The Perfect Run

“When is the sound coming?” Lanka asked Ryan for the third time, an elbow on the loudspeaker.

“When you find me another brain,” Ryan replied, tinkering with the device. A few people had already taken over the dance floor, but the house’s equipment couldn’t support a true rave party. Seriously, Ki-jung needed to stop buying Dynamis home products. They were barely a cut above pre-Wars Chinese imports.

Actually, did buying the enemy's products count as collaboration?

“Stop distracting him,” Narcinia told Lanka, defending Ryan with such zeal that he considered making her his sidekick. The Green Genome was busy cultivating strange, phosphorescent mushrooms on the ground. She had promised it would help with the rave, and the courier let her run wild with her imagination.

Quicksave glanced at Mathias, who was talking with Fortuna and other members of the Killer Seven. Half an hour had passed since their conversation, and the house was now filled to the brim with guests.

“So, you’re adopted?” Ryan bluntly asked Narcinia. “Did you ever learn who your birth parents were?”

“Ryan!” Lanka snapped at him.

“They were raiders,” Narcinia replied, almost casually. “Father Torque said they were killers and rapists, and that Augustus punished them because it was divine justice.”

Ryan could have sworn the TV’s screen threatened to crack for a brief second. He glanced up at Mathias, whose smile contrasted with the icy look in his eyes.

“Sorry,” Lanka said, glaring at the courier. Thankfully, the power outburst had been subtle enough for her to miss it. “Blabbermouth has no tact at all.”

“It’s okay!” Narcinia replied with a cute smile. “My real family is the one that raised me. My mom and dad are awesome, and my siblings even more so.”

“I was adopted too, but it sucked,” Ryan said with a shrug. “Well, half of it.”

“Really?” Narcinia’s head perked up in interest, while Lanka listened in silence.

“My parents died when bandits wiped out our community to steal our supplies,” Ryan said. It had been so long ago, it had lost almost all emotional effect. “I was… eleven I think? Maybe twelve. And I turned out great!”

“Ryan.” Lanka’s voice had lost all playfulness. “Did these bandits...”

Ryan glanced at the snake tattoo on her arm, that of her former gang. “You weren’t among them and they’re all dead,” the courier replied with a shrug. “I’m over it.”

Lanka fell silent with a thoughtful look on her face, while Narcinia looked between them in confusion. Thankfully, a newcomer interrupted them before the mood turned even more awkward.

Ryan almost didn’t recognize Vulcan at first sight, because the Genius had cleaned herself up; she had traded her usual clothes for a black halter-top and pants, and let her hair fall down on her shoulders. While she was no head-turning beauty, the Augusti Capo looked great.

He really had a thing for Geniuses shorter than him.

“Ceres, Sphere.” Vulcan smirked upon seeing the courier. “Ryan.”

“Hey, my favorite arms dealer,” Ryan rejoiced, raising a screwdriver. “Your arrival is just perfect.”

“Always,” she replied, a hand on her waist. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Do you have anything to boost the sound?” Ryan asked. “I’m trying to jury-rig the loudspeakers, but I need more juice.”

“Now you’re talking my language,” Vulcan said, searching inside her pocket and tossing him some kind of mouse-sized battery. “It’s a mini-generator.”

“Why do you carry that in your pocket?” Lanka asked, an eyebrow raised.

“‘Cause my phone has less autonomy than a sloth,” the Genius replied with a shrug, before grabbing a beer can from Lanka’s personal reserve. “It’s been an exhausting day.”

“Did you kill the Meta?” Narcinia asked before Ryan could.

“Almost, but Dynamis got to them first. Fucking kill stealers.”

“What, they tried to buy them off?” Lanka snickered.

“With bullets and lasers,” Vulcan replied. “They sent three armored squadrons, plus heavy hitters like Devilry and that bitch Wyvern. Those vultures fell on the Meta and opened fire on sight.”

Oh, was there gas in their alliance? “Well, I guess it was time to clean up loose ends,” Ryan said.

