I returned to the shack I rented from the old lady. Calling her an Old Lady was a bit much. Her name was Giselle Tasin, and she was very sweet.

At least here, I could get some sleep. Sleep that my body craved for whilst I waited for Akatani. The only problem was. I didn’t get any sleep but thought one thing. That bastard Gonzada.

That fucking piece of shit, was like garbage water marinating in a cesspool a the bottom of a trash heap. I stared at the ceiling for hours, wondering how I’d off the bastard when I got my hands on him.

It’s amazing what a man could think of whilst trying to quell the anger within me. It’s simply maniacal when it needs to be, but that was thanks to all the gore I saw in my life. Something I wasn’t proud of, nor was I willing for Hannah to ever experience.

Once my mind finally drifted from those thoughts. I lied in bed, touching the crystalline phone everything two minutes hoping for vibration of some sort, but it never came.

Instead, my mind drifted to how my life turned upside down in a matter of a few months.

I’d been working as an EXiCON for a few months, as I’d finally made enough credits to move away from PMC work.

All was well, till my run-in with Eclain, which led to a bullshit friendship with Gonzada. I couldn’t lie, the ‘friendship’ between me Eclain did do me well, as my success rate marginally increased.

I may not have been the most proficient EXiCON, but I was efficient. Well, In my opinion, I thought I was. I still feel a little sour losing the gig, but as hard as I tried just putting it down to bad luck, I just couldn’t.

Returning to PMC work was not in my plans, but with the concern of a Myelofribosis shortage about on my first night and my wife and daughter was kidnapped? It was shit! But I had no choice but to get my head in the game.

I know Akatani was trying to drive me insane, by not contacting me, but I made sure to kept my mind right by working out and tinkering with my cybernetic arm.

An hour had passed since my moments of reminiscing of me fucking up, and I began to let my eyes wander around the room.

Eventually, I got out of bed and found myself scanning through the television channels to free my mind from the melancholy of my thoughts.

As I sat there in there, nursing the injuries I’d acquired over the past couple of days. The itchiness from the anaesthetic patch made my skin feel as though it was both ice cold and boiling, in a frustrating way I couldn’t describe.

It was as if, whenever my skin went cold, the fire would explode from the middle of the ice, then roil its way into dissipating the ice, then the ice would retaliate by swallowing the fire…and everything would repeat itself, annoyingly.

On top of that, each time I moved, the clicking noise sound of the anaesthetic patch began to sound like a drum and a mixture of the plastic bag which held a bag of flakes each time I moved.

Ten minutes passed, and the daytime shows started. I flicked through channels, rolling my eyes at every psychological piece a talk show host spat about ‘advising’ someone on how to live.

It was hilarious watching these charlatans work for the crowd. It was like watching a master illusionist, but you know the mirrors had been strategically placed on the stage, just to make the show seem real.

The occasional judge show didn’t fare much better either. I stopped at the sports channel for a minute or two, but when I realised it was an old game on replay. A game I might add, in which I lost a bet against Barest earlier in the year, which meant, there was no way in hell I was watching it.

I finally switched to BLED’s very own propaganda machine, to find something I wasn’t even surprised to see. The SMPTE Colour bars flickered. The announcement was written in a sun-yellow print, with a thick black outline. “Stand By Announcement Incoming…”

When an announcement came through like this, it was pretty important, but what in the hell could be important at this time?

The last problem the city had was the damn Riots. Is something major happening? It just didn’t make any sense to me. Hell, she just rescued the Elhisia…what more could she possibly handle at this time.

After ten minutes of waiting the SMPTE Colour Bars enclosed on themself and the screen cut to the conference room.

The camera was fixed on the podium, where no one stood and had the BLED Shield plastered behind it.

The camera zoomed out and I got a gift from the crowd. The reporters themselves had their cameras, no doubt were streaming to their website, not like that mattered if they didn’t pay the BLED broadcasting fee.

Hexan walked in from the right, dressed in her dark grey uniform, and medals sparkling on her left breast pocket. She had her Commissioner’s beret on, and turned to face the camera, then removed the beret from her head, tucking it under her shoulder.

