Chapter Twenty-Three - Surprise!

Chapter Twenty-Three - Surprise!

Chapter Twenty-Three - Surprise!

Every generation complains about the music of the next generation. Its just how it works. Older folk dont get new music.

But my music? It transcends genre. BeepBoopCore is the future of noise!

--Excerpt from an interview with the European samurai Mix, 2031

***

Our trek down sludge line 537 continued uneventfully. Gomorrah didnt want to press us into going too quickly and I was entirely fine with moving along at a slow but steady pace. I kept an eye on the waters ahead and stayed low and out of the way, in case we ran into any surprises.

The little green icon that represented us on our map plinked along neatly, moving closer and closer to the intersection where wed be getting off. Junction 6H. A nice, auspicious name, full of history and class.

Were getting close, I said.

We are, Gomorrah said. The waters different.

I glanced back at her, then down to the sludge, which seemed to be the same almost-greenish brown as it had been the entire time. Maybe there were fewer chunks in it? I couldnt recall seeing as many used sanitary pads floating by as before. Still wasnt tempted to take a dip in it.

You know, I dont know how to swim, I said.

You mention that now? Gomorrah asked.

What was I going to do? Buy some floaties?

Gomorrah shook her head. I dont know, but Im quite certain theres at least one floatation device available in your catalogues. Or an implant to teach you how to swim, at least.

This armours heavy. Im pretty sure Id swim like a brick in this. Also, a teaching implant?

You need a small implant in your brain. It connects to... well, your brain. Then you can download some lessons and, over a few hours, theyll teach you something. Its... not exactly pleasant? It feels like being on a sugar high the entire time. You keep getting weird flashes, as if youre... have you ever forgotten something, like it was on the tip of your tongue, then it hit you for a moment, but it wasnt important anymore?

Yeah, sure, I said. I cant remember birthdays. Lucys been real miffed about it a few times, when I remember that hers was a week ago and I didnt get her anything.

Right, well... I suppose its something like that for a few hours. Mildly annoying, because even as youre doing other things, you keep having stray thoughts that arent exactly yours. But it does work.

Huh. Whatve you learned with that so far? I asked.

Driving was the big one, Gomorrah said. I havent really invested in any others yet. Theyre on the pricier side.

I grimaced. Im a bit cheap, you know.

Looks like it, Gomrorah said as she followed.

I had to close the entrance door to open the other, which meant Gomorrah and I were practically rubbing shoulders when the shower came on and drizzled water onto us with all the pressure of a drunkard losing his lunch on the sidewalk.

I feel very decontaminated, I said when it ended some twenty seconds later.

Gomorrah shook herself a little, and I made sure to look her way. For Frannys sake, of course. Its barely lukewarm, she said.

I literally have shit on my shins, I swore as I looked down. The splash from the boats, I guessed. It was running off of me in little rivulets. At least the armour was mostly hydrophobic.

Opening the second door led us into a small room, a spiral staircase on one side, an industrial elevator with ropes across it on the other. There was a small table with some random crap left on it. Mostly delivery boxes.

Do they deliver food down here? I asked, incredulous.

People would eat in this place? Gomorrah asked.

The air, Myalis said aloud. Is technically breathable in this location. Though I would advise against it. There are several carcinogens, and the ambient levels of oxygen and other life-sustaining chemicals are lower than would be desirable.

I nodded. Wont need to tell me twice. I cant imagine the smell here. There were a lot of mask filters in an overflowing trash can to one side, and some small silver bottles in a rack with O2 stenciled on their sides. So this place was more like a refilling station before anyone headed out, then? Or something like that.

We need to go up, Gomorrah said.

I moved to the stairs and bounced on the first step. It creaked, but it didnt seem as badly rusted as the things on the outside of the tower. Maybe being somewhat airtight had advantages.

We climbed up, going around and around until my calves started to burn. I was feeling the exercise in my lungs by the time we reached the next floor up. These Sewer Dragons are probably pretty fit, I muttered.

With the amount of prosthetics they have, I doubt that, Gomorrah muttered.

Which way now? I asked as I looked around. The next floor up was more of the same. Windows overlooked the sewers below, but judging by the number of pipes in the ceiling, we were still in the thick of things. There were four airlocks around the room.

That way, Gomorrah said with a gesture to one of the airlocks.

We both got a second terrible shower, this time with a few rare suds in the water. Still not enough water or pressure to do more than make me mildly wet.

The second airlock door opened, and something punched me in the chest. I coughed, the air kicked out of my lungs as my armour locked.

And then I stumbled and fell on my back.

I was suddenly very awake.

***