Neon Haze: Snakes and Roses

by Chris Sherrit

  “Give me a second” Jimmy says, pulling his arm display up and interfacing it with the computer. The green of his arm occasionally gradating red, the small Leistung logo in his display flickering, not knowing which logo to display. He twitches violently, gripping his arm as the shock singes the hairs on it.

  “You ok?” asks Dixon.

  “I’m good, they’ve got some nasty protection on this computer.” He rattles away on the keyboard some more and a couple of the stacks of files disappear. Zooming in on one of them Jimmy smiles.

  “I’ve got her personal files here, let’s see. Schedule, business contacts, personal emails. Ah ha! Got it, her login for her shuttle.” Jimmy says as a buzzing can be faintly heard. One of the windows parts from its frame and slides upwards. As it does so, a platform approaches, creeping out from a floor below and moving up to the open window. Resting on the platform sits a black shuttle, different to the previous shuttle they had encountered, this one gleamed a shining red. Black stripes frame its outline and a darker red forms an understated logo.

  Dixon looks it up and down, clearly designed for a smooth fast ride, he is excited to get into it. A little luxury is always nice when hunting down the man who killed your ex-wife. He turns to Jimmy and motions him to join.

  “Wow, wait a second” Jimmy’s eyes nearly explode as he looks at the display. A mixture of video and documents displaying in unison. “Dixon, look at this”. Dixon runs over and Jimmy restarts the video and pushes the volume up. A woman’s face shows on the display while she adjusts the camera she is recording with.

  “Hello, my name is Abena Boro,” she says in a charming African accent.

  “Hey, she’s the girl who discovered the GID, right?” Dixon asks, Jimmy nods.

  “I am currently working at the Halo research lab in Massachusetts, I’ve discovered what I think is something quite interesting.” Her face lighting up with excitement. “My team and I have found a hidden gene within human DNA. Our tests are still in the early stages but its potential seems quite astounding. If we are correct, we may be able to make a huge leap forward in medicine.” The display cuts to static and then back to another recording, Jimmy fast forwards through a few videos of Abena, gaining excitement and flashing a bigger and bigger smile each time.

  “Medicine? GIDs are basically nature’s guidance councillor” Dixon says, confused. Jimmy plays the last video on the file.

  “It’s been two years. We’ve finished the majority of our tests and sent the results up to Halo top brass.” Faint discussion can be heard in the background, some of it happy, some of it cautious and mixed with hushed tones. “We’ve been told from management that we are receiving full funding to take this further. We’ll all have bigger salaries and be able to get more specialised equipment…” She leans in closer to the camera as she looks back, checking that her staff are still talking amongst themselves and not listening in.

  “The thing is, I also caught wind that they don’t want to use the gene how we’ve intended. Those marketing poison tongues have got to Tom Sutcliffe and convinced him that they can rebrand it as a predictor of people’s potential.” She furrows her brow. “I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. We’ve found a way to predict with almost supernatural accuracy any hereditary diseases. Hell, from that alone we’ve managed to pull out cures for three different cancers. This gene is like a recipe book for medicine. Now they want to lock it all up and call it something else?” Her voice grows louder, one of her staff notices. Abena turns to her as she approaches and begins to chat, the video cuts. Jimmy turns to Dixon with an expression of pure surprise.

  “What? She found a…“Dixon cuts himself off, the two of them looking off into space in shock.

  “What happened to her?” Dixon asks. Jimmy slowly turns back to the file and skims through the document.

  “She was removed from the facility for ‘debriefing’ and the team was disbanded throughout the globe. They’ll probably all be dead by now though, I’d assume”, says Jimmy.

  Dixon’s eyes sift through space as he thinks. “Grab those files, we’re going to need them. We’re taking the shuttle, you think you can get a track on where Sutcliffe might have gone?”

  “Yang had his contact details, we can get tracking from that”. Jimmy says, pulling the contact details from the display in his arm. They run to the shuttle, Jimmy taps on his arm and the doors part like a mouth opening. Sitting down inside Dixon looks at the pilot seat.

