Skolian Empire #02 - Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro

Author:Catherine Asaro [Asaro, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 0-8125-5023-4
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2008-02-29T23:00:00+00:00

IX

A Time To Weep

"Isn't it dangerous?" the cadet asked. She leaned forward at her console in the classroom. "The fiberoptics and biomech are foreign bodies. Doesn't your body reject them?"

The huge number of questions from the cadets had caught me by surprise. I was at the front of the hall, half sitting on the front edge of a desk while I answered the questions. Iaki had offered me a podium, but I felt more comfortable this way. And I did feel comfortable. I was enjoying the lecture.

"Most of the system is grown from my own genetic material," I said. "It's similar to having, say, a regenerated organ. So in that sense, it isn't really dangerous. Still, it's much more extensive. Not everyone's body will accept it."

A cadet farther back in the packed hall signaled. When I nodded, he said, "What if the fiberoptics malfunction?"

"The threads carry messages," I said. "Like nerves. If something goes wrong, they just don't carry any more messages."

"Can't your brain misinterpret their signals?" he asked.

"Possibly," I said. "But it could misinterpret signals from any part of my nervous system."

A woman next to him spoke. "What if something goes wrong with the person who has all these enhancements? Most times, if you surprise people—well, they just jump. But if we wire people to kill, don't we run the risk that if their mind malfunctions, their systems will too? An insane Jagernaut could do a lot amount of damage."

What the hell kind of dumb-assed question was that? "Our reflexes activate only if our lives are in danger. We're trained not to react in other situations." I glanced at the wall-timer above Char Iaki, who stood by the door. Iaki had made no move to stop the session even though we had gone twice as long as scheduled.

I turned back to the cadets. "We've been talking over two hours now. Time to quit."

A murmur of disappointment rolled over the hall. Then they started to clap. And they kept on doing it. I stood there at a loss for how to react. I wasn't used to people applauding for me. Usually either they wished I would go away or else they were Traders who wanted to kill me. Socially, all I seemed to do lately was annoy people.

But the cadets kept clapping. So I grinned.

As the cadets filed out of the hall, Char came over. "You fascinate them."

"I didn't expect so many questions."

He smiled. "It's not every day they get to talk to a marvel of biosynthetic technology."

I laughed. "Thanks. I think." His comment left me with the same odd feeling as the last question, as if I could malfunction like the engine in a flyer. I rubbed my neck, pushing my thumb over the socket there.

"Need a lift to the city?" Char asked. "I noticed you didn't bring a flycar this morning."

"Thanks. But no. The underground is fine." I actually hated the underground. This morning, when I had come down from my apartment to leave for JMI, I had stood looking at my flycar for almost five minutes trying to convince myself to get in.

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