The Approaching Storm | The Nano Age

        Small note: The plot is kinda everywhere because A: Introducing a couple of characters, B: introducing the antagonists, and C: Filler. There is also a decent amount of cursing .-.

      Manaka

   It’s been maybe… three weeks since she put the thing in my head. I’ve gotten used to it… I guess. It’s not exactly the best feeling when I accidentally hook my brain up to my phone, but it’s interesting to know I can do it. I think they’re gonna do something to my eyes, but supplementary cameras or some weird nano sh*t like that. They’re probably gonna get the hag to do it again. If someone hits me with an EMP grenade I’m !@#$, I f**king know it. I get a ping in my brainware sh*t, telling me to go to Dr Kalogeropoulos’s office. That hag, though I do have respect for her sense of humor. I make my way to her office. As I arrive I knock on the door. “Dr Kalogeropoulos?” “Sup.” An unusual way to be greeted, especially by a scientist… “I’m here for that next update to my ‘software’ and ‘hardware.’ What would we even call it, brainware or something?” The hag snorts, “Was I amusing somehow?” “I’ll drop it before the HR complaint comes.” I sigh, I should get Iris a better nickname than hag, she’s too young for it, “Just get it over with.” “Right. Sooo, congrats on getting used to your brain-needle. We’re now gonna keep upgrading that. First, you’ll get some support to your eyes with some protective layer from some new wacky material they found somewhere in the Navy’s alloys that will protect against EMP blasts and other outside electronic interferences.” Thank f**king god, “So it’ll be harder to turn my brain into fried rice.” “That’s the general idea. Afterwards, you’re getting an upgrade to your memory and core-processing unit so you can process the information you gather faster than any human can and have someplace to put it.” I narrow my eyes, “And my eyeballs? Like, what specifically will happen to them?” Better quickly tell her what I want exactly, she needs info. She responds, “Basic things like photographic devices for easier visual referencing and, if you wanna go into the realm of speculation, make photos for evidence or something like that, night vision, heat vision and an interface of some kind. I don’t know, I’ll read the file on that later.” I can already feel the symptoms of hyperthymesia, jeez, “Alright, knock me out with that brain needle thing again.” I pull up my sleeve, sighing. “That was just a really strong knockout medicine. You’re going under the operating table girl.” She injects me with those knockout meds and- f**k-...

      Iris

“Looks like I’m stuck with the transport. Again.” I sigh. “Why are nanobots so heavy? They’re supposed to be small and lightweight!” It suddenly occurs to me that Manaka is a decent sized teenage girl. “Right, I’m not a doctor for kids anymore. They get heavier.” I check if the door is still auto-locked before tending to Manaka again. “Guess it’s time to put you under the knife again. God I hate myself for what I’m doing to you…” I make my way into the operating room. An hour goes by. Then another. Then a third one. After 20 more minutes I’m finally done and put her back on the bench she was lying on before. “I’ll just read the file on that interface thing until she’s awake.” After about 30 more minutes she groans, opens her eyes, and instantly closes them again, “Oh hell, my eyes hurt!” “Like hell?” I smirk. “F**k you.” Manaka rubs her eyes a little, but keeps them closed. “Well, on the upside. I’m sure you’ve heard a ringing noise at night lately?” Manaka tilts her head, “Why do you ask?” “So, turns out I forgot to turn that off. You can do that with the little menu you now have.” Manaka squeezes her eyelids shut tighter like she blinked surprisedly, but forgot her eyes were closed, “Really?” I feel really ashamed. “Yeahhhh, it’s a signal that it’s recharging. It does that every time you sleep, so you’re both ‘recharging’. I’m really sorry.” “So my computer chips while recharging?” Manaka’s voice drips with sarcasm, “How wonderful!” All I can muster up as a reaction is an ashamed blush. Manaka scoffs, “Thanks a lot, schizophrenic G-freak.” “Sorry?” Manaka sighs angrily at me, tries to walk out of the room, and walks straight into my file cabinets. “Uhh, cabinets are that way. Here, lemme help you to your room.” Manaka is cursing in rapid Japanese, she sounds pissed, she then shouts at me, “FINE.” I grab her by the shoulder and carefully show her to her room. This is SO uncomfortable. Manaka sighs “Thank you.” She walks in and feels around to her bed, where she sits and cuddles with her unnecessarily massive collection of shark things. I choose to keep my mouth shut for once. The girl speaks up. “I noticed you don’t have a Blahaj, want one? I have plenty.” “I’m good, thanks.” One of them catches my eye, it’s face derpy as heck. “What’s wrong with that one?” “It was mismade, It’s one of the more unique ones that I have. My favourite is the smaller one next to it.” “Huh. I’ll let you get back to your things then. I’m still the only medic in this godforsaken hole so I’m kinda needed in my office.” That sharky face will haunt me for many nights now. [Ma’am, are you sure you don’t want the shark?] “Stealing from the disabled is wrong and you know that.” I mutter under my breath. Manaka tilts her head, “You know my hearing is amplified right? If you want a shark just ask.” [See, Ma’am, we can just ask for it.] “Stop teaming up against me!” I walk out of the room and back into my office, sitting down with a pout. [You’re depressing, Ma’am, and I’m a robot that can’t have feelings.] “All thanks to you, Robo-snob.” [I still believe you should’ve taken the shark.] “I still believe you shouldn’t be in my head. Now please, let me do my job in peace.”

