Chapter 18
I admit, there was a part of me that was awfully tempted to stay in the sanctuary of Dr. Katz’s lab.
It wasn’t like she had any need for it anymore.
Since I inherited Byte, I guess I inherited the place as well since Byte told me she had no heirs and the security was set up to only accept me.
I had a hard time thinking of it as mine, though—I’d never owned anything except a ratty blanket, old clothes, and whatever I was eating and drinking that day.
Waiting gave Byte more time to access and analyze data (and gave me the worst dry eye ever). Rather than data dumps, it had me run targeted queries to make the best use of time. I could practically feel my muscles atrophying as I sat there and stared at the screens.
Lyra’s armlet chimed and she jumped off the cot. “That’s the pilot. Shuttle’s ready to lift off in one hour.”
“System, shut down workstation.” I jumped up from my chair as the screens went blank.
I was not finished reading the data.
“Tough. My eyes and brain need a break.” I had a headache—something that felt a lot like sinus congestion—but it felt like that throughout my brain.
I wondered if what Byte was doing in there was causing damage or shortening my life, not that I expected to have much of a shelf life being on Softbiotics’ most wanted list.
We still only had the clothes we’d got at Solace Station, but Dr. Katz had left an entire collection of cloaks.
She had an obsession because she must’ve had two dozen in various colors and styles.
Lyra and I each chose one that would blend in at both spaceports.
Under my cloak, my pockets were heavy with chips, but I was able to cram an extra meal bar into each pocket, which had the added benefit of stopping any clinking and rattling as I walked.
I gave the lab a once-over before heading toward the door. “System, activate security. Make sure no one else can get in.”
“That is already my protocol.”
“Good. Just double-checking.” I noticed Lyra watching me. “What?”
She gave me a droll look. “You know, a gentleman would grant his girlfriend access, too.”
I smirked. “Oh, you’re my girlfriend now?” We had gotten closer over the past couple of days, but we hadn’t crossed the line into intimacy yet, not from lack of interest—it was because Byte kept me glued to the screens.
She shrugged innocently, but it looked anything but. “I’m kidding. I know the system doesn’t like me, so it’s not like it would grant me access, anyway.” With that, she opened the door and scanned the hallway before stepping through.
She had a point. Whenever she tried to activate another computer within the lab, the system notified her that she was an unauthorized user. I could’ve asked the system another time or another way to give her access, but selfishly, I liked being the only one to have access to this place.
My place.
I guess it was easier to get used to that idea than I thought.
The lights turned off behind me as I stepped into the corridor. It was just as empty as when we first arrived. “All right. Show us the way, Byte.”
My internal HUD lit up, and I was surprised to see that we wouldn’t be going the way we’d come. “We can get to the spaceport this way?” I started walking, and Lyra kept pace at my side.
Yes. The private shuttle terminal is not connected to the commercial spaceport. We will rent one of the moon terrain vehicles and drive directly to the private shuttle terminal.
My steps stuttered. “Wait, we could’ve skipped all the running around inside and just rented an MTV?”
No. The commercial spaceport does not have an MTV station.
I turned to Lyra. “Why didn’t we take a private shuttle?”
She chortled. “Believe me, I asked. But you know how much it costs to rent one? You weren’t worth that much to Kynan Kade.”
“‘Weren’t’? Does that mean I’m worth it now?”
She patted her chest pocket. “Let’s see what we learn from the data.”
I grinned. “I’m worth it.”
She rolled her eyes.
Actually, you are worth “it” only because of our fusion. Essentially, you are just my carrier, like a horse to its cowboy. At least you are a well-fed horse, finally.
I grunted. “I just got enough calories in me for three days’ straight.” I glanced at Lyra. “I hadn’t gone that long with enough food ever since I got this thing in my head.”
“I noticed you’re still eating as much as ever. How long do you think that will last?”
“Byte makes it sound like forever.”
During fusion, the daily caloric requirements are five thousand four hundred calories. Once fusion is fully complete, we will require only four thousand two hundred calories to maintain peak operating efficiency.
