The first thing Jackie was aware of was pain in the front of her neck. She let out a groan and gently touched it, feeling coarse threads underneath her fingertips.
Stitches?
She tried to open her eyes but the light above her was blinding. There were hushed voices somewhere nearby, and she couldn't make out what they were saying. She tried to take a deep breath- her lungs expanded but she barely felt it. She then made an attempt to open her eyes again, shielding them from the light above with her forearm.
"Jax… Jax, over here." She heard her fiance's voice and turned her head. Slider was sitting on a nearby chair, leaning forward with an urgent expression on his face. She gently touched her throat again. All she could remember was an interval of darkness. She thought she'd heard voices throughout, but she couldn't be certain.
"I…I'm… what?" She inquired, sitting up slightly. Something was very off.
My breathing.
She took in another deep breath, but it felt as though she had to force it. Slider stood up and took her hand, running his thumb over her engagement ring as he always did when she needed comfort.
"I…I'm not… how am I…?" Besides the pain in her throat, Jackie wasn't feeling anything. Not hunger, not thirst, not sleepiness. It was an eerie feeling.
"Umm… well…" Slider started, but then laughed nervously.
"What… what is-" Jackie was struggling to find words.
"Ah, she's awake. My relief is palpable." Dr. Marbles entered the room and she looked at him quizzically.
"What…what's going on? I feel… weird." The young woman stammered.
"You'll get used to it." Slider said softly.
"Used to what?" The panic was starting to set in.
"Well… to put it quite bluntly, you were no longer in the realm of the living, but we were able to bring you back via… unconventional means." Dr. Marbles said, "At least, it's unconventional on earth. Something your scientists can only dream of doing."
"I was… I was dead." Jackie said shakily, "I…I felt it. I saw it. The dark."
"That is correct."
"I don't understand. How am I…?" She reached up and felt for the pulse point in her neck. There was nothing. "My… what? I don't have-" Tears filled her brown eyes. The confusion, panic, and shock were all setting in.
"Most cyborgs don't." Slider said softly, handing her a tissue. She just stared at him. The pieces were all there, but they weren't coming together in her head.
"No. That's impossible." She whispered.
"I assure you, it is possible." Dr. Marbles said, "I wasn't certain, given the extent of your injuries and demise, but I made it work."
"Holy… holy shit." She whispered.
"Auntie Jackie!" Lauren ran into the room and jumped onto the bed.
"H-hey, L-Lauren." Jackie stammered, pulling the girl into a tight hug. She needed something to hold onto, to ground herself in this new reality.
"Daddy said you got hurt but you're okay now." The girl said, "I was so worried!"
"Yup. I'm… okay… now." Jackie said quietly, exchanging glances with Slider.
"Lauren? Lauren, I told you to wait with Digit." Inez walked into the room, her husband following closely behind her.
"I wanted to see Aunt Jackie." Lauren pouted.
"I know, but we need to have an adult conversation first." Matt lifted his daughter off of the bed. "Go back and find Digit. We'll come get you in a few minutes."
"Okaayyyy…" Lauren sulked out of the room, leaving the five adults alone.
"How do you feel?" Inez asked quietly, walking to the other side of the bed.
"Weird." Jackie said, "I'm not… I don't think I'm breathing, and I… I'm not sure what I feel."
"We're just happy you're still here." Matt said. Jackie nodded absentmindedly.
"Yeah. I was… I was definitely dead. Somebody… he…" She heard the footsteps, felt the cool steel of the knife against her flesh again. The imaginary sensation made her shudder violently and Slider squeezed her shoulder tightly.
"Do you remember who did it?" Matt inquired softly. Jackie shook her head and pulled the covers around her trembling frame.
"She's in shock." Doctor Marbles remarked, "But it's to be expected."
"We'll step out again." Inez said, adjusting her glasses. "Come on, Matt."
"I shall join you." Dr. Marbles followed the couple, leaving Jackie and Slider alone in the bedroom. He got on the bed next to her, holding her flush against him. She rested her head on his chest, still shaking violently. They were silent, listening to the distant voices of their friends and the ambient sounds of Control Central.
"This is… I feel so weird." Jackie whispered.
"I know." Slider whispered back, kissing her temple.
"How do I… how am I not feeling hungry or tired?"
"Most, if not all, of your biological urges are quelled when you're a cyborg. You can still eat and sleep, it's just not necessary for you to function anymore."
Jackie rubbed her eyes vigorously.
"God… how the hell- what am I supposed to do if I can't sleep?"
"It's all about keeping yourself busy. I'll help you through it."
Jackie sighed and kicked the covers off.
"...Everything else works normally…?" She flexed her ankles and stretched her arms over her head. Slider nodded.
"As far as I've been told… yes."
"Let's go out and see the others." She stood up and nearly stumbled forward. Slider caught her in the nick of time.
"Am I calibrating?" She inquired seriously, and he laughed lightly.
"No. At least, I don't think so."
The two ventured into the main atrium of control central, where Digit was chasing Lauren around and Matt and Inez were playing cards.
"Ah. Jackie." Motherboard said, "How are you feeling?"
"Weird. Very weird." Jackie replied, "...But I'm sure happy to be alive."
"Come on, Digit! Tag me!" Lauren said between fits of giggles.
"I could if you'd slow down!" The cybird lamented, and Jackie laughed lightly.
"We are all glad that you're still with us, in whatever capacity." Motherboard said with a smile.
"Jackie? Jackie! Thank God!" Coop rushed over to his future daughter-in-law and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Hey, Coop." She embraced him back happily.