“Adam didn’t look surprised. He sacrificed a few men, but he managed to escape on a goddamn submarine.”

to resist

submarine with Mechron’s

Genius’ name instantly killed the playful mood. Lanka toyed with her smoke, a frown forming on her face.

get the feeling the situation is more complicated than it looks.” Vulcan sipped her beer while glancing at Ryan. “I

mind, but he was wary of involving her now. She was probably busy with all the

sound, turning the modest loudspeaker into a weapon of mass destruction. As if to answer his success, Narcinia’s mushrooms unleashed a faint colored mist onto the dance floor, instantly grabbing

his screwdriver for his drink, Ryan cleared

courier shouted while raising his glass, his

above the dance floor, one for each Elixir type. They floated near the ceiling and pulsated with energy, slowly shrinking while

last?” Vulcan asked Lanka, more people started taking over the dance floor while the music switched to a

if nobody touches them,” Lanka said, before turning to Narcinia. “Nice trick with the mushrooms. What’s your job

replied. “I help Father Torque

kind of heaven?” Ryan asked, immediately

Ryan, I’m not supposed to say anything

American cartel has always been my dream. If you need a drug wizard, I

make drugs?” Lanka asked, finishing

the planet except Elixirs, and when he ran out, he learned how to create his own supply. His drug

brazenly put an arm around his shoulder. “You’ve got

open relationship?” Ryan replied while brazenly putting his hand around her waist. Lanka

as you are,” Vulcan replied, without pushing

talking about work

eager to meet Ryan again. “Father Torque

Vulcan replied, her amusement turning into frustration. “Besides,

at once, and that he may

Ryan asked Vulcan, doing his best impersonation of a kitten’s

at the dance floor. “You know

I say I’m amazing, then

boast to the test,

much experience, but Ryan had mastered every dance under the sun, so he guided them through. Mathias also danced with Fortuna, and the glass manipulator seemed to

asked Ryan. He could

response, and Ryan may have smiled, if not for the unpleasant sensation of someone

her gaze first one of surprise, then confusion. She started asking questions to Sparrow nearby, and while Ryan could read

mysterious woman’s attention though. It must have been his magnetic

“Fuck off!”

swordsman had grabbed a fire-manipulator whom Ryan had sighted earlier during the party by the shirt, and looked ready to

one idiot had ignored Jamie’s rules and

shaking. She seemed paralyzed and unable

Genomes. It was also incredibly addictive, which Ryan could personally attest. He could never finish a run after trying it, and while he had only ever found one way to cure

the hidden, long-term

since the Made Man was a tall brawler built like a bear. While he hadn’t manifested any laser weapons from his hands, the scowl of black fury on his face made it clear he was barely restraining himself. The contrast with his usual kindness made it all

Ryan had only ever seen him this angry when Luigi had exposed

“But—”

before throwing the Genomes backward, his

the door with a cowed face and his inhaler. “It’s okay?” Jamie immediately asked his girlfriend, his frightful face softening back into a kind

although she clearly didn’t mean it. “It’s fine. It’s

waist in a protective manner and then turned to Ryan when he and Vulcan approached the couple. “Sorry for the

at the house’s entrance. “I’ll discipline that idiot, Zanbato. You got my word

you.” Jamie looked at his troubled girlfriend, then back at Ryan. “I think we will retire early. Can you and Lanka take care of

“Sure,” the courier said.

to do anything stupid?” Jamie

will not start any fires

more pressing matters

with one hand and crossed his fingers behind his back with the other. Jamie and Ki-jung moved upstairs, leaving the ground and main room to the

get high on your own

She smirked at his surprised face. “I watch movies too. Maybe I’ll show you a

return to the dance floor. “Quicksave.” The bodyguard cleared

what?” Vulcan asked, her tone shifting from flirtatious to

“But you can

happy about it, she didn’t seem willing to deny the request either. That Livia clearly had sway