Well, that was that. Time to head home for the day.
I rolled my shoulders as I surveyed the room, the scent of the pizza bar still hanging in the air. It had been a strangely long day.
"That was a big help. Do whatever you want with the chip."
The Doctor looked up at me, a single eyebrow arched.
"…You’re sure? This is a fine piece of work. In your hands, it could be quite the weapon."
"Yeah, I don’t mind."
I gave a casual wave and a smirk. If I ever needed it again, I knew how to "procure" it.
The Doctor let out an exaggerated sigh, his white lab coat fluttering as he shrugged.
"Good grief… You’re either incredibly careless or just plain fearless. I truly envy you."
The way he shook his head and threw up his hands was far too much like an old man. It didn't fit his current body at all; it was almost enough to make me laugh.
"So, what’s next? Stay for a bite. Solis would be happy to see you."
I shook my head firmly.
"No, I'm wiped. Besides, if I show my face to her, she’ll probably never let me leave."
"Honestly… you're going to make Solis cry. You should try humoring her once in a while."
Not a chance. I was done for the night.
Seeing my flat refusal, the Doctor finally backed off.
"Well, I won't force you."
He gave a dismissive flick of his hand.
"The back exit will be faster."
I followed him out of his private quarters and back into the examination room. Tucked away in the corner was a door I hadn't noticed when I arrived.
It looked ancient compared to the rest of the high-tech equipment and was barely wide enough for a grown man to squeeze through. A cheap security panel clung to the wall beside it—hardly a fortress, but I suppose that was all you needed for an emergency escape route.
The Doctor yanked the lever on the lock, and the door creaked open with a heavy, metallic clunk.
Inside was a cramped, pitch-black void. Looking down, there was no sign of a floor; it felt like staring into an endless abyss.
…As usual, it was a glorified trash chute. I appreciated the speed, but my heart had nearly stopped the first time I used it.
"Catch you later."
I didn't hesitate a second time. I leaned forward and let the darkness take me.
"Watch your back out there—"
The Doctor’s relaxed voice was instantly swallowed by the whistling wind as I plunged into the depths.
＊ ＊ ＊
I hit the bottom with a heavy thud.
The impact wasn't actually that bad, but the sound echoed through the narrow space, ringing in my ears. Dust billowed up, tickling my nose, and I reflexively waved a hand to clear the air.
…I’ll never get used to that landing.
I looked around. It was nearly pitch black, save for a few slivers of neon light bleeding through cracks in the walls, just enough to reveal the outlines of my surroundings.
A mangled table, piles of unidentifiable boxes, and mountains of what could only be described as junk. This was the warehouse for the Nocturne Veil.
They’d laid out some cushioning at the base of the chute so it wouldn't look out of place. Looking up, the hole I’d just dropped from gaped like a dark mouth. To anyone who didn't know better, it probably looked like a standard ventilation duct.
Right then…
I brushed the dust off my clothes as if I’d just stepped out of a cab and navigated my way through the warehouse. As I neared the employee section, the smell changed. Spices and grease—right, the kitchen was nearby. I was starving; maybe I’d grab something for the road.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, I ran into a young employee in the corridor.
"A-Ah! Hey, what are you doing in a place like—!? Wait, it's the Mister! Uh, where did you even come from?"
Oh, man, seriously? Why is he here? Well, I guess for someone like him, it wouldn't be weird… but still… I probably won't get in trouble, right?
His thoughts were written all over his face. If he knew who I was, this would be easy.
"Just checking the perimeter. Do me a favor and bring me an hors d'oeuvre set, would you?"
"Y-Yes, sir! Right away!"
He scrambled off and returned a moment later clutching a packaged meal. He even insisted on escorting me to the exit. I transferred a tip to his terminal, and he nearly doubled over, bowing repeatedly with a massive grin on his face.
…It’s the little things that pay off later. Never be stingy when it comes to people.
When the money dries up, the loyalty follows.
I stepped out through the employee entrance into a street even more crowded than when I’d arrived. The place was booming.
Good for them.
As I approached my car, I noticed two guards standing watch over it. A nice touch from the management. I gave them a nod and a tip each, earning me two more deep bows.
I climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door. The sound caught the attention of the large man working the VIP entrance. He started toward me, but a new group of guests arrived, leaving him torn and flustered as he looked back and forth between me and his duties.
I grinned, revved the engine, and gave him a casual wave through the glass. He seemed to accept defeat, giving me a quick bow before turning back to his VIPs.
I watched him in the rearview mirror as I merged into the city traffic.
＊ ＊ ＊
The gates to the Lower District were limited at this hour.
There were twenty-four-hour gates, sure, but I wasn't in the mood for a massive detour. I mapped out the closest route to a gate that was still open and pushed the car forward.
I had long since left the district surrounding the Nocturne Veil. Now I was passing through the old industrial zone—a wasteland of derelict warehouses and silent factories.
Only a few lonely streetlights flickered here; there wasn't a soul in sight. It felt like being lost in a ghost town in the middle of the night.
In the distance, the glow of the skyscrapers was a hazy memory. With the sea of neon at my back, the only thing cutting through the dark was the beam of my own headlights.
Honestly, I was just thinking this might be the most peaceful part of the city—right up until the moment it wasn't.
A sudden flash of light hit my rearview mirror.
"…What?"
The lights multiplied in an instant. Two, three… no, more.
Headlights roared up behind me like the glowing eyes of a predator, closing in with terrifying speed.
I was already doing a hundred kilometers per hour, but they were gaining on me as if I were standing still.
What, some street-racing punks?
The thought didn't last long. From the roofs of the dark vehicles, long, black shapes slid into view. Gun barrels.
"Tch—!"
I wrenched the steering wheel.
A split second later, a roar erupted that set my teeth on edge.
Zudododododo!
Bluish-white flashes tore through the asphalt exactly where my tires had been a heartbeat ago. Plasma rounds. The ground disintegrated, sending sparks and smoke screaming into the air.
I white-knuckled the wheel, fighting to keep the car from spinning out. A cold, bitter sweat broke out across my skin.
"Well, damn… you guys aren't holding back, are you?"
But they were just getting started. In the mirror, a second and third car moved up. Gatling cannons deployed from their roofs, the barrels beginning to spin with a predatory whine.
As the RPMs climbed, sparks of green energy flickered, and then a barrage of blinding light tore through the night, focused entirely on me.
The air hissed as it burned, the scream of the wind drowned out by the howl of plasma.
In an instant, the gunfire from my pursuers had turned the silence of the industrial district into a war zone.