Restart
As Deanna had promised, she dropped off a few books behind Adam's window.
Most of them were already old and seemed to deal with identity crises after massive body operations. They were actually good books. One that Adam found himself liking was about the difference between organic body parts and augmentations. It made sense why Deanna had referred to her eye as a low-tech imitation of an eye. David's dream about perfect augmentations seemed to be far away.
While newer ones were a bunch of nonsense. He doubted Maria Zhannan, writer of 'From mud to glory – Learning to live with my augmentation', even existed or she was a hyper, 16-year-old schoolgirl.
But there were certain points and most interesting was that the original owner had done her notes along the margins and some loose papers had also been left. Adam didn't know if she was aware of them being there. His feelings towards reading the notes were mixed. He was curious to find out what her thoughts had been with her augmentation but it also felt like spying.
Deanna looked up when she heard a knock from her door. Her brows knitted together when she tried to think who it would be.
"Who's there?" she asked through the thick panel.
"I brought your books back."
What did Adam want so late? She opened her door. Her eyes widened when she saw him.
"You look awful", she blurted. Okay, maybe not best way to start conservation,
"Come in. Please, kick your shoes off, would you."
Adam stepped in and hesitated a little. He had no socks them not being necessary. Then the man realized where he was. Deanna would not give a rat's ass about his augmented feet and kicked his shoes next to hers.
She led him stairs down and sat him to a massive couch. It was real leather, worn by age. Adam noticed that her apartment had many plants. Around the floor and various levels were covered with mechanic junk. He could not decide did her apartment remind him more of a rainforest or a spaceship. She had clearly attacked the fancy style of the architecture and headlocked it with her personality.
Her huge television was off but in front of it was smaller one with power on.
"You have a HDML-television? I thought those had vanished ages ago", he asked surprised
"Nope", she said, savoring the p-letter. She walked the steps up again and to her kitchen. Her bare feet were barely audible against floor and totally silent on mats she had. Adam heard her put on a kettle. He looked to his left and noticed a huge bookshelf below the kitchen opening. He rose and walked closer to see it.
First he noticed a huge amount of old video games. Starting from the PS2 era and some were actually older than that. He traced his fingers over them, remembering how it was to play those games. Why he had actually stopped? Had it been because he had grown up, started to work and had no time anymore? Or had he just thought it was not suitable for grownups?
Other parts were a mixture of music and movie cases. But most were books; philosophy, history, fantasy, science fiction, textbooks, you name it. Also she had a stereo system set up there. It was like whole new world had opened to him.
"There you go", she said suddenly behind him. He accepted a mug of what he thought was tea. Adam was slowly starting to learn what good strength was but kept his hold loose around the mug.
"I didn't know you were old school gamer."
"I don't talk much about it. So what did you want to talk about?" she asked and pulled her computer chair under her. Adam sat back to the couch.
"What did I want to talk about?" he repeated.
Deanna looked amused.
"You could have chosen to return the books whenever you wanted but you chose to do it when it's almost midnight. Even I'm not that socially dump."
Adam chose to take a sip of his drink. He was surprised when it was not tea but hot rum. It was also really sweet. Not his favorite option to drink but it warmed him up.
"What is this?"
"Hot water mixed with lots of sugar and dark rum. You've never tried it?"
"Only with Cuba Libre", he answered. Deanna lifted her brow in question.
"Coke with rum", he explained.
"Never been my favorite", she shrugged her shoulders.
Adam noticed now that her clothes were much different to what he was used to see. Her pants were dark brown and made of soft fabric that settled quite nice and v-neckline shirt revealed more of her skin. She actually looked like a woman.
Her t-shirt also showed few big scars in her upper hands. They looked fresh so had they also been caused by the attack.
"What happened to you at the attack?" he asked.
Deanna face grew a bit darker.
