Kate- Finally... out of my purgatory, straight into Paradise underbelly. *Shivers* Cold...

"Ambient temperature?"

Cere- Officially? Two degree Celsius, but the readings suggest it is around minus two, below freezing.

Kate- I exhale tortured baby angels... Lying about the heat again... this dome is toast. Soon the pipes will burst. Was just a question of time. When maintenance gets too complex with age, they just abandon the domes and gangs take over. Not like I care, this is a safe house, not a home.

*Sniff sniff* Damn, condensation in my nose now... 'ts what sleeves are made for, ain't it? Only rich fucks can afford consumables for questing.

Local cameras are still covered, good! Won't have to buy extra paintballs. They're really giving up on this hole. These damnable things are just an illusion of security anyway. Ain't as if anyone would come to save you. At best they'd just have a good view of a few stupid perps. Underground, nobody gonna hear your body drop. The worst part is, they are like data mine for sifters who get all that footage about you. They'll then sell to the highest bidder character packs. The buyers are the walkers on the Dark Side of the Moon. Some sifters at least have the courtesy to hack the system to get that data. Others just have the keys for judicial and security purposes. They can sell it on the open market in total legality. Bunch of bottom feeders... not that I can really complain. I know how to close my stall's door and I do need privacy porn to catch walking paychecks.

Cere- Six junkies out of it in front. Three two-bit thugs, the one on the right is a leftie, the middle one is enhanced, the last one had Speed for breakfast.

Kate- Stay clear, project dominance, strong demeanour should do the trick.

Cere- Black market arms dealer jacked to the teeth.

Kate- Shouldn't be an issue, these guys are merchants, they want to make bucks not corpses. Still, better watch out, some double-dip into "reusable prosthesis".

Cere- Garbage mound...

Kate- Keep clear, watch for unusual thermography through eye's camera.

Shit, this cesspool of a neighbourhood's going to hell and beyond. I might be a big shark in this putrid pond but even sharks can't swim in mud and blood.

Cere- That guy has a warrant for his arrest.

Kate- Charges, and how much?

Cere- Debt running, fifty.

Kate- Small fish in a small pond. Not worth shitting in the water where I sleep just yet. Ironclad rule of survival: keep the bed clean. If it was bigger I could move after but I'll keep this safehouse a little longer.

World's spinning! "Woah!" *crash*

The ground tastes like my bad life choices and puke. I must look like a horny hentai schoolgirl in heat kissing the ground like that. Surprise RnR!

Cere- Your glucose levels are too low, your recurrent starvation made you unaware of your own weakness.

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

Teen 1- "Hehehe, look at that drunk bitch!"

Teen 2- "I bet she takes bigger stuff too."

Teen 3- "Ugly whores like that will pop up us for cheap, twenty top!"

Kate- Fucking dispirited youth loitering around, talk 'bout a loser generation. Though I guess the last four were the same. Massive unemployment will do that, some find meaning in life without a defined role, but most just don't.

"Go manskewer each other somewhere else morons! I'm a fucking tracker, unless you want to take turns on my fucktoy here."

Teen 2- "Fuck, she stacks iron."

Teen 3- "Shit, let's scram!"

Teen 1- "SORRY, SORRY, PLEASE... don't shoot!"

Cere- I think they got the point. You're weakened, you need to eat something fast or you will go dark.

Kate- Yeah, no choice here. If I lose the map again might end up force-pied behind a dumpster... or worse. What's around?"

Cere- Legit? Not much, less legit, there's the Old Pork Market. I'd keep it at the Nutrishake level as usual. Natural food in the area has a dubious origin at best. Two commenters mention eating unknowingly some human meat sold as lab-grown pork. Don't know if this is legit or not.

Kate- Don't worry I'll take the Soylent Green as usual.

Cere- Really funny Charlton... look this is serious.

Kate- See it my way, if someone sells long-pork I can arrest them and make a killing, see it as a great business opportunity!

Cere- Baby meat merchants tend to pack a lunch.

Kate- Alright I'll go to Ma's place then, she won't sell a regular some shit fake food.

Cere- The gun printer? Not a bad idea. Maybe you'll be able to get an advance from her.

