Enid should have been used to the strange technology now. She had been expecting some for or haphazard vehicle door, but it was just an energy field that held the atmosphere in and out. The shield shimmered and sparked as the car slipped through it. Up ahead she saw some bored looking men and women in overalls. They were all armed with various weapons. Some guns, some large wrenches. They started to move towards them. Charlie got out. Enid stayed where she was content to let him do the talking. The heavily tinted windows concealed her presence quite well. The guardians of this place were doing their best to get peaks inside. Enid couldn’t make out much of what was said but Charlie seemed to be at home here, or at least accepted. He motioned to her and moved his hand as if to tell her to get out. Enid slid the katana down between the seat and the center console and pressed the door to open. She heard a bit of a hiss pop the seal on the door released. She got out and stood up to her full Sarah height. Moments later she was being searched. The bolter she had concealed was pulled from its holster. She looked behind her and saw that it was maybe a fifteen year old girl. Grease on her nose and forehead , along with her hands.

“Watch the suit.”

The girl held up the bolter.

“Sure thing. So why you got this lady? Gun like this would rip a normal person’s arm off.”

“I have a lot of chrome.”

Enid held out her hand and motioned for the return of her property.

“Enough that the gun is for show.”

The girl looked to one of the men. He had a few streaks of grey in his hair. His beard was salt and pepper. He nodded and the girl returned the gun. Enid slid it back into its holster. The girl went to go into the car. Enid looked the older man.

“Look, we paid your toll, we have business to attend to, is this really necessary?”

The man looked away from Charlie and back at Enid.

“It is necessary, if you’re going to cause trouble. We have enough around here without corpo hitwomen showing up here.”

“I’m not here to kill anyone. As you say, there is enough trouble around here, person like me, I need to carry protection for myself and my associate.”

Enid put her hands on her hips the over coat for her suit pushed back revealing several concealed throwing knives and another better concealed pistol.

“You need to train your people better. Won’t be any trouble here unless you make it for me. I have a purchase to make. My little girl’s life depends on it. I know you know what its like to have daughters.”

Enid looked at the grease covered teenage girl. The man looked at Charlie who nodded.

“How old is this little girl of yours?”

“Same age as yours. Corp kidnapped her, I aim to get her back. I will kill anyone that gets in my way. You’re not in my way, are you?”

Enid kicked up a piece of rebar and caught it bending it in half. She silently hoped the Atlantean tech could still recharge on a different planet. She tossed it aside. The girl took a step back from her the man waved his people down as they had started tensing up. He handed the black chit back to Charlie.

“No, you’re free to go. Not going to charge a mom trying to get her kid back. You need help come back here.”

Enid nodded, she got back in the car. Charlie joined her and the older man waved them through. Charlie looked at her.

“Jesus. You’re that strong?”

“Stronger. There is a reason I’m using a gun that only full conversion jobs use.”

Charlie drove through the streets. This was more like the kind of city Enid was used too. Only difference was the cars were all electric. They were an eclectic mix of ancient and less old. The buildings were new but old. Kind of like the post-war houses brutalist architecture one could find in the USSR. The hovercar was turning a few heads but no one got in their way. Charlie seemed to know the way. The came to another check point. This one was manned by…a different crowd. They looked like something out of a bad seventies movie about gangs. They just waved the car through. Once past the wall the dome was this flickering mess. Some panels showing Error in red or green. Some were bright purple and others were just transparent showing the dark sky of Titan. Charlie looked shocked when he saw a stroke of green lightning.

“There’s no storms on Titan.”

“Maybe it’s a ship that still has power.”

Enid watched the closest transparent panel she could see some form of liquid hitting it. Enid motioned to it. It had a strange looking texture it.

“That’s not water.”

“No methane, or some kind of alcohol.”

Enid turned her attention to the dried-up ocean bed. She had not realized the Pleasure domes had gone as deep as they had. They really did have an eco-system. She saw whale bones in the distance. The darkness here wasn’t as profound as on the surface due to the partial functioning holo-panels of the dome. It was a weird twilight. Charlie kept driving along the dry ocean bed.

“Is Pleasure Dome 3 like this?”

“Yes, they made a real ocean surrounding it.”

“Jesus.”

“What were you just thawed out or something?”

“Something like that.”

Enid reached down and pulled her Katana from where she had shoved it and let it sit beside her again.

“Ya, you can even go fishing for swordfish and shit, if you pay enough. You can even go for a whale hunt. The animal rights folks lost the war.”

“Seems strange to allow it…”

He shrugged.

“Its not like they’re real…all cloned animals. Cloning animals is perfectly legal. The real shit….or well the real ones are on Mars. There is a dome that is just one big ocean. Off limits for anyone except for WTO preservationists. Just like old earth. They have others that are lakes that simulate different environments. Used..”

