“Cypher…you’ve got to be shitting me, you knocked that bastard out, then kidnapped him?” Zade said, shocked. “I didn’t kidnap him. I just helped him to the car. Now he’s tied up.”

“That’s kidnapping Cypher, changing the phrase to ‘helped him to car’ doesn’t help. Furthermore, he was outside of his house.” Zade snapped.

“I’ll take him back, once he’s told me where Akatani is.”

“You’re lying man. I know you’re pissed, but he’s a fucking cop for christ’s sake don’t do anything irrational.”

“I won’t.”

I ended the call and went back to my chair and lobbed my foot on the table. It wasn’t new and creaked each time I shifted my feet, but it was strong enough to keep my weight, which was more than enough for me.

My throat itched from the dust that waft around the abandoned building. Unlike the old factory that Akatani had sent me, this one was just an old office building, close to the ambush attempted when I was handling the murder of Adrianna Smith, who wasn’t dead or alive either.

Artificial Death, humph. I grunted to myself. I buried that case in my mind because they were no reason for it to stay there, but now that I was back in Old Bridge city, thoughts of me trying to solve the case came flooding back to me. If only I still had Nova…things would’ve been a lot smoother.

Nova, my artificial assistance was gone…burnt out because Indignated Efflux from both My battery and the processing chips within my cybernetic arm and eye allowed me the power to lift the concrete slab from off of Jix.

I tried getting another Artificial Assistant, but with each installation, the Assistant kept being re-written and deleted. That’s what Rex told me. I mean, he did try to convince me, but after three tries, I was ok with the re-writes.

He tried his best to find out why, but he just couldn’t understand why it happened. His best guess was the firmware from the new cybernetic arm I had, didn’t allow an Artificial Assistant.

If I still had Nova, much of my problems would’ve been solved. She did everything for me, maintain my Cybernetic eye and arm, managed the feedback surges between my Semantic Memory Board and my brain.

To be honest, I felt a little more human when she did so, compared to now. Now I felt as though, there was no barrier between me and my cybernetics. They responded aptly, but the feedback at times was just too much.

The firmware update Rook gave me, worked like a charm. Yet, the surge I felt from my SMB, just didn’t feel right still. It was annoying, but maybe my body needed to assimilate to the change. Or maybe I should’ve let Jix take the shot, ending Akatani for good. I mused bitterly.

I messed up, being arrogant, thinking I could just allow the bastard to watch his mini-empire crumble. In the end, he escaped and I lost Shin-Lee and Hannah. This is all my fault. I grumbled, feeling the calluses in my fist as I squeezed them. But I’m not the only one to blame for this.

Light crept out from the nailed boards of the building, fighting its way into the building. The light looked like broken glass trying to force its way into the room.

Eclain hung from a chain I wrapped around his shoulders and chest. His newly broken cybernetic arm dangled his shoulder.

The haggard look of Eclain’s was far more haunting than I expected. When I met him last at the cop bar, he was reeking alcohol. Today…he was reeking from alcohol still, something I hadn’t noticed, despite the heat from his breath brewing it profusely. And yet he put up a fight despite that…

Eclain heaved and vomited his guts in front of him. Bits of melted corn, chicken and rice was spat on the ground in a puddle of goo that I want to punch the bastard.

I hated this mother fucker and rightfully so.

My hand caressed the pistol that I bought before dealing with Eclain. Getting a pistol or a submachine gun was easy. Ammunition, however…wasn’t. That didn’t stop me, cause I made sure to get at least three clips before making my way towards Eclain.

I could’ve held him up at gunpoint, but I wanted him to feel pain. My pain, through my fists. That was the only thing that’ll allow me some control…in the least.

Eclain growled another heave after I punched him in the stomach. He hawked and spit, blood foaming from his mouth and vengeance painted in his eyes. “Glad you’re awake,” I told him.

A large pool of saliva hit me in the face, doused in blood. I slowly wiped it off and slapped Eclain, returning what was his. “Good. You’re energetic. I’m gonna enjoy this.”

“Fuck you Cypher!” He snarled.

“You’ve said that already,” I answered dryly.

“Release me”

“Cliche answer, you know I’m not going to release you, especially with what you’ve done.”

