IoT Noir: Digital Remediation
Temptation
Dawn enters the gym as Ninan is working on coordination issues with his cyber appendages. “How is the muscle re-innervation working after the injury and surgeries?”
Ninan responds, “You know about TMR, targeted muscle re-innervation?”
She looks at the tablet showing the diagnostics being collected as Ninan does controlled movements with his arm, hand and leg. “Yes, been studying up since we took residence at the clinic. Surgery attaches the cyber control leads to nerves which once controlled your residual limb. Your brain then naturally learns to control and make better use of a prosthetic replacement. You were an early candidate and helped establish the success expectations of the procedure. But that tech is over a decade old now. My understanding is that new approaches are available?”
“So I’ve read in the literature. I keep up with it. I have a vested interest.” He smiles.
“What about this new back-scatter brain technology?” asks Dawn. “It’s being used in humans now.”
“That I had not heard.”
“They have a brochure on it here at the clinic. People claim extremely detailed control commands can be executed and there is a reverse path for feeling, touch, temperature, pseudo pain, from the cyber sensors direct to the brain receptors. The feedback loop helps fine-grained control. It is faster, too, bypassing the nervous system.”
“Interesting, but I’m not up for more upgrades just now. I’m comfortable in the skin I have.”
“I asked Nightingale. She has the facility for the operation here. She has used it to restore function in some badly burned patients and a quadriplegic. And others. If you ask, I’m sure she would consider a fitness consultation. At least you would know if the option exists for you.”
“Tempting, but let me get well from this injury first. And then I need to escort Kiko-Lyn home. I’ll consider it when everything is stable.”
He thinks, Nightingale didn’t pipe in. She always listens and speaks when her issues are raised. What is going on here?
Enhanced Negotiation
Over supper, Dawn speaks privately to Kiko-Lyn. “Chinua believes that with the Arbitration declared and the remedial actions underway, Jonathon will pull his bounty hunter teams by next week. It should then be safe for us to go.”
“I don’t understand why we can’t just leave now,” responds Kiko-Lyn.
“The Arbitration is not firm until all the provisions have been enacted by both sides.”
“It makes no mention about keeping us here, Dawn. Something more is going on.”
“Chinua thinks we’re still at risk until the arbitration provisions are all met. Leaving safely depends on Jonathon’s withdrawing his search teams. They are still active.”
“And my Aunt agreeing to your demands.”
“I have no demands. They are not my demands. Hell Kiko-Lyn, I’m stuck here just like you.” Dawn puts down her chopsticks. “Peace?” Dramatically, she takes in and lets out a big breath.
Kiko-Lyn responds with a stiff head nod.
“There is something else. Have you ever considered what it means to be an enhanced being?” asks Dawn.
Kiko-Lyn, “You mean like Nightingale and Chinua? I just can’t wrap my head around that. I don’t suppose they even have a sense of self that corresponds to ours.”
Dawn fingers the lump at the back of her neck thinking, this for now must remain secret. “You might be surprised. Their awareness is not that different from ours. Anyway, that was not what I was talking about. Have you considered what his enhancements are like for Ninan? Do you suppose he curses his cyber limbs? Is he happy leading as normal a life as he can?”
Wistfully, “I know he seems pretty distracted.” Then Kiko-Lyn turns earnest. “When I visit his recovery room, we talk. I can see he is resigned to the pain. He spoke of how he became horribly injured as a child and was lucky to get the bio-mechanical replacements. He is proud of how he has adapted to them and what he can do.” She chuckles, “For shit, girl, he was like amazing getting me out of Jonathon’s lair.” Dawn raises an eyebrow, then nods her head in agreement. Kiko-Lyn pauses, looking inward. “But I’m not sure he likes where he is now. What he does for a living. And I suspect there is some sort of constant tingling and low-level pain. He won’t acknowledge it and it doesn’t depress him. I certainly don’t envy him.
Kiko-Lyn shakes it off, “The thought of mixing wetware with bio-mechanics makes me queasy. I would never adopt a mod. But ok with it in others.”
“My assessment of Ninan’s feelings is similar to yours; somewhat anyway.” Dawn rotates her hand back and forth. “What those European doctors did to correct Ninan’s injuries is clearly ethical, but its impact on him is more problematical. I know Chinua wants to evaluate him and will offer contract work. That offer would extend to you if you team with him. That’s another good reason for you to stay here a bit longer.”
Kiko-Lyn shakes her head. “That’s very interesting but I need to get home now to digest all that has happened. I need to finish college to set up my career in engineering. Mind, I’m already a good inventor and I do like to play with my creations. So we’ll see. I’ve got some ideas for improving Ninan.”
Dawn grabs Kiko-Lyn’s hands and looks intently into her eyes. “Kiko-Lyn, listen. When I started talking about enhanced beings, I wasn’t speaking just about cyborg enhancements. Nightingale has results from the checkup and stress test she did after your time in captivity. She included a genetic workup.” Dawn draws in a breath, “Based on her discoveries, she felt compelled to remotely access your past medical files, and your mother’s also. I’m going to just straight out say this. Kiko-Lyn, you are an enhanced human.”
“What? No way!”