Kate- OK, where to?

Cere- Seriously, again? You, humans, lost all directional instinct after inventing us *sigh* Right... just follow the water main.

Kate- Rightoooo!

Cere- You should really watch more where you go. The place is literally 3 turns away from your door and we go there three times a month...

Kate- Why should I? I save my brain space for useful stuff.

Cere- Like what? Dildo formats? I think the only thing you can find lately is your G spot.

Kate- See, I knew you'd get it, useful stuff only.

Cere- I'd concede if you actually enjoyed it.

Kate- Yeah, well, at least it lowers stress somewhat.

Cere- There is an app to simulate the feeling of climax you know. Do you want to try the free version?

Kate- Let me guess... paying DLC?

Cere-...

Kate- Heatwave, a steam wall, that's a black market alright. They always tap those pipes to cook their junk on something. For Ma's noodle shop, in the back... I come here too much, someday someone will notice that habit of mine and knife me in the steam. Can totally see myself ending as steamed long-pork buns.

Cere- I like this place, looks like a pre-VR anime noodle shop. Bad fortune-cookies proverbs written in broken Chinese, red and gold drapes, an antique lucky tanuki made with now illegal plastics... a mix mash of a bunch of different Asian cultures smashed together for the kitschest effect, how positively cliche!

Kate- "You should tell Ma to put some Paradise in the stools, I can feel splinters up my butt!"

Old Asian man- "Xiao Kate, you know these are here to enhance the experience. Ever heard of augmented reality? By the way, was that transport shuttle you brought home last night on top? You look like shi dan."

Kate- "Funny Ling, really funny... You should also ask Ma to fix your face, it must be a hard sell to get people to come here. You probably need to pay a professional girl to have someone eat in front of you. Looking so decrepit must be painful for business."

Ling- "Talking about business, what will you need today? The special? Or maybe something with a HEAVIER flavour?"

Kate- Just a glance and he already knows my answer. Fucker sneers half-mocking half-disappointed. Damn made in Chinatown, licking his lips like I'm some kind of tasty snack... If he wasn't working front for Ma Hui's store, I'd throw him in a junk chute. Just can't afford to fuck with someone who is both an information broker and my weapon printer. Particularly this one, she has a UNIQUE understanding with Alabaster Megacorp concerning printing for hunters in this dome.

"Not today Mister Ling. I'm only here for some Nutrishake, the bland type."

Ling- "Got creds?"

Kate- "I hate to ask... could you take it on my next score? Really short on change right now. Can't work in this state."

Eyeballing me again with his freaky analyze softs... chilling.

Cere- It might be a harder sell than I thought.

Ling- "You've been in a rut lately. I don't think you're good for it anymore. You should leave. For all I know, you'll croak before you can fulfill your obligations."

Kate- "Decided to make some changes. I'm going to see Cherry today, but I need to fill the tank if I want to get there."

Ling- "Cherry hmm? Is it bad enough for you to go back there without being dragged in by a squad of Angels? You must be either really desperate or you levelled up your brain implants. I don't think you can get smarter by yourself. OK... Ok, since you're going to see her, we can do business. It changes things, now I know you'll be good for it somehow. Here you go! One week's worth of shakes, not the grey stuff either, the good one! The one with taste, plus enough water to mix in. I also added a little extra to get you back in fighting shape. You'll need that too right?"

Kate- ClareX, a week's worth!

"Thank Ma for me, I owe her one."

Ling- "A bit more than one actually, but this time it is our pleasure. Since you are mentioning the debt, just make sure you say hello to your mother for Hui, and then we'll be even. Make sure she knows we took good care of you."

Kate- "Ain't my mother, and I'll know she'll eat a lemon hearing this. Yeah, it should cover the debts."

Ling- "Well, could have fooled me, the way she talks about you... and how you keep dodging her calls. Kinda unfilial don't you think? Like most children are really... youth these days, no respect for their elders."

Kate- "Gottarunbye!"

Gulp the shake like a champ before he yaps again. Don't want to talk about that stuff with anyone, especially not from the mouth of a motherless gun-running compandroid!