“Enough Cypher. I said she’s been kidnapped, not that we lost her.” Naedon growled back.

“Not the point Naedon! You had one fucking job, make sure she’s good till we’re fucking PAID!”

“I KNOW!”

On our way back from the Waste I’d told the Cobra Squad about my debt to Mr Black and how he’d recruited me to pay back half, but instead of doing that, I switched to Elhisia’s side, to pay him off directly.

The debt was two hundred million creds, hence why I asked for three. I told them to get the ten million and I’d give each an additional five million once the trade was complete.

Of course, they did ask what the debt was related to, and I explained that it was the same story the Commissioner told about my run-in with the Mangol.

I never mentioned my daughter’s disease, nor did I plan to, but in an instance like this. Where Elhisia was kidnapped…again surely didn’t sit well with me.

“We’ve placed a tracker on Elhisia the moment we got back from the Waste Cypher. We aren’t fools!”Naedon said firmly. I pushed myself up from off the ground and began a brisk walk. “Where’s she located?”

“Not sure, we’re still following the tracker.”

“I see, where’s it heading so I can meet you there.”

“It’s heading West and based on the trajectory Tryzer believes they’re heading to Castle Heights.”

“Castle Heights? Why the hell would they head there.”

“Not sure, but the best we can do is follow right now.”

“Hmmm…I’m close to Castle Heights, so I’ll try to meet you guys there. Once you’re there, we should link before discussing what to do.”

“Already on it,” Naedon said, annoyed.

“…right.”

I cut the line and charged through Xiaohan looking for the nearest cab. People moved out of my way, thankfully. I found myself at the cab depot, only to find a long line of cabs coming and going, with people entering slow as possible.

This would be a good time to have my car I noted, but for the life of me after Hexan’s ‘work’. I knew my car was impounded and having to make my way through the city was annoying as is.

The line got slim faster than I anticipated, and made my way towards Castle Heights, hoping that shit wouldn’t go south, as I needed the credits to pay off Mr Black.

Despite the disgust, Elhisia might have for me and what I did to her back in The Waste, I’m sure she knows deeps down….that I was right.

◆◆◆

The cabbie brought me to the outskirts of Castle Heights within five minutes. It was a good thing I was close, we didn’t have the luxury of time, especially when Elhisia Weitson was ‘kidnapped’ twice in forty-eight hours.

I told Naedon and his crew where I was holed up. A small bar near an old cricket field. Named “The Old Cricket Field.” Which might I add, was what the bar was called Old Cricket Bar?

The bar was stylish, but vintage, in essence, it was made up of wooden chairs and tables, quite unusual for this day and age. Also quite expensive, unless this was re-purposed wood he purchased.

The creaking sound of the fans above made me jittery because it felt as though the fans would fall on my head at any given time.

The tables were lined to the wall, whilst the bar had eight stools. The Mahogany outline of everything, truly made the vestige seem unique and quite alluring. The most prestigious thing though was the liquor the old man had behind the bar.

I’ve seen vintages before, but not like this. They were at least forty bottles, in various designs I’d never seen before.

The gold, brown and silver spirits he had bottled left an urge in me to take a few, but after catching his prices I opted to start with a simple brand.

“Here you go.” The old man said, sliding the glass in front of me perfectly. I circled the cup in my palm, waiting for the temperature to drop and sipped lightly.

“You’re not scared to damage the mahogany?” I asked dryly. “I’d just replace it,” He said with a dry laugh.

“With you’re pricing, I don’t doubt you’d get that done,” I said.

I took another sip of the rum, feeling like the sweetness of the rum tingled my tongue with its rough embrace. I swallowed deeply, feeling my throat burn and took a separate gulp to quell that sudden burn.

The bartender flashed a knowing smile as if he’d seen those expressions thousands if not millions of times whilst one his cups with a cloth. “I take it, you enjoyed it,” he asked.

“Yeah…I’ve never had it before.”

“You wouldn’t, it’s a special brew.”

“Oh really, what so special about it?”

“I made it.”

“That’s why it’s special?” I asked confused

“Of course, why else would it be special?” The old bartender laughed.

“I thought you did something to it, to make it special.

“I did, I made it, my way, that’s why it's special.”

