Five more minutes until the prescription. Doing things by the book did suck tonight.
She went to the window. Two blocks away, the Your Better Life building dominated the night sky, its DNA shape making it one of the most distinct buildings in the city. Working in that building had given her a better life, the life she and her parents planned for her since she was a little girl. And while it was planned, she still had to work her ass off to get it. There might have been some luck along the way, but that luck came from hard work. She deserved this life. She wanted it. Was she really willing to take a chance on throwing it all away because of some sense of guilt or loyalty to an old friend?
On the horizon, behind the Your Better Life building, the city lights glowed a different hue. The Galleria and its surrounding area. She had never paid much attention to the difference in the light, but it was there, dimmer, warmer, more colorful, more chaotic. A hovercar passed outside the window, its lights causing her reflection to block the image.
“Shit,” she said aloud.
What was she letting herself get into?
Chapter 12
After Xia left, Jacob sat at Commie Cup for an hour. Partially because he wanted to put some time between them, and partially because he was preparing himself to message Johnson for a meeting. One way or another, his life would change as soon as he told Johnson he was in. For better or for worse, he didn’t know, but he knew when he got in that armored sedan and shut the door, he was shutting the door on his life up to that point. He surprised himself at how calm he was. Maybe Johnson had been right about his desperation. He had felt trapped. And not just these last three years. Hadn’t he done everything before that, going on a peace mission, going corporate, because that is what everyone was supposed to do? Get an education, a corporate job, live happily ever after. Go down the road laid out for you because it leads to happiness. Just do what we tell you and how we tell you and when we tell you and you get to live the American Dream.
This deal with Johnson wasn’t much better. He was still going down a road laid out for him. How was Johnson any different from corporations or society or whoever built that other road? But if this job went the way he hoped it would, he could build his own road for the first time in his life. That freedom was worth the risks, and having that promise of freedom gave Jacob a slight sense of empowerment, of confidence. It was faint, but it was there, ready to grow. On some level, it sounded ridiculous to him, but he felt it.
After an hour, Jacob said goodbye to Ivan, put on his glasses and mask and stepped outside. Sunglasses at night were a bit cliché, and he hated wearing the mask, but it was a luxury of his freedom. While he was on probation he wasn’t allowed to wear a mask. Freedom or not, he didn’t like the feeling of his breath on his face, but it was necessary. Especially now. He didn’t want the facial recognition cameras identifying him when he met with Johnson. Johnson may have the protection of a nanotech suit, but he didn’t.
He stopped a few feet outside the door of Commie Cup and messaged Johnson, using the number he had given him the night before. There was a small park a few blocks away. He told Johnson to meet him there and started down the brightly lit street. He sat on a bench looking at the Your Better Life building in the night skyline, thinking about his short time working there when he saw the armored sedan pull up to the curb. He got up and headed to the car. As he neared the driver's side the back door opened. He took a deep breath and climbed in.
“Mr. Quince,” Johnson said, “I hope you are having a wonderful evening.”
Jacob took off the mask and glasses. “It’s a nice night for a walk in the park. A bit chilly, but nice.”
“Indeed.” Johnson leaned forward and pressed a button to speak to the driver. “You know where Mr. Quince lives.” He turned to Jacob. “A drink?”
“Not tonight. I’ve got some planning to do.”
Johnson smiled. “So your answer is yes?”
“It is.”
“Your associates are also taking part?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.” He took out his phone, tapping the screen a few times. “You will find that forty thousand credits have been transferred to your account in several small transactions,” he said placing the phone on the seat between them.
Jacob took out his phone and logged on to his account.
“I assure you it is all there.”
“Can’t blame a guy for checking, can you?”
“Of course not.”
Satisfied with the transfer, Jacob put his phone in his pocket. “So how do we go from here?”
“Yes, the logistics are important. As I have said, the acquisition of the goods must take place before Your Better Life announces the new chip.”
“Within six weeks, I know,” Jacob said. “What about before that?”
“I think it would be a good idea for you to report regularly with updates.”
“Done.” Jacob thought for a moment. “Maybe I will take that drink, after all.”
Johnson began to get the drink.
“I do have a question or two,” Jacob said, deciding to draw on the
