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.”

unable to resist the

freaking submarine with Mechron’s emblem on

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

beer while glancing at Ryan. “I called the Underdiver to investigate since she’s

now. She was probably busy

he completed his design and amplified the sound, turning the modest loudspeaker into a weapon of mass

his

and girls!” the courier shouted while raising his glass, his voice reverberating through the

colored spheres above the dance floor, one for each Elixir type. They floated near the ceiling and pulsated with energy, slowly shrinking

last?” Vulcan asked Lanka, more people started taking over the dance floor while the music switched to a catchy Synthwave

before turning to Narcinia.

“I help Father Torque

of heaven?” Ryan asked, immediately interested.

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

has always been my dream. If you need a drug wizard, I know all the

to make drugs?” Lanka asked, finishing her sixth

had spent… twenty years? At least twenty years trying every addictive substance on the planet except Elixirs, and when he ran out, he learned how to create his own supply.

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

relationship?” Ryan replied while brazenly putting his hand around her waist. Lanka looked at him as if expecting the courier

as good as you are,” Vulcan replied, without pushing his hand away.

talking about work or

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

her amusement turning into frustration. “Besides, you’ve got

at once, and that

doing his best impersonation of

glancing at the dance

say I’m amazing,

to the

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

good at?” Vulcan asked Ryan. He could feel her sweat on his fingers, her

chuckled in response, and Ryan may have smiled, if not for the unpleasant sensation of someone watching him from afar. A quick glance quickly told him

from the bar, her gaze first one of surprise, then confusion. She started asking questions to Sparrow nearby, and while Ryan could read lips, the

though.

“Fuck off!”

had sighted earlier during the party by the shirt, and looked ready to murder him. The guest carried a broken inhaler in

rules and

paralyzed

be taken either in liquid or gas form, and it was powerful enough to affect Genomes. It was also incredibly addictive, which Ryan could personally attest. He could never finish a run after trying it, and while he had only ever found one

the hidden, long-term

sight, since the Made Man was a tall brawler built like a bear. While he hadn’t manifested any laser weapons from his hands, the scowl of black fury on his face made it clear he was barely restraining himself. The contrast with his usual kindness made it all the

this angry when Luigi had exposed his infiltration in some

“But—”

Jamie snarled before throwing the Genomes backward, his tone turning venomous.

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

although she clearly didn’t

in a protective manner and then turned to Ryan when he and Vulcan approached

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

troubled girlfriend, then back at Ryan. “I think we will retire early. Can you

“Sure,” the courier said.

you not to do anything stupid?” Jamie asked,

not start any fires under this

noted but had more pressing matters on his mind. “Don’t burn

his back with the other. Jamie and Ki-jung moved upstairs, leaving the ground and main room to

high on your own

watch movies too.

the dance floor. “Quicksave.” The bodyguard cleared her throat. “Ms. Livia wants

tone shifting

know,” Sparrow replied. “But you can come if

happy about it, she didn’t seem willing