“LCC?” Juliet asked, surprised and, if she were honest, a little annoyed by the change in tactics with no feedback on her part.
“Yes,” Tanaka said as he turned, facing forward. “Lee got deep into Life-Ultra’s network. Her daemons are forwarding vid feeds to us, showing the massacre taking place in the sublevels.” He paused and pointed to the left. “The other exit, Dora. I saw two response vehicles outside this one.” He shifted in the seat to glance at Juliet again. “We don’t think we can approach Life-Ultra management to shut things down and pay us off. The documents Dora found on their ‘Genesis Program’ implicate the entire corporation. Your witness should help corroborate.”
“I wanted to tell you about that,” Angel said, “but you’ve been quite busy . . .”
“So, what’s the story?” Juliet asked as she felt something tapping her shoulder. She looked to see Leo trying to hand her the Texan.
“Long story,” Dora said, smoothly piloting the vehicle around some flashing barricades that were open but looked like they shouldn’t be. Were her daemons clearing the way for them? Was Angel? Juliet wanted to ask, but Dora kept speaking, “I guess Life-Ultra’s made some significant strides in complex organ and tissue synthesis, including brain tissue. So, when the marketing guys found out what R&D was working on, they started dreaming up applications and, of course, selling products that weren’t close to being ready. Enough execs received big enough paydays to fight against shutting it down. When the time came to deliver, and the New Life cerebral tissue replacements—the marketing language for Project Genesis—weren’t ready, they had to fake it.”
“We have the client names,” Tanaka added. “They are some very rich, very powerful, and, now, very dead individuals.”
“They just don’t know it yet,” Dora said with a sideways smirk.
“I’m lost. What the hell are you guys talking about?” Leo groused, crawling over the rear seat to sit beside Juliet.
“They basically created synths using mostly organic organs and tissue. The brains, though, the personalities, are just simulations. The synths are pretending to be the people they were supposed to help cheat death. Internally, they’re claiming it’s a stopgap, that they saved the biological brains of their clients and will ‘fix’ the replacements when the tech is ready. The only problem is, they’re not making any progress, and they’ve already had some serious malfunctions.” Dora clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “See, they had to make the copies believable, so the synth brains don’t know they’re synths. They think they’re the original people with some memory issues—memory issues the company keeps saying will resolve, given time.”
“But it never does, and some of them are going psychotic,” Juliet said, the whole thing coming into crystal focus. It made her think of Lilia Voronov and the fact that she was a clone, slowly absorbing the memories of Alexander Voronov. Another approach to the same problem—people didn’t want to be mortal.
“So, you see why we need to go to LCC,” Tanaka said. “I have a contract attorney meeting me; I’ll negotiate a reward before I hand over all the evidence.”
“Are we all going?” Leo asked, saving Juliet the trouble—if Tanaka wanted to handle the business, she would be more than happy to get some much-needed sleep. She craned her neck to look behind her, wondering if she could still see the Life-Ultra tower, but it was gone from view; Dora had taken too many turns. An involuntary shudder passed through her as she pictured those bloody, horror-filled sublevels and remembered that there were still people down there going through hell.
Before Tanaka could answer Leo, she said, “Someone should help them.”
“Huh?” Leo asked.
“The people still trapped down there. I’m sure there are survivors.”
Dora snorted. “Oh, we reported the shitshow to every nearby corp and also to Luna City Security. Life-Ultra says they’ve got things in hand, but, yeah, people are aware and making efforts.”
Tanaka finally answered Leo’s question, “I will handle LCC. We’re dropping you two at the office.”
“What about Barns and Hawkins?” Leo pressed.
“They’re dealing with the dirty LCS officers.” Tanaka turned and made solid eye contact with Leo and then Juliet. “We were not expecting what happened to you two. That sort of situation isn’t something you shrug off. I want you to take a day to decompress, and we’ll talk on Monday. Agreed?”
