He took them upstairs, where beyond stairs and doors, they entered a spacious dojo.
«You here on behalf of my enemy?»
They answered with silence.
The old man finished the beer like he never had a drink in his whole life.
«Look at city», he showed through the window, «thousands of people do sacrifices every day so people can dream freely»
«Spare us the sermon, old codger», interrupted Terry, «this city is corrupted from the foundation.»
«Maybe you are right», he said with slow pace.
He reached a cabinet: opened it, and swallowed another bottle in a single breath.
«Yet you two... given up patrol and protection of this system. I am descendant of YoiKen... you know very well what kind of business my family makes... and yet we help public interest causes from generations, to support the streets.»
They watched him very carefully while he was drinking up a fourth bottle.
«Why do you keep drinking?» Asked Terry.
«'Cause I'm preparing to die.»
«We don't really need to kill you», said Ninetynine.
She pointed out the pedestal sustaining a traditional Nodachi, free from cybernetic enhancements.
«If you give us the Kaikaha, nobody will get hurt.»
«You... you look like woman with knowledge of the Way, but doesn't follow...»
«I already said we're not here to philosophize, grandpa», insisted Terry, «give it to us and let's end this here. You don't even have any improvements or devices to fight against us».
The chef brandished the sword out of its sheath, without removing it from the pedestal.
«If you want my soul, you have to earn it.»
Ninetynine was advancing, but the old codger smiled to see the other cyborg stopping her.
«I'll handle it. You would kill him.»
She didn't oppose.
«You, kid. You on the other hand follow the Way, without even knowing it. But head is confused.»
«If you're in the mood for a talk, then answer me a question, and I will answer one of yours.»
«Hai. All right.»
Terry got off the part of his belt that held his revolver, and slowly pulled out the high voltage kodachi.
But he kept it turned off.
«How can a gangster like you mention the Way?»
The old man smiled and hiccupped, drunk: «Do you think... I got only money and fraud in my mind?»
«Isn't it what you do every day?»
«Īe. I know how system works...» swung unbalanced, holding still the sword, «I trick and run my place, giving food to many clients...»
«And you want to do a sermon to us for leaving a prison?»
«Prison... hik. You're government technology who emulates human beings!» Spitted on the floor, «you can't emulate spirit and soul!»
«I still have the memories of the man inside myself. Aren't they my own soul?»
«ĪE!! Too many questions! When's my turn?»
YOU ARE READING
3099 - Vital Lies
Science FictionThe year is 3099, a parallel universe The Earth finally reunited in one whole nation: the "dream of Einstein", as philanthropists and current politicians want to praise it. The most rich and wealthy citizens of the cities have access to all the most...
