Lorem Ipsum stands as Kodai approaches. Lorem is a big man, with dark eyebrows and light brown eyes. He’s in an Armani suit with an American flag pin on the lapel, and his thick blue tie sports a perfect Windsor knot.
“Glad you could make it for breakfast,” Lorem says with a slight bow. He offers Kodai a seat at the table. “I know, having it out here is bit of a security risk, but it was such a nice morning – cold, but nice – that I thought, hey, let’s go for it. You aren’t too cold are you? I have heaters ready if you are.”
“I’m fine.”
MercSecure’s men take their security posts around the white awning. Kodai’s guys hold back, ready if need be.
“Relax,” Lorem says, “we have the surrounding rooftops staked out too. Just think of this as one of the many things we can do. We are, after all, in the business of protecting people in any environment, and I do mean any.”
A waitress of singular beauty approaches the table bearing a covered silver platter. She places it in front of him and lifts its cover before he can figure out where he recognizes her from. He glances down at the plate. A perfectly-shaped omelet with a bit of garnish – his typical breakfast.
Another silver platter is placed in front of Lorem. The lid comes up to reveal a T-bone steak and a single egg, sunny side up with a dash of pepper on top. “Bon appetit.” Lorem slices into the steak, and a puddle of red liquid forms on his plate.
“You must really enjoy the Japanese winter to have your breakfast outside,” Kodai observes.
Lorem chews, swallows, and says, “It’s fine, aside from the constant drizzle that never seems to freeze. I was in Bogata before this and weather aside, it’s a lot nicer here. So yes, I’m really enjoying it.”
Kodai cuts into his omelet and notes the gentle ooze of melted cheddar cheese. The American company MercSecure and their parent company, ExEx, are the best in the business at gathering and collating data, as well as all aspects of private security and non-governmental military operations. Kodai reflects on this as the same lovely waitress from earlier pours him coffee and adds a single creamer to it.
“Thank you,” he says, first in Japanese then English. He returns his focus to Lorem Ipsum. “Why are meeting here on the rooftop? I assumed we’d meet inside.”
Lorem finishes chewing his steak. He wipes his mouth with his linen napkin, returns it to his lap and says, “I told you, fresh air, nice morning.”
“Open a window. That’s what most people do for fresh air.”
“The windows don’t open on the fifty-second floor.”
“Hon tarareta.”
“Yes,” Ipsum says with a smile, “touché.”
“Ah, so that is the English translation. I thought it would be something along the lines of, ‘you got me there.’”
“We use a French fencing term for that: touché.”
“Good to know.”
Both men finish their breakfasts in relative silence. Once Lorem has finished his steak and egg, the big man pushes back from the table and crosses one leg over another. “Is this about Hajime?”
Kodai glances left and right at the MercSecure men at the four points of the awning. His eyes stay on the cyborg a moment longer than the others. “No,” he finally says, “this isn’t about Hajime.”
“How is he performing?”
Instead of an answer Kodai says, “There is actually one thing I’d like to discuss with you, and it is reason I’ve asked to meet with you today.”
“Yes?”
“I’d like another one, another Hajime.”
Lorem wipes his mouth with a linen napkin and says, “Not to be rude, but I don’t normally deal with the day-to-day operations of leasing humandroids.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“However, your group was one of our first clients, and seeing how this is the case, I’ll gladly discuss humandroid leasing with you.”
“Good.”
“Hajime was a prototype, a working prototype, and the only one of his kind. He was designed by the Dr. Hewman, before Hewman’s tragic death. His reasoning capabilities were heightened to their maximum setting. Once Walliburton received the modified humandroid from Dr. Hewman, they tried to adjust the reasoning controls and were unable to do so.”
“Yet MercSecure still bought him from Walliburton?”
“We did. Our founder believes that there is much to learn about humandroid reasoning and Hajime passed all the field tests, even the most strenuous.”
Kodai nods. “Then what can you offer me of a similar nature?”
“Male or female?”
“Are they equally strong?”
Lorem Ipsum smiles.
“That’s a very common question, actually. Humandroids don’t share the same physical disparities as humans. The newest female and male models are equally strong. It will, however take some time to put a complete custom order in with Walliburton and finalize their training at our facilities in California. Combat and security detail humandroids do come preloaded with software, and the software is very good, but we like to field test them before they are distributed.”
“How long are we talking about for a custom model?”
“For a custom one, several months. For one our models that have already been trained, two days top. Their software will be tweaked and after updates are made, they’ll be on the next plane to Tokyo. However, these aren’t as customizable, aside from their appearances.”
Kodai considers this for a moment. “I see. Is there any disadvantage of going with a pre-made model?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Good, go ahead and put the order in for a model that is already available. I’d like one quickly, preferably a female.”
Lorem Ipsum takes a sip from his coffee. “Consider it done.”
