Page 37 of Pandion

“You’re sure the organism won’t need the port?” Takazaki asked. Kagesawa nodded.

“I ran diagnostics, and they’re perfectly healthy.”

“The link?”

“Is there, but it’s a little weak. I’m not sure why, but we can look into it some more before we do anything else.”

“A weak link might deter most people. Let’s hope there’s a way to improve it.” Takazaki paused to think. “But the diagnostic app picks Harumine’s organism through the link, you said? That’s promising.”

“Yes, it did pick up several organisms.” Kagesawa’s face turned dark again. He mumbled a string of some fairly vile curses.

“What’s with him?” Takazaki asked Harumine in a quiet voice.

“The diagnostics app lists three,” Harumine whispered back. Takazaki flinched. He was quick to put two and two together.

“I would’ve assumed he’d be happy about that.”

“He’s probably glad it’s there. He’s just pissed off he didn’t know about it.” Harumine was pleased, even relieved, to be able to tell. The link felt like it wasn’t there, but he was intuitively picking up things he knew he wouldn’t have known by observing from the outside.

“If I can figure out a safe way to remove it, and we manage to document it, will you use your contacts to spread the word, preferably anonymously?” Kagesawa asked Takazaki.

“Of course. I know some people who will do it discreetly. I’ll personally make sure it’s not traced to you.”

“Good. I don’t care what happens to me, but…” Kagesawa glanced at Harumine again but quickly turned back to Takazaki. “Oh, also, I need everything you have on the port, the organism, the extensions and whatever else you’ve collected over the years.”

“I don’t—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. I’ve been feeding your curiosity for years. That wasn’t just some idle banter, it was research, and I know you: you’re thorough. You wouldn’t limit yourself to one source.”

“Damn it, Tsuyoshi-kun, you were much more fun when you were trying to behave.” Takazaki chuckled and sighed. “I’ll send it over. It’s not a whole lot. Most of it’s mentioned in the EA stack, but I did take a few private detours.”

“Good. Keep looking. I’m going to get to work.” With that, Kagesawa headed for the door, leaving Takazaki and Harumine looking at each other and shrugging in unison.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” Takazaki shouted after Kagesawa. To Harumine, he added, “Keep an eye on him, will you? You know how he is when he’s in the zone. Make him take a break if he looks like he needs one. He sucks at that.”

“Oh, you’ve noticed?”

“Yeah, wouldn’t surprise me if he had DEFD the way he is, hah hah.” When Harumine didn’t laugh, Takazaki turned to look. “Relax, I was only joking. I’m sure he doesn’t really have it.” He did not look at all sure.

“He found out after he ripped off the port.”

“What? Really? Doesn’t that disqualify him for—?”

“Yes.”

“But he’s been like that for as long as I’ve known him.”

“Indeed. Something more for you to look into if you’re so inclined.” Harumine didn’t know the full depth of Takazaki’s interests, but he had an oddly strong hunch that the man would be interested in this seemingly random discrepancy.

“Connections? Seems unlikely. Corruption? But that would require a shitton of money. Is that even possible? A simple cock-up, maybe? Hmm.” Takazaki frowned, dug out his palm reader and started doing some preliminary research on the spot.

“Let me know if you figure it out. I’m going to go now to keep that eye on him.”

Chapter 15

The removal process was never going to be completely safe, but it didn’t take long to figure out the safest way forward. Takazaki came over to film it so that Kagesawa and Satoru could concentrate on the task itself.

The plan was simple: freeze the port with freeze spray, block the injector with a suitable instrument and pull out the port as quickly as possible. Since liquid gas sprays were fairly common and most empaths had a cleaning kit for their port, the equipment wasn’t too difficult to get a hold of. They usually already had everything at hand.

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