5 – The Spotlight

Iris smiled at Addie as she approached and quickly offered her a handshake. "I'm glad I drew your appointment today."

Addie hadn't seen the woman since she'd tested for tier nine, but she felt instantly at ease as she shook her hand—warm and slender, with a carefully firm grip. "I'm happy, too. I've been stressing out about this practical all day. Well, longer than that. Ever since Shepherd told me about the process."

"Shepherd? That's your partner, right? I think I evaluated him for tier eight. He's here today, yeah? I think Leon pulled him."

"You know, I think he mentioned you last time." Addie looked left and right at the two closed doors. "Are these testing rooms?"

Iris nodded, gesturing to Addie's left. "Go on in, and I'll explain things to you."

Addie touched the door pad, and it slid open. Then she stepped into a small room set up to resemble a waiting room. Chairs lined the walls, and a table sat in the corner, low to the ground and covered with colorful building blocks. Addie saw a dark window in the far wall with a closed door beside it. She looked at Iris. "Am I going to have to wait here for a while? I mean, I thought the waiting room was back—"

Iris smiled, shaking her head so her loose brown ponytail bobbed left and right. "No, no. This is part of the scenario."

"Scenario?"

"Yep. You'll be infiltrating a family doctor's clinic. You see, your client is requesting a copy of the data stored on the doctor's bio-scanning array." Iris walked over to a black metal cabinet affixed to the rear wall. She punched in a code, and the door clicked, allowing her to pull open the cabinet. A moment later, she walked over to Addie, holding out a small, pinky-sized data drive.

Addie took it. "What's this?"

"Your client gave you that. It contains a data worm program. If you plug it into the doctor's bio-scanner, it'll slip through the ICE and download the files. It's supposed to work within thirty seconds, but your client said it could take up to three minutes. Plan accordingly."

"Um, plan?"

Iris nodded. "You'll have up to an hour to prepare, though you're not allowed to leave this room. You can assume that you've conducted an investigation into the clinic and the doctor. Your premise for being here today is that you are a potential client. Your name is Ronda Felt, and you're here to meet the doctor and evaluate whether he's right for you and your son, Johnny. I can provide you with information that you might reasonably expect to have gathered in your investigation. I can also choose to fulfill requests if you need common items or equipment to make your plan work."

Addie licked her lips, looking around the little waiting room. "I have an hour to plan a heist? By myself?"

Iris smiled. "I'm here. Think of me as an office assistant… or, maybe a limited PAI."

Addie folded her arms, and her left thumb found its way to her lips. Unconsciously, she began to worry at the nail with her teeth. It was a habit she'd thought she'd conquered, but lately had been rearing its ugly head. If Iris was allowed to help like an assistant, that meant Addie could ask her questions…

Addie looked up, locking her eyes on Iris's soft, brown ones. "When does the timer start?"

"As soon as you begin. When you're ready, just say so."

Addie nodded. "Okay, I'm ready."

Iris flicked her pointer finger toward Addie, and an element danced onto her AUI. It was a countdown timer, and it currently read: 59:54. "That's how much planning time you have. After it runs out, you'll have twenty minutes to complete the mission."

"All right." Addie moved the countdown to the upper right-hand corner of her field of view, then looked at Iris. "Do I have a layout or blueprint of the office?"

She nodded. "Yes, your client provided this map." Again, she flicked her finger Addie's way, and JJ took hold of the transmission, updating her mini-map with it. Addie expanded the map, smiling as she saw the simple nature of the office layout. If she went through the door, she'd pass the reception desk, then two exam offices, and, all the way to the back, she'd find an office-sized room labeled "Scanning."

"How many employees are working in the office today?"

"Four: the doctor, his two medical assistants, and the receptionist."

"Any synths?"

"Well"—Iris tilted her head at her— "I mean, you understand all the characters in the scenario will be played by synths, right?"

"I mean, I know that, but Shepherd always asks if there are synths, because sometimes clients or fixers don't think to include them in the employee count."

