Terrorist attacks. Ray didn’t like that label. It wasn’t the correct one to use. These weren’t terrorists they were dealing with. They were Federation black ops operatives. And they had IWs supporting them, weaponized ones.
The Federation was planning a war, and just like with the third world war, witches and warlocks would be the weapon of choice. Too bad the Alliance, along with the rest of the world, sought to oppress and ban IW training.
That was all speculation of course. Ray needed proof. He went seeking it by bringing up directions to the morgue where the dead IWs from the airport attack should be.
Twenty-Five
Estrella
Traversing through the streets of LA during the day was akin to walking through a forest. The most common thing one would find in a forest? Trees, and they were usually taller than everything else and did a good job blocking out most of the sunlight. Here in Los Angeles, however, it was the skyscrapers, and they too used their height to tell the sun to fuck off and brighten someone else’s day.
Estrella was beginning to understand why Los Angeles was home to the largest IW community in the world, because it was home to some of the tallest freestanding structures darkening the streets twenty-four seven. Witches and warlocks loved the darkness.
She was in the human district by midday, stepping out of a taxicab, hopefully for the last time. It was time Estrella got wheels of her own. Following Piper’s advice, after she dropped her home, Estrella tracked down a vehicle shop off in the less than fantastic areas of the city.
The architecture of the buildings there kept their prewar look. Brick and concrete formed walls, rust touched fences forged barriers between different properties, and old tires from cars that used fuel lay in the corner of some structures. It was as if Estrella walked back in time, and if it wasn’t for the high towers in the background, built after the war, she’d believe it.
It was a snapshot of the early twenty-first century when witches and warlocks were just imaginary beings told of in stories, and allegedly hunted to extinction during the medieval witch prosecutions, hence I in IW, imaginary.
There was no door to the shop she found, just a transparent plastic tarp nailed to the top door frame. Knocking wasn’t an option, neither was ringing a bell. She walked in, announcing herself, no need to eat a shotgun blast to the face because someone got the wrong idea.
A weapons rack on the wall caught her attention. It hung above a convertible with the insides of its front hood torn out. She counted at least five different shotguns, six assault rifles, and seven pistols on the rack. There was even a fucking rocket launcher off to the side. Past that, and the guts of a car manufactured back in the 20s, was the man she came seeking. So she hoped.
He looked like him though, mid to late fifties, tank top and jeans, with grease stains spattered across it in no particular direction. His hands and arms were synthetic and clearly looked like it even from afar. They looked like silver-colored skeletal hands typing away on a computer. At least Estrella’s arm looked natural until you got up close.
“Hey,” she called out to the man. His eyes remained forward at the computer. She grimaced at that. “Yo! Ese, you there?!”
The man pulled aside that time, facing Estrella. She narrowed her synthetic eyes. Its emerald glow was more prominent in the low lighting of the garage. The man’s profile appeared in her left eye when the facial scan completed.
Name: Tyler Thompson
Age: 53
Species: Real witch/warlock
Occupation: Mechanic
Notes: Retired RW unit
He offered his metallic hand to shake, it felt like shaking hands with a metal spatula. “Hey, nice to meet you …?”
“Estrella Rodriguez.”
“Ah yes, Piper said something about you swinging by. Just call me—”
“Tyler?”
“Fuck that noise,” he laughed. “TT, that’s what people in these parts call me.”
He stepped away, walking deeper into the garage. She followed, eying the various parts on the floor and shelves. Some of them weren’t vehicle parts at all. Her optical scans highlighted at least three AI cores, like the one in her head, circuit boards, microchips, and synthetic arms and legs.
“You deal with more than wheels I see.”
He chuckled, lifting his metal arm up. “I fix all things broken, even RW parts.”
“Really?”
“It’s all I’m good for these days. Was one of the first RW models. Got retired when they rolled out your kind.”
“Sorry, not sorry.”
“Ain’t your fault, they built your models to be upgradeable. Mine? Fuck, they didn’t even know if we’d live beyond the two-year mark.”
He stopped at a black tarp protecting the vehicle for Estrella. His metal hands came to hold on to the tarp. “Well, here it is!”
He pulled it away, unveiling a slick red motorcycle. Estrella neared the bike, running her fingers across its polished and reflective surface, free of dust, dents, and the signs of aging. And what an aged bike it was, she looked down at its computer screen.
“Is this a Tesla?”
“Yep, super fucking rare too. Not many of these were made after Musk retired.”
“This is fucking great.”
“Well then, there it is, ready to kick some ass when you need it.”
“How much?”
“I owe Piper, so four grand, and it’s yours.”
Estrella grimaced. She had the money now that she received her first paycheck since coming to LA. She also needed to send some of it back to her family in Buenos Aires. A part of her wanted to say fuck it and stick with taxis. But it was a real nice bike and a nice price.
TT grinned at the hesitation plastered over her face. “Too much, eh?”
“Well …”
“Tell you what, I’ll sweeten the deal.” His voice was like an old school street hustler. “We can do installment payments. And, what the fuck, I’ll throw in some upgrades.”