She flashed a fake smile and looked at all the cameras, ensuring they saw her. Well well well, I said in my mind, The one and only, Commissioner Hexan had scheduled a press announcement.

“Good Evening Everyone, I’m sure you’re concerned about why we’re all here.” She said. A group of officers followed behind her, standing up, shoulders squared and faces painted sternly. It was like watching my drill sergeant scowling at me, with nothing but gritted teeth and fuming breathe.

“But Before we start. I want to thank you all for coming. It was all short notice, but I had to get the facts right before reporting this to you all.”

The Commissioner tapped something on the podium and it slowly shifted to the right of the screen. The trope of officers followed suit and the BLED shield slowly pushed itself off of the wall. The shield was slotted in the centre of a large screen, which turned black, showing SMPTE Colour Bars.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“…and before I began. They will be no questions answered today.” She said.

The crowd grumbled for about thirty seconds, and once silence rose within the room, she spoke again. “You can forward all your questions to our PR Officer, Lieutenant Drein.”

The Lieutenant Drein stepped forward, turning to the crowd and gave a stern nod.

“Recently, Heiress Elhisia Weitson of the Phrazeon Group had been kidnapped. However,” She said raising her voice, silencing the questions before they could be asked. “She’s been retrieved thanks to a joint operation between the Bridge City Law Enforcement Department and Celaron Security Services.”

“JOINT OPERATION MY ASS,” I growled.

The crowd grumbled into a frenzy and the camera zoomed out. The few murmurs I heard, were laced in imprecations for the Phrazeon Group and how BLED handled the riots.

Their anger was right, because I, was there when I ex-filtrated Rex during the chaos.

The foolish bastard had taken the job, not knowing what he had gotten himself into. Luckily, he bailed and kept his head low during the insanity of the situation, which made it easy for me to exfiltrate him, for a few of course.

“As we all know.” Hexan continued. “That Elhisia herself was in direct contact with The National Union of Labor’s President; Hiclef Seron. Based on the interviews done negotiations broke down between the Phrazeon Group and the Labor Union. And we all know what happened next.” She added coyly, eyeing the reporters.

We all know what happened next. Of course, we do! You fucking slaughtered those people Commissioner. I mused bitterly.

“However, during the passing months. A plot was devised by Darlina Weitson and Rikor Haek to kidnap Elhisia taking her into the Waste. Their plan, have the Chairman of Phrazeon Group negotiate for her daughter’s release.”

The murmurs boomed once Darlina’s name was dropped. Tartin Weitson, Colvolt’s brother’s daughter was known as a problem child throughout Bridge City, but to hear her name is this…was like icing on the cake.

So this is what you’ve co-oped Hexan, I mused, not bad…not bad at all.

“During the rescue operation for Elhisia, Rikor Haek was killed in action along with Colvolt Weitson.”

“THAT PIECE OF SHIT DESERVED IT!” A reported shouted, which drew laughs. So much for professional integrity. I noted. Hell, even Hexan struggled not to smile with that comment.

“Right. Mr Colvolt Weitson lost his life during a skirmish in The Carib Waste. He shielded his daughter from a bullet meant for her. Sadly, due to the trauma from this event, she’s under observation, but I’ve been advised that she will recover with some time.”

Hexan pressed a button on her podium and the BLED shield dissipate. Elhisia Weitson popped onto the screen, lying in bed attached to a few machines.

Elhisia’s cameraman rounded her, showing signs of haggardness and starvation. Her cheeks, which were usually puffy were sunken, whilst her lips were cracking from dryness. Her nose flaked around her nostrils.

Overall, her skin looked had that drained look, as if her body was drained of all of its fluid.

“Well done,” I grunted, clapping my hands together. “Not only have you fooled everyone, but you also pinned the kidnapping on Darlina Weitson, Hexan…well done. You’ve removed the problematic daughter of the Phrazeon Group and ensured Elhisia gets to be Chairman…all for the cameras.”

As I finish watching the political mastermind, that is the Commissioner known as Hexan. I laughed bitterly.

I was astounded at how she flipped to the entire situation in our favour. Not only did she gain Elhisia’s favour, she more than likely gained an ally…a powerful one at that.

All she had to do now was awake, and hopefully, she wouldn’t be pissed at me for letting her people die in the waste.

