The neon lights were shining everywhere. People were too busy for themselves. Holographic ads and billboards kept the flashy night alive. As he took each step forward, he looked numb. His eyes reflected guilt and sorrow. Both hands were in his pockets. Kaito glanced aside and saw a couple sitting together, smiling and sharing sweet talk. He took a quick glance and looked ahead. His pace didn't change, nor did his expression.
"What are you doing, Cade? I know you remember me. I know you saw me. Then why? He stopped. His eyes filled with guilt. In a pathway full of crowds, he was the only one who looked lost. His hands froze inside his pockets. You're the only one who knows me, Cade. You alone can find me because I've left enough details."
Kaito's whispers were louder than any thoughts around him. He pulled out his left hand, fist closed, gripping hard. He opened his fist, and it was the picture Michael had given him earlier. Kaito stared at it. His eyes, his expression said it all. "The ghost is dead long ago, partner. It's time for you to move on as well," he muttered to himself. His eyes were cold, his tone deep.
Suddenly, his phone started ringing. He pulled it from his other pocket and glanced at it. The transparent screen displayed an unknown contact. He paused for a second and answered. "Yes."
"It's me, you idiot." A familiar voice. Yamako. He was sitting in his usual room in front of his messy desk, cigarette in hand, his glitchy voice tone as usual.
"What do you want, Yama?" Kaito looked troubled. His tone didn't reflect his usual excitement. "I have a job for you. You won't ask any questions, and I won't tell details about why and what. You in or out?" Yamako leaned forward while speaking. His eyes looked unhinged and emotionless.
"In," Kaito whispered. Even though he was in deep trouble, it was obvious he would accept. He'd been through this several times. "I'll send you a location and details about the target. I want the target alive and delivered within 48 hours." Yamako spoke business. No drama. Kaito started walking. The picture he was holding in his hand, he put back in his pocket after a final glance. "What's in it for me?"
"Huh?" Yamako took a puff and looked annoyed. "How much will I get paid if I do the job?" After a long time, Kaito smiled. A slight smile as he walked. "You can take a maxed-out currency chit card or a mod, I guess. Which one?"
"I guess I'll take the currency. I'm running low on funds, you know." Kaito looked ahead and walked fast. His destination was unknown, but the thrill was beginning as promised. "Fine then. Get the job done, and the maxed-out one is yours." Upon saying it, Yamako hung up the call.
Kaito looked at the display, and the location popped up: West City, Apex Complex. Target name: Vi-X.
Kaito looked at the display and squinted his eyes. "What kind of damn name is that?" he muttered. "Might be a data thief or a guy who didn't pay Yama, for sure." He was making his conclusions too early.
Kaito looked ahead and saw a bike in front of him. The bike looked fabulous, and he stared at it with wide eyes. The neon stripe on the bike looked cool, and the outlook was flashy. The curves and the appearance of the ride stole his attention. "That's a nice toy," he muttered before taking a step forward.
Flickering lights waved, broken. The whole alleyway was dark, and the few flickering lights were the only source of visibility. The neon lights above were barely functioning. A huge advertisement billboard about mods gave the alley a low, glitchy vibe. Near a wall, a man was leaning. His face was bleeding; in his right arm, a knife was pierced deep into his bones. Blood dripped from his eyes and mouth. The fact was, he wasn't the only one. Right in front of him was another man. Both were wearing suits with neon stripes. No visible modification. Maybe implants?
As the light reached across, more bodies became visible. A bunch of people lay on the ground: unconscious, wounded, and bleeding. A woman's cybernetic arm was completely destroyed and damaged.
"These bastards were no good, Mi. I expected a lot." From the shadows, he appeared. Yama's whole arm was covered in blood. Not a single drop was his.
"It's your fault if you expect too much. These are just local Wingmen. What do you expect from them?" Mira was standing near a wounded man. Blood stains were on her cheeks. In her hand, she held a knife covered in blood, the blade coded. "I can't believe we killed the main guy during the battle," he muttered. She looked disappointed. "It's not my fault; you're the one who charged in first," Yama looked at her.
Mira threw an empty can at him, and he didn't even flinch. "It's not my fault, you dummy! I got too excited. Who knew that pig was among these brats?" she yelled, almost in a childish tone—siblings fighting over stuff.
"H-help me," a wounded man behind them. His legs were cut off clean, and his arms were broken. Suddenly, the knife Mira was holding pierced into his head. The blade went deep into his skull—blade-throwing at its peak.
"Don't interrupt, pig," she looked aggressive, her eyes filled with fury. "You killed him, Mi! He was the pig we were talking about!" Yama yelled out loud, pointing his hand toward the dead guy.
"W-what? How the hell? I thought I killed him before." She wasn't normal—shifting from killer fury to a humorous reaction mixed with surprise, comedic in her own way.
"Well, great. Now he's dead, and we don't know where the target is," Yama stepped forward while saying it.
Mira put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. She wiped the blood from her face and handed another one to Yama. "I guess we have to use another method to find her. Vi-X. You owe us," she muttered and took a step forward.
