Terminus

After going through most of the day, we finally slumped away from the table for the last time. There had been many breaks between. Times when I needed to remember my programming lessons. And others when Leonce tried to make sense of his data. In the end, we reached as far as we could go.

I leaned against a part of the wall not covered in shelves or equipment. There was a bitter taste of defeat right now. It was something that I already started feeling coming throughout the day. So I prepared myself for it, to some extent. But I held some hope that maybe I’d find a way around it still. Or maybe Leonce would give me something I hadn’t considered.

Neither happened.

We did certainly manage a lot of that, but we just kept running into the same problem. His equipment wasn’t good enough for an accurate enough pattern to build the healthcare update around. In the last hour, we both saw the writing on the wall.

We needed the Basilica’s equipment.

Each time we had the realization, we dove back in to find a work around. In the end, we just fell back on our asses having to surrender. Just the thought of having to go back to the Basilica scared me. The first time I managed to get out without any trouble. But I couldn’t just sneak in and play around with equipment. Louise would have to be there. We’d need a live person to scan as the corpse's whole body was destroyed. There wasn’t a virus pattern to find.

I stared over at Leonce once he finally pried himself away. It looked like he finally accepted reality now too. The sour expression made it clear. We were so close and yet it remained out of reach. “You wouldn’t have anyone in the Clergy that you could trust with this?”

“The way they’re acting, I’m not certain I could. And after today, I might have added some unnecessary friction to our relationship.”

“I’m sorry.”

He leaned back pounding a fist on the table. “I can’t let Louise die, but…”

Glancing over at B, I could see him furiously shaking his head. I guess I didn’t need to say anything. “Leonce, just…for the sake of hypotheticals, could the Basilica’s equipment get the job done?”

“Definitely.”

“What’s the odds of them having a cure already?”

Leonce jumped up and stared over at me. It was hard to tell if he was angry or just shocked at the notion. “I’d like to think that they would have handed it out if they did. So my guess is that they only have half of the puzzle. Much like the Corpus they’re hardware focused, not software. Without someone like you, they’re probably stuck.”

“Know anyone there with that skill set?”

“I don’t know everyone. We don’t work closely together, but I haven’t heard of any.”

“So they might have the piece we need.”

He stepped around the table to lean against while speaking to me more directly. The expression changed to something more dire. A heavy thought weighed on him. “If we’re speaking in theory, even if we were to save Louise, what about everyone else? I can’t in good conscience only cure her and no one else.”

“Yea, we’d need the Basilica to hand it out. And they’re not going to be thrilled about helping with someone that was stolen from them.”

Leonce rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. We kept focused on the task, so I don’t know how much he considered the aftermath. It loosely had been in the back of my mind long before this. So I had more time to process it. Which was why this was going to have to be on me.

I stepped forward. “This is far enough for you. I’ll handle things the rest of the way.”

“Now wait a minute! Were you even listening? This is impossible, you’ll just get yourself caught!”

“I’ve got a plan.”

“Which is what exactly?”

“One that you’re better not knowing. If it works, then everything will be fine. And if not, you remain safe.”

He rushed over to me grabbing my shoulders to stop me. For having only known each for a short time, I didn’t expect him to get so emotional. I put a hand on his arm. “Just this morning, you were selling me off to the Basilica. Just think of me as a Hacker, it’s simpler that way, right?”

“No! I…was wrong… We were blinded by doctrine. You can’t use that excuse!”

“Then just think about Louise. This must be done to save her. And you can’t do it. Let me take that risk.”

“You’ll be caught before you can even get ten steps inside!”

“Give me a little credit, I got the corpse data. I’ve fair chance at success. And if you’re right that the Basilica hasn’t solved this, then this is the only way to save the town.” I grinned up at him. “It’s what I do, stick my nose into problems I shouldn’t.”

“Ain’t that right,” replied B from the table.

“So let me do this. I’ll see you have plenty more years with your family. You don’t deserve to be alone.” A light went on in his head when I said that. Our focus remained tightly on Louise, the immediate concern. However, she wasn’t the only one sick now. And if I was being honest, he might be sick too. We didn’t scan him, not that it would change anything other than maybe giving into a suicidal tendency that I didn’t want to encourage.

Leonce released me and walked back to the table. “Dammit.” He slapped a hand onto the table with the panel lighting up. In a few moments, he turned back tossing a small octagonal disc. “Everything’s right there. Make sure you come back, Louise will be sad if she doesn’t show you more of her Torucube collection.”

I smiled. Rubbing my fingers over the tiny device, I pocketed it quickly as B hurried up into my jacket. “Then I best be quiet. I can’t make your daughter cry.”

As we hurried out, I checked on the time. It turned into the next day after everything. Damn, I needed a little prep time, but this should work out.

Back in my room, I pulled out my pack and unloaded everything. Dammit, the Basilica again! I’m some idiot. Down on the bed several different containers laid out before me. I immediately grabbed for the glove relic. Though I was going to need something more this time.

“Please tell me you actually have a plan and that all that down there wasn’t just youthful bravado.”

“Both.” I passed my hand over a larger container knowing what was in it. It wasn’t the right tool for the job. This was supposed to be about stealth.

B walked up in front of me, halting my decision making. “This isn’t going to be like last time. What you’re after is going to get you attention. There’s no way around it.”

“I’m aware, which is why I’ve got a different plan in mind. Something that shouldn’t need such high security.”

He crossed his tiny arms. “So a real plan? What’s your play?”

“If my guess is right, the Basilica already had scanned people with this virus. So we just need to get it into the Corpus’ hands.”

“And?”

I fidgeted a little leaning back. He pressed on wanting my whole answer. “I was going to get the Corpus to put pressure on the Basilica. We saw that they’ve already been picking up people infected and turning away people. So I just need to get the necessary proof.”

“What you’re suggesting is going to redefine the power structure in this town and completely ruin some people’s lives. This isn’t going to be clean.”

“I’m aware. But this is going to be the only way I can keep my promise.”

“They might hate you again for doing this.”

“If they can be alive and hate me, then I can live with that.” I moved to the side, picking up another box and removing a small relic with a couple of progs that fit neatly into my palm. “Besides, I won’t be here for long anyway.”

“Heva…”

“Enough talking, I need your head in the game too, B.”

“I’m aware, my reckless partner.”

I changed out my torn shirt and bra for new clothes. Properly dressed for a night raid, I bound up to the roof once more. With luck this would be the last time I’d need to find this all familiar. B might have something right about my want for revenge, but that wasn’t on my mind tonight. I had only one thing in mind.

I would create the path to save Louise.