otsu

I saw the list of movies above... Seems you really like the old Cyberpunk Genre. So here is a story you may like

Currency

Oldtimer, they called him. He was thirty three years old. In the Zone he was an oldtimer. He was down on his luck. His partner nearly got iced. He was still in the hospital. Already one week longer than the doc said in the first place. Something about complications, and the rest had been med-talk. You dont let your partner down. He had raised six grant for the hospital from some small-time fixer. That guy seemed to want his money back, urgent. Yesterday he had someone deliver this message with a club. The messenger did not listen when he told him that he always paid back and that it would just take a little longer this time. A bad move.
A boy ran into Oldtimer and pushed two fingers into his side. A nice move. Oldtimer knew that boy. One of the Cockroaches, friends of Oldtimer, and the fingers were a warning. So two guys were following him. This was the Zone, but the Zone is not as dead as some beavers think. During the day the bigger streets are rather crowded. Still it took Oldtimer not too long to spot these two. They were not of the subtle kind. He must have been sleepwalking, not to spot them earlier. Bad habit - can get you killed. The way they were pushing through the crowd they were closing pretty fast. If he started shooting now, he could get away in the panic he would be causing. He would not start shooting in a crowd. It was too messy. That was a lie. He didnt want any bystanders to get shot. Conscience - can get you killed. He ducked and slipped into a side-alley. They two guys were already close behind him. He had no time left to look for cover. He ran. One turn and he had to realize that he was caught in a dead end. Know the streets and know always were you are. Not knowing the streets can get you killed. He whirled round and started shooting real wild. Well he wanted to be shooting real wild. He was not good with a gun that was why he was carrying an old 9mm Stechkin pistol. It had twenty shots. Only this time it did shoot just once and jammed. The casing had ripped open inside the chamber. Never buy old Russian ammo, especially when the dealer says it was a bargain out of old Egypt army supplies. Bad ammo - can get you killed. On the other hand he was lucky and that one bullet did hit. It dropped the guy. The bullet went through his head and killed him instantly. The other one had a fully automatic polymer gun. A dangerous weapon for both sides. These toys have the bad habit of melting when used in full auto mode. Oldtimer knew for sure that he was dead. The one sure thing in life might be death, but its time is mainly left to powers unknown. Oldtimer's opponent could see that Oldtimers gun was jammed. He said, I kill ya my way.", and put down his gun to draw a pair of monoblades. He advanced slowly, but was whirling his blades real fast. It looked really impressive and the monoblades being of the kind that glows from within it was very flashy too. What the guy really needed was a mirror. Oldtimer unsheathed his old Bowie, the size of a short sword. He seemed slow. He let the other one a little more time to show off. Giving the boy some chance to realize how slow this old man was. Then Oldtimer made his move with lightning speed. He was not boosted by drugs or cybernetics. He was just guided by years of experience and the know-how that comes with them. His strike seemed to be aimed at the others face. The boy brought by instinct both of his blades up to parry. He helped Oldtimer to achieve what he wanted. The stroke was meant to shatter the kids monoblades - it did. Oldtimer did not wait for the other to recover from his shock. One kick just beneath the knee and the boy was getting down on the same knee. Oldtimer past him turned and kicked at his back. The boy was flat on his face. A moment of hesitation conscience struggling with better knowledge. Conscience losing. A final kick at the others neck. Over.
Oldtimer picked up his gun and left the place. A thought crossed his mind. Never show off. Just fight. Showing off - will get you killed. He did not know, exactly how much the loan shark had invested in sending these two after him, but the investment would sure pay off. Oldtimer whipped out his cell phone, grinning. He called Mortimer. Mortimers business is to be a full-time vulture. He told him of two bodies, mostly intact. One was missing insignificantly in the brain department; the other one had only a broken neck. They were still warm, but he did not know their chrome to flesh ratio or how juiced up on pharm they were. Well, bodies are just parts and parts are currency. With some luck he might be able to pay off the debt after all. On the street you often paid in blood, question is it yours or someone elses. He knew from the beginning, that it had not been very bright to accrue a debt with this oily loan shark, but his buddy had been in need. Loyalty is a currency too. It is rare and he treasured it, both ways.

Why thank you! I get next week off so this week shouldn't be TOO bad...I hope.