Epic Death

by Mike Doom

  Hunter News Network

  Alert - Toro Abobo

  Wanted - Alive

  Rank - S

  Bounty - 410,000,000r

  Caller - Unassigned

  Call - Toro Abobo is wanted for unauthorized use of gravlifter technology in an assault on a LaGrange Station. He is also wanted for questioning on several mysterious disappearances, and in conjunction with an ongoing investigation into the workings of his company's holdings on several planets. His involvement in the attack on Selba Station is unknown, but he is to be considered highly dangerous and should not be approached by hunters below A-Grade.

  Last Seen - Hess LaGrange Station. 10 hours ago

  Deliver to - Closest Federali Installation

  "I don't get it."

  "What's not to 'get'? You were used in an elaborate scheme to impose android police over the entirety of the known universe as part of a more pointed plan to get back at hunters in particular, but us three in general." Pepper laughs, Truckee doesn't think it's funny. Neither does the Board. They want explanations on why he seemed to know what was going to happen, on where he was while the yellow tag was on his head, and then there's the Cirrhosis shooting Jor quite publicly during the race. Luckily Jor survived, but he isn't talking about any involvement he might have had.

  "But why me?"

  "Corialis knew about your last wish, and also about the fickle nature of the process. He knew that if he wished for something to end the Hunt, that it would do something rash and unproductive in relation to his true goal. He figured a way to piggyback his wish onto yours, thereby making a playable solution."

  "What?"

  "You were his patsy because he knew the result would also make you more famous, thereby keeping in line with the current narrative."

  "Yeah, well I'm not into this whole thing. I have to give this press conference AND I am expected to meet with the head of security for the Federalis stationed on Selba Station. He expects answers from me, but we have zero proof of any of this."

  "Well, that sucks for you man." Epic chimes in.

  "Your bedside manner fucking blows flatulent ass."

  "Dock my pay." Epic shrugs.

  "I just thought I'd be a hero after all of this." Truckee grumbles.

  "Didn't we all. After everything, I just don't expect anything, but to get drilled in each hole, but rhythmically." Pepper mutters despondently.

  "Don't knock it til you try it." Stardust giggles from the doorway. Pepper looks up at her with disgust, he is just so very tired of that woman.

  "Either way. We have to come up with something to say to those people. I have fifteen minutes until my sensivise interview."

  "Simple. You blame Vii Ariable. He's dead, so there is nothing to worry about. He shot a train with a rocket. A train that you four were on. There's evidence of that, evidence of the fight on Checktiza. The satellite was completely hacked out of visual, no way for anyone to know who might be involved." Stardust says, making a circle with her finger. Obviously bored. Pepper grits his teeth, occasionally her recklessness is completely correct.

  "I hate when you are right."

  "That sentence is three words too long, but I'll take it anyway. Say hi to your girlfriend for me." Stardust laughs, leaving the room. Epic looks at Pepper for a moment, claps Truckee on the shoulder, and goes after Stardust.

  "That woman is an amazing bitch."

  "Tell me about it."

  "We owe her now don't we."

  "Yeah, that isn't going to end well, let me tell you."

  Arturis Central Kigh Nightly News

  Reporter: Vi Brooks

  V: Truckee! Truckee! Vi Brooks here, I have a question.

  T: Hopefully I have an answer. What can I do for you?

  V: The race. What was that?

  T: What a vague question.. Care to be specific about a particular piece of that nightmare?

  V: I can't wrap my head around what occurred there, Truckee. It seems like you had something to do with what happened there.

  T: I was running the race, of course I was involved.

  V: That is obviously not what I was referring to.

  T: I as the leader of T-Net's media empire, I have fingers in all portions of these types of things. I had security in all areas of both stadiums, so of course I was made aware of certain... situations, perhaps before the public.

  V: Before the lances?

  T: Actually I had heard a few nasty plans, which I took semi-seriously. I contacted some local lances and got them into communication with me, with my security, and we took precautions.

  V: Luckily.

  T: Very much so.

  V: One more thing.

  T: Sure.

  V: Cirrhosis Induction. He fired on the crowd, before the attack, before anyone with the appropriate w-blockers set would ever know of an issue. I have sources that place you on a flight with Cirrhosis back from Checktiza, where several sources relate that he was involved in a mob-war that resulted in the destruction of several city-blocks.

  T: Those events were in two different cities, Ms. Brooks.

  V: They were nearly simultaneous.

  T: Are you accusing me of being multiple now?

  V: Don't confuse my question with an attack. What Cirrhosis did saved lives. He is hero, and not a single person would argue with that. What I would like to know, is what connection is there between you two? Was he cheating in the race?

  T: As I told you, I was alerted of the possibility of an attack. I made decisions, while not in line with the laws and traditions of the Tusk League, were made in an attempt to protect my racers and the thousands of spectators. I will never apologize for anything I ever did, and this is no exception.

