Sacrifices for Progress [Part 2]

“This is really necessary?” Izel remarked openly, as Chima and Cash walked beside him, on the way to campus.

“Well, you have an education, and you should be grateful that Carmen values that type of shit.” Chima mentioned.

“I understand that, but does there need to be two of you with me?” Izel then asked, entering the campus.

“Back up! You got a problem?” Cash spat with disapproval from Izel’s comment, as Izel flinched from the small outburst.

“Haha, relax Cash, this is an adjustment for all of us.” Chima mentioned with a chuckle. “We’re still not sure who might come after you, so we need our favorite psycho.” He then grinned as he looked at Cash.

“The only concern you should have is where we’ll be hiding for the day.” Cash added.

“Um, that won’t be needed, this is an open campus, so anyone can attend the lectures.” Izel responded.

“No shit. That makes things pretty easy.” Chima mentioned.

“Yeah, you just can’t take up seats reserved for students, is the only rule.” Izel explained.

“Right, so what’s first?” Chima asked with a slight glee.

“Quantal Arithmetic.” Izel answered.

“That made me bored just hearing it.” Cash remarked, very uninterested.

“Well, you're not wrong. We mostly just learn the history of Quantum Physics.” Izel mentioned.

“I’ll probably regret asking, but what do you want to do if you grow up?” Chima asked, as the three approach Izel’s first class.

“Quantum Computing.” Izel answered. —If I grow up?— He then repeated under his breath.

“Hold on! We already have those, what is there to study?!” Cash announced, whipping her phone out to prove her point.

“That’s a common misconception, that is actually a Molecular Computer, ‘Quantum Computer’ is just a brand name. Real Quantum Computing has been stagnant for several decades along with other technologies. More or less of a plateau from the late 90s, when technological progress was doubling every year. Just as Moore's law predicted.” Izel explained. “So for Molecular Computers were close enough to the idea of Quantum Computers so a lot of tech industries jumped on the opportunity to sell that idea, when fully realized Quantum Computers are still in need of more research. The main issue of why we don’t have fully realized Quantum Computing is the Stabilization—” Izel divulged before getting cut short.

“Alright! I get it! You're freakin’ smart.” Cash whined.

“You asked.” Izel pouted as he sat near the front of the class while Chima and Cash moved to the back of the class.

The day was an obvious droll for Chima and Cash, and surprisingly for Izel as well. Izel is the type to only pay attention in class if he deems the knowledge valuable, or the professor claims that one specific thing will be on an upcoming test. Typing in his notepad when necessary, or dreaming about possible equations for the world of future computing. When Izel is on campus is when he is most ambitious about his future, despite that he can be rather lackadaisical for some of the school work.

Taking one final stretch of relief that the day is finished, Izel then looks to the back of the classroom to see Chima and Cash blissfully asleep. —Some protection— Izel thought to himself. The two were clearly bored of the day’s task, either sleeping or retreating into their devices for entertainment.

“Hey!” Izel raised his voice slightly to a sleeping Chima and Cash. Both lazily awoke in a mild daze from sleeping.

“Where to next?” Chima asked, mixed with a yawn.

“Home, that was my last class for the day.” Izel mentioned.

“Damn, that was like 10 hours of classes, and only like one lunch!” Cash mentioned, stretching her cybernetic arms and legs.

“Yeah, what’s the end goal with all this studying?” Chima then asked, standing up to finally leave.

“Goal? Well, to get a good research job, and get out of the slums.” Izel explained. “What about your goals?” He asked with a mild scowl.

“I have everything I could want with Carmen, I achieved all my goals after I left the military.” Chima mentioned, as the three left class.

“Me, however, I’m going to get to 10/11 ratio before I’m 35.” Cash smiled.

“That leaves like 10% of organic matter. You’d have to get rid of something for that high of a ratio.” Izel mentioned.

“Way ahead of you, all of my digestive organs, and the reproductive organs were the first to go, pretty much it's my lungs, liver, and kidney.” Cash mentioned.

“Well that’s definitely a goal.” Izel mentioned.

“Hold it!” A familiar voice quickly made its way to Izel. He instantly knew whose voice it was, Mario Gomez. Knowing that, Izel let out a sigh of discomfort and slowly stopped. As Chima and Cash turned to him in slight confusion once they noticed he stopped.

“Izel, where the hell were you yesterday? And who the hell are those two? Do you have any idea how bad an unapproved absence looks?” Mario Gomez berated Izel with questions. Along with Cash flaring her teeth.

“I know, I know, I’ll be submitting my explanation first thing monday.” Izel replied.

“And your friends?” Mario gave a gestured nod to Chima and Cash.

“What’s up!” Cash quickly approached Mario with aggression and annoyance at Mario’s abrasiveness.

“Chalchiuhtlicue.” Chima soon said to calm Cash’s aggravation.

“They’re just my friends, that’s all you need to know.” Izel defended.

“Is that so… They don’t look like the learning type…” Mario scoffed.

“Look Mario, if there’s a problem then bring it up with your Aunt.” Izel quickly remarked.

“Hmm… Izel I just want to make sure that you aren’t going to cause any more issues.” Mario mentioned. “You don’t show up to any of your classes, the next day you come in with cuts around your head, and now you're with these random Techbacks!” He cursed.

It was apparent that Chima and Cash grew impatient from Mario’s rhetoric; from scolding Izel to using a derogatory term. A one that is used to chastise citizens of a lower class that get heavy cybernetic prosthetics, stereotypically infer that it was performed illegally or unsafely.