The Neon Pulse Chronicles: Novella 2

By Richard Sevcik

Stefan is a dedicated young doctor working for the private emergency services company BioSynth Health Systems. During a perilous mission, he manages to rescue his grievously wounded mother, but at the cost of losing another life. Though his mother survives, Stefan struggles with lingering trauma and survivor's guilt. He finds some solace in working with his capable teammate Cass, a former hacker with her own troubled history. But when Cass encounters an old acquaintance from her criminal days, buried secrets threaten to surface.

As Stefan contends with vivid nightmares that disrupt his sleep, he resorts to questionable methods to maintain his functionality amid increasing pressure. Meanwhile, Cass dives back into the sinister world of an underground hacker group to investigate a series of unsettling events. Her efforts lead her to uncover mystifying revelations about advanced technologies with dangerous implications.

When a distress call leads Stefan, Cass, and their formidable new teammate Tera, a former soldier, into a deadly standoff, they must demonstrate quick thinking and remarkable teamwork to rescue injured police officers. During the chaos, Cass is shocked to discover her dying former mentor, Detective Kane. Compelled to keep her promise to him, she retrieves a mysterious device from Kane's old drop point, setting her on the path to unravel its secrets.

Stefan and Cass find their capabilities tested to the limits as deception and danger lurk around every corner. Their fortitude and allegiance to their profession will be pushed to the brink by new threats emerging from the shadows of the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Sevcik
• Release date: Dec 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798201637330

Book preview

Chapter 1

Aweek had passed since Stefan and Cass's harrowing rescue of Stefan's grievously wounded mother. In the aftermath, they were assigned to hospital duty while repairs were made to the AV and a new pilot and guard were integrated into the team.

Stefan was grateful for the chance to check on his recovering mother daily. In the evenings, he kept vigil at her bedside as she slowly mended. For the first few days, she remained unconscious, a breathing tube facilitating her lung healing. On day three, with her lungs repaired, surgeons successfully grafted her new vat-grown arm. Stefan and Cass observed the operation, gaining invaluable medical knowledge. 

Meanwhile, down the hall from his mother the injured pilot faced an increasingly dire prognosis. The damage to his trapezius and surrounding shoulder muscles was significant. He had undergone multiple operations to graft new lab-grown tissues and inject experimental muscle regenerators. But each time, his body rejected the grafts or resisted the treatments.

The doctors worked endlessly seeking the cause of this traumatic tissue's stubborn refusal to heal. They rotated an exhaustive regimen of reconstructive surgeries, hyper-accelerated physical therapies, and the newest anti-rejection medications. Even with the difficulties the doctors believed that his recovery would be lengthy, with no guarantee he'd make a 100% comeback.

On day four, Stefan sat with his resting mother when her eyes fluttered open, meeting him with recognition and a hint of a smile. They would inform her of her injuries eventually, but for now, Stefan hoped she'd be spared those traumatic memories.

For Stefan, emotional turmoil lingered. The sacrificed guard haunted his thoughts. His youthful dreams of heroic rescues hadn't prepared him for the cruel realities of loss. Each day, his mother's healing wounds and the pilot's lingering damage served as stark reminders of the job's perils. 

At night, Stefan's sleep grew restless, punctuated by nightmares plunging him back into the chaotic mission. He'd wake in a cold sweat, heart hammering, thoughts consumed by the trauma. Saving his mother had tested him deeply, exposing both strengths and fragilities.

Cass, too, was shaken. Her unexpected encounter with Grinder had resurfaced fears that her past remained unburied. She could only hope her supposed death was still accepted as truth. In her scarce off-hours, she tirelessly reprogrammed her cyberdeck, modifying her avatar to prevent future identification. The risk of her old life encroaching upon her new existence weighed upon Cass. She remained haunted by the permanence of her choices and the danger of her secrets ever coming to light.

Chapter 2

As Stefan gently pushed open the door to his mother's room on the fifth day, he was greeted by the warm embrace of sunlight streaming in. His mother, Anna, sat upright, engaged in a deep conversation with her husband. The sight of her sitting there, her presence strong and reassuring, brought an immediate smile to Stefan's face. Anna looked up, her eyes filled with affection, and returned his smile.

How are you feeling today, Mom? Stefan inquired, his gaze gently shifting to the arm cradled delicately in its sling.

Better, she replied with determination. I'll be back to normal soon, you'll see.

Stefan recognized that her journey to recovery would be a gradual one. Rebuilding her arm's strength and mobility would take time, but he had no doubt that she would overcome this obstacle. He spent a few more minutes with his mother, soaking in her presence, before reluctantly departing for his rounds. The hospital work was a godsend, allowing him to remain close to his mother without being out on the AV.

After completing his shift, Stefan visited his mother once more before heading back to his dorm. He had managed to grab a quick meal and clean up after a long day's work. Fatigue clung to his body, his muscles ached, and his eyes stung with exhaustion. Yet, even when he closed his eyes, the haunting image of his mother lying on the ground, surrounded by blood, refused to fade. Sleep offered no respite, plunging him back into the nightmare of that fateful day.

In the dead of night, Stefan found himself ensnared once again within the confines of the AV. The cacophony of bullets striking its metal hull reverberated in his ears, and the memories of his mother's blood staining his hands felt all too real. His breaths were labored, but the source of those halting breaths remained uncertain - were they his own or those of the dying guard beside him?

The dreams would in with him gasping for air sitting up in

Stefan's thoughts clung to the training exercises, the sterile simulations where casualties were nothing more than hypothetical scenarios. In those controlled environments, the injured were merely practice drones, their wounds easily mended later. But now, in the unforgiving streets of reality, the lives of actual human beings bled away under his trembling, helpless hands.

Throughout his life, Stefan had been a diligent student, excelling in his classes and mastering the intricate treatment protocols. He executed these protocols within the safety of the classroom. However, the menacing reality of the outside world hung over him like an ominous storm cloud. The constant threat of danger and the fragility of