Expedite
Definition
1 : to accelerate the process or progress of : speed up
The Post Office was in pure chaos. The main hub of the room, usually quite orderly with people
trotting about calmly as they organised people’s requests and dealt out the various packages to the
post men in quiet, controlled voices, were now running frantically about the place, screaming at the
top of their lungs and throwing random bits of paper everywhere.
trotting about calmly as they organised people’s requests and dealt out the various packages to the
post men in quiet, controlled voices, were now running frantically about the place, screaming at the
top of their lungs and throwing random bits of paper everywhere.
This happened every year or two. War, even now with the whole world gone to hell and what’s left of
humanity just trying to scrape through this extinction level event, still broke out. With basic resources
at the bare minimum, rather than people trying to organise things so that everyone got an equal share,
most just thought it easier to mow down the competition.
humanity just trying to scrape through this extinction level event, still broke out. With basic resources
at the bare minimum, rather than people trying to organise things so that everyone got an equal share,
most just thought it easier to mow down the competition.
Humanity. You’d have thought that barely surviving Armageddon would have taught us a thing or two,
but apparently not.
but apparently not.
Anyway, for us, The Post Office, wars meant a lot of business, a lot of requests and deliveries, that
needed to be executed very, very quickly. Like, yesterday of possible. (Time travel still wasn’t a thing
but the guys in the R&D department had devoted a substantial portion of their not very modest
budget to it. Management let them because, as they put it, if they ever managed to pull it off, it would
be the golden goose to end all geese. The tech guys thought they were close, but they have a very
‘unique’ way of defining close that did not correspond to our mere mortal’s view of the situation at all.)
needed to be executed very, very quickly. Like, yesterday of possible. (Time travel still wasn’t a thing
but the guys in the R&D department had devoted a substantial portion of their not very modest
budget to it. Management let them because, as they put it, if they ever managed to pull it off, it would
be the golden goose to end all geese. The tech guys thought they were close, but they have a very
‘unique’ way of defining close that did not correspond to our mere mortal’s view of the situation at all.)
So anyway. War equals crazy and this time it was between to of the more major players in our habitat
so that meant nightmares for everyone else. The other day, a mother had run in with her child who
was just covered in stamps. Apparently he was the illegitimate son of one of the more higher up
members in one side of the War and understandably she was terrified of potential kidnapping/assassination
attempts. The father in question had just brushed her off and left her to her own devices.
so that meant nightmares for everyone else. The other day, a mother had run in with her child who
was just covered in stamps. Apparently he was the illegitimate son of one of the more higher up
members in one side of the War and understandably she was terrified of potential kidnapping/assassination
attempts. The father in question had just brushed her off and left her to her own devices.
Desperately, she had hit on the idea of posting her child to her sister in a far off habitat, where hopefully
the child would be safe and out of harm’s way. She’d even miraculously calculated the correct amount
of postage.
the child would be safe and out of harm’s way. She’d even miraculously calculated the correct amount
of postage.
The staff firmly (and loudly and publicly) told her that policy stated that we would not, in any case or
situation, ever consider transporting living humans (organs for donation didn’t count as ‘living’) and
therefore, despite the correct postage being paid. It did not do to become involved with the state of play
in a War. The mother became so distraught she had to be taken away to the manager’s office to calm
down.
situation, ever consider transporting living humans (organs for donation didn’t count as ‘living’) and
therefore, despite the correct postage being paid. It did not do to become involved with the state of play
in a War. The mother became so distraught she had to be taken away to the manager’s office to calm
down.
Interestingly, neither the mother nor the child appeared to leave again through the front doors. If you
were watching for that. Although, our office has many back doors where one could leave unseen.
Some all the way to another habitat even.
were watching for that. Although, our office has many back doors where one could leave unseen.
Some all the way to another habitat even.
Even management has a soft spot for children.
But back to the main point, War was business and business was good. A little too good in fact. All our
top dogs in Expedited has been summoned and dispatched toot suite which meant all the ‘slightly less
urgent but still super mega important and had to be there now now now’ stuff was being distributed
amongst the rest of us.
top dogs in Expedited has been summoned and dispatched toot suite which meant all the ‘slightly less
urgent but still super mega important and had to be there now now now’ stuff was being distributed
amongst the rest of us.
Which led me to today.
And staring at the chilled glass container in my hand.
“It’s still beating.” I said, more than slightly freaked out.
“Of course it is.” the post handling operative said crankily, his hair standing on end, various food and
toothpaste stains dribbled down his shirt and the bags under his eyes attesting to the fact that he hadn’t
slept in over forty hours straight now.
toothpaste stains dribbled down his shirt and the bags under his eyes attesting to the fact that he hadn’t
slept in over forty hours straight now.
