"Well that explains why two girls thought that approaching me was a good idea," I rubbed the glowing purple dye off my neck. Whatever happened to me that a large splash of purple dye landed on my neck and turned me into a walking sex sign for girls was Blackout Tyler's problem, not mine. I don't remember anything and all I know for sure is that I had sex with Casey at the end of it all.
Speaking of her, I did think about using the paper with her contacts on it to wipe the purple dye off my neck earlier but thought twice about it. Now it's in my pocket, and staying there until I decide to put her number on one of my burner phones. I'd be able to memorize it then, which is why I don't want to do it. It also didn't surprise me that no one stole the two flip-phones in my pockets when I was blackout drunk, and in that same vein, I'm not surprised that all but two of my throwing knives are gone. Missing. Poof.
'And now that I think about it... There was a knife stuck to the wall back in that hotel room wasn't there?' The poor cleaner that's gonna go to that place is definitely gonna report it and when their bosses find out that it didn't even get used for anything other than some kinky shit a drunk person thought of, their pay is getting docked.
I'd feel bad. But only when they stop putting cameras inside the hotel rooms.
When I was done washing my face, I got out of the bathroom and onto the Dam's main trading platform, it didn't even take me a single step before I had to back away from a floating carrier the size of a small car, the slug-shaped thing whirred out an alarm sound to warn me before slithering away with its anti-grave thrusters. There are a lot of those here and I can spot a few metal snails with crane-like attachments on their shell loading and unloading crates from large trucks. On the snail's side is a logo dripping with green slime- MusselTech: for all things muscle.
I think I heard the owner of the company say in an interview that Nerds and Bad puns are synonymous.
But mollusk-shaped things aren't the only things found here because machines are everywhere, all of them made out of industrial-grade steel, designed by Super Geniuses, and perfectly crafted by factories that specialize in making them.
I'm here for work, and not only because I need the credits- I tried to think of anything but my empty wallet- but also so that I can practice with my powers. Finding an empty spot in the slums and practicing my powers there is not something that I'm gonna do because I'm not stupid enough to go around the slums while boasting about how I'm now a Mutant- which would happen if I practice there.
Even when I said it myself, the truth is, there isn't an empty spot down there, every nook and cranny has some homeless guy living in it, and they're pretty much willing to do and say anything right as long as you give them food to eat and a single night in an actual bed.
I scanned the platform looking for anyone who didn't use machines and I spotted a large group of men and women working alongside scrap-looking robots as they hauled crate after crate onto a large truck. Picking a nice spot that gave me a proper view of their working conditions, I started spying on them.
Here, it's not that strange to see a company hire actual people to work for them because they wanted to go cheap. And when that happens, the working conditions and pay usually reflect that mindset- robots can fall apart, people can get fired because they ask for anything more than a scrap, and worse, you only get paid in food instead of Digits.
I think the company in front of me isn't that- The guy overlooking them, a chubby man wearing a nice brown suit with bronze embellishments, had a stern face while carrying a tablet around. He looked down from time to time to check something, only to smile when he finds what he was looking for.
Then there's the people. They're... not looking unhappy, so that's good. But they also don't look that happy to be there either, instead, they have this serious look on their face while working.
'Seems good enough,' Shrugging, I got closer to the overseer.
"Hey!" I said to the man who's probably working as a mini-boss for the company, "Looking for more hands?"
His face stayed neutral and professional as he turned to me, his hands still clutching the tablet, "No." He answered.
"But why?" I asked, inching closer- and stopped when he glared at me- 'Give your boss personal space, Tyler.' I chastised myself- "Okay, I'm a mutant," I pitched, "And I'm pretty much willing to work for as low as 20 Digits per hour."
"A scam if I've seen one," Now that he said a full sentence, I realized that his voice is actually pretty deep. "There's a lot of mutants out there, and a lot willing to work bodyguard duty, you're awfully expensive-"
"Nope, not bodyguard, just a simple hauling job for the day, thank you." Or tomorrow too, if I don't know how to use my powers still.
"You. A mutant. A hauling job?" he said like he was counting my points, his tone got worse with each word until he just stared at me, befuddled- "What?"
"Look, I know it sounds weird but I'm still unregistered-"
"That's all I needed to hear, leave." His tone remained neutral and I tried to continue but I was already facing his back.
"I can work, carry, and load twice as fast as that scrap of a robot over there-" I pointed at the thing and if the overseer saw it, he didn't say. "Just- try me out for the day alright?" Ah. God. Now I'm sounding like a Handler. Ugh.
