No Mess in the New Office
Sarah-sarah— At the tickling touch on her palm, Angela looked down at Soo. Soo gazed up at her with the same languid eyes as always. But the vibe was off. Like she had something to say but was holding it back. Angela's eyes flicked to the employee. Only then did Soo nod.
"Cleaning just finished."
It was out of nowhere. What did the cleaning finishing have to do with anything? No one who heard Soo's voice got it. But Angela did. Can't beat those three down since the cleaning just wrapped up. That's what Soo meant. A fight would inevitably mess up the office. She didn't want that. Soo cherished her very first office.
"Heh." Angela chuckled like she was proud of her, gently stroking her ash-gray hair. "Just subdue 'em, right?"
She said it with a soft smile. Wolha's employees spun around in unison. The drones and cyborgs they'd unleashed in the office let out harsh whirs as they switched to combat mode. Whatever was going down, Enoch fired up his Hod first. He drew his gun and scooped Miki into his arms, falling back. But he couldn't shoot. He got Soo's words late. The office cleaning had just finished. He didn't want to trash a place like this... Just like Soo, Enoch felt the same. Should've grabbed the mukgeuk instead. That regret flashed by. Enoch trusted Angela.
"Yeah."
Crunch— Soo grabbed a charging drone and answered casually. "Got it."
Angela's eyes blazed blue. At the same instant, zap-zap-zap! The other drones and cyborgs hit the deck. Blue sparks erupted wildly from the Wolha employees' napes. All three staggered. Two screamed bloody murder and face-planted. But the team-leader type held out. He clawed at his eyes and fumbled at his waist. Too bad he didn't get what he wanted.
Bang! Enoch dashed in quick and kicked his hand away. The analog radio he'd yanked from his belt flew through the air. Soo snagged it and flashed the little screen at Angela. Her blazing blue ocular implant settled into a calm crimson glow like sunset. Her mind dove into the data sea. Info streams only she could see. She hunted the frequency this radio had hit. Didn't take long. By the time Enoch snapped all three men's limbs, the heat faded from Angela's body.
"Closer than I thought."
"Westtown?"
"Yeah. Sending location."
The coords pinged from Angela. Enoch's ride could get them there in under an hour. Culprit, pawn, whatever—someone was waiting. Still, Soo's face stayed grumpy.
"Smelled blood."
"Then..."
Enoch had bound the other two's arms and legs, gagged 'em, and stripped their pockets and gear clean. He jumped in. "These guys are faking Wolha employees?"
"Probably."
"Gotta check anyway, even if the real one's dead."
"Yeah. Send the body back to HQ at least."
"Yeah, guess s—"
"Gotta get our deposit back."
Angela stared at Soo, stunned. Enoch nodded like he'd had an epiphany.
"Right. Almost forgot the big stuff."
Office setup and gear had burned a fortune. Southpeak haul was left, but earmarked for Enoch's implants. Cash was tight for Soo and Enoch. Before Salvador hooked 'em up with the sofa, they'd been eyeing sleeping bags. Angela was aboard now, so they could crash with her in a pinch—but neither wanted that.
"Deposit's priority. Let's grab it now."
"Yeah."
Soo's face lit up.
Angela, Enoch, and Miki dragged trunks stuffed with the fake Wolha goons—one per trunk—out the door. Soo bounced along empty-handed. Prep for any ambush: Soo stayed free.
"If we're doing this, stock up on spare trunks? Bulk buy's cheap somewhere."
"Where?"
"Used goods shop I know."
"There's used goods shops?"
Soo had no clue. Her eyes sparkled at Enoch.
"Southpeak's got 'em, prices low enough to bother. All my old gear from there."
"That vest that couldn't stop BBs?"
"...Not that bad. And trunks are one-and-done anyway. Quality overkill?"
"Fair."
"Plus, no purchase logs whatever you buy. Cash-heavy us? Perfect."
Used goods shop. Probably scavenged from the dead, resold. No records, cash only. Made sense.
"Hit it after we're done today."
Plenty to hook Soo. Even if owners gone, lives etched in those spreads. Maybe stories too.
"Then wrap quick."
Angela breathed excited, continued. "Found 'em already."
"How's it look?"
"Face says dead."
"Yeah... sadly. Already gone."
"No helping it. Not your fault, Angela. No need to mope."
Angela smiled bitter, murmured thanks, stepped ahead. Watching her back, Soo and Enoch locked eyes. Enoch shrugged; Soo skipped up and grabbed Angela's hand. Left behind, Miki sidled to Enoch—till now dead quiet.
"Enoch."
But she was off. Avoiding eyes, inching closer mid-chat, voice pitching up just for him... And Enoch?
Ridiculous, Enoch thought. He knew her type.
"Miki Ebner."
"Y-yes...?"
Gold-digger. Teen days, got bit hard by one. No way she'd crush on broke-ass Enoch. Future maybe, but now? Zilch. Strength? Soo's and Angela's turf. Enoch beat scrub mercs, sure—but weak next to those two. Cash? Nope. Scraping by, no future fund. Crush on this? Gold-digger for sure. One slip, endless baggage... Hot enough to own it, but Enoch put dreams over love.
"Back off."
"Wh-what...? Back off?"
"Too close, can't counter ambush. Distance."
Miki stared, gutted. Gold-digger? Nah. Enoch saved her ass three times. Second was group effort, third just cover—but he shielded her thrice. Broad solid chest, shoulders. Thick hands. Wolf-sharp face... Enough for cornered Miki, dodging death, to fall hard. Broke now? Future bright. She knew Northrica out, but Westtown livable. Other perks? Meh.
"Eyes off."
Not even looking allowed...
"...Can't even look...? Why?"
"Might miss threats."
"Ah... Got it."
Miki drooped two meters off. But her lips stayed curved.
What do I do, too cool...
Enoch had issues, but Miki? Plenty. They walked long. As Yoo Seung-ah meet time neared, the four halted in Westtown's Redbrick hood—deepest, loneliest alley.
One guy, two women. Guy meh, women spitting-image sisters.
"Fresh kills."
Hour tops? Killed the employee, swapped clothes, hit the office.
"Th-that earring...?"
Miko eyed the corpse, voice shaky. "Martin who took it died too..."
"Not the earring."
"Yeah. Not earring. Would've sent heavies for that. These? We owned 'em."
Thud— Enoch nudged a trunk. "Target's you. Miki Ebner."
"Right..."
Miki nodded heavy, then stretched relieved. "Wasteland safest, yeah." She dug the body from trash herself, bitter smile. "Would've been screwed without you. Thanks a— ...huh."
Face hardened, she swallowed dry. Down their entry path, obvious ECPD woman strode in. Gun raised.
"...ECPD. Hands up, no turns."
Deep Redbrick end, four with three bodies by trash? Suspicious AF. Enoch sighed, pulled flashbang pin. No kill—just stun, dump in crowd. Angela knew the voice. Morning visitor, Investigator Yoo Seung-ah. Innocence provable, plus business—talk it out.
"Yoo Seung-ah—"
She meant to. Couldn't. Whump— Dull thwack, thud— body drop. Enoch flash to head? Miki clubbed her? Nope. Yoo Seung-ah out cold, flowerpot smashed. Angela gawked at Soo. Perfect form, V-sign. Quick scan, Soo blinked slow. Clean KO, V-pose—but Angela knew her. Short think, Soo folded V sly, beamed.
"Heehee."
Soo knew: can't spit at a smile, can't snap at pretty. Perfect.