“But transplant organs don’t normally…..move.” I said doubtfully. “They just sort of...sit there in their little
freezers. Like , well, lumps of meat.”
freezers. Like , well, lumps of meat.”
“So? It’s a heart, hearts beat. There’s songs about it and everything.” he said dismissively, eyes wide
and already roaming the room for his next target.
and already roaming the room for his next target.
I looked at the beating heart in front of me, almost completely obscured by little pieces of blinking
machinery and dry ice but still, definitely, a human heart beating in time with my own pulse.
machinery and dry ice but still, definitely, a human heart beating in time with my own pulse.
“Inside of people. Hearts beat when they’re inside people. Not outside of them in some weird cyberpunk
fridge.”
fridge.”
“You know what? I really don’t care. Here is heart. Heart is package. Here.” he pointed at me, “is postman.
Postman delivers package. Simple. So go deliver the package.”
Postman delivers package. Simple. So go deliver the package.”
“Where?” I asked, starting to catch his cranky mood now that I'd gotten used to the heart.
“Delivered to your wrist device already.” he said promptly. “It’s in the cyborg unit.” he then tried to run
off. Which he failed to do as the second i’d heard ‘cyborg’ i’d grabbed his shirt.
off. Which he failed to do as the second i’d heard ‘cyborg’ i’d grabbed his shirt.
“What?!”
He shook me off. “You know how short staffed we are.”
“The armed division gets the cyborg unit. Always. For good reason!” I shrieked.
“And the armed division are all out and unavailable. You know, dealing with the War.” He said
sarcastically. “It’s an in and out job, you’ll be fine.
sarcastically. “It’s an in and out job, you’ll be fine.
“Don’t I at least get an armed escort?” I said disbelievingly, “or a gun?”
He gave me a look. “You ride a giant armoured crocodile. What would be the point of giving you a gun.”
he said flatly and then stalked off to ruin some other poor soul’s life.
he said flatly and then stalked off to ruin some other poor soul’s life.
“Cyborg Town.” I said to myself weakly.
I wondered if my Last Will and Testament was up to date…..
But orders were orders. Once the parcel had been handed over to us, the post men, we would bound
to deliver it, come hell or high water, mutants or cannibals or nuclear fall out. That is what they paid us
for and by God they would ensure, by hook or by crook, that we carried out our duties.
to deliver it, come hell or high water, mutants or cannibals or nuclear fall out. That is what they paid us
for and by God they would ensure, by hook or by crook, that we carried out our duties.
I looked at the beating heart in my grip. Was it just me or had it started to speed up it’s rhythm? A few
of the lights were also starting to blink red. That couldn’t be a good sign right? And it seemed a little
more brown than red since the last time I looked at it.
of the lights were also starting to blink red. That couldn’t be a good sign right? And it seemed a little
more brown than red since the last time I looked at it.
I thought about what would happen to me if I risked delivering this to Cyborg Town. I thought about
what would happen to me if I risked delivering it and it was dead by the time i got it there.
what would happen to me if I risked delivering it and it was dead by the time i got it there.
I started running to Suzie’s stable.
***
Normally, Suzie kept to the sewers on my deliveries. We could get most places without breaking the
surface (and it was a lot safer that way too) and a giant mutant crocodile tended to draw a lot of notice.
Being sneaky and discreet was my selling point and I prided myself on that.
surface (and it was a lot safer that way too) and a giant mutant crocodile tended to draw a lot of notice.
Being sneaky and discreet was my selling point and I prided myself on that.
But now i was torn.
Cyborgs were born (unsurprisingly) from one of humanity’s last big wars. The one where they pretty
much kicked morals, ethics and basic human decency right out of the window too. A lot of the original
mutants came from the same war. They had kind of a cat and dog relationship with each other going
on but nothing major. They were, after all, just different types of soldiers.
much kicked morals, ethics and basic human decency right out of the window too. A lot of the original
mutants came from the same war. They had kind of a cat and dog relationship with each other going
on but nothing major. They were, after all, just different types of soldiers.
Unlike the mutants, cyborgs generally kept themselves to themselves and stayed together in their own
little enclaves. This was fine, but it meant that they kind of got out of practice at being around
fleshbags (their own little endearment for us - they also use the term ‘hamburger’ as in 100% organic
meat and so on. Also ‘clucks’ - possibly because of free range chickens. A mate of mine who was
friends with a cyborg in expedited once said that they called bio-humans ‘free range’ and cyborgs
were ‘caged’ - because their flesh was caged with wire.)
little enclaves. This was fine, but it meant that they kind of got out of practice at being around
fleshbags (their own little endearment for us - they also use the term ‘hamburger’ as in 100% organic
meat and so on. Also ‘clucks’ - possibly because of free range chickens. A mate of mine who was
friends with a cyborg in expedited once said that they called bio-humans ‘free range’ and cyborgs
were ‘caged’ - because their flesh was caged with wire.)