“With what I’ve done?” He howled. “Fucking punching you in the face? You shattered my fucking arm…you thought I wouldn’t retaliate?”

“STOP THE FUCKING ACT! YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOUR FUCKING ARM.” I growled, screaming into his face. Eclain didn’t budge or move. He simply stared back at me, as if he read my mind. “Do it do it!” his eyes read. And yeah, I wanted to ‘do it by snapping his neck in two, but that wouldn’t get me anywhere. HOW dare he play games with me!

He released a snivelling laugh and spat a clot of blood. “You’re fucking crazy Cypher, you’re doing this for an ‘imaginary family’ that never existed? What the fuck happened to you? Losing that EXiCON job of yours sent you over the rails? You created a reality where you were married and had a daughter? That’s fucking pathetic. You kidnapped me, thinking I killed imaginary wife and daughter?”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Killed? Are Shin-Lee and Hannah dead?

The gasping sounds of Eclain croaked in the air. His eyes start to glow red from my squeezing the life out of him. He didn’t scream, complain or shriek. He just looked me in the eye…as if I were saving him from the cruelty of life. This is me I thought, releasing his throat. “Where is Akatani?” I growled. “If he’s killed my wife and daughter, then WHERE ARE THEY?”

Eclain heaved, then coughed for thirty seconds, getting his bearings and began to pant as the air rushed down his throat. He croaked a laugh, then eyed me pensively, as if he knew something I didn’t. “Akatani? What does that bastard have to do with this?” He howled, then his eyes changed as if a light switch went off. “…wait a minute, are you doing this because THAT PIECE OF SHIT GONZADA SAID I WAS CONNECTED WITH ONE OF HIS DIRTBAGS?”

What? I stomped towards the desk, scooping up my pistol, loading it as I approached Eclain, then pressing it against his head. “Go ahead. Pull the trigger” He snarled, “at least I know I’m not some pawn in some corrupt bastards game!”

“What are you talking about?” I hissed.

“Gonzada, the bastard’s corrupt as they come. He’s been that way for years and looks how he’s gotten you roped around his little finger.”

“What. Are. You. Talking. About!?”

“The Commissioner tasked me to investigate the murders of two EXiCONs who’ve been trying to get information on Akatani. She didn’t want anyone else looking into, in case they may have died, just like the EXiCONs.”

“Zade told me about those EXiCONs.”

“Zade?” Eclain scoffed. “Don’t you know why that bastard was suspended?”

“I never gave a shit,” I growled.

“You Idiot. The bastard was the case officer for those EXiCONs, he led them to a trap for Akatani. He took them out. How else do you think Akatani hasn’t been caught yet.”

It hit me like a brick. The Commissioner’s words ‘don’t trust Gonzada.’ She told me those words, the first time we met when I was tasked with investigating Adrianna’s death.

“That day you punched me?”

“Was the day I was assigned to watch him.” He snarled bitterly.

“Then you didn’t set Akatani on me?”

“Why the fuck would I do that?”

“Then why would Gonz--” I asked, but everything started to make sense. I met Gonzada before heading out.

The lack of misinformation regarding Akatani. The raid on his operations. He probably didn’t think I’d be able to take him out. He was right.

It was Gonzada! I moaned bitterly. I called him. I told him to watched my family. I asked the BASTARD TO protect Shin-Lee and Hannah. IT WAS HIM HE WAS THE ONE THAT LED THEM TO HER.

The pistol dropped from my hand. My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground like a pound of butter melting away as if the sun’s beam were directed towards me.

As the bout of melancholy ravaged my body. I felt my chest, shin and back began to scream out in pain. The pain came to me in the form of thousand needles in my back, whilst my knee felt as though I’d been struck by a hammer and my chest felt as though something was about to burst through.

Eclain left me to my wallowing for two minutes, then finally spoke. “You have a wife and daughter?” he asked me. “Yes,” I answer after thirty seconds.

“If Akatani has her, they’re dead already.”

“I saw them,” I said. “Akatani is using them as leverage against me.”

“You? Why” He asked.

“I don’t know, something to do with The Mangol.”

“The Mangol? That’s not a tree you want to climb.” He grunted.

