Chapter Thirty - Bypass

Chapter Thirty - Bypass

Chapter Thirty - Bypass

How many times do I have to repeat myself?

Dont antagonize the nutjobs with literal aliens in their heads and very large guns!

Its like you people

want to die!

-Former CFO of Nimbletainment after the July 2044 incident.

***

Our trek across the city was uneventful. Unexpectedly so.

Maybe it was the way Gomorrah was dressed. In full, high-tech gear, her flamethrower hanging close by her side. Maybe it was the way she was walking, as if she owned the damn place. Or maybe anyone that would cause trouble knew something was going on and they all just collectively decided to mind their own damned business for the morning.

It was still super damned early. I didnt think Id ever gone out at this hour to cause trouble. I guessed that troublemakers werent the sort to wake up at the crack of dawn.

From the ground, it was hard to tell which tower housed the rich and affluent, and which was built to make them richer and more affluent. They were all the same lifeless grey, with the occasional splash of colourgraffiti and painted rebellion that hadnt been wiped out by the automated sweepers yet.

The nearest entrance to the sewers might be off-limits, Gomorrah said.

I shook myself out of my daydreams. Whys that? I asked. A glance at my own map indicated we were getting closer to the building where we could get to the sewers from the basement. It didnt seem different to any of the others around it.

The entire bottom half of the building is owned by a pharmaceutical. They make drugs there, and the security is pretty tight.

So we ask them nicely to let us into the sewers. Its not like were there to steal their overpriced insulin or whatever, I said.

They might not be so understanding, Gomorrah said.

I blinked. The fucking cops were willing to play nice with us. Why wouldnt some legal pill-pushers do the same?

Gomorrah gestured vaguely ahead. Theyre hardasses. I think Ive heard other samurai complain about them before. The thing is, its the one industry thats well backed by samurai. Easy money, and all the company needs to do is produce some drugs for cheap.

Yeah, I dont get it.

A lot of samurai sold the recipes for meds to these big companies. They expect the companies to sell them, almost at cost. That means curing people of a lot of things relatively cheaply. Its why were not going through the twelfth iteration of some plague. Those same companies use that backing to sell their own drugs on the side. Its a big industry, with plenty of cash to be made.

And because theyre basically helped by samurai, they think they can just do whatever?

Not whatever, Gomorrah said. But they might try to flex a little if we dont approach things the right way.

Looks safe enough, I said.

Gomorrah stepped in, head tilted back as she looked around the place, then she focused on the guard.

Welcome, we wish to know wh--

I need access to your maintenance sub-levels, Gomorrah said. Specifically, sub-level three.

Ah, the security stooge said. Maam, do you have the right building?

Obviously, Gomorrah said.

We cant just let anyone into our sub-basements, you understand, he said. His tone had shifted, turning from confused corpo spokesidiot to male Karen with some perceived reason to be offended.

Good, you can lead me there, then, Gomorrah said.

Of course, that was when the idiots idiot friends ran out of the security room at the back and lined up behind him. A full dozen guards, in heavy armour with obvious servos and pistons and artificial muscles keeping everything working. They had guns that looked like they were torn off the side of helicopters and their helmets glowed from within. The fuckers meant business.

I dont need twelve escorts, Gomorrah said. To me, she added, I dont know if I can take all of these guards, you know.

Maam, I will have to ask that you leave our property.

I walked up to the Karen, my new pal, and turned off my invisibility with my face an inch from his. His eyes went wide. My samurai friend over there said we needed to get to your basement, I replied in a calm, even tone. As if hed just asked for the manager, and I was the manager.

Ah, he said. Who are you?

Stray Cat, I replied. Pleasure to meet you, buddy. Im a stealth-specialized samurai. I mostly use explosives. Nice building you have.

Was that a, ah, threat?

I could be more obvious, if you want.

Cat, please dont blow up the building, Gomorrah said. People live around here.

Yeah, yeah, I said. I stepped back from the Karen. Ill be on my way down then. I flicked my invisibility back on, then, just to be sure, walked past the row of guards while they glanced around and tried to spot me.

Hmm, I can make my way down by myself then, Gomorrah said. I appreciate the greeting.

Wait, uh, I mean...

***