The Perfect Run

Chapter 21

All was well so far on the Augusti Path.

Ryan had met Zanbato as expected, beat up Sarin at the harbor, and now repeated the exact same conversation which would lead him to crash at Jamie’s house. All was well and good, to the sound of crashing waves against the piers...

“I have to be sure about something,” Luigi asked the courier. “Are you a snitch or a double agent?”

“Well, I’m not really on anyone’s side,” Ryan replied, but then his mouth acted on its own, “But I’m a Carnival infiltrator, yes.”

… or not.

Everyone present turned to look at him, a tense silence settling in. The grunts raised their weapons, while Zanbato’s face turned from shocked, to disappointed, and finally, to furious.

“Uh oh.”

Okay, two lessons learned.

One, Ryan hated truth-tellers. Hated them, with a passion.

Two, Zanbato could make sashimi out of people with his laser sword. Ryan wouldn’t look at sushi the same way ever again.

But this time… this time, it would be different. The courier had rehearsed the perfect misleading answers. Luigi's power compelled Ryan to say the truth, but only according to the teller’s exact words.

“I have to be sure about something,” Luigi asked him again. “Are you a snitch or a double agent?”

“I can’t snitch on a group I haven’t officially joined yet, and I am not a double agent.” Technically, he was a triple one.

“Are you a mole?”

“Of course I’m not a mole, I’m human.”

There! Saved! He did it, he did it!

“Okay, I should work on my wording,” Luigi sighed but didn’t give up. “Are you, or do you intend, to relay information about us to another organization?”

“Well, yes, I intend to. Hell, I already did!”

Goddammit!

Okay.

Okay, third time's the charm.

Through timing and intelligence, Ryan had skillfully navigated through the chain of causality to avoid the fated question. He had put on the charm, befriended everyone, distracted the grunts with funny anecdotes. Now, the courier and Zanbato prepared to return to the Plymouth Fury, and go eat some delicious pizzas.

“Hey, Quicksave,” Luigi asked, as they took a few steps towards the car. “Before you go, there are a few questions I must ask every new recruit.”

“Luigi, seriously, please, don’t do it,” Ryan replied, his eyes pleading. “For your sake, don’t say this. It won’t end well, I swear it won’t—”

“Sorry, protocol. Are you a snitch?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Yes, I am! Is that what you want me to say, Luigi? Is that what you want me to say?”

Quicksave breathed deeply, fighting off his rising frustration.

“Luigi,” Ryan pointed a finger at the truth-teller, as everyone raised their weapons at the courier's face. “We’re going to have a problem, you and I.”

“Where’s Luigi?” Zanbato asked Grunt 1 when the truth-teller failed to show up at the harbor, leaving only the henchmen to deal with the operation. “Wasn’t he supposed to take care of the shipment?”

“Sorry, he was attacked yesterday night,” Gruntie said, carrying Luigi’s cell phone. Apparently, he would have to fill in for the Made Man. “He’s at the hospital right now, and he’ll be out of commission for a while.”

“What?” The news shocked Jamie, who clearly hadn’t been informed. “By whom?”

with a hockey mask and

Ryan said absentmindedly, looking at the sea. “I don’t

door and then BAM! Some Friday the 13th crazy

almost chortled. “Why Luigi? Was it

even take his money,” Grunt 1 replied. “Maybe it was a

really, uh, passionate according to witnesses,” Gruntie said. “At least from what

2 pointed out, “Maybe

Zanbato crossed his arms. “But then how did they learn where he

find the hockey equipment than Luigi’s address. Nobody played

at a hotel right?” Jamie asked Ryan. “I think you should crash at my place for the night, just in case. The city isn’t

say,” Ryan

they played poker, went to Vulcan’s factory, and

his conscious mind entered when he couldn’t be bothered to live through the same events over and over again.

of causality. With a few exceptions, he constantly lived through an endless theater rehearsal. People held no mystery to him after a while, always reacting the

would drive

to reach the perfect ending and soon, it would finally end.

beeping snapped him back to

remember when and where he was when he snapped back to consciousness. Extensive looping

for Vulcan’s factory, the laying defeated on the ground. The message involved

Psyshock taken care of. Children are

Thanks for the tip.

such surprises,

to repeat until he met Vulcan. The Augusti’s

“You,” Pluto asked Quicksave.

preparing to repeat the same

“Have we met before?”

surprised Ryan, as he didn’t expect that answer. “Possibly,

already met,” Pluto replied, her tone

Lanka stood still next to Ryan. The underboss’

said. “But

...

shit! Did her power somehow mark

Jamie joined the conversation, carefully

your new recruit,

hand on his shoulder. You speak to her when talked to, he all but said out loud.

courier couldn’t explain why, but

alteration or infohazard,” Pluto’s female bodyguard pointed out. “Maybe your powers interfere

set on Ryan. The courier whistled and looked away innocently, while Zanbato came to his defense. “Quicksave may be

asked Ryan, completely dismissing Zanbato’s words. “Your real

Ryan!” he replied with mock reverence, alleviating the

now, but I will call you back soon to clear this up.

that wasn’t a threat. That

follow her order, he would die.

and his group watched the underboss leave with her bodyguard in complete silence until they were out of sight.

Lanka said, letting out a breath of relief. “Blabbermouth, what the fuck did you

just as confused. “Or would you

is Pluto, Augustus’ sister and underboss.

without question,” Ki-jung said, her face

here?” Lanka

go to hit the Meta-Gang hard,” Jamie replied, his arms crossed. “Vulcan will take command of the clean-up since she’s been itching to test her new weapons in the field, and Pluto loaned her the Killer Seven hit squad. I say it’s finally time we clean

Ki-jung said with a frown. “To attack him in front of his own house… if you can’t feel safe at

that though?” Lanka asked, skeptical. “I mean, it was just a guy with a hockey cross. It if was a Meta, there should have

“The Meta-Gang isn’t a big group. It

out the sequence of events. It appeared Shroud had followed through with his promise and stopped targeting the Augusti with assassinations. With no one to divert their attention, the

him would play out though. It could threaten his entire infiltration mission, and he had to figure out how she could

time he made progress, a new

matter. Ryan only had to play along until Vulcan told him how to contact or reach Len. He didn’t have to stay with the Augusti longer than

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