The Perfect Run

“When is the sound coming?” Lanka asked Ryan for the third time, an elbow on the loudspeaker.

“When you find me another brain,” Ryan replied, tinkering with the device. A few people had already taken over the dance floor, but the house’s equipment couldn’t support a true rave party. Seriously, Ki-jung needed to stop buying Dynamis home products. They were barely a cut above pre-Wars Chinese imports.

Actually, did buying the enemy's products count as collaboration?

“Stop distracting him,” Narcinia told Lanka, defending Ryan with such zeal that he considered making her his sidekick. The Green Genome was busy cultivating strange, phosphorescent mushrooms on the ground. She had promised it would help with the rave, and the courier let her run wild with her imagination.

Quicksave glanced at Mathias, who was talking with Fortuna and other members of the Killer Seven. Half an hour had passed since their conversation, and the house was now filled to the brim with guests.

“So, you’re adopted?” Ryan bluntly asked Narcinia. “Did you ever learn who your birth parents were?”

“Ryan!” Lanka snapped at him.

“They were raiders,” Narcinia replied, almost casually. “Father Torque said they were killers and rapists, and that Augustus punished them because it was divine justice.”

Ryan could have sworn the TV’s screen threatened to crack for a brief second. He glanced up at Mathias, whose smile contrasted with the icy look in his eyes.

“Sorry,” Lanka said, glaring at the courier. Thankfully, the power outburst had been subtle enough for her to miss it. “Blabbermouth has no tact at all.”

“It’s okay!” Narcinia replied with a cute smile. “My real family is the one that raised me. My mom and dad are awesome, and my siblings even more so.”

“I was adopted too, but it sucked,” Ryan said with a shrug. “Well, half of it.”

“Really?” Narcinia’s head perked up in interest, while Lanka listened in silence.

“My parents died when bandits wiped out our community to steal our supplies,” Ryan said. It had been so long ago, it had lost almost all emotional effect. “I was… eleven I think? Maybe twelve. And I turned out great!”

“Ryan.” Lanka’s voice had lost all playfulness. “Did these bandits...”

Ryan glanced at the snake tattoo on her arm, that of her former gang. “You weren’t among them and they’re all dead,” the courier replied with a shrug. “I’m over it.”

Lanka fell silent with a thoughtful look on her face, while Narcinia looked between them in confusion. Thankfully, a newcomer interrupted them before the mood turned even more awkward.

Ryan almost didn’t recognize Vulcan at first sight, because the Genius had cleaned herself up; she had traded her usual clothes for a black halter-top and pants, and let her hair fall down on her shoulders. While she was no head-turning beauty, the Augusti Capo looked great.

He really had a thing for Geniuses shorter than him.

“Ceres, Sphere.” Vulcan smirked upon seeing the courier. “Ryan.”

“Hey, my favorite arms dealer,” Ryan rejoiced, raising a screwdriver. “Your arrival is just perfect.”

“Always,” she replied, a hand on her waist. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Do you have anything to boost the sound?” Ryan asked. “I’m trying to jury-rig the loudspeakers, but I need more juice.”

“Now you’re talking my language,” Vulcan said, searching inside her pocket and tossing him some kind of mouse-sized battery. “It’s a mini-generator.”

“Why do you carry that in your pocket?” Lanka asked, an eyebrow raised.

“‘Cause my phone has less autonomy than a sloth,” the Genius replied with a shrug, before grabbing a beer can from Lanka’s personal reserve. “It’s been an exhausting day.”

“Did you kill the Meta?” Narcinia asked before Ryan could.

“Almost, but Dynamis got to them first. Fucking kill stealers.”

“What, they tried to buy them off?” Lanka snickered.

“With bullets and lasers,” Vulcan replied. “They sent three armored squadrons, plus heavy hitters like Devilry and that bitch Wyvern. Those vultures fell on the Meta and opened fire on sight.”

Oh, was there gas in their alliance? “Well, I guess it was time to clean up loose ends,” Ryan said.

“Adam didn’t look surprised. He sacrificed a few men, but he managed to escape on a goddamn submarine.”

immediately asked, unable to resist the lure of undersea

a freaking submarine with Mechron’s

playful mood. Lanka toyed with her smoke, a frown forming on her

get the feeling the situation is more complicated than it looks.” Vulcan sipped her beer while glancing at Ryan. “I called the

Len had crossed Ryan’s mind, but he was wary of involving her now. She was probably busy with all the orphans, no need to add more pressure on her

the modest loudspeaker into a weapon of mass destruction. As if to answer

for his drink, Ryan cleared his

his voice reverberating through the

type. They floated near the ceiling and pulsated with energy, slowly shrinking while they

long do they last?” Vulcan asked Lanka, more people started taking over the dance floor while the music switched to

if nobody touches them,” Lanka said, before turning to Narcinia. “Nice trick with the mushrooms.

replied. “I help Father Torque open

Ryan asked, immediately interested. “Are

“Sorry Ryan, I’m not supposed to say anything about

Ryan declared, pumping his fist. “Building a South American cartel has always been my dream. If you need a drug wizard, I know all the good recipes. Meth, cocaine, heroin, opium, doesn’t matter, just give me

know how to make drugs?” Lanka asked,

every addictive substance on the planet except Elixirs, and when he ran out, he learned how to create his own supply. His drug cartel phase had been quite enjoyable actually, even if the

abandon that childhood dream, Ryan.” Vulcan brazenly put an arm

hand around her waist. Lanka looked at him as if expecting

ain’t finding anyone half as good as you are,” Vulcan replied, without pushing his hand away.

about work or

said, clearly eager to meet Ryan again. “Father Torque says

amusement turning

everywhere at once, and that he

his best impersonation of a kitten’s

eyes, before glancing at the dance floor. “You

say I’m amazing, then I’m being

to the test,

that Vulcan didn’t have much experience, but Ryan had mastered every dance under the sun, so he guided them through. Mathias also danced with Fortuna, and the glass manipulator seemed to enjoy it a bit more than he would

anything you aren’t good at?” Vulcan asked Ryan. He

not for the unpleasant sensation of someone watching him from afar.

her gaze first one of surprise, then confusion. She started asking questions to

mysterious woman’s attention though. It must have been his magnetic

“Fuck off!”

fire-manipulator whom Ryan had sighted earlier during the party by the shirt, and looked ready to murder him.

rules

with a pale face, shaking. She seemed paralyzed and unable to say

Genomes. It was also incredibly addictive, which Ryan could personally attest. He could never finish a

the hidden,

looked murderous. It was not a pretty sight, since the Made Man was a tall brawler built like a bear. While he hadn’t manifested any laser weapons from his

only ever seen him this angry when

“But—”

the Genomes backward, his tone turning venomous.

and moved towards the door with a cowed face and his inhaler. “It’s okay?” Jamie immediately asked his girlfriend, his frightful face softening

although she clearly didn’t mean it. “It’s fine.

protective manner and then turned to Ryan

entrance. “I’ll discipline that idiot, Zanbato. You got my word on

his troubled girlfriend, then back at Ryan. “I think we will retire early. Can you and Lanka take care of the guests in

“Sure,” the courier said.

do

not start

more pressing matters on his mind. “Don’t burn down the

other. Jamie and Ki-jung moved upstairs, leaving the ground and main room to the guests. “I didn’t know Chitter was a recovering addict,” Vulcan noted, showing surprising insight. “I’m glad

your own

movies too. Maybe I’ll

floor. “Quicksave.”

her tone

don’t know,” Sparrow replied. “But you

exchanged a glance, and while the Genius clearly wasn’t happy about it, she didn’t seem willing to deny the request either. That Livia