       Manaka

   Well. I never realised how much I liked my eyes until people told me I can’t open them for a couple days while they heal. I kick my legs as I sit on the bed, is this what Frisk feels like? I attempt opening- owowowowow nevermind. Well sh*t. Now what? Cuddle my sharkies? Oh wait, I know, I could use my brain interface! I literally surf the internet for a couple hours, mostly playing a nation simulation game and derp around on Combat Lighting (Orbis’s War Thunder). Using a brain interface in Combat Lightning has to be cheating, I get at least 5 kills in every match I play. I hear a knock on the door and I respond, “Come in?” “Uh, hi, uh, I’m here cuz Iris told me to give you this syringe. She said to take it as soon as you can to… ‘speed up your recovery’? Here, I’ll put it on your drawer. Uh… Bye, I guess?” She’s awkward, “Wait, miss, I currently can’t see, mind helping me get whatever it is injected?” “Uhhh…” The girl stutters. “S-sure? Uhm… I think… the Doctor said right here?” she guides the syringe to what I think is the main artery. “Can you check again?” “I-I can ask the doctor again if you want me to.” “It’s okay, just do what you think she told you,” I attempt to calm her down, despite not being able to see. “A-a-are you sure?”  “Yes, do you have an electronic that the instructions are on?” “Uhh, n-no. I was just asked to give this to you a-and tell you where to inject it.” I sigh, but try to help her, “My main artery right?” “Y-yeah.” “Alright, do it” She shakes heavily. “I-I-I-I…” I try to smile, “Wanna hold one of my sharkies afterward?” “Uhm… C-can I really?” “Yes really” “O-okay.” She injec- Ow- She injects the needle and it’s quite… painful.. I hear her squeak in fear and take out the needle. “SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY SO SORRYY!!!!” I wince, “Calm down, calm down, calm down, my ears are sensitive.” You can hear the poor girl tearing up. “It’s okay it’s ok- eh?” I can open my eyes again? Oh damn, she’s cute. “Calm down. Alright?” she sniffles with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry…” I put a bandage on my arm, scanning my body with my computer, I got a nanite production thing injected into my bloodstream. “Thank you, can you get Dr Iris for me?” “Y-yes…” She walks out of the room and comes back with Iris following closely behind. “Iris. You didn’t just send someone who’s afraid of needles to give me a shot.” I glare at her. She pats the smol bean’s head. “So. Guess I’m not the only heartbreaker here.” Oh my god that b*tch is so mean. “Don’t just- You- You heartless hag! Get out of my room!” “Would be a waste for the trip. What can I do to- I mean for you?” “Go f**k yourself, somewhere where I can’t see it.” “I’ll consider it. Anything else I can do for you?” I sigh and just push her out of my room, locking the door. Wait- “U-uhm… H-h-hi?”  sh*t- “Sorry, do you want out too?” The poor bean now glows bright red. “S-s-shark…” I hand her one of my bigger Blahajs. Hey, at least I have a better jacket. Totally didn’t steal one of Iris’s. “So you’re Dr Iris’ assistant?” The small bean nods while still glowing red, arms tight around the shark. ”What’s your name? I’m Manaka.” “H-Haruka Nomura.” I smile, hopefully reassuringly at Nomura, “Alright Nomura, is she a good boss?” Nomura nods again. “She’s n-not as bad as she behaves.” I raise my eyebrows, “Really?” Nomura now has her face buried in the shark.  “If you’re that shy, just cuddle the shark, Nomura.” Sounds of shyness emanate from the blue plushie. “So, how would you say I could try to get Iris to be nicer, of course I would apologise for calling her a hag” “I-I don’t think she has a problem with y-you.” I think, “Huh.” “I-I think I sh-should go back now.” the flushed face returns from the softness of the plush. “H-here.” She hands the shark back to me, looking a bit sad while doing so. I stop her from trying to give it back, “Keep it.” “R-really?” “Yes, keep it.” Nomura runs up to oof- hug me. Her face is like a heater. She then quickly runs to the door, unlocks it, and makes her way back to Iris’ office. I laugh a little and get back on the internet, going back to playing Combat Lightning.