to regulation underwear. Sadly the warrant officer left before he could think of some joke about under where? In his underwear he folded his uniform and then looked for a place to put it when the doctor walked in. Marie gave a delighted squeal and rushed forward hugging him. ¡°Oh when I saw the name I had to come and say hello, how are you its been what six weeks. Good god you¡¯re filling out. They are feeding you right here. Anyway¡±. She stopped, let go and then in the professional tones more familiar to him ¡°what appears to be the problem¡±. Morgan grinned, it was mad she was here but he still found her changes hilarious. Nothing like honesty he decided ¡°I got in a fight and was sent here rather than being punished because the guys I fought were asshats¡±. She blinked several times and said ¡°not sure what test that is. I mean Wendy is on call for Psych referrals and I think given the chance she would trepan you. Hubby didn¡¯t come along. So do you want to just go? I mean everyone here is just at peak health, its not quite as bad as the institute but I mean I have enough time to catch up with an old friend¡±


    They chatted for a while about how they had all ended up here, he told her about Skender, the Convent and the battle at the YMCA all of which she oohed and aaahed to at the right point. She told him about Major Channing coming looking for him threatening everyone. About being shown the form they had signed, agreeing that she was probably Dr kissy face and that Wendy was probably Dr married with a stick up her bum. The barristers telling them just take it you¡¯re guilty and maybe get a plea for leniency and being sentenced to two years community service. And that¡¯s what she was doing here. Morgan laughed and sympathised at what he hoped were the right times. About 40 minutes into the conversation a nurse popped her head round the cubicle door ¡°just to check if you needed assistance doctor, also if he is going to stay in his underwear do you need a chaperone?¡±


    It was the cue to stop chatting, he got dressed and promised to come round again some other time. At her suggestion he promised not to start a fight just to see her. As he left the medical facility he smiled at her parting comment about not needing an excuse next time. For the first time in at least three weeks he had no courses or exercises to attend and nobody trying to find him something to do. Rather than risk somebody being offended by his lack of activity he decided to walk the grounds. He had been here for ages and just never seen anything. Given Channings security escort revelation it was probably wise to stay on base. He had even been ordered to chill.


    The route was best described as labyrinthine since he had to avoid live fire areas and areas marked as security zones but he managed to walk a good area of the grounds wasting a good portion of the day. There are few things as relaxing, pretty and just soothing as well maintained English countryside which certainly helped. Morgan found a tussock to sit on and thought about the day. He had been getting tenser and the feeling of just being tied down like the giants in Lilliput had been wearing on him. Truthfully he had been just as surprised at what he had said to Channing as he assumed Channing had been. It had obviously been sitting there in the back of his head but when he said it then it made sense. That though was anger, what concerned him still was sitting there calm and at peace when he thought about them threatening Annie it still felt correct. Lets get a second opinion then ¨C voice can you analyze and assign a probability that they will attempt to coerce me with reference to Annie.


    This unit has no data you have not provided it with. Given the data available it would seem likely that such an attempt would be made. Given that it is termination is a 1% probability, Kidnapping is a 31% probability, Bio agents ¨C addiction or poison with a withheld cure 50% probability, induced trauma 20%, Physiological or Psychological  manipulation 40%.  The proportions add up to greater than 100% since more than one method could be applied at a time. For example she could be kidnapped and then subjected to an addicting regime to enforce her compliance. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    That seems exhaustive.


    It is not. There are other options for example they could recite a similar list to you and then promise to do one or more unless you comply. That way they could refrain from the activity whilst still getting the benefit of the threat. As the only planetside upgrade authority in human hands you are valuable. You should cut off all ties in order to be immune from coercion.


    Whose side are you on? I was expecting to be comforted about the absurdity of my beliefs.


    One third of all the cores you have formed in the last month have related to espionage-detecting or resisting interrogation techniques, detecting or resisting psychological techniques of manipulation, detecting or resisting social manipulation. You are forming cores in response to what you are experiencing. Is this a normal level of control in your society?


    That bad eh. I never really noticed so many forming ¨C don¡¯t list them I will take your word. I had always just noticed people pushing and when I pushed back they stopped.


    It would be inefficient to maintain a failed methodology. It is likely that you are displaying uncommon resistance. For that reason other more gross methods of control are likely being put in place. This informed the probabilities in the previous analysis.


    Aren¡¯t you the little bag of sunshine. Any advice for me?


    Escape and evasion methods are not known to me. I have several cores that would aid in evasion.


