...
The lashunta pushes his weapons aside and grabs the healing serum, drinking it quickly. {No, I drank all of my healing serum already. It was a long night,} he thinks to Amaryst. She can see the slow oozing of his blood stop, and he seems to feel a bit better. It will likely be a few days until he's really ready for anything other than a stiff breeze, though. {No backup coming here, if that's what you're asking. I've no idea if anyone is still alive.}He reluctantly allows her to hold his weapons. Well, most of them. {I'll keep a grenade and my sidearm, though. No offense, but... I don't know you. I'm not going anywhere with you unarmed.}
To Amaryst, he looks frankly on the edge of death. He's taken several bullet wounds, and a couple of what look like laser burns. His armor is melted and pockmarked, and he looks exhausted from the long night that he'd had. With the healing serum that Amaryst gave him, he can probably get up and walk on his own, and maybe shoot his gun, but any injury is likely to incapacitate him.
...
{That's the kind of thinking that got you where you are. Proof positive that you're not thinking straight. What are you going to do with a pistol and a grenade? What were you going to do with the heavy weapon and a bag of grenades? Fight your way to the spaceport? There's a whole planet of cops and army out there. The cops here aren't Castrovelli corporate grade, but they're pretty good. We're going to have a two hour head start at maximum, maybe just minutes. For all we know they're tracking your blood trail now.}
{I'll get you out of the house, but if you won't play my way I'll dump you in Southie or Chahlestown and we'll see how far you get. The cops will be the least of your worries because the locals will probably eat you. Or you can start walking from here, it's a nice neighborhood that can afford private security in addition to cops.}
It doesn't take Korvan long to arrive on-scene - an old two-story house in the suburban area of town. Owned by a wealthy older woman, it's got such luxuries as a balcony (with such magnificent views as urban decay and the smell of polluted air) real wood shingles, and separate rooms for dining, living, and cooking.
Seeing Korvan at the gate, Amaryst tells him the entry code. "Drive on up to the house. Don't come in. I've got to talk to you outside."
She turns to the lashunta. {Stay out of sight. He's a friend,but you might be more trouble than our friendship is worth.}
Amaryst walks out the front door where she stands to wait for Korvan. In the still pose her blocky grey armor is reminescent of stone.
Finishing up his request for a car, Korvan walks up and sees Amaryst waiting for him. "Hey there. What sort of s**# storm you dragging me into?" he asks, only half-joking.
The wounded lashunta shakes his head stubbornly. {What I'm going to do with it is shoot if it turns out that you're bringing me to the cops, or if you sell me to a gangster, or if you otherwise f&%# me over.}
Although there is no work immediately for Smyrna or for Cross, there are several postings for the following day:
Cross is able to repair what little damage he did to the ancient machine in just a few hours, leaving him free to look up more work. There are a few jobs suitable for his skill set:
Jin is pinged by a message: During the battle, a vesk contruction worker was crushed by some steel beams and sustained some injuries that he can't take to the local hospital for one reason or another. There is a small payment in it if Jin will treat the man.
The wounded lashunta shakes his head stubbornly. {What I'm going to do with it is shoot if it turns out that you're bringing me to the cops, or if you sell me to a gangster, or if you otherwise f@$* me over.}
No wonder no one came back for this one.
Amaryst changes to a slow formal mode. {You tempt me sorely. Now hear me. I devise no betrayal. I would see you clear of this home, physically mobile, and free. For your part, decide whether you need a friend or a gun?}
Finishing up his request for a car, Korvan walks up and sees Amaryst waiting for him. "Hey there. What sort of s#!* storm you dragging me into?" he asks, only half-joking.
Amaryst's reply is deadly serious and delivered in a low voice that's intended not to carry.
"The kind that could cost your life or forty years breaking rocks in the Belt. I'm sorry to bring you into this at all, Korvan. If you want just leave me the car and walk away."
Korvan shrugs, "Not the first time I've done something that could put me away for a long time."
"Besides, I like the idea of you owing me a favor." he says with a wink.
|
Jin is pinged by a message: During the battle, a vesk contruction worker was crushed by some steel beams and sustained some injuries that he can't take to the local hospital for one reason or another. There is a small payment in it if Jin will treat the man.
