meadowlark | (no subject)

[ an implant ㅡ the concept isn't as foreign as it might be for some, but still carries with it some worrying implications. for one: when was it installed and how?

his eyes narrow: ]

Can we be tracked through it?

Yes, but not here. The safehouse is secure.

But not so secure that we didn't find our way into it.

[ the "we" in this case being everyone rescued from the transport. the source of El's concern becomes clearer. ]

We were lead here.

You wouldn't have gotten in without him, and your neural implant signals were being scrambled within a block of the warehouse. It's secure.

And when we leave?

[ or was that simply not a matter of concern? ]

We won't be able to let you leave until we've got that exact issue resolved.

[ — well, he's certainly overcome with relief. ]

Will you remove the implant?

What? No. You won't be able to do anything without it.

Explain.

Like it's that easy. I didn't exactly get a warning that I'd need to brush up on my 'explain a core basic part of your culture which you've never had to explain before' today.

Everyone has neural implants here. We get them when we're kids. If you didn't have one, you seriously wouldn't be able to do anything. Buy anything, read or watch anything, access buildings or cars, leave the city, more stuff that I can't even think of. You're going to stick out like a sore thumb with an unregistered implant, but not having one would be just as bad.

Honestly it's kind of lucky you've had them implanted, though I doubt whoever had it done was trying to be helpful.

[ now that was the ten million credit question, wasn't it? why go to such lengths to acquire them, to keep them sedated, if they didn't intend to make use of them. whatever that might mean. ]

I'll be sure to thank them the next time I see them.