Page 41 of Light Leech

Therefore, we had to find it. Capture it like lightning in the instant it appeared.

I had already convinced myself that I had to forget my needs for the sake of others. Perhaps in this I could find joy in a broken world.

I had to find her joy. Our days together between Arabasia and her therapist were hardly enough to learn who she actually was. What she actually needed. Every moment together I saw further beyond the mask of the Neon Idol I had adored. I admit that, but she was no more than a construct. I liked Naoma. I was liking her more each day. I wanted to know her as much as she wanted to know herself.

She needed her past, even if it wasn’t a joyous history. I knew she needed completion. Clarity.

“We’ll finish your story,” I said. It was not the first time I said something to her that didn’t quite make sense. “Your past is out there. We’ll find it. We’ll find it or someone who can.”

“Thanks, but there are more important things. Things that matter.”

“You matter.“ I said what might have earned a laugh, especially if Boyband heard it, but it was sincere. She smiled. One of those rare genuine ones that lit up like violet light in a darkened world.

“Breaching her security wall now,” Ralia said.

Naoma’s gaze lingered. I savored it more than any touch I had felt in months.

We turned to Sanna as her skin began to flash, changing from a healthy bronze to the pale of someone who spent their life in a neuroset cave. Her hair faded from black to blonde. Her facial features adjusted to a nutrient deprived neurocrawler. This was not a cosmetic change, but the reveal of an entirely different person.

“Recognize her now?” Ralia asked, two of her eyes on us with the other two in the neuronet.

Boyband leaned over and glared. “No idea. The Sanna lady looked kind of familiar, more of one of those vanilla personalities that blends in with the rest of a school, but I think I would remember seeing a neuronet junkie like this. You got a name for her?”

“The old tricks aren’t working and my mod is still malfunctioning. Nay, you got some lumens to spare? I’ve got a guy who helped me with guk like this before I learned to work for myself.”

“Sure, I’ll send–”

“Oh, don’t worry, babe. I’ve got all the account details, I just needed your permission.”

“I–”

“At least I asked this time, right?”

“This time?”

“You’re hilarious, girl. Give me a sec.”

“Why didn’t you use this guy with that therapist?” Boyband asked.

“I asked him but he sent some obscene mindshows that I couldn’t prevent. We left each other on bad terms, if you plug?’

“You dated him?” I asked.

“Sure, something like that. I figured it was a dead end, but now that he’s had some time to cool off, I figure I should approach with lumens.”

“Why didn’t you just lead with that last time?” I asked.

“Pride?” she said, unsure of herself. “I figured I could fix the problem if I had enough time to think. That and you kinda broke the therapist’s system before I had time to think through another solution. Good move not killing this one yet, Kun. Just don’t let Pet or Nay get too close if she flips out again.”

“I–” Naoma started, but Ralia began another conversation.

“Parkie! How you doin’, du!”

“Is that the guy?” Boyband asked. She waved him off.

She continued with her usual enthusiasm, bringing smiles to our faces. “Look, du, I get that things happened, you know, but I’ve got a different offer.” She nodded. “Uh huh. Uh huh. I know. Look, I’m not asking for anything more than a quick job.” She paused. “Oh, so now you want some? No. Lumens, plain and simple. That’s it, no questions asked. Also, it’ll be virus encrypted on my end so your whole system’ll be zegged up if you even try to take any of this data elsewhere.“ She glared. “Ew, no… well… hit me up later and we can chat.“ She giggled. “Look, I know I should be better, but I’ve got a bug in my system. No, I don’t think you could fix it. That’s nothing on you, just the truth. I can’t find any source signal. Focus, Parkie. I’ve got this whole job ready for you. No searching or digging on your part, just a simple bypass. Like I said, I know what I’m doing, my wall-buster is just having its issues right now. Check this invoice. Think you can do that for a simple pass? Other favors, you know I’m down, babe, but I’m busy right now. You plug? Love you, Parkie.”

She breathed out in exasperation.