“I’m going on here. Sorry talk a lot when I’m nervous.”

“Well it is interesting but ya, we should focus on the task at hand. Sounds like you like fish…”

“Its my daughter she wants to be a marine biologist with the WTO preservation section.”

“That’s great. One of my children is a bit of an environmentalist. My fault its how I raised her.”

“That is not something to be ashamed of. One day we’re going to have colonies on planets with oceans full of wildlife. Someone needs to understand em. Same with forests…pla-”

He stopped midsentence and pointed at a group of vehicles ahead.

“We’re here.”

Enid nodded.

“Air good here?”

“Mostly, a bit dry, cold. Typically, around 5-10 C.”

Enid nodded. She pulled out a pair of binoculars. She swore under her breath without meaning to. She put them in her pack again. Charlie watched her.

“You know how much an antique like that is worth, shit those were pristine.”

“Sure whatever, so they have a fucking hover-tank.”

Charlie moved to grab the steering wheel. Enid put her hand on his arm and squeezed very gently.

“Its okay, it won’t be a problem. Trust me. Just shocked they have that kind of hardware.”

Enid tapped her wrist.

“Comms check.”

Bee’s voice came through loud and clear.

“In position. Should be able to take out a few.”

“And our other friend?”

“He’s here. Locked on the tank.”

“You should have told me about the tank.”

“You said stay off comms until you got here.”

“I did say that. Okay. I’ll uh…modify my plan slightly.”

She stepped out of the car and moved to the back. She crouched down and started pulling out her rocket launcher. She slid a hellfire missile into it. She heard Charlie talking to the group. She poked her head up.

“Looks like a hundred meters. Erm twenty-meter spread. Seventy degree angle air burst at…thirty meters if I target the tank… Fuck I hope my math is good.”

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She poked her head up again.

“Oh Charlie, can you check this? I think we have a problem back here.”

She heard Charlie make up a mumbled excuse she couldn’t make out. He came around the side and crouched down and started staring at the rocket launcher. She pointed to the LCD touchpad tapping the top of it.

“If shit goes south you run here, you grab this and you do exactly what this says and pull the trigger, got it?”

Charlie nodded slowly.

“What is that?”

“Rocket launcher.”

Charlie coughed a bit. Even if the cool air of the dark zone sweat started to bead on his forehead.

“Do NOT fuck up. Do exactly what the screen says when it is green go, you press the trigger. Otherwise you’re going to catch me in it.”

He touched it. He kept his voice to a whisper.

“What does it do?”

“It creates a lake of fusite.”

“What is that?”

“It is a lake of fire that burns as hot as the sun. Now they’re going to get suspicious, so green means press the trigger.”

She leaned the launcher against the bumper of the floating car and stood up dusting off her knees. She spoke more loudly.

“Oh, its supposed to be like that. You men and your cars.”

Enid strolled towards the group who had been inching closer. There were more then she had expected thirty in all. She glanced around herself as she approached noting rocks and other cover she could use if things went badly. Thirty was a lot though. She would be easily overwhelmed. Automatic fire would work good for suppression. She patted her pack. Charlie caught up and stepped forward when they got close. Enid quickly assessed the gang in front of her. They were all armed, much like the first one they encountered. They looked like rejects from a seventies gang move, much like the guardians that waved them through. Chains, fake black leather. This lot had a bunch of punk thrown in. Mohawks, wild hair dyes. Enid felt like she’d just showed up a concert in England. God save the queen indeed. She pondered if they had the same sentiment towards corporations as Sid Vicious had against royalty… A man with the biggest mohawk Enid had ever seen stepped forward. He was wearing a heavy military style coat. She pondered how this lot got their hands on Alpha Passes and a fucking hover-tank.

“Charlie, you fat fuck.”

“Hey there Baller.”

“So is the corpo muckity muck you’re working for.”

“This is Dr. Sarah Young. Not entirely sure what she is a doctor of, based on reputation, might be death.”

“Charlie, only my friends get to say that.”

Enid stepped forward, trying to keep her face a mask of blonde bimbo from the movies she’d watched with Eyre and company. Enid’s coat had caught on the holster for the Bolter. It seemed to catch Baller’s eye.

“Hardware like that I might believe you Charlie.”

“Well give us the rest of the Tuppence you owe and we’ll get this done with.”

Enid quirked an eyebrow and glanced at Charlie.

“Show her the merchandise first huh? Lets not get this in the wrong order.”

Baller chuckled.

“Well shit Charlie, I already sold those. Just give us the other million and we’ll let you walk outta here. Not sure about the corp bitch though.”

The rest pulled drew their pistols and started pointing at the pair. Enid held up her hands and sighed.

“Why can nothing be easy?”

“What was that love?”