  “You know how to fly this thing?”

  “Don’t need to, I can set the autopilot for it. We’ll coast along in the clouds to Halo HQ. Nobody will spot us until we’re stepping out of this thing”. Jimmy says, flicking data from his arm to the console display in the cockpit. He shows his arm to Dixon. A beacon highlights on a map of the city, positioned over the Halo headquarters a small tag springs off of it. “Tom Sutcliffe – Halo CEO”.

  Chapter 26

  Stealthily soaring across the sky, hidden in a cloud of concealment, Dixon tightens the bindings on his arm and admires the craftsmanship. A black gauntlet with inlays of gold, all of it wrapping around the gauntlet in a tapestry of cherry blossom trees. He shakes his head, doing his best to laugh at the irony.

  “Want another replacement?” Jimmy asks.

  “As long as it isn’t anything from Halo” Dixon chuckles.

  “Two hands lost in a week. That’s got to be an achievement.” Says Jimmy.

  “At least I didn’t feel this one get chopped off” he rotates the arm a few times as they both look at it. “Maybe I should get a matching samurai arm on the other side?” He laughs, Jimmy remains quiet.

  “Hey, Dix, I’m sorry about Sadie. This has all gone shit-stack sideways. I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but I just want you to know I’m here for you, buddy” Jimmy says turning a serious tone.

  “I know, man. I may not always be one to open up much but, you know, thanks. You were there for me when Rose and Jenny died. You’ve always been there to help, even when I lost RJ.” He raises his stump with a sarcastic smile. “Sadie was an amazing woman, I loved her, I mean, I love her. I don’t think I’ve really ever talked about it with anyone else but her. She was my life, the kids were my life. They are all gone now.” Tears begin to well up in Dixon’s eyes, though his face is still locked in its focus. “I guess I’m slightly happy for her, she’s with them now. Sounds kind of corny I know. I didn’t realise how much it hit her, think I was too caught up in my own problems to notice.” He wipes the tears as they run down his cheek, looks at his wet fingers, grimaces at Jimmy and shows his hand.

  “You ever think you’d see me cry?” Dixon asks.

  Jimmy smiles “Hey, you lost your arm twice and I’ve seen you cry - all in the same week. It’s definitely an achievement now.” Dixon laughs through more tears.

  “I know you hold that shit back from people, bury it deep down inside and hide your weaknesses, I get that. You don’t need to hide anything from me though.” Jimmy reassures.

  “I’ve only got one thing left to do.” Dixon looks out the front window, the outline of their destination slowly growing as they get closer. “Kill the man who killed Sadie.”

  Jimmy looks to the floor, almost welling up at the respect and appreciation Dixon showed to him. “We will, buddy, we will”. Dixon nods to his best friend. They sit in silence, both feeling closer to their friend than ever, both focussing on the task at hand.

  The Halo headquarters building looms over them as they approach, still hiding in the clouds. It’s epic size almost feeling like a cunning creature waiting for them to enter its trap. They begin to ascend, carefully flying up a corner of the building with fewer windows than anywhere else. Reaching the top they see the landing pad they had arrived at previously.

  “Look! That must be his shuttle.” Jimmy points down to a shuttle parked slightly askew on the landing pad, its doors still open.

  “I guess he was in a bit of a panic when he arrived. Let’s g
o and give him a reason to panic.” Dixon says. The shuttle circles above the building before diving down, turning up sharply before it reaches the landing pad, dust blowing up from the surface. The landing gear softly touches down. Jimmy shuts off the engine and the doors open.

  Dixon and Jimmy enter through the same impressive door. People sit in the bar area just like before, if slightly less of them. A few of them rise, clearly reading the situation - they fluster. Two of them quickly approach.

  “You can’t be here, Tom doesn’t want you filthy…“ before they can finish Dixon’s hand grips tightly around one of their throats, slamming the man into the ground. Jimmy plants a pinpoint perfect punch directly to the others face, knocking him out flat. The rest of the people scurry for the lifts as the two fierce-looking men walk closer. A few scramble for the staircase door as the lifts slowly ascend. Looking over to the bar, the bartender looks back awkwardly, feigning a welcoming smile and looking at the only patron sitting drinking.

