Chapter 77: Tough Choice
August 23rd
Ripley’s twenty-fourth day… and Anthony Grazhe is at his house.
I practically broke the door to my apartment open as I entered, looking for Anthony Grazhe. The man sitting across from my mother didn’t look like a cop but that only made it worse for me — Elsa gave me the details, Anthony Grazhe was an Intelligence Investigator in Diana’s squad, nephew to the Lieutenant. He wore a fancy tuxedo and had his hair slicked back like some greasy bastard, I bore my eyes into him from the moment we met.
”Ripley… Ripley Donovick, right?” The man began.
I’d seen those exact same eyes before, I’d seen him aim down a gun at me with those eyes. Jacob Grazhe. His grandson, but blood runs in the family… “You. Out. Now.”
”You… yeah sure, whatever man, I just really need to tal-“
”Out!” I wasn’t wasting a moment on this, if the cops were here… how? Diana? No, she wouldn’t do that, it didn’t make sense to. But he followed, and that eased me just a little bit. I made him follow me across my dank apartment complex to somewhere quieter, a tiny corner with a vending machine that was too old to have good food.
”What were you doing in my house, Grazhe?” I unclicked my claw-shell, letting my right hand enlarge before his eyes.
”Oh… um, Diana, she said to find you. Gave me your sigil but… I couldn’t connect to you, so I searched your family up in the system, your dad was in our system and it pinged for this loca-”
Fuck my right hand. Two blades ejected from my left, spiraling out like twin snakes on the hunt, floating just beside Grazhe’s neck. “You searched us up in your system? Who else knows?!”
”N-No one man!” Anthony stared at each pointed blade like they were actively cursing him. “Shit, Diana made you sound nicer. She’s in trouble!”
”Trouble?” I retracted both blades slowly back to my left arm, they forged into one before slipping in. “What kind of trouble?”
”I think she’s kidnapped. Or missing.” He said, bringing my eyes wide. “I helped her get into a secret auction to look into Soul Killer, it ended hours ago but she didn’t come out. I can’t contact her either, but… maybe you could? You should know someone?”
”I can try calling some people…” Could Elsa help? “Dammit, this is bad timing.”
”Bad timing?”
”I’ve got… other priorities in my head as well.” I ruffled my fingers through my hair at this complicated mess.
”Other priorities, like what?” He took a step forward, but I wasn’t trusting a single step from a Grazhe.
My silence to that question spoke magnitudes, and he quickly got it… “Oh, of course… you’re just a fucking criminal. Look… whatever you have going on, Diana’s more important than it.”
”Don’t assume things.” I clicked my tongue. “But… any idea who took her?”
”Soul Killer… that’s my bet.” He looked desperate.
”I’ve heard the name, The Uncaged. That’s what I’ve heard they’re a part of, some secret group with Mr. Skeleton and Dogwhistler in it as well. That’s all I know.”
”All?” He grabbed his head. “Just… can’t you call someone to track her down?”
Could I? “That’s not… exactly how it works.”
”Just, come with me to the auction place. Maybe we’ll find something.” He remained adamant.
”No.” I was adamant too. “It’s suicide. Whoever these people are, I’ve seen… some of the weird shit they can pull off. I would help you, I really want to, but I can’t right now. Besides, this isn’t the first time Diana’s run off into danger.”
”She…” Anthony silently screamed in his own mouth. “I care about her man! Just help me out a little bit!”
”I can’t even get involved with her, it’s dangerous!” She had a 35 million bounty on her head for fuck’s sake.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
”Cus of the bounty? You charged in to help her out before!”
”That was different. I have something I need to do now.”
He scoffed. ”Please, whatever bank you’re going to rob can wait. Just tell me how to get you to help me?”
I sensed something off in those last words, a foreign charge of energy that tried to cloud my thoughts. I hissed, letting the Gold of my blade shine a little brighter. “Try that again, motherfucker.”
He looked like he could have wet the sheets, but stayed still as his eyes burned on me. “Ripley Donovick. Why are you doing any of this?”
”Because it gives me a reason to live!” I shouted, fuck… had I meant that? “My mother needs an Implant, there are friends I want to protect, if I have to choose between Diana and them, you’ve heard my answer. I’m sorry, I’ll still see what I can do. Maybe I’ll find something to help... just give me your contact ID.”