"Long story short. I was at one of the server rooms when they attacked. Thank goodness it was away from the main events. I had to get away from there so I sneaked like a spy in video games along the building. It's much harder than it looks", she said and waved her augmented fingers.
"You bet", he answered. He had had done his fair share of it.
"Anyway, I managed to get some way, when I met one of these terrorist. He chased me, tackled me, I punched him in the face and in return, he hurled me into a rack and threw another on top of me. My hand was crushed there beyond repairing.
"It's a funny thing. I can stand the phantom pain but lord have mercy on my soul when it starts to itch", she mumbled as she moved her right hand. It still felt numb and Deanna waited for feeling of needles pinching through the skin. She knew that was something what would never happen.
"I know what you're talking about", Adam answered. It was horrible when he had no way to relieve it. He looked at what she had been doing with her television. There was a pause screen.
"You have a running PS3?" he asked.
Deanna nodded. She was not sorry for the change of topic.
"Yeah. It's been same since I bought it 2015. Had to replace few parts and violate several terms of service along the way but it works", she said voice filled with pride.
"I used to play Xbox 360. Way much better shooters", he said.
"What's it with boys and shooting everything that moves?" Deanna asked sarcastic.
"Watch it lady. I see what you have running inside that right now", Adam said.
"It's a god dammit RPG. Yes, you kill orcs there. No, that's not the main point of the game", she pouted. The look on her face was funny and completely opposite of her usual behavior.
"I challenge you. We have a racing game and may the best player win", she suddenly said and jumped up.
"What? I don't have player in years", Adam answered.
"Doesn't bother me. I love sweeping floors with newbies", she said and marched to her bookshelf. The man had to admit the challenge was tempting.
At first Adam played really passive. After losing few races something stirred inside him.
"Ready to get ass wiped again?" Deanna asked. Adam leaned forward.
"This time I'm not going to lose", he growled. If his gaze had not been so fixed into the screen, he would have seen extremely smug look on Deanna's face. Before they even noticed, it well past midnight and closer to morning.
Talking became much easier while they played. Adam learnt that she had two younger brothers, one married and working near her home town, while other was studying for a degree in English.
Deanna was mostly listening while Adam talked. Normal childhood, graduated as a cop, life at SWAT, you name it. He seemed not to even notice his opening up. He talked a great deal about Megan, how they had problems but also many wonderful moments.
"You still care a lot about her", she said.
She wondered what it felt like, to care so much about another person. She doubted she had ever really loved someone. Crushes she remembered, yes, but nothing more, unless you counted non-organic things like computers.
"How could I not? We were together for a really long time. I wasn't even able to attend her funeral and say her proper goodbye", he sighed.
Deanna did not know what to say. She knew, however, what she wanted to say. But her opinions were better left for her ears alone. She had always thought Doctor Reed was a nice woman. Now she seemed more like a bitch. Relationships were too damned complicated.
"Have you ever lost someone close to you?" Adam asked. Blond woman shook her head.
"No, I haven't. I was very young when somebody close to our family died", she said.
When they finally stopped Adam noticed that he felt better than he had in ages. He started to feel tired unlike the usual, when he just slept because he had nothing better thing to do. Deanna also yawned quite dramatically. Her high pitched mew sounded totally out of character. And a little cute, as Adam noted.
"I have kept you awake too long", Adam said when he realized how late it was.
"Don't sweat it. It has been ages since I had a good competitor to play with", she said with a lopsided smile.
That night Adam was able to sleep first time without waking up at least once. Sure, he still had to take narcotics in the evening but now he didn't have to take new pill during the night. He wondered if it had anything to do with his talk with Deanna. Some of the weight he had previously felt had disappeared.
After few days he started to notice changes in his condition. There was not so much pain anymore and he actually felt with his artificial limbs better than in the beginning. They were nearly as sensitive as his original hands and legs. It was truly a victory as he didn't have to use crutches at all.
Yey, Jensen is healing. And we're finally getting to end/post-game events *cheers*