Planatae

Pressure

With the help of the pilot, whose name he learned was Akian, Jasper lifted Eden off the aquajet and hustled into the resort. They entrance they approached was manned by the resort's security team, but they quickly moved aside when they saw them half-run, half-stumble towards them.

They passed through the lobby, past the resort's little shops and cafes and restaurants, all dark and empty, until they reached a blinding-white archway that signified they'd reached one of the complex's medical stations.

With most of the staff taking shelter, this place was unsurprisingly deserted. Still, things weren't completely hopeless. They rushed past the waiting room, the reception desk, down the corridor that led to the neat little cubicles where patients were treated. They burst into the first one they saw, and Jasper had Akion place Eden's body on the medibed that was placed against the wall. The adjustable surface immediately curved around the man's body, the diagnostic process beginning.

Jasper rushed about the room; turning on the nurse bot, digging through the cabinets for painkillers and antibiotics, jabbing away at the monitor plastered to the side of the medibed.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Akion asked.

"Yeah," Jasper found himself saying. The medibed had detected some serious trauma, the worst of it being lower body and spinal trauma, but Eden wasn't in danger of death anymore. The bed's surface had already inserted various needles into Eden's body; he was being provided with extra oxygen, growth hormones, nutrients. When Jasper opened a slot in the bed and dropped in the pills he'd found, it would inject the medicine as well.

"Thanks for your help," he said to the Altonian. "I couldn't have gotten him here without your help."

"We all gotta stick together," he answered with a grin, which quickly faltered. "I'm gonna get the others. We need to go back to... collect the other."

Jasper nodded, and the Akian disappeared back into the hallway. He didn't need to stay, necessarily; the nursebot he'd directed to provide regular intervals of water and electrical muscle therapy, and the medibed would provide the rest. But he needed a moment to collect himself, to catch his breath after the horrors he went through. His mind was on the precipice, the trauma of the past now mixing with the near-death experience he'd just suffered. Make any sudden movements, he believed, and he'd would slip off the edge and lose it completely.

At least he was able to save someone. With time, and a lot of therapy, Eden might even be able to walk again as normal. But he was alive - that's what mattered the most.

You can't stay here. The Old One's voice was quiet but firm.

I just need a moment, Jasper took a shuddering breath. Just a second.

I think that ship is going to survive, Jasper.

What?

It's far more capable than a craft like that should be. Most likely, it's going to land, and whoever it is on board will seek medical assistance for any of their injured.

That's why there's an entire team, he countered, scowling. I don't need to get involved-

Jasper! the Old One snapped back. Get your mind straight. What kind of ship has the kind of firepower to shoot down high speed fighters? Because I can think of only one kind.

...Military. He acknowledged grudgingly. But if they're Rete, they're the last thing I want to deal with.

Right, the Old One hissed in his mind. Yes, you've spent a year, and another, and so on with nothing but the hope to be left alone. But there's something else you've wanted, isn't there? Or have you forgotten?

What? To get you out of my mind? Jasper laughed, a bitter sound. Unless I die, that's impossible. And you just had your chance, didn't you? Could've freed yourself then.

I'd rather not do it that way. Her inner voice was quiet. Regardless of your cowardice, I would not rather you dead.

What other option is there?

The Rete have planetologists, just like Saiseki. But their state is older, boy far more history and record than that upstart Independant. Turn yourself over - ask for immunity. They will want to unlock our secrets.

Jasper was shocked into mental silence for a moment.

You want me to... tell them the truth?

Not immediately, cretin. Help them out - see what kind of group has landed at the resort. But if they can get you an opening deeper into the Rete, you should take it. You've been hiding from the Saiseki for so long that you hide from everything now. Maybe there's a different way... to help the both of us.

Instead of withdrawing, like his mind was screaming at him to do, Jasper forced himself to consider the idea. He'd been almost as afraid of the Rete as he had been of Saiseki, for much the same reason. Revealing the truth about his situation was the death of his freedom - his peace.

But she was right. Freeing himself from this connection with the Old One would mean he could stop hiding. If the Rete really did have a way to separate them... then maybe it was worth finally coming out of the shadows.

He'd died today - or come as close to the phenomenon as humanly possible. The Old One had saved his life, and not because she was obligated to. If he passed on, she'd still endure, just as she always has. There was a debt now, he realized, one he would have to pay back.

Alright, he said, after a period of quiet. If they manage to land, I'll go and help them - whatever they need. I'll see if they're a group capable of reasoning with.

Thank you.

Just... give me a few more minutes down here, please?

That is acceptable, she said. Then she withdrew from the borders of his mind, leaving Jasper alone with nothing but his own thoughts.

...

After checking, once again, that Eden was stable, Jasper made his way out of the health station, pinging his feed as he walked.

Where are you? He asked Annika. If there was a way to imbue his worded message with derision and disgust, he hoped he'd managed to do it tenfold.

Jasper? You're alright?! I'd heard that the crews had gone out to the wreck but we were waiting for news-

Mako is dead. Riko is also dead. Jasper came to a stop, standing in the middle of the darkened indoor boulevard. High above him a glass ceiling had been installed; if he had chosen to look up, he'd see hints of the rapidly approaching ship as it flashed with light.

I'm sorry to hear that. The response arrived after a delayed moment.

You knew this would happen. Why do this - there's no official higher on this settlement but you.

Because you have to, her reply was curt, and a surge of frustration sent Jasper moving again. You have to follow the law, or it doesn't mean a thing.

We didn't even help. We couldn't do anything.

I know. But it's my conscience this will sit on. Not yours.

Tell that to the families of those gone.

The last thing he did before cutting the connection was request the woman's location; she was currently situated in one of Aquatime's highest levels, within a communications room.

Wary of elevators in case a stray missile hit the compound itself, Jasper went in search of a service staircase. Along the way, he sent out another feed message, this time to Ardent.

The response came swift, a mix of worry and relief, but Jasper had to leave it at that. Now that he had a goal in mind, getting in contact with the ship seemed like the best next course of action.

He found a set of stairs tucked away within a restaurant's kitchen, and began making the climb upward. Above him, the battle continued to rage.