Os's neighborhood was exactly what Domitia would expect from a hacker - secure and inconspicuous.
Level 13-20 was the' Business District' of the station; many of the corpo offices and governmental halls are found on this level. The level is lousy with suits and g-men making their way from one bureaucratic nightmare to another. Most of the offices contain nothing but rudimentary androids that can file and accept paperwork so other people can then fill out and file that paperwork again. Only those with extreme patience or the right amount of cash could endure such things to get things done on Mayden the fair and legal way.
So most people didn't bother going through Level 13-20 to get things done.
"So what is he?" Domitia asked, "Works for a corp?"
"Freelance Data-Tech," Murci stated, "Algorithms can't fix themselves, legally, anyway."
"Boring work, but it pays well from what I've heard," Dell admits, "Shit I've had half a mind to do it if this doesn't work out."
Domitia snorts at that.
"What?" Dell asks, looking up at her.
"You like flying too much," Domitia says, "You'd get bored and find some other way to get yourself back into the stars."
Dell prepares to give a witty retort but sighs instead, "Got me dead to rights there, Dom."
The trio move through the level, leaving the strict business side of the district and finding themselves in the more high-class party side of town. After passing by one last no-nothing office, Domitia is greeted with swanky music and the smell of nicotine smoke. The hall has innumerable bars and lounges flanking the bounty hunters, each one filled with more suits than the last. Most are busily chortling among themselves over unreasonably expensive drinks. Some give the trio looks as they pass, whispering among themselves, giving looks to their own augged out bodyguards who keep an eye on the strangers passing by.
"Didn't expect to see this much brass," Dell says, looking over to Murci, who takes the lead, "This normal?"
"More than normal," Murci states, "Ever since the incident on Komlou, corpos have been especially twitchy."
"The what?" Dell asks, shaking his head, "Haven't been keeping up with the news."
Murci takes a quick look over either shoulder before slowing her gait to walk next to Dell, "Word is Paragon iced a delegation from Giara Med-Tech. No one knows exactly what happened, but there's worries of a corpo war."
"Coalition taking any steps?" Domitia asks.
Murci laughs, "Shit, you expect them to do something?"
Domitia grumbles, "Sorry, got nostalgic for a moment."
"Right, when the government did things," Dell says with a chuckle.
"Where's his place?" Domitia asks, changing the topic of discussion.
"Through here, he has a place behind one of these lounges," Murci says.
As they pass through the hall of bars, Murci leads the bounty hunters around a corner into a narrow alleyway that loops back towards the bar hall. The alleyway opens up again, showing what is clearly the back end of the bars. The ceiling stretches up far above the trio, steam from the various kitchens filling the alley, giving the impression of hot clouds overhead. Workers populate the alley, busily hopping in and out of the bars, tossing trash or grabbing boxes filled with more libations.
Towards the end of the hall, a group of well-dressed thugs buzzed around one particular doorway. While their clothes vary in level of cheapness and style, they all share the same bright green colors that could be found everywhere in their outfits. Weapons can be plainly seen in ill-fitting holsters or tucked into equally loose-fitting pants.
"Emerald Snakes," Dell chuckles, "Shit, I didn't know they were still kicking around."
"Friends of yours?" Domitia asks.
"Friends? Mother Void, no!" Dell then cackles, "No, no, no, just some cannon fodder, nothing to really worry about."
Domitia gives Murci a look, "You really need us for this?"
"Hey, I ain't a fighter," The hacker holds up her hands, "Gotta keep these clean."
"Right."
"Ain't too bad," Dell says, "Knock one down, and the rest'll start tumbling over."
"We do this without bloodshed," Domitia declares, "No reason to bring Security down on us again."
"Fair point," Dell replies.
"Sure you can do that?" Murci asks. "Heard these gangers are immune to reason."
"Ain't reason we're gonna use."
Dell leaps upon Domitia's shoulder, and the pair of bounty hunters approach the gangers. The Emerald Snakes had been passing around a bottle of liquor when the bounty hunters get close enough to hear their conversation, something about Drone War teams. When they realize that Dell and Domitia are in their presence, they tense up, many putting their hands on their faux-gold plated guns. Their leader, a human with a pallid complexion, gold teeth, and a cheap cybernetic eye, walked up to them, PDW held in his hand loosely, pointed at the floor.
