"Hey, if you can pour out more credits, then you can get more, but I'm all you got."

Axis crossed his arms when he looked at the grumpy old man in white clothing in front of him.

He was wearing glasses that glowed red, a bit hunched back, and about 1.75m tall.

"Fine, let's hope you're worth it," he said as he accepted the circumstances.

"I'm worth more than what you posted; you should be thankful."

"Tsk., young one these days.. well, let's go.. let's get this over with."

The old man, Henrick, whose client he needed to protect, said grumpily as they went outside.

"What a day to die..." He grumpily said this as he went inside his worn-out car.

Axis couldn't help but roll his eyes as the man complied. The guy only offered 30 credits for protection and yet complained about why only one person appeared.

Axis entered the passenger's seat. And the old man immediately drove off.

"I'm sure I don't need to let you in, but all you need to do when we get in there is protect me, though I doubt you could do it."

"I'm not supposed to ask, so I won't, but with your attitude, I'm not surprised you offended someone."

"Bunch of brats..."

After that talk, Silence filled the car as Axis stayed alert.

Soon they reached a two-story building, and the car was parked in the back.

Henrick looked at him and muttered out loud, unconcerned for his feelings. "God, I still want to live after this."

"Relax, old man; I promise there still be plenty of people you can piss off after this."

They both got out of the car, and Axis made sure the pistol was easily grabbable and lightly stretched his body to feel the protective suit.

Henrick then headed through the back door, and Axis followed behind him, alert.

A couple of guys were idling here and there, Axis even saw people near the trash compactors that were getting lost in some cybersimulations. Running away from reality and escaping into their own heads.

'What a bleak life...'

Henrick entered the back door, walked forward, and found themselves in a hallway.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Henrick continued walking until he stopped in one of the rooms. He knocked and said, "It's me."

He heard some footsteps on the side before the door opened a little, and a man peeked outside. Soon, he completely opened the door.

"Someone's here to make amends."

The guy who opened the door shouted. He seemed like a typical neurocheezer.

This time, Axis entered first, and he observed the surroundings. There were three people inside; two of them were sitting on the table in the middle.

"Finally, you stepped out of your hellhole old man. And who is this? A bodyguard? hahah"

The woman, with a black punk-styled hair comb to the other side, spoke as he eyed Henrick and soon to him.

Axis ignored him and oversaw the people...

'Pistol...uses micro bullets, two of them, but the woman.. I can't see from this angle."

He concluded that the two men have pistols that uses microbullets, meaning he didn't have to worry too much about them, but the woman...

"Yes, I'm here... I want to talk about that stuff," Henrick said as he sat in the empty chair across from the woman.

"Well then, I hope you bring apology gifts." The woman leaned forward and said to Henrick:

Henrick took a deep breath and said, "No."

Silence rang out in the area when Henrcik said no. Axis could even feel the room getting colder as he eyed Henrick while the other person who opened the door eyed him, alert.

"What did you say?" The woman tilted her head as if she couldn't believe what she heard.

Henrick seemingly accepted something. "I said no. You're crazy, the lot of you. I saved you! And it was because of your crazy decision that led us here in the first place! What you did to her—to everyone—is all your fault! You owe me!"

Henrcik said it with a scowl and a loud voice as he slammed the table.

'Sheesh, this old man really has a death wish.' Axis thought, then his instinct soared.

Shit was about to happen...

"What did you say??" The second the woman said that, he saw Henrick pull something out of his pocket quickly, and Axis immediately moved.

Tud!

Henrick shot the woman!

"You!!?"

The two remaining guys were taken off guard by the surprise, and then everything slowed down from Axis perspective.

He immediately dived towards Henrick, intending to push him away as the other guy pointed his gun at him, while he used his jacket to cover his head to defend against the one who opened the door.

It took only two seconds before...

Tudtudtudtud!

Everything returned to normal, and Axis managed to push Hendrick away, dodging the bullets. He felt something painful hitting his chest, but it was manageable. He immediately pointed his pistol at the thug sitting on the table and pulled the trigger.

Tudtudtudtud!

He hurriedly ducked away, but blood still splattered in the air.

"Shit!"

He heard the other one curse before the sound of running came about. When he took a peek, he saw him ramming into him!

Axis fell on his back and rolled to the ground...

He didn't have enough time to get his bearings as he decisively pointed his gun in the attacker's direction while covering his head with his jacket.

Tudtudtud!

When he shot a couple of times, he hurriedly got back to his feet and grabbed Henrick while pulling his head down.

"Lets go!"

Tudtudtud!"

They started shooting again, and Axis felt some pain in his back.

'Get her gun! And shoot the bastard!"

Axis and Henrick burst out of the room, running.

"Go go! To the car!"

Urged Axis the quiet henrick...

Bog!

Axis was startled when he heard a particularly loud gunshot.

"Shit!"

It looks like the thugs now have something that can penetrate his armor.

Axis didn't look back as he continued to run back to the parking lot.

"Eggies, stop them!"

He heard one of the thugs shouting. He noticed the people around the parking lot becoming wary, and then Axis saw some of them taking their guns out.

"Oh fuck..."

Then they pulled the triggers…