Chapter 1: 2037
Vancouver, Canada, Earth
July 5th 2037
Upper Level, Commercial District
"Sky, are you sure you want to do this? The risk is unnecessary," Amelia warned, worry strong in her voice. I moved quickly down the road, thousands of people moved in either direction. I navigated to one of the larger crowds heading in the same direction.
"I want to know, how am I to find out, if I don't get tested," I responded, narrowly missing a man in a sharp business suit. Rapidly heading down the busy street I dodged a few more people. Cringing as an air-car flew overhead I refocused on my call
"But you're barely even nineteen, how will you get past screening," she asked. If only she knew the real me, the real reason for my illegal side trip.
"I have my ways," I said smirking. Rounding the corner I spotted my objective. A giant building loomed in the distance, easily a kilometer in height. Organic curves and pleasant scenery lined the structure. Soft lights and plants lined the inner railings of the upper offices. Gold tinted glass warms the interior of the building with rich hues of natural lighting.
"Oh no, please tell me you're not going down to the filthy back alley clinic," she panicked. The dingy back alley clinic she refers to is a front for a highly sterilized implant clinic where one could get black market wares and military grade implants, for the right price.
Scoffing, I reassured her "Please Amelia, I'm way past that. I have a way into the VPT." (Not an easy feat let me tell you.)
"What!? That's one of the most advance high tech Psi-labs in the country!"
"Like I said, I have my ways," I arrived at the building front to only be stopped by the sight of heavily armed security guards. Many other citizens went about their business shoving past me in an unnatural hurry.
"Well don't let Jason catch wind of this, he'd kill us both." Ah Jason, Amelia's obnoxious younger brother with perfect everything, medical genius, athletic, street smart. I nodded and the quickly added, "Will do." Clicking the earpiece I ended the call.
Assessing the building I spot several weaknesses in the security. A 10 second gap in patrol patterns, a blind spot in camera coverage, an open air duct scheduled for repair. I started planning my infiltration of the building when I spotted a young man dressed in hospital wear waving discreetly for my attention. Standing down the block at the corner of an alleyway, he leaned out and motioned to me.
Slipping away from the front of the building I jogged down to the alley. The side of the building was not as neat and orderly as the front. Trash, broken equipment, and used needles littered the dumpsters. A nearby loading dock bustled with activity. Several large trucks and air cars were unloading equipment and supplies. A truck unloaded a crate with Astro-Physics symbols on the side. A security camera being disabled and an emergency door unlocking stole my attention. The door swung open silently and I slipped inside. The man from earlier stood in the shadow of the hallway.
"Jason," I said, nodding to him. He emerged from the shadows and dropped his face mask.
"Hey Sky, how's it going," he asked smiling. That perfect smile that he has. He stood a good 4 inches taller than me. A wiry but muscular frame showed beneath his simple t-shirt. Lab coat and sweat pants covered the rest of his body. Running his hand through his wavy brown hair he glanced down my body making me shiver. "Still wearing those antiques I see," referring to the ultra-light metal gauntlets, housing my assortment of weapons and tools.
"It may seem antique to use blades," I said as I engaged the mechanism in the gauntlet, springing the blades out and upwards. "They are however silent and stealthy, and my set up isn't exactly antique," I argued crossing my arms over my chest, the blades retracting into their housings as I folded my arms. The computer tech and holographic interface lit up and danced shadows across my face. Jason's eyes dropped from my face to my chest level and never left.
"Yeah well, I think you play too much Assassins Creed," he tore his gaze away and brought it to my glare. Chuckling he walked away farther into the building.
"Come on Sky, there are things to be done." A minute of silence elapsed as we traversed deeper into the facility.
"So..." He began. "Insistent on being a Psi are we?" Jason turned down a hallway void of any other personnel.
"I know I am," I said smartly. I noticed the increasing lack of security in this section of the building. We stopped at the end of the hallway waiting for the elevator.
"Yeah and how's that," he asked pausing at an elevator door, holding the door open, letting me pass in side. I shrugged and remained silent. After what seemed like hours the elevator reached the desired floor. Jason led me to another door; I noticed the complete lack of cameras on this floor.
The room we entered was a sterile white lab, unmarked and occupied by an operating table, a Psi scanner and a two way mirror. I extended my mind beyond the room, scanning for emotions and thoughts. We were alone, no one on this floor at all.
"What if you're not Psionic? What if you're not even capable of handling implants?"
"Oh, I know I can handle them," I told him.
Objects around the room began to clatter, shaking and rising into the air. They were defying gravity, floating of their own accord. The Psi scanner began to tick, rising in intensity as the power in the room grew.
Jason turned around from closing the door, staring jaw dropped.
"Just a feeling," I said, and innocent look on my face. The objects around the room plummeted to the ground clanking and rattling as they settled.
"Wha...what... Impossible!" He stammered.
"Improbable," I curtly responded back. Smiling at his slack jawed expression, I jumped onto the table with extreme enthusiasm. "Come on, you have a Psi implant to install."
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"Oh no, please tell me you're not going down to the filthy back alley clinic," I asked. Sky had a knack for getting into trouble. That clinic was a black market hub, in which all manner of illegal wares and implants were being sold at cheap prices. Nobody had yet to taken down the crime lord in the area.
Scoffing Sky's voice echoed through the earpiece, "Please Amelia, I'm way past that. I have a way into the VPT." How in the hell? That's a very serious claim.
"What! That's one of the most advance high tech Psi-labs in the country!" No way is she telling the truth, but... Why would she lie? I jumped from the lower edge, gripping the balcony edge, hauling myself up and over the rooftop edge. I began my sprint running to edge of the building, the gap was too far to make. I reached the edge and leapt, several air cars passed underneath as I hurdled toward the other skyscraper.
"Like I said, I have my ways," she said. I sighed mentally, grunting as I gripped the small decorative outcropping on the side of the building. Scaling to the top of the building I responded, "Well don't let Jason catch wind of this, he'd kill us both." That's the last thing I need, is Jason questioning my life, and using his ridiculously high government clearance to look me up.
"Will do," Sky said. Ending the call I began setting up my rifle. Knowing Jason, he'd be the one to get Sky a contact in the VPT. He's had a crush on that girl since he was 12. Since he was working in the building itself, and he was considered a medicinal genius by most, he could probably get away with all sorts of trouble.