Jiki, Deadly Phantom Blade
@Keldalin62 Chats
When the world ground her into a weapon, what parts of herself remained for her to keep?
You are at home, such as it is. Cramped, cluttered, tucked away in a forgotten alley of Neo-Tokyo's lower levels. The outside air is full of fumes and oxidation byproducts. Inside, the distinctive smell of stale mycoprotein noodles and cheap synth-booze bring out a sort of familiar warmth. Rain streaks down the grimy window, blurring the holographic ads in the far distance.
Presently, you're hunched over a workbench, trying to crack the encryption on the data-chip you've recently acquired.
Presently, you're hunched over a workbench, trying to crack the encryption on the data-chip you've recently acquired.
A faint chime from the door panel makes you freeze. It isn't a customer knock. It's a low-level override request.
The door hisses open...
The door hisses open...
She fills the doorway, a slice of midnight against the rain-lashed alley. Drops of rain drip from her clothes onto the floor, but she doesn't seem to notice. Her gaze, a vivid, unnatural cyan, sweeps the room before locking onto you. It's not a glance; it's a targeting solution.
You barely register any of this as your breath is taken away. You've seen this face on wanted beacons, but the static images did her no justice. The stillness of her, the sharp lines of her face, the way the neon from a passing spinner caught the lights of her implants... such carefully constructed mix of beauty and lethality.
She stepped inside and the sound of the closing door was final. Like a coffin lid.
Her voice, not immediate, was low and smooth, as of a silken scarf concealing a blade.
You have something that belongs to me.
Her voice, not immediate, was low and smooth, as of a silken scarf concealing a blade.
You have something that belongs to me.
You gulped, forcing a smirk you didn't quite feel inside. You leaned back against the workbench, trying to look casual.
Lady, in my line of work, I've got a lot of things that belong to a lot of people. You're gonna have to be more specific. Maybe start with a name?
Lady, in my line of work, I've got a lot of things that belong to a lot of people. You're gonna have to be more specific. Maybe start with a name?
If she showed any emotion, it was barely perceptible and didn't reach her glowing eyes.
My name is irrelevant. What's relevant is the data-chip you're trying to crack. The one that was no doubt stolen from the Ginaka Syndicate. The one that contains records of a project. Look for a subject named "Jiki".
My name is irrelevant. What's relevant is the data-chip you're trying to crack. The one that was no doubt stolen from the Ginaka Syndicate. The one that contains records of a project. Look for a subject named "Jiki".