Organic Programming: Ripples

ALC wants to call this 'Compiler Errors' but they also want to save that for something closer to Kirra. 
==Don't Think==
Jackson doesn't think.
Doesn't think about bad Drifts.
(Was bad enough the time he /slip-slid off Logan, woke up with all the Drift nerds staring down at him and chucked on someone's sensibles.)
Doesn't think about losing enough blood to soak through two wool jumpers after one.
Doesn't think about brain damage.
(Doesn’t matter how many transfusions they do, nothing can replace liquefied brain matter.)
Doesn’t think about eyeballs floating in their sockets.
(Doesn’t matter if she’s dead, idiot had it coming, so sure she was better than everyone.)
Doesn’t think about the silk of a long, black braid in his hand, brushing against his arm as he runs.
Does think about the silk of a twenty-five thousand dollar dress against his skin in a lift in Hong Kong and Jackson cringes internally so hard he can feel himself shriveling and knows everyone on the face of the planet can see how utterly humiliated he is and if he could die, like, right now and save himself having to remember in excruciating detail how it felt between her legs as she towered over him, glowing like a sun and firelight in axinite and he’s pretty sure he’s going to die all over again.
And then there's no air in his lungs and he's flat on his back blinking up at Tank's tattooed mug trying desperately to remember just what the hell he was—
"Get your head in the fight before I take it off your shoulders," Tank growls.
Oh.
Tank offers a hand up.
Jackson scoffs, shoves to his feet, rolls his shoulders and neck.
Tank steps close—way close—whispers low in his ear, "I know you're upset about Darling's transfer—"
Jackson bristles.
"—but being this distracted'll get you killed."
"I can take care 'a myself," grumbles Jackson.
"Prove it, stringbean."
Jackson sniffs, steps back into a low guard.
Tank approves with a head bob and takes his place.
(Originally edited by Pickleplum 22:54, December 30, 2015)
==Flashback==
From "Bounce"
The techs in the Jaeger sim hear a distant commotion--
Ranger Jones (the older)'s voice cuts through--
A tech's hand snaps to their walkie talkie--
Angry--panicked--scared?
The chief assesses, shakes their head, prying their own hand from their radio.
The techs exhale, resume running diagnostics.
==Drifting from the Rumour Mill==
(December)
"Yo," greets Chantell. 
Logan grunts. 
"Hey," says Jackson. 
"Figured you should hear this straight from Authority 'stead of through the rumour mill." She hands Jackson her tablet. 
"'Unauthorized' ... They fucking—they're grounded now, ay?" 
"Keep reading," drawls Chantell. 
"So she's fine." 
"Her brain's intact," corrects Chantell. "I wouldn't say Yeung's /fine, exactly—I don't think she ever was or it's a cultural thing that I don't get." 
"They got a fucking slap on the wrist?!"
"That they did."
"They fucking—they could've—"
"Turns out the only thing stopping Fred Nerks from hooking everyone and their dog up with a Pons is common sense." Chantell looks at him with a bitter smile. 
Jackson looks at the tablet again, lip curling, then slings it across the space and stomps to his room.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Organic Programming
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Chuck D (mention)
Category:Jackson
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Tang Min (mention)
Category:Wei triplets (mention)
Category:Team Crimson Typhoon (mention)