Jin quickly sends the man back a confirmation message. A few broken bones probably, it shouldn't be too difficult he thought to himself as he arrived home and brought in the "gifts".
"Hey I'm back, here you two go... what's that human holiday again? Oh right, Merry Christmas." he says as he tosses the two gift wrapped bundles of clothing to the kids. "Go ahead and get dressed, when my friend finishes her job I'm gonna ask for her to come with us to this safe house. Just in case these friends of yours get too 'excited'."
Korvan shrugs, "Not the first time I've done something that could put me away for a long time."
"Besides, I like the idea of you owing me a favor." he says with a wink.
Tension in the Lashunta's cheeks, neck, and behind her eyes eases. She sighs with relief.
"Thanks, but this might be worth two. I've got a Lashunta inside. I think he was part of last night's excitement. He's shot up pretty bad. AND he's an a#*@%&!. But I can't leave him, we're bound by ancient ties of blood and soil." Amaryst's intonation of 'ancient ties' is simultaneously solemn and utterly facetious.
"Are you still in?"
"Two favors, I like the sound of that."[b] he says with a smirk and a nod.
Thinking about it for few seconds, Korvan says, [b]"Sure, what the hell. Not like I had much else goin' on today."
While the pair speak, the car arrives.
"Car's here, what's the play?"
Maldor is awakened by the gift package landing on his chest! He bolts upright and a small, spherical, floating wisp of otherworldly energy appears above him and moves quickly towards Jin's head. Although it doesn't actually cause any damage, the ball of pure light and energy is enough to distract a potential assailant long enough for the young mystic to escape...
Once Maldor is aware of his surroundings, the wisp disappears and he mumbles, "Sorry...you startled me. That was a defensive technique the masters taught us back in the station...it doesn't hurt you, really. Didn't mean to attack you. Oh, and thanks for the gift."
Emily had read a dozen or so articles before Jin returned, and though she learned much she still felt lost and overwhelmed by how much there was left to learn. ”Thank you,” she said as she looked over the strangely festive packaging. She carefully removed the shiny paper and opened the box, then took out the clothes and looked them over. ’My clothes,’ she thought. ’I [u]own[/u] clothes now.’ Emily took off the lab coat and found an unoccupied room to change.
The lashunta mutely nods, sighing. He steals a duffel bag from the rich woman's closet and stows his weapons away in them. He zips the duffel bag shut and hands it over to Amaryst, limping. {You lead the way, then. You better not be b!*$#%!$ting me.}
"Two favors, I like the sound of that."[b] he says with a smirk and a nod.
Thinking about it for few seconds, Korvan says, [b]"Sure, what the hell. Not like I had much else goin' on today."
While the pair speak, the car arrives.
"Car's here, what's the play?"
"We get in and drive away. Find a place to hole up. It can't be anyplace associated with me because the agency knows I was here and our new friend left a huge gory blood trail. It's only a matter of time before the cops follow it here and then a little longer 'til they start looking for me. That's as far as I've thought."
"I've got a friend I might be able to tap for a little money. Maybe our new friend has some resources. Maybe I just try to get to my ship."
"Come on inside. I'll introduce you to the problem."
The lashunta mutely nods, sighing. He steals a duffel bag from the rich woman's closet and stows his weapons away in them. He zips the duffel bag shut and hands it over to Amaryst, limping. {You lead the way, then. You better not be b~~#%#!~ting me.}
Amaryst takes the bag, slings it over a shoulder, and sighs. {I c/should have taken you up on your suggestion to just walk away. And then called the cops. It's too late for that now. So relax a little and please try to play well with me and my friends.}
Amaryst opens the door and steps through before Korvan. {Honey!, I'm home and I brought a friend.}
Korvan silently follows Amaryst into the building.
That Night,
Later that same night, Smyrna and Cross head to the street race. Illegal street races, like many other illegal forms of competition and entertainment, have been increasing in popularity in recent years. The recent increase in police activity has inspired a sense of challenge in the organizers of the race. They weren't about to allow a little thing like the increased threat of arrest stop them from doing what they love.
