Linking Minds and Connecting Hearts
December 20th
Despite not wanting to leave Root's side, Shaw attended a brainstorming session with the FairHaven staff regarding her case. They were discussing a new piece of technology for coma patients. Previous tests have shown that people who are comatose typically have reactions to outside communication, but are unable to communicate back. This new device, worn on the head, would allow the patient to communicate with their thoughts. That way doctors could tell if the patient could still be treated, or was clinically brain dead. The instruments had arrived at the hospital the same day as Shaw.
They explained that Root hadn't been responding to any kind of outside source: music, people reading to her, computerized tones, nothing. In addition, they even attempted stimulation via electricity and light therapy with no success. They were hoping that with this new brain-to-brain interaction, combined with the familiarity between them, it may be enough to jump start Root's mind.
They wasted no time in getting the devices set up.
A group of physicians, including Dr Lawson, had gathered in Root's room. Two headsets sat on the table between her and Shaw.
“Okay Sameen, let's go over this again,” she used her tablet to generate images on the glass. “We have some security footage provided by Thornhill. I'm going to play it on the screen, and I just want you to concentrate on what you're seeing.”
Another doctor, Reid, placed the headset on Shaw's head. It sat like a crown, and the doctor began sticking the electrodes on her temple, forehead, and the back of her skull. She tried not to think of the VR headset Samaritan used.
“The images will be transferred from your mind to hers, via the cerebral nodes. Once we see some kind of effect on her brain,” Dr Lawson continued, “we'll have you try and speak to her. See if we can get a response.”
The third doctor, Morris, was attaching the device to Root. On the glass wall to Shaw's right, images of both her and Root's brain were displayed on screen. Shaw's showed several colors, indicating activity, while Root's remained dark.
“You ready?”
Shaw took a deep breath. “Punch it.”
The screen came to life and began showing familiar footage. Shaw watched Root dragging her from her own apartment after drugging her. Their first mission together. Shaw smirked.
Next she saw Root walking across a balcony firing her two guns downwards and dodging bullets. She remembers hearing about this, but seeing the footage was all the more impressive. The LED lights on Shaw's headset lit up.
Shaw sees herself sneaking up on Root on the sidewalk, red and blue lights illuminating the scene. She thinks of their conversation prior to decontaminating the virus together.
She sees the team in the elevator at the stock exchange. She pulls Root into a kiss, then throws her back into Lionel's arms, shutting the elevator door. She watches Root fighting against the cage, being pulled back by their friends. Her screaming makes Shaw want to look away.
The images shift to Root being restrained on a hospital bed, Martine looming over her. Root somehow gets her arms free and snaps her neck. Shaw hadn't seen this before and actually laughs out loud. She hated Martine.
Dr Morris was watching the images as well, while the other physicians monitored the data. He cringed at the violent acts being shown.
“Wait a minute, what is this?” He pointed to the screen.
Shaw's eyes flickered to him and back to the footage. Root was beating up two guys on the subway with what appeared to be a large pipe wrench. Shaw couldn't keep the smile from her face. She looked to the data screen, but there hadn't been a change.
“What kind of people are we using our resources on here?” The young doctor continued his rant.
Shaw clenched her jaw, but tried to stay focused. On screen, Root had a whistle hanging from her lips and was directing traffic at a busy intersection. Seriously, was there anything she couldn't do?
“This is kind of ridiculous," he crosses his arms, "we're literally helping murderers. I guess FairHaven takes in everyone. Including freakin' criminals."
Having heard quite enough, Shaw turned away from the screen and punched Dr Morris in the jaw. He flopped to the floor and remained still. The others gasped in surprise.
“Didn't you take an oath or something?” Shaw quipped.
The remaining doctors were stunned, but a few seconds passed and Dr Lawson spoke up. “Sameen?”
“Yeah yeah. Sorry. He was killing the mood.” She waved her hand in front of her, returning her focus to the screen. Root was shooting a .338 while standing out of the sunroof and steering the car with her foot. Amazing.
“No, Sameen, look.”
She turned to see the doctor gesturing at the other wall. The image of Root's brain was flickering with color. Activity.
“It's working?” Shaw asked, looking between the data, and Root herself.
“It's indicating that her brain is conscious in some way. Now's the time to try reach her.”
Shaw nodded and moved to sit next to Root. She looked at her for a moment before leaning in to speak.
“Root?” She hesitated, reaching out to touch her arm. “Can you hear me?”
Seconds passed, feeling like an eternity. Then, the lights on Root's headset came on.
Shaw could feel the device now sending signals into her own mind. It was a strange sensation, like someone filled her skull with icy water. Not unlike being in a simulation, yet she was fully awake. It was making her nauseous. Soon, she could hear a voice in her head. A sound so beautiful and unique, and one that she never dreamed of hearing again, regardless of the Machine's adoption of it.
A single word echoed within her mind:
Absolutely.