The Neon Pulse Chronicles: Novella 4 - The Neon Pulse Chronicles, #4

Stefan, a naive young man thrust into the chaos of war, has been enlisted into the Texas Army and sent to Belize to support the military in a brutal conflict. As he witnesses the harsh realities of battle, his innocence is shattered, and alongside his tough partner, Tera, he navigates the grim battlefield, triaging soldiers and civilians, leaving him to question both his humanity and survival in this unforgiving world.
Meanwhile, his friend Cass, a resourceful street punk, is uncovering the secrets of a neuromorphic computer left by her stepfather, a former DFWPD detective. To repair the damaged machine, Cass must acquire rare materials, as it may hold the key to solving the case her stepfather was working on before his death. Both Cass and Stefan's stories confront what it means to hold onto their humanity in a world where technology often erases it.