I tried to convince him for a few more minutes but he just kept ignoring me and ultimately, I had to leave. 'Fuck this System.' I kicked a piece of rubble, it didn't budge. Theikos went into me and got absorbed, then I kicked again. Still no results. Damnit. Even magnets are stronger than my boosts now. From the distance, I can see people snickering so I walked away, embarrassed and angry- for everyone else, Theikos, and more importantly, the leeches that live on top of their ivory towers.
Pieces of shit.
"Pssst!"
I walked faster, hoping that I get away before I get even more pissed at my current situation. Again, another 'Psst!'. "Look, I'm not that interested-"
"You said you wanted a job right?" That got my attention.
I snapped my head to where I thought the voice is coming from, a dingey crack on the ground- Am I going inside? What the fuck. I knew it was only a matter of time but really? Only after getting attacked, meeting someone that I preferred to have not met after the attack, and then drinking and blacking out- Okay, in retrospect, the stress from the rejection sounded mundane compared to all the shit I went through these past two days.
"Assuming that I'm not inside and am talking to an actual person, what's the job?" I whispered back, which the Theikos apparently loved. Focusing in on the energy got something at the back of my mind to whisper about my mouth getting a sound related boost. 'Huh, that's new.'
"Well! You said you're willing to work for 20 Digits an hour right?" I nodded, not that the voice would see it. I confirmed it verbally and got a quick reply, "Cool, that's clearly a scam so how about this? I'm gonna pay you 80 Digits for going out of the Dam, walking through the slums, buying something in the market for me and then coming back?"
"Sounds easy enough." I shrugged. And it's not like I'm gonna actually do it, I can steal both his money and the Digits he's paying me with. "So, when's the job?"
"I know you're thinking of stealing my stuff."
"Not really." I replied casually.
"Liar. But that's just a part of this whole thing isn't it? And since I don't wanna take risks-" Something from the other end of the line beeped, my best guess is that it came from an online transaction. "-Okay, so now I paid for all my stuff and they just need someone to go there and pick it up."
"Okay, so a question before I leave- where am I gonna deliver all of it?"
"Well... I guess you have a point. Come to me then." Was their curt and quick reply but I still stood there, unmoving because even if they sounded polite, they didn't really give me directions on where they exactly are.
"Where?" I decided to ask for both of us.
"Uhm..." An awkward laugh rang out. It sounded masculine. "Right, sorry. I'm at the scrapyard! On the 76th Go there okay?"
I looked back at the scrappy robots that the overseer I just left is most likely controlling with the tablet. 'That explains why he managed to listen.' So guess I'm meeting a Techie then.
Walking back to the elevators had been a hassle, mainly because of an overseer that controlled a metallic octopus carrying boxes with its five legs while walking like a trypod with the other three. For some reason, the robot just refused to move away when it was about to bump into me resulting in a minor mishap (where both of us had to trip) that made an overeager overseer start insulting me.
"Sorry," I put my hands together and smiled, "I really am."
"Well, you should be!" The guy said with a huff. "Do you know how expensive the things inside those boxes are?!"
'I can't imagine.' I thought as I walked away. He also said more things but I ignored them. I looked back once and yep, the dark-chrome coloration of the robot is a hallmark of Musseltech. It's a surprise that it even failed to do its job. 'Definitely on purpose then.'
The asshole overseer couldn't be a more perfect example of the leeches that suck everyone dry.
Putting all of that behind me, I entered an elevator and left the 150th floor of the Dam, going down further and stopping at the 76th.
The elevator opened to reveal an actual flea market made up of haphazardly built stalls.
So the scrapyard, this part of the Dam has always surprised me. Taking over everything from the 70th to the 80th floor, the scrapyard is what is commonly known to everyone else as the "place where you dump all your useless shit." The people who throw things here know that they're gonna get taken, but they keep on doing it anyways and I don't know if it's because the rich don't really care or if it's simply because no one bothers to tell them what's gonna happen to their stuff when they throw it here.
But that isn't really the most surprising thing here though, no, it's the audacity of the people living here- "Hey! We have wares for sale! Would you like to buy one?!" An overenthusiastic middle aged man says to me while pushing himself deep into my personal space. I pushed him away with one hand and kept moving through the place.
I know that the stalls are placed directly in front of the elevator on purpose so that the vendors can sell more stuff, I know that said vendors push themselves onto you to pressure you into buying- their overtly excited and loud voice tells the whole story really, - but more importantly, I also know that the shit they sell comes from the scrapyard to begin with.
It's not special, it's not anything. Hell, some of them probably only just walked a few feet into the rubble before starting to scavenge for their "wares."