The trouble with not being used to non-augmented humans is that, over time, you forgot the difference
in strength and ability between the two of you (and that was a biiiiiig difference) and, well, accidents
happened. Not even, usually, intentionally. Cyborgs just, forgot, how much frailer we free range clucks
were in comparison to them.
in strength and ability between the two of you (and that was a biiiiiig difference) and, well, accidents
happened. Not even, usually, intentionally. Cyborgs just, forgot, how much frailer we free range clucks
were in comparison to them.
A lot of the cyborgs were like friendly, but distant relatives - your mother’s second cousin’s aunt’s
brother in law kind of thing. Polite when you meet them, friendly even, but not quite in your immediate
sphere and neither side would really keep in touch with the other, except at big events.
brother in law kind of thing. Polite when you meet them, friendly even, but not quite in your immediate
sphere and neither side would really keep in touch with the other, except at big events.
However, a lot of them, having been in the wars suffered from PTSD. completely understandably. You
might have thought that, after all this time, the soldiers of the wars would have died out but whatever
the scientists did to them (funnily enough, no intact pieces of any of them could be found after the war)
made them not only nearly unkillable, but most were practically un-die-able to. Which mean they’d
spent hundreds of years suffering from the incredible psychological damage the wars dished out to
them, with no after care or support from the governments who created them.
might have thought that, after all this time, the soldiers of the wars would have died out but whatever
the scientists did to them (funnily enough, no intact pieces of any of them could be found after the war)
made them not only nearly unkillable, but most were practically un-die-able to. Which mean they’d
spent hundreds of years suffering from the incredible psychological damage the wars dished out to
them, with no after care or support from the governments who created them.
If a bio-human was near to a cyborg when they had a panic induced flashback, there was no way that
bio-human would end up as anything other than splashed jam on the pavement. It wasn’t the cyborgs
fault in any way, shape or form but dead is still dead and you can chalk up another trauma to add to
the long list that cyborg already carried.
bio-human would end up as anything other than splashed jam on the pavement. It wasn’t the cyborgs
fault in any way, shape or form but dead is still dead and you can chalk up another trauma to add to
the long list that cyborg already carried.
Which was the main reason why cyborgs lived in enclaves and one that most people wholeheartedly
agreed with (which i still thought was a harsh and unfair attitude towards the people who had spent
their lives defending and protecting us at great cost to themselves - but maybe they didn’t want to hang
out with us either?)
agreed with (which i still thought was a harsh and unfair attitude towards the people who had spent
their lives defending and protecting us at great cost to themselves - but maybe they didn’t want to hang
out with us either?)
So, did I try to sneak through Cyborg Town by myself, deliver my parcel and come back, hopefully in
one piece by relying on my skills and luck at not coming across a traumatised cyborg. Or did I take
Suzie on the basis that anyone could see her coming from a distance, meaning that if she triggered
something in someone we’d have time to get the hell out of here and also, she was basically a cute
walking tank and i felt a hell of a lot safer with her.
one piece by relying on my skills and luck at not coming across a traumatised cyborg. Or did I take
Suzie on the basis that anyone could see her coming from a distance, meaning that if she triggered
something in someone we’d have time to get the hell out of here and also, she was basically a cute
walking tank and i felt a hell of a lot safer with her.
I hesitated. I didn’t want Suzie to get hurt. I didn’t want to get hurt.
I took out the heart and looked at it again. More red lights were flashing. It was definitely blooming
brown more than a healthy red.
brown more than a healthy red.
I put it back in the case and nodded, decided. Who knows how long it would take to get there if I went
myself. It was much safer and, sadly more importantly, much quicker for us both to go. I clambered up
on her back, clicked my tongue and off we went.
myself. It was much safer and, sadly more importantly, much quicker for us both to go. I clambered up
on her back, clicked my tongue and off we went.
****
I felt very, very self conscious as rode down the main street. Possibly because I was riding a giant
mutant crocodile. I pulled my hat down over my eyes and shifted uncomfortably.
mutant crocodile. I pulled my hat down over my eyes and shifted uncomfortably.
The whole town looked to be gearing up for a festival. There were myriad twinkling lights scattered
about the street and shop windows, along with garlands and garlands of daintily mechanical red and
white roses. It was actually quite beautiful.
about the street and shop windows, along with garlands and garlands of daintily mechanical red and
white roses. It was actually quite beautiful.
I sighed. It was no good. I couldn’t figure out the street positioning at all and my wrist device was of
absolutely no use. No one had updated the map in ages it seemed.
absolutely no use. No one had updated the map in ages it seemed.
I would have to ask for directions.