  Tom Sutcliffe sits on a bar stool, swirling a glass with a dark spirit in it. His hair dishevelled from anxious hands running through it. His posture nervous and twitchy. He doesn’t hear the panicked mass trying to escape.

  “Sutcliffe!” Dixon shouts, his voice booming around the room and making some people duck. Tom turns his head slightly, unsure if he actually heard the voice or if it was his imagination. Seeing the two figures approach he flaps, accidentally sending his drink to the ground. It smashes, but Tom’s attention is now focused on also escaping his foes. He launches from the bar stool and bolts up the staircase. Jimmy and Dixon give chase, reaching the top of the stairs they see him fly into his office, adjacent to the conference room they’d all spoke in before. The glass windows suddenly going opaque as Tom presses a button at his desk.

  Dixon wastes no time in charging the door. Shouting violently as he throws his club like foot at it. The door crunches and flies off one of its hinges as he coasts into the room. Jimmy follows behind him only to see Dixon turn to face Tom’s desk. A bullet sails through Dixon’s shoulder, puckering flesh and blood out of his back. Dixon barks in pain as he stumbles towards the desk. Tom begins to lower the gun as Jimmy makes a straight line for him. Leaping over the desk Jimmy kicks at Tom’s hands, too quickly for Tom to turn the gun on him.

  Applying his muscle memory training, he quickly circles Tom, taking an arm behind him and thrusting it up into the middle of his back. Tom screams as he is forced face down into his desk. Nearly knocking him out, Jimmy grips the back of Tom’s head and looks to Dixon.

  “Dixon, you alright?” He shouts.

  Dixon rises from his knees, pawing at the wound in his shoulder. His hand stained red with blood, he reaches to the exit wound in his back. He hisses at the stinging from the hole, but reassures Jimmy with a nod. He approaches the desk, places his hand where Jimmy was holding Tom’s head. Jimmy steps aside.

  “Hello again, Tom!” Dixon throws him back against the wall, pushing the chair out of the way. As he bounces back he is met be a series of almighty punches to the head and torso, each one bouncing him back off the wall. Tom finally manages to muster some strength and attempts to throw a punch at Dixon. He sidesteps easily, grabbing the thrown fist as he elbows Tom’s face back to the desk, reeling his arm back in a direction it shouldn’t go until a disgusting crack can be heard.

  “So glad to see you again, we didn’t quite get to finish things off did we? You left so quickly, that’s quite rude, you know?” Dixon yanks the broken arm sending Tom to the ground, sitting against the wall he’d been ping-ponged off moments before.

  “We had to come and have a chat with you, get some closure after you killed Sadie” Dixon kneels at Tom’s side, the beaten man’s breathing erratic and anxious. “We stumbled across something most interesting while we were trying to chase you down though.” Dixon stands, motions over Jimmy.

  Jimmy sits on the desk facing Tom, bringing up his arm display, he quickly flicks up the video of Abena Boro. Her voice cutting deep into Tom, almost hurting him more than the broken arm and beating he was suffering from.

  “Where did you get that?” he asks frantically.

  “Your good pal Myra Yang had it locked away in her system.” Jimmy says, “Guess she did a little bit of digging in your database. Any good CEO should really do a background check on any company they decide to merge with, don’t you think?”

  “The real question is, how long have you known about this, huh?” Dixon lightly slaps Tom on the face, gaining his attention again. “Bet you’ve been sitting on that for a while.”

  Tom shrinks into himself and slowly begins to whimper softly. “My grandfather…” Dixon looks to Jimmy, he shrugs.

  “He started this company, built it into a scientific leader in the industry. He was ruthless in his work though. A businessman heading a company full of scientists. Throwing blank cheques at each and every one of them until someone came through with something.” Snot drips from his nose as he sobs.

  “He nearly bankrupted the entire organisation. When he found out about Boro’s work he took it over and warped it into a cash cow. I don’t think he could have even predicted that it would literally change the world.” He raises his head. “Why does that matter, when you’re rich beyond dreams though?”