    A few hours later he was walking back and Corporal Patel walked up ¡°they are looking for you. I told them you were here, I could hear you breathing. This sensory core is crazy at level 3. How do you cope? ¡°Level zero. Its fine¡± he replied. They walked back to the base chatting about their day. It wasn¡¯t great and he wasn¡¯t sure if his situation had improved but he could accept it for now. Whether it was his earlier conversation with voice or just sheer awkwardness he didn¡¯t explain any of his thinking to Patel. Maybe he was just being an asshole still.


    The next day he was removed from normal training duties and basically just kicked his heels for a few days. Even the science team kicked him out. Two days after that he was told to report with travel kit to Channings office at 10:00. When he got there Helen, no Corporal Patel handed him a folder marked Mercia Police. It contained several incident reports in Stamford and the details of two individuals Oliver Glen and Clifford Roach both rumoured to have superpowers. Channing told him he was coming along as an observer because it had been decided he might be more patient if he understood why they were needed. They were to assist with a raid at eleven tonight and then wait at least a day whilst it was confirmed that these were the right individuals and no others required pickup.


    Thirteen hours for a three hour drive seemed a tad cautious but they all piled into an actual car, they must have run out of jeeps. Patel rode in the passenger seat and he got the back which led to the two of them engaging in what seemed like normal banter and just forgetting he was there. They appeared to be playing a game where each of them named some sort of stupid TV Programme from when they were kids that it was embarrassing to admit to liking now. Morgan didn¡¯t interrupt the banter but he kind of agreed that Moorcock and Spluge was not a real kids detective agency on any channel especially not Disney no matter how much Patel protested. When Channing asked him to adjudicate he instead started talking about Captain Pugwash and the apocryphal crew names of bates the ships master and seaman Staines who constantly swabbed the deck which he decided to claim were real. The journey was good fun.


    Predictably enough they got there with most of the day to spare. They were all checked in to a hotel and given twenty minutes to freshen up at which point they all trundled off to the police station. At the station prior to admission they were taken to an interview room to one side ¡°Corporal there will be local media representatives present. I know you hate it but I will refer to you as the PR people requested as Micro. Private you need a media name, for the duration of this operation you will be referred to as Ox.¡± He left the room and she slammed her heel on the ground smashing a tile to dust. ¡°Must learn to control that. Gods I hate that name¡± She started mimicking a Punch and Judy voice ¡°Micro ¨C the mini powerhouse that keeps you safe¡± and in a normal voice she added ¡°still better than a big dumb ox I suppose¡±


    Morgan winced and decided to pull up his status


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Current Status


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Maximum capacity


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Health


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    96%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    99%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Senses assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    13%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Physical assistance


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    16%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Build systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    Not Implemented


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    Not implemented


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Power bleed


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    17%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    2%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Recovery systems


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    80%


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    100%


    </td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td width="300">


    Status - other


    </td>


    <td width="161">


    98.7% pending


    </td>


    <td width="155">


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    One million forty eight thousand two hundred and seven functional clusters installed of which one million twenty seven thousand six hundred and four functional clusters are currently unassigned. Would you like me to list all clusters Y/N


    No. Everything looked slightly better. Steady improvement, no jumps. Channing returned and issued them each with a baton and a holstered sidearm. To Morgan he said ¡°Don¡¯t get excited its got blanks in. People expect soldiers to be armed but you stay out of trouble¡±. Suitably armed Helen leaned over ¡°look tough ¨C people need to be reassured that we are the iron hand in the velvet glove¡± to which Morgan absently replied ¡°fist, its an iron fist¡±. Just as an argument was about to start the door opened and they were led to a briefing room.


    Never having been to a pre operational briefing with the police Morgan had an excited buzz that was ruthlessly and quickly destroyed. The first 15 minutes of bitching about expense forms and parking permits for operational oversight numbed his brain to the point that while his eyes were open it took him a few seconds to realise he had been mentioned. His sudden attention caused a few snickers and one or two sympathetic grins as Channing repeated himself ¡°As repetition is the foundation of clarity I will say again. Micro and Ox will count as SCAR support ready to intervene should special manifestations occur. Micro will be with me on the cycle path whilst Ox will be with Sergeant Murray at grange avenue. I will be with op command. We will observe only unless and until circumstances that bring the situation into our authority arise. SCAR personnel will be subordinate to civilian authorities until that point.¡± He turned back and indicating to the inspector leading the operation stopped talking.