“I said, why can’t anything just be easy? Like you know: You sell me the product I asked for I pay you what you asked for everyone’s happy but no you fucking punk rejects gotta make it hard.”

Baller stuck his middle finger up at Enid

“I’m think you ain’t walking away from this cunt.”

“I really hate that word. You know they only really said that a lot in movies right?”

“You’re a right fucking mouthy poppet aren’t you? Especially since you got twenty pistols aimed at you and we got a tank, what do you got?”

“Snipers and fighter support who should they target first? Got anyone who’s aiming for your job?”

He laughed and turned away.

“Fucking kill them and take their shit.”

Enid closed her eyes and willed the helmet and armor to form properly. As it was she jumped in front of Charlie. Bullets pelted her armor and started ricocheting back with the same force in a shower in front of them. She could feel the bruises forming on her from each one. People started going down on the Gremlin’s side. They started diving for cover. Charlie took the opportunity to run to the back of the car. Enid jumped for cover too. She heard Baller hollering.

“Fuck why did no one notice the fucking snipers. Blow her up with the tank.”

Enid tapped her wrist.

“Apollo…if you would please.”

Enid peaked around the corner when she heard the crack of something larger than a normal bullet breaking the sound barrier. She watched something unseen hit the tank. The armor crumpled and twisted leaving it looking like it to got hit by a transport truck. It crashed the ground. Baller was just swearing now. Enid called out loudly.

“Kill them all, leave the one with the big mohawk alive! Weapons free.”

She heard screams and the report of gunfire in the distance. She peaked out again. Smoke was rising from the remnants of the gremlin’s vehicles. Everywhere she looked was slagged metal and smoking holes in the ground. She’d seen Apollo’s plasma gatlings chew through space debris but this was way more carnage then she’d expected. Her F-22n’s weaponry had nothing on him.

“All targets have dropped their weapons or are down, ma’am.”

“Any damage?”

“Nothing breached my shields.”

She looked back at Charlie who was holding the rocket launcher. It was dangling on his shoulder and he was just staring at the mess Apollo had made of the Gremlins. Baller was running but stopped dead when Apollo appeared in all his shimmering black glory in front of him weapon ports open. She heard him through the loudspeaker.

“I suggest you drop your weapons and surrender. Dr. Young has questions for you.”

Baller looked at Enid who hadn’t even pulled out a weapon. She walked through the debris and the moaning of the injured Gremlins. She could tell with a glance some simply wouldn’t make it without immediate air lift to a hospital, and she doubted there was such a beast here. She felt a brief tingle of guilt, but they had tried to kill her. She finally got behind Baller who tried to grab her but she grabbed him first. Using her suits superstrength and her marital skill she pinned him to the ground with ease.

“Did you really think I’d come here alone? Why did you have to fucking do it? They didn’t need to die.”

He tried to struggle but even with all his cybernetics he was no match for her armor. She was quite sure someone with better ones would crush her easily. Luckily he had the bargain brand.

“So, tell me, who has my Alpha passes?”

He spit.

“Look Baller. You got a lot of friends who are dying here. My guys left you a truck. We can still help get them in it, maybe find a doctor and save em, or I can hold you here while you watch ‘em die. What’s your final answer?”

“Fucking Corpo bitch. Your corp buddies beat you to it. They wanted em back. Told us they’d come back with real corp security. And take em.”

“When?”

“About an hour before you came.”

Enid hollered.

“Charlie, call that guy from the gate, ask him if they came through it? Went back through yet?”

Enid looked down at Baller.

“What did they look like? What were their names?”

“Fuck you, they were more scary then you.”

“Scarier than me? I just wiped out your entire gang with a single fighter and a sniper. And if Charlie had done what I asked your friends would be swimming in a lake of fire that is just as hot as the sun… So how were these guys scarier than me?”

“Shit they were chromed up. Fucking Military level. There was six of them in a troop transport.”

“You got eye implants. Send your data or I’ll rip them out along with your data storage and pull it out of there.”

Her wrist vibrated and she glanced at the video he sent.

“Hmm, Lansing Corp. Thank you.”

She picked up his side arm and threw it further towards the dome wall.

“That wasn’t so hard was it?”

She released him and he laid there looking up at her.

“Fuck, I’m glad I told you. They are going to turn you into scrap metal you fuckin robot bitch.”

“Go help you friends, idiot.”

Enid walked away from him and tapped her watch.

“Looking for this vehicle. Looks like some sort of troop transport. Apollo pick up Bee and you two go see if you can find it from the air.”

Enid didn’t wait for a reply she took the rocket launcher from Charlie.

“Thanks for the help Charlie.”

She tapped in the code and disarmed the rocket and unloaded it she put both in her pack. While Charlie just stood there staring at her. She snapped her fingers.

“Did you call the guy?”

Charlie blinked.

