If you want the chip-truth, this used to freak me the fuck out. Not that it happened all that often, not ’til Talon found me for the first time and started to train me.  Frack, I’m still  amazed she didn’t skrag my ass the first time we met with what I tried. I still laugh about it sometimes.  Well, kind of.  It was really the only magic I knew then, and well, I was hungry.

Anyway, coastin’ in the astral is what I meant.  Silly word, that, though, aether sounds cooler, and besides, I’m pretty sure it interfaces with dreamers sometimes too.  I ain’t no expert.  Talon’s taught me there’s different ways, and different beings, that can get here.  I used to do it by accident, I guess.  It’s all about centering.   Normally, I need to take a minute and settle into a short chant to do it.  Talon can just jump in,, she says the more you practice, the easier.  I don’t know, guess I’m just not thrilled with being here all the time.   But sometimes, like now, I can get here when perfectly relaxed, maybe perfectly sated?  I don’t know, but it’s how it used to happen on accident too, which I used to think was a dream.

Its peaceful, but dangerous in the wrong areas.  Been a long time though since I was here because of this…..peace, I guess.   It’s really quite beautiful to watch, the energies flowing between our two bodies as she sleeps in my arms.  Transacts never work this way, I don’t know, hard to explain.  The auras mixing, in my mind I can see her ebony body overlapping my pale skin, aulluring.  Not really sure how anyone can chop off parts of their soul to get those implants.  Guess they don’t know what they are missing.

I jump to the top of the building in a thought.  There’s a few spirits around, but they are obviously security for the resort.  Some awakened folks too, you can tell by the power of the auras.  Or at least I think you can.  I’m still not great at reading them.  I jump to Maveriq’s room first.  Sleeping peacefully, but I can see the leaking aura where the implants are.  They all just had them done today I guess, taking advantage of that cursed discount from our first job, as reward for escaping the horrors of the CZ.

I jump to the other rooms.   Not much point in telling the team that I’m checking on them They wanted to get carved while we were being waited on hand and foot, at least for a couple days.  Personally, I enjoyed the scenery but, whatever.  Still, with the drugs and pain and adaptation, well, seems likes a check was warranted.

I land in Sateen’s room last, since its on my way back.  Especially after the first night. Can’t really tell on this plane that the glass door is new.  Scared the drek out of me when it happened.  I probably only heard it because Patricia had just left the room, and of course its right across the hall.

Since we’d just come out of the CZ, I’d scrambled across the hall then.  With a gun even, which is kind of stunning. Wesley came up too and practically ripped the door off it’s hinges.    When we went in, we found her crying, staring at the shattered glass of the balcony window.  Wesley looked at me, then walked out.  I still shake my head at that.  I’m pretty good at reading people, and pretty much knew that my style of comfort was the wrong kind at that point.  I’m not even sure what I said as I sat down next to her, but it was enough to prompt the story about her husband and kid.  Who the fuck knew she had a kid.  I was shocked and only partially listening as she told me they had gotten scragged in the fucking CZ.  I guess he would have been about my age, assuming I’m right about how old I am.  I mean, I knew she was kind of old, but didn’t know she was that old.  I re-learned that comfort comes in all styles, I must have been good enough last night.  I’ve certainly held enough people as they cried themselves to sleep, generally after slotting, or maybe their failed version of intoxicated docking.  Wesley eventually came back in and slept on the floor until the morning and the repairs could be made.

Definitely a wigly night.  Tough as nails Sateen had a family, once.  Guess it makes sense, maybe.  I mean I’m sure she wasn’t lying, the emotes were too raw.  I’m not really sure what that does to a person, I mean, not really, I guess.  Carlos and the girls and I were together for several years, but I still have hope that they are alive at least, some.  Maybe its wishful thinking.  Maybe I have hope, I don’t know.  But I never had a kid obviously. Nor parents, not that I remember.

I don’t know.  As I watch her restless sleeping, I can see the essence drifting away.  Maybe she want’s it that way.  Maybe they all want it that way.  Which is too bad really, I know its only been a few weeks, but its already been better than most of the last five years. Horrific and terrifying at times, and the money’s good, but that’s not all of it.

Whatever it is, I drift back to my body and awaken in perfect timing, because Patricia is stirring, and its time to seek that peaceful centering again.  I slide down and brush her lips with mine, and the her smile is all the encouragement I need.