Lost Rain
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Outrun - Chapter 296
🕑 Added 2025-08-29 22:04:00 +0000 UTCI left Mira behind. I could still feel her with the ring though. She was like a second heartbeat filling me with a soft comfort knowing that I wasn’t alone. If it had this much of an effect on me, hopefully it’d have a strong effect on her. Mira had made it clear she didn’t want to be alone. As much as I wanted to fulfill that wish, I had things I needed to do.
While flying out on my newly finished hover bike, I tested the ring a few more times. I had to actually speak for her to hear me, unfortunately. This wasn’t some kind of telepathic communication. Granted, it could be the lowest whisper I could feasibly make and it’d go across to her. The ring was incredibly intriguing. It also didn’t seem to have a distance limit. Or, if it did, it was larger than halfway across the city.
I flew through the flyer lanes, joining traffic on the way to the Corporate Quarter. Tornado Arms was located in Cyclone Tower. It wasn’t in the dead center near the Big 7’s buildings, but it was close. They owned the entire building, making any potential infiltration more risky. It was fine though. There was a plan in place for this infiltration.
I pulled off to a stop, watching drifting snowflakes float down toward the city below. I stretched out a hand, catching a few of the pure white flakes. The cold hit me, though was thankfully pushed off by my poncho. I pulled out my phone and called Saint. ”Are you here yet?”
A slurping noise came from his side. A moment later, my HUD pinged with his location. “Down on the street at a noodle stand.”
My stomach rumbled slightly at the mention of food. Usually I had Jack’s Sun Kicker and that was that. Today I had breakfast with Mira since my canteen was with Echidna. I completely forgot to eat anything else. “I’ll come pick you up. IDs ready?”
“Yeah. My contact got us set. We’re arms dealers coming to Tornado with some new toys.” Saint answered. “I’ll order you some eggrolls.”
”Thanks.” I shifted the hover bike, dropping out of the hover lane down to the street side. I pulled into a normal traffic lane and floated over to Saint, parking on the side of the street.
”Ah! There you are.” The cheerful reporter stood up from the noodle cart and bowed slightly to the owner. He was dressed in a fancy suit like some kind of corporate executive.
“You ready?”
“Yeah.” He picked up a paper bag and a large silver briefcase covered in a light cover of snow. “Finished your bike?”
I took his offering of eggrolls and shifted forward. There was now more than enough space for two riders on my hover bike. “It just needed a fresh coat of paint… are we going in the front door?”
“Unless you want to park in the flyer bay?” He got on behind me, shifting in the seat. “Much more comfortable than last time.”
”I did some work. And no, I don’t. It’d be a real tragedy to lose my bike like that.” On the off chance we triggered a lockdown, there was no telling if I’d be able to get back to it. Not to mention my bike was pretty unique at the moment. I munched on one of the eggrolls and pulled off back onto the road.
We talked about the plan, going over the details one more time on the way to a nearby parking garage. I set up a Spectral Flock out of Saint’s view just in case and adjusted my clothes. Like the reporter, I was in my fancy clothes. Black skirt, white dress shirt, and a jacket. Not the most comfortable, but I couldn’t exactly go in dressed as a street rat. Most of it was recently bought.
I pulled off my poncho and stuffed it into my bag. The cold immediately hit me without the temperature control of my trusty poncho. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, letting my black curtain bangs hang freely to frame my face. “Got my ID?”
Saint popped open the briefcase, revealing some kind of gun. I was so very tempted to go tap it, though I barely held myself back. Looked like a launcher of some kind? He plucked out a few cards and handed me one. “Here.”
“Sure this will work?” I clipped the ID to my jacket. I was now Suku Zichima, an intern with Knight Security. I think we discussed I would be a ditsy, stupid assistant that only got by since my father was high up? It’d make it easier for people to forget about me if they assumed I was an incompetent that got my job through nepotism.
”Of course.” Saint smiled and eyed me over. “Looking good, Shiro. You’ll have no problem blending in. No makeup.”
“Hate that stuff.” It made my skin feel all dry afterwords. Besides, not to be narcissistic, but I didn’t really need it. His ID marked him as Bruce Armstrong from research and development. “Not too shabby yourself. For once.”
”Hey now, no need to get hurtful.” He warmly chuckled and picked up the briefcase once more.