“Ya…ya… no they haven’t gone back through.”

“So their still in the dome?”

“Ya…”

“Then let’s get going. You drive. Where do you think they might have gone?”

“Well it umm depends…”

“On what?”

“Who sold Baller the Alpha passes. Gremlins aren’t the wealthy sorts so they must have wanted to offload them in a hurry.”

Enid pointed at the car.

“Get it started and be ready to roll.”

“Roll?”

“Fucking 29th century. Just get ready to go.”

Enid walked to Baller who was busy moving his injured into the truck with the few remaining mobile Gremlins.

“Baller, who sold you the passes?”

“Fuck off. I told you what I’m gonna.”

“Those guys haven’t left the dome yet, so they’re obviously looking for them. I hope you have no love for the person.”

A woman who wasn’t slightly younger than Baller looked at him then to Enid. Baller refused to meet her gaze.

“It was our brother.”

Baller swore under his breath. The woman, who Enid would call a girl, just because she looked vaguely like a teenager. She couldn’t tell under the leather, chains and wild make up. Looked away.

“If I wanted to go on a random murder spree would I have left anyone alive? You shot at me first and were still shooting at me. You’ve lost enough people today so tell me, where can I find him? I promise you I will do everything in my power to keep him alive, I have no quarrel with him but I guarantee the Lansing boys and girls do.”

The girl looked at Baller and then to Enid. She could see the conflict in the girls eyes. As if she felt she may be betraying a trust.

“Kids, all I care about is I get those Alpha Passes so I can rescue my daughter, your brother is a means to an end, he’s bait. Now you can save his life and tell me, or he can die, then I wait for the APC to leave the dome and I take them out on the surface. Make your choice.”

Baller shrugged at the girl. Who looked at Enid with a mix of shame, anger and relief.

“He’s usually hiding out at the Blue Moon Terrace. If you hurry you’ll beat them. Baller lied about him. But they’ll figure it out. Everyone knows Marco. And they know he made a big score.”

“Thank you. You can keep the creds Charlie already gave you, I know it won’t bring your friends back but do something better with your lives? Please?”

Enid turned and walked towards the car. Charlie had the door open for her. She slid into the passenger seat and stuck her katana between the seats again. It wouldn’t be much good against the corp security team. How she wished still had Lucius. She closed the door and she heard the seal.

“You are a strange woman. Most people would have wiped them out for screwing them over.”

“An older version of me would have wiped them out. I’ve learned to moderate my temper in my old age. But only to a point. Do you know where the Blue Moon Terrace is?”

“Ya. Its dive bar. Music is noise, drinks are terrible.”

“Lets head there.”

“Really? Now? What about the Alpha Passes.”

“Well the person who stole them is there, so the people trying to…clean up the mess are going to head their eventually. So logic says, we go to where the bait is right?”

“Those guys are serious business. WTO military grade armor, weapons, chrome. You got juice Doc, but those guys… they are the fucking pitcher.”

“That was the worst analogy I’ve never heard. And that’s saying something. Look. They have the passes. I need the passes. That is all I need to be concerned about. Besides you have no idea what I have in this pack.”

“You have a nuke in there?”

“No but I have a fighter that has antimatter weaponry. Probably covers weapons of mass destruction.”

“You are a scary woman.”

“Thank you. Such a compliment.”

Charlie grumbled something hit the accelerator. The Gremlins at the gate stayed far out of their way. Enid glanced at them as the car passed. Then looked at Charlie.

“Why didn’t you do what I asked?”

“I’ve done everything you asked!”

“Except launch the missile.”

“You…wanted me to kill them all.”

“Duh? They were trying to rob and kill us.”

“I don’t do…wet work.”

Enid shook her head.

“Fine. Just say something next time huh?”

“I just thought of those kids…burning alive.”

“It is not a pleasant way to die, I admit that, but neither is a bullet through the head.”

Enid glanced down at her katana and picked it up, and put it in her pack.

“Okay, when we get there, you take Marco, get him to PD3. I’ll take his place and let them believe it was me.”

“What if they just want to kill him?”

“Then life will get more interesting.”

Charlie grumbled.

“I kinda feel like you’re under my protection here.”

“Charlie, you couldn’t protect yourself if you had a battleship. Just do what I ask.”

“Have you cleared this plan with Bee?”

“No. She won’t go for it.”

“Hey, I want that hacker ready when I get back to PD3.”

“You’re an optimist.”

“I’m a realist. Trust me, compared to what I normally fight, these guys are flies at best.”

The car came to a stop outside the Blue Moon Terrace. Enid looked up at the cracked and pockmarked building. It once had blue paint. And there was a flickering yellow neon moon. Its light faint in the glaring noon sun of the working dome panels. Enid got out of the car.

“I’ll send him down. Charlie, remember, hacker.”