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,

said absentmindedly,

late for a party, you know, perfectly normal, he starts opening his home’s door and then BAM! Some Friday the 13th crazy jumps out of the shadows, breaks his jaw

almost chortled. “Why Luigi? Was

Grunt 1

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

2 pointed out, “Maybe it was a jealous boyfriend? It

it could be the Meta.” Zanbato crossed his arms. “But then how did they learn

more time to find the hockey equipment than Luigi’s address. Nobody played that sport

asked Ryan. “I think you should crash at my place for the

don’t say,”

him home, they played

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

exceptions, he constantly lived through an endless theater rehearsal. People held no mystery to him after a while, always reacting the same way to the exact

would

necessary suffering to reach the perfect ending and soon, it would finally end. Everything would

him back to reality, interrupting the flow

and where he was when he snapped back to consciousness. Extensive looping and repetition often eroded the Genome's perception of reality, especially when his power noticed an alteration in his

for Vulcan’s factory, the laying defeated on the ground. The message involved

care of.

Thanks for the tip.

for such surprises,

expected events to repeat until he met Vulcan. The Augusti’s

“You,” Pluto asked Quicksave.

answered, preparing to repeat the same

“Have we met before?”

Ryan, as he didn’t expect that answer.

her tone turning from curious to confused. “Who are

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

Pluto said. “But I

...

shit! Did her power somehow mark him across

joined the conversation, carefully

your

to joke when Jamie invaded his personal space, putting a hand on his shoulder. You speak to her when talked to, he all but said out loud. “Quicksave,” Zanbato answered Pluto’s question in

to peer into his soul. The courier couldn’t explain why, but he

a memory alteration or infohazard,” Pluto’s female bodyguard pointed out. “Maybe your powers interfere with each other

eyes set on Ryan. The courier whistled and looked away innocently, while Zanbato came to his defense. “Quicksave may be odd, but he is reliable,” the Made Man said. “He helped us fight

Quicksave?” she asked Ryan, completely dismissing Zanbato’s words.

he replied with mock reverence, alleviating the tension. “Ryan Romano. I’m immortal, but don’t

replied coldly. “I’ve got places to be right now, but I will call you back soon

way she threatened him… No, wait, that

follow her order, he would die.

in complete silence until they were out of sight. Nobody dared to speak up at first, so Ryan broke the ice. “So, who’s up for

of relief. “Blabbermouth, what the fuck did you

replied, just as confused. “Or would you

Quicksave,” Jamie said. “That woman is Pluto, Augustus’ sister and underboss. Her interest is not

lead without question,” Ki-jung said, her face full of concern,

here?” Lanka asked her team

his arms crossed. “Vulcan will take command of the clean-up since she’s been itching to test her new weapons in the

Ki-jung said with a frown. “To attack him

just a guy

replied. “The Meta-Gang isn’t a big group. It would make sense for

and stopped targeting the Augusti with assassinations. With no one to divert

infiltration

he made

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 into one

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