Echo In the Machine - Chapter 12
An expanded tale written from prompts while playing ECO MOFOS!!
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CHAPTER 12: A PASSAGE TAX
It was a narrow passage, barely wide enough for the cart. Low ceiling. Exposed piping. It twisted just enough to kill any sense of direction. You could hear muffled activity outside, but couldn’t make out any of it. Siren moved like she’d done this a hundred times. I just tried to keep the cart from banging into the walls.
“Where does this go?” I asked quietly.
“Cuts out all the headaches,” she said. “It avoids the main routes.”
We walked in silence after that. Just the sound of the cart wheels rattling over uneven metal. The further we went, the more it felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. Then the passage ended to a door similar to the one we entered. Siren slowed.
“Act normal,” she muttered as she opened the door.
The room beyond was bright. Not warm, just… lit, compared to the passage. Six Corpos sat scattered around like this was some sort of break room. Metal tables, mismatched chairs, cups and trays left wherever. Their weapons leaned against the walls and chairs without any worry. No one really moved when we walked in. They’d obviously seen this before.
A couple of them glanced up, then back to what they were doing. One guy that was leaning back in his chair, boots up on the table, watched us with a grin.
Siren didn’t hesitate.
“Hey Viper,” she said, casual as anything. “Just moving through.”
He didn’t answer right away. He just looked me over, then the cart and droid. He smiled wider.
“Well sure,” he said. “You can move through… as long as you give me somethin’ for the privilege.”
He swung his boots down and stood up. He was too relaxed for his own good, with his pierced nose and thin frame.
Siren sighed. “C’mon, Viper. Don’t be a dick.”
“I’m not,” he chuckled, hands spreading like he was offended. “I’m being reasonable. This is a shared space. Punks like you, Corpos like us… and we share here.”
His eyes slid to me.
“And you brought a guest. He should participate in the sharing too.”
I didn’t like the way he said that.
Siren stepped forward slightly. “Dude, we’re on a timeline. Don’t make this a thing.”
Viper tilted his head, his smile turning a shade more sinister. “Everything’s a thing.”
His buddies started paying more attention now. One of them stood. Then another. This was turning. There were six of them. All armed. No way this ended clean if it suddenly got loud.
“What about this?” I said, stepping forward just enough to shift the focus.
I reached into my pack and pulled out the tube. The map. Viper’s eyes flicked to it immediately.
“…what’s that?”
“Something I picked up in the wilderness out east,” I said, keeping my tone easy. I cracked it open just enough to slide the rolled paper halfway out.
His grin sharpened.
“A map?” he said. “What’s it lead to?”
I shrugged. “Haven’t had the time to chase it down. But stuff like this?” I tapped the tube lightly. “Doesn’t usually point to nothing.”
One of the others leaned in. “Lemme see that.”
Viper lifted his hand and pushed his buddy back.
“I got it,” he said, with his eyes still on me.
He stepped closer. “Treasure map, huh?” he asked, amused.
“I don’t know, but I’d call it a solid lead,” I said. “After I take trade on this droid, I planned to check it out.”
Viper looked intrigued. He took the tube slowly, turning it in his hands like he was weighing it. Then…
He barked a laugh and slapped me on the back hard enough to jolt me forward.
“Man, I like you,” he said. “You got some nuts on ya.”
That wasn’t comforting. He tucked the tube under his arm and seemingly was ushering us out but then his expression shifted.
“Oh… gonna need your Juice too.”
Siren stepped in immediately. “Viper, the map is enough, dontcha think?”
Viper didn’t even look at her, his eyes stayed on me.
“Five,” he said. “Seems about right.”
Behind him, his buddies started to spread out, making sure we knew we weren’t going anywhere without completing the transaction.
I stared at him. He stared back.
For a second time, I thought about it. Is there any way at all we get out of this alive if I don’t give him what he wants? We were deep inside their world now and this was how it worked.
“No problem,” I said as I reached into my pack slowly.
I pulled out the Juice. All five shots. All I had left.
Held them there for a second then handed them over. Viper took them with a satisfied nod.
“See?” he said. “We’re all sharing now.”
He gave me one more look, then he jerked his head toward the door. His buddies moved aside.
“Go on,” he said. “Run along and do your little scrap trade.”
A thin smile pulled at his mouth. “Bye bye, Siren.”
I grabbed the cart and started moving. Siren fell in behind me, quiet. One of his buddies opened the door for us with a mock bow.
I kept pushing the cart for a few steps before I spoke.
“Real smooth system they got here.”
Siren didn’t answer right away.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “You get used to it. It’s their place. Their rules.”
I glanced back once. The door had shut behind us like nothing had happened. I faced forward again and kept walking.
CHAPTER 11 - THE GATE | CHAPTER 13 - EIGHTEEN HOURS AND COUNTING
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