—Mission 001: completed —Fay announced in her most neutral tone—. Result: visibility successfully obtained. Reward: +20 Charisma. Skill unlocked: Stage Presence: increases your chances of success on television by 60%.
Before Logan could celebrate anything about his victory, his phone vibrated in his pocket. The notification of an incoming message appeared in his peripheral vision.
[Incoming message. Source: Ana (target). Message content: "What the hell are you doing on TV? Shave, idiot"]
Logan let out a loud laugh. Ana, the ex with whom he spent long nights (very "long"), had now been reduced to four words and an exasperation emoji. The message was clearly trying to hide immense envy.
—Well, look who deigned to send a message. What if I reply with something funny? —Logan murmured.
—Ignore her, idiot —Fay replied, curt.
Nico was chewing the empanada they'd bribed him with almost blissfully, then looked up.
—Did your ex text you, mate? —he said bluntly.
—Yeah. She was fuming —Logan answered, smiling with satisfaction— We did it, right Fay?… Fay?
The fairy stayed quiet for a moment, then blinked and sent another notification, this one different.
[Alert: unidentified message. Sender: unknown. Message content: "Well well, looks like a little ant from the slums likes to draw attention up here, doesn't it, Logan Flux?"]
Logan felt the square shrink around him; that note was practically a declaration of kidnapping or from someone who knew his life. Then, another notification appeared.
[Sender identified as Elena Ginflow, the person who was watching from the balcony.]
—What? Who the hell is Elena? And how does she know my name? —Logan said.
—Someone of high risk and capital —Fay answered—. One of the most influential people in the Upper District. Definitely not the kind of woman you'd want to do the same thing you did to Ana.
Logan looked at Nico quickly.
—Nico, can you hack a nearby camera to find exactly which balcony that Elena sent the message from?
Nico didn't hesitate and typed on his panel as fast as he could.
—I'll try —he said—. But it's super encrypted and protected. I don't have the necessary tools here to pull that thread without screwing up and leaving a trace.
While Nico spoke, Logan's phone vibrated again. A new message had arrived, this time without pretense:
[Incoming message from: Elena Ginflow. Content: "Don't be scared man, I won't hurt you. I just saw that little show and thought maybe someone like you could be useful for 'something' I have in mind. Come to the Upper District. I've attached the address. Don't worry, I'll pay."]
[Offer of an in-person meeting with Elena Ginflow. Risk: fairly high. New mission unlocked: Go to the meeting and listen to what Elena wants from you. Reward: ???]
Logan breathed deeply, pocketed the phone, and looked at the address on the screen.
—If the system asks for it, I'll go —he said at last—. But I'll have my eyes wide open for this. I've got a bad feeling.
Fay didn't answer. The hologram flickered red for a fraction, and something in her log was marked: ELENA — DANGEROUS VARIABLE. DO NOT DELETE.
---
Suddenly, whistles started blowing in the distance. No one took it very seriously at first; the police were always after bar fights and trivial things, not a simple viral spectacle. Then the second whistle sounded, closer, and someone in the square said the word in a low voice: "patrols." Pico stopped singing and Nico slammed his panel shut.
Fay projected a red line that cut the conversation like a knife.
[Alert: The police are looking for you. Run for your life!]
—Well, I guess we don't stick around —Nico said, without theatrics.
The crowd began to move like a crazed herd.
—We have to go —Pico said in a low voice—. Let's get out before they ID us.
Logan felt a coldness in his stomach. He looked to Fay, waiting for some instruction. Fay projected options.
—Okay Logan, the best I can give you is this —Fay said, showing an interface.
[Routes to run: north, south, east. Suggestion: Run, RUN!.]
—We split up, guys —Nico proposed—. Pico take west street; I'll head into the workshops; Logan, you go through the market with the bike. We'll meet up in the future if we're not arrested, chaíto.
—Deal —Logan said, tightening his backpack.
They shook hands, a brief, complicit squeeze. Pico ran off through the crowd; Nico vanished toward the workshop with the agility of someone used to doing shady things; Logan mounted the bike and pedaled as fast as he could. Behind them, three patrol cars dropped their lights like giant insects.
On the route, Logan cut through familiar corners and shortcuts that felt longer when your heart was pounding. He kept thinking about the message and the person who'd left it… Elena. He really needed to know who she was in greater depth, for his own good.
---
He arrived at his place gasping, unlocked the door with the key and shut everything with the precision of someone who understood that five minutes ago the police were chasing him for causing a ruckus.
Then he turned on the old tablet he used as a makeshift panel.
—Fay, I need you to search every bit of information you can on that Elena. I want her movements, appearances, what kind of personality she has. Everything you can give me.
The system didn't respond to his request.
—Fay!... FAY! —Logan shouted, agitated.
Out of nowhere, a notification appeared in the air.
[What's being said?]
Logan stood perplexed when he saw it.
—Aich, you've got to be kidding me… Please.
—That's better! —Fay said, materializing— Here's the information.
The floating screen updated.
[Public profile of target: Elena Ginflow, the wealthiest young woman in Altaris. Approximate age: 22. Occupation: Owner of the robotics company "Walls". Recent activities: investments in advanced technology. Behavior: observant, calculating and a bit… obsessive.]
Logan read the lines like someone scanning a minefield map. There were photos where Elena smiled with famous people exchanging checks. There were mentions of foundations and NGOs and donations of large sums.
Logan turned off the tablet. The screen's light left his eyes feeling hollow. The house had the usual hum of the fridge, working more like a rumbler than a machine. He lay down and drifted between the choice of sleeping or overthinking. Of course he chose the latter.
—Wait…! This isn't like a date?! —he yelled—. Damn, I have to wear my best clothes.
He opened the closet. Everything returned the raw honesty of his situation. Inside were wrinkled shirts, stains from some sauce he'd promised to wash out, pants torn at the knee, others patched with sloppy stitches. Only a pair of decent shoes, soles worn down from too many streets. Logan touched the clothes like someone checking on old companions and finding none comforting.
While he looked, the phone vibrated again. The screen displayed a new message from Elena that left him shaking.
[Incoming message. Source: Elena Ginflow. Content: "By the way, buy yourself something nice." Attached: transfer. Amount: $2,000. Comment: "Consider this an advance for your time. See you."]
Logan felt the world tilt; the amount wasn't ridiculous, it was exactly enough to change a few things.
He looked at the screen, then at the clothes. The idea of buying something "nice" tasted like a possible trap. Buying clothes wouldn't fix the feeling, but he still closed the closet window with decision.
—Perfect —he murmured—. I know a suit doesn't buy dignity, but hell yes I want to try one on.
He put the phone away, treated the sum as a tool rather than a surrender, and lay down with his head full of noise: the police on any street, Pico and Nico dispersed, that Elena with her sudden offer and expectation. Fay logged everything and added one last line on the screen: night tracking activated.
—Sleep well then —Fay said, looking down at him.
—Wow, you're being a bit more "helpful" than usual today —Logan replied.
Fay gave him a bop on the head.
—Don't ruin the moment, idiot.
—Ouch! You're right… You get some rest too —Logan answered, closing his eyes— Tomorrow I feel like it's going to be a reaaaally long day.