Crack in the Kill Code (AmpCore #2)

63 - Money Talks, Blood Runs

"I'm not staying here," Odiye muttered.

"Odiye, I'm worried about her too, but-,"

"I'm going."

Arrow reached out with their uninjured hand and grabbed his wrist. Their grip was weak

"Odiye, you're not alright!"

"I'm in better shape than you."

Gently, he took a hold of Arrow's wrist and prised their fingers free. He turned, looking down to where they still lay in the cradle. They looked a lot better than when they'd been wheeled into the infirmary a day ago, but that wasn't really saying much. Tubes still spooled out of their arms and legs, pumping anti-virals into their system, and a lot of their body was still swathed in bandages and medical braces.

Arrow reluctantly let their hand drop back to the bed. Although movable now, and with some limited grip, their forearm gleamed with lines of metal; a series of slender braces holding their bones firmly in place until they could get the next round of AIP treatment.

Silence ebbed and flowed between them for several seconds. He didn't want to just... walk out. It didn't feel right.

"I'm well enough," Odiye ventured, "and you know what's going on out there. If I can help at all, I will."

"Where are you going to go?" Arrow persisted. "You're not cleared for any deployment."

He gave them a withering look. "Since when has that ever stopped any of us?"

They scowled, sinking moodily back into the medical cradle. "Well... what am I supposed to do?"

"Just stay here and get better."

"Like you should be." Arrow made a feeble gesture to his injured side. "Your implants are still wobbly. I can feel it."

"I can manage."

"Odiye, it's dangerous to practice in your condition – even with an amplifier."

"I know!"

It burst out of him, loud and angry, and dragging all his frustrated emotions with it. Arrow recoiled in the medical cradle, their brows rising in surprise. He clenched his fists tight, feeling the twinge of pain in his left arm as he did, his tender implants still adjusting to all the new skin and bone that the AIPs had carved.

"I'm sorry," he said eventually.

Arrow frowned, shifting a little against the mattress. "It's okay."

"I've already been in touch with my sponsors at Code-Vector," Odiye explained. "There's an escort squad on standby for me."

"How many favours did you cash for that?"

"More than I'd like to admit."

"And then what are you going to do?" Some of the desperation had left their voice now. They sounded weary; resigned.

"First, I'm going to help Toran. He'll be at the main Skiltron security tower."

"He'll be surrounded by the biggest heavies money can buy," Arrow pointed out. "You think a squad from Code-Vector and another half-cut AmpCore operative is going to make much difference?"

"I'm not going there to be the muscle." Odiye tapped his temple with one finger. "I'm going out there to make sure he is alright."

"Toran?" Arrow raised a sceptical eyebrow. "I doubt he's looking for a shoulder to cry on."

"You didn't see him, when they brought you in. He is trying to bottle it all up because his Mr Toran Knox, son and heir. He has to be in control, whether he is or not."