Joining Forces
Everyone in Westtown would name the Neonic Lab as the tallest building. It's perched at the district's edge, a dizzying skyscraper so high you can't even glimpse the rooftop when looking up. Soo sits perched on the transmission tower up there, swinging her legs back and forth. It's already been seven hours.
[No luck in the underground lots so far. There might be one parking garage I haven't checked, but even if I do, it'd be fewer than ten spots. How's it looking on your end?]
"Hmm... yeah... I don't see it either."
[Maybe it's not visible from the rooftop?]
"I'm watching Enoch smoke a cigarette in front of the burger joint."
Way down there, Enoch startles and glances around. Then he lets out a defeated chuckle and waves toward where Soo might be. He can't see her, but Soo wags her tail right back.
"Hi."
[Heh, so you can definitely spot him.]
"Let's get burgers for lunch."
[You had burgers for dinner and breakfast, and now you want more?]
"Burgers are a complete meal."
[Add fries and soda, and you'll pack on the pounds.]
Soo glances down at her own belly. It's cutely folded, but that's just from the softness—not fat.
"I don't gain weight."
[You never know. One day it'll hit you all at once—whoosh—]
"I'll take a double cheeseburger large set. You get the one-pound burger. And give me two bites of yours."
[...Fine. Meet back there in thirty minutes.]
"Tenders and soft serve too."
A sigh filters through the headset from Enoch.
[Didn't you take one bite of tenders last time, call them gross, and dump the rest on me?]
"Different place. These'll be good."
[Not this time.]
"Yeah."
She knows he'll cave anyway. Enoch can't stand seeing food go to waste.
[Don't smash anything on the way over. Walk carefully. Got it?]
"Yeah."
[If some weirdo calls you over, don't follow. Even if you do, don't kill them. Wait for me.]
"Yeah."
[Same if you find the car. Don't bolt after it like last time and end up on the news. Call me.]
"Yeah."
[Suits are always trouble—]
"Should I head down now?"
[Thirty minutes.]
"See ya."
Click. Soo cuts the comms and pops her candy back in her mouth. It's a two-minute sprint to the meetup spot, so she's got twenty-eight minutes left. Plenty of time to keep hunting for Enoch's car.
It's a rickety old junker that's barely roadworthy—a miracle it even runs—but it's packed with Enoch's family memories. No way she's letting it get stolen so pointlessly.
Next time, we should hunt for magic together too.
Time slips by again. It's not boring at all. Just watching the bustling crowds brings a faint smile to Soo's lips.
A Mohawk guy in a post-apocalyptic leather jacket with studs on the shoulders, working at a women's clothing store. An auntie selling charcoal-roasted sweet potatoes, grilling them right there with the burner on her arm. A nun in a white habit projecting a blue holographic cross, out proselytizing. A grandpa in a bikini...
"Gross."
Why does anyone like that exist? And how hasn't anyone arrested him? Soo grimaces and looks away.
An old lady street DJ, half-bald head studded with dozens of electrodes blasting music straight from her skull. A teenage delivery kid zipping around on wheeled shoes.
"I want some."
Soo's eyes lock on the rider. Back in her old world, those shoes were all the rage when she was little. Wheeled sneakers. Just wearing them to school drew every stare imaginable.
Of course, Soo never owned a pair. They were pricey compared to their practicality, and she'd never had new shoes as a kid anyway.
"Gotta buy a pair with Enoch."
But now she could buy a hundred. Soo vows to snag some and shifts her gaze elsewhere.
A guy walking around in an apron that's basically an oil drum, deep-frying chicken on the go. A bald dude who's either balding or just implanted neon LED lines in his scalp instead of hair. A cyber-granny with a hunched back, but her spine's the latest titanium model—the curve is a work of art. And right next to her...
A beat-up, rusty junker sputtering along pathetically...
"There."
Soo springs up. By the time a gust of wind sweeps through, she's already gone.
*****
"Kuhahaha! So, missy, you up for some booze? Huh? How 'bout drugs? Wanna suck on one?"
"No thanks, I'm good."
Right next to the burly, ugly thug. Angela sits in the passenger seat of the rundown junker, beaming a sweet smile.
"Ah, yeah yeah. We'll talk more once we're somewhere quiet, kehheuk...! Nice, nice. Real nice. You know who I am, huh! Yeah, I'm kinda famous around Westtown. Kuhahahaha! Right? You recognize me?"
