Storms
23 Sep 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Audio Portion at bottom, for listening convenience.
Part Ten.
Storms
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With the panels out, there was no way for the surgeon to order medication for his patient. He tried to grab and control her as she rolled off the table and onto the floor, pushing herself up onto her knees. Zooey brushed the surgeon's arm aside. He looked once more at the blank monitor panels—where an alert option should have been—then up at one of the operating bay's security cameras as he yelled out for help.
Zooey leaned against the mobile base of the table where she had been lying for her procedure. The wound on her head sealed itself around the data access port. The internal battle intensified as the primal shadow of Zooey took refuge in the neurological processor. Accessing her psyche through newly established links, Zooey knew she couldn't capture her prey—it was part of her body's genetic structure—but now she had a means to access her brain's higher functions and hold her body hostage.
The symbiote altered the body's biochemistry and tried to reroute synaptic functions but to no avail. The injected nanobots, following their programming, maintained the connections. The shade now had unhindered access to other parts of her mind's consciousness, including the damaged, child-like persona that was Zooey.
The symbiote maintained control over the body, but without the brain, it was useless. Likewise, without the body, the brain had no purpose.
Zooey monitored the entity's attempts to change her body's biochemistry and target the nanobots using her body's defense mechanisms. A primal storm coursed through Zooey's synapses, causing her to convulse on the operating room floor as a smile spread across her face.
"Comply or we die," Zooey said aloud, her body relaxing. The frightened surgeon tried to help her physically, but he was unsure what was happening. He didn't realize the internal battle taking place.
The entity paused its actions, initially unsure of what external force had invaded the body. It then realized the force came from within. But what was it?
"Comply," Zooey repeated, adding to the confusion. The surgeon yelled back, "I comply! Tell me what you want!"
"Who are you?" the entity questioned internally, ignoring the surgeon's efforts.
With full access to her brain, the primal, instinctive side of Zooey's psyche gained cognition and voice. She turned her head to look at the confused, scared surgeon. "I am Zooey," she replied. "Comply."
The symbiote searched its knowledge base for anything capable of such sheer primal will. "Your threats are meaningless. I will continue without the host. You will end only yourself," it replied.
Zooey's smile broadened. She tried to stand but the symbiote countered, weakening her muscles and causing her to fall back to the floor. The surgeon attempted to help her stand but failed as she collapsed in his arms.
"We will not comply," the entity replied, confident it had demonstrated its ability to counter whatever had taken control of her mind.
Zooey convulsed uncontrollably as a storm raged in her brain. The symbiote tried to counter her body's spasms with little success as her internal organs felt the impact of the storm of signals.
Zooey relaxed again. The surgeon tried to stabilize her to prevent injury, but her smile only broadened.
"The next series will end us. If you care so little, then let’s end this … now!" Zooey growled.
"Miss, I care about you. Everyone here cares about you. Tell me how I can help," the surgeon pleaded, checking her vital signs and looking for broken bones from her convulsions.
The entity found it difficult to counter such a primal will controlling the body's brain. Its attempts to use the body's defenses failed. Fighting this internal force had damaged her internal structure, and needed time to repair. It realized it had lost this battle but not the war. It would have to comply for now.
She was not happy about the current situation and least of all being here but it was not only her place but her responsibility to sit in on these meetings of the elders, whether she had anything to say or not. Even though most everyone was kept busy with the current repairs, most of their conversation was on the day-to-day matters other than.
If she could have had Avery or Rex sit in on one of these, it would have been fine with her. The stern look from her mom in the gathering of female elders to her left, told her she needed to hold her tongue and pay attention. Not that news of one of their members expecting a new child soon wasn’t exciting. Thoughts of the inquisitive child in the cafeteria replayed in her mind, as she once more questioned chasing one versus taking care of the larger whole.
It was not the norm to have an outsider attend one of these meetings, but it was not unheard of either, as Inspector Gladsen sat with her dad, off to the right with the male elders. She could see the wheels turning in his mind as he took in the scene. Not that the hangar resembled a yurt of old, nor was it made with the hides of animals, nor was there a fire in the center with fat and meat cooking on it. They did have the ship's own blend of kumis, which is a fermented horse's milk, which Xochitl wanted Monty to desperately try. While they did not have any horses, that did not stop the various sections from replicating the … experience, each attempting to top the other.
The topic of returning to the core of humanity was raised, with the elder males split evenly between doing so. Xochitl herself was split on the issue. The only reason they were headed in this direction was… The image of the child in the cafeteria played again, as Xochitl focused on that moment, to the notice of the elders who all paused, looking at her as she was lost in thought.
Was all of this for Zooey, the entity, herself, none of or all of the above?
The quietness broke her inner deadlock as she looked at each of the elder’s faces now looking at her.
“The course remains unchanged,” Xochitl stated flatly. “If she were anyone one of you or the lesser members, the end result would be and should be the same. Each has equal value, and for each, we should give our all. If you think differently then you need to reevaluate why you are their elder.”
Xochitl glared around the gathering, her inner conflict ended with the memory of an inquisitive child in a cafeteria line. Yes, it was for Zooey, and it was to get the entity or whatever it had evolved into. It was personal, because it involved a member of the clan, regardless if she was closer to them or not. This is how it should and would be.
As the elders each looked at one another in discussion, Xochitl caught sight of her mother, looking across the circle and nodding at her dad. She noticed Inspector Gladsen, taking the entirety of the scene in, as a good investigator should. Xochitl smiled, studying him. If he wasn’t careful, he too would be a part of this someday, and have the chance to try a little kumis.