    Thats how a few hours later he found himself in a civilian car with a plainclothes cop in his army greens trying to look inconspicuous. The car was assiduously cleaned and despite a lifetime of TV shows he noted not a single snack or drink of any kind. Murray had the look of someone who used to be much more fit but as he got older was trying to hold onto as much as possible whilst fighting a losing battle with his paunch. Tall but wide shouldered he must have stopped fights just by saying hello.  Trying to find a subject to talk about he was rescued by Sergeant Murray ¡°So how long have you been working with those two? I¡¯m sure they are the heroes the press tell us but what are they like?¡±. Morgan scratched his question and looked at him¡± not really long enough to answer your question. Less than two months when you count it up. I was rescued or recruited by the corporal, sorry Micro and recruited to SCAR¡± Murray nodded sympathetically ¡°Frying pan fire eh? Well its only two years. Keep your head down, get it done¡±  Morgan not really listening continued ¡°Not talked to the major often, I mean less than I have talked to Micro and she usually just beats me up in PT without talking¡± Murray laughed ¡°so I get the B team Eh? Don¡¯t worry these guys special or no know the ropes. Soon as the blue lights arrive they will be quiet sheep¡± Morgan shrugged apologetically ¡°B team, yeh sorry. What are we doing here? I mean I¡¯m sure the briefing was clear but..¡± Murray pointed to a door ¡°see that door? If anyone runs that¡¯s where they¡¯ll be. Our job is to apprehend any runners or if there¡¯s a lot call for backup. Clear?¡±


    With only a few minutes to wait for the scheduled start time for the raid Morgan spent it looking round and wondering why he was there. On one level this was what SCAR did, on another this was an insane risk with a unique asset. Still the time off base was nice even though that thought caused him a sudden mild headache. He started to try to work out what the issue was probing the thought like he was trying to work out which tooth hurt by prodding gently with his tongue. Presumably that¡¯s why he was distracted enough to miss the start of the raid. Startled by the cries of police and the sounds of splintering wood he started to pay attention once more to what was going on round him. The door that grotty metal over wood fire exit burst open and people piled out.


    By Morgans count there were about 5 of them and he spotted one of the targets amongst them probably Clifford. Sergeant Murray keyed his radio ¡°Group at back, company would be nice¡± and then got out of the car and walked up ¡°Now then lads where do you think you are going to go? Lets all just stay here and wait for a nice comfortable chat in the nick with a cup of tea¡±. For an instant it looked like it was working but the one Morgan was eying up suddenly shouted ¡°NOW¡± and him and a guy with the hood up on his hoodie charged Murray.


    Morgan bolted at them to intercept, he could see little lines of electricity starting to spark on hoodies hands which meant his job had started. Murray was backpedalling furiously while pulling at his radio as Morgan rushed past him. Deciding lightning guy in the hoodie was probably Oliver and the bigger immediate threat he angled towards him. Oliver raised his hands and started to form an arc between them. Running straight at him there was no way he was going to miss that so Morgan gambled and jumped, he had not done a adrenalin fuelled best effort jump and it showed. Whilst the lightning discharge passed underneath him he sailed uselessly over the guy towards a lamp post. Clifford reached Murray and grabbed the hand with the radio, with a flex the radio was shattered Murrays hand with it. His scream probably made up for the lack of radio but Morgan ignored that flipping his body round and hitting the lamp post with his feet he drove himself at the ground.


    Angling his fall to move him closer to lightning guy he landed in a cross between press up position and a racers start. From that position he launched himself like a spear at the guy who was just in the process of turning trying to keep up with his movement. As he had planned the impact with his shoulder was at knee height cleanly knocking him in the air arms and legs whirling. Using the impact to kill his momentum Morgan spun and watched him land in a heap, ignoring Oliver and Murray he dashed over and kicked the tangled mess of limbs on the ground away with him slamming into a wall. Satisfied one was down he turned and just about managed to duck under a massive haymaker coming his way. The dodge was predictable apparently as a rising knee caught his ribs knocking him back and winding him. Using the momentum of the strike he pushed back to give himself time to recover but Clifford was not giving him time grabbing his guarding arm and trying to sweep him to the ground. Remembering what had worked in the past Morgan tried to grab Cliffords arm and roll but he disengaged instantly and then just followed the roll aiming a kick at his back.


    While Morgan tried to get up he suddenly felt an arm go round his neck from behind and a boot placed in the pit of his knee forced him to the ground. Clifford was standing side on one arm around his neck braced by his other arm and using his leg to push down meaning Morgan was being both stretched and strangled.  This was a bad position he had no leverage and no way to manoeuvre. For a few seconds he just struggled frantically with the arm feeling an ever tightening constriction on his neck. His panic brought a moment of clarity and he relaxed. Reaching behind him with both hands he found the foot in his knee. Moving one hand up to the ankle he put his hand on the top and twisted the foot 90 degrees to the ankle. There was a satisfying crack and nothing else happened. After about two seconds the feeling on his throat lessened and then his attacker was falling over. Morgan stood up and coughed a few times but eventually turned to look at the man who was making a really odd sound like a cross between a hum and a moan while fixated on his foot that no longer pointed where it should.