-Sadly, the people from the upper parts don't, "See? It looks good on me doesn't it?!" I would've had the same sneer the vendor had if I didn't try to hide it. And if I was kind enough, I would've told the blue haired girl wearing a necklace made of trash that she shouldn't fall for the oily words of the vendor.
"It does! Maam!" That bearded guy will kiss your ass if that's what makes you buy his stuff- are words I left unsaid.
Walking past them (and several others,) I waded deeper into the scrapyard until I had to climb a literal mountain of rubble. I reached the top, easily scaling it thanks to my previous occupation, and at the peak, I started looking around; Trash. Trash everywhere. Car tires, abandoned appliances- I swear I saw a microwave spark to life a second ago - broken dolls, used toys, both the fun and kiddie variety, old belongings, furniture.
All of that filled the horizon.
And yet, my client is nowhere to be seen.
"How the hell am I gonna find him through all this?" I asked out loud.
"Well, you don't have TO!" I tilted my head down and stared at the little ball with four legs. It visibly deflated. "Aw... I thought that I'd surprise you with that."
"Try harder." I eyed the surrounding mountains, nothing seems out of the ordinary.
"If you're looking for my hideout, you're not gonna find it!" Chimed the little robot, "I've hidden it well enough that this place has been hidden for over 6 years!" It said with a hint of pride in its voice, "However-"
"How can I find you then?"
"- I was just getting to it!" The ball huffed, "As I was saying, IF you want to deliver my stuff, then that guy is the one you should take it to." It pointed somewhere to our left and I took a peek expecting that the "guy" is some scruffy old man but no, it wasn't- it was a giant frog-like robot crawling on four legs. It had a box for a body and two, bulldozer-like mouths were on both ends.
"Do I need to go near it?" I asked the ball and it chimed with a high-pitched- 'No!'.
"I'll take the job," I said.
"Really?!" He said and I nodded, this sounds and feels easy enough, I just need to go out there, traverse the slums with parkour while boosting my body (and hopefully practice boosting myself while doing so,) go to the market, get the stuff, and then come back for easy 80 Digits. It sounded good.
"So will this guy just stay here?"
"Yep!"
"Guess I'm going then." The trip back to the elevator made me feel light yet excited.
"Well that explains why two girls thought that approaching me was a good idea," I rubbed the glowing purple dye off my neck. Whatever happened to me that a large splash of purple dye landed on my neck and turned me into a walking sex sign for girls was Blackout Tyler's problem, not mine. I don't remember anything and all I know for sure is that I had sex with Casey at the end of it all.
Speaking of her, I did think about using the paper with her contacts on it to wipe the purple dye off my neck earlier but thought twice about it. Now it's in my pocket, and staying there until I decide to put her number on one of my burner phones. I'd be able to memorize it then, which is why I don't want to do it. It also didn't surprise me that no one stole the two flip-phones in my pockets when I was blackout drunk, and in that same vein, I'm not surprised that all but two of my throwing knives are gone. Missing. Poof.
'And now that I think about it... There was a knife stuck to the wall back in that hotel room wasn't there?' The poor cleaner that's gonna go to that place is definitely gonna report it and when their bosses find out that it didn't even get used for anything other than some kinky shit a drunk person thought of, their pay is getting docked.
I'd feel bad. But only when they stop putting cameras inside the hotel rooms.
When I was done washing my face, I got out of the bathroom and onto the Dam's main trading platform, it didn't even take me a single step before I had to back away from a floating carrier the size of a small car, the slug-shaped thing whirred out an alarm sound to warn me before slithering away with its anti-grave thrusters. There are a lot of those here and I can spot a few metal snails with crane-like attachments on their shell loading and unloading crates from large trucks. On the snail's side is a logo dripping with green slime- MusselTech: for all things muscle.
I think I heard the owner of the company say in an interview that Nerds and Bad puns are synonymous.
But mollusk-shaped things aren't the only things found here because machines are everywhere, all of them made out of industrial-grade steel, designed by Super Geniuses, and perfectly crafted by factories that specialize in making them.
I'm here for work, and not only because I need the credits- I tried to think of anything but my empty wallet- but also so that I can practice with my powers. Finding an empty spot in the slums and practicing my powers there is not something that I'm gonna do because I'm not stupid enough to go around the slums while boasting about how I'm now a Mutant- which would happen if I practice there.
Even when I said it myself, the truth is, there isn't an empty spot down there, every nook and cranny has some homeless guy living in it, and they're pretty much willing to do and say anything right as long as you give them food to eat and a single night in an actual bed.
