Voices in the Stream: Phase 02 (The Eighteenth Shadow) by Grafton Jon Lee

Author:Grafton, Jon Lee [Grafton, Jon Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cyborg, cyborgs, cyberpunk, surveillance society, hologram, hovercraft, drug war, future war, prohibition, mind control, telepathy, marijuana, Kansas, Lawrence KS, cyber war, artificial intelligence, AI, drug smuggling, moonshine, free speech
Publisher: Jon Lee Grafton Books
Published: 2017-03-06T23:00:00+00:00

March 2081 – One Year Seven Months Before Event.

“The whole thing stinks,” said William, spinning in the control chair.

The dolphin’s voice was steady and reassuring, “The individual known as Virgil Benedict is twenty years of age, born in Olathe, Kansas, on January 13, 2061. Facial recognition results adjusted for surgical rebranding: negative. Standard subdermal combud frequency of 5,900 MHz, Ipv7 address 2071:db9:7:3137:9:567:4:2 locked and mirrored for the last 389 days. This individual is an alcohol consumer who publicly supports decriminalization, while simultaneously functioning as a low level CNED informant. However, for those 389 days, his reports have been made to me. Virgil Benedict is psychologically unstable. His original assignment, as directed by CNED, was to gather intel on potential campus recidivists freshly discharged from Greystone Behavioral Modification Hospital. This led to him establishing a friendship with Spencer Robert Hotshine.”

“This boy needs a swift kick in the dick,” said William. “Who the hell is Spencer Hotshine?”

“Spencer Robert Hotshine is a custodian at Greystone Behavioral Modification Hospital. His hovcar was stolen by Tara Dean the night of her escape from that facility.”

Dax Abner’s eyebrows raised in silent question. William looked at the refracting dance of light and shadow emanating from Joan’s habitat across the cement floor.

He scratched his sideburns, “Anything adverse on Hotshine, Joan? Aside from being Tara’s patsy?”

“Negative. Spencer Robert Hotshine is unknowingly the subject of random CNED surveillance due to his involvement in the Greystone incident. Aside from this, he has no white associations. He and Virgil Benedict are frequent black market alcohol consumers.”

After a few seconds, William looked at Dax, “Could be good. Both these ninnies are chipped. If we can get to Hotshine through Virgil, we’ll have a plug inside the county’s biggest slaughterhouse. But do we need that?”

“I’ve told you some things about my mother,” Dax said morosely.

“You told me she’s how this all got started, that she died for the cause.”

“Yes,” said Dax, tenting his fingers. “Like each of us, she had a particular gift, an uncanny ability to accurately predict the future. It’s how she made her fortune.”

“Dope,” said William.

“Dope indeed.” Dax’s eyes drifted to the glass aquarium wall, “She told me to find the poet. What were her specific words, Joan?”

“Your mother’s exact words were: Find the broken baby. Find the white poet. If he survives a year, bring him closer. He is the catalyst, the final Firstcity component…” said Joan, pectoral fins undulating steadily as she floated.

Dax turned his gaze to William, “So, that is why. Mother has been right about everything else. Trust me, I’m not selecting morons at random.”

William’s eyes narrowed, “I still don’t like it. We let him know where The Lady is, all your patrons are at risk. Let alone us. What if he decides to report to CNED in person one day?”

“He won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“I can be fairly persuasive when pressed,” said Dax. “Not to mention Joan’s sway over the boy.”

“Virgil Benedict is under strict orders to report only via encrypted holoconference. He believes his contact is a high level Lawrence CNED agent named Bubba Sparks,” said Joan.

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