Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is sitting at a computer terminal in the Plaza with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and a carton of boxed wine, watching cute animal videos online and occasionally wiping at her red-rimmed eyes with the back of her hand.

It's every bad break-up cliché, but Adia does not care. After recently experiencing the (second) worst day of life, she needs a break. And unfortunately, the only place she can get that is the Nexus.

She clicks on a thumbnail of a hamster eating a tiny burrito and takes a swig of wine while it loads. "How do you get over someone," she asks the Nexus unhappily, "When they've clearly gotten over you?"

Comments

[zombots]

"That's horrible, but worry not; I got some credits to pay." Vaclav doesn't seem to care about the fact he doesn't have a steady income. But it seems to matter little to him, as his normally chipper mood returns. "And besides, it would be wrong of me not to pay for it."

He still feels like he and Adam ought to help her out with her troubles at home. As chipper as Vaclav looks, he is worried about what will happen to Adia once she goes home. So for now, Vaclav is happy to escort her to one of the many pizza shops in the Nexus.

"Our economy has its moments, but doing favors for augmented gangsters came with a perk of getting money regardless of things like the stock market going to shit."

[chiron_survivor]

"That's very generous of you. Thank you." She twists the flannel handkerchief in her hands, unsure how else to express her gratitude. She wishes she had more to offer in return than her miserable company.

Leaving behind what's the left of the ice cream and boxed wine, she follows Vaclav to the pizza place of his choosing. "How are you making money now?" she asks, before belatedly adding, "Gangsters?"

[zombots]

"Yeah, I used to do work on the head of the Dvali. And in return they would supply me with the much needed parts and Neuropozyne. Except my client, Radich's leadership was challenged and things weren't good between me and the gangsters anymore." Vaclav frowns, and he looks down at his shoes. "And trust me, when they want to come for you they don't mess around!"

He then leads Adia to the pizza place, the frown vanishing for much more happier thoughts. "But they messed with the wrong, aug." He points out with a cocky smirk. "The wrong, aug with a very powerful friend of his own."

[chiron_survivor]

"Neuropozyne? Is that a drug?" She winces at the implied violence that the gangsters potentially leveled at her friend. "That sounds so scary... but you didn't get hurt? Adam saved you in time?" It must be nice to have someone like that watching your back. She smiles a little when Vaclav smirks, happy that her friend escaped. "I'm glad you're here and safe. Your world is..." she sighs. "It has a lot in common with mine, I think. And that's unfortunate."

[zombots]

"It's a drug that us augs need to keep us from having our augs not working due to a build up of glial nerve tissue around the PEDOT-cluster array... It is what allows for us to have a seemingly smooth relationship with our biochips. And the human body is very touchy when it comes to anything not from it going in it."

Vaclav tries his best to explain, and he nods his head about Adam. "That he did! Though from what I've heard, they ended up burning down my bookshop to make sure I'd stay gone."

"It is. And I understand why Adam still feels the need to help. I just hope he doesn't get himself killed. For he is the hero that us Augs need."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia perks up a bit at the science talk, forgetting her own troubles briefly. "That's impressive. So you don't need to take any immunosuppressants? How soon does the neuropozyne start working?"

The mention of Vaclav's bookshop being burned down brings a small frown to her face, although as much as she loves books, a human life is far more important, especially if it's a friend. "That's a shame... but you can still open a bookshop here, if you wanted. Unless you'd rather concentrate on your warehouse."

That's a lot of pressure for Adam, Adia thinks as they make their way to the pizza shop. It's the same thing she's said about some of the military people on Galactica, but now she wishes that she could understand the war from their perspective. "He's a good guy. I've been lucky to meet a few people like him in the Nexus." She smiles faintly. "Makes me feel a little better about things."

[zombots]

Vaclav loves to talk science, talking about it is far better than the horrors of both worlds. "It works the same as an immunosuppressant, and it works right away. Just the only problem right now is finding it. But I've got enough for now, and I'm going to see if we have any chemist here who can duplicate the formula."

He doesn't dare go into the details about the people who are suffering from withdraw, and what happens if people don't take it. It seems to better not to think about that for now.

"I'm going to open a new bookstore, it'd be a good thing, and I just need to find people who'd be willing to work there. I know I don't need to run a front, but other than Adam, there's no other augmented people here."

[chiron_survivor]

"But it doesn't make you susceptible to other illnesses?" She can't picture Adam or even Vaclav dealing with repeated bouts of pneumonia, so it must be a very sophisticated drug. Unfortunately, Adia's mind goes to the problem of the drug running out, anyway. "I wish I could help, but I'm not a chemist, and anyway I don't have the proper equipment here. But there must be someone here who could do it for you."