I scanned the platform looking for anyone who didn't use machines and I spotted a large group of men and women working alongside scrap-looking robots as they hauled crate after crate onto a large truck. Picking a nice spot that gave me a proper view of their working conditions, I started spying on them.
Here, it's not that strange to see a company hire actual people to work for them because they wanted to go cheap. And when that happens, the working conditions and pay usually reflect that mindset- robots can fall apart, people can get fired because they ask for anything more than a scrap, and worse, you only get paid in food instead of Digits.
I think the company in front of me isn't that- The guy overlooking them, a chubby man wearing a nice brown suit with bronze embellishments, had a stern face while carrying a tablet around. He looked down from time to time to check something, only to smile when he finds what he was looking for.
Then there's the people. They're... not looking unhappy, so that's good. But they also don't look that happy to be there either, instead, they have this serious look on their face while working.
'Seems good enough,' Shrugging, I got closer to the overseer.
"Hey!" I said to the man who's probably working as a mini-boss for the company, "Looking for more hands?"
His face stayed neutral and professional as he turned to me, his hands still clutching the tablet, "No." He answered.
"But why?" I asked, inching closer- and stopped when he glared at me- 'Give your boss personal space, Tyler.' I chastised myself- "Okay, I'm a mutant," I pitched, "And I'm pretty much willing to work for as low as 20 Digits per hour."
"A scam if I've seen one," Now that he said a full sentence, I realized that his voice is actually pretty deep. "There's a lot of mutants out there, and a lot willing to work bodyguard duty, you're awfully expensive-"
"Nope, not bodyguard, just a simple hauling job for the day, thank you." Or tomorrow too, if I don't know how to use my powers still.
"You. A mutant. A hauling job?" he said like he was counting my points, his tone got worse with each word until he just stared at me, befuddled- "What?"
"Look, I know it sounds weird but I'm still unregistered-"
"That's all I needed to hear, leave." His tone remained neutral and I tried to continue but I was already facing his back.
"I can work, carry, and load twice as fast as that scrap of a robot over there-" I pointed at the thing and if the overseer saw it, he didn't say. "Just- try me out for the day alright?" Ah. God. Now I'm sounding like a Handler. Ugh.
I tried to convince him for a few more minutes but he just kept ignoring me and ultimately, I had to leave. 'Fuck this System.' I kicked a piece of rubble, it didn't budge. Theikos went into me and got absorbed, then I kicked again. Still no results. Damnit. Even magnets are stronger than my boosts now. From the distance, I can see people snickering so I walked away, embarrassed and angry- for everyone else, Theikos, and more importantly, the leeches that live on top of their ivory towers.
Pieces of shit.
"Pssst!"
I walked faster, hoping that I get away before I get even more pissed at my current situation. Again, another 'Psst!'. "Look, I'm not that interested-"
"You said you wanted a job right?" That got my attention.
I snapped my head to where I thought the voice is coming from, a dingey crack on the ground- Am I going inside? What the fuck. I knew it was only a matter of time but really? Only after getting attacked, meeting someone that I preferred to have not met after the attack, and then drinking and blacking out- Okay, in retrospect, the stress from the rejection sounded mundane compared to all the shit I went through these past two days.
"Assuming that I'm not inside and am talking to an actual person, what's the job?" I whispered back, which the Theikos apparently loved. Focusing in on the energy got something at the back of my mind to whisper about my mouth getting a sound related boost. 'Huh, that's new.'
"Well! You said you're willing to work for 20 Digits an hour right?" I nodded, not that the voice would see it. I confirmed it verbally and got a quick reply, "Cool, that's clearly a scam so how about this? I'm gonna pay you 80 Digits for going out of the Dam, walking through the slums, buying something in the market for me and then coming back?"
"Sounds easy enough." I shrugged. And it's not like I'm gonna actually do it, I can steal both his money and the Digits he's paying me with. "So, when's the job?"
"I know you're thinking of stealing my stuff."
"Not really." I replied casually.
"Liar. But that's just a part of this whole thing isn't it? And since I don't wanna take risks-" Something from the other end of the line beeped, my best guess is that it came from an online transaction. "-Okay, so now I paid for all my stuff and they just need someone to go there and pick it up."
"Okay, so a question before I leave- where am I gonna deliver all of it?"
"Well... I guess you have a point. Come to me then." Was their curt and quick reply but I still stood there, unmoving because even if they sounded polite, they didn't really give me directions on where they exactly are.
"Where?" I decided to ask for both of us.