    It was while he stood there coughing that the backup arrived in the shape of four uniformed constables who immediately took chase of the other fleeing suspects. Lets see he thought, Colleague  injured, check. Suspects not apprehended ,check. Specials uninjured for recruitment, Check. Ok this was going to be an interesting debrief. He tried to remember what else the briefing talked about but just remembered his mind wandering thinking about how powerpoint had improved so much and how his old presentations would have been better with some of those functions. God he missed a job he could actually do. Murray started to try to stand and as he rushed over he determined to learn some proper first aid skills.


    At least nothing else can go wrong he chuckled to himself then the lamp post he had bounced off fell over. That made him laugh out loud.

 so, is this just my life now?

    Channings enthusiastic burbling about his magnificent job was simply madness. It made no sense to him or judging by the corporals expression anybody else either. The EMT¡¯s had immobilised Cliffords ankle and then dragged him away in handcuffs for the first of many visits to an orthopaedic ward. The plan was to do the same with Oliver but due to suspected spinal injuries they were being much more methodical about it. Detective Sergeant Murray had just been taken to hospital too high on painkillers to give a statement and only two of the other three had been caught. This was by any measure a fiasco of the sort people would be laughing about for many years to come unless they had been the victim of it. Praise was not the feedback expected.


    It could have been the media he supposed but they had been kept back and anyway seemed to be more interested in the Corporal. The inspector had come over and thanked him for his efforts but his senses were augmented and it had taken some pretty specific threats from Channing to make that happen. All he could conclude was that Channing had not really had permission to bring him out and this whole mess was something he was trying to spin into a positive. If that meant he wasn¡¯t going to be in the trouble he so richly deserved then good luck selling that he supposed.


    If Channings praise after the event was odd the press interview was laughable. He had been sat down in front of this 50 year old mutton dressed as lamb reporter who had asked him questions like ¡°how did you get to be so brave¡± and ¡°does it feel good to be doing the right thing by protecting the country from dangerous rogue specials¡±. As if that was not absurd enough Channing had interrupted all the answers with effusive praise. How this was going to be edited into anything even resembling an interview was a mystery to which he just played along. Until he knew what sort of circus this was it was probably not wise to ruin it. So he did interviews, he did photographs, he smiled on cue.


    His enhanced senses kept telling him things he was sure he was not supposed to know. The most disturbing happened when they had returned to the hotel to relax and he listened attentively trying to work out when the hammer would fall. Instead of that he heard Corporal Patel in Channings room discussing him. ¡°Sir todays operation, I mean it was a mess right? Why did you praise Oxbridge, I mean he¡¯s untrained and on his first op acting solo so he has excuses but why praise him?¡±


    Channing Snapped back straight away ¡°I don¡¯t recall hearing you request permission to speak freely Corporal¡±.


    The salute could almost be heard in her voice ¡°Beg pardon Sir. Permission to speak freely on evaluation of personnel performance in the light of failure to complete mission goals as stared. Sir.¡±


    Channings response was equally fast ¡°Denied. Corporal this mission was a complete success and Private Oxbridge was an exemplary team member. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°No sir, would the Major please enlighten the corporal as to what parts of Private Oxbridges performance were such that the corporal should try to learn from and emulate them?¡±.


    ¡°Corporal how is your sisters treatment. I understand much can go wrong in Chemo but she is well is she not?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir Jacquie is fine sir¡±


    ¡°Good remember that when praising Private Oxbridge in your reports. Dismissed.¡±


    Thinking on that he wondered how many people were volunteers and how many were pressed. Not all pressure was obvious and he knew exactly nothing about the world he had been dragged into. Changing into the casual civilian clothing he had picked up oh so long ago at the hospital discharge facility most of it no longer fit. He had filled out especially in the shoulders and thighs but could he have grown a bit In height as well? The trousers once catching on his shoe heels were now barely reaching his ankles. Ignoring the absurdity of his appearance he made his way to the hotel bar to listen to music and relax. He had seen the piano earlier and there was a note up stating performance times so the music was not a surprise. The surprise was the corporal in a short slinky  yellow dress belting out Sinatra tunes. Both the music and the dress were unexpected pleasures. There were only a few people about so his entrance was noticeable and she gave a quick nod of her head to him while he charged a drink to his room and sat down. She did three more songs before sitting down at his table and asking where her drink was. ¡°Waiting to find out what it was¡± he replied and then got the wine spritzer she asked for.