A prompt on Kodai’s iNet screen gives him the leasing cost and various leasing and indemnity documents for him to peruse. After he has skimmed through everything, his own bank details appear in a prompt directly over the leasing document. He accepts the charges and the credit is instantly transferred.
“Also, I’ll need a humstunner. Isn’t that what you Americans call it?”
“That or a humgun, yes.”
Another prompt; more credit is transferred.
“Wonderful,” Lorem Ipsum clasps his fingers together. “Your humandroid should be available within two days, maybe less. In the meantime, if you require added protection, may I suggest an agent recently assigned to the Asian circuit. Walt?”
The older cyborg steps away from his post and approaches the table.
Kodai examines the agent for a moment. He’s fit, with a scarred, grizzled face. The mercenary offers Lorem a small bow. “A pleasure to meet you,” he says in passable Japanese.
“I’ll let you know if I need any additional security.”
“Please do,” Lorem says as he extends his hand to Kodai, “and tell your mother that I said hello.”
(0)__(0)
It is Lorem Ipsum’s last comment that has Kodai brooding as his aerosSUV lifts into the air. Even though the windows are tinted, he offers Lorem Ipsum another tight smile. The fucker. To be sure, it his MercSecure’s job to know a person’s pressure points, but that doesn’t make it sting any less.
“Has Sarah arrived yet?” he asks Gorira, who sits in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
“She’s there now, in the lobby.”
“Have her brought up to my apartment. Keep someone with her so she doesn’t touch anything.”
“You got it, boss.”
With his eyes closed, his eyelids come alive with various things he’s monitoring over iNet.
Two of his pink salons in Harmonica Yokocho had lower than normal profits last week. He’ll need to take a look into this, and he’ll also need to take a look into a soapland named Hinomaru that he runs in Yokohama. The manager, a hapless idiot nicknamed Meosa, was hired as a favor to an earlier investor in the establishment. Now that profits have stabilized, it’d be
better if Meosa simply disappeared.
Then there’s the oppai pub in Tachikawa that caters to American military personnel stationed at Fussa Air Force Base. This is a cash cow for sure, but the Americans can be very destructive when they’re drunk. Case in point: an incident last night in which a minor scuffle involving a small group of airmen escalated into a full-blown bar brawl which spilled into the street and involved the civil police and American Security Forces.
The pub is trashed and will be closed for the next few days for repairs.
There are other business matters Kodai needs to attend to that don’t involve the sex industry, including a new shipment from Bangkok of designer intoxicants, known as pollutes, something that his organization will distribute to a few of his establishments later this week.
The pollute business has taken off over the last five years; still, the sex industry is a constant when it comes to profits and even with the turnover, it will continue to drive his family business until at least 2080, likely longer. Even with the advent of full immersion sex in various Proxima worlds – something the sex industry thought would lead to its demise – human on human contact still trumps anything that takes place simply in the mind.
Which is one of the reasons he’s invited Sarah the Australian over this morning.
“I need to visit Hinomaru later today,” he tells Gorira, “this evening, before the late night crowd arrives.”
“You got it, boss. Anything else?”
“Tachikawa. I’ll need to go there afterwards.”
“Got it.”
Time blips by and soon, his aerosSUV lowers into its appropriate skylane. It continues its descent to the street in front of his condo, in a cordoned off space at the building’s entrance.
There is a rooftop landing spot, but Kodai prefers the ground level entrance as it keeps him visible. After all, his family owns the entire complex, and he likes the residents to know that he is there and that they should feel safe, no matter the situation.
Several more of his men, each Mt. Fuji-sized, form a shield around him as he exits the vehicle.
They lead Kodai through the lobby, past an older female resident. No gawking, the woman keeps her eyes front and modestly lowered, as if to pretend that the owner isn’t passing. Kodai approves.
The Japanese, while curious, are a well-mannered society that generally don’t pry or inquire too closely into the business of others; very much unlike his experience in New York. Sure, people kept to themselves in the famed American metropolis, but if he had shown up in Manhattan with a security detail like he has now, people would have stopped, watched, and recorded. There were even signs in New York that encouraged this behavior – Stop, Watch, Record – an effort from the governor’s office in partnership with America’s Federal Corporate Government to lower crime.
Gorira enters and clears the elevator. He courteously holds the door as Kodai enters. The mammoth minder presses his finger on a keypad and the elevator samples his DNA. After it flashes green, a pleasant voice announces that they are cleared to proceed.
Again, they ride in silence as the elevator ascends to the thirtieth floor. Gorira steps out first and scans the entryway, then steps aside so Kodai may exit. He tells Gorira to wait a moment, and once he’s scanned his finger the front door of his penthouse clicks open.
“You may leave now,” he tells Sarah’s escort, who stands solemnly in the center of the room. The man bows and exits; Kodai waits until the door is completely shut before turning to Sarah.
“Let’s speak in English,” he tells her as he takes off his coat.