The streets are slick with oil and water, and the street is abuzz with the talk between the racers, their pit crews, and the spectators. As usual, bets are being placed on the racers most or least likely to win. The track this time winds through a warehouse district, a wide section of sewer tunnel, some urban downtown streets, and an underground parking garage. Two laps wins the race.
Where are you? What are you doing?
Korvan enters the house to find an injured lashunta warrior, heavily armored but unarmed, sitting on some stairs next to the front door. He coughs painfully. "This a friend? Where are we headed?"
|
|
"Sorry...you startled me. That was a defensive technique the masters taught us back in the station...it doesn't hurt you, really. Didn't mean to attack you. Oh, and thanks for the gift."
Jin rubs his eyes as he stands back up, having dropped to the floor when he saw the orb coming. "Well, in that case, that's a relief. It's fine don't worry."
"I thought at first it was one of these" the scientist continued as with a wave of his hand his eyes began to glow and a small orb of shimmering golden energy formed, about the size of a baseball. "They can pack a whallop, never can be too careful." he finished as he drew the golden energy back into his arm.
"Now that we've got you some outfits, we just need to wait for Amaryst to show up and we can head together to the safehouse." he thought aloud. "Cassius, ask her how much longer that job will take."
|
|
"Right away"
Meanwhile, on the ongoing call Cassius finally stops listening and speaks up. "Mrs. Geil, Dr. Larson would like to know when you will be able to make it over like he mentioned in the text this morning. His request has gotten a little more urgent and... complicated." he finished in that non-committal tone that only AI can truly pull off.
...
Korvan enters the house to find an injured lashunta warrior, heavily armored but unarmed, sitting on some stairs next to the front door. He coughs painfully. "This a friend? Where are we headed?"
"Away from here. Then we find a safe place. Then I talk to another fri--"
Amaryst is interrupted by her comm, "Mrs. Geil, Dr. Larson would like to know when you will be able to make it over like he mentioned in the text this morning. His request has gotten a little more urgent and... complicated."
Amaryst looks momentarily startled, and confused, but quickly answers, "Cassius! I am finishing that now. I can be there in an hour or two, depending on traffic."
She mutes the comm and turns to the others. "That's the friend I need to see. He's my best bet for a cash loan, or it sounds like he might have a job." She slips the comm sound back on.
"Larson? You've got Jin in on this mess too?" Korvan asks.
Turning his attention to the wound Lashunta warrior. "What's your name, buddy?"
Cross did not like crowds, too much accidental touching and people consuming things around him. If he had skin, the prospect of braving a crowd would have made it crawl. Still, fighting through the press of bodies was his best opportunity to watch the race first hand. Elbowing his way through with the necessary level of disregard for his fellow humans, Cross had his eyes set on the starting line.
"Larson? You've got Jin in on this mess too?" Korvan asks.
Turning his attention to the wound Lashunta warrior. "What's your name, buddy?"
"Larson? You've got Jin in on this mess too?" Korvan asks.
Turning his attention to the wound Lashunta warrior. "What's your name, buddy?"
"I'm trying to keep him out of it. He doesn't know anything yet, and he won't know anything at all if I have my way. You've been warned and know the game. Jin's smart, but he's never done anything wrong, never had to. Can you imagine him facing the cops? "
Smyrna keeps the hood up on her rough, leather coat. She liked the added element of anonymity, but mostly it kept her cheap makeup from smearing. The day after Rex's job had been fruitless, and Smyrna needed cash fast. Smyrna didn't know a lot about betting, but she was still a gearhead at heart, and Smyrna hoped her technical advantage could get her rent.
Smyrna let her eyes pick through the rigs as she passed from crowd to crowd. She noted the conditions on the track, looking for the vehicle that would be able to accelerate quickly and take tight turns in the slick conditions. Smyrna also kept a wary eye behind her, not wanting to be an easy mark in this crowd. [b]"Tay, keep an eye out for trouble."[b] She murmured under her breath.
