This was not how my first bounty hunting mission was supposed to go.

When Finn had spouted off about chasing down my first bounty I had blindly followed his instructions. I had expected a fun and easy first ‘quest’ so to speak. Something exciting to get my feet wet. I’d finally be jumping into the nitty gritty of what Haven had to offer. In hindsight, I might’ve been a bit naive in my approach to the whole thing. Or maybe simply ignorant.

Given there was currently a gun held in my face it safe to say maybe it was more than a bit.

I stared down the barrel of my own Scrambler, completely defenseless. I looked the woman who was holding it in the eye. Which, given her voluptuous body and crimson, skin tight jumpsuit was no easy feat.

Finn hadn’t exactly described who we had been looking for which meant I had pulled my gun on the first suspicious person I came across in a dark alley. The fact that she had disarmed me and turned the tables faster than I could blink didn’t rule out whether she was the bounty or not. It just meant I was no longer in the position to ask any questions.

She peered at me from behind her neon framed glasses. Her dark hair was pulled tight back into a ponytail, her head cocked to the side as she studied me. She certainly looked the part of a femme fatale cat burglar, that much was sure. Though I did note that she stood out from the rest of the crowd I had come across in Haven. Whether it was her clothing or other assets was up for debate.

“Now, are you ready to start talking or do I have to be more persuasive?” the woman cooed, her voice like velvet, “I’d hate to have to make a mess of your pretty face.”

I felt my cheeks flush at her words. Having a gun, my own gun, pointed at my face didn’t exactly leave much room for negotiating. Not to mention with how swiftly she had disarmed me I didn’t think I stood a chance of fighting my way out of here.

"Uh, y-yeah,” I started, “Listen, this is really just a big misunderstanding. I thought you were someone else.”

It was a vague response but given I didn’t know if she was the person I had been looking for or not it felt like the safer route. After all, it wasn't technically a lie. Her head inclined with a subtle tilt, giving me the sense that she might not be buying into my simple explanation.

"Did you? My, my, I wonder who you were looking for that you’d draw your weapon on them first thing,” she mused. Her corners of her lips turned upwards in a slight smirk that was both inviting and dangerous, “You should really be sure about that kind of thing. You'll land yourself in all kinds of trouble."

Clearly.

Before I could respond she moved the barrel of the gun closer, letting it press into my cheek. It struck me how cold the metal felt against my skin. Even in a situation like this, this world was still giving me surreal experiences. She leaned in closer to me, indifferent to the rain that continued to fall from the skies above. Despite being situated in an alley, the overhanging buildings only offered a partial respite from the wet droplets. A lump formed in my throat and I swallowed it down, meeting her intense, green-eyed gaze.

“You know, it just so happens I’m looking for someone as well,” she said, her voice saccharine, "Someone who I tracked to this location. Someone you might be working with."

The cool metal pressed into my cheek.

“Would that…make you one of those bounty hunters?” I asked.

“Naughty boy,” she cooed, “Fishing for information at a time like this?”

“It’s just a question,” I replied, “I mean…it could turn out that we’re looking for the same person.”

"Hm, would that make you my competition?" She eyed me from head to toe. Despite it just being her gaze trailing over me, I felt like she was analyzing every inch of me down to my digitized soul. "I suppose I might be willing to share the reward. Provided you give me something in exchange..."

"I..." I trailed off, flustered, "I don't know what I could offer, I mean I'm pretty new here."

In fact, it was my first day but there was no reason to reveal that much to her. I already felt somewhat pathetic for trying to use the new user excuse to get out of this.

Her laughter echoed off the alley walls in response, "You’re cute. But you wouldn’t be lying to me would you?"

“Do I look like someone that would lie to you?” I asked.

Her silent response didn’t give me any comfort.

Another beat passed as the polluted rain continued to fall around us. The sound of droplets hitting the littered cement was the only thing that broke the long silence. That and the sound of my own heartbeat racing in my ears. I had no idea what to make of the woman holding me hostage. Was she friend or foe? Most likely, as it seemed with a lot of things in Haven so far, the answer wasn’t so cut and dry.

Finally a smile spread across her features. She pulled back the gun, expertly spun the weapon on her finger until the grip was facing me.

“I suppose it would be a waste to reset you if you’re just a newcomer,” she said.

“Uh, thanks,” I hastily took my pistol from her grasp and stowed it away, “Is there any chance I can get your name?”