Juliet was torn between being grateful and feeling like she should stand up for herself and her role as the organizer of the operation. Should she just let him take over all this business? Shouldn’t she insist on going to the corporate consortium with him? In the end, her grateful side won, or maybe it was her exhaustion that got into the corner to help it out. “Thanks, Tanaka,” was all she said. He grunted in response, and Juliet unlocked the seals on her helmet, sighing softly as she pulled it off her sweaty head. “God, that feels better.” The climate-controlled interior was like ice against her neck, and she leaned back, luxuriating in it.
“You were a machine in there, Lucky. I’m . . . not sure I could’ve done better.” Leo actually sounded like he was trying to give her a compliment, and despite his inability to do it cleanly, Juliet smiled and reached over to pat his knee.
Tanaka said what she was thinking, “You’d be dead if that had been you and a copy of yourself in there.”
“What? Hey, if I had the gear she was packing . . .”
“You would have died a little more slowly,” Dora snorted. “I watched some of the action through the cam feeds.”
Juliet yawned while Leo shook his head, a look on his face that said he was tired of fighting the world alone. She jostled him with her elbow, offering him a wink. “Joking aside, I was under-equipped. I should’ve brought more ammo.”
“If you were proficient with the monoblade, it would have rendered your ammo redundant.”
Juliet nodded, conceding. “Maybe. Your sword sure worked shiny against those synths in the stairwell.”
“A good blade.” Tanaka sounded very satisfied, and Juliet had to smile.
“If we’re just gonna keep jerking her off all night, can you drop me here, Dora?” Leo groaned.
“Oh, you are such a baby!” Juliet laughed. “I’m starting to see that if you aren’t the center of attention . . .”
“He makes himself the center,” Frida said unexpectedly through comms. Juliet had forgotten about her. “I’m not trying to butt in; I just have an update: Based on our preliminary report, the LCC has mobilized LCS to respond to the Life-Ultra building, claiming access by rights of an ‘existential threat to Luna City’s populace.’ I think the people in there will get some help now, Lucky.” As she spoke, Dora pulled the SUV up to the front of the BizRes Tower.
“Here you go, Ls,” the netjacker said as the vehicle came to a stop.
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“Ls?” Juliet puzzled over the nickname, assuming it meant Leo somehow.
“Leo and Lucky. Ls.”
“Oh, brother,” Leo groaned, popping open the door and slipping out.
“I guess I’ll see you in a minute, Frida,” Juliet chuckled, following him out.
“Right.” Frida was all business, “Boss, they’re expecting you at the LCC building. We’ve got three board members on site and two more on the way. The secretary I’ve been dealing with says at least one is pissed to have her Saturday night ruined.”
Tanaka grunted, “Good.” As Juliet shut the door, he lowered his window and said, “Rest and decompress, Lucky. I’m serious. See you Monday.”
She nodded, then turned to the building, noting Leo waiting by the door. “You’re coming up?”
“I guess. I want to say hi to Frida, and I need to call a cab anyway.”
He nodded and waited for her to walk through, helmet clutched in one hand, shotgun bouncing against her armored belly. “It’s gonna feel good to peel that armor off, isn’t it?”
“You know it.” Juliet turned, smiling, and allowed him to catch up and walk beside her. “Hey, I know we were teasing you a little back there, but you were great tonight. I never had to worry about where Estes was or think about you falling behind. You even got my back a couple of times. You were right, too. I was geared for war, and you were wearing a suit. It makes a difference.”
“Are you . . .” He blinked and opened his eyes wide. “Are you being nice to me?”
“Oh, shut up!” She laughed and mock-punched his shoulder. He, of course, reacted dramatically, flinching and wincing.
“Careful with those armored ham hands . . .”
“Did you just call my hands hams? I’m gonna hit you for real!” Juliet laughed, chasing after him as he double-timed it to the elevator.
“I’m kidding! Mercy!” he cried as he slapped the call button. When Juliet relented, leaning against the wall, a stupid smile still on her face, he said, “Man, it feels good to let it out, doesn’t it? That was some tense shit back there, no lie. Thirty stories underground, surrounded by hostiles, half of which were psychotic synths, the other half drugged-up corpo-sec. Uh-uh, I’ll pass on that if I can.”