Smyrna:
Tay:
"I'm trying to keep him out of it. He doesn't know anything yet, and he won't know anything at all if I have my way. You've been warned and know the game. Jin's smart, but he's never done anything wrong, never had to. Can you imagine him facing the cops? "
"Good point. I'm pretty sure that guy could talk his way from a simple misdemeanor to a class one felony and not even realize he did it."
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|
"Jin's smart, but he's never done anything wrong, never had to. Can you imagine him facing the cops? ""Good point. I'm pretty sure that guy could talk his way from a simple misdemeanor to a class one felony and not even realize he did it."
"For both of your sakes, I'll refrain from relaying that particular exchange unless needed."
The warrior sighs. "Call me Rollo," he says. "And... if it's all the same to you, I think I might be more comfortable if we got going. Sooner, rather than later. Can one of you help me walk?"
There are four racers in today's race. About 100 other people are around, including friends, family, None of them are using their own, given name. Like most performers, they each have a racer's name.
The Dominator is the night's favorite, an old standby veteran racer. He has 2 to 1 odds to win, and bets on him see a 10% return.
The Flashfire is a favorite from the Vegas racing scene, a young hotshot. He has 1 to 2 odds to win, and bets on him see a 50% return.
"Missile" is one of the few aliens who lives in the city, a naked-mole-rat-like ysoki. He rides a custom-built smaller bike. He has 5 to 1 odds to win, and bets on him see a 100% return.
There is also a guy called George. He got Cross' usual spot when Cross had to sell his bike, and is an excited newcomer to the race scene. He has 10 to 1 odds to win, and bets on him see a 300% return.
It begins to drizzle as the race's organizers announce that the race will start in a few minutes, and the racers push their bikes over to the starting line.
Seeing the Ysoki motorcycle, Smyrna feels a mental tug. Something between a gut instinct and an unconscious logic jump. She finds the bet-keeper belting odds on an old truck bed and hands him a cred stick. "40 creds on Missile" She gets her ticket and scans the crowd, looking to find Cross's unique frame.
"Locate Cross, Tay" whispers while concentrating, Tay instantly responds "Calculating"
"Hey, King George!" Cross shouted, ducking through the partitions like he had every right to be there. The racers and organizers should know him. Without waiting for a response he looped an arm around the newcomer's shoulders and pulled him aside.
"Dom's a tough old bird, got that way by knowing all the routes, how to play them, and not taking stupid risks. Keep and eye on him, do what he does on the tricky bits, try to overtake him on the straightaways. Burning boy is a showy prick. Goad him into trying to do something flash, play your cards right and he'll bite off more than he can chew. Missile is the wildcard in any race. Put someone between you and him when you can until he shows his hand. The route is nothing special, keep an eye out in the sewers though. Don't get fancy down there, easy way to end up dead. I'll see you next race, yeah?" Before George can respond, Cross pulls away and moves back into the crowd.
The newcomer - a young ginger with a hand-me-down bike and a charming smile - nods and absorbs all of Cross' advice. "Thanks!" he says. "I appreciate the thought." He begins to push his bike away, saying, "Sorry, gotta go. Thanks again!"
A number of fast, flying surveillance drones power up their turbofans and hover near the start line. The track is lined with wireless cameras, and several displays around the spectating zone display the camera feeds. With a dramatic count by a beautiful flag-bearing young woman, the four speedsters squeal their tires on the pavement and take off. The flying drones whizz and fly after them. The race has begun!
After placing her bet, Smyrna can find Cross easily enough. It's not the biggest place, nor does it have the greatest number of people.
Smyrna goes up to Cross from behind and shoves him hard but playfully on the shoulder. "C'mon man! You can't just Yoda any cute redhead on a beater. I've got my livelihood on the Ki with the hydrophobic tread.
Smyrna flashes her ticket menacingly at him, but she can't help but smirk a bit in the process, cooling her display.
“It took me five races and three crashes to learn all that myself, I’m just trying to keep the kid alive,” Cross said defensively, “They’ll eat him alive otherwise. That slot is usually open for a reason. My run was the exception, not the rule.”
"I think we can agree on that, Rollo. Let's get out of here." Korvan says, offering a hand to get the wounded warrior to his feet.