“Upgrades? For the bike?”
“Naw girl, for you.” He tapped her synthetic arm. “Remember, I’m one of the first RWs. Had plenty of time to learn what makes us tick, especially you newer models.”
“Can’t Yoshida update me?”
“They can, but will they? The best upgrades go to the RWs that perform since those are the ones that tend not to die when getting in a scrap with an IW.”
“Meaning they don’t want to waste money upgrading someone that’s going to die the next day.”
“Exactly, but me? I don’t give a fuck.” He waved his metal hand at the shelves ahead of them, all full of RW cyberware and software disks. “Most of this stuff I got secondhand from Yoshida. I fixed it up, rewrote some software codes, and sell them back to folk like you.”
Folk like you, as in RWs like Estrella who isn’t anywhere near the top and would never see free upgrades from Yoshida. Estrella stood at the shelf, her eyes bright with excitement. “What kinda upgrades you got?”
“Buy the bike, and I shall reveal all.”
She crossed her arms while running her tongue on the inside of her cheek, lost in thought. Secondhand cyberware and software upgrades from some wrench out in some rundown shop didn’t seem like a wise choice. Getting killed trying to earn that commendation to return home to Buenos Aires seemed like a worse one. Secondhand upgrades could prevent that.
She faced him, grinning. “I’m sold.”
“Fuckin’ right you are.”
Estrella grabbed her phone, logged into her bank account, and frowned when she saw the balance plummet after sending the wire transfer funds into TTs. He tossed her keys to the bike when his phone beeped, confirming the money transfer. After that, he waved for her to follow him once again, into the basement.
It was dark, save for the six computer monitors shining their light. She could make out a small operating table with three machine arms mounted to its side. He patted the table, informing her to take a seat. She did and
really hoped she would not regret it.
TT grabbed a large tablet pad and keyed in a password. “I’ll give you that free update now, a little sample of my work. If you want more though, you’ll have to pay.”
He plugged a data transfer cable into the pad, and then with the other end, found Estrella’s data port at the side of her head, jacking her into it. Her vision turned into a series of menus listing various pre-programmed abilities her nanites could perform. TT selected one ability for her, and she read the screen that appeared.
Scan Copy
Scans objects, storing its patterns into your AI for nano printing usage.
Min. nanite swarm(s) required: 1
Nanite swarm(s) remaining: 1
“With this upgrade,” TT explained. “You can use your NC gauntlet to scan any object and store its patterns in your AI. If you ever come across the right materials, you can nano print one on the spot.”
“I can already nano print stuff.”
“Yeah, only objects Yoshida programmed into your AI, which I’m going to guess is limited to a few weapons, right?”
She snorted and twisted her lips. “Yeah.”
“That’s Yoshida trying to control us RWs, limiting us to nano printing what they want you to use. You know what I say? Fuck that shit, print what you like, but first, you got to scan it to build a profile of it.”
A confirmation prompt flashed, asking her if she wished to receive the files from the pad.
Geoffrey?
I am not detecting any computer viruses or malicious properties. The update is safe to use.
She accepted the update. A blue progress bar moving from left to right finished in three seconds. She found the upgrade after browsing through her nanite abilities menu via screens in her vision, confirming the update was successful.
TT handed her a biker helmet and a leather suit. Both were red like her new bike. He gave her a nod. “Try it out.”
She grasped the helmet first with her NC gauntlet, and selected Scan Copy. The single swarm of utility nanites in her body sprayed from her glove into the helmet scanning every inch, every molecule, and atom, analyzing everything that made it whole. When the nanite swarm returned to her gauntlet, they relayed that data to Geoffrey, before entering back inside her veins, idling until she called for them to act again. And that she did, when she held the suit, scanning that.
The patterns for both the helmet and suit flashed in her left eye. If she ever lost or had the items damaged, she could synthesize a new one provided the right materials were on hand. A wide smile spread across her face.
TT shared the same gestured. “Want more?”
Estrella looked at him, eyes wide open in shock. “Fuck yeah I do!”
She browsed through his catalog of upgrades with the pad’s data cable still jacked into her head. Most of the upgrades carried a four-figure price tag much to her disappointment. She ran a search for two and three-figure items, a small list appeared, most of the items were things she already had, like a pattern for a 12-gauge shotgun. Three items caught her attention. She had their detail screens appear in her vision.
Disable Vehicle
Nanites disassemble wheels to small vehicles, preventing usage.
Min. nanite swarm(s) required: 1
Nanite swarm(s) remaining: 1
And the other.
Induce Muscle Spasms
Nanites disrupt motor skills of the selected target by attacking muscle tissue.
Min. nanite swarm(s) required: 1
Nanite swarm(s) remaining: 1
Both programs cost one hundred dollars each. It was a bit out of her price range. The last thing on the list caught her attention. She read the screen that materialized.
Defense Matrix
Nanites hardens body and attire prior to taking physical trauma. Duration and effectiveness diminish with each hit you take.
Min. Nanoswarm(s) required: 4
Nanoswarms remaining: 1
The cost? Twenty bucks. “I’ll take it.”