I sighed. “Yep, confirmed. Byte says it’s going to last forever.”
I did not. I said?—
“Forever,” I cut it off. “You said forever; you just took longer to say it.”
Lyra raised a brow. “Lovers’ quarrel?”
“Haha,” I said dryly.
Threat alert. Two security personnel are at the rental kiosk.
I froze. “Do we need to find a new way?”
“What’s wrong?” Lyra asked.
“Enforcers,” I answered.
Threat alert downgraded to a threat watch.
They are only corporate security guards for the mining company, and they appear to be on break.
They likely have no reports on you as corporations, even in different industries, are often competitors rather than allies.
I, however, still urge you to exercise caution.
I snorted. “Every minute of my life is a threat watch.” I started walking again, and glanced at Lyra. “Mining company cops; not Softbiotics.”
She didn’t look relieved. “It’s just as likely they’re on Softbiotics unofficial payroll, too.”
Softbiotics owned all rights to TerraSoft-11 and its moons.
That meant they were the government, law, police, and everything else that could make a guy’s life hell all rolled into a single entity.
Since they were a tech company, they subleased things outside their interests, such as mining rights, to other corporations.
The two guards are leaving the area. Based on their route and pace, they will have returned to their company’s office before you reach the corridor.
I glanced at Lyra. “We’re in the clear.”
“For now.” She took off at a jog, discarding the leftover sense of ease from being in the safety of the lab.
I took off and led her through the corridors using my internal HUD.
The air was dirtier and colder here—I would’ve struggled to breathe in here before Byte, and I realized how quickly I’d become accustomed to having my health.
The coughing fits used to exhaust me, and it’d been years since I’d had enough lung power to do anything but walk.
Maybe Byte was worth all the hassle—and it was a lot of hassle.
The upgrades sucked . Being hungry every ten minutes sucked.
And I had a constant unease about exactly what Byte was doing to my mind and body. Sure, it was helping… but at what cost?
Just as I was about to turn a corner, Byte said, Stop right here.
I skidded to a stop and held out my arm to block Lyra, though she stopped more gracefully than I had.
She shot me a questioning look.
You may continue. A trio of miners were crossing the corridor at the time.
I gave her a thumbs-up, and we continued.
Being in the ass-end of Solace Station made things easy as it seemed like enforcers didn’t venture out to the mining companies, and the mining companies seemed to be purely focused on mining.
We reached the rental kiosk a few minutes later.
The screen displayed, Oakland Mining Company Moon Terrain Vehicle Depot.
The kiosk’s menus were designed for the company’s employees to check out a vehicle for their work.
Lyra scrolled down to find the ability to rent a vehicle.
I balked at the price—it was more than I made in a year.
She noticed my expression as she scanned her armlet to make the payment and enter her false credentials—a different identity than the one she’d come to Solace Moon with. “Every company is out to make as much money as they can even though these MTVs are probably parked most of the year.”
I nodded at her armlet. “Just how many identities do you have stored in there?”
She smirked. “A few. Same with yours. It never hurts to have a backup plan.”
She is smart. I am beginning to understand while you are so attracted to her.
Her dark eyes practically dazzled in the light. She caught me looking at her, and I turned away.
“It’s okay. I like looking at you, too,” she said.
I might’ve blushed.
In Dreswick, there was romancing to be had, but never enough time or energy for anything beyond a five-minute one-and-done.
I worked sunrise to sunset and basically passed out after my day’s meal.
Five minutes of free time when I wasn’t disgustingly dirty, had enough energy, and had an extra chip for a pro had long since become beyond my stamina.
When you’re dying of pulmonary fibrosis, you lose passion for a lot of things.
Byte had given me a new life, and I had a keen interest in taking full advantage of it.
The screen displayed a dock number, which we made our way to and through an airbridge so narrow we had to take it single file.
The airbridge connected directly to a vehicle on large tracks, and Lyra immediately slid across the front bench seat to the driver’s spot.
As I slid in next to her, I asked, “You know how to drive this thing?”