Nah…she’s gonna probably wanna kill me. I mused, but I have the lineagecube, so that should keep her check…until I get my credits.

“So this is what Naedon meant, the Commissioner had a surprise,” I said aloud. It never crossed my mind, though he meant that Elhisia was up and about, alas, she wasn’t.

The make-up or whatever it was that they did to her face was well done because she looked vehemently worst compared to what we nabbed her from Darlina’s grasp.

My only concern, was the aftermath of what I’d done to her in the desert and how she’d retaliate, after paying me my credits. Would she come after me? Would she destroy my world?

I laughed to myself, shaking my head…doesn’t matter if she did, my world was already destroyed now that Shin-Lee and Hannah weren’t in it. If I failed to get what Akatani wanted, I’ll make sure to follow them in the next life…after I’ve dealt with that Akatani myself.

A buzzing sound rattled in my ear, drawing my attention to the bed. I jumped, tossing myself across the room and answering the Crystalline phone without hesitation. “Hello?” I answered.

“Daddy!” Hannah-Lee shouted through the line. “Oh, God…Baby!” I called out, feeling as my heart thumped faintly in my chest whilst butterflies began to swarm within my stomach.

The playful nuance of her voice made my ears ring as if bells dinged right next to me. I felt as though I hadn’t heard her voice in years, and it was sweet bells to my ears. “I want to see you!” She said, voice stern.

“I too baby me too, are you good?” I asked cautiously.

“I’m OK.” She said after a few seconds. “…I don’t like it here. It’s cold, smells bad and noisy!.”

“Don’t worry baby, everything’s gonna be alright,” I said coolly, taking a deep breath, feeling as though my words were lies, but pushed that feeling away, steeling my resolve. “Where’s mummy?” I asked.

“She’s sleeping, daddy.”

Whilst I sat there, I felt as tears began to flow from my eye. I tried holding back my sobs, but they slowly croaked through my mouth and the only words I could tell my little girl was. “I’m sorry.”

I took a deep gulp, trying my best to hide my tears and sorrow, but for the life of me, the tears kept flowing, with my chest stinging me more than a sting from a bee. “Why are you crying, daddy?” Hannah asked me. Because I couldn’t protect you or your mother. I thought.

“Crying? I’m not crying baby, what makes you think that?”

“I can hear you silly!” she laughed.

She’s laughing…she’s OK, right? I despised this archaic form of communication, but it was the only way to ensure I couldn’t tell if Hannah was OK.

Akatani was a master manipulator, I could see that. I just wished I knew it beforehand. Gonzada had tricked me, giving me the wrong entail…now look at me, running around like a headless chicken.

“I think you’ve spoken enough. Akatani said. No! I cried out. His voice was like knives, cutting into my skin, peeling back each layer, slowly.

If this is how it felt to have my little girl pulled away from me, then life was meaningless, and its voice was this bastard Akatani.

“Alright Cypher…I’ve gathered all the information I needed.” He said, lying through his teeth. I knew he strung me out, trying to see if I would call. Even with Rex’s help, Akatani’s location couldn’t be back-traced, which infuriated me further…wasn’t he just a B-Class Cyberweaver? This just didn’t fit well with me. “I see. What do you need me to do?” I asked.

“Not much, infiltrate Underwent and find the serphandias.”

“You never told me what it was or how it looked,” I asked, confused.

“I know. It’s an item of extreme value. I’ve sent schematics of Underwent Market. I don’t care how you get it done. Find it and bring it to me in three days.”

“Three days?”

“Not a second longer.”

A ding went off through the microphone, making me look at the screen. A timer was counting down from 72 hours. Shit…

“Will you let me see my daughter?” I asked.

“I’ll send a picture after each 24-hour mark. Get me the serphandias.”

The line went dead.

I lay on the bed, hearing the echoes of my daughter’s voice in my head. “I can hear you silly.” “I want to see you.”

What truly stung, was me not telling her I love her, and reassuring her that we’ll reunite soon.

In all honesty, I didn’t have the balls to say it, because I don’t even know what tomorrow holds. No! I have to get through this…I have to GET THEM BACK or god as my witness, blood will flow from the lips of this city, if my fury is not met.