    They sipped for a while and then she turned ¡°thinking about your work today I feel compelled to say that you did an excellent job and should be proud of your efforts¡± which Morgan turned over in his head. He admired the fact that not a word of it was a lie, she was compelled to say it and he wondered how to respond. While he was busy crafting a subtle and clever remark his mouth opened and words came out ¡°Yeh I heard, why is your sister on chemo?¡±


    Patel went very still. Her head turned to stare at him quizzically then realisation dawned. ¡°Sensory core?¡± she guessed and he nodded. ¡°How often do you do that? Anyway she has bowel cancer. Responding well to treatment, polyps removed and Chemo to kill any blighters not found on the scans.¡± ¡°It sounded like a threat when he asked after her.¡± Morgan replied. Patel snapped back ¡°I prefer to think he was reminding me of how much I have to be grateful for. SCAR applied pressure and she got bumped up the waiting lists. Thats all.¡±


    Morgan took a drink to avoid comment and then said ¡°I must be mad, sitting next to the prettiest and apparently most talented lady in the room, grateful she¡¯ll talk to me and the only thing I want to discuss is work. Corporal can you tell me which of today¡¯s objectives I actually met?¡±.


    She grimaced and then ¡°you kept yourself alive. That¡¯s not just a good fundamental on any mission the major specifically briefed about your status as an irreplaceable asset¡± Morgan immediately blurted ¡°so why am I in the field then? If I¡¯m an observer put me somewhere safe, if an operative give me a better briefing. Or maybe just put bullets in my gun¡±.


    Helen looked at him ¡°you are never going to be an operative. Plain and simple. Even if you weren¡¯t the key to augmenting all the SCAR specials and allowing a select few to level and presumably get to be individually uber mensch you still have your million core problem. Until that is sorted ¨Coh and I think it may be worse than you thought ¨C until that is sorted you are just another soldier, oh stronger faster perhaps but still not a tactical pivot. Not a significant addition to any set of tactical options. So too valuable to waste as just another squaddie and too weak for anything else. Get me another drink.¡± Doing just that Morgan wondered if she had a boyfriend speculating that if so he was either a saint or a doormat.


    Settling down he asked ¡°so why is my million core problem worse than I thought? I mean truthfully I wonder if there even are a million different core concepts and if so how long will it take me to think of that many unique possibilities. If its that well ahead of you on the despair and frustration¡±.


    She nodded saying ¡°yeah that is a stumper alright but no its levelling. It took me what just over nine hours I think to level eighty six cores three times. Call it 258 upgrades right? During that time I was unconscious. How long will it take to level a million cores once. How long will you be out, who is going to look  after you whilst you are spending probably years in a white room doing what amounts to paperwork. Oh oh and you don¡¯t know what your XP total is until you get to the levelling menu. I jumped straight to third and was very nearly fourth. Whose to say that you will only be doing one level.¡±


    Morgan thought for a second then shrugged ¡°Wonderful, another problem. Do you think SCAR realises what a waste of potential I am?¡±. Pulling a face she replied ¡°I think they¡¯re delighted. If they had known how valuable you were there¡¯s no way they would have put you through basic. Who wants treasure that fights back. Or maybe who wants treasure that bites the hand that feeds it? Anyway the point is the less powerful you are the more comfortable the top ranks are. Constant SCAR problem, why do you think we make people go to the ¡°you are easy to kill¡± lectures? Scared people are supposed to be less likely to start an uprising. Oh I mean we tell people that its to make them cautious because we value them as assets but there are other ways of doing that¡±.


    An awkward silence followed which Morgan filled by asking how she had managed to pack such a lovely dress in a rucksack. She had responded by asking which charity shop he had raided to look so stupid and out of style. This eventually led to a promise to take him shopping for clothes if he was ever allowed off base. She did three more sets of singing during the night displaying an eclectic taste of music not matched by a narrow vocal range particularly butchering Elvis Costello but nobody else was trying so who really cared. They made their way to the lift together and she leaned on him taking her heels off seemingly unbalanced due to being a bit tipsy. He saw her teeter off down the corridor to her room and then went to bed himself.


