Afterimage

21:57

"Sniffer unit to Command," the quadrupedal drone spoke with a flat synthetic voice, its sensor head darting side-to-side, ear-like scanners on the sides flashing a few times.
"Room scan complete."
"Detection: gunpowder particulate residue. Concentration: high."
"Detection: elevated hemoglobin."
"Vital scan: null."
"Respiratory pattern scan: null."
"Conclusion: no vitals behind the barrier. Likely cause: Gunshot wounds."
"Request: cancel flashbang breach procedure."

The squad of seven officers stacked up at the door, submachine guns at the ready, armor matte black mixing with cyan, helmets hiding any traces of humanity.

"Command to entry team," a female voice replied over the uplink. "Cancel breach. Collect necro and evidence. Out."

The sergeant moved forward, his exoskeleton whirring as a claw unfolded from its gauntlet. He jammed the claw into the doorframe, shredding through the lock as the door swung open. The team flowed inside, weapons and scanners at the ready. The sniffer drone padded forward, its sensor head blinking as the teal beam swept the room.

"Entry team to Command," the sergeant reported. "Necro scan complete. Three adults: two male, one female. One adolescent, male. No resuscitation possible. Out."

"Command to entry team. Bag necro. Collect evidence and determine causes. Out."

The officers moved in sequence, their scanners humming as they tagged every body. It took two officers to bag one, with one holding the body up, and the other activating the nanofiber body bag.

One officer held the adolescent male up, helping his partner bag him. He spoke through his helmet, muting his mic from the uplink.
"Scanner on this one read fifteen."
His partner responded with a sigh.
"A kid. Barely older than mine."
The bag sealed, hissing until nothing human was visible.

"Sniffer report," the drone beeped.
"Weapons detected."
"B99 ballistic pistol. Registered to: null. Telemetry: null."
"L-54-F ballistic revolver. Registered to: null. Telemetry: null."
"Conclusion: criminal activity."

"Continuing report."
"Device tampering detected."
"Prototype mobile device. Vendor ID: MagiTech. Telemetry: null."
"Standard-issue citizen wrist-tags. Telemetry: null."
"Serial human interface device. Alternate name: game controller. Telemetry: null."
"Hypothesis: hardware piracy. Confidence: ninety-eight percent."

The sergeant responded with a nod, relaying to the uplink.
"Entry team to Command. Summary: confirmed hardware pirate cell. Probable gang dispute, internal. Evidence and necro secure. Returning topside. Out."

The squad filed out of the room as quickly as they'd come in. The drone's legs tapped against the concrete, its sensor giving the room one last scan.

The basement emptied. The error screen kept scrolling, dried streaks shimmering purple in the blue glow.

The Grid filed their report. MagiTech updated its device safety policies, with other local tech firms following. Life went on.

A few days later

Sara stared at her tablet, her hair itching and greasy under the bandages. The doctors said it was a minor fracture, mixed with a concussion. Apparently the blood loss was also bad, but transfusions were clean and easy nowadays. She got a month of paid time off, along with an extra month of remote work, just to ensure a perfect recovery.

The implant in her skull hummed quietly, pulsing on occasion to ease dizziness. “Intercranial vestibular regulator,” the surgeon had said. “Keeps you steady, prevents seizures. You’ll barely notice it after a while.”

She scrolled through her tablet, completing a mandatory compliance training module. New policies filled the screen.

All device testers must check in and out with assigned Grid escort.
Prototype devices may not be transported unmonitored.

Remote work requires two weeks’ advance notice.

At the bottom, MagiTech’s logo glowed next to “Remember, MagiTech cares for your safety.”

Sara sighed, finishing the training up and setting her tablet aside. Her two year old tabby cat was purring on her lap, his head nudging her palm until she began to stroke him.

“Thanks for taking care of him while I was gone, Mom.” She whispered to herself.

The cat yawned, licking his paw and cleaning his face. Sara yawned too, leaning back and closing her eyes.