“Nice choice kid. Keep in mind that one’s still in beta.”
“Was going to say, why doesn’t Yoshida at least have Defense Matrix pre-installed with us all?”
“Yoshida’s still developing it.” He tapped commands on his pad. “I got my hands on their latest build and made some changes. It should be good for an RW of your size.”
Her synthetic hand pulled one twenty Alliance dollar bill from her pocket, handing it to TT. He sent her the software update, and another blue progress bar moved across her vision. Once completed, she jacked out from the pad and sat up. That was enough spending for the day. She made her way to the stairs.
“Come back any time if you need more upgrades.”
She looked back, stopping shy of the stairs, one hand on the banister. “I will when I get the chance. Thanks again.”
“Of course, physical upgrades will cost more,” he said. “So, if you’re thinking about those, you’ll want to save up the cash and make an appointment. It takes a few hours to install cyberware. Though, I’m sure a model like you knows that already.”
Back on the main floor in the repair shop, she slipped into the tight, red leather, biker suit. She pulled the zipper up, from the midsection to her collar. The helmet came on next, a holographic HUD appeared over the visor and synched with the bike as she approached.
TT lifted the garage door open as she sat on the bike. She held its handles, her smile, covered by the helmet projected her excitement. She felt the vehicle vibrate as she powered it on and heard a little noise as it accelerated forward, out of the shop, turning into the streets, driving at speeds higher than the speed limit. Her long black hair waved about in her wake with the air rushing past her.
For the first time in days, Estrella felt free. Los Angeles was free for her to traverse. And with her new abilities, that commendation was going to come her way.
Returning to Buenos Aires wasn’t a dream. It was a goal that would be achieved.
Estrella let out a relieved moan.
Three things brought her pleasure, at once. Looking at her apartment now set up, belongings unpacked, and furniture laid out the way she liked it. A cold can of beer in her hands was the second thing and the third? A fresh new battery she finished slotting into the back of her head, swapping out the battery that had dropped to twenty percent. It granted the life support nanites inside her extended time to live, work and recharge when needed.
She lay down on the couch, resting her legs across its arm. In her hand was a tablet pad, its screen listing various news publications and their latest feeds. She pulled a data cable from the storage compartment of her synthetic arm and used it to jack her head into the pad.
A confirmation screen flashed over her left eye, asking if she wanted to connect to the pad. She selected yes, and the pad’s screen became what her eyes saw, her thoughts controlling the scrolling and clicking abilities.
She read a news article from the Alliance Star first as it caught her attention, written by none other than Ray Partington. The article gave a chilling description of an IW terrorist attack at JFK International in New York City. Ray was there when it went down, so was his girlfriend Arianna Kounias, who according to his statement went missing because of the attack.
Arianna Kounias.
Kounias.
Why was that family so important?
Geoffrey, are you seeing this?
I am. Quite the coincidence, don’t you agree?
Were the Bald Skulls gang reported in New York?
Scanning NYPD database, please standby. Five seconds later. Negative, it would appear the attackers of the airport were of a different group of IWs. Hmm … Interesting.
What’s up?
Geoffrey took control of the pad. She watched as he typed in the internet address to a blog the two became familiar with since arriving in Los Angeles. The blog belonged to DigiSamurai69.
You may be correct in your suspicions that the hacker of this blog, DigiSamu
rai69, is Ray Partington.
The latest post on the blog rambled on about the disappearance of Arianna Kounias, the blue-eyed, and brown, curly-haired hippy girl who worked for Yoshida. She went to the EU on business and hadn’t returned home because of the airport attack. DigiSamurai69 made a plea to the public, asking them to email him tips so he can help Ray and the police locate her.
A secondary blog update, made minutes after, informed readers that DigiSamurai69 was working on a big leak that would expose those involved in the attacks. He asked those reading to keep their eyes on the Alliance Star news when he sends them the news tip.
Right … Estrella snorted. Let me get this straight. LA gets rocked with three IW attacks at once, one of them being Arianna’s parent’s home where we found that Nobuo guy. IWs attack New York, as Arianna gets off her flight. Now she’s missing, yet nobody else in the airport at the time of the attack went missing.
There is no doubt a connection here.
Piper too … Estrella’s head briefly flashed back to the image of Piper’s face, her perfect smile, and hypnotizing emerald eyes.
It made her heart quiver. She wasn’t sure what to make of the feeling, jealousy perhaps. Piper got put on the mission, and Estrella got told to stay home, and home was a word she really didn’t want to use to describe her apartment. It implied she’d never get back to Buenos Aires, and never be able to visit Yumi’s grave, if Yumi’s family came up with the money to bury her. She’d tear up if the eyes in her head were real.
Estrella was getting off-topic.
Okay, connection. Estrella sat up, the image of the pad’s screen still part of her eyesight. She blinked, forcing it to switch to windowed mode, and with a thought of her mind minimized the screen. She could see her apartment again. IWs strike a hotel in Munich.
Cyber Witch Page 20
