Page 104 of The Fall

“Not much. Processing array is down, spinal cord is down, something about a decision.”

“Not down,” Jenni corrected. “Gone. Repairing it would take materials we don’t have. Our DocPods are configured to build living tissue, not cyberware. We haven’t really needed to until now.”

“Then take me to one that does.” Kerr tried not to sound ungrateful. “We have several in the tunnels.”

“That’s an option,” Jenni conceded. “But right now, your nanites are confused. Whatever happened to your processing array is sending them signals to over-repair your tissue. We have them under an override signal right now, but you can’t move.”

“My what?” It hurt to move her eyes, but her field of view was limited.

Jenni took a deep breath.

Half an hour and a cursory explanation of nanites later, Lusa arrived. She threw her arms around Kerr. Kerr wept, unable to feel her body press against hers. Kisses followed and then halted abruptly as Lusa was yanked away.

“That’s enough of that.” Mackenzie frowned, but there was amusement behind it. “She hasn’t decided anything yet.”

“Someone tell me what it is I need to decide.” Kerr’s mouth had loosened considerably thanks to Lusa.

“New body or old,” Lusa blurted out, anxiety obvious.

“It’s more than that.” Jenni pulled out a display pad and held it up for Kerr to see. “Option one is to send you back to the Chargers. Their DocPods can repair your central processing array. They can’t fix tissue to the same extent as ours, though, and there’s a very good chance you’ll require additional cyberware just to walk.”

“What about the one we stole from the Styx?” Kerr knew she must be missing something.

“Mackenzie blew it up.”

Mackenzie made a face, more proud than ashamed. “I remind you that we were being hunted.”

“New cyberware isn’t being made and anything I get will be scavenged parts,” Kerr mused aloud, assessing the situation.

“Mom and Tornit can help. They upgraded Pinga’s arm, remember?” Lusa said, sounding too hopeful. She squeezed Kerr’s hand.

“How much damage are we talking about?” Kerr tried to squeeze back, but she couldn’t. Why did she feel the need to reassure Lusa? She was the one who was injured.

“At least both legs. Likely more.” Jenni looked sombre.

“Head in a jar.” Mackenzie was far more blunt. “Your nanites will fuck up your remaining tissue the instant you’re away from this field. And I remind you, your Pods can’t fix that to the same extent that the ones here can.”

“And then there is Mackenzie’s option.” Jenni tried to sound comforting, but everyone could see the scepticism on her face. She swiped the pad and presented another scenario. “Rebuild from scratch. Everything mostly the same, but cyberware would be impossible.”

“Your DocPods can do that?” Kerr was glad she could move her eyebrows, at least.

“Not without some serious reprogramming. Which is why you should be thanking me.” Mackenzie smiled, but Kerr couldn’t help but feel there was something more sinister behind it. “I did design them, after all.”

“Why didn’t you design them to work without nanites, then?” Jenni asked.

Mackenzie waved her hands, brushing off the annoying question. “The first models needed them. Even the newest ones work a lot faster with them and it shortens their lifespan without. Do I have to remind you that there won’t be any more after these break?”

“I like my cyberware, though,” Kerr redirected the conversation back to her.

“It’s already gone. Your nanites ruined it when your central processing array went down. “I’ll build you biological replacements, like mine.” Mackenzie flexed her eye socket in a sort of weird wink, but Kerr had no idea what she was trying to do. Jenni smiled unconvincingly.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Kerr looked to Lusa, but Lusa only shrugged.

“I’m going to make you a boy,” Mackenzie announced proudly. Everyone’s problems will be solved. Lusa choked. Apparently, this was news to her as well.

“I don’t want to be a boy, yeah?” Kerr tried to comfort Lusa, but her hand wouldn’t respond.

“But it would solve so many problems. For everyone.” Mackenzie looked around, surprised that she wasn’t being hailed as a hero. “I did mention that, right?”