Nanobots, Murder, and Other Family Problems

Sat 06/04 20:52:39 PDT

“We are well on our way, Noah,” Father says as he unfastens the restraints. “I think two more days will be enough to take all the measurements that I need to calibrate your implant.”

“That sounds good,” I say absently, still dazed from the deluge of sensations. I’ve lived at least six lifetimes’ worth of experiences while strapped to the table. I consider standing up, but that feels like a little too much effort right now. I push myself to a sitting position instead.

“Take as long as you need, son,” Father says as he locks his workstation and starts coiling up the debugging cable. “Are you all right to see yourself back to your room? I have an appointment to see to in a few minutes, but I can have someone help you if you need.”

“No, I’m good.” My head is starting to clear. I’m pretty sure I can make it across campus, though it might be a slow trip. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent. Make sure to get plenty of rest tonight. We’ll start again at 0800 sharp tomorrow. And please make sure to close the lab door behind you as you leave. My security folks are always so insistent that we keep this room secured.”

I nod and he heads out, leaving me alone. What kind of appointment does he need to take care of at this time of day? I shake my head. Doesn’t matter. I’m just glad the grueling poking and prodding of my synapses is over for now.

Two more days. I can do this. Marc told me it took him six days to get through his calibration, so I’m ahead of his schedule. I wonder if I’m on track to beat Chad’s time, too. I know it’s not a competition, but I love the look that smug jerk gets whenever I beat him at anything.

Jeff holds the record at two days. My version of the implant is different from the ones my siblings have, so maybe it’s not a fair comparison. Mine is supposed to have more connections. Even if I’m underperforming compared to Jeff, I’m alright with that. His arms and legs look like they’re nearly atrophied because he uses his cloud for everything. Maybe once I get my cloud it’ll seem more normal, but none of the others do anything like what he does. He’s weird, even by Butler Institute standards.

I slide off the table, landing unsteadily. I’m so glad there’s no class or homework due tomorrow. I don’t think I could handle having my brain probed and doing Mr. Johnson’s assignment on chemical redox reactions on the same day.

I glance around. Is there anything here I should check out while Father’s away? If I could log into his computer, I’m sure it would be worth poking around in there. I suspect that’s the best place to look for something that could incriminate him. But the screen is locked and I don’t know his password. In my hacking adventures, I found out that these lab servers are disconnected from the rest of the network. It’s an entirely closed system, not connected to anything outside of this room. I don’t know where I’d even begin at guessing Father’s password. He’s smart enough that he wouldn’t make it anything obvious. Besides, there’s that security camera up there, always watching. Better to look like the good son and leave Father’s fancy toys alone.

I walk to the door, only stumbling a little on my way there. I step through the threshold and pull the heavy reinforced steel closed behind me. I hear whirring and clicks as the thing locks itself up. They don’t mess around with their security on this side of the campus.

I walk a couple of laps around the moonlit commons to get my head on straight before I hit the dorms. The exercise and fresh desert air are exactly what I need. Two more days. How much worse could it get?

I head into the dorm’s common room. It’s near enough to curfew that the cavernous space is mostly clear. Louise is sitting on one of the couches with that red-haired girl from one of the younger classes who always seems to be wearing headphones and bopping her head to a beat. Lisa, I think.

“Hey Noah,” Louise greets me. “Congrats on surviving day one of calibration. You look as wasted as I felt after mine. I guess the new hardware doesn’t make this part any easier.”

I come over and grab the armchair next to her corner of the couch. Lisa doesn’t seem to notice I’m there. Music seeps from her headphones. She’s lost in a world of pure sound.

“Yeah, it’s been a mind-trip,” I answer. “I don’t know how I’m this exhausted after barely moving all day.”

“Don’t worry, it was the same for all the rest of us. Your brain isn’t used to getting this much action. It gets better, I promise. I mean, not during calibration, that all sucks, but once you’re past that, living with the implant gets totally normal. Better than normal, even.”

“That’s good to hear. Not the part about it still sucking for the next few days, but the rest. You know what I mean.”

She laughs. “I know exactly what you mean. I thought I was going to go crazy those first few days, stuck in the lab all day every day, getting my brain poked and prodded like I’m some kind of guinea pig.”

I want to laugh, but I only have the energy for a smile. Maybe we’re all just guinea pigs to Father. “Glad I’m not the only one who felt that way.”

“Nah. We all did. But you know, sacrifices for the greater good and all of that. Can’t save the world without the power to do it.”

“Sure. Save the world,” I say, trying not to sound sarcastic. “For tonight, I’ll settle for saving my sanity.”

“Go get some sleep. That helps a lot. Gives the system time to get used to things and sort out the neurons getting reallocated. You’ll feel better in the morning.” She pauses, thinks for a moment, then frowns. “Of course, then you’ll go back to the lab, and you’ll feel even worse, then the next day the same thing happens, but after you get through it all and sleep again, then you’re good for real!” She ends with an exaggerated grin.

I actually get a weak laugh out this time. “Good to know I have more fun ahead of me before things level out.”

“Happy to help,” she says cheerfully. She gets up and grabs my hands, pulling me to my feet. She’s surprisingly strong for someone so small.

I give her and Lisa a wave goodbye, which Lisa doesn’t notice, and trudge to the boys’ wing. I’m tempted to stop at Evan’s door and hang out with him for a few, but I decide to listen to Louise and get to bed early. I usually stay up late, pushing myself with classwork, or my project, or trying to figure out how to destroy Father like he destroyed me. But with another day of simulated and stimulated probing tomorrow, I don’t want to make this any harder on myself than I have to. I lock my door behind me, set an alarm, and crash into my bed.