Boredom

Niiiice!

Prelude: The Dream

Seven Ecks stands in a thick fog thats filled the entire sector like smoke in a bottle.  The street is dark, empty save the scattered beggar or mix walker.  He knows he should be happy, he's going to see his fiance, fresh off an AV from Neo York.  She'd been visiting her brother, the only family she had left besides himself.  He imagines seeing her waving to him mere paces ahead.   Smooth pale skin making her almost invisible in the fog, but her blue eyes sparkling, reminding him of folded steel glinting beneath the fake harvest moon.  Blinking her image from his eyes he starts off down the street, his form engulfed in the shrouding mist of the fog.  He knows he should be happy, but he's had this dream before.  He knows the scene waiting to play out in his mind for the hundredth time will chill his blood like he hardlined dry ice.

Tammy => Hey babe, you almost here? I can't see anything in this fog.

Seven smiles despite himself, there's no use resisting.  He knows he can't change the outcome of the dream, he's tried before.  He's just a puppet without the strings, unable to turn away, unable to wake, a prisoner in his own mind.  

Seven => I'm on Lambs, only a block or two away, I wish I'd brought ah pair of thermos.

The air is alive with the smells of the mix.  Rats roasting over barrel fires somewhere down the street, garbage of all sorts piled waist high on the curbs.  Holden ethicol engines spewing foul smelling exhaust from aged cars.  The smells mingle together like a stew, each flavor distinctive in it's own right, but coming together to create what could be considered as an entity.  Seven inhales deeply, taking the mix into his lungs.  He knows whats coming, he's prepared for it.  The final seconds tick off a countdown thats  been running in his mind since the dream started.   A high pitched scream echos through the foggy night as the counter reaches zero.  He stops mid-step as his throat closes up and his heart misses a beat.  He stands motionless for an eternity that lasts only a second.  A dam somewhere in his body breaks and a tidal wave of adrenaline engulfs him.  His fists clench as the liquid energy floods through his system like so many hits of Vee.  His body begs him to release the the pent up energy and he agrees.  Cursing, he breaks into a run and speeds toward the source of the scream.   His muscles work hard, drawing him towards the source of the scream.  He already knows he's too late, but unable to free himself from the shackles of the dream he presses on.  
"Tammy!  Fuck girl, where are you!  Yell.. something, come on chica.. say something..". He knows she wont reply.

Seven => What happened?  Where are you?  Are you okay..?  I'm coming..  [Sent to User: Tammy]

She's still on the SIC, so she must still be alive.  If only he could run a little faster, if only he had brought some Vee, he might reach her in time.  He barrels over a trash can barely breaking stride as the hard metal impacts his body.   Seven grinds his teeth hard as he pumps his arms still faster.  His mind reels with panic and injustice and half formed thoughts of the revenge he will seek if a single hair on her head is displaced.  Another sound pierces the silent street, a muffled sound he's heard countless times before.  The sound of a bullet traveling through a silencer.  He tries to send her another message on the SIC but can't find her alias on the network.
"It's a dead-zone.. just a dead-zone.. TAMMY!" he yells and continues too run.  He knows he's almost too her, he braces himself for the sight that haunts him not only in his dreams but in his waking hours whenever his mind wanders for even moment.  Ahead he can see a gap in the fog,  an area that looks clear as day.  He explodes into the clearing like a demon, wisps of smokey fog tugging at his duster like hells angels trying to pull him back into the depths.  And then he's standing over her body laid out on the sidewalk.  And he's cradling her in his arms and telling her not to leave him, and how much he loves her.  He knows there is no hope, that she took a bullet in the eye from less then three feet.  He knows there's a man shrouded in darkness standing behind him.  He knows that a freak accident at the Genetek cloning center in the GOLD district will cause Tammy's clone data to be erased before it can be transfered to her new host, resulting in a perma-death.  He knows this, and he does not know this.  He runs his hand through her silky brown hair, wet with her blood.   He holds her warm body to his, still weeping.  He knows the man is pointing the gun that murdered her at his back, and he knows that he's getting ready to cock the hammer back.  New sounds, a car starting somewhere in the distance.  The screech of the tires and the roar of the engine as it draws near.  He lays her head gently back onto the concrete and stands.  He reaches behind him and grasps the hilt of the monoblade katana strapped to his back.  Stepping out into the street now, katana held diagonally from his body, tip pointed toward the ground.  
A graffiti covered 2088 Holden VTS careens out of the fog in front of him.  The left and only functioning headlight catches his form in a foggy silhouette.  The driver jerks the wheel, angling the car toward him.   Seven takes one more step and turns to face it.  He catches a glimpse of the driver through the dark tint of the windshield.  Dark skin, long hair, some sort of tattoo at the base of his neck.  Death wrapped in synth-leather from the glimmer he catches through the tint.  The car is almost a pon him when he side steps out of it's path, swinging his katana in a wide arc and yelling;
"YOU KILLED HER!." as the molecule thick edge of the blade slices with ease through the safety glass of the windshield, the metal of the cars frame, and the drivers wide eyes.  Tugging the katana free with ease.  Blood dripping from it's smooth metallic surface.  He stands still, stained with sweat and blood, breathing hard.  A few moments later a loud crash and an explosion as the car impacts with a building.  Acrid smoke wisps into his nose as he tries to get his breathing under control.  He knows the man has stood there and watched it all, waiting for the perfect moment to act.  He knows this, but he does not know this.  Sweat slides down his forehead and into his eyes, but he doesn't try to wipe the droplets away.  Tears stream down his dirt stained cheeks and congeal on his chin like water on a faucet.  He stands there for a long while not knowing what too do.  The metal on the man's gun crackles as the hammer is cocked back.