Yama looked back and glanced at the bodies. "So, where now?" His tone was deep. Mira looked at him. She made a peace sign with both hands and said, "Spicy chicken and tacos, bro." Almost like a normal woman being funny and humorous. "Tabs on me," Yama whispered and yawned. They both walked ahead and didn't even look back. They were completely not normal, neither predictable.
As time passed and moments grew more intense, things weren't going smoothly in everyone's story.
V was standing near a window in a hallway of the Hexagon HQ, not in his casual combat fit. A black shirt, a jacket in his hand, he leaned against the window frame. Looking outside, he noticed the neon billboard about the upcoming tournament of Wingmen. His eyes locked on it. "Hey, rock head." From behind, the voice echoed.
Deep breaths. He looked back and saw her. Ren. "You're pretty early tonight," V said in a soft, calm tone. Ren was in her combat suit, but something looked different. Her cybernetic arm was fully covered, even the stickers and signatures on it. Usually, she liked to keep them visible. "So, what's the plan?" Ren walked toward him while asking.
V's eyes narrowed, angled. An unreadable expression. "Plan, huh?" Ren stood in front of him and said, "Don't act poetic. We had a deal. You take me to Kaito, and I help you hunt the ghost."
V sighed. Looking at her, he said, "Do you know why we exist, Ren? Do you know why we're here?"
Ren looked annoyed. Her eyes were intense, and her facial expressions weren't friendly at all. "Cut your shit. I don't care about anything as long as I find him." She snapped. Ren grabbed V's collar and pulled him toward her, looking dead mad. "So stop your shit and keep the words you gave me."
"Kaito is beyond the horizon now. If I had the records, I would've pulled it off. Since the ghost destroyed them years ago, we're blind, my friend." V didn't hesitate to speak, nor did he flinch.
Ren pushed him back and looked annoyed as hell. Her fingers twitched. Her eyes were filled with anger, but deep inside, she was suffering from anxiety.
"Then the deal's over. If you can't help me, then neither will I. I'd rather find him myself." She turned back as soon as she spoke. Upon turning back, her eyes went wide, and she looked surprised. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Right in front of her, Aoi Suo was standing. She was in her usual fit but covered in bandages. Her forehead was bandaged, and a square-shaped device rested on her shoulder—a health band detecting her pulse rate and blood pressure. Her fingers were covered in bandages as well. She took a step forward and said, "I-I want to help you find him. Please take me with you."
Her sorrowful voice echoed and sounded heartbroken. Ren put a disgusted look on her face and said, "You're just dead weight. You're weak, and you're slow. You belong behind a desk, not in the field." Each word pierced through her heart. Without another word, Ren walked right past her. V became a spectator of this inner chaos. He took a step forward toward Aoi and reached out his hand as he saw Ren leaving, but Aoi stepped back. Her eyes filled with tears.
"If you do intend to help me... then become strong enough to keep up with my shots." She didn't look back, didn't hesitate. The unhinged expression became her pride.
Aoi wiped her eyes and looked behind. Seeing Ren walking away from her burned her skin. The agony of insult and rivalry fueled her eyes. "I will," she whispered.
V turned around and started walking. A slight smile appeared on his face. Evil? Humorous? It wasn't clear, but it didn't look friendly. "Phase two," he muttered to himself.
Who is more dangerous? A man who keeps on living in a thrilling way, or a woman who lives for her self-interest, knowing she will lose everything—and matter of fact, both will die one day. Either for the path they have chosen or for their own pride and interests.
The mug of coffee was getting cold. The table was almost empty: a coffee mug, some blank drives, implant chips laying on the table. In a corner of the room, two different axes were showcased. The first was a size smaller than the larger one. Both had purple handles and neon blades. The lights reflecting on them made them look more gothic. In the middle of the room, a holographic screen displayed several images of people. Under their photos were their names and professions: Victor Mic, B-rank local; Miki K, C-rank Hexagon; and many more. Some codes and a progress bar popped up on the screen.
The door of the room opened, and footsteps came inside. Cyber boots, long hair with pinkish streaks, her neon jacket painted with designs. Her blue eyes reflected ocean waves.
"Damn connection. I knew I should've used the other drive." She walked toward the projection screen and leaned in to check things.
She started typing and tapping on the screen. Her fingers ran like a pro. Each detail she typed popped up on another screen next to her.
"Out. Out. Out. Ohh... This looks cool. Out." She tapped on each picture and transferred them to an unknown account that popped up on the other screen.
Suddenly, her calling implant activated. She touched her ear to receive the incoming call. Her expression looked unhinged.
"Yellow. Vi here," she spoke in a playful way without knowing who it was. Suddenly, the playful expression faded away. Her implant was glitchy for a second. "T-They are coming," from the other side, the voice echoed in her ears.
"Mark, where are you?" Her voice sounded concerned. A genuine expression of intensity. Her eyes locked on the screen while talking. "I am leaving this city. Y-You should too. T-They found you."
"Mark, tell me where you are?" she spoke with a deep tone and looked unhinged. "Y-Yamako h-has..."
Suddenly, the call cut off. She looked at the screen, and a live visual from a camera popped up. Kaito Yashima parking his bike. In the visual, Kaito was marked as a possible suspect—a red square covering him on the live feed.
"Interesting," she looked at the screen and whispered.