The Perfect Run

Chapter 21

All was well so far on the Augusti Path.

Ryan had met Zanbato as expected, beat up Sarin at the harbor, and now repeated the exact same conversation which would lead him to crash at Jamie’s house. All was well and good, to the sound of crashing waves against the piers...

“I have to be sure about something,” Luigi asked the courier. “Are you a snitch or a double agent?”

“Well, I’m not really on anyone’s side,” Ryan replied, but then his mouth acted on its own, “But I’m a Carnival infiltrator, yes.”

… or not.

Everyone present turned to look at him, a tense silence settling in. The grunts raised their weapons, while Zanbato’s face turned from shocked, to disappointed, and finally, to furious.

“Uh oh.”

Okay, two lessons learned.

One, Ryan hated truth-tellers. Hated them, with a passion.

Two, Zanbato could make sashimi out of people with his laser sword. Ryan wouldn’t look at sushi the same way ever again.

But this time… this time, it would be different. The courier had rehearsed the perfect misleading answers. Luigi's power compelled Ryan to say the truth, but only according to the teller’s exact words.

“I have to be sure about something,” Luigi asked him again. “Are you a snitch or a double agent?”

“I can’t snitch on a group I haven’t officially joined yet, and I am not a double agent.” Technically, he was a triple one.

“Are you a mole?”

“Of course I’m not a mole, I’m human.”

There! Saved! He did it, he did it!

“Okay, I should work on my wording,” Luigi sighed but didn’t give up. “Are you, or do you intend, to relay information about us to another organization?”

“Well, yes, I intend to. Hell, I already did!”

Goddammit!

Okay.

Okay, third time's the charm.

Through timing and intelligence, Ryan had skillfully navigated through the chain of causality to avoid the fated question. He had put on the charm, befriended everyone, distracted the grunts with funny anecdotes. Now, the courier and Zanbato prepared to return to the Plymouth Fury, and go eat some delicious pizzas.

“Hey, Quicksave,” Luigi asked, as they took a few steps towards the car. “Before you go, there are a few questions I must ask every new recruit.”

“Luigi, seriously, please, don’t do it,” Ryan replied, his eyes pleading. “For your sake, don’t say this. It won’t end well, I swear it won’t—”

“Sorry, protocol. Are you a snitch?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Yes, I am! Is that what you want me to say, Luigi? Is that what you want me to say?”

Quicksave breathed deeply, fighting off his rising frustration.

“Luigi,” Ryan pointed a finger at the truth-teller, as everyone raised their weapons at the courier's face. “We’re going to have a problem, you and I.”

“Where’s Luigi?” Zanbato asked Grunt 1 when the truth-teller failed to show up at the harbor, leaving only the henchmen to deal with the operation. “Wasn’t he supposed to take care of the shipment?”

“Sorry, he was attacked yesterday night,” Gruntie said, carrying Luigi’s cell phone. Apparently, he would have to fill in for the Made Man. “He’s at the hospital right now, and he’ll be out of commission for a while.”

“What?” The news shocked Jamie, who clearly hadn’t been informed. “By whom?”

with a hockey mask and stick, from what

hockey,” Ryan said absentmindedly, looking

party, you know, perfectly normal, he starts opening his home’s door and then BAM! Some Friday the 13th crazy

Jamie almost chortled. “Why Luigi? Was it a

take his money,” Grunt 1 replied. “Maybe it was

really, uh, passionate according to witnesses,” Gruntie said. “At least from what

homewrecker,” Grunt 2 pointed out, “Maybe it was a jealous boyfriend? It had to

be the Meta.” Zanbato crossed his arms.

Ryan more time to find the hockey equipment

you’re staying at a hotel right?” Jamie asked Ryan. “I think you should crash at my place for the

say,”

predicted. Jamie invited him home, they played poker, went to Vulcan’s factory, and Ryan

conscious mind entered when he couldn’t be bothered to live through the same events over and over

People held no mystery to him after a while, always reacting the same way to the exact same things; they forgot him and relearned the same information, over, and over

repetition would drive anyone

necessary suffering to reach the perfect ending and soon, it would finally end. Everything would turn right when Ryan found Len. He was certain

snapped him back to reality,

looping and repetition often eroded the Genome's perception of reality, especially when his

defeated on

Psyshock taken care

Thanks for the tip.

such

met Vulcan. The Augusti’s underboss froze the exact same way upon meeting him, and said the exact same

“You,” Pluto asked Quicksave.

Ryan answered, preparing to repeat the

“Have we met before?”

he didn’t expect that answer. “Possibly, I’m

Pluto replied, her tone turning from

still next to Ryan. The underboss’ mere attention terrified her into

“But I don’t

...

her power

wrong, boss?” Jamie joined the conversation, carefully

your

a hand on his shoulder. You speak to her when talked to, he all but said

trying to peer into his soul. The courier couldn’t explain why, but he felt a growing pressure around him. The air thickened, something

Pluto’s female bodyguard

didn’t seem convinced, her eyes set on Ryan. The courier whistled and looked away innocently, while Zanbato came to his defense. “Quicksave may be odd, but he is

asked Ryan, completely

he replied with mock reverence, alleviating the tension. “Ryan

now, but I will call you back soon

way she threatened him… No, wait, that wasn’t a threat. That was a

didn’t follow her order,

group watched the underboss leave with her bodyguard in complete silence until they were out of sight. Nobody dared to speak up at first, so Ryan broke the ice.

Lanka said, letting out a breath of relief. “Blabbermouth, what the fuck did

I do?!” Ryan replied, just as confused. “Or would you

woman is Pluto, Augustus’

Ki-jung said, her face

she even here?” Lanka asked her

clean-up since she’s been itching to test her new weapons in the field, and Pluto loaned her the Killer Seven hit squad. I say it’s finally time

with a frown. “To attack him in front of his own house… if you can’t feel safe at home

was just a guy

Jamie replied. “The Meta-Gang isn’t a big group. It would

events. It appeared Shroud had followed through with his promise and stopped targeting the

his entire infiltration mission, and he had to figure

he made

until Vulcan told him how to contact or reach Len. He didn’t have to stay with the Augusti longer than that. And if they tried to force him

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255