“Yeah. Why bring it up? I’d rather forget for now.”
“I know what could help with that . . .” The sly look he gave her was very suggestive, and Juliet suddenly wished she still had her helmet on as the blood rushed to her face. She cleared her throat and looked down, grasping for a response, but he shrugged and said, “It was just a thought. Don’t sweat it.”
“I thought you said . . .” Her mind immediately fell back on the memory of him saying they weren’t compatible and that he’d gotten over his initial attraction. Who says something like that? As she completed the thought, the immediate follow-up was, who expects anyone to stand by words like that? She’d been operating on the principle that people and their feelings could be predicted or considered logical.
He grunted, shooting her a half smile. “Yeah, yeah. I’m being stupid.” The elevator dinged, and he stepped inside, and Juliet had half a mind to wait in the lobby. Part of her was angry that she’d frozen up, and part of her was furious that he’d gotten to her, which made her react the way she had. She wanted to scowl at him, but she was just too exhausted and too flustered despite her rising ire. She stepped into the elevator and avoided looking at him as the doors closed, leaning against the opposite wall, eyes on the door.
Angel, of course, could tell she was bothered. “I think he was hoping for a different reaction, Juliet. I think he’s trying to save face.”
Frowning, Juliet leaned forward and slammed a hand against the stop button, bringing the elevator to a lurching halt. She whirled on him and said, “What’s your deal, anyway, Applebaum?” He opened his mouth, ready to answer with some charming quip, no doubt, but Juliet wasn’t going to have it. “We just went through hell together, and I think I deserve better than to have you trying to jerk me around with my emotions!”
He folded his arms, clearly feeling defensive, and shrugged, for once no smile, sly or otherwise, on his lips. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was out of line.”
Juliet wasn’t ready to let him off the hook. “Would you make a suggestion like that to Hawkins? To Lee?”
“No . . .”
“So, why do you think it’s okay with me?”
“I guess I don’t think it’s okay. I . . .” He groaned, pressed his hands to the sides of his head, and slowly slid down the elevator wall until he was squatting, nearly on the floor, squeezing his eyes shut. “My mouth got away from me, all right? I think you’re fucking amazing, and I don’t know how to behave around someone like you.”
“So, all the banter? All the shit-talk? You’re just being a schoolboy, picking on the girl you like?”
His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as he nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.” His admission, his posture, and his handsome face peering up at her from a blood-stained executive suit all combined to do something to Juliet at that moment, and she felt a different kind of heat flushing her cheeks. Almost in a panic, she slammed the emergency stop, getting the elevator moving again. It had nearly been on the floor of Tanaka’s offices, so she only had time for a few quick breaths before it dinged and the doors started to open. Leo stood, and they locked eyes for a second. He smiled, shrugged, and, as he stepped off, said, “Sorry.”
“Leo,” she said before he could take more than a couple of steps.
He stopped and turned, quirking an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“You’re all right.” Her words brought a small smile to his face, and he nodded. Then, he turned and walked down the hall, away from Tanaka’s suite. Juliet blew out a deep breath, stuck her helmet out to stop the doors from closing, and then walked to Tanaka’s office.
“Are you all right?” Angel asked.
“I’m just confused.” She sighed, tapping her helmet against her thigh, hesitating before opening the doors. “And tired. I’m dead tired, Angel.”
“You already have a cab waiting downstairs if you don’t want to talk to anyone else.”
“No. I’m here. I’m sure Frida saw me. I’ll say hello.” Juliet took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and pulled the door open, stepping into the lobby.
Frida immediately called out, “Lucky!” She waved a hand from her desk, tapping away at some projected UI elements, lights flickering in the air near her data deck. “Let me get through these messages, then I can focus.”
Juliet nodded, setting her helmet in one of the chairs in front of her desk and collapsing into the other. She watched Frida tapping away, talking to her PAI, clearly trying to manage five tasks at once. She was communicating with various people from the LCC, someone from Luna City Security, and passing location and transport info on to Barns and Hawkins.