"That's smart, actually." Iris nodded, and her gaze unfocused momentarily. "Taking a note here. Anyway, no, there won't be any additional synths."

Addie gently tapped her chin. "Do I know how many cameras or security arrays are in the office?"

"You had an associate pose as a client here with their child. They were able to spot two devices: one in the waiting room and one in the hallway. They're noted on your map with a red C." She flicked her fingers again, and JJ updated her map.

Addie looked at the map, frowning. Could it really be this easy? She tried to imagine doing the job without her Dust talents, and suddenly it didn't seem easy at all. Still, she hesitated. Was she really allowed to fade? Surely, they'd say she was cheating and make her redo it. Would they even let her redo it? Maybe they'd just keep her application fee and make her reapply after paying again. That's what Tony said happened if you failed, right?

"Something you want to ask me, Ember?" Iris's eyes looked concerned, and Addie forced a smile, pushing her spiraling thoughts to the back of her mind.

"Actually, I was just wondering if any of my talents are off-limits? Are there any rules about how this needs to be completed?"

Iris shook her head. "Anything you could conceivably use on a job like this is allowed. No explosives, though!" She laughed, but when Addie's expression didn't change, she added, "If you're wondering about violence, the synthetics in the scenario are designed to mimic civilian responses to your actions. Oh!" Iris held up her finger, and Addie's countdown timer froze. "I forgot!" She hurried over to the cabinet and opened a plastic case. When she turned, she held a compact little pistol.

"A gun?"

"I'm supposed to have you check any firearms with me. You can use this during the scenario; it's a needler with specialized ammo. It will, um, let the synths know they've been shot without actually harming them."

Addie waved her hand. "It's fine. I won't need a weapon." She opened her coat and drew her shiny, chromed-out needler from her waistband. "Here, you can hold this."

Iris took the weapon, raising an eyebrow. "Pretty!"

Addie smiled. "It's really nice to shoot, too."

"Yoshida?" Iris asked, peering at the little red maker's mark stamped into the iridescent, silvery coating just above the black, spongy grip. "I don't think I've heard of that brand."

"Let's just say you won't find many Yoshida weapons in the Blast. You should look 'em up." Addie rolled her finger. "You can start the clock." The countdown on her AUI started up, but Addie shook her head. "No, I mean the other clock. I'm ready to start."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Iris lowered the pistol, holding it at her side, finger well away from the trigger. "You're done planning?"

Addie grinned as she sat down in the nearest plastic chair. "Yep."

Iris raised an eyebrow, but didn't protest further. She backed to the far corner, sat down in a chair, and said, "Commence scenario."

The lights brightened slightly, and the dark glass obscuring the receptionist's station clarified, revealing a small office and a synth sitting at a desk. The synth had pastel-blue, rubberized flesh and wore a neat, neutral-toned business suit. Its face was simple, featuring a smile-shaped speaker, a black, painted-on nose, and eyes that were clusters of soft, white LEDs. Addie stood and approached the window.

"How may I help, Mrs. Felt?"

"I wanted to make sure I signed in."

"You certainly did! The doctor will be with you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable." The synth had a pleasant southern twang in its feminine voice, and Addie felt at odds with herself for finding it comforting. She moved back to her seat and sat, glancing nervously at Iris, who watched her with rapt attention.

Addie folded her arms and stared at the door beside the reception window. Of course, she could fade right then and there, but she had to assume a security AI would be monitoring the camera. The AI would have limited intelligence, much less than a good PAI like JJ or Nora, but clever enough in security-related matters—for instance, a patient suddenly disappearing or reappearing.

The door opened, and another synth, similar to the one at reception, but wearing nurse's scrubs, peered out. "Ronda?"

Addie stood and walked to the door. "Hello."

"Hi there, hon. Sorry for the wait. Just follow me, okay? Right here into screening room one." She gestured to the first door on the right, and Addie went inside. She sat down in the little patient lounge and watched as the "medical assistant," sat on a small, rolling stool. "I'll just get your vitals before the doctor comes in. He's a little backed up, but he won't keep you waiting long."

