The new residential quarter sits on the northwest fringe of the growing tent town. In places it is necessary to take a circuitous route around half-completed decking, boardwalks, and bridging. A strong pollutant wind whips at thick clouds of yellow vapor rising 200-meters from the swamp below. The honeycomb frame, smartskin bubble dwelling sits on the decking on one extreme edge of the quarter, The dwelling has a short entry stem, and a wider rear exit. The decking faces a deep drop, across from which the colored night lights of the surrounding city filter through the thick curtain of yellow swamp vapor and pollutant rain. The decking’s perimeter fencing is still to be completed, many of the slates missing, and the gate is not yet placed. At the front and back of the bubble dwelling sits an outdoor setting beneath a rainbow-stripped umbrella. The dwelling is home to Bernice Kimura, 30’s, a tall and large-bodied intersex of the hermaphrodite class, with specialist military implants. She sits the front outdoor setting, staring out contemplatively, looking forward to a night at home. A further half-hour passes, the weather worsening significantly, and she is on the point of contemplating a retreat inside when her skullphone gives off its incoming call signal, startling her from her reverie. She sits up and keys her wristpad. The head and shoulders of Mike So, the commander of the special operations militia (SOM), shows through the holo, his face visible against his raised tactical helmet visor. Military activity is visible in the background against a background of streaking pollutant.
‘Bernice, sorry to disturb you. We have an intrusion. I have a file. Prepare to receive.'
Bernice nods her okay, ‘Go ahead, Mike.'
The holo clears of the commander, and then opens on an edit of the footage captured by central watch of Bébé and Miko. Bernice’s breath catches. She stares on, transfixed, until abruptly getting to her feet. Her great height forces her to hunch beneath the umbrella as she plays back a section of the footage, she seemingly unaware of what Mike would be thinking at the delay in her response.
‘Bernice, have I got you?’ Mike comes through, sounding disconcerted.
A frame of footage sits frozen on the holo as Bernice slowly takes back her seat, looking strained.
‘Bernice, I repeat, have I got you?’ Mike sounds again, this time with some urgency.
Bernice shuts down the holo footage. The holo bands and fuzzes over for a brief moment before Mike comes back on,. His brown face is visibly blotched with black pollutant.
Bernice swallows before replying, saying, ‘All good, Mike. Sorry. There was a lot to take in.’ Bernice is deliberately vague. ‘What do you need?'
‘An escort and auxiliary team, Bernice. We’re separating pilot and bike. I’ll head the escort. Ansvar wants to interview the pilot at special operations. I need you on auxiliary to freight the bike to central tech. Simon’s flying in an isolation net to neutralize the bike. We just don’t know what we’re up against. I’m happy for you to appoint your team.'
Bernice takes a moment before responding.
'Got you, Mike. Over and out.'
Art Bébé™ ©
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