Page 40 of Light Leech

I nodded. “Same.”

We moved over and lifted Sanna by the legs and armpits, then pulled her into an adjacent room with a table and the neuroset.

I let her torso down, but Boyband was quick to drop her legs and walk over to the desk. “Really made yourself at home here, Ral?”

She flipped him off as she pushed notes and an assortment of glowing tea bottles to one side, then an assortment of light makeup to the other. “Look, plenty of room.”

Boyband picked up one of her writing pads and turned it on.

“Don’t.” She reached over but he stepped away.

“Writing again, huh?” He read aloud. “A family of four watched their father melt. Gich did not intervene. He watched them weep and cry–”

Ralia pried it from his hands.

Boyband smiled. “You like your whack fiction, don’t you?”

“At least I have a hobby, you shac.” She pointed at Sanna. “Flip her over, please. If rather not waste time with Boyband’s unqualified critique.”

“Should I shock him for you?” Kuni asked.

“You little traitor!” Boyband peddled back.

Ralia laughed. “Maybe, but not right now. Kun, how long do you think we have until she wakes up?”

“I dunno, but I can make her wake up.”

“How?”

“I can use the light like a switch. Push and pull. That’s how we took light and gave it to that bad guy.”

“Hmm, not yet. Let’s try to see what we can find in her neurospace while she’s out, then we can if necessary.”

Ralia pulled a line of blue light from the neuroset and dragged the fiber to the metallic base of the back of Sanna’s skull. She then sat at the desk and placed her hand on the set. Light flashed up her arm, then into her eyes.

“See anything?” Boyband asked.

“Zeg, BB, give me a minute.”

Naoma looked at me and took a deep breath, turning up the corners of her mouth but she had more concern than smile.

“You good?” I asked.

She nodded. “Just worried.”

“About what?”

“What we’ll find. What we won’t find.”

I cared, didn’t I? Was I feeling apathetic? Worn out? Overwhelmed with the Correction, whatever Boyband’s parents might have wanted from Water Hills, Haven, Reef’s rising, every other Beacon. The weight of the world was building upon my shoulders, becoming more burdensome by the moment. Apathy was starting to turn into anxiety. I didn’t want a socitab. I craved a worrytab to knock out my fears and cognitive trembling despite the consequences.

Terror was building, but I had to keep it in. I could let it free elsewhere, but I had a family relying upon me. To survive I would have to forget myself and serve. If I suffered for their success, it would all be worth it.

“Pet?”

“Yeah?” I forced a smile. “Just thinking. I’m sure it’ll work out. If not now, later. If we don’t figure out what Sanna wanted, we’ll just try something with the next assassin, right?”

“I guess.” She smiled, once again lacking the joy I hoped to see. The joy we all chased. Were we damned to fake it until this ended? Then what? Ending the Gongtide would not end neocapitolocracy’s vice. It would not end suffering nor would injustice cease.