Addie sat through the brief role-play of the synth taking her blood pressure, pressing a small device into the crook of her arm, the side of her neck, and against her forehead. After it beeped each time, the synth walked to the door. "Please wait here; the doctor will be with you shortly."

"Will do." Addie watched the door swing shut, and then she faded; she'd already built the Dust pattern while the Synth had been measuring her vitals. As soon as the world shifted to blues and grays, she stood and walked through the wall, angling herself into the hallway. She marched straight past the other screening rooms, past another synth, and then walked through the wall to the imaging room.

Only a single security light shone in the space, but in the strange blue tones of the veil, Addie could see clearly enough. The imaging machine was on the right side of the room, and the little deck mounted to the wall that controlled it was positioned behind it. She scanned the ceiling and corners, spotting another camera on the opposite wall.

Smiling, she walked over to the machine, passing through it so that she could easily reach the deck. She grasped the little data drive Iris had given her between her thumb and forefinger, then reached up, positioning the deck right above the data port. Then, as she'd been practicing every night before falling asleep, she peeled back the web of Dust that stretched from her fingers to the drive, exposing the tiny plastic prong to the material world.

Nobody was there to see it, though, and she was out of view of the camera, so Addie pressed it into the slot and watched its tiny display as a flickering yellow LED appeared. Ten seconds passed, then thirty. Addie held her breath, hoping she wasn't blowing the mission, hoping the doctor hadn't come to speak to her yet. After a minute, the tiny blinking yellow light on the drive shifted to a steady green. Addie pulled the drive out and reapplied her Dust to it, pulling it into the veil with her.

Victory in the grasp of her hand, she took big steps out of the room, walked through the wall, and immediately up the hallway. Two synths were standing outside her screening room, so she broke into a jog and passed right through them and the door. Inside, she hastily pulled her Dust back into her reactor, and the vivid colors and sounds of the material world came rushing back.

A soft knock sounded on the door, but before she could react, the synthetic doctor pushed it open and poked his head around. "Hey there! Ronda, right? Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"Um, I didn't wait long…" Addie turned, trying to act nonchalant about standing in the middle of the room.

"Right, right. Well, I'm Doctor Lamont." The synth extended its hand, stepping closer. Addie started to reach for it, then realized she was still holding the drive. Instead, she stepped back, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Doctor, but I have a phobia about handshakes." She stuck her hands in her pockets for good measure.

"Of course! Not a problem. Shall we sit down and go over your health hist—"

"Actually, no. I'm afraid I have to leave. An important call just came through, and I have to take a meeting. It's for work, you see. I can't get out of it." Addie started for the door, and the synth moved out of her way.

"You understand, with such late notice, we'll need to charge you for the appointment."

Addie pulled the door open and smiled. "That's fine—totally understandable." She nodded to another passing synth—the medical assistant from earlier—then walked to the door marked "Exit."

When she entered the waiting room, Iris was watching, her head tilted, and wearing a small sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry about that, Ember. I think you should have done a bit more planning. I had other things I was allowed to tell you, and there's a long list of available equipment…" She trailed off, eyes widening as Addie held up the drive with its steady green light.

"I think this was what I needed to get, yeah?"

"B-but how?" Iris reached out and grabbed the drive even as her eyes unfocused. "I just checked! You did it! You downloaded the data? But I never saw you leave the room! You have a netjack chip, maybe… But, no—that wouldn't work. The scanner is air-gapped." She looked at Addie with searching eyes. "A tiny drone? But the scanning room is sealed—even the AC. I would have seen it if you drilled the door or wall—an acceptable tactic, but most people just convince the doctor they need a scan—"

"Iris!" Addie laughed. Somehow, she'd managed to pull off her fade without the SOA even knowing she'd done it. She knew that in a way it would be smart just to be mysterious. She could tell Iris it was a trade secret, but she didn't know if Iris would pass her if she didn't reveal how she'd completed the practical. Otherwise, she might be cheating, right? She told herself that was why she had decided to tell her, but she knew it was a lie.