“Hmmm…I see.”

I took a couple more sips of rum, and couldn’t resist buying a few more. It was good. I don’t what he had in it, but it made me feel good, comforted and pushed the loneliness of my mistakes to the back of my mind.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Incoming Call…

“Cypher” I answered.

“We’re here.”

“Coming…”

I pushed myself off the stool and made two steps towards the door. This won’t due…I mused, turning around. “How much for a bottle of special brew?”

“400 Credits”

“That’s far cheaper than the rest, why start the rest at 10,000.00 Credits?”

“Because the longer it stays uncorked, the higher the value.”

“What?”

The bartender’s lips drew in a smile and walked on over to his vintage cabinet. He pulled one of the bottles free and then placed it on the table. It was of Pirate X brand, showing the production year being 586 A.I. it read. “This was before the Latrina Empire began.”

“Indeed.”

I was dumbfounded, this bottle was part of history. Yet, it lay here in an old bar.

“You can taste a part of history son, 20,000 credits is all.”

“Jesus, 20,000 for a sip?”

Yes...for a sip, it’s then both of us put together, what did you expect?”

“fair enough,” I said, nodding in agreement.

I swiped the bottle off the table and swiped my creditstrip against the Datapad. The approval ding chimed off and I went through the door with a nod.

The Thundrum appeared in its glory with Naedon riding shotgun. Tryzer was at the wheel and well. I couldn’t see Rynord or Stelig, but I knew they were there.

The back of the Thundrum slammed open, rustling dead leaves and wind at the back. Cold vapour wafted out from my back stealing warmth from my neck and fingertips, and then Stelig flashed a smile. “Get in, we found her.”

I jogged to the VIC, hearing a grasshopper croak to the right in a patch of grass. I tossed a bottle of rum towards Stelig, whose eyes gleamed as the liquid foamed. “NICE!”

Rynord, sat at the side chair, with a dry line of blood coming down the side of his head, he held an assault cuddling in his arms, as if he was about to open fire, but I spied the safety clip.

I strapped into my harness and felt the growl of the engine bellowed in front of me. Tryzer hit the accelerator and before you know it, we were heading towards the Gates of Castle Heights.

“How are we supposed to get in?” I asked, confused for a second. “Through the front gate,” Naedon said.

“You’re not making any sense,” I said.

The cobra squad chuckled a laugh, which left me looking around the vehicle wondering where the hell I was. Laugh? Naedon and Company? Surely, I was kidnapped, or these were clones.

“Don’t worry about Cypher,” Tryzer interjected. “We’ll get in.”

How…DO YOU HAVE A MAGIC WINDOW?! I screamed in my head, but I knew it was for nought so I kept my lips sealed, and eyes closed pondering what our next move was.

The plan was for me to stash the Lineagecube and make my way back to Belleview Port for the debriefing. Instead, I came back to a broken home and was chased across the city.

I know Naedon was pissed. He didn’t ask anything about why I didn’t show up to the debrief, and I respected him for that. Akatani was my problem. A problem I will fix.

I wouldn’t have survived the Waste without Naedon stopping his men from blowing my head off. Luckily, the comm I gave him back at the yard of Saunter’s Village, allowed him to hear every word between me and Elhisia Weitson.

I may have blocked tidbits of our conversation, especially regarding the three hundred million credits, but with the cat out of the bag, I had no choice but to address it whilst we flew back to Bridge City.

Tryzer rolled the jeep to a stop and awaited the security clamps to attach themselves to the wheels The loud groaning sound of the metal cranked and lodged itself onto the wheels, then dragged the Vehicle across a conveyor belt that sounded like a tractor with a bad motor.

“Good Night Gentlemen.” The checkpoint guard said through the speakers within the Vehicle.

“Sir,” Naedon answered.

“Your license plate number isn’t in my system, so I'm gonna have to ask you to turn around.”

“Understood, but we’re here to see Commissioner Hexan.”

“that’s all fine and dandy, but you have to be on the list for me to let you through the gates.”

“Look,” Naedon said firmly. “I know the protocols and procedure of checkpoint detail, look around Sir. Just give the Commissioner a call, she’ll verify our status.”

