Neon Dust [Progression Cyberpunk]

33 – Babysitting

As they walked up to Torque's "office" door, the muscle on duty—the guy with the gun for an arm—held out his fist for Tony to bump and rumbled, "Nice one."

"Don't feed his ego!" Addie said, but she smiled, inwardly a little proud to be associated with someone who could earn the muscle's respect. She had no idea why—what had this geared-up, walking arms factory done to make him an authority in her mind? Look threatening? She supposed it was his usual stoic nature and, yeah, very threatening demeanor. Nobody wanted to mess with him. Seeing him look at Tony with respect was… weirdly validating.

Inside the private room, Cyan was in her usual spot, and Torque was quick to wave them over to the table. "Ember, Shep. Glad you came in. Damn, Shep, next time give me a heads-up, will you? I could have made some scratch on your fight!"

"Heh. Well, sorry about that, man, but it wasn't exactly a planned event." Tony leaned on the wall beside the booth, waiting for Addie to slide in, so she did.

"Not to worry, man, I'm just busting your"—Torque looked at Addie, and his lips curled into a smile—"gears." Tony sat down, and Torque cleared his throat and thumped the tabletop with a thick finger. "I called you two in because I've got a really sweet gig offer. It's just for one day, but I think it'll pay off in the rep department big time."

Tony glanced at Addie, arching an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Yep. It's a relatively mild payday, but pretty good for a single day's work. Easy stuff, too—babysitting, basically."

"Babysitting?" Addie wondered if that was some kind of euphemism.

"Yeah, let me start at the beginning. A Boxer exec reached out to me—well, his assistant did. He's an, um, estranged father, but he's trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter. The ex-wife is sending her down from New 'Hattan for the weekend, but, looks like the exec has some kind of critical work thing on Saturday. You might be wondering why this exec from Boxer doesn't just get some company security on the job. Well, I was, too, so I asked.

"The assistant said the exec's too paranoid. Says there are rivals in the company who might infiltrate the team and make a move on his daughter. I guess there's a real shakeup going on in his department. In fact, he doesn't want anyone at Boxer to know he even has a daughter, let alone that she's in the Blast for the weekend."

"So"—Tony inhaled deeply, stretching his neck—"literally babysitting."

"Right, but this is high-profile, sensitive stuff, Shep. You do this one well, and it'll open a lot of doors."

When Tony looked at her, Addie knew he wanted her opinion, so she didn't hold back. "I think it sounds fun. Do we have to take her anywhere?"

"That's not in the brief, so consider it a play-it-by-ear type of thing. The contract specifies professional demeanor and requests at least one female operative. Of course, I thought of you two right away."

Tony snorted. "You saying we look better than your other operatives, Torque? Should I be flattered?"

Torque laughed, shaking his head. "Not you, Shep—Ember. I mean that arm of yours and that cyborg eye? Not exactly executive-suite tech, you feel me?"

Addie didn't like Torque making Tony feel bad about his looks, of all things, so, of course, she stepped in. "Hey! He's already too handsome for the Blast! You give him another eye like his left one, and he'd have to wear a mask to avoid all the attention!"

"All right, all right," Tony groaned. "I don't need you two fighting about my looks."

Torque laughed, waving a hand in surrender. "The truth is that I think you both know how to speak to someone with, well, let's just say a certain pedigree. That puts you in a pretty small subset of my regular operators, okay? So, are you interested?"

Tony tapped two mechanical fingers on the tabletop. "Pay?"

"Oh, right—twelve large."

Again, Addie spoke before thinking. "That's pretty good for one day of babysitting!"

"Exactly—" Torque started to say, but Tony spoke over him.

"That means we should probably be expecting trouble."

Torque sighed. "Always the cynic. Sure, there's some risk; like I said, the exec's got some enemies. If things go well, though, nobody's gonna know that girl is even there. You should have a quiet day."

"What time on Saturday?" Tony pressed.

"Eight to Eight—twelve-hour shift while the exec does his thing."

"Well"—Tony looked at Addie again and shrugged helplessly—"I guess we're in. Let's see the contract."

"Right on! Cyan?"

"Incoming," the woman replied in her strange sing-song while her eyes flashed with AUI elements.