(Edited by Nemisis at 6:57 pm on May 1, 2005)

(Edited by Nemisis at 7:03 pm on May 1, 2005)

(Edited by Nemisis at 7:05 pm on May 1, 2005)

The Van jerked, coming to a sudden halt. They were going east on Ashlin. Two unmarked cars,
Hondamitsu Koi's, both painted midnight black were blocking off the road.
Grey was sitting in the back with Jefferson and Michael's. Grey held up a hand, motioning to his two
Comrades to stay put, as he moved to the front of the van. The driver was gone. He peered out the windshield to see the two vehicles blocking the road, along with four men
wearing Virisoma Security Jumpsuits. Grey hurried back to the cargo room of the van. "Double cross," he said, reaching into his suit jacket. He pulled out a 10 mm H&K Autopistol, flipping the safety off.
Jefferson reached under the bench along the wall of the van. He pulled out a ZMI 830 Conciliator Shotgun, and pumped it. The other man pulled a . 357 Revolver from his belt holster. They were prepared.
Each man had a long resume of combat History. Grey and Michael's, both long time veterans in the CORPSEC world. Jefferson, although new to the game, was in the US Army, and had been discharged dishonorable for assaulting his CO. Grey
recruited him to his team. "What's the plan"? Jefferson asked, his voice shaky and unsure. "NLM paid us good money to protect this package, so let's do our job and keep our reputation intace. Jeff, keep that sweeper pointed at the door, as soon as it opens, go to work.
Michael's, you and I are going to exit from the front, we'll try and flank them. Go" Grey issued the orders smoothly, and full of confidence. Jefferson nodded and trained the boomstick at the door, as Grey commanded, as Grey and Michael's made their way to the front, and exited, both on opposite sides
From each other. In that moment, the back door of the van swung open. Jefferson stared down two men, both training.45's on him. There was a split second, which seemed like an hour to all three of them. Finally, Jefferson, without a word, pulled the trigger. The rifle kicked and bucked in his hands, sending a 12 gauge slug straight into the
First mans chest. The man went reeling back, nearly smacking into the second man, who sidestepped his falling partner showing no concern for his injury. As Jefferson pulled back to chamber another round, the Second man pulled his trigger. A single . 45 round caught Jefferson in the neck, spraying blood everywhere. He dropped the shotgun and gripped his wound, kicking about.
As Grey exited the Van, He spotted a single Virisoma man standing guard, holding an MK23-S. Grey moved fast, and took him by suprise. He dropped the man with a single shot to his forehead, and moved on. Michael's spotted the look out on his side, and did the same. As they advanced to the back of the truck, Grey heard the loud crack of rifle fire. He immediately hit the ground, searching the area for a sniper.
As he looked over at Michael's, he saw him clutching his stomach. Blood poured from the wound. His revolver lay on the ground, as Michael's struggled to stay on his feat. Another loud crack. This time the round pierced his head. Another wave of blood, and Michael's plopped to the ground. 'A Fucking sniper. You should have thought about that Grey. God dammit.' Grey scorned himself in his head.
He stayed on the ground. He saw a uniformed operative jump out of the van, with the package. "Fuck" Grey muttered. In the prone position, Grey pointed his 10 mm, and let the whole clip off at the man, who was fleeing to the West, where a waiting Koi was idling. The bullets missed their mark. Grey jumped to his feet, and climbed in the van. The engine roared to life on his command, and he threw it in reverse and jerked the wheel.
The van nearly smashed into a shop as Grey made a reckless three point turn, and gunned it after the man, who had made it to the Koi. The Koi squealed its tires as it fled. The Van caught the Koi quick. Grey rode their bumper, occasionally giving them a love tap, bumping each others bumpers as the Koi tried to outrun the bigger vehicle.
"Should have gotten a Holden, you cheap assholes" Grey muttered, as he floored the gas peddle. He moved as if to pass them, and got right beside the Koi. Grey jerked the wheel as the Koi went into overdrive. But the Van caught the back left tire before they could escape. The Koi spun out of control. It crossed lanes, and smashed through the windows of a Mom and pops Porno store. The van, which was at maximum speed, was seconds away from putting itself on display
in a different store on the opposite side of the road. Grey slammed on the brakes, and locked them up. The Van skidded into the store. Grey, who wasn't wearing his belt, flew through the windshield as the van came to a jarring halt.

