Chapter 12: Charity-Case
[Calling Christy D'Clert...]
[...Calling Christy D'Clert...]
*Beep*
"... Ori?" Christy asks as her face appears over the holophone. Her expression was tense, maybe even worried.
"Yeah, it's me..." he says with a faux smile.
"You look awful... Listen, I heard what happened and if there's anything I can do for you, anything at all, please let me know. It makes me sick to my stomach that something like that would happen to you and your family..."
"You know, that really means a lot..." Ori mutters with a small choke. It was strange, he'd been hearing similar platitudes ever since it'd happened, but she was the only one he felt truly meant it. He was getting emotional, and he was only barely holding it together to prevent himself from grossly sobbing in front of her.
"L-listen, you remember my sister? Cat?" he quietly asks.
She nods, "Yeah, didn't seem to like me at all... I-is she alright?"
He shakes his head, "No, she's missing and I don't know how to find her... I know you don't owe us anything, but if you knew any way of finding someone-"
"Of course! I don't know if it'll help but I'll ask around, someone's bound to know something... Is that all? We're friends and I'd be a terrible person if I left you alone in a time like this."
He sheepishly rubs the back of his neck, "Y-eah... I hate to ask you this but, me and Bats are missing a couple thousand Eddie for some equipment that might help in finding her," he sighs, "I feel dirty for even asking but, could you loan us some? I'll pay you back with interest, I swear!"
Christy quickly nods as her eyes flash with light,
[+5000§] the notification appears in the corner of hi vision indicating a transfer, causing his eyes to widen. (AN: This is the symbol for Euro Dollars/Eddies)
"That enough? I can give more-" she starts but he cuts her off.
"No! That's more than enough... Really, I can't thank you enough for this!" he hurriedly thanked her.
She smiles sweetly at him, "Don't mind it Ori, you need anything and you come to me, after all, what are friends for?"
"Yeah. Friends. I need to go... Bye." he smiles back and ends the call before sitting on the bed to steady his rapidly beating heart... That was harder than he thought it'd be. It felt like he'd just run a mile in a minute...
"Whatever, time's wastin'... BATS! WE GOT THE EDDIES, LET'S GO!"
-------------------------
The duo ventured through the Kabuki, the spiralling alleyways that were either completely destitute or filled to the brim with criminals. The only real light around these parts were the blinding neon signs pointing unwary travellers to their respective stores, along with the occasional Chinese lantern.
The biggest industry by far was the Chinese-inspired food stalls, most promoting themselves as fresh and genuine, despite the fact that Ori was certain most were serving rat meat on skewers. The other significant part of Kabuki was the unlicensed and untrustworthy Ripperdocs and body modders that were more likely to strip you clean and sell you to Scav's than to actually do their jobs.
Thankfully, Ori wouldn't have to subject himself to their mercy, since Bats was there to operate things. After much walking they slip through another alleyway and end up standing before a rundown abandoned building with 'Weilu Ripperdoc and Salon' spray painted across it.
...
"This really the place?" Ori mutters while resting a hand on the pistol at his side, sceptical.
Bats shrugs, "This was the cheapest place I could find with the equipment we need. Don't worry, I've already checked if their shit works, and I'll scrub it of viruses and daemons that might be hidin'."
"If your sure, think this'll work?"
He shakes his head unsurely, "Not a hundred, but it's better than anything else I could think of."
"Better than nothin'-"
"Mā de! Lǔ! Nàxiē liúmáng láile!" someone exclaims from the building, drawing their attention.
"Yāoqǐng tāmen jìnlái! Tāmen yǐjīng fùle liǎng gè xiǎoshí!" a man's voice loudly responds from another part of the building.
...
Ori glances at Bats, "Any idea what they're saying?"
"Huh-, oh? You don't have the translation programs...? You're probably gonna need it if-"
The door opens and a Chinese woman sticks her head out and begins waving at them, "Why you waiting for sum'ting!? Why waste time? You come in now!"
...
The duo look at each other, shrug, and follow the lady inside. She leads them through the half-broken-down furniture-less rooms and down to the basement where a Chinese man was waiting for them at the door.
"Ah, you are 'Bats', I assume?"
He nods, "Yeah, Lu, right?"
"It is this, you have two hour, no longer or we charge you more." he states before walking off.
"Y'know, I think I prefer the chinks over the other guys we have to deal with, quick and to the point." Bats remarks, trying to make small-talk as he steps through the door, only to pause when he sees the room.
It was an utter mess, the tech and equipment were fine and in working order, but almost the entire place was covered with blood and oil... It looked like someone had filmed or performed the chainsaw massacre or something.
Ori sends a dull stare his way, "You were saying?"
"The hell...? Those fucks ripped us off!"
Ori picks up a scalpel covered in old, coagulated blood before tossing it to the side, "You only asked for the equipment, never said anything about the state of the place, did you?"
Bats irritatedly ruffles his hair with his hand, "Fuck sake... We can make this work... Just sit-," he glares at the dyed crimson operating chair with a scowl, "Just deal with the filth for now, we've got a lot to do with the time given."
Ori does as he's told and sits in the chair after giving it a brief wipe with some nearby discarded clothes, the thing still giving a 'squelch' regardless. "I'll jack in once you've checked for viruses..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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