"What you doin? Wanna drink?" He holds up a half-empty bottle of champagne, his fake accent grating on Domitia's ears.
"I ain't thirsty right now." Dell begins, "Now, how about you and your boys let my friends and me in. Got to get things for the funeral."
"Funeral?"
"That's right." Dell lies smoothly, "Os was a good friend, and I gotta get in and pick out things we're gonna send him into the void with."
"Nah, nah mate," He points his pistol at the door, "Boss says I's gotta watch the place, make sure no one gets in, you know."
"And I respect that." Dell points at the kid, "Really do. Gotta ask, how much are they paying you?"
"Wot?"
"You know." Dell rubs his fingers together, "What's the cut."
"What? Think you can buy my loyalty?!" He brought his gun up, but he had his PDW snatched out of his hands by Domitia.
The Bellator took apart the PDW bit by bit, expertly disassembling it and leaving it at the feet of the wannabe gangster. The rest of the Emerald Snakes stepped up, and Domitia gave them a heavy-lidded glare.
"I'm gonna ask you again," Dell looks the kid over, "How much?"
"Cold five-gs."
"Five thousand?" Dell chuckled, "You know how much a cybernetic arm is?" Dell answers his own question, "For a shit one, six and a half." He tapped Domitia on the head, "So even if you live through my partner here taking off one of your arms, you're gonna have to beg one of your boys here to pay for a new one, which by the way, probably doesn't have a full range of motion."
The ganger took a step back, looking at his fellow gangsters, who all gave him similarly shakey looks.
"So how about it," Dell asks, "Want a new arm?"
"Fuck this." He motions for his gangers to follow, "C'mon boys. Let's get out of here."
The Emerald Snake slither away, walking, then running as they tried to get distance from the pair of bounty hunters. Murci whistles as she comes up to join the two of them.
"Gotta say. I'm impressed." Murci gives Dell a grin, "Maybe you ain't such a loser after all."
She then walks over and opens the door.
Os' apartment is a cramped, dark place. Even with all the lights on, most of the apartment is still cast in shadow. The living room is a mess of empty bottles and take-out containers. Domitia walks with a hunch to avoid bumping her head on the ceiling, having to duck to move from the tiny living room to the bedroom. A small bed lies on the ground in the corner of the room, a mess of bed sheets piled atop it, with much of the room being dominated by a Net-Chair and several different data towers connected to it.
"Shit," Dell says, whistling, "Now this is flashy," He crouches down by one of the data towers, "Minx-39 Processor, that ain't cheap. Three of them too."
"Os was extremely careful," Murci motions to the towers, "All three would run, but only one housed his brain processor. Always worried about getting fried. All this is behind half a dozen proxies. Made him slow, but he was invisible on the Net."
"Would he store his info on the towers?" Asks Domitia, her gaze wandering around the cramped room.
"Not likely, give me a minute..." Murci feels around the room with her foot, eventually finding something on Os' bed. Pulling the small mattress aside, she eventually finds a small latch that pops open to reveal a small computer underneath, "Bingo," She reaches up to her head and pulls down a data jack, "I'll be indisposed for a few minutes kids, don't break anything." She says before inserting it into the device.
"Net-heads," Dell whispers, "We really going to pay her a third?"
"It's what's fair, Dell," Domitia reminds her partner, "We don't lie."
"Well," Dell walks away with a chuckle, "I- Oh, look at that!"
He hops over to a small desk and chair set up in the corner of the bedroom. An assortment of paints, clippers, and plastic figures are scattered across the desk.
"You ever seen these?" Dell held one up to Domitia.
The Bellator takes it in her hand, and it takes a moment to recognize that what she holds is a miniature Bellator. Painted grey and red, its outstretched right arm mimicking firing an Ion Lance, its left holding a vibro-blade.
Domitia chuckles, "Never knew we had toys made out of us."