    All three were up bright and early and if Corporal Patel was hung-over there was no evidence. There was no banter and Channing was very monosyllabic with his replies to everything making the drive back awkward in the extreme. At the services whilst standing at the car waiting for him to return he had asked why Channing was in such a bad mood to which Patel had suggested that maybe he had briefed the colonel on how well the op had gone. For some reason that had sent them into peels of laughter which only got worse when he returned making him get even more annoyed. To make it worse every time he got more annoyed that just made them laugh again, eventually the giddiness wore off but it seemed his fury was still there. The rest of the drive back was awkward.


    They got back to Perderville and Channing parked the car. As they started to get out he told them to stop and he turned to face Morgan in the back seat. ¡°I brought your concerns to the higher ups, we eventually agreed that you needed space. Heres what we are going to do, you¡¯re being kicked out of this intake. You have missed too much and the science boys still want to have you to work with. The next intake is in eight weeks. You will be assigned to that. The science boys will be permitted to work with you but only from 08:00 to 17:30 and reasonable comfort breaks are to be scheduled. The rest of the time is yours and you will be permitted access to all civilian and trainee areas on base. To go off base contact me and give me notice so that an escort can be arranged. Your sessions with Corporal Patel will continue as they seem to benefit the efficiency of both of you. In essence, we are prepared to give you time to get your shit together. You will be allowed to hurry up and wait. Do you have any questions?¡±, Morgan considered then ¡°if I¡¯m not in my squad any more where will I be sleeping¡±. Channing pulled out a sheaf of papers from the glove compartment and said ¡°present these to SPS, you will be assigned civilian housing for the long term. It will be held empty for you whilst you are reinducted in eight weeks so make yourself comfortable there for the foreseeable¡±. Without waiting for further questions he left then slamming the car door, his only concession to his actual emotions.


    Giving him some time to get clear they both got out and Patel turned to him ¨C ¡°ok lets get you to SPS and see what they give you¡±. She led the way to an office called Staff Personnel Support who took the documents without comment. After a few minutes of hanging round a middle aged woman in greys came out holding a set of keys. She had that heavyset look of women who have done intense physical labour for their whole life and instead of slimming down had bulked up as a result. Russian shot putters and some farmer¡¯s wife¡¯s came to Morgans mind. She indicated they both should follow and she walked them to a housing unit wordlessly. It was a fair old walk but they came to an immaculate set of housing two up and two down with well tended gardens. Finally she spoke ¡°Here we go number 38, Sign here.¡± She handed the keys to Patel and the clipboard to Morgan who dutifully signed anything and everything. ¡°Married quarters, basic. Small but a good start for a young couple like yourselves, do I need to go through regs on maintenance and decor?¡± They both gawped and then while Patel shook her head Morgan interjected ¡°not married, she¡¯s just helping me out. Sorry¡±. Undeterred the lady kept talking ¡°Oh well maybe one of you in the future will stop wasting time. Regs. Do I need to go through them?¡±. Patel quickly left and Morgan was shown through a house that would be small for a couple but for a bachelor was just fine all the while having directions about maintenance and cleanliness shot at machine gun speed. Taking advantage of his abilities Morgan paid no attention just recording it for later perusal.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    As he hung his clothing in the wardrobe it still looked depressingly empty. Never a fashion icon he had usually had at least the basics. Clothes shopping was always a chore usually consisting of a day trudging behind some woman making his choices for him. Really his style periods could be described as mum, Goth chick, Student girlfriend at uni, Asian girlfriend, Joanne. Helen had offered to take him shopping but the SPS officers crack about marriage made him shy away from that. Trouble was he really did not know where the shops were round here. An escort was probably the best idea who could do that for him. Whilst arranging three pairs of underpants and three pairs of socks all regulation into three draws a knock came at his door.


    A pleasant looking middle aged lady with red hair and just enough fat to have curves not yet getting to plump stood at the door beaming. When he opened the door she just swept in and looking round with a cynical eye smiled and said ¡°still moving in then. Ok my name is Poppy and I am here to present you to the officers wife¡¯s association. Is your no doubt lovely wife here?¡± As Morgan explained that he had no wife, no he wasn¡¯t gay or divorced her smile became more and more brittle. Finally after he wound down she put her hands on her lap staring at her clipboard. ¡°Alright Mr Oxbridge. Its all very irregular but part of my role is to help new arrivals settle so¡± she dramatically tossed her clipboard to one side ¡°what can I do to help you?¡±. Grinning he replied ¡°local guide. No stuff that wasn¡¯t issued by the army or fished out of a charity bin ¨Clong story- so I need to buy stuff. Where do I go for groceries? Shoes? Booze? God forbid civilian clothing that fits¡±. She sat back frowning and then smiled ¡°well theres a lovely lesbian couple that moved in a few months ago still also settling in. If I introduce you then maybe you can explore together.¡±