"Uhm..." An awkward laugh rang out. It sounded masculine. "Right, sorry. I'm at the scrapyard! On the 76th Go there okay?"
I looked back at the scrappy robots that the overseer I just left is most likely controlling with the tablet. 'That explains why he managed to listen.' So guess I'm meeting a Techie then.
Walking back to the elevators had been a hassle, mainly because of an overseer that controlled a metallic octopus carrying boxes with its five legs while walking like a trypod with the other three. For some reason, the robot just refused to move away when it was about to bump into me resulting in a minor mishap (where both of us had to trip) that made an overeager overseer start insulting me.
"Sorry," I put my hands together and smiled, "I really am."
"Well, you should be!" The guy said with a huff. "Do you know how expensive the things inside those boxes are?!"
'I can't imagine.' I thought as I walked away. He also said more things but I ignored them. I looked back once and yep, the dark-chrome coloration of the robot is a hallmark of Musseltech. It's a surprise that it even failed to do its job. 'Definitely on purpose then.'
The asshole overseer couldn't be a more perfect example of the leeches that suck everyone dry.
Putting all of that behind me, I entered an elevator and left the 150th floor of the Dam, going down further and stopping at the 76th.
The elevator opened to reveal an actual flea market made up of haphazardly built stalls.
So the scrapyard, this part of the Dam has always surprised me. Taking over everything from the 70th to the 80th floor, the scrapyard is what is commonly known to everyone else as the "place where you dump all your useless shit." The people who throw things here know that they're gonna get taken, but they keep on doing it anyways and I don't know if it's because the rich don't really care or if it's simply because no one bothers to tell them what's gonna happen to their stuff when they throw it here.
But that isn't really the most surprising thing here though, no, it's the audacity of the people living here- "Hey! We have wares for sale! Would you like to buy one?!" An overenthusiastic middle aged man says to me while pushing himself deep into my personal space. I pushed him away with one hand and kept moving through the place.
I know that the stalls are placed directly in front of the elevator on purpose so that the vendors can sell more stuff, I know that said vendors push themselves onto you to pressure you into buying- their overtly excited and loud voice tells the whole story really, - but more importantly, I also know that the shit they sell comes from the scrapyard to begin with.
It's not special, it's not anything. Hell, some of them probably only just walked a few feet into the rubble before starting to scavenge for their "wares."
-Sadly, the people from the upper parts don't, "See? It looks good on me doesn't it?!" I would've had the same sneer the vendor had if I didn't try to hide it. And if I was kind enough, I would've told the blue haired girl wearing a necklace made of trash that she shouldn't fall for the oily words of the vendor.
"It does! Maam!" That bearded guy will kiss your ass if that's what makes you buy his stuff- are words I left unsaid.
Walking past them (and several others,) I waded deeper into the scrapyard until I had to climb a literal mountain of rubble. I reached the top, easily scaling it thanks to my previous occupation, and at the peak, I started looking around; Trash. Trash everywhere. Car tires, abandoned appliances- I swear I saw a microwave spark to life a second ago - broken dolls, used toys, both the fun and kiddie variety, old belongings, furniture.
All of that filled the horizon.
And yet, my client is nowhere to be seen.
"How the hell am I gonna find him through all this?" I asked out loud.
"Well, you don't have TO!" I tilted my head down and stared at the little ball with four legs. It visibly deflated. "Aw... I thought that I'd surprise you with that."
"Try harder." I eyed the surrounding mountains, nothing seems out of the ordinary.
"If you're looking for my hideout, you're not gonna find it!" Chimed the little robot, "I've hidden it well enough that this place has been hidden for over 6 years!" It said with a hint of pride in its voice, "However-"
"How can I find you then?"
"- I was just getting to it!" The ball huffed, "As I was saying, IF you want to deliver my stuff, then that guy is the one you should take it to." It pointed somewhere to our left and I took a peek expecting that the "guy" is some scruffy old man but no, it wasn't- it was a giant frog-like robot crawling on four legs. It had a box for a body and two, bulldozer-like mouths were on both ends.
"Do I need to go near it?" I asked the ball and it chimed with a high-pitched- 'No!'.
"I'll take the job," I said.
"Really?!" He said and I nodded, this sounds and feels easy enough, I just need to go out there, traverse the slums with parkour while boosting my body (and hopefully practice boosting myself while doing so,) go to the market, get the stuff, and then come back for easy 80 Digits. It sounded good.
"So will this guy just stay here?"
"Yep!"
"Guess I'm going then." The trip back to the elevator made me feel light yet excited.