“Bianca,” she answered, a smile forming again. She straightened and ran a hand over her firmly pressed hair, wet from the rain, "A word of advice: be careful before you go charging after something. You never know what's around the corner in this world."

“I’ll try to keep that in mind,” I replied.

“Good boy,” Bianca reached forward and patted my cheek, “I’ve been having so much fun with you I nearly forgot I’m supposed to be doing a job.”

“A job? So you are a bounty hunter?” I asked.

“A ladies got to have her secrets, sweetheart,” Bianca said.

She gave me a wink and before I could probe her with any further questions she leapt into the air, somersaulting backwards. She easily cleared the fence at the far end of the alleyway and just like that she was gone. I was left standing in the rain, utterly baffled by everything that had just occurred. I’d likely never see her again but I doubted I’d be forgetting about her anytime soon.

“This place is amazing,” I muttered.

Frightening? Absolutely. That much was clear by the way my heart continued to thump against my ribcage even after the encounter was over. Yet, it was undeniably astonishing. Surreal even. Perhaps even more so due to that very reality.

To think everything that had just transpired all happened while my physical body was sitting back in my dorm. That all of this hadn’t been some new user tutorial but an organic accident with a real person.

Or, at least I assumed so.

I had been so caught up in the moment I hadn’t taken the chance to check if Finn’s trick on identifying users versus ve applied. Though, if I was being honest, getting her name from her lips felt much more authentic than looking up someone’s usertag. It felt more real. Whatever that meant in a place like this.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

I turned on my heel and proceeded to walk back the way I had come. I doubted Finn had much better luck than I did. And if there were individuals like Bianca after the same target, I hoped for his sake that was true. Finn was a longtime citizen of Haven, sure, but I had a hard time picturing him being capable of anything that Bianca had shown off. Then again, I hadn’t considered him capable of blasting someone’s head off casually either. I shuddered, having forgotten the first part of my day up until now.

As I walked down the alley, I spotted a cat with orange fur trotting along. Despite being simple in nature it caused me to stop and stare.

I couldn’t help but marvel at how even the animals looked identical to the real thing. I had assumed they had to cut corners somewhere to make this dystopian playground work. And if I had to place money on where, I’d have bet that it’d be in the little details one might overlook like stray animals. Instead, the cat I was looking at looked practically indistinguishable from the ones I saw in the real world.

I knew at some point this effect would wear off. That I’d stop seeing this gritty, grimy virtual world with such rose-tinted glasses. Hell, one day all of this might just seem normal to me. I just knew that day wouldn’t be today. Besides, it was my first day still, I was allowed to marvel a bit wasn’t I?

I crouched down and reached for the cat. It hesitated for a moment before accepting my scratches along the back of its ears, “I wish I had some food for you little guy.”

The stray let out an affectionate sound, purring as it craned its head into my touch. He lingered for a moment longer before trotting off again. I stood and shook my head. To go from being held up by a bounty hunter to petting cats, this world really did have it all.

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By the time I made it back to the main avenue, the steady rain had turned into a light drizzle. I spotted Finn’s familiar figure standing almost exactly where I had left him. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned back against a building, watching as people walked by. From his demeanor it seemed safe to assume he hadn’t run into anything like what I had. Briefly, I wondered if he had done any searching at all.

“Hey,” I called out.

“The hero returns,” Finn said, “Well? Did you get her?”

The moment I heard Finn question I was faced with the dilemma of whether to lie or not. He had already criticized me for not being up to speed on the realities of being in Haven once today. I was a little hesitant to make that twice. Not to mention the embarrassment of getting my ass handed to me.

“No. No, luck,” I lied, “You?”

“Nah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck, “Damn Sentinels probably got to her by now anyway.”

Unlikely, I thought.

“Are they players too? The Sentinels I mean.”

“Hm? Oh, right. I didn’t really explain it before we split. But no, they’re just system ve. The catch is they’re controlled by a player. Well, technically the city council but everyone knows there’s only one person there calling the shots. Enforcers are the users with a badge. Technically, they’re above Sentinels but they answer to the same person. Between you and me I think they’re corrupt but apparently they get all kinds of benefits.”

“So then why have the bounty system at all?” I asked.

Finn laughed and clasped a hand on my shoulder, “Come on, Att, this is Haven! You think we give a shit just because there might be some power-tripping moderators who could handle it? Besides, the bounties are still a way for us little guys to earn some creds. Some people have made a living off of it.”

“And the target? Who was she anyway? Does the system tell you?” I asked.