"Yeah, let's move." Amaryst agrees. "Before we go, we need to double check this place. We can't do anything about the blood, but we need to make sure there's no other traces of Rollo. Especially gear or weapons. And I need to call in to the agency. I'm just not sure what to tell them."
The lashunta nods, leans on Korvan, and the trio exits the house to get into the automatic-driving cab. As she exits, Amaryst isn't able to find anything that would be imcriminating or that would be a loss to lose and heads out of the house to join her friends. The cab chirps, asking for a destination.
Rollo shakes his head. "No, I lost my laser weapons and my comm to an electric attack," he says. "The same attack that took down my fighter. I was alone, so no friends to lean on. We had a safehouse location, but I've no idea where it is without my commlink. Can't you just take me to... a hotel or something? You have those on Earth, don't you?"
Amaryst grabs an overcoat and throws it over Rollo's armor before they leave.
"Once we're in the car, you and I are going to shed our armor. It would attract too much attention."
The lashunta nods, leans on Korvan, and the trio exits the house to get into the automatic-driving cab. As she exits, Amaryst isn't able to find anything that would be imcriminating or that would be a loss to lose and heads out of the house to join her friends. The cab chirps, asking for a destination.
"Union Square, Somerville." That woud start them in the right direction for Jin's house, or some lower class urban areas without leaving a plain trail. They'd have to make a choice soon.
"Korvan, can you adjust the cab's memory and shut down any monitoring?"
Rollo shakes his head. "No, I lost my laser weapons and my comm to an electric attack," he says. "The same attack that took down my fighter. I was alone, so no friends to lean on. We had a safehouse location, but I've no idea where it is without my commlink. Can't you just take me to... a hotel or something? You have those on Earth, don't you?"
Amaryst chuffs with amusement. "Yes, there's hotels here. We'll have to find one that will take cash and won't ask questions. It won't be pretty."
The race is quite exciting to watch, even if it's just on vidscreens for 95% of it. One racer will pull ahead of another, only to scrape against a wall, sparks flying, and lose enough momentum for a third rider to drift around a curve and take the lead.
"I'll see what I can do." Korvan says. "Even if I can shut it down, odds are it will be noticeable to whoever is monitoring the cars...assuming they check such things."
"If I get really lucky, I might be able to go back in the camera's history and freeze an image for the jokers back at the depot to buy us a bit of time."
Amaryst chuckles at the thought. "That would be great. "
Before they board the car, Amaryst pulls out her personal comm unit and calls the Simon agency. She lets them know that the house secure is secure, but a mess. "Looks like vandals slaughtered a flock of sheep in there. Blood everywhere" And suggests that they contact Carol to offer a cleanup crew to go through the place before she returns.
Amaryst tells them that she has to go and that she'll be in to collect her fee tomorrow.
"By the way, I grabbed this from the body of that wreck's pilot. Figured you might be able to do more with it than me," Cross said, pulling the damaged comm unit from a pocket and offering it up. A bit of clever data-mining could net some credits from it if she was lucky. "Payment for letting me use your cycle."
That's very kind of you. I'll make sure to put it to good use. Don't think I forgot about your makeover. Maybe I can throw in a vitals tune-up while the nail polish dries.
Just then, Tay pipes up from Smyrna's bag This is really cute boss, but can you watch the race too? There's some road kill action about to go on at the 9 o'clock screen.
The computers back at the Lyfuber HQ are far too sophisticated for someone like Korvan to hack into, but the car computer is fairly basic. He is easily able to delete the last few locations from the car's history and disable its internal cameras. It drives away from the scene of the crime, electric engines humming softly. Korvan figures they have maybe an hour before somebody at HQ notices the malfunction and performs a reset.
- - - - -
As Tay watches, the motorcycles round a corner directly into the path of the small boy on the vidscreen. Just as one cycle is about to collide with him (a gasp rises from the crowd of spectators) there is a bright flash, a wave of fire, and the vidscreen goes dark.
"The Hell?" Cross said when the screen went out, "Did that kid just blow himself up?" He was stunned, people wandering onto the course was not unheard of but usually the organizers kept a better lid on things than to let some kid wired with explosives through.