Addie looked the contract over. Everything was there, just as Torque specified. The exec was named Gregory Ross, and his daughter was Clementine. The address was in the NGT building, which meant this particular exec made good money. Addie supposed that tracked; if his ex-wife lived in New 'Hattan, they were a family with means. She looked at Tony, and he grunted in the affirmative, meaning it was all right to sign.

Torque clapped his hands together, rubbing them briskly. "Right on! This will be good; you'll see. Hey, Shep, on another note, you care if I use the recording of that little fight for, um, marketing? I can probably use it to seal the deal on some contracts down the road."

Tony shrugged. "I don't care."

"Cool. Well, you two get a drink on me. As always, I'll be in touch."

Tony stood, and Addie slid out of the booth. Before opening the door, Tony turned to Torque and asked, "Hey, you got a car guy? I need to buy some parts and automotive paint and—"

"I got a guy for you. I'll flick you the deets."

"Right on." Tony slipped out, and Addie followed him. When the door closed, the big bodyguard rumbled, "Hey, Shep, you still working out at Golden's?"

He nodded, turning to regard the big guy. "Yeah, why?"

The man tried to shrug, but his mechanical shoulder and arm made the gesture almost comical. "Just curious. I'm not loving my gym."

"Golden's cool, and the vibe at his gym is just my speed. People mind their business, you track?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll check it out."

"Nice, well, maybe I'll see you there. Later, Goat."

"Later."

Addie tried not to stand agape as she listened to the conversation. Goat? Was that the guy's name? How did Tony know that? He started walking, and she hurried after him. She grabbed his arm as they descended the stairs, slowing him a little as she leaned into him. "Are we gonna get a drink?"

He shrugged. "Well, it's Thursday. We don't have work tomorrow." He paused, turning to look into her eyes. "I wanted to see about upgrading your PAI. Let's just get one drink and then pick up some food. We can talk to your dad about ordering a new chip."

Addie smiled. "He'll like that."

When they entered the bar area, Addie patiently watched while half a dozen patrons came over to knock knuckles or shake Tony's hand. She was pretty sure some of the operators were flirting with him, but she kept her grip on his arm, and they moved on. They were just about to grab a table when another woman stepped up, and she looked like serious business—chrome arm, buzz-cut black hair, and the most beautiful turquoise eyes Addie had ever seen.

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Even worse than her looks was the effortless cool she radiated, amplified by her style: black synth-leather pants, a burgundy bandeau top, and an array of tough-looking, high-end tattoos. It was all Addie could do not to stare as she introduced herself. "Hey, Shepherd." Her voice was smooth and low—Addie could imagine her singing in a dark, mysterious lounge.

Despite wanting to hate her on sight, Addie had to give her points for acknowledging her. She turned from Tony, locked those stunning eyes on Addie, and curled her dark, glossy lips into a smile.

"Ember. I'm Marzanna."

"Uh, hey." Tony glanced at Addie, frowning—probably because she'd tightened her grip on his arm like he was keeping her from falling off a cliff.

Addie swallowed, but didn't trust her voice not to crack, so she just nodded, forcing a smile with an immense effort of will.

"I wanted to tell you that fight was something else. You didn't even fire a boost, at least not that I could tell, but you handled that guy like he was a kid. I've seen Mint fight, too; he's not all that bad."

Tony shrugged, shifting his arm out of Addie's grasp so he could drape it over her shoulders. "Nah, it wasn't any big deal. He's just a little too predictable, and I've got a lot more experience."

Marzanna's smile shifted, lifting higher on one side as she cocked her head at Tony. "Modest, too?" She looked at Addie and winked. "Quite a partner you've got there." The more Addie watched her, the more she hated her. She was so elegant! Her every move accentuated the muscles on her shoulders and arms, the sleek V-shape of her toned physique. She was like a dancer or a gymnast or—

"Don't mind her." Tony chuckled, jostling Addie. "She's exhausted."

"Oh, no worries. I've heard you two have been busy. Listen, that's why I'm here. My crew is short some people, and, well, I just wanted to make a connection in case the opportunity arises for us to team up. Cool if I flick you my dex?"

Tony smiled and gently squeezed Addie as he nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'll send you ours."

