Chapter 56

STORY: “Your business partner, Sergio Ndrangheta.”
STORY: “I need him.”
TUELLER: Tueller perks up.
TUELLER: “In what sense?”
STORY: “Intact.”
TUELLER: “In what sense intact?”
TUELLER: “He’s already missing a limb.”
STORY: She looks at you patronizingly.
STORY: “He is CJH section chief on the Ark. I can’t simply send A-Sec to pick him up. I need you to bring him to me.”
TUELLER: “I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m asking…do you need him compromised, or just standing in front of you?”
STORY: “He’s already compromised. I simply need him present.”
STORY: “Will you help me?”
TUELLER: “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know our help was ever in question on this.”
TUELLER: “Of course.”

STORY: He makes sure there’s enough space between you two and Millie before lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I want to talk about how you blew it with the doc.”
STORY: “How bad was it?”
ALEJO: Alejo sighs in answer. Then shrugs. “Complicated.”
STORY: Tux throws back his head and laughs. “What isn’t with you?”
ALEJO: “Yeah. I know.”
ALEJO: “I’m trying to reform.”
STORY: “So does that mean…” He points to her and himself, questioning.
SWEET: “He’s asking if you mind if he takes a shot at it, buddy.” Sweet says as he walks past them.
ALEJO: Alejo does a double take as he walks by. “Uhm. I mean. . .” he hesitates. “Sure,” he finally says, unconvincingly.
STORY: Tux tilts his head to you. “That doesn’t sound like enthusiastic consent, Soto.”
ALEJO: “I mean, she’s remarkable. You’re remarkable. So . . .” He swallows. “Makes sense.” He keeps his gaze forward.
STORY: Tux tries to make eye contact with Sweet.
STORY: Pointing between Alejo and Millie, mouthing, “WHAT HAPPENED HERE?”
SWEET: Sweet points at Alejo.

Continue reading “Chapter 56”

Chapter 55

TUELLER: “How’s your loyalty to the family after this?”
TUELLER: “The people who turned you into a mass murderer.”
STORY: He rubs his temples. “Don’t make me think about that right now, Tueller.”
TUELLER: “You think you need a short vacation before you go back to work, then?”
TUELLER: “Take some time off on the pleasure domes of Ishtar before you come back to the team that builds pink gas and parks asteroids above cities?”
STORY: He looks up at you, his face white. “What the fuck are you even talking about, Tueller?”
STORY: “This is _your fucking family.“_
TUELLER: “Only technically. They’ve disowned me and I them.”
STORY: “Not mine. I don’t call these fucking shots. I follow orders and get paid and some piece of shit higher up makes a decision that turns me into this.”
TUELLER: “So, you want to go back to following those orders.”
TUELLER: “Hope you don’t have to press the pink mist button again. After all, the pay is so good.”
STORY: “Don’t pretend like you haven’t gotten to where you are on their backs, Tueller. You may not be a Ya’Makasi now, but you were one long enough to benefit.”
STORY: “You were one long enough to kill for them.”
STORY: “And you goddamn knew as well as I did they’d do something like this.”

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Chapter 50

TUELLER: “Lah, can you arrange a ship for us?”
FIGGAN: Figgan pours him a refill of the whiskey and coffee while he’s talking to Akilah.
STORY: “A ship?”
STORY: “Kinda figured we could just have you do a crime and I’ll ask the judge to send you there.”
STORY: She points at her chest. “Lawyer? Remember?”
TUELLER: “No, that…that….fuck, yeah, I guess that’s the job.”
FIGGAN: “Aww, this is gonna be hella fun.”
TUELLER: “Get me a new identity.”
STORY: Akilah nods.
STORY: “Jenny, Kahn, you think you can both get hired on as guards?”
STORY: Kahn tilts his head. “Sure, boss.”
STORY: Then you all remember, as I just did, that Kahn also worked for Akilah for years.
JENNY: Jenny nods, smiles. “Aye.”
TUELLER: “Ejo’s going to be so disappointed he missed this.”

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Chapter 38

STORY: Miguel puts his hands up, laughing. “Hey now. Let’s all calm down. I did no such thing, Akilah. You’ve been through a lot today.”
STORY: “Let’s talk about this.”
ALEJO: “Never left, huh?” He has his gun trained between Miguel’s eyes.
STORY: “Alejo. Come on. You know me.”
TUELLER: “Her word is good enough for me.”
STORY: Akilah takes another step, still holding the gun on him. She squints.
STORY: “He’s got a damper.” She lowers her gun.
STORY: You both see it too. He’s wearing a necklace with a portable inertial damper, one most likely made to stop bullets.
TUELLER: Tueller charges forward and grapples him.
STORY: “God damn it, we’re just gonna have to do this the hard way.” She drops her shoulder and runs full-tilt into Miguel, throwing her body against his as the three of them sail out the window.
MILLICENT: To Tueller, “Hey, I just crashed a shuttle into the street. It’s not a bomb or anything.”
MILLICENT: “You’re probably busy, but I just, you know. Don’t worry! It’s all good!”

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Chapter 34

STORY: Wen looks at the group of you, gesturing to Alejo. “You gave me your blessing, man.”
ALEJO: Alejo goes back to get Aki, who is still looking up to Wen. “We gotta go.” He says this softly.
STORY: Alejo, Akilah takes your hand, without looking away from Wen. She shakes her head sadly.
STORY: “Tueller, you were my best man!”
STORY: He’s just sputtering at this point.
TUELLER: “You’re better off not being part of this family, man. I’m sorry.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks mildly sorry.
ALEJO: Alejo closes his eyes for a moment. “Jesus.” He looks up to Wen again. “I’m sorry, Wen. I truly am.” He squeezes Aki’s hand and heads, with her, to the shuttle.
STORY: Wen just looks pathetically at the scene. Akilah turns away and hustles to the shuttle.
MILLICENT: Millie waves at Wen. “Sorry! Good luck with the in-laws!”

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Chapter 33

STORY: You drop something and lean over, whispering as you touch the spot below your neck that activates the walkie, and just as you’re getting through “Kahn, ev–” you are greeted with Ezio’s smiling face, bent down right next to yours.
STORY: He grabs you roughly by the arm. “Wouldn’t do that, Millie.”
MILLICENT: Millie glares daggers at Ezio. “You should leave now and forget you ever saw me. I know you don’t think you’re in danger, but believe you me, if you stick around you’re going to wish you hadn’t.” And Millie closes the channel to Kahn.
STORY: Kahn comes in on the earpiece. “Roger that. Alejo knows the all clear.” And he cuts out.
STORY: Ezio scowls at you. “Aw, and we were just starting to get along. Listen, this is going to go a _lot_ easier if you play nice.”

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Chapter 32

STORY: The guard gives you a narrowed eyelids look, Alejo.
STORY: “He security?” he asks Tueller.
TUELLER: “_My_ security, yes.”
ALEJO: Alejo plays the role, stiff and somber.
STORY: He nods, letting you both pass.
ALEJO: “You know I’m getting very drunk, right,” Alejo mutters, once they are past the guards.

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