Juliet watched her, trying to picture her as a long-lost scion to one of the last century's most powerful and influential families. Her mind kept drifting to romanticized images of Japanese villas on forested hillsides, and when Frida spoke again, she jerked her head, snapping out of a near-slumber. “You want to crash here?”
“Uh,” Juliet yawned, stretching to the point that her back popped several times. “No, I gotta get home. I just wanted to say hi.”
Frida leaned forward, licking her lips and darting her eyes nervously. “I have to confess something.”
“Huh?”
“Leo. He, uh, walks around with his comms open all the time. He’s had them on since the operation . . .”
“Oh, shit!” Juliet groaned.
“Yeah, I should have shut it off. I heard that stuff, though, and I want you to know I’m sorry.”
Juliet scowled, more embarrassed than angry. “Yeah, why didn’t you shut it off?”
“It was half over before I realized what was happening! Then, well, shoot . . .” Frida thumped her fist against her forehead.
Juliet had to laugh. “You’re regretting confessing.”
Frida’s voice was small as she blushed. “That, and my stupid nosy mind making me ever so slow when it came to cutting off his comms.”
“Forget it. I’d have a hard time tuning out that trainwreck, too.”
“He really got you flustered, huh? But you got him right back! I’ve never heard him get so quiet and . . . honest! Do you, like, want me to do anything? Want me to mention it to Tan . . .”
Juliet’s heart lurched in her chest, a wave of unreasonable panic washing over her. “No! No, Frida. I’m too tired to process all that. Anyway, I think we cleared the air enough.”
“He’s a good person, Lucky. He won’t, like, harass you or anything. Just tell him enough is enough. I mean, if you want to.” She said the last almost like a question, and Juliet had to smile.
“Like I said, I’m too tired to process things.” She grunted, standing. “Anyway, I wanted to say hi, and I’ve done it. I’m going to find my bed.” She started to turn but paused, leaning on the back of the chair. “I wanted to say more than hi. I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for having my back and for making all,” she waved her hand at the flickering lights all around Frida’s desk, “this happen. I’d be ten kinds of melted if I hadn’t had you all to help me with this mess.”
“It’s my pleasure. One, I like you and want to help. Two, I haven’t seen the boss smiling like he was tonight in a long time.” Frida bared her teeth in a fierce grin and leaned over her desk to grab Juliet’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Go home and relax. You did amazing tonight.”
“Thanks, Frida.” Juliet returned the smile. Frida nodded and, as her eyes unfocused, and she started talking to a secretary at the LCC, Juliet walked out to the elevator. “What a night!” she groaned as the elevator surged downward.
“I’ve never had such a hard time picking a topic to speak to you about! The operation, the horrible crimes committed by Life-Ultra, Tanaka’s strangely good mood, Leo’s advances, and your strange reaction—where do I begin?”
Juliet had to laugh, shaking her head. “You’re terrible! What do you mean by my strange reaction?”
“I thought you might tell him off or break his arm. Instead, you got flustered and quiet, and I could tell you were experiencing some amorous emotions!”
“Well? What do you want from me, Angel? I’m pent-up! He’s handsome and fit, and when I called him out, he got surprisingly sweet. I’m just as confused as you are! I can’t let that happen, though, right? I mean, not if we’re going to work together . . .”
“I don’t know. Workplace romance isn’t always doomed.” The way Angel said it made Juliet think she’d done research and found that it was very often ‘doomed.’ She groaned again and walked through the lobby, aiming for the cab she could see parked outside.
“Maybe it’s not romance. Maybe we just want to let off some steam together. You know, now and then.”
“Can you see yourself doing that?” Angel’s question prompted a series of rather steamy images in her mind, and Juliet felt herself flushing again.
“Unfortunately, Angel, I can see it all too easily.” As she slid into the cab, a red light began to flash near the sensor array.
“Pardon me, Operator XR713-004, but I’ll need you to provide licenses for . . . Thank you.” The light went out, and the cab began to pull away from the curb.
“Take me to my bike, Angel. I’m already sick of cabs.”