HWANG

  I took the VR headset off. Carolina, or I guess Chief Carolina had shown me, how to put it on and get it all adjusted to me. I'd spent the last several hours blowing off steam in the ships game collection, though it was starting to wear on me.

  The games I was trying were obviously made for more immersive VR gear.

  Which got me thinking about something that had been popping into my head more than a few times since I came on board.

  Was getting augmented so bad?

  The captain seemed to be wary of it because of his illness, but I wonder if I could be upgraded.

  The last few engagements with the robots had shown me just how fragile I was, and I did not want to feel like that again.

  I looked at the roof of my cabin, Carolina and Megan had both seemed to be able to figure out where the cameras were.

  Fucked if I could tell.

  “Hey Hook?” I asked.

  “Yes Crewman Hwang?” Hook responded.

  “That's going to take some getting used to... I have a question about something, but... I don't know...” I started but then couldn't find the words.

  “You don't know what?” Hook asked.

  “I am having trouble figuring out what to say okay?” I responded hotly.

  “Maybe if you broached the broader topic you want to talk about.” Hook responded.

  “I... How do most C.O.G. People get started?” I asked bluntly.

  “Get started in what?” Hook probed.

  “Get started... changing themselves.” I continued.

  “You mean augmentation?” Hook stated.

  “Yeah, that. Getting cyber bits put in you, like the Captain did when he got his arm shot off.” I said.

  That arm actually looked really cool, not that I was ever going to say it out loud.

  “Ah, I see. Most individuals inside of C.O.G. Space on C.O.G. Worlds begin getting augmented from a young age, mostly to correct minor issues like Myopia and Deafness, all the way up to rewiring their nervous systems to correct paralysis. For those that aren't augmented to correct some failure of biology, the first tends to be ocular implants to provide a H.U.D. And augmented reality display. This often is followed by a full sensory suite of implants to allow fully immersive VR, which is required in most of C.O.G. Space to go about daily adult life.” Hook stated concisely.

  I looked over at the bulky and honestly uncomfortable VR rig I had been wearing.

  “Is that why this VR stuff feels so shit?” I asked.

  “Most likely, physical VR platforms like that are almost always only used by small children when their input is needed directly, and thus the design has not been significantly overhauled in decades. If you want to use VR in C.O.G. Space you use implants.” Hook stated firmly.

  “I see... what about more physical augmentations?” I asked.

  “Beyond those, the most common beyond repairing damaged biological systems are sensory enhancement's, either to the eyes and ears themselves or adding new sensory apparatus, such as EM sensors in the fingers, IR sensory 'pits' in the face, or... enhanced touch sensations. There is a particular community in C.O.G. Space that has delved deep into that particular suite of augmentations and has driven rapid development due to their... interests..” Hook continued.

  “I...I... I was talking more like making people stronger or adding boosters to their feet and stuff.” I said. I wasn't a prude but I really didn't want to hear about people getting their twat enhanced for fun times.

  At least not right now.

  “Ah! Those kinds of augmentations! Though most gross physical activity is undertaken by drones and bots being controlled by individuals in C.O.G. Space with neural implants, gross industrial and physical augmentation is not uncommon! Especially those of your profession Crewman Hwang. I apologize for not understanding.” Hook said.

  “That's fine, why are they uncommon though? Isn't it every kids dream to like, fly?” I asked.

  “It is not an uncommon dream, however the level of augmentation to allow extended flight with one's own body under 1G acceleration is... extensive.”Hook said.

  “Damn, I was really hoping for rocket feet.” I said, disappointed.

  “Oh there are 'rocket feet' augmentations, however they do not allow true flight.” Hook replied.

  “What do they allow?” I asked, imagining some kind of boost jump.

  “Increased jump height, and, when paired with extensive leg augmentation, surviving falls from terminal velocity, ground effect skimming technology; to which an entire sub-culture in C.O.G. Space is paired; and jet turbine's, which are used in combination with glide wing augmentation to allow for extended glides on planets with appropriate atmosphere and gravity.” Hook stated.

  “Wait wait, I thought you said flying was out without 'extensive' modifications!” I retorted.

  “Gliding is not true flight, it is 'falling with style'” Hook's voice took on a different cadence as they said that.

  “Who was that?” I asked, inquiring after the quote.

  “I do not remember them, but my database says it was a quote from my previous captain, Captain Bait.” Hook said morosely, pausing after the name.

  I looked up at the ceiling, finally finding a Captain.

  “They are one of the people Brayden is trying to get home to bring back?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Hook said shortly.

  “We'll get them back, I promise.” I said. I know it was not in my power, but it felt like Hook needed reassurance... despite being a ship.