"Think it's a game." Dell muses, "Some of my old crew said it's called 'Clone Wars: The Age of Darkness,' Bellator versus those Clone Legions the Gene-Lords made a while back."
Domitia hums, "Well, if that's the case, the armor is wrong."
"What?" Dell asks, looking at the mini.
Domitia crouches down, pointing at the tiny plastic Bellator, "This is Strider Pattern Warplate. It was made after the Clone War," Domitia taps the head, "That helmet is how you know. It's got a sliding visor, like the one I have. It had integrated targeting systems within it but made seeing in close quarters hell."
"Okay," Dell nods, "But it's just a game, Dom, no reason to get all technical."
Domitia shrugs, "Well if you're gonna do something, best to do it right." She held the model up close, "He got the colors right. Cursed Thirteen."
"Huh?"
"They were the Thirteenth Regiment, got infected with the Legacy Bane. They died to the last, their remains entombed on Coar." Domitia feels a degree of grief rises up in her over that fact, which just as quickly subsides, "I'm going to step outside, make sure the snakes don't come back."
"Suit yourself." Dell says, "I'm gonna raid the fridge and see if there's any beer left."
Domitia exits the cramped and dark apartment and reenters the humid and busy alleyway, taking her post just outside the door. She leans against the wall, sighing as she watches for any signs of trouble. The Bellator scans the alley, seeing nothing but burly workers rushing in and out of their establishments. Some stick around for a while, taking drags on vapes or other chems to give them a pep in their step.
Yet one figure stands out, mostly because she towers over the rest of them. She saunters down the alleyway with strange levels of grace, giving Domitia a strong indicator she's augged. Her red eyes, framed by black hair, flash over Domitia; the gaze of the tall woman reminds Domitia of a predator, sizing up another kill. Her slim build is exaggerated by her black jacket and skirt, making her profile look even thinner. She has no weapons on her, yet the confidence she carries herself with tells Domitia she is still dangerous.
"Dom," Dell's voice comes out from the apartment, "Get in here; hacker’s made a breakthru."
Domitia heads back inside, nearly striking her head on the threshold into the bedroom as she comes in, Murci's still crouching over the console found under the mattress.
"What’d ya find?" Domitia asks.
"Something interesting," Murci replies, "Trying to piece it together."
"Does it confirm our man is still alive?" Dell asks.
"In a sense," Murci finally removes the jack, "Here's the word: Os intercepted an invite. Death Heads are looking for additional bodies for a job."
"Where at?"
"Janus mining colony, not too far from here." Murci says, "Here's the deal. The guy who put this out? Sassia' Dead-Taker.'"
"Shit..." Dell trailed off before saying, "That's the Void-Damned Necromancer."
"Should've seen what he was up to on the Firebrand." Domitia mutters coldly, "Message have any details? Anything that confirms Flynt is there."
"Not word for word, but the message does say; 'Here we will put the last sparks to rest.'"
Domitia sharply inhaled at that, fist clenching tightly, "Bastard quoting his own captain."
"Oh fuck, it's real then." Dell runs a comb through his hair, hands shaking slightly, "Fuck... Guess we're doing this then."
"Were you hoping for another dead end, Caliger?" Asks Murci.
"Wasn't expecting this to be the real deal." Dell admits, putting his comb away, "Right. Well. We gonna set off?"
Domitia nods, "Let's get our ship in order and set off."
"Great," Murci rolls her shoulders, "Been a while since I was off station."
Dell raises a hand, "Now hold up there slim," He points a finger at Murci, "You think we're gonna let you on our ship?"
"Well I need to confirm if our bounty gets nabbed, otherwise I don't get paid." Murci fires back.
Dell shakes his head, "I appreciate your help, but as you said yourself, you ain't good in a fight."
"You don't look that good yourself, short stuff." The hacker jabs.
Dell prepares to give a retort when Domitia gives him a look, making him relent.
"If you come with us, you will work. And if needed, you will fight." Domitia says, looming over Murci, "You understand."
"Clear as space, boss." Murci gives Domitia a mock salute. "Just remember, I want my cut. Not a cred short."
"You'll get your cut," Dell said with a sigh, "Right, let's mosey then."
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