The truth was that Addie wanted to show off. She wanted to share her secret with someone, and she liked Iris. So, she held out her hand, palm-up, and sent a twist of dust into it, making a small blue flame that danced around on her palm. "See?" she whispered, smiling as Iris's eyes continued to widen and her lips spread into a smile of wonder.

"You're a spark!" she breathed, respecting Addie's decision to whisper.

Addie nodded. "Can we not share that with others, though?"

Iris licked her lips and nodded rapidly. "Not a problem, Ember! I wish I could have seen what you did, though! Was it spectacular?"

Addie shook her hand, pulling the Dust back to extinguish the blue flame. Then she pointed to the drive still in Iris's hand. "You tell me. How many people have done that job faster than me?"

Iris laughed, shaking her head. "None! Jeez, Ember! I bet you could pass a tier-one practical!"

Addie returned the laugh. "You're silly. Even Shepherd's not that optimistic. Besides, he told me you have to start worrying about them accounting for sparks by around tier three or so."

Iris reached up to fidget with the top button of her blouse, tilting her head. "Maybe…" She shrugged. "I really don't know. I've worked in District Seventeen my entire career, and we've never had anyone above tier-five in this office. I mean, as a client. We've had visits from the main New York office, and the bigwigs there have agents who are high-tier." She shrugged again, then grabbed Addie's wrist. "Do you think you'll test for tier five soon?"

Addie felt like laughing at her enthusiasm, but she tried to keep a straight face as she shook her head. "I don't know! It's up to Shepherd and our bit-vault!" She wasn't joking; between her and Tony, they'd shelled out eight thousand bits to apply for tier six, and tier five would cost them more than twice that amount.

"Well, you should have a say, too." Iris hastily released her wrist, looking down, perhaps a bit embarrassed by her enthusiasm.

Addie smiled, trying to show she wasn't offended. "You don't have to worry about that. Shepherd lets me call the shots whenever I want." She turned and scanned the seats near the door. "Where's my pistol?"

"Oh!" Iris hurried over to the cabinet and pulled it open. She retrieved Addie's shiny needler from within and brought it over. When Addie had re-holstered it, Iris said, "I read about that manufacturer. That gun's something special—a Slim 99-A. I saw a bunch of enthusiasts' posts looking for one on City Net. They only made 2111 99-As. Did you know that?"

Addie shook her head, unconsciously putting her hand up under her coat, resting her palm on the gun's grip.

"Yeah, they did a limited run in 2111 to celebrate the year. I guess the company turned fifty. After that, they only produced the 99-B model, which lacks the custom, high-performance trigger and the nano-molecular, self-repairing barrel."

"Huh," Addie said, feeling the tension building between them for some reason.

Iris blew out a pent-up breath, though, and as she relaxed, so did Addie. "I wanted to look up yours, you know, curious about what hands it might have passed through since it came off the line. I'm kind of a nerd about those kinds of things. Anyway, yours is missing the serial number." She shrugged. "Pretty common in SOA circles."

Addie winked at her and shrugged. "We value our privacy, you know?"

"Yep." Iris opened the door and gestured to the hallway. "Hey, I was asking you about tier five because I was hoping you'd make your appointment with me when the time comes."

Addie followed her into the hall, nodding. She felt good about Iris; she didn't think the woman had anything against her, so she didn't hesitate to say, "Yeah, sure. I'll request you when I sign up."

"That's great!" Iris started walking, waving for her to follow. "Come on, your partner's been waiting a while." She looked at Addie and held her finger to her lips. "I'm not supposed to talk about other testers, but I don't mind saying that Shepherd set a record on the shooting exam they gave him."

Addie clicked her tongue and shook her head as she chuckled. "That guy! He's never content outside the spotlight!"

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