  “Your grandfather buried the truth, I’m guessing your father had the same cold heart and so do you?” Dixon prods at his chest, Tom shakes his head and waves his hands.

  “No, no. My father tried to make things right. He knew that using the research to create cures was the right thing to do. He couldn’t come clean about it all though. That would sink the company overnight. Everyone that worked for us would lose their jobs, millions worldwide would be homeless. We wouldn’t have any way to stop someone else from stealing it all from under us and taking over everything.” His brow wrinkled as he explains.

  “He put together a plan to bring together some of the most powerful people in the world, and make them work in unison to provide this miracle to people. We’d save everyone.” He smiles faintly.

  Jimmy looks to Dixon confused. “Wait, your father tried to reveal the truth. What stopped him?”

  Tom ironically chuckles. “That’s the kicker, we could have made a cure for cancer. If only he hadn’t died of it, he might have been able to achieve his goal.”

  Dixon sneers, grabbing Tom by the scruff of his suit jacket, lifting him up to his feet then pressing him against the wall.

  “There’s just one thing I don’t understand.” he says as Jimmy panics behind him.

  “Dixon, hold on a sec” Jimmy halts him, unsure of his next steps.

  Dixon looks deep into Tom’s eyes. “If you’re trying to complete your dad’s goody too shoes plan to make things right. Why are you making people slaves? Why carry out your father’s merger plan and make one company dictate our futures? That bullshit about making a giant slave workforce to help fix problems, that all part of the plan as well? Or was that some marketing crap you made up too?”

  Tom curls a smile at the edges of his mouth. “Well, my father never finished his plan for one reason…” A light ding can be heard across the floor. The doors of the two lifts at the lower level open, Halo guards flood the bar area, empty now from all the fearful elite in their mass exodus. They march up the stairs and stand facing Tom’s office, their weapons drawn and focused.

  “He was too weak!” Tom whispers, kicking off the wall and pushing Dixon back. They tumble over each other. Tom quickly scrambles to the desk and hits a button, the windows turning transparent again. The guards spot Tom and Dixon, they stare back staggered.

  “Fire!” Tom shouts as he throws himself behind an extravagant looking metal chair. Jimmy reacts with speed, flipping the desk over and pulling Dixon behind it. The guard’s gunfire rips through the windows and sends pieces of glass and material darting around the room, shattering the back window. A gust of wind from outside sucks out a small coffee table and some debris. After a few moments, the fire stops. />
  “Come out with your hands in the air” a guard’s voice shouts.

  “Suck a dick” Dixon shouts, looking around the room until he sees Tom hiding behind a chair. He quickly throws himself to the chair, clutching Tom and putting him in a chokehold in front of himself as he stands from the chair. The guards aim at the two of them as he holds Tom tightly.

  “Dixon, what the hell are you doing?” Jimmy shouts from behind the desk.

  “Stay there, Jimmy.” Dixon looks over to his friend, seeing the dread on his face.

  “This is your plan?” Tom snickers, while Dixon’s one remaining real arm clenches around his neck. “Take me hostage?”

  “Not exactly, I’d been mulling over a few different ways to kill you on the way over,” Dixon says, looking over to Jimmy again. “Still got the files?” Jimmy nods. “Good, see if you can get them out to as many people as possible from Tom’s computer”. Jimmy looks at the computer, tumbled from the desk and lying on its side next to him.

  “Guards, you serve me and this company” Tom begins to speak. Dixon leans into his ear.

  “That’s right. We’re putting the truth out. Give it to the whole world and let them decide what to do with it. Not some spoilt billionaire.”

  “If you want to save your jobs, your lives, the world. I command you to shoot right now!” Tom screams at his guards.

  “Dixon, you’ve got to move” Jimmy begs.

  Dixon looks across and smiles calmly. “No Jimmy, I need to be here. I lost my daughters to a rich man who thought he could play how he likes. I lost my wife to this rich man who thinks he can play the world how he likes. Well, now I’m going to show them this isn’t a game.”