  “Thank you. Did I answer your questions appropriately?” Hook responded, it almost felt like they were seeking praise.

  “Close... What about military augmentations...”

  ***********************************************************************************

  BRAYDEN

  I awoke to Hook sending an alarm to my implants.

  “Brayden, we are an hour out from the jump point.” Hook said as I roused to full awareness.

  I slid upright, blinking.

  “I don't think I've slept that hard in... I don't know, before I woke up from the cryo-pod.” I said out loud.

  “That is good, I believe the medication Doctor Smith has prescribed is working to lessen your symptoms and allow you to heal.” Hook replied.

  At the mention of healing I looked down at my now robotic arm and made a fist.

  There was no catching or twitching, it moved exactly how I wanted it to. I could almost feel it...

  “Yeah... I feel pretty well healed.” I said.

  “The implantation site for your new arm's anchor point is itself still healing, is it giving you any discomfort?” Hook asked.

  “No, I think it's fine. I don't feel any pain at all.” I said, and almost instantly regretted it as I turned the forearm of my new limb and immediately felt a twinge of pain where the metal met flesh.

  “I am glad to hear it.” Hook said, either not noticing or choosing to ignore my little misadventure.

  “Did Doctor Smith and Megan finish editing the paper?” I asked.

  “Yes some time ago. They are both sleeping now. Would you like me to send it to you for review?” Hook asked.

  “I'll review it once I get to the bridge.” I said, as my stomach started making noises at me.

  “First, food.” I said, as I moved over to what I had learned was a multi-function dispenser. It had a number of tubes and slides connecting to it that would let me get me a variety of pre-made food we had stored, one of the things I has ensured all the cabins had including my own when I made them for the others. Or I could try to get it to print me up some food fresh using proteins we had stored. The protein printers were apparently how most worlds in C.O.G. Space fed themselves.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  I had not yet been brave enough to try the printed food myself.

  Instead I got a meal bar, which were... palatable. And what I had been subsisting on almost entirely by this point.

  To be honest I hadn't been too enthused with food since I woke up, it was just fuel really.

  “Crewman Ricky also sent you his... design plans for his 'fighter'.” Hook stated.

  My head snapped up to the camera in my room.

  “Did something happen to Rekki-Ricky?” I asked, immediately realizing nothing had as his name came out in the weird double speak that apparently meant it was working.

  “I don't know what you are talking about, Ricky is fine.” Hook said.

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “You heard Rekki-Ricky's explanation about their power right?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Hook stated.

  “You are only saying one of his names.” I said.

  “You have all only ever called him Ricky, I don't know what you are talking about.” Hook said.

  This... hurt my brain.

  “Okay, let's... not get hung up on that, I'll check it out once I get to the bridge.” I said.

  Looked like Rekki-Ricky's ability might affect Hook more than the rest of us.

  Or I was only seeing... one half of the potential worlds Rekki-Ricky was in? That could be it.

  “Damnit Rekki-Ricky, you make my head hurt.” I said out loud as I made my way from the cabin.

  “What was that Cap? What did I do?” I heard from behind me as I turned the corner.

  I totally didn't jump or let out a squeak or anything.

  Absolutely not.

  “Jesus Rekki-Ricky, you scared me.” I said as I caught my breath and held onto the wall.

  “Who's Jesus?” Rekki-Ricky asked.

  I did not want to get into this.

  “Ancient god who got nailed to a stick and re-spawned three days later, was just talking to hook and they just say one of your names, so it was weir-ding me out.” I said.

  “Oh I am all sorts of fucky with machines. People sortof exist with both states of me, but machines only latch onto one at a time. It messes with security systems so bad.. Once I got locked out of my apartment for three days because the system only saw the other me but not me-me and I had to sleep in the park until the cops found me and sorted everything out. Good times.” He said. Judging by the faraway, and possibly dissociated, expression on his face, it was not in fact good times.

  I paused.

  “So like, The system can't see Rekki-Ricky, damnit, Rekki- Ricky, dammit why do both keep coming out!” I said, trying to just say one of the names but they kept coming out at the same time.

  Rekki-Ricky laughed. “Yeah, You can't you are aware of both of me so both versions of you are saying both versions of my name. At least I think that's how it's going. Which is weird, because I think other me isn't actually here in this hallway...” Rekki-Ricky said.

  I closed my eyes at the headache that was forming.

  “Okay, so if machines only see one of you, how is the drone you designed going to work? Is it only going to get half of your inputs?” I asked.

  “No, nonono, All of my inputs will get to it, just it won't always be MY inputs, sometimes it might be other me's.” Rekki-Ricky said.

