Half in Fire

SILENLUNA OF 2880

KIARA

Suddenly, something cut my connection to you. I ran to Trix, and together we headed for the prison’s exit, where A.T.F. vehicles were beginning to land. We wouldn’t get far with so many pigs.

Trix climbed a tower and launched an aerial attack on the officers and nanodrones.

I had already reached the exit and was searching for you, but amid the chaos, finding a rhythm that would let me locate you became impossible. I looked everywhere. Nothing. Couldn’t see you anywhere.

Denden was too crazed to answer my questions.

I suspected something had happened but ignored my instinctive codes. Shit. I’ll help them. Akiko must be nearby.

I set the search aside for a few moments. I know. I should have kept looking. Had I gone after you as soon as we lost each other, perhaps I could have reached you. That was the last time I allowed that to happen. I promise.

I hacked the A.T.F.’s vehicles to transport the newly freed protesters. Meanwhile, Denden and Trix massacred the pigs.

“Denden, where is she?” I clenched my teeth. Please, be here. Tell me I’m wrong.

He was drenched in blood. Wiped the blood off his nanoshotgun, settled it into its sling, and approached. “Who, muchacha?”

Trix descended the tower and came over. “Counted thirty-four pigs. Ten nanodrones. You: twenty-three and one nanodrone.”

“Cállate.”

She pointed at him, smiling. “Me debes, pendejo.”

Denden placed a hand on his waist and pressed his lips together. “Fosa de desgracias, que no quedará así.”

“Oh, it certainly won’t. Already thinking of all the ways you’ll pay me.” Trix ran her tongue over her teeth.

Fuck, they were irritating. I rubbed my eyes. “Denden, where is she?”

“The chica who got me out?” He gestured around. “Was right behind—”

I shoved him to the ground and pressed my revolver’s barrel to his forehead. “WHERE. IS. SHE? Make me ask again, and…”

Trix roared with laughter behind me.

“No sé.” Denden raised his arms. “She was right behind me.”

I pressed the gun harder. The fucker seemed to be telling the truth. “If she was behind you, where is she?”

“Muchacha, why yo mentiría?” He smiled.

I rolled my eyes. It was my fault. If I…

Then the world’s most unbearable sound vibrated through my nanosystem. Saymon’s voice reverberated inside my head, laden with command: “Kikky, you’re not to kill him.”

I blinked. “Get the fuck outta my head.”

He chuckled softly, dripping with that damned sarcasm. “I know where to find her. Keep doing what you need to do. Remember the date set for the meeting. Tell Denden to come here.”

I bit my lip. Put away my gun and stood. The fucker wasn’t to blame. Once again, I had failed my promise. Fuck.

“Yeah, muchacha, I know how it is. Hard to live in a world without papi.” Denden stood and ran a hand through his hair.

“Shut up.” I rubbed my forehead, pacing.

I wanted to abandon everything and go after you. Shit. I had to settle for that bastard Saymon’s word that he knew where to find you. One thing was undeniable: Saymon always did what he said. For better or worse.

Ah, irrelevant. If he didn’t go get you, fuck the promise. My face would be the last thing he saw. “Denden, Saymon wants you back in Franca. Trix, you’re coming with me to Anne.”

She smiled, satisfied. “Alright. See you, cabrón.”

“Come mierda, espantapájaros de velorio.”

We returned to my car.

“Kiki, she’ll be alright,” Trix said, trying to cheer me up.

“Quiet.”

We flew to a hotel in Jundiaí, where Anne and Paulo would meet. The bastard traveled to another city to satisfy his pleasures.

Honestly, there was only one thing I needed to know about him. He was an asshole. And I hated assholes.

That afternoon, Liana called. “It’s Takashi. He… He… I don’t know. We were talking to Alícia when he fell. Suddenly, his chest exploded. The nanosystem’s inaccessible, and he isn’t responding.”

“Calm down.” I activated the video connection. “Show me.” Takashi’s eyes flashed in multiple, disordered colors, signs of corruption in his system. Or worse… “His chest exploded?” His nanocore had been affected. I shook my head. Fuck, how had that happened? Had Cloakify been deactivated? No. Impossible.

“Liana, I can’t come now. Take care of him and wait for me over the next few moons. If his core was attacked, he should hold on a few more hours.” I disconnected. Excellent. More shit to solve. I wanted out of there as soon as possible.

Trix watched the hotel opposite, analyzing where Anne and Paulo would meet. “Always chooses the penthouse?”

“Yeah.” Impossible as it was to get you and Takashi out of my head, I needed to concentrate on the mission.

Trix gave an ironic chuckle and drew on her cigarette. “The higher they go, the harder they fall. Love watching those bastards fall.”

“You’re coming with me.” I sat on the bed.

She turned her eyes away. “Hmm?”

“Yeah, you heard. Coming with me. We’ll grab the guy and leave. Anne said a bodyguard accompanies him. You’ll take care of him.” I pointed at the building. “See that open area? When we’re done, I’ll send the car there.”

“Don’t know if I’m ready to see something like that. Those two… so close.” Trix shook her head. “Fucking nanoimplants.”

I smiled.

Over the seluna, I infiltrated Plaza Ford’s security. So easy I didn’t even need to run Cloakify. I manipulated the nanocameras and gained access to the rooms, including the penthouse. The nanotech hotel lit up beneath my sensory network. Then I registered a joint reservation for Trix and me.