    Poppy with a task to do left quickly promising to introduce them tonight. Morgan attempted to make a mark on the place but lacked the materials to do much. Eventually he had an idea. All this time and he had no idea about his funds, so far everything had been issued or given to him but if he was going to shop it might be an idea to see what he could afford. Eventually he found an internet connection and logged onto the account James in Discharge services had set up a while back. There was some funds in there but with no idea of current prices it wasn¡¯t actually much use in setting expectations. With some more faffing he managed to log on and using his service number find a military bank account with his trainee pay available. It was twice the amount James had organised  and he doubted trainees got rich so that gave a bit more data about his funds. Finally he clicked on a flag that was blinking. Apparently he was due a payment premium as a ¡°special resource contributing to society¡± something that he remembered Dr Scott mentioning before. No payment had been made though because he had been refereed to evaluation and a rate would be set once he had been categorised.


    Nothing to do and all day to do it he decided to go hassle the SPS about his back pay. The walk back was fine and the guy on the desk seemed perfectly willing to help. He just couldn¡¯t. The problem was that he had quote ¡°been categorised as uncategorisable¡± and as such no rate had been set. He needed to go to his assessing officer and chase it up. Forty minutes later he was at the science building trying to talk to either Graham or Michael. After 15 minutes of stonewalling by receptionists and security someone who recognised his name showed them into the lab with Michaels blackboard and told him to wait for either of them to become available. Looking round he decided to look at the blackboard that Michael spent so long staring at. Looking at it a Core notification appeared and was dismissed but presumably not coincidentally the gist of the problem was starting to be clear. How was energy distributed in a quantum system to create phenomena that  exceeded the size of the wave function of the quantum system. Essentially it seemed that he was trying to work out how these nanites created things in much the same way as a cartoon character would pull a battleship out of its pockets.


    Prompted by that understanding he flipped the blackboard and started writing. He was sure that one of those expressions needed to be expanded as there was an error somewhere and it was annoying him. Another aspect was that he was genuinely surprised that this was something he could do. Even while furiously scribbling it occurred to him that while combat was bound to be a part of his future if he lived long enough civilian skills and trades were more likely to be important more often. After a few minutes of doodling he flipped the blackboard back round. No need to mention that, Michael did not need to humour amateurs after all. When Graham came in he was juggling whiteboard markers whilst whistling what he thought was a piece by Elgar. After checking that there was no problem Graham quickly scribbled a note and stapled it to the backpay form. When he returned to SPS they told him that it was quite a nice number and would be credited to him in three working days. He went back to his house content that he had in no way caused trouble today.


    When he got back there was a note on his door from Poppy asking him to pop round to 56 which he did. Opening the door Marie squealed with delight and hugged him. ¡°How did you find me¡± she asked dragging him inside. Inside Poppy was chatting to Dr Scott and turned to him ¡°here the lovely couple I was talking about¡±. Wendy turned round and groaned ¡°there goes the neighbourhood¡±. Poppy was quickly but politely ejected by Marie who with the air of someone aware its a waste of time told her they were not a couple. Wendy on the other hand was in no way polite when it came to ejecting Morgan ¡°Get out. You¡¯re not welcome here now or in the future.¡± delivered in a flat monotone. Marie pulled her to one side and they had a whispered hissing argument the gist of which was Marie wanted him here and it was as much her house whilst Wendy just kept referring to him as a menace and she wanted him out. Morgan stood up, apologised for the problems and then asked Marie if she would like to see his accommodation instead of him seeing hers.


    As they walked back to 38 he asked Marie ¡°look I get that she doesn¡¯t like me but that seems well it seems a bit mental to be honest. What is it about?¡± Marie grimaced ¡°being a doctor does not mean you are any better about accepting that stuff is your problem. Her life was on plan. Nice house, nice husband, kids planned, and then you arrive. We get drunk do something stupid get arrested and sentenced to work here as a form of community service. Don¡¯t get me wrong its easier for me, I did not give up anything to get here and if I can get myself trained up as a Specials clinical speciality then I am basically made for life. There are people who would give up a finger to be trained here. But Wendy? Hubby stayed at that nice home. Nice secretary of husband is now also visiting said nice home.¡± Morgan tutted ¡°ooh that¡¯s not good¡±. She continued ¡°no its not. She hates the work here, she wanted a nice solid job listening to people bitch about having nice lives that gave them no good reason to be seeing a doctor and being paid 200 an hour to pretend to care. Instead of which she has actual problems to deal with.¡± Morgan spoke slowly ¡°if nice secretary and nice husband are visiting regularly as you say its not been so long¡± speeding up he continued ¡°things must have been at least been thought about for it to be this quick¡±. Marie agreed ¡°yes but its always easier to blame something that isn¡¯t you. Even a psychiatrist can fall for that. And then comes you with all the mayhem that swirls around you. As your daughter apparently says you cant even die properly¡±.