  V: So he was cheating?

  T: He was connected to me for the purposes of relaying emergency information only. Trust, I am no help in a foot race.

  V: But that isn't the whole story is it?

  T: Almost. Almost it is.

  "Cirrhosis!"

  "Last." Cirrhosis says through a fit of coughs. He took a bit too much radiation, a heavy beating, and some shards of space station to the leg. The hospitals on Selba Station are full to the brim, so Truckee and Cirrhosis ended up in a impromptu triage unit in the sports training facility built for the race. Even so Cirrhosis is sharing the room with six others, the racers from the other systems.

  Last arrived with Epic and Pepper about six hours after the explosions. Unlike Truckee, he regained consciousness shortly after their arrival. Not that he has any idea how they got here, last he remembers they were either drowning or getting killed by falling plaza, maybe shot by Corialis, regardless, he has already done four interviews for the major networks. Luckily, his involvement is only speculatory, he only acted after the gate opened. Nobody knows what happened under the Plaza. Truckee coming to his aid is the only real question, but that was explained because Truckee was protecting the main concern of his biggest advertiser. Cirrhosis noted in his LJ that he has to pay a special visit to the Captain for providing that talking point.

  "I got here as soon as I could." Last mutters, looking at the ground. Put off by seeing all the tubes and fluids going in and out of Cirrhosis. He orders the bed to incline for him, and winces as it rises. He tries to put on a normal face for Last, who is obviously not a hospital person.

  "Yeah? So did I." Cirrhosis laughs, sending a shooting pain up his left side.

  "The guys are saying this is all some weird plan to kill all the hunters." Last says, sitting on Cirrhosis' bed.

  "I doubt that was it." Cirrhosis is sure that Last is right, but he doesn't want her talking conspiracy around all of these people. This is a later conversation. With many beers.

  "Your old girlfriend. She got hurt pretty badly."

  "Cannata? Oh, that girl will bounce back soon enough." Cirrhosis says with a smile. Cannata is probably already back on Torch, cleaning up the me
ss there. Destiny's involvement with the imposter in the race is well known, and most people on the net think that Code was attempting to kill Cirrhosis for his warning the crowd about the gate opening. She is going to have to play this all very carefully if she doesn't want everything she's been building to go up in smoke.

  "Jor is doing well. He should be out of surgery within the hour."

  "That's good." Cirrhosis mutters. Now there is a real mystery. What the hell was Jor, Stephen Corialis' cousin, doing there? If everything had gone flawlessly, he would have been killed. As it is, he ended up hiding near the north side barrier under his horse, expecting further attacks from Cirrhosis. A broken ankle and a shallow crossbow wound are all he walked away with. This is going to be the big thing Cirrhosis will have to explain to the police. Why did he shoot the President of Checktiza? He can't really tell them he was chasing a phantom eye-hacker who was really a clone of Stephen Corialis in disguise as a hacker in disguise as the racer from Bychos.

  "You awake?"

  "Cannata- I"

  "Just shut up and let me talk."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  "I wanted to thank you for getting me involved."

  "What?"

  "This cluster fuck has shown me a lot of things about myself and my organization, which need to be taken account for. I can't just allow some simpleton to run the gang and expect that I can adequately manipulate it from the sidelines."

  "Right. So what now?"

  "As a favor, I hacked into T-Net's memory core for you. I also planted evidence that Code was the expected buyer of the Jewel in the Checktiza auction, had to hack a few eyes of the staff there. The buyers all seemed to evaporate after the auction."

  "There was something weird about them."

  "They were likely all paid actors, or low-level gang members working under order."

  "So you made the fake sale look ligit?"

  "As much as that can be done. It'll work if they don't press it too hard."

  "If they do?"

  "His noted presence in the original attack on T-Net Tower should close that loop."

  "How did he get out of there?"

  "Eye hack as usual. You look ridiculous in the video, peering out the window when he is standing right in front of you."

  "Great."

  "Consider it payment for my services."

  "What?"

  "And Cirrhosis?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Your girlfriend is basically brain-dead."

  "I know." Cirrhosis says, grabbing Last's hand. She must be checking her messages, she is looking off into space. Far away from here. Good thought for sure.

  "What?" And she's back. She blinks at him like she just woke up.

  "Nothing." Cirrhosis smiles.

  LiveText To: Epic Death

  LiveText From: Unknown

  I'm frigid right now. You need to listen clearly. The bull is going home, I am running a second barn right now, but it is unusually calm in the farm right now. Bees aren't buzzing anything of interest.

  I know you are in the neighborhood. The bull isn't paying attention to the barn, as he's pretty focused on me right now. Spooking people away from his harem of cows. I know you are trying to stay full-blown, but there are preferences and there are responsibilities.

  Meet me where he is, and we can get this farm out of our system.