From: nesiusra@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Keith)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Story: Chapter VII- Awakenings (Shadowrun Genre')
Summary: -a cyberwear refit for the Reflex-
Keywords: Story
Date: 7 Apr 92 19:34:39 GMT
Organization: Nemesis Biotechnical and Kronos Military Systems


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*                                                                             *
*  The following material has been inspired by the game scenarios played out  *
*  in Cary Quadrangle by a number of Shadowrun players.  All material should  *
*  be considered as entertainment value and game scenario inspiration.  I do  *
*  do hope you enjoy it...                                                    *
*                                                                             *
*  Jonathon K. Henry (Keith)   >>> the Reflex <<<                             *
*                                                                             *
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		--------------=====Awakenings=====-------------

  "Count System Time  *mark*"
  "He's awake?"
  "Yes, he's very much awake, or at least aware from this point of view."
  "How much is he aware of doctor?"
  "He 'hears' us now.  His -vision- should be coming around within a matter
   of moments."
  "Then what is the next step in the process?"
  "He will begin the staging of rehabilitation.  It should take a few
   days, but he'll adapt fast.  He's already cyberspace familiar, so the
   simulations should work well enough."

  "Who is that?"

  "Ah, hi there Mr. Arista.  You are responding, that's good.  How do you
   feel?"
  "Tired, and with a band sense of vertigo."
  "That is to be expected.  Hold on a second, you'll be getting the variable
   simulation feed.... NOW!"


     Color-Lights-Actions-Sounds-Smells-Breathing-=LIFE=-

  "Now how do you feel Johnny?"
  "Much Better."

     It was the sun.  I don't know how to express the feeling that I had at
  that moment.  It was like a dream that I couldn't wake up from.  It was
  both exhilarating and scary at the same time.  All around was life at its
  fullest.  The moment seemed to be trapped in a piece of eternity.  I could
  see the mountains all around me, their peaks capped with blinding snow
  cover.  Great forests of evergreen and spruce blanketed out before me.  In
  the distance, I could see the Nemesis Arcology rising like a crystal spyre
  out of a primeval land.

  "How do you like it?"
  "Its, its- gorgeous.  Where is this?  How come I'm not cold?"
  "This isn't the real world, and its not a dreaming one either, though I
   guess that could be debatable.  You are inside the Nemesis Rehabilitation
   Computer Network."
  "THIS is a Scultped System?"
  "Yes, and one of the best ones to be known.  It was actually created for
   people like yourself for the process of Psychiatric Review.  After a 
   surgery like you just underwent, its necessary that the patient is brought
   to a state of -mental awareness- as soon as possible.  We need to know if
   he, in this case you, survived with your mind in tact."
  "Am I -Naked- then?"
  "In a sense, I suppose so.  We are using your BASE program carriers that
   you possessed when you entered the Arcology.  They are helping us to
   monitor your response level and general condition."
  "Who, and where, are you?"
  "Turn around."

     The person (Icon?) that was behind me was a person of not so outspoken
  build (design?).  He seemed to be dressed in a calm sort of attire that
  spoke of native amerindian background.  He had a staff of sorts that was
  decorated with all sorts of objects (fetishes?).

  "Who are you?"
  "I am known as Shaman, here in the Arcology?"

     Shaman, rather THE Shaman.  I had heard of him in Seattle AND the 
  SS Council also.

  "I had heard you were just a myth."
  "Well, if you had, then I guess I could be.  But for now, consider me the
   myth who's pulling YOUR strings."
  Gulp "Good Point.  Hey wait-a-minute, where are the rest of the guys who
   are supposed to be watching over me."
  "Right here."
  "Where?"
  "We're here Reflex, we just don't have the cybergear necessary for the
   direct access.  Go with Shaman, he'll take you to a place that you can
   watch/see us."

     I followed the guy then.  We walked down the path towards the wall of
  one of the forests on the side of the mountain.  We found a break in its
  walls, then proceeded into a place that almost as dark as the original
  clearing had been bright.  There were sounds of all sorts of things around
  us, and I kept getting the feeling that I was being followed, though 
  nothing ever made itself apparent.  After a short while (no time?) we
  came clear of the forest and were at the edge of a small stream that flowed
  out from the side of a hill.  There, I noticed a very clear reflective 
  surface on the waterfall.  Within its boundaries, I noticed a few people
  looking outward.

