"I must say, I don't believe this is a good idea."
Mana waved dismissively, "Its fine Defrag. Just watch and shut up."
The robot ignored the command, "You used your one out, from now own if you get caught you're done."
"I'm aware Defrag."
Mana walked the streets, everything covered in a faint shade of red, she looked up to see the glowing face of Mars above her as she pulled her cloak tight and shivered.
"Defrag what's the weather supposed to be like for the next few days?"
"Phobos Biodome F23 has weather settings as below freezing for the next 5 days. Possible snow, set at a 1/3 chance each day."
Mana nodded, "Ok, well, let's get this over with."
Mana walked into an alleyway, she made her way to a shop. It looked old and run down with a fading neon sign that read: 'Marty's Paintshop'. Mana approaches the doorway, which was just a rug, and pushed it out of the way.
Before Mana could take another step a man's voice cut in, "Nope-nope! The robot stays outside. You know I hate those buckets of junk."
Mana nodded to the Defrag, it pulled back out the door, "Good to see you too, Marty."
The man still shouted from across the building, "Ya-ya. Come on in and tell me what you want."
Mana walked across the building to find a man sitting at an anvil, he was surrounded by buckets of paints, brushes, and a mix of easels and firearms. He was currently painting on a piece of paper. She made her way over to sit on a small stool across from him.
"I need some detailing done. And so other stuff we can discuss as you work."
The man just grunted, "Sure... whatever."
Mana slung a bag off her shoulder and placed it on the ground to remove its contents, "I want you to copy some designs over to this. Try and keep the colors as similar as possible."
The man looked up as Mana put the rifle on the anvil, "Hm, MDKR .308... its Warmage. Where did you get this? And What do you want copied over?"
Mana produced the pistol, "From an acquaintance, and I want these designs, I'd like the body of it to stay matt black, designs golden."
The man put down the paper and pulled out a new brush and a pallet, "Ok, and as I do this what else did you want to talk about?"
Mana was quiet for a while as he started to paint the rifle, he added other golden highlights to it but she didn't stop him, it looked good. She just looked on as he worked, he didn't say anything for a while.
"Mana, its been like 10 minutes, answer the questions."
Mana waking from her daze, "Ah, yes, that... Marty, I need you to do something for me. I want you to put out a bounty on me."
He stopped painting, "Absolutely not."
"I'll send you the money, 1 million Neuro."
"Fuck no, I don't care how much money you give me! You're the best hitman in the market, I'm not going to let you go and kill yourself."
Marty's phone buzzed as she spoke, "It's fine Marty, I promise. My life will be in more danger if you don't let me do this."
He looked at his phone, the transaction had gone through, but it wasn't from her, "Mana... this is... a terrible idea and I have no idea why you are doing this." He took a deep breath and started working again, "I trust you more than I should. I'll do it when I finish this."
"Thank you, Marty."
They sat in silence as he finished painting. She picked up the rifle and inspected it. The paint looked good and the designs identical to the pistol.
"Now scram, before I shot you myself and buy a space yacht and live my days out sipping space champagne."
Mana produced a small wad of money and placed in on the anvil, "I know. I'll be going now."
She put the rifle away but spoke again before leaving, "Actually, Marty one last thing."
He grabbed one of the laid out firearms, "What?"
He pointed it at Mana as she spoke, "You got any high mag IR scopes? Say 14 or 18?"
He lowered the gun and started to paint it, "Ya. What of it, if you want it you got to pay."
Mana smiled, "How much?"
Mana and Defrag walked out of the alley, it had started to snow as they made their way down the streets, walked through some public parks, and eating at a restaurant. It was late when she got back into her car. She put in a destination for what used to be India on planet Earth before everything was unified under the UN.
"Defrag, scamble the car's cords, make it look like we're heading back to Eastern North America."
"It is done. Also, I've just received notice that a bounty has been placed on you, should we be heading to such a densely populated area?"
"Don't worry about Defrag. It'll work out."
YOU ARE READING
Hollow Point Happiness
Khoa học viễn tưởngAn emotionless hitman, trying to understand what it truly means to be human. Through oceans of blood and money, they discover more about their past, their family, and themselves. And a disgraced cop called to back to work a seemingly impossible case...