"Shiny, shiny. I'm so glad I finally got to meet you two. We've been talking about you for a while—my crew and I." She smiled again, and Addie found herself relaxing enough to smile along with her. She looked at the little table Tony had been steering toward and asked, "Don't suppose you'd like to get a drink?"

Addie almost agreed to the proposal; in fact, she'd finally opened her mouth to speak, but Tony shook his head, answering first. "Thanks, but we've got some things to talk about."

"Oh, all right. Another time." She held out her chrome hand, and Addie saw her palm was lined with a high-end, purple-tinted sensation membrane, probably more responsive than real skin. Tony shook it, and then it was Addie's turn.

"Nice to meet you," Addie said, pleased that she sounded almost normal as she gently squeezed Marzanna's hand. It was warm.

"Likewise." Marzanna winked, and then she let go of Addie's hand and sauntered away, toward a booth where three other operators were talking animatedly, sloshing mugs of beer.

Tony steered them over to a table, but paused before sitting down. "Hang on." He nodded toward the corner where some people were getting up from a table. "Let's get that booth."

A short while later, they slid into the booth as one of the club's synths cleared away the mess from the last party. When it walked away, Tony leaned over and looked into her eyes. "You've got to stop doing that."

"What?"

"Acting like every operator you meet is some kind of rockstar. I thought you were going to faint when Marzanna was talking to us!"

"Tony! Did you see her? She's like a… like a… a demigoddess!" Addie felt her cheeks getting hot, flustered that Tony was calling her out like that.

He waved a hand, leaning back and throwing an arm over the back of the booth. "She's got nothing on you."

If Addie had been blushing before, his words basically set her cheeks on fire. She looked down, shaking her head. "Don't be dumb. Did you see her eyes?"

"Have you seen yours? Any idea how expensive optics that could replicate your bright, blue eyes would be? Yeah, those mint-green irises were pretty, but yours have way more character."

Addie stretched one of her legs out under the table to gently prod his knee with her sneaker. "Stop it! I wasn't fishing for compliments."

"Well, whatever. You've got to have more confidence, a higher self-value. Yeah, she's probably tougher than you—physically—probably a better fighter, but your talents are a thousand times rarer. Hell, more than that—probably more like a hundred thousand." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "The reason operators are talking about us is because of the jobs we've completed for Torque, most of which were thanks to your talents. If she wants us to work with her crew, it has just as much to do with you as me."

Addie, still red-faced, tried to change the subject. "Fine. I'll try not to get so…starstruck. Now, can we order some drinks?"

Tony winked his silver eye at her. "Already done."

Addie smiled, her eyes focused on her hands as she idly scraped the old polish off her thumbnail. "I think I get it now."

"What's that?"

"Earlier, when you were talking to Torque's muscle—"

"Goat?"

"Right." Addie snorted a soft laugh. "Goat. Anyway, I was thinking how weird it was to see a guy like that looking at you with admiration, asking you about your gym and whatnot. Then, I mean, everyone in the bar wanted to shake your hand or, I don't know, touch you somehow. It wasn't just because of the fight, either. I think people can feel it—" She cut herself off, weighing her words as she looked at him.

He wasn't so patient, though, and he prodded her. "Feel it?"

"Your, um, I don't know—confidence? Your gravity. You're never intimidated, and you carry yourself like… Oh, I guess I'm trying to say that your old partner might have stripped you down and dumped you here, but you're still the same guy who was a high-tier operator, and I think people can sense it."

Tony shrugged. "Some people, sure. Plenty don't. Remember Mint?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "What is this? Are we gonna spend all night trying to shine each other up?"

Addie giggled and blew out a pent-up breath as a synth arrived carrying their drinks. Tony's was something that looked like whiskey or bourbon. Her drink was in a martini glass, was the color of cranberries, and had a wedge of orange on the rim. "What is it?" she asked, smelling the fruity, citrus notes.

"Uh, I forget the name. Something silly like Island Vacation."

Addie took a sip—it was sweet and flavored like punch, but had enough of some kind of alcohol to clear out her sinuses as she swallowed. "Whoa! It's good but strong!"