  “That is so weird.” I replied.

  “Yeah, but here's the really cool part.” Rekki-Ricky leaned in.

  “I'm pretty sure if I'm piloting it when it blows up, I'll still be alive here on the ship if I play it right!” He whispered, grinning wildly.

  I blinked at him.

  “That is a super dumb thing to count on.” I said.

  This wiped the grin off his face.

  “What, I think it's smart!” He said.

  “You are going to put your life on the line with a power you barely understand. What if it starts working if the drone get's too far away?” I said, calmly trying to talk him off this frankly suicidal ledge of an experiment he wanted to run.

  “I mean other me disappeared into a jump once and never came out and I'm fine so...” He said.

  “Wait I thought you said you found out in a shuttle accident?” I asked.

  “It was a pretty bad accident. In transit space.” He replied.

  That grin was creeping up his face again.

  I just kind of stared at him.

  “So you want to physically get in the fighter, not pilot it remotely..” I said.

  “You and I both know that the drone connection can be severed during combat by E-war.” Rekki-Ricky said.

  “Yes that's why they have dog-brains.” I replied.

  “Human brain is better than a dog brain. That's why the alliance's drones beat C.O.G. Drones nine times out of ten.” He continued, that manic grin creeping up his face again.

  It was really starting to creep me out.

  Then again, maybe that was just alliance folks default setting, creepy. Maybe I should try to look past that. Both the deaconess and her handler had been unsettling in other ways....

  Hook broke in “The actual statistic is 6.5 times out of ten.” Hook replied. I swore I could hear a bit of a sniff there.

  “Even if I were to allow it, to pilot a C.O.G. Vessel of any kind you'd need to get fully augmented.” I said.

  “What if we put in manual controls?” Rekki-Ricky asked, his grin faltering for a moment.

  I shook my head.

  “All C.O.G. Tech is predicated on it being defended by a mind directly interfaced with it. If I sent you out there in a parasite craft flying stick a Berzerker or particularly tech savvy Baron could transmit a cyber attack and boom, they have a brand new fighter craft that they need to hose the gross red innards out of.” I said, as I forced myself to walk towards the helm. If I stayed here we'd be at this discussion all the way till we hit the jump point.

  “So what you are saying is if I get augmented enough that I can defend against cyber attacks like that, I can fly it myself?” Rekki-Ricky called after me as I rounded the corner.

  “That is not what I said!” I called back around the corner.

  I continued to the bridge, sighing.

  “That guy is hyper like a five year old.” I said.

  “I do believe that was some of his genetic makeup showing through. He was designed to be a drone pilot.” Hook said to me.

  “Drone pilot, don't see why he wants to pilot it himself.” I said.

  “Telepathic Drone pilots like he was meant to be probably feel like they are actually piloting their drones directly. If I were to guess, piloting through the interface awakened something in him. He's not wrong about Alliance drone's beating C.O.G. Drones though.” Hook said.

  “Thought that was cause of bullshit space magic though.” I retorted.

  “Instant no-latency-unjammable telepathy is bullshit space magic.” Hook deadpanned back.

  Point.

  “What will you do if he does ask for the augmentations?” Hook said.

  “Not sure how well his other half is going to take to them, for one, so I'm going to insist he gets them in stages. Two, need to make sure they are trustworthy trustworthy.” I said.

  “Prudent. When you say they do you mean Ricky as a person or... Are you treating them as multiple people.” Came Hook's reply.

  “They are multiple people, but anyways, three, Rekki-Ricky feels... not like a kid, but also not like an adult. He has really swingy emotional states it feels like. When we were hiding from the deaconess he was damned near catatonic, and now he's manic, he swings back and forth very rapidly, and that worries me, especially when it comes to giving him the keys to a whole other starship.” I said.

  “Spaceship.” Hook corrected.

  “Whats the difference?” I asked as I got to the bridge door and it began to open.

  “A starship is defined as any ship capable of going to another star. The Drone-fighter has no jump drive.” Hook said.

  “Right, no Jump drive... were they ever called transit drives?” I asked.

  “Somewhere most likely, language drift causes it, I have noticed you refer to jump space as transit space a lot despite it being an archaic term.” Hook said.

  “I'm an archaic guy. Also it makes everything feel less like science fiction to me. Transit feels like a more scientific term.” I said.

  “It is, technically, but the scientific community gave up on correcting it long ago.” Hook said.

  “Like MASER and LASER I suppose.” I said as I settled into the helm seat. There was no one else aboard the bridge, so it felt... private at the moment.

  I sat down quietly, exhaled, and felt the connector slide into my spine.

  Once more I was the ship, and I felt complete.