Anthony Grazhe stayed silent, but he passed over his ID. I made sure to note down to tell Elsa to make our communication untraceable. Our deal done, I waved him goodbye. “I really wish I could do more, I’ll tell you when I’m free. And… if you’re looking for Soul Killer, I’ve heard something about them using flowers.”
Anthony’s eyes slimmed down, anger spiraling within them. “Flowers…? You know, Diana really trusted you to help her.”
”Would she have done the same for me?” I shot back an equally defiant look.
”Yeah, Ripley. She would.” He stormed off, his steps echoing in my head even once I could no longer hear them.
Unsettled, I returned to my apartment, my mom looking at me with uncertainty. “He wasn’t here on police business, Ripley… did you hear him out?”
”Diana’s in trouble.” I collapsed onto my couch. “I don’t think I can help right now, but maybe once everything is fine…”
I didn’t like this, had The Uncaged taken her? Would I be next?
”I’ve been thinking…” I pulled out a few shards to show my mother. “I’m going to get a pretty hefty raise soon. Eight Bronze a month, that’s 40,000 Shardyne. Why stay here? Let’s move somewhere safer.”
”Ripley…” My mom covered her mouth. “As much as I would like to, I think it’s best we stay here for now. You need all the funds you can…”
”Then I want you to have this.” I pulled out my lock-on gun. The Mazhyr Interloper. “I’ve managed to learn the Engram of it, so I’d rather you have something to protect yourself with. It won’t be too effective since you don’t have a metallic limb, but the slight neural correc-“
”No, Ripley. I can’t shoot at anyone.” My mother slid the gun back towards me. “I know you want me safe. I’ve talked to Missy about it, she says that after your mission… she’ll arrange something to keep this place secure.”
I wasn’t aware that Missy and my mom were communicating like that. “I see. Okay if I spend the night here then?”
”Of course, Ripley. You’re the one paying the bills.” She held me warmly.
———
In the dead of night, when my mother was asleep, I reached for my Network Feature… Diana hadn’t contacted me if she had found any sort of bug at her place, but that was because I warned her not to. Maybe I should have been smarter and done this sooner, but…
I found nothing abnormal with my ability to sense Warpcode. I wasn’t sure whether I should have been glad about that or not. Regardless, I could never be too careful, so I reached into my backpack and pulled out a small robot. It wasn’t as powerful as the drone Elsa had given me, but I’d manufactured it myself with some spare parts to be based on the Spiderling’s design.
I stuffed it into a forgotten corner behind the couch, aiming it to keep track of the door. I logged on a motion detection algorithm, at least now I would be able to react if someone broke into my place. It had a small gun attached to it, an electric pistol similar to Diana’s model. While it might not take anyone down, if I placed my sights correctly it could be a good deterrent. Especially once I made more of them.
Satisfied, I got back in my sleeping roll. Observing the various updates I’d managed the last three days. They were all natural updates, but most seemed to lean on my new spine or Feature Link creation.
Psyche V.2.03 has updated V.2.06
Effects:
* Increased tolerance to sleep deprivation.
* Increased ability to filter tactile sensations.
* Increased Thought Multiplier modifications to movement.
Energized V.2.00 has updated to V.2.02
Effects:
* Increased coordination of Warp Energy across the nervous system
* Increased efficiency of Warp Energy supplication to Shardware with Feature Links.
* Increased efficiency of converting absorbed Warp Energy into the Adapter’s grade.
Technician V.2.03 has updated to V.2.05
Effects:
* Increased Scrapyard proficiency in understanding data from external sources.
* Increased fine-tuning of Shardware related to the Nervous System.
Right, I’d used the Arachne to fine-tune my spine a bit, narrow down to rampant impulses and just in general streamline the neural pathways. It was a good thing my back was almost entirely inorganic now, I’d installed some entrances to give access to the spine for modifications.
Everything I needed was just within my grasp, I’d reached 67% Development now, but with only one week left I’d really need to push myself if I wanted more updates. Warpcode still stirred in my Implant, I could feel it waiting to learn more.
Which meant this next week, I’d need to experience things I’ve never felt before. I needed to push myself, to change and overcome. The Arachnodyne would be my first step to that.