“No idea,” Finn shrugged. “Just said that she was wanted for theft. Most were stolen from one of the wealthier users if they could afford to post a bounty.” He paused, stretching his limbs for a moment, “Either way, she’s someone else’s problem now. Bounty hunting is a good side job when you’re getting started but the ones who take it seriously are a little over the top.”

I briefly thought of Bianca. Over the top definitely fit her description. She had given off the sense of a bounty hunter more than some law enforcement but who was I to say.

Finn pushed off the wall and gestured for me to follow him, “Let’s get some grub. All this running around made me work up an appetite.”

We weaved our way among the crowd, the day slowly shifting to night. The fact that he had used the phrase worked up an appetite in Haven was a bit jarring. The fact that my own stomach was rumbling was even more startling. I looked at my menu and saw that the time had already shifted past six o’clock outside the game.

“Hey,” I started as we walked, “There’s one more thing.”

He looked over his shoulder at me, “Yeah?”

“The bounty system, do they ever mark ve as targets?”

“You mean like some kind of rogue NPCs for users to chase down? Not that I’ve heard of,” Finn replied, “No Deckard action here. On the forum there’s been theories that it’d make the world feel too much like a game. If you’re chasing another user there’s a human element to it. Actions, consequences, all of that.”

“Huh. I guess that makes sense,” I said, a slight frown on my face.

Personally, I still hadn’t figured out what the percentage was between life simulator versus virtual game when it came to this world.

“The ve are just supposed to make the world feel more alive. Well, that and get suckers like you hard for some easy money.”

I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment and I shoved my best friend in the shoulder.

“Fuck off! That was one time okay! And I didn’t know!”

Finn burst into laughter, clutching at his sides, “Don’t worry, Att, you aren’t the first one and you won’t be the last. I’m pretty sure there’s a whole market for that kind of thing in here. Some people even speculate it’s how the company makes some money back under the table.”

I didn’t respond, instead choosing to fall silent as we walked. It was partially because I didn’t want to incriminate myself further by inquiring about that kind of market. How was it my fault an NPC had been one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen? If anyone should be blamed it should be the developers.

There was also another aspect of it. The implication that there could be a user generated market for those kinds of services. Or the conspiracy that VirtuaCorp might be condoning or even running such markets on their own. It honestly didn't sound that far-fetched. If anything it was a reminder of just how much Haven had to offer, for better or worse.

There was still so much I didn’t understand.

The neon lights and filter of smog seemed to paint a straightforward picture: a dystopian playground for anyone to enjoy. In some twisted way it was a user’s paradise. But then there were the little things I had gotten a glimpse of today. Watching a shady gang of users from across the street; the detached view of ve, the underground markets and services that Finn alluded to. I could tell that there was still so much I didn’t know. Some of it I might not even want to know and yet I found myself wanting to learn more regardless. This place was like an addiction.

“Hey, did you hear me?” Finn’s voice snapped me from my thoughts.

“Huh? What was that?”

“I was asking what are you in the mood for? I want to put you through the taste test,” Finn repeated himself.

“Uh, what do they have?” I asked.

“Literally everything. It’s all synthetic in Haven, they can make whatever you want.”

That sounded, well, less than appetizing, but Finn seemed excited by it by the way he carried on.

“The best part is there’s no calories. Though I’ve never been able to just binge eat. Weirdly enough you can still feel full,” he said.

The expression on my face must have said it all because Finn reached over and grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me into stride with him, “I know it sounds weird but you get used to it. Besides, the food tastes amazing. Trust me.”

“You know I’ve been doing more trusting today than I have our whole friendship,” I joked.

“Oh, come on! I haven’t steered you wrong yet,” Finn protested.

“Aside from –” I caught myself from blurting out the rest of that sentence. Aside from getting assaulted in an alley. “...aside from sending me on a goose chase with the promise of glory?”

“Yeah,” he nodded with a shameless grin, “Aside from that.”

I rolled my eyes but found myself unable to shake free from his grasp. After all, what was a ten year friendship if it couldn’t survive a few gaffs in the virtual world. In fact, I don’t think Finn viewed them as gaffs at all. If anything he seemed more carefree than ever. Resigned t9 my fate I gave a small sigh.

“Alright, do they have any kind of sushi around here?” I asked.

“Only the freshest sushi you’ve ever tasted,” Finn replied, his grin growing.

“We’ll see about that.”

I didn’t know if everyday in Haven would be like this but I did know one thing: I was hooked.