The Long Ride Home

Fabio had led her to the closest Underground station. Despite the fact that she had bought her monthly ticket, she bought another one that headed in a different direction and swiped it on the reader to activate it. She never used her own one when she crossed over her own turnstile. There was no telling how far Flora’s influence reached. She boarded the train. The first couple of stations she stood, holding the metal bar above her head. After a while she sat down. A long ride awaited her.

“There are some things you need to know,” Fabio broke the silence in her mind. She waited for him to continue. “Back in the hospital I didn’t find Gabor’s file, but I found yours.” Margit felt shivers down her spine. “You had two entries. First was scheduled for tomorrow. It was called Abelo transformation.”

Margit expected to hear some tough news, but this one took the breath from her lungs. “No, that can’t be,” she responded, but even as she tried to deny it, the image returned to her. The room of Abelos, the removed augmentations. They were the same ones she was carrying around inside her own body. The anger made the corners of her eyes feel as if they were burning.

“You understand.” It wasn’t a question. Just a statement. There was no need for Margit to respond. Her world was being torn at the seams, but it all made sense. She thought about all the times she saw people waving around missing person posters. She thought of Ilona. “The other was not scheduled yet, but it was recorded as cerebral extraction and Cerb integration.” Margit kept silent. She didn’t know how to respond at all.

“This leads to the analysis I’ve been running since the hardware upgrade. The new data from the hospital sped up the process. I’ve reached conclusions. In light of the facts you’ve heard in the past minutes a lot won’t be surprising, but please listen anyway. It is now obvious that Flora is in some way connected to one of the Cerbs. There is high probability she is aware of the fact. That is only part of it. I was able to determine, that she was in fact responsible for the attack on Maclearware.”

This shocked Margit out of her stupor. Even if everything else came crashing down, she had believed wholeheartedly that some unknown force was responsible for that tragedy. Oh no. Gabor. What have I done. His sister. She was unable to keep holding back the tears. She was glad that she was more or less alone on her part of the wagon. “Why didn’t she just kill me? Why did I have to do so much work for her?” She hadn’t really meant this as a question for Fabio, but he responded anyway, even if the response didn’t completely match the question.

“I don’t know what the significance of all the jobs was. The most likely explanation is that this is only a part of a conflict between large organisations and the Cerbs that they command. Or perhaps the Cerbs that they serve. I don’t know for sure. The chemical plant you saved produces fluid that is essential for the preservation of the brains that comprise the Cerbs. The infiltration of Usurcor was synchronised with dozens of other operations that depended on shutting down the security systems. Some of your targets of are important figures in legislation or have powerful economic ties. There is too much to account for everything. That is something only a Cerb could do,” he said and paused for a moment as if lost in his own thoughts.

“Of course there are more of those Cerbs. Why wouldn’t there be?” Margit spat out with rancour.

“There is one more thing,” Fabio started saying.

“Oh no, what more could there possibly be?” Margit felt that she could break down at the slightest breeze.

“During the last meeting I was able to determine the location of Flora’s office,” Fabio said. There was clear satisfaction in his voice.

Margit’s eyes went wide. “Really? How?”

“I’ve been using the access credentials of J. Voros of Usurcor. I was able to slip a couple bits of information past the sensors and tag the packet with geographic information. I will mark the location on your map. Do you want to add the location to your favourites?” Fabio went from satisfied to smug too fast for his own good.

“Don’t push your luck,” Margit said. Despite that she allowed herself just the slightest of smiles. It faded within a second. A lot of work is waiting for me. She needed to find Gabor. Please be okay. She felt the weight of Flora’s stare from somewhere beyond. How much does she know. Does she know I’ve taken in Ilona? She must. Would she do something to her? Of course, but only if she is capable of understanding that she is important to me. I’m sorry Ilona. I thought I could save you somehow, but I will bring you ruin.

Margit slid a hand over her shirt and felt the augmentation inside of her. Images from the hospital sprang back to her mind. No. I may never be a mother, but I will become one to you Ilona. I will do whatever it takes to see you safe. And then I will do the same for other Abelos. This cannot continue.