The War of Pages

5; Choosing Between Suicide and Murder

His voice was rough and guttural, and it gave Techno a headache listening to him speak. "Techno? Ronid Juno! But you can call me RJ." He paced back and forth, nearly wearing a path in the carpet as he talked. "I understand you're feeling a bit reluctant to comply, yes? Well, that's going to change right here and right now if you want to leave this room alive." He bent down and shoved his face up against Techno's.

"But I'm dead either way, so what the hell does it matter?" He struggled against his restraints, but as he did, they tightened as if driven by a magical force. He screamed out in pain.

"Well, you could be right. Could be. But Straum Tru's death was a walk in the park compared to the one I plan to bestow upon you." He looked Techno up and down and laughed. "That is, unless you agree to help me."

"What's in it for me?"

"Letting you live isn't enough?" RJ looked around the room. "Kids these days, am I right?"

The entire room was as silent as death as Techno contemplated what he should say or do next. This guy wasn't screwing around with him. After a few minutes had passed, RJ let a long, booming laugh that seemed to echo off the walls. "Of course, I'm going to pay you. Fifty million dollars—for your troubles."

Ska sat on the bed next to Techno. "Come on, dude. Fifty million dollars? How are you just going to pass that up?"

"Your boy has a point," RJ's bodyguard said. His name was E29A50, but they called him Thirteen for short. It made no sense to anyone there, but they went with it. He was an antique android RJ had rescued from a military surplus junkyard many years before.

"It's not about the money, dude. I don't want the money," Techno said.

"You hear that boss? He doesn't want your money! Now, I think that's the first time I ever seen one of these human idiots turn down cold, hard cash in exchange for some serious work. What do you make of that?" Thirteen said.

"Doesn't want my money? Doesn't want my money. Doesn't want my money." He spoke low as if he only intended for himself to hear it. "No money, huh? Well, we'll see what we can do about that." RJ pulled a tiny device out of his pocket and pressed a button. Immediately, Thirteen's head spun around faster and faster until smoke poured out of the top of it. "Yes. We'll certainly see what we can do for you, Techno."

Thirteen's fingers glowed red, and the smell of burnt flesh wafted through the hotel room. He began by touching anywhere Techno's skin was exposed, but when he reached for his face, Techno suddenly protested.

"Wait! Wait! Not my face!" He squirmed in the bed, and the restraints tightened much closer to his skin.

Veina stepped closer and touched Techno on the shoulder. "The more you move, the worse it gets. Try to calm down."

"You stupid—"

"Now, now, Techno. Let's not forget our manners. There's a lady in the room, and I won't have you disrespecting her."

"Lady? I don't know what the hell she is, but she's certainly not a lady." Techno glared at her as she backed away from the bed.

"Let's continue, shall we?" RJ motioned for Thirteen to continue where he left off.

"Wait!" Techno yelled again. "I said I didn't want your money, but I might be willing to help for something else. Can we negotiate something more ... creative?"

RJ sat next down to him on the bed. "What did you have in mind?"

"Cohen has something of mine that I'd really like to get back. I need to get it back. If I don't, I'm afraid I might want to die anyway. Can you help me with that?"

"That depends on what the hell it is."

"It's a journal. My Great-Great-Grandfather, Nevik Tru. I need it for the resistance. There's something in it that can help us win the war, I know it."

"Wait a minute. You've got Nevik Tru's manifesto? That can't be. That book is almost worth as much as the Bible."

"It was hidden away all these years in my dad's safe when they raided our property. Cohen caught me with it right before he arrested me, and if I know Cohen like I think I know him, he's ballsy enough to keep it for himself. He's got some sort of serious vendetta against my family."

"I imagine he would—considering Nevik murdered his grandfather. You sure that's all you want? I mean, I thought locating books was your area? What makes you think I can get it any easier than you can?"

Veina walked closer to RJ. "You can't. Neither of you can." They both looked up at her with annoyed looks on their faces. "But I can."