"Gosh, I wasn't sure if it would work. Thank God it did."
"Yup… I'm not sure what Dr. Marbles did, but…" She trailed off. She saw the pool, then felt the knife upon her throat again. That was all she had and she had to shake her head slightly to get her mind moving again. "I just… I could have sworn I saw him before he… nevermind."
"We'll find out who did this, Jax." Slider squeezed her shoulder.
"Gotcha!" Digit managed to tag Lauren at last and she pouted.
"Well, it's about time we went home." Matt gathered the cards and shuffled them before putting them back in the box.
"Aww! Ten more minutes?" Lauren pleaded.
"Sorry, Lauren, but you need to rest up before kindergarten tomorrow. It's 10:00 back home." Inez stood up and grabbed her daughter's hand. "How about a portal, Motherboard?"
"Happy to oblige." The cyborg said, immediately producing a portal.
"Bye, guys." Jackie waved at her friends before they disappeared into the swirling purple vortex. She felt a bit cold when they vanished, and she hugged herself.
"...What's wrong, Jax?" Slider inquired, squeezing her shoulder again.
"We're not safe anymore. Not here, not at home."
Coop and Slider exchanged glances.
"I just feel… this presence. It's cold, and dark, and it's going to follow me wherever I go." Jackie leaned against her fiance, still hugging herself. "What happened to me… it was just the beginning."
"You're going to be safer on earth." Coop said gently, "Whoever it was… they're here."
"If we go back to earth tonight, you're coming with us." Jackie said firmly.
"What? No, I can't-"
"She's right, pops. Somebody could be hunting us down as we speak." Slider said.
"But-"
"Coop, please. It would make me feel so much better." Jackie pleaded. The older cyborg sighed deeply.
"Alright. But just for tonight."
Jackie turned to Motherboard.
"Well, Mother B, get us home."
Motherboard smiled sadly.
"I will do whatever I can in the meantime to bring your attacker to justice."
"Yes. The Doc and I will work on it, too." Digit said.
"Thanks, guys." Jackie said softly. The portal opened and the three stepped through, Coop albeit reluctantly.
I failed. I fucking failed. He paced his room for the umpteenth time, jaw clenched and footsteps heavy.
Who knew that they would do THAT? Oh well, it isn't over. I've got other ways I can deal with her now. I just need to come forward to him. He'll respect me now, for pulling off such an epic scheme in the first place.
He shoved a few fresh shirts into his backpack and zipped it up.
I can't do this alone. He'll help me now. He'll respect me. I'm sure of it.
The portal placed Coop, Slider, and Jackie right in front of the apartment door. Jackie glanced around frantically, praying that nobody had seen them. Motherboard's virus still had her placing portals in less than ideal places in some situations. Slider pulled his keychain out of his pocket and quickly put the key into the lock, opening it with ease.
"Sorry about the mess." Jackie rushed inside before Coop in order to pick some magazines up off the coffee table.
"What mess?" Coop sniggered. The apartment was clean, but not clean enough by Jackie's standards. She and her fiance definitely had different standards of cleanliness and she did most of it, but it had never been a source of conflict.
"Well, this is it. Home in the real world." Slider picked up their rental statement, which had been slipped underneath the door. Coop nodded.
"Nice place."
Jackie plopped down on the couch and grabbed her fleece blanket, feeling cold again.
"Could you turn up the heat, Sly? I'm freezing."
Slider and Coop exchanged glances again.
"...What?"
"Your temperature receptors are a little off. It's 75 degrees in here." Slider said.
"Easy fix. Dr. Marbles can tweak it when we go back to Cyberspace." Coop joined her on the couch.
"...Temperature receptors? What's that now?" Jackie was close to panic mode again.
"It's how cyborgs regulate their core temperature. It's an implant that acts like a human's body temperature regulation." Slider explained helpfully.
"Implant? Like, it's inside of me?"
"Yeah. It's not as scary as it sounds." Coop reassured her, "You essentially have several devices inside your body that are helping you maintain basic functions."
Jackie nodded slowly.
"...I think I'm going to try to sleep. Like you said, I'm just thinking a lot and I don't like it."
"Want me to come with you…?" Slider inquired. She nodded frantically.
"Please."
"Alright." He handed his father the remote. "Here, pops. Catch up on the latest earth shows."
"Well, all right. Goodnight."
Jackie took Slider's hand and led him into their bedroom, where she just stood in the doorway.
"What's up?" He asked gently.
"...Nothing." Jackie sighed, walking over to the dresser and pulling out one of her spare nightgowns.
"...I know this is crazy. And a lot." Slider said gently. Jackie huffed.
"A lot? It's catastrophic! I'm not… I'm just not a human anymore? I just… I…" She threw off her shirt and took off her bra before throwing the nightgown on and removing her shorts.
"We'll get through this together, Jax. I'll be with you every step of the way." Slider walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, planting a kiss on her bare shoulder.
"What if somebody finds out? What if my family finds out? I'm pretty sure they'll notice I'm not breathing."
"It's easy to fake. My coworkers have never noticed." Slider said, resting his head on her shoulder. Jackie huffed and bit back fresh tears before breaking away and getting underneath the covers. Slider joined her a moment later, burying his face in her hair and wrapping his arm around her waist as he always did. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, praying for sleep to come. But it refused. She rolled over with a huff, swinging her leg over his hip. He gazed at her for a moment before capturing her lips for a matter of seconds and pulling her closer.
She clung onto him as hot tears escaped her eyes at last.
Nothing would ever be right again.