“I’ve dealt with The Mangol before, I can handle her.”

“Her?”

“Yes…The Mangol is a woman.”

“I see…” Eclain said with a sigh.

The both of us went quiet and frustration, annoyance and most betrayals were all I felt. My bones felt like chalk dust whilst my heartfelt like mesh. I truly didn’t see this betrayal. Gonzada played me for a fool and played right into his trap.

“I’m sorry to hear that Cypher, I am…but if you’re wrapped up in a piece of paper and about to be squashed by a compressor. Then nothing I say can help.”

I nodded and was reminded of the relationship I and Eclain had before he tried to rip me off. We were cool, to be honest, I respect him as a fellow vet compared to the rest of the department, but when he told me I had to pay him extra credits for cases I solved. I knew he was onto some bullshit.

Gonzada took advantage of that and milked the benefits. Now, I was in this position because I trusted too easily and asked fewer questions.

“Why did you bully for an increase in ‘tithes’?”

“Bully?” Eclain scoffed.

He didn’t say anything, but then questions linger between us. I watched as stubbles of his beard and chin shifted left and right as the gears in his mind turned, looking for an answer.

“…I need the funds for my little girl.”

“Little girl? You have a daughter?”

“…yes, but not for too long…she has bone cancer. I’ve been trying to raise the funds for the bone transfusion procedure but I’m short two hundred thousand credits, no one will front me ANYTHING!” He howled.

Holy shit…Eclain has a kid? I thought, stupefied. No…had a daughter.

“That’s why you’ve been drinking yourself shitless?” I asked. Eclain scoffed a laugh and shook his head bitterly. “You just beat my ass into the ground, now you wanna talk as if we’re buddies?” He snapped.

“You don’t have to,” I said firmly. I pushed myself up from the ground, snatching up my pistol and holstering it. I turned around and walked back to the desk and began to gather my thoughts because this was some bullshit.

I began thinking of a plan. A plan to deal with that traitorous bastard Gonzada. Eclain still lingered in the corner of my eyes, chained up as I wasn’t motivated to take him down.

“Violis, Obrena’s mother died in childbirth,” Eclain said firmly, eyeing me tensely. “She was the most beautiful woman I’d met, she served me breakfast at a place called the Hot Take.”

Eclain’s eyes had a bliss to them as he reminisced. I had to admit, I was jealous, Shin-Lee and our first encounter were as hostile as it got.

“She asked me you know, but I was hesitant, but I guess she figured out quickly that whenever I’d stare at her extensively, unknowingly of course. Tipped her bigger than the rest.” He said smiling glumly. “The day she told me she was pregnant the world stopped. I had to figure out what life I wanted for my family. You know that feeling right? Being bathed in blood, but unsure how to keep yourself clean? How could I ensure my daughter didn’t live a hard life was all I cared about. Then, Violis died”

“When did you find Obrena had bone cancer?”

“When she turned two.”

“They were no early signs? Didn’t the Syanori scan pick up anything?”

“Nothing.”

“Your bone marrow doesn’t match hers?”

“It doesn’t and before you ask, my wife was cremated.”

“Which also meant her DNA was deleted from the DNA Repository,” I said shaking my head. “My daughter suffers from Myelofribosis…So I understand your plight. However, I would’ve given you the funds had you told me. Instead of demanding it. I’m a reasonable man.”

“I don’t know you Cypher. How would I know?”

“The road never travel is an unlearned journey and experience.”

“I see.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” I said pushing myself up from the chair, “but I only kill in self-defence” I said firmly. And for revenge.

A loud boom groaned, startling the shit out of me. I snapped my head right, watching as one of the plywood boards snap free and a man burrowing through it like a hot knife through butter.

The shattered plywood flakes danced in the air, leaving my heart thumping louder than it had been in days. I was caught off guard and scared as shit.

It’s one thing to be ready at all times, but this? This was not something I anticipated. Of course, you wouldn’t you fool, you were betrayed, this was expected and lined up with everything Gonzada had done.

The lies…the half-truths, everything.

Gonzada probably thought he had me, but no. He just buried himself in a deeper pile of shit that I ensured will be dumped on by me.