"What should we do with him?"  A distant voice. Complete dark.

"Not sure if he's a hired spook or a company man"

"Looks like he's comeing around…ask him for yourself..."

The room slowly appeared to Grey. Fuzzy at first, but with the blink of the eye, he quickly became aware of his surroundings. A single light dangled from the ceiling, allowing him enough light. He was bound to a chair. His hands cuffed behind the steel back plate, and his feet tied with wire.  Three men, two dressed in suites, the other, whom he recognized from the earlier skirmish, sported an all black BDU. Grey was without a shirt or shoes, and had only his midnight black custom tailored pants. His belongings were scattered about a table on the other side of the dimly lit room. He looked at each man carefully before one spoke.
"What's your name, boy?" A suit. Taller then the other.
"John" Grey replied. An obvious lie.
The tall man reached back and slapped Grey.
"Once more..." He repeated, "Your name".
"Gregory Matthews." Grey spat.  A pencil pusher he once met.
"Those were some moves, although foolish, Mr. Matthews. Tell us, we've been pondering this amongst ourselves during your nap. Are you loyal to NLM"?
Grey did not reply.
"I'll take it as a yes. Now, here is another question of which me and my friends would like answered. Do you value life"?
Grey perked his head up at the man in response to the threatening question. The tall suit smiled.
"Excellent. Here is what you're going to do..."
The tall suit motioned to the grunt in the BDU. The grunt nodded and moved to the table, and came back with a micro disk.
"Mr. Matthews, you're going to go back to NLM. You will say you and your team accomplished your mission, with interference. Your  time was delayed, for a team of agents from Skywatch made off with the package, but...."
The tall man takes the disk from the grunt.
"You managed to retrieve it. You will then give this disk to them. Your mission will be completed when they upload the disk."
"What's on it"? Grey asked.
"Need to know information, Mr. Matthews."
"And If I refuse?" Grey questioned the man.
"Then the cortex bomb we've implanted into your brain will explode. Simple". The man sneered at Grey, then motioned to the smaller suit, who uncuffed Greys hands.
Grey quickly felt around his skull. On the back of his head, he could feel a tiny stich, and his eyes went wide with horror.
"So it's all set. Once the disk has been uploaded, your new implant will be dissovled, and all will be well. Good luck". The grunt grinned as the three men headed for the door. The tall man first, followed by the grunt. As the short man made it to the door, he stopped and flicked the light off, leaving Grey in total darkness.