Into a Den of Vipers

The smirk returns to Saionji’s face. “Can’t fool me, Tsuruta. Gun’s not loaded.”

She has me there. “How’d you know?”

“You really think someone who rides carefully and obeys all the traffic laws while invisible would actually harm someone?”

“Desperate people do desperate things.”

“You’re also not the kind of person to shoot someone who didn’t deserve it.”

“Did all that talk about kindness go to your head? Xyronin aren’t typically good people, in case you haven’t noticed. If you’re too trusting, you’ll find yourself bleeding out on the side of the road one of these days.”

“Doesn’t matter: Gun’s not loaded.”

She still has me. “OK, fine. You take the kid, I’ll sell the gun.”

“You can’t!” There’s the squeaky protest I expected from the kid earlier. “My father will kill me.”

Saionji sighs. “Give it back to him, Tsuruta. I’ll let you have thirty percent.”

“Gun’s worth more than that.” I’m not lying, in theory, but in practice, I’ve got no chance of selling this for full price. Kid’s dad is a big-shot CEO. Trafficking something like this is risky. I’d be lucky to get anywhere close to thirty percent of the bounty for it.

“Seriously?” I can tell from her expression that she knows I’m trying to pull one on her. Time to take the sympathetic approach.

“I really need the money. Besides, I’m the one who found him and did most of the work, and my bike’s probably got a dent in it now.”

“Fine, fifty-fifty. Now give him the gun back.”

There’s a look on her face now that’s equal parts pity and disgust. I deserve the former, but not the latter. This is what I hate about her the most. Because she comes from a rich family, she doesn’t need the money. She’s out here playing mercenary for fun and looking down on the rest of us who need to work to feed ourselves.

No proper xyronin would agree to any kind of split. My power suit was out of juice, and she had possession of the kid. She should’ve told me to get bent, but she went halfsies without a fight, for the sake of some kid she barely knows. I’ll take it though, without shame. I wasn’t lying about needing the money.

Without another word, we mount our bikes and head back toward the city. The kid rides with her. At least she doesn’t trust me that much. But the kid though—If I were him, I’d have the stupidest grin on my face, clinging to her like that. I’ve got a stupid grin just imagining it.

She glances over at me, and I try to make a straight face. From the way her smirk returns, I can tell I wasn’t fast enough.

⁂

For one beautiful moment, the number in my bank account is nice and big. A couple seconds later, it’s back down, drained to pay off my debts. At least I’ve got enough left over to eat for a few days.

Nothing for it but to pawn something. The rechargeable crystal powering my suit is draining a little too fast these days. I’ve got a newer backup anyway.

Next day, I hit the pawn shop. Gotta love these financial institutions. Their decor stands out for its gaudiness, even in a city covered in rainbow crystals. Shop owner’s a good guy, though. I never bothered to learn his name, but he’s as dirty in the same way I am.

As I walk into the shop, he’s watching a broadcast on a large Xyrite crystal on the counter. Hoping to keep him distracted as we make the deal, I lean across the counter to take a peek at the broadcast. It’s showing a video of some executive shaking hands with some politician.

“What’s so interesting?” I ask.

“Someone tried to assassinate the prime minister.”

“Again? Hold on, did you say tried? As in, they failed? That’s rare.”

“Some new kind of tech heard the gun go off and deployed a shield before the bullet could reach the prime minister. Sounds impossible, if you ask me, but if you told me about Xyrite when I was a kid, I’d have said the same thing. So, what did you bring me this time?”

“Battery crystal, military grade.” I drop it into his outstretched hand.

“Looks pretty old to me.”

“I won’t lie to you: It’s only got a few years left in it. But it has sentimental value to me. I’ll definitely buy it back when I hit my next big payday.”

“You know how I can tell you’re lyin’ to me? Two ways: When you insist you’re not lyin’ and when you say you’re gonna make money. That’s what I don’t get about you, Tsuruta. Lots of xyronin make enough to retire early, but you’ve raked in twice amount and remain broke. Where’s all that money goin’?”

“If you must know, I’m hiring detectives to find my sister. Most recent guy said he had a lead, but then he up and disappeared with the money. I know it’s a fool’s errand, but I can’t just give up.”

The man scoffs. “If you don’t want to tell me, then that’s your business. Don’t gotta make up a sob story like that.”

“It’s not a story. She’s the reason I enlisted, the reason I spent three years freezin’ my ass off guarding the mines overseas. I went through hell to put her through college, and then came back to find she had vanished. I just can’t let it go without getting answers.”

He shrugs. “If you say so. Look, I’ll buy the crystal. I know plenty of people interested in military tech, even if it’s at the end of its life. But a little while before you came in, a man dropped off a letter for ya. I told him I wasn’t no courier, but he gave me enough to make it worthwhile. ‘Course, I had a little peek inside. Looks like someone wants you for a really big job. Take my advice: Accept the job and then retire. You’re in here so often I’m startin’ to feel sorry for you.”

⁂

The letter doesn’t say much. It lists a time, a place, and an amount. Sure enough, it’s enough to retire on if I live a frugal life. Maybe open up a dagashi shop. Kids love to point out my scar. It’s a perfect attraction.

When I arrive at the location—a dimly lit room in the back of a bar—I’m surprised to see someone I recognize: It’s the kid’s father, Naomichi Hosokawa. He’s a big shot CEO at a tech company.

“Mr. Tsuruta, thank you for coming.” He stands and offers a handshake. Neither of us really want it, but I take it so as to not be rude. “My son says you’re quite the mercenary, and I’m grateful for the way you handled things. Even convinced him to go through with the surgery.”

“Thank you, sir, but I don’t deserve too much credit. He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s get down to business, shall we? I want you to steal a prototype from one of my competitors.”

“With respect, sir, that sounds like corporate espionage, and I make it a policy not to get involved with that kind of thing.” No way I’m getting on a major corporation’s bad side.

“Even if I told you it’s the reason your sister disappeared?”

I try to say something, but I can’t think. My mouth hangs open for several seconds before I regain my senses. “I think I could make an exception.”

“I thought you might. Oh, and one other thing: You’ll be working with a partner. I know by reputation that you prefer to work alone, but this is too big a job to leave to one person.”

“No problem. If you’d like, I can give you a list of people I’ve worked with in the past—People I trust.”

“No need. I’ve already hired someone. She also came highly recommended, and you already know her.”

“You don’t mean—”

“Nice to see you again, Tsuruta.” I turn around, and Saionji is standing behind me. The dim lighting accentuates the contours of her face, making her smirk even more even more irritating. She extends a hand. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”