I tugged at my post man’s jacket anxiously.
I steered Suzie over to the side (bless her for being so calm and unfazed this entire time) and leaned
over her side, towards a rather smart looking gentleman in a snazzy bowler hat.
over her side, towards a rather smart looking gentleman in a snazzy bowler hat.
“Excuse me sir,” I said in my politest tone. “Do you know where I might find the house of Rek’Tiz?”
He beamed at me, his eyes quite literally glowing. “You must have the heart!” he said, delightedly.
“Just go down here, take the second left, then the first right. You won’t be able to miss it - it will be the
house with the flowers. Safe travels!”
“Just go down here, take the second left, then the first right. You won’t be able to miss it - it will be the
house with the flowers. Safe travels!”
He continued to wave and smile at me as Suzie and I continued down the street. I waved back,
bemused. How had he known i had a heart to deliver.
bemused. How had he known i had a heart to deliver.
The ‘house with the flowers’ was indeed very easy to spot. The entire small building and it’s yard were
covered in twisting rose vines, each rose a brilliant sparkling white that seemed to glow in the evening
air. On closer inspection, little roads of circuitry criss-crossed every petal. They were absolutely
stunning.
covered in twisting rose vines, each rose a brilliant sparkling white that seemed to glow in the evening
air. On closer inspection, little roads of circuitry criss-crossed every petal. They were absolutely
stunning.
As I stood there, hovering in the yard and wondering where the door was, a figure came out from the
rose bushes, gently pushing aside a stray briar. She was beautiful, with copper skin and brilliant
emeralds for eyes. She smiled when she saw me.
rose bushes, gently pushing aside a stray briar. She was beautiful, with copper skin and brilliant
emeralds for eyes. She smiled when she saw me.
“You have my father’s heart.” she said with a smile and held out her hands to receive it.
I carefully handed it over, and passed her the release form. She signed it briskly and handed it back.
She paused.
She paused.
“Would you like to attend the ceremony? I’m sure my father wouldn’t mind.” she offered genuinely.
I blinked. “Is there a party? I noticed all the beautiful decorations on the way in.”
She smiled. “Of a sort. It’s his funeral. He dies today you see.”
As I stammered out my condolences, she brushed them off. “No for us death is a rare and valued gift.
As sad as I am to see him leave us, I cannot offer him anything but my love and joy that such a long
awaited event has finally come for him. You who have kindly delivered the final piece to enable him to
do this are more than welcome to attend.”
As sad as I am to see him leave us, I cannot offer him anything but my love and joy that such a long
awaited event has finally come for him. You who have kindly delivered the final piece to enable him to
do this are more than welcome to attend.”
To this day, I am not sure why I agreed. Curiosity? Definitely something like that, but not the whole of it
i like to think. It was, after all, the heart that I delivered than enable him to go through with it, so
perhaps it was my way of living up to that responsibility.
i like to think. It was, after all, the heart that I delivered than enable him to go through with it, so
perhaps it was my way of living up to that responsibility.
It turns out, the scientists hid the hearts of the cyborgs (like the evil wizards in tales of old), operating
them remotely so it made their soldiers somehow much harder to kill. Without their hearts, the soldiers
couldn’t die and many had spent hundreds of years after the wars looking for them so they could finally
rest in peace.
them remotely so it made their soldiers somehow much harder to kill. Without their hearts, the soldiers
couldn’t die and many had spent hundreds of years after the wars looking for them so they could finally
rest in peace.
The funeral was both strange and beautiful. Once his daughter had ceremoniously fitted the heart
back into Rek’Tiz’s chest cavity, he left out a deep breath, smiled lovingly at his daughter, closed his
eyes and then was no more. Just an empty robotic shell was left behind.
back into Rek’Tiz’s chest cavity, he left out a deep breath, smiled lovingly at his daughter, closed his
eyes and then was no more. Just an empty robotic shell was left behind.
There was much laughter and crying and telling of tales after that. I found out that the roses that
covered Rek’Tiz’s house were actually hundreds of years of his memories, left behind for his daughter.
covered Rek’Tiz’s house were actually hundreds of years of his memories, left behind for his daughter.
I left the party before it got too raucous (as nice as they were it was still not safe for little fragile
bio-human me) and Suzie and I trundled down the deserted main road (everyone else currently being
at the wake).
bio-human me) and Suzie and I trundled down the deserted main road (everyone else currently being
at the wake).
The air was quiet and still. I looked up at the flower garlands criss-crossing the street - purely
decorative these ones but still beautiful and a fitting tribute to a man clearly beloved by his community.
decorative these ones but still beautiful and a fitting tribute to a man clearly beloved by his community.
Today had definitely been nothing like what I was expecting.
And that was more than ok with me.
I patted Suzie. “Let’s go home.”
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