"Hehe, who knows."
"Oho, playing hard to get. Not that I mind. Love it!"
"Oh... red light, but you're just blowing through?"
"Pfft, just a ticket!"
Angela tears her eyes from the spittle-flying motormouth and swallows a sigh.
She'd been out running errands when she spotted Enoch's car. Angela doesn't pay much mind to other vehicles, but his? She'd know it anywhere. That ancient, diseased wreck with suspiciously dark tinting... There's only one like it in all Eden.
Anyway, thrilled, she'd knocked on the window with a friendly smile. Too bad some rando was in the driver's seat—a no-name merc punk with a record for petty theft. Anyone could see it was stolen.
Why steal this? But stolen it was.
She couldn't make a scene right there. Too many eyes, and no need to drag ECPD into it for attention.
So Angela hopped in, playing along as they headed somewhere deserted.
Fifth red-light violation already... Soo and Enoch must have it rough in all sorts of ways...
Westtown speed fines are brutal. Ever since some Neonic exec's kid got in a crash years back, they've skyrocketed to absurd levels. And this wasn't one offense—it was at least five. The thief would have to sell all his organs just to cover it.
What to do? Angela taps her lips, pondering.
Hacking traffic records would work, but Eden's "Traffic Bureau" is basically a Neonic lobbying front. Cracking that is as good as hitting Neonic's systems.
Not impossible. By her estimate, seventeen seconds to clean it up—no traces.
Just erasing some fines.
Then...
Angela blinks. A red skull icon flashes across her retina, and outside the window—Soo's face?
"Oh?"
For some reason, Soo dangles from the roof, peeking inside. As if the dark tint's no obstacle, she waves cheerily.
Stunned but rolling with it, Angela waves back. Soo grins and points at the seatbelt.
Angela smiles wryly and buckles up tight. The belt's surprisingly sturdy on this heap. But why the warning? Gonna force a stop? Smash it? That'd be bad—Enoch couldn't even afford proper body armor.
Maybe stop her now—
That's as far as her thoughts get.
"Wh-what the fuck!"
Every car nearby lifts into the air. Including theirs.
"Impressive as always."
Angela bursts out laughing and gives a thumbs-up. Up on the hood, Noise wriggles into a thumbs-up shape of her own.
*****
Soo punches the air triumphantly.
"Nailed it, right?"
Lifting just Enoch's car would've drawn eyes, so she hoisted every vehicle nearby. Then scattered the rest every which way and reclaimed his.
"...Nailed it?"
Enoch sighs, grinding his heel into the unconscious thief sprawled at his feet.
This'll make the news again.
And a barrage of other sensational, headache-inducing headlines.
Still...
"Thanks."
Enoch bumps fists with Soo, chuckling dryly. She caused a mess, but no one got nabbed, and the car's back. Good enough.
"Yeah."
Soo giggles, grabs the burger bag from Enoch, and slips into the car.
"Want some, Angela? I can share Enoch's."
"Nah, just the thought. Sis stuffed me earlier—still full."
"Yeah."
Soo nods and chomp—devours a huge bite. Her cheeks slacken happily; it's a hit.
The other two watch her, scratching their cheeks awkwardly as their eyes meet.
"Long time no see, Enoch."
"...Yeah. And thanks for helping find the car."
"Psh, nothing to thank. Just luck."
"No, I owe you. Without you aboard, this thunderbolt gremlin would've smashed it flat. Guaranteed."
"Soo wouldn't... um."
Angela recalls Noise's track record and clams up. Yeah... she probably would've.
"Anyway, you two being Southpeak's Noise? Total shock. Never dreamed it."
"It... just happened."
"Hmmm, no need to be shy."
Southpeak's Noise. Media calls it a "special hazard" or "terrorist," but listen closer and you'll hear glorification galore. Most common? Tales of families regaining peace thanks to her.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's something to be proud of."
Sure, she was loud about it. But good results make it fine, right? Angela means it.
That's why.
"Mind if I join you guys?"
Angela beams and extends her hand.
"Just got fired."
Enoch doesn't even need to answer. Soo, burger-stuffed cheeks and all, bounds out and grabs her hand.
"Meow!"
Meaning yes.