  "See, there you are, and here we are."
  "Duey, is that you?"
  "Yep, is the resolution not good enough?"
  "I guess so, I just never saw you in a lab coat before."
  "Ahh, yeah well this is business, so we have to at least LOOK the part."
  "How are things?  How long have I been asleep?"
  "Things are ok, the CAS and Aztlan are really beginning to go at it.  And
   have been out of it for about 32 days now."
  "32 Days?!?  Wow, I bet the guys would be jealous."
  "I'm sure they would too."
  "Whats that in the background?"
  "That BIG blue thing?"
  "Yeah, that's it."
  "Thats you, my friend.  Care for a closer look?"
  "Uhh, yeah I guess so, sure.  Why the hell not?"
  "Shaman, go to access 7."
  "Got it."

     We were gone suddenly.  Shaman had taken my arm and lifted us both high
  into the sky.  Then suddenly we were flying towards a lake at the end of 
  stream we had been at.  It was then that I noticed something odd about the
  sky.  It was moving, as if it was the surface of a lake with a breeze
  blowing across it.

  "What gives with the sky?"
  "They Sky?  OH, you mean the aquarial effect?"
  "The what?"
  "Liquid Sky, sort of a -moving water- appearance."
  "Yeah, I guess so.  What gives?"
  "Its the effect of the Master System."
  "Is it like that in all the system nodes?"
  "Yep, Storm has his fingers in everything."
  "Storm."
  "Oh, sorry about that Johnny.  I can't really go into depth there."
  "Yeah, sure."
  "Well here we are."

     We had arrived at the lakes' edge.  It surface was nearly glass-like in
  every detail.  Shaman started singing suddenly, and a breeze picked up. 
  Then, on the now patterned surface, Duey's smiling face re-appeared.

  "Hi again Reflex, can you see me?"
  "Yep, how are you moving, and why is the camera looking down at ya as it
   moves."
  "Reflex, I'd like you to meet someone, someone you have already met at
   one time."
  "Who?"
  "Hello Reflex.  How do you feel today?"
  "Rahne, is that you?"
  "Yes Mr. Arista.  I have been permanently re-assigned to the Biotechnical
   Division."
  "They assign you places?"
  "Yes, this way units such as myself can become more systemized to particular
   sections of the Arcology."
  "So Reflex, what do you think of yourself?"
  "What?  Oh wow?"

     The image that suddenly appeared in the lake was really sick to me all
  at once.  I could see through the plexiglass of the tank, and what it
  contained was a humanoid.  And I knew that humanoid.  It was me, or what
  was becoming me.

  "Wow, what happened?"
  "A masterpiece of medicine, thats what happened my boy."
  "But why am I all cut up?  And why don't I feel all that pain right now?"
  "Depressant drugs, Stimulation sorcery and a Ritual Hibernate spell.
   Although the last is slightly modified so as to not slow down the mental
   processes themselves."
  "Why do I look so big?"
  "As I said, we were going to be restimulating your Adrenal and Hyper-
   thalumus regions of the central nervous system.  In effect, we are rapidly
   aging you under controlled conditions."
  "You can do that?"
  "Yes, its not all that hard.  The reverse is what is difficult."
  "I still can't believe that's me.  The wires from the head and, I hope thats
   an arm, are my integration into the network?"
  "Yep, Rahne, move over towards the biorhythm monitors.  He should recognize
   something."
  "Hey, I do.  Thats my new deck."
  "Yes Reflex, Dr. Donronovan had the device incorporated into the network's
   already existing system so as to more readily enhance your rehabilition
   process."
  "Hey Rahne, can he hear you if you say something?"
  "No, but he can hear you."
  "oh-"
  "Its Ok boy, i'll give you your privacy, hey Shaman, give the lad about 10
   with the unit."
  "Understood Duey."

  Double clicks and cricket-like whistles later-

  "Rahne."
  "Yes Reflex."
  "Who is Storm?"
  "Storm Reflex?"
  "Yes, Shaman mentioned him."
  "Storm is not a topic I am clarified to speak with you on.  I am sorry
   Reflex."
  "Then what is he?"
  "He is Reflex.  He simply is."
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