He smiled, sipping his drink, watching her, but not speaking. He was like that. She wouldn't call him a quiet guy; sometimes he could talk a lot, like how he'd just tried to boost her confidence. Other times, though, he was happy just to sit and listen or watch. After another sip of her drink, she decided to press some buttons. "Tell the truth, you thought she was pretty, right?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Marzanna?" When Addie nodded, he shrugged. "Sure."

Addie reached up and idly tugged on her thick ponytail. "Can you imagine how easy it is to take care of hair like hers?"

Tony laughed. "Yeah, I guess that would be a selling point." He tilted his head to the side. "Is your hair a pain?"

Addie shrugged. "When I'm not being lazy, yeah."

"Well, first of all, I like your hair—just in case you were wondering. Second, hell, you could get synthetic hair. I've seen all kinds. There was a guy I worked with who could grow his hair from short to long in just a few hours. It could change color and styles, too." He laughed, shaking his head. "We were doing a little espionage gig. He talked his way past a security checkpoint with short, gray curls, and then, after we got into the building, he changed it in the elevator to a straight, blue-tinted bowl cut."

"I've seen ads for stuff like that. It's expensive!"

"Not really. I mean, not compared to real Dust-tech or cybernetics. Ten K or so for a decent set. I mean, shit, Ads, I'm not saying you need something like that, but sometimes it's fun to fantasize about all the cool stuff out there. We're going to be able to buy some of it as we go—as we tier up and get into the meaty contracts."

Addie nodded, sipping her drink. Could she do something like that? Her hair was such an integral part of her… It was a pain in the butt, though! The thought reminded her of something, and she said, "I did a story—well, more of a report—on the mental toll of cybernetic replacements. Did you know there are like five documented syndromes and mental disorders rooted in cybernetic augmentation?"

Tony snorted. "You think you're going to go crazy because your hair isn't what you were born with?"

"Don't be dismissive! People think it all adds up—irises, auditory implants, fingers, arms, lungs, other organs, and yeah, hair. Who knows which implant will be the one to push someone over the line and make them start to dissociate?"

"Well, sis, I've seen some pretty borged-out people. Hell, look at Goat! You're pretty much standard human, so I wouldn't worry."

Addie clenched her jaw. "I'm not worried. I'm just making conversation." Almost as an afterthought, she acknowledged a twinge of irritation, "Also, don't call me sis!"

Of course, Tony's response to her outburst was to smile. He leaned forward on the table, propping his head on an elbow as he swirled his glass in a condensation ring. "You don't like that one?"

"Not from you."

His smile broadened. "Ah. I get it." He stretched his hand out across the table, and she took it. "I won't do that anymore."

Addie sighed, gently drawing her nails over the creases in his palm. "How come I can never stay irritated at you?"

"Wish I could tell you. Plenty of people love being irritated with me." He frowned. "Well, they used to."

Addie leaned forward, afraid to speak lest she interrupt this potential trip down memory lane. When he didn't say anything more, though, she tried to fish a little. "Yeah? Like?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "I was thinking about my mom, which I haven't done in a long time. She was tough, but also really great sometimes. In hindsight, I think she might have had something going up here." He tapped his head. "She'd spend months depressed, and then there'd be a day, and it was like the sun came out. Suddenly, she'd want to visit family I didn't even know existed and walk in gardens and talk about my dad—a topic that was usually forbidden. She'd get interested in my fighting and encourage me…"

He trailed off, and Addie knew better than to push. His eyes were unfocused, and she could see he was reliving some memories. After a while, he shook his head, sipped his drink, and said, "And then it would end. The clouds would hide the sun again, and she'd forget I existed for a while."

Addie nodded, squeezing his hand. "You had your uncle, though, right?"

Tony cleared his throat, tossed back the rest of his drink, and nodded. "Yep. My uncle and the ring—what more could I want?" He looked pointedly at her glass. "You gonna finish that? Let's go talk to your dad; I'd like to see if he can get your PAI delivered by tomorrow."

Addie sighed, happy for the momentary glimpse into his childhood, but sorry it was over so quickly. She took a final sip of her drink, then pushed it away. "Okay, let's go make my dad's day. How does pizza sound?"

Tony slid out of the booth and stretched like a cat. "Pizza sounds amazing."