First Step — Onyom Nnyom
Enoch swallowed hard as he listened to Soo munching on her caramel. It wasn't annoying. If anything, it was a relief. Without that cute little sound, he might have just collapsed right there.
"How'd the story turn out like that? Sure, I heard the suspicion earlier, but that bastard's just a chrome psycho at the end of the day."
"The blue smoke pouring from that idiot's body isn't from implant overload or malfunction. It's a drug Zailek's about to release. I don't know the name, but I do know it's the one that emits blue smoke."
She'd said about to release, not has released. Meaning it hadn't hit the streets yet. And yet Irina knew about it already—info tied to one of the big three corps, no less.
Enoch's eyebrow twitched as he shot her a look.
"Don't ask about my sources. Even if you don't trust the info, there's nothing you can do about it, and I'm not some moron airing out my lifeline."
"...What're the effects?"
"Simple sensory amplification and synesthesia. Colors become sounds, sounds turn into touch, tastes appear as visuals, that sort of thing. They say it's ecstatic. Especially the sensation of air caressing your whole body—dizzying, apparently."
To Soo, it sounded downright mystical. She even forgot to chew her caramel while listening. But not to Enoch. Drugs like that overflowed in Eden.
"Sounds like a dime-a-dozen drug."
"The effect might be common, but pulling off four hours from a single stick like this? Can't call it ordinary. And it's cheap, too. Estimated street price: 300 credits per stick. Even the vagrants in Sector 11 could afford a hit. Plus, it dulls pain and boosts implant performance—decent for military use, even."
Enoch could smoke it no problem. Four hours per stick meant five a day—minus sleep—would cover him. At that price, once it flooded the market, the ripple effects would be massive. Small-time drug outfits would crumble en masse.
"You know some pretty dangerous info."
"Just sniffing around for a short-squeeze honey pot."
"Hah."
Short-squeeze? Enoch didn't get it, but it didn't matter. He knew it was stock-market nonsense, just an excuse anyway.
"Doesn't add up."
He couldn't connect the dots between Hackon doing drugs and corp involvement. Sure, add in chrome psycho as a side effect, and Zailek killing to cover it up? Still didn't make sense. A lethal drawback like that would hurt Zailek too. Megacorps might shrug off government meddling, but rivals? Neonic and Lü Chen Biotech would sink their teeth in and never let go.
"A corp like Zailek wouldn't flood the market with something like this and drag its massive body into play just for info control. They're hiding more from us."
"Hm."
Irina's gaze flicked to Soo. Enoch had said us a moment ago—not just him, but including Soo. She'd figured there was something since they came together, but partners? Unexpected.
Not my business to pry. She hadn't spilled her own story, so no right to hear theirs.
"Not hiding anything. Didn't I say we're in the same boat? I'm planning to lay all the info on this mess out."
Amid the thick curls of smoke, Irina continued.
"Don't know the reason. Just that Zailek's been wreaking havoc around Lü Chen's facilities."
"Havoc?"
"Zailek's dumping a modified version of the drug—amped-up side effects, minus the suppressants—centered on Lü Chen's sites."
Only then did tension crease Enoch's face. Petty corp infighting, huh? Spot on.
"Hoo..."
Enoch stubbed out the last of his filterless smoke with his fingers, exhaling the final plume. By then, Soo had finished her caramel and spoke up.
"Irina."
"Yes, Soo."
"Zailek's drug only reacts to specific Lü Chen meds?"
Irina's eyes twitched. Maybe the real threat's this one, not the lug.
"Sharp as ever. Yes. Zailek's tweaked version only triggers with Lü Chen's specific immunity boosters and muscle enhancers."
"They've been fighting behind the scenes."
"Yes, happens all the time, doesn't it?"
Common enough, but bloodcurdling for mercs. Jobs could drag you into corp entanglements without warning. Brainless mercs who knew zilch? Business as usual. Enoch used to be that type.
But not anymore. Couldn't be.
He'd stepped onto the path to Eden's legend, sure. But it felt twice as close to the reaper now, too. First gig etching his name with a connector, tangled in big-three drama? His face paled.