”Chek chek… I can’t help but notice we actually have a weapon? How’d you manage that?” I skipped ahead of him and turned back, walking backward down the slope of the parking garage.
”My contact legitimately wanted a deal with Tornado. He backed off after I informed him of some insider knowledge.” The insider knowledge was either about their soon to be fall in stock prices or connection to several Savant Labs. “As a cost for the IDs, I’m supposed to sabotage the deal. Knight Security wants distance more than anything now.”
”Can’t blame them.” They were owned by Blue Crusade Incorporated, after all. Wouldn’t be a good look to be consorting with a group that’s about to have an expose written about their back-alley dealings with Savants.
”Yeah…” He turned serious, locking in and losing his normal good cheer. “You’ll have until I’m done breaking off the deal to get in, plant whatever it is you’re planting, and get out. Think you can manage?”
“Chek. Just need to plug this in,” I pulled out the chip with the broken down Sentinel schematics, “and I’ll be done.”
He nodded his head several times. ”You know where the servers are? Or are we going to have to do what we did last time at the hospital?”
“Got it all on lock.” This place was recorded in the city database. There was no issue figuring out where I needed to go for the most part.
”Good.” Saint passed by me and took the lead.
We both fell silent when we exited out onto the city streets. Snow drifted from above, falling into my collar. The sudden cold made me wish I kept my poncho out even if it messed with the disguise somewhat. Thankfully, the walk to Cyclone Tower was a rather short one from where we set off.
About halfway there, Mira called out to me. Her voice echoed in my head. “You okay, Shiro? Everything- you meet up with that Saint guy again?”
”Nova.” I whispered back, keeping my voice low and neutral. “Just about to head in.”
”Good luck… I should’ve come with you- I could’ve provided overwatch or something.” Mira’s voice dripped with self-hatred.
”It’s fine. You’re still recovering.” Not to mention the potential psychological ramifications of being near her captors like this. “Next time you can tag along.”
“Promise?” She asked, voice tinged with hope.
I twisted the Packheart Ring idly. ”I promise. Depending on how things go with Nael, that is. The expert he called in for a favor should be coming in tomorrow-“
“What was that?” Saint stopped ahead of me, looking back over his shoulder just before we reached the doors of the building.
”Nothing.” I rubbed at my face, covering my mouth. “Gotta go. I’ll keep in touch.”
Her voice came to me one last time. “You better- I’ll find a way to come help if you need me- not like she can get lost anymore with the ring.”
It should be the other way around. I should be the one saying that about her. I held my tongue though. No point stirring the pot. And I really did need to start focussing up. We were here.
Ahead of me, Saint propped open the door into the building for me. “After you.”
“Thanks.” I stepped into a surprisingly bustling lobby. Tornado Arms didn’t climb up to where they were just by luck. They actually had a pretty good business model outside of all the shady tactics. Although not one of the Big 7, they were still a major corp.
Saint casually led me to one of the receptionist’s desks. He put down the briefcase and leaned forward with an easy gong smile. “Hello. Armstrong. You should be expecting me.”
”One moment, Mr. Armstrong.” The receptionist smiled politely and clicked around the terminal. “Of course, welcome to Tornado. Mister Oakley is on his way down now, if you just wait a few minutes.”
“No problem.” Saint offered one last smile and then led me to chairs off to the side of the place.
We only had to wait for a few minutes before a middle-aged man came down through one of the elevators. He stopped at the receptionist's desk briefly and then came to us. “Mister Armstrong! Welcome… and you are?”
”Miss Zichima, my assistant. I hope that’s not an issue?” Sain answered for me, smoothly directing all attention back to himself.
”Of course not!” The middle-aged man, Mr. Oakley, forced a smile and backed away. “You, er, have the goods?”
Saint hefted the silver briefcase. “All in here… shall we head up? Assuming you want to keep this private?”
“Naturally. Please, follow me.” The man led us to an elevator. The entire ride up, Saint chatted with the Tornado Arms guy about everything and nothing. It was kind of scary how easy he got along with everyone. I, on the other hand, bit at my lip to keep from speaking up. I didn’t know how Saint could talk casually after knowing what we knew, but I definitely didn’t have that skill.