A monotone growl rustled through the mic, leaving Rynord, Stelig and I to look at each other confused. I noticed that Tryzer shook his head, laughing as if he heard a personal joke. Naedon though was annoyed, and my deduction was based on his temple vein throbbing profusely.

After a minute of silence, the checkpoint guard came back despite his black visor. His mouth showed his annoyance. “You’re clear.” He said. Naedon gave the man a nod and Tryzer smiled from ear to ear.

The clamps began unlocking from the tires with a groan, and they retreated with a straining groan beneath us. Tryzer brought us off the ramp, and we began our trek through Castle Heights, again. However, this time it wasn’t to pick up the Romacellins but to rescue Elhisia.

I tapped my foot, keeping my questions in check, whilst I closed my eyes to get some rest. I needed it.

A half an hour had passed and I yawned myself awake and grabbed hold of the railing to my left. The cold breeze of the air conditioning put me to sleep and was grateful as hell for it so I embraced it.

My head throbbed as my SMB clutched my brain for the first time since Rook gave me slethe. I felt like a foul for avoiding the software patch, but hell, it was Mr Black I was dealing with, so I knew there was a hidden catch.

“You alright Cypher? Stelig asked.

“Yeah...why?” I answered, turning to him.

He pointed towards the railing, which drew my attention and I notice I’d squeezed without knowing, leaving it bent into an ‘S’. “that’s some serious virgin power you got there.”

“Sod off.”

“Cypher, you’re paying for that right? This is only a rental.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Naedon turned slightly in his seat and eyed at the corner of his eye. Once our eyes met, he turned forward, continuing to watch the road pass us by.

“All jokes aside Cypher, you alright? You look like shit.” Rynord asked me.

“I feel like shit, but I’m fine.” I lied, “let’s keep our head in the game and make these credits.”

“Aye Aye.”

The frustration the phone gave me was, that it was a reminder of how much of a failure I was to both my wife and daughter. And that bastard has been goading me ever since he caught them.

The relief was sadly only due to how smooth the ride was and the cool breeze of the Air conditioning. This was as perfect as I would ever get, and with the rest needed. I couldn’t complain.

The trek via the road, was elongated and long, passing thousands of trees in the process. At least when we flew over the Romacellin resident, there were flowers outstretched for miles, but I guess. There’s a difference when you were the richest family within the Federation.

It would’ve been nice to fly to our location, but you needed special clearance for that. I don’t know if Hexan being the Commissioner would provide that to us, but based on the circumstances at the gate. I doubt she wanted to reveal much.

Tryzer brought up his a deep incline, one I’m sure a horse couldn’t climb. We had six wheels though, but the growl the engine made, just to climb was felt through the chassis.

Once we climbed Horse Hill, the road levelled out and was met with a large gate, three times the size of the vehicle.

Tryzer pressed a code into the vehicle, dashboard. The gate split down the middle and retracted, leading us in.

Once we entered the gate, a large water fountain appeared. It was a white marble peacock, spraying water across its basin through its feathers. The mist that steamed from the water gleamed in the form of a rainbow, which gave colour to the grass and surroundings. The circular drive was green and had a few red and yellow flowers interchanging in the background.

Tryzer took us under the archway, which was supported by six pillars. Surprisingly there was no vehicle here. I had no idea where we were, but I assumed it was Colonel Levisay’s mansion. But if this was the Colonel’s mansion, why would they need Hexan to get in? I asked myself.

I unclipped my harness, getting out of the vehicle behind Rynord and Stelig. The green scent of the grass flooded into my nose, with the cold wind sending goosebumps across my neck and back from its embrace.

The Mansion had an unusual design which was made of a mixture of both cuboid and Rhombus shapes. The Rhombus design was the main design, which was on the right side, and made up two-thirds of the building whilst the remaining design was simply cuboid in shape. The staircase in front of us was wide, made up of multicolour marbles and led to a giant blue door.

The giant door slashed open, and a woman came walking down the stairs in heels and a military-like uniform. It wasn’t Stelyne, but Commissioner Hexan. She had an annoying grin on her face as she eyed me, probably from my flustered expression.

“Welcome to Law Manor,” Commissioner Hexan said, “The Commissioner’s Residence.”