Episode 3

Vaping was always fun, thought Bernie. It was something to do to burn time. It was also something that gave him a good look at someone interested in his every step.

For days a certain person has been watching Bernie from a distance… and he knew it. How did he know this? Let’s say his enhancements do more then the usual. Some of them reach far and wide.

An average augmentation will enhance the normal abilities of an individual either cognitively, or physically. However, Bernie’s augmentations are of a whole different sort. His enhancements are what some might call “supra-natural”. They give a person abilities and gifts that don’t exist within the normal five senses.

For years it was believed that human’s possessed the ability to tap into “occult” powers. Through the power of augmentation (and the right amount of tokens) a person can pick up a range of abilities in this class. Bernie has an ample supply of both.

He has spent a significant amount of tokens on increasing his consciousness and vision into strange realms. For example, the moisture in the air extends his ability to see over great distances. The moisture, rain, and waters all act as mirrors allowing him to see where many could not.

In addition to this ability, he has also heavily invested in upgrades to his awareness. For years it was believed that people had the ability to sense things before they happened due to some sort of interconnection. Through amplifying this instinct (and adding some cognitive neural enhancements to various networks and objects), a person could literally sense the moment someone is aware of them in a certain distance.

Without looking, he knows, and with a smile Bernie can see his stalker quite clearly. The only question is, who sent him and why? Now isn’t the time to move. No… there are too many unknowns. What does he want? Why is he watching him and his business? When will he make his move… and in what form will this move manifest.

He never follows him when he leaves the business. The stalker has never entered the business, nor came close to the door, so he isn’t casing the place. This could only mean a few things. However, in those few are many hidden details.

For now, this round will go unsettled. Another mission has come thru via his terminal. Another target, another mark.

A few more vapes for a busy night in the shadows.

Bel and the Cyborg is a miniseries created specifically for this platform by Patrick Barber II. Remember to follow, as there will be more episodes on the way. If you like this series, it is a small part of a larger series located on Kindle Vella called Paradox Tower. You can read 3 free episodes here.