They were both bathed in light streaming through the observation window. Inside the starkly white treatment room Soran’s body was held within an ellipsoid stasis chamber, his body punctured by various tubes and monitoring equipment which was clearly visible through the transparent front of the otherwise grey metal machine. Outside of the stasis chamber in the white tiled room were three scientists, all wearing has-mat suits, busy working and using typical hospital-like utensils and equipment and monitoring Soran’s vitals.
“What exactly was it that Raine injected Soran with?” He asked.
“We call it Reticence. It’s an advance form of Serum - a buffer to stop him before the endgame scenario”. Draz’s brow was furrowed as he explained.
“And what has this ‘Reticence’ done to him? The irony of it’s name isn’t lost on me” Faraa replied solemnly.
“It’s full of nanomachines which effectively cut the neural-pathways within the brain, cutting all ties within the brain and effectively killing his Arcane Cortex”. Faraa’s eyes widened.
“He’s brain dead!?”
“No” Draz said, now looking at Faraa. “The effect is reversible, if we treat it in time. That’s why he’s in stasis. The nanomachines have an effective lifespan of three hours in which time they can stimulate regrowth of the pathways with a cellular regenerator. But the process is slow and if it isn’t activated within three hours, the nanomachines shut down and he’s left a vegetable”.
“Couldn’t you tailor the nanomachines to just destroy the Arcane Cortex?” Draz laughed.
“Do you understand how complex the brain is? Each one is different. We have no way of getting out nanomachines that small and specific - it’s just not possible with our technology”.
“And so now…”
“The nanomachines are rebuilding his brain, yes”.
There was silence between the two of them for a few moments as they watched the doctors working on Soran.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Faraa asked Draz.
“Don’t do that” Draz was trying to hold back the anger he was feeling.
“Do what?”
“Make it personal. You know that if I had my way I would have told you, Laurant”.
“I’m not making this personal” Faraa replied defensively.
“Yes you are. It wasn’t my choice, it was a political decision”.
“Oh between you and Raine, the military commander of the Skry Nation? The nation that I lead?”
“If you have a problem I suggest you take it up with Raine”.
“Oh come off it, Alex. You didn’t tell me because you don’t trust me”.
“Trust you!?” Draz snapped, gawping at Faraa. “I asked you to fucking marry me, Laurant. And last time I checked you said yes! How can do that if I didn’t ‘trust you’?”
“That’s not what I meant” Faraa replied with a much more subdued tone. “I mean that you don’t trust me on a political level”.
“Oh for fuck sake!” Draz said to himself. “This again!? You really need to learn to separate our relationship from our work, Laurant. I certainly have” Draz turned to look out at Soran again, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Faraa without getting angry. There was an awkward silence before Faraa spoke again, almost in a whisper.
“I thought you were dead”. He didn’t look at Draz as he said it.
There was more silence, then Draz gently took Faraa’s hand in his own.
“I’m still here” He whispered back.
“Please don’t do anything stupid like that again”.
Draz turned to look at Faraa with a smirk and kissed his fiancee.
“I can’t promise that, but I’ll try” He whispered in Faraa’s ear.
YOU ARE READING
Darklight: Precipice
FantasíaFive years have passed and there is tentative peace between Skry and Utopia. A discovery deep under Utopia City in part of Rammachandra's shelter could herald a new age. But at what cost?