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out on the forty-third floor. The target server bank was on the fortieth, so we were actually quite close to where I needed to be. The stairs should be just over there, and it was a short jaunt down to the right place.
I lagged behind the duo, releasing several Dragonflies from my bag. They darted out, silent as mice, and took positions all around me. A duo of the insectoid robots flapped over to Saint, settling on him. He shot me a side-eye, though didn’t otherwise react to the robots.
The rest got into places that I could use as cameras to peek around corners and see what I was dealing with. They’d really only matter more when I got down, but the ones up here would let me keep an eye on Saint and ensure nothing went wrong with the reporter.
“U-um, s-sir? I n-need to use the b-bathroom.” I blushed heavily and pressed my hands together in ‘embarrassment’. My head dipped, letting my my bangs cover up my face.
“This is why I told you to go before we left.” Saint shook his head. He had a hint of mocking laughter in his eyes as if he was barely holding back. I had to remind myself several times it was just an act. “I’m sorry, Mister Oakley. I can’t take her anywhere.”
Ew- why’d he say that like I was some little kid? “S-sorry.”
“I understand, I understand.” Oakley laughed like a man looking down on his pet. It made me want to shove a knife up his nose and see who would be laughing then… was I getting more violent? “Bathrooms are down the hall two rights then a left.”
”Th-thank you.” I played the part of a shy, embarrassed assistant to a T, and stumbled down the hall. This entire operation was on my back now. He got us in, but actually getting to the server room? That was my field of expertise… granted, he could probably talk Oakley into a ‘tour’ of the premises and get in just like that.
“It’s a good thing she has a pretty face.” Saint shifted so Oakley couldn’t see and shot an apologetic look to me. It was fine though. We were trying to make me look innocent and ditzy, so I didn’t care too much about the insults and mockery.
Oakley broke into laughter once more, clapping the reporter on the shoulder. “I catch your drift, my man. I have a few too many assistants like that myself.”
”If only her father wasn’t a high up in Knight Security…” Saint shook his head as if in disappointment.
Oakley nodded to himself several times. “Come, let's discuss business.”
I turned the hall, heading for the bathroom. And just like that, I was let free in the HQ of Tornado. Saint really did make entry so much easier. There shouldn’t be any real issue between here and the servers anymore.
I stopped by the bathroom, set my gear back up, and then slunk out into the halls under the cover of my Blinder.
Comments
UnderwhelmingBird
Heh, Shiro's still not quite off the warpath yet, and long-term sleep deprivation does tend to make people cranky even several days after they start to get a more regular sleep schedule set up. Without looking the number up, I think the number usually touted is about a week. That ring is interesting, very interesting. Would it pick up overt subvocalization as well? Where it could hardly be considered a whisper and usually results in a "what was that?" in response to someone's muttering. Common for folk who get bound up in their head while working on stuff, though in that case it could hardly be considered properly coherent as most of the 'conversation' is happening internally. Anyhoo, I'll bet the fur of aether boofers would make solid nesting material. Jussayin. Once their winter coat starts to shed they wont need it anyhow yeah? The birds would practically be doing them a favor, helping them out with any stubborn tufts and freeing them of a minor-to-moderate burden. They might even deserve a treat for their service, it's the neighborly thing to do.
Arkus86
"Mira had made it clear he didn’t want to be alone." -> "she didn't want"
kreiverin
Thanks
Lost Rain
Thank you, those are all fixed. Good suggestions! The last one was supposed to be toward Shiro. I cleared it up a bit.
Gardor
“Chek. Just need to plug this,” I pulled out the chip with the broken down Sentinel plan, “in and I’ll be done.” -> i think the "in" should be with the first half of the sentence, before the action description. But im sure theres an actual grammar rule about it, dunno if im right, im just going on vibes. Maybe you are supposed to immediately switch to describing the object interaction after referencing said object. "The entire ride up, he chatted with Saint about everything and nothing, easily getting along with the reporter. It was kind of scary how easy he got along with everyone." -> think ya should switch this to Saint chatting with the corpo, it reinforces why its scary how well Saint gets on with people. "Saint chatted with him/the corpo...easily getting along with the office drone". "Saint shot an apologetic look out of the eye of Oakley, looking genuinely remorseful" -> "in to the eye", or better yet "apologetic look at Oakley". Tyftc