She smiles a little, tucking her hands into her pockets. "I think you'll find bookstore employees easily enough." Who doesn't like to be surrounded by books all day? It's a job Adia would happily take, if she lived in the Nexus and needed employment.

[zombots]

"I'm no more susceptible to any other disease than anyone else. Though I'm not exactly sure about, Adam. A man with so many augs must be almost immortal." Vaclav knows how much is inside Adam, but he doesn't go into full details about the other's augs out of habit. "But you're right, I'm sure there is someone here who is good with chemistry. If not, I'm going to need to get some help and see what I can find back home."

As much as Vaclav doesn't want to have to go home, he knows that in order to keep himself in working order, it is something he will have to do.

And finally, they arrive at the pizza shop, and Vaclav is happy to open the door for Adia. "That's what I was thinking. I'd have no problems finding people who live here that'd want to work in a bookstore. Especially what will be one of the best bookstores in The Nexus. Now lets go grab ourselves some pizza!"

[chiron_survivor]

"You think so?" Adia knows about Adam's augmented limbs, but to suggest that he has altered enough of his body to be functionally immortal is far out of her realm of experience. Her curiosity is quickly tempered by worrying over the possibility of Vaclav returning to his world. It was bad enough, with all the hatred and discrimination against augments, but now she's imagining scary gangsters after him, too. "Oh, please be careful. Make sure Adam goes with you, if you have to go back."

She murmurs her thanks when Vaclav holds the door open for her. His optimism brings a small smile to her face. It doesn't seem like much can bring down his spirit. She wishes she could do the same. "Have you found a building yet that you could use?"

[zombots]

"I never worked on someone with that many augs before. I mean he seems to be more machine on the inside than he is human." And from what Adam has told him, Vaclav knows his heavily augmented from is tougher than tough! Smiling at the thought of having someone like him as not only a client, but as a friend is rewarding. "I will. Or I'll ask someone else who is good at busting heads for help. Not to mention, I still have some faithful connections back home."

He looks at the pizza on display, and his stomach starts to growl. Everything smells heavenly, but his eyes fall on something called a Calzone. He has never heard of those before, and he points to it. "That looks good; I'm going to have one of them and a big gigantic cup of soda! Extra caffeine please!" He looks back to Adia, and he shakes his head. "I haven't found one, but once I do, I'll be happy to let you know. Maybe I'll put comfy couches and chairs, so people can read their books after they buy them."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia doesn't say much in response to that. It feels a little gossipy to be talking about Adam's insides, even if Vaclav means it as a compliment. "You could probably find someone here to help, if necessary... maybe even someone stealthy so no one even knows that you're back." She knows that "busting heads" is a necessity sometimes, but she'll always prefer a less violent solution to a problem if one's available.

She would have sworn that she wasn't hungry just a few minutes ago, but once she takes in the menu, she finds herself suddenly famished. A greasy slice of pepperoni pizza and a cup of icy cola sound like the perfect thing for her wine-soaked stomach. "I'll have a slice of pepperoni pizza and a cup of cola... is that okay?" She looks at Vaclav hopefully. "That sounds like a good idea, by the way. Places to sit in your bookshop, I mean."

[zombots]

It doesn't help that of all Augs he's met that Adam happens to be the most fascinating. But talking about what makes him tick is a bit gossipy, and he takes Adia's silence as hint to leave it to Adam to answer any questions about his inner workings.

"I'm sure I could get help! There's lots of friendly people here, and I did have some help getting some of my gear here." Vaclav is happy for the people he's met here, and the help he got when he was first settling down in the Nexus. "And of course, you can have pepperoni and soda!" He pulls out a credit card from his pocket, and he goes to hand it to the cashier.

"Couches. Well couches are a plaza thing, but you cannot have enough comfy couches. And maybe bean bags."

[chiron_survivor]

She doesn't think any less of Vaclav for it, but she's relieved that the topic is dropped. Although perhaps when she is more sober and less heartbroken, she could learn more about how augments work in general.

"Who helped you with your gear?" she asks, curious if it's anyone that she knows. She smiles gratefully when he pays for her order. "Thank you... I'll pay you back someday, I promise." She leans against the counter, unsure of whether she needs to wait for the food there or take a seat. She's eyeing the empty booths, looking forward to sitting down again. "The couches in your bookstore won't get rained or snowed on... bean bags are fun, too. I had a bean bag in my college dorm."