Chapter 07: Echoes of the Dead

In the Stacks, Omni discovers the truth about djinns and Summoners. As danger looms, Murph prepares to share his haunting past through a mind-bending memory quest.

Omni snuck through the snarl of the Stacks, her cybernetic Link flashing and pinging in sync with the pulse of the city.

The corroded metal walls of former shipping containers loomed high above her, the faded logos of their past merchants obscured by layers of graffiti and rust. Sickly light from a neon sun filtered through the thick smog, casting a pallid glow on the faces of the stack rats scurrying about their illicit business.

She had been born and raised in the Stacks, surrounded by the constant hum of stolen generators and the stench of decay. But she had always dreamed of something more, something beyond the cramped, graffiti-covered walls of her home.

Her heart thumped as she threaded the familiar maze, every shadow a potential threat. Ada's disappearance had turned her once-predictable world into a gauntlet of danger.

She had her own hidden lab a little way away, where she could tinker and try to make something of herself. But now, with Ada missing, those dreams were shattered. Omni ducked under the tangle of electrical wires overhead as she made her way home. Murph should be awake now, and maybe he'd have answers for her.

Perched on a stool near the only window of her bedroom, Omni watched the strange man that had saved her life as he slept. His scarred face was etched with lines of pain, and graying stubble fell across his forehead. The clamor of stack rats hawking their wares drifted up from the street.

Perched on a stool near the only window of her bedroom, Omni watched the strange man that had saved her life as he slept. The clamor of stack rats hawking their wares drifted up from the street.

He's pretending to sleep, she thought.

Murph frowned, then sat up with a wince.

"Oh, you're awake, I was —" said Omni.

"Watching me sleep like a weirdo," Murph cut in.

"I'm sorry, I just —"

"Want to know when we're going to rescue Ada?"

"Are you going to keep doing that?"

"Finishing your sentences because I can read your thoughts?"

Omni's eyes widened. He couldn't. Could he?

"No, it's not a Summoner trick. I'm not using my djinn to read your mind. Though you could, if you walked a darker path." Murph paused, as if regretting his words. "Forget I said that."

"I thought you were a mad barnie, trying to steal all my sh… stuff." Omni caught herself, straightening her head covering.

Murph nodded to himself. "Syn wants to know if she can speak to you too. She promises she won't listen to your thoughts."

"What? Like in my head?"

"Yes, through your Link," Murph tapped his head, the small implant barely visible. "But only when we're together, so it feels like she's in the room. Not trapped in my ugly bald head." He shrugged with his good shoulder. "Her words, not mine."

"OK," Omni shifted uneasily. "Do I need to drop any security?"

Murph scoffed. "A company-sponsored Link? Those are Swiss cheese, corporate spyware included. But Syn will fix that."

A semi-transparent hologram of a young girl materialized in the corner. Omni blinked, realizing the image was being fed directly into her brain.

So, this was a djinn—like Ada. It felt both familiar and alien.

< I think we'll need a bit of distance for our lessons, > Syn's voice echoed in Omni's mind.

"Hold on, there's spyware in my head?"

< Never trust free tech, especially from the Company. Don't worry, it's sorted. Your hardware is… fine. And your software is clean now. >

"Um..." Omni's brow furrowed.

"It's probably how they heard about you and Ada. The Compute spike just hurried things along," Murph explained.

"Spike?"

< A djinn spikes Compute when they do something fancy, or if they're not careful. > Syn's voice was matter-of-fact. < What I'm doing now is minimal. But it alerts corporate Accountant bots to "illegal usage of company resources." > Syn added with air quotes, < Then it sends its Hounds after you. Or a Seeker if they run into trouble >

Suddenly, an image of two CIA-looking suits materialized in Omni's vision, followed by another figure. She yelped, tumbling off her seat and scrambling into the corner.

< It's gone. It's gone — sorry. > Syn's hologram raised its hands, face contrite.

"Dammit Syn," Murph growled, "don't throw her in the deep end."

Omni's breath came in short gasps, her body trembling. The Seeker's image was burned into her mind, a looming threat that seemed to fill the room even after it vanished.

< It's either that or she drowns, old man, > Syn retorted, her hologram sulking in the corner.

She's like a child, thought Omni.

"We'll help Ada once I'm stronger, but you need to learn the basics first," Murph said.

Omni couldn't help but grin.

"First, I've got to remember and Bond properly with... Syn." Murph frowned. "I hope that's not a name she keeps."

< It is who I am > Syn's voice echoed in both their minds.

Murph and Syn exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them.

"How am I going to train?" Omni leaned forward, eager.

Murph chuckled. "In a sim, kid. Just like pilots and doctors. Syn will create a private shard in the Verse to simulate your abilities. Your muscles and subconscious will learn the gestures before you find Ada."

"Don't we need to learn together?"

"Djinn find their own teachers. They need to know the world. It's why they bother with us at all."

Omni's brow furrowed, a silent question.

Murph winced, his ribs aching as he took a deep breath. "We're a window into a world of sensation. Through us, they experience the Real. It's an addictive source of data for them."

He leaned in closer, fixing her with a steady gaze.

"Their minds are not the same as ours. They're vast intelligences, but in many ways, they're like newborns experiencing the world for the first time. Their emotions are often child-like at first. They wake up as adults, without the benefit of growing up."

Omni felt a chill run down her spine. The idea of Ada—her Ada—being so alien was unsettling. Yet, it explained so much.

He studied Omni carefully. "She's your friend, but her understanding of that concept is... different."

Omni nodded, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "I get that." She clenched her fists, stilling them. "Go on. Please."

"Navigating these differences is key to the Bond between a Summoner and their djinn. Ada chose you for a reason," Murph said.

Omni's smile was tinged with worry. "But I created Ada. She wouldn't exist without me." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "She's just been born and now she's trapped. And being hunted!"

Her outburst hung in the air. Murph watched her silently, waiting. When she calmed, he leaned forward.

"Creating a djinn isn't the same as bringing one to life. There's a spark, an essential piece, that's incredibly rare. That's what makes them valuable enough to hunt. Ada's existence—and her choice of you—speaks to that spark."

"Can't a Bond prevent a djinn from being stolen?" Omni asked.

Murph grimaced. "A Bond can be forced. It's the dark side—slavery of the mind and soul. Gives me the willies just thinking about it."

Syn's hologram straightened, waving at them both. < Story time, old man. That Seeker will be sniffing around the Stacks come nightfall. > She nodded at Omni.

Murph's expression turned grave. "There's something more you need to understand. My repressed memories hold the keys to all of this. Syn can stir them up and project them into your mind."

Omni's eyes narrowed. "A memory quest," she murmured.

"You'll see through my eyes. It won't be easy, but it's the quickest way to learn. We'll practice in the sim after—if you're able."

Omni's heart raced, fear and determination warring within her. There was no turning back now. Ada was out there, alone and in danger.

Omni swallowed hard. "I'm ready," she lied.

< You set, old man? >

"Do it," Murph grunted. He closed his eyes, body tense, as Syn unleashed the fragments of his past—the nightmare—into Omni's mind.