Neon Requiem (2023)

Romeo and Juliet

I slept the whole day still thinking of what to do. I guess I could still try to play it cool and pretend all is fine, it seemed to work for many others in the past. Then again I could just make a break for it and move somewhere remote hide there for a few years.

It all spun around in my head, to make matter worse the Emperor would be coming around next weekend for his annual inspection. Everyone will be on high alert and if I give any indication of deviant I will surely be retired immediately.

I call up Jackie and tell him to meet me at Lizzies Bar to talk about what had been going on. On my way there Sharon tells me she wants to see me tonight to talk.

When I arrive at the bar I sit in the corner of the bar where I usually do and wait for Jackie to arrive. Meanwhile Evelyn, the manager of the bar, walks up to me "I see you're back. Plan on having another night like last time?"

"No it's just to talk. I promise that won't happen again. And also thanks for bailing me out I still don't know why you did that but thanks."

"Sure. Hey are you a Blade Runner?" Her question caught me off guard.

"Eh, why do you ask?"

"Curious. You're clearly corpo but don't dress like a rat. I figured you might be one of those mysticals blade runners."

"What if I say I am, what then?"

"Relax, I'm not a fixer. I won't put a hit on you."

Usually when someone is outed as being a Blade Runner people called Fixers put a bounty on them. Fixers are people who have connections with corpo heads who take on side jobs, usually to make a profit for a corpo. In return they get luxury perks like diamond trauma memberships, or a whole lot of eddies.

"Yeah I am one."

"Hmm you're cuter than I imagined."

"Excuse me?"

"I just imagined your kind more borged' out that's all. More scars and looking scarier than you."

"Sorry that I don't look like Adam Smasher. I prefer to keep my humanity."

"Heh, you're even funny too. Anyways stay safe kid it's not safe for you out there."

The blue haired manager walked away, that sure was weird of her to ask. But again everyone wants to meet me, the lore of Blade Runners is greatly exaggerated.

Jackie finally arrives and joins me ordering a few drinks for us. "So what's up hermano?" He starts.

"I think I'm going deviant."

Jackie pauses mid drink before finishing his shot "are you sure Holmes? How do you know?"

"I failed my baseline test a couple days ago, and Vik basically confirmed what I already felt in my head."

"Holy shit. So you actually deviant. This shit is crazy. Wait what the hell are you doing here aren't you supposed to running away?"

"I thought about it but I don't know where to and plus I don't want to run. I need your help."

"Bro this is insane, you have no idea how long I've waited for this day!"

"What do you mean?"

"I've waited for so long for you to tell me you are deviant."

"Really why?"

"Because you are free now. Free from being a slave, you are your own man now!"

"But now I'll be hunted down like a dog."

"Oh right yeah. But no listen there is an easy way out just wipe your HWID from the system and you'll be good. They won't be able to track you. You'll be a ghost."