    Morgan approached the house and let her in. She looked round and then with forced cheeriness ¡°well minimalism is a design aesthetic¡±. Morgan looked at her and agreed ¡°yes, yes it is. So is making a virtue out of a necessity. Why I came round to yours actually  looking for a native guide to take me round the shops. I just don¡¯t know where anything is¡±. She started to make a tea and then said ¡°well I suppose I should be grateful that you haven¡¯t mastered maps on your phone. When were you thinking of going?¡± That led to a conversation about back pay and then the debacle he was apparently to be praised for. They arranged a shopping trip in four days and when she heard about his bonus rate for specials he apparently agreed to take her for dinner as his treat to thank her for the help she was giving.


    They chatted for a while after that but eventually Marie had to leave and get ready for work. Extracting a promise she would pop round again he waved her goodbye. That night with a TV for the first time in ages he started channel hopping but despairing of the crud he found  actually went through each room replaying the lecture about maintenance I his head and would then go through each room picking up items and replaying the specific instructions related as he held each item. Some he guessed would call it cheating but it worked for him. Eventually running out of even that level of work he called it an early night.


    Next day after dropping a note off with Channings secretary he went to the science building and sorted junk. He was supposed to be deciding which items could be activated but with a grand total of zero items found to be useful all day it was just sorting junk. The request to visit Channings office was actually a relief and he went promptly. He had a discussion with the secretary about when and where he was planning to leave the base and promised to be more specific next time.


    The next day he was told to read an internet forum which was about what sort of powers were and where not possible. Apparently he was supposed to find ideas for new cores amidst the paranoid ramblings of these strange people. At the end of the day he was surprised to note that he had received a large number of notifications and he resolved to keep checking the discussion group in his own time. Maybe being crazy helped them to be creative.


    The day after that was his twice weekly beatings day with Patel. There was a difference today though as the members of his old squad were there as well. After a mutual round of backslapping Patel informed them all that given they had now stabilised from the procedure Morgan had performed she was being required to assess the overall increase in effectiveness it had wrought.


    The day went how he remembered his first occasion going for his team mates and he felt a quiet thrill at being better than they at anticipating what was going to happen next. Schadenfreude to one side it was surprisingly relaxing to be hearing them talk themselves up as they readied for whatever the training was going to be.


    First was a foot race, winners get to brag and the last three do the ironing for a week. Morgan and the corporal left the others in the dust barely breaking a sweat. The last three Arthur, Harold and James demanded a rematch. The day was spent that way, in civilian life you would say playing stupid pointless macho games but to these soldiers in training testing themselves was a serious endeavour.


    The foot races soon changed into a game of brutal tag. Not enough to touch someone you had to bring them to the ground. This lasted for a while and everyone including the corporal were going to be testing how quickly healing would remove bruises. More impressive was when you looked round how much damage had been done to the flora and fauna around them. Essentially the ground had been churned to mud and just about every stationary object had been run into. Comparing lumps and bumps they all claimed to be the best and laughing at the absurdity of even their own claims.


    To the corporal however it seemed less a macho undertaking more a chance to make everybody else do her work for her. A few hours later whilst tallying up who owed what she sat grinning. As the only person who had won every game this was just pure entertainment to her. Morgan had kept his losses to dusting the wardrobes while Isaac was probably never going to finish his chores despite eventually using his 1 inch levitation to run with his feet clear of obstacles and claiming in tag that he had never been brought to the ground. Despite the outcomes everyone¡¯s morale was high and raised when she announced hand to hand in three days.


    Going back to his house he pulled up the internet and skimmed the powers forum. A new thread had started but it only took half an hour to read all the new posts. After that he pulled up online teaching courses and tried to see how many would have an army discount, time to broaden his skills from military to academic endeavours. After requesting a dozen or so prospectuses he started to read through trying to decide which three would give him the most diverse range of subjects. This was going to be a start on gaining civilian skills and qualifications and he might as well start while he had the discount available to serving personnel.


    His next day was spent going to the commissary and buying odds and sods for the house. Though he had intended to restrict himself to the practical, mostly kitchen items he also bought some spare bed linen. Though he spent some time surfing video clip sites by the end of the day he started to feel a bone numbing boredom settle in.