Soo, meanwhile, wore a subtle smile.
Did I fool 'em?
Not long ago, she'd smashed a Zailek freak in the wasteland and left traces of a Lü Chen experiment there. Zailek would've spotted it. Known it was Lü Chen's doing. Couldn't let that slide—corporate pride on the line.
But open retaliation? No. Both ops were black-book stuff. So Zailek lashed out petty from the shadows.
Other motives? Maybe. Soo didn't care.
Fooled 'em good.
One little move shaking a megacorp and the world? Unheard of in the game. And if she pulled it off?
Like a shadowy vet netwatcher. Her chest swelled.
"So you wanna play peacemaker, pick a side and smooth it over?"
"...Yes."
Irina let out a hollow chuckle, pulling her hands from her apron pockets.
"Said we're in the same boat, so choice is yours."
Two data shards. Like that matrix dude offering red and blue pills, she held out both hands.
"Leak Zailek's info or plant fakes in Lü Chen's database. Your pick?"
Leak Zailek to Lü Chen. Or fake Lü Chen data to Zailek.
"Oh, third option too."
No need to spell it out. Flee to the wasteland. Hide well, dodge the hunt.
Enoch glanced at Soo. She'd been eyeing him awhile.
"First, let's talk it ov—"
"Enoch."
Soo smiled. Not a grin or a beam, but lazy, ticklish.
With that smile, she whispered:
"Wanna be Eden's legend?"
"...What."
Enoch couldn't continue. The vibe clashed with her usual, the smile stole his breath... but mostly, answering in front of a connector? Mortifying.
Eden's legend. Moonlit merc. Rookie talk for greenhorns.
But he couldn't deny it. Enoch wanted to be Eden's legend.
"With us two."
And Soo? No shame uttering it, just soft murmur.
"We can do it, easy."
Then she skipped over, picked a shard.
*****
"Haa..."
The paint-smeared room filled with hazy smoke. She'd chain-smoked for ages—lost count of the sticks.
Irina pressed her throbbing temples, staring at the shard before her.
Not heavy intel. Just Enoch and Soo's job: coming here, talking, choosing Zailek or Lü Chen.
Worthless elsewhere—no resale value. But gold to the corps involved. Early heads-up to screw the rival.
Of course, that'd doom Enoch and Soo. Irina? She'd survive. Stay quiet, take the watch, keep painting trashy landscapes, eat well.
Answer was clear: ship the shard, sip fine wine with artisanal cheese, crash. Wake to it all over.
Yet she hesitated.
Always rational, calculated. Solo survivor, no bodyguards.
But not today.
Some beauty's in what you can't touch or feel.
Soo's words stabbed her brain. Romantic drivel for idiots.
But wasn't she painting idiot landscapes chasing romance?
"Eden's legend... Hah, what bullshit."
Mercs called legends? All dead. Legends only after dying. Never peaked in life, one big resolve made 'em eternal.
Meaningful post-mortem? Debatable. But ugly survivors? Forgotten.
Die a legend. Live and fade.
"Damn it."
Crack. Irina smashed the shard.
Soo's words lingering? That lazy smile, the question?
Maybe I wanna join 'em...
"Tch."
Who knows. Maybe craved cheap synth-meat and beer over wine and cheese.
"Enoch, Irina here. Calling with additional info."
Yeah. That's what she wanted.
*****
"What'd she say?"
"Head to a different lab. Close by—no schedule hit."
Soo furrowed her brow briefly, then smiled faintly and nodded.
"Good."
Part of him wanted to ask what was good, but Enoch let it slide. Time for thorough prep he couldn't do before.
"Here."
Soo tilted her head at his pointed spot.
"Thought we were going to your place?"
"We are."
"This is a warehouse."
Ah, swing by warehouse first, gear up, then house? Her eyes said. But no.
Enoch twitched an eyebrow, gruff:
"Just a bit messy from cleaning. It's home."
Game Enoch had a humble, lived-in pad. Picker Town, Southpeak Sector 10.
Game convenience, apparently. Reality: dank, dark underpass tent, full of holes.
"...Oof."
Beater car's luxury. Shelter first.