“Shitty lil’ nanosystem.” I compiled the data in my core.

The day to capture Paulo finally arrived.

Trix watched him enter through the basement and head up to the penthouse.

We made our way to the hotel.

We needed to give him some time to become vulnerable.

A beam of orange light appeared over the metallic nanoasphalt, casting reflections upward. Jundiaí was less vertical than São Paulo. Behind the lower, wider buildings stretched kilometers of sandy earth. A small, highly nanotechnological metropolis with few airways.

We crossed a bridge on foot.

“The two of us dressed like this… with these faces…” Trix gestured. “We ain’t the type to come to a place like this.”

“Wanna be the type who come here? Shut up and walk.”

She swept her hair back. “Yeah… if I were that kind, I wouldn’t know you.” She gave a charming, lopsided smile.

I rubbed my nose. “Who knows?”

“Hmm? Think we’d have met? Flirting with me, Kiki?”

“Want this fucking place to be your grave? Can make that happen.”

She burst out laughing. “Could be. Whenever you want, just come and get it.”

Hmm. That strange vibration in my core again. I ignored it.

We entered the hotel.

The vaulted ceiling reflected the smooth, gleaming floor, which mirrored our bodies. Our footsteps echoed through the vast lobby to reception.

I accessed the establishment’s nanosystem, replaced the camera images, and deactivated facial recognition and the weapons detector.

“Good evening. Welcome to Plaza Ford. Reservation?” A hologram appeared before us.

I provided the reservation on the second-highest floor, and we presented our identification.

“Excellent. The elevators provide access to the floors. Enjoy your stay.” The hologram disappeared.

“Easy. Nice work, Kiki.” Trix whispered in my ear.

A strange vibration traveled through my core. Again. I ignored it.

We went up to the penthouse, an entire floor reserved for one man.

I accessed the nanocameras to locate the bodyguard.

Trix approached him, arms ready to react and eyes alert.

Pfft! The shot was as silent as a deadly whisper. One precise shot was enough. The bodyguard’s head struck the glass doors, scattering blood.

Cleaning that mess would be the unpleasant part. Anne would handle it.

I approached Trix. “Fuck, could’ve gone easier on the shot’s impact.”

“Sorry… Irresistible. Had such a good head to burst.”

I waved it off.

We stepped around the blood spread across the floor.

Trix went ahead while I deactivated the alarms. “Yebat’ govno! Disgusting.” She kept her voice down to avoid revealing our presence.

I walked beside her and understood the reaction. The scene in the bedroom was unpleasant. The moans and wet sounds coming from inside were even worse.

Trix shook her head, horrified. “Don’t even know how to proceed.”

“Fuck it. Let’s get this done.” I advanced toward the main bedroom.

When Anne spotted us, she discreetly signaled for us to remain behind the couple.

If I could, I would have vomited. Trix’s expression showed no less revulsion.

Paulo let out a loud grunt and flopped onto his back on the bed.

“Not touching him,” Trix whispered, only for me.

“Like fuck I am.”

“Enjoy that, baby? I’ll get some water.” Anne gave us a look. She moved away from Paulo, removed the strap-on, and began dressing.

He remained on the bed, moaning, weakened.

Anne put on a T-shirt and trousers. “How are you doing this? Handcuffs over there.” She pointed at a counter.

“Go on, Trix.” I elbowed her.

“Why the fuck me?” She pressed her lips together.

“Because… because…” Shit. I wanted to stay as far from that pig as possible. “Just fucking go.”

“Baby, where are you?” Lewis grunted.

I wanted to shoot him in the head.

Trix and I exchanged glances.

“Coming…” Anne answered in a singsong voice, rolling her eyes.

Paulo raised his head toward us, blinked, and ran his tongue over his sweaty lips. It took him a few moments to understand what he was seeing. When he finally realized the problem, his eyes widened, and he looked for the door. He tried to flee, but had no chance against Trix’s speed.

She aimed her gun and narrowed her eyes. “Tsk. Stay still.”

“Wh-who are you?” Paulo raised his arms in surrender, trembling.

Trix walked to the table, picked up the pink handcuffs, and tossed them to him. “Put them on.”

“N-no…”

“No?” She raised an eyebrow. Her green eyes shone like an eagle watching its prey, ready to dive and seize it.

Paulo shuddered. He understood his situation and cuffed his own wrist.

“Aren’t you dressing him?” Anne handed me the documents.

“No time. Can you get back on your own?”

She nodded.

The car was already close.

“Anything to cover his mouth? Not interested in hearing bullshit.” While Trix kept Paulo at gunpoint, Anne pointed at the table.

“There’s a gag.”

Trix searched with her free hand, keeping her eyes on him. “You’ve gotta be kidding.” She found a ball gag. “Put it on him, Anne.”

“P-please… I’ll stay quie…” Paulo fell silent beneath Trix’s sharp gaze. He sweated profusely.

Anne fitted the gag.

My car landed outside the penthouse.

I touched her shoulder. “Relax. I’ll erase your image from his biochip.”

“No need.” Anne stared at Paulo disdainfully. “Want the connard to remember me.”

I smiled and said goodbye.

Trix struck the executive’s head with her gun. “Get up, asshole.”

We flew to Franca and left Paulo Lewis with Maeva. Trix returned to the Vorovskoy mir on Saymon’s orders. I went to check on Takashi.

Given everything that had happened, I asked Saymon to come…