Sarah nervously adjusts her short velvet mini-skirt. She’s in a low cut top, the fabric of which barely restrains her more than ample breasts. Her high heels are neatly placed next to the door and she now stands in a pair of Doraemon house slippers.
“But I wanted to practice my Japanese,” she says, quickly regaining her confidence. This remains the one thing Kodai admires most about her – her confidence in the face of true power. “I was up pretty late last night, you know.” She winks at him, “Working for you. When did you leave?”
“A little after I met with my brother. Did you see him?”
She bites her lip as she thinks for a moment. “A bit of a scrawny guy, isn’t he? Black hair? Hoodie?”
“That’s him. We share the same hair color.”
She stifles a laugh.
Kodai unzips his jacket. “How very racist of you.”
“I don’t see many Japanese that don’t have black hair,” she says, “but yours is much better than his. That mop on his head makes him look like a bloody drongo. I prefer your style, clean cut, masculine.”
“It’s nice to be preferred.”
“What’s his name again?”
“Ryuk.” He stands silently for a moment, admiring her body.
“So, you called me over here … ”
“That I did.”
“It’s nice to, um, to see you.” She laughs nervously.
“I’m sure it is.” Kodai nods towards the couch. “Sit on the couch.”
“Okay.” Sarah quickly moves back over to the couch and straightens her mini-skirt before sitting down. Kodai takes a black armchair in front of her.
“So … ” She wipes a strand of hair out of her face and crosses her arms beneath her breasts.
“Spread your legs,” Kodai instructs.
“Um, okay.” She offers him a soft smile as she spreads her legs, showing him her light blue panties. “I wanted to wear black underwear,” she tells him, “but I thought this new set I picked up at Uniqlo looked cuter with this outfit. Not that I thought you’d see. Ha!”
“They are cute.”
She shifts her skirt up even further and shows him the front of the panties. “They have pictures of Betty Boop on them. Heard of her?”
“No, but I recognize the image. Lift the armrest.”
“Oh, this is one of those couches with armrests that lift, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
Sarah does as instructed. Her eyebrows raise as she takes in the content of the armrest. “What … what would you like me to wear?”
“I’d like you wear the choker collar.” Kodai unbuckles his pants.
“Um, yes, sure, anything you’d like.” She places a satin choker adorned with a heart-shaped gemstone around her neck. “Does this look about right?” Again, she regains her composure, as if all of this is exceedingly normal.
Kodai slips his pants off. “It looks perfect. Now I want you to touch yourself.”
She nervously moistens her lips. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come over there and touch you?”
“No,” he tells her as he pulls off his boxer briefs, “I want you to stay right where you are.”
Chapter 14: Cherry blossom ninjas
Ryuk checks his stats to find he has increased two levels through auto-leveling. While the ninjas in the Jatla Forest don’t carry many rupees, they are dishing out double experience points.
Ryuk Matsuzaki Level 7 Ballistics Mage
HP: 245/252
ATK: 69
MATK: 88
DEF: 50
MDF: 31
LUCK: 7
FeeTwix Fajer Level 11 Berserker Mystic
HP: 258/306
ATK: 84
MATK: 26
DEF: 59
MDF: 30
LUCK: 13
Hiccup Level 10 Shield Thief
HP: 363/425
ATK: 70
MATK: 13
DEF: 101
MDF: 48
LUCK: 9
Zaena Morozon Level 12 Brawler Assassin
HP: 279/357
ATK: 91
MATK: 8
DEF: 88
MDF: 24
LUCK: 14
The Mitherfickers – damn, he needs need a new name for their guild – are shaping up.
They are a little top heavy when it comes to physical attack power versus magic attack power, but this ca
n prove beneficial. Ryuk isn’t a magic user in the traditional sense – he expends no mana. This is another reason Ballistics Mages are the least popular avatar to take. While they may have unlimited magical ammo, they can’t cast spells.
The weapon itself is also a handicap; Ryuk’s looked at the ‘upgraded’ slingshots available in Jatla and about the only upgrade available is a wrist brace. So, no magic in the traditional sense and a minimally effective weapon to wield – thus is the life of a lowly Ballistics Mage.
Once they rescue Tamana however, they’ll have a guild member who relies partially on magic. She can wield light-based attacks and she can also heal, which is a definite advantage given the speed with which two of his guildmates in particular rip through healing potions.
One more day to go.
An idea has been floating around in his head since they discovered signs of the Shinigami in the Jatla Forest. His idea may be the way forward, and it definitely falls within the parameters of emphasizing differences. The element of surprise is on his mind, and once the time is right, Ryuk will pitch his idea to his guildmates. For now, he keeps it to himself.
“Let’s all share a healing potion,” FeeTwix says, “We only have a couple left and there’s a good chance we’ll need it.”
The four stand at the base of a hillock, directly beneath a giant red Torii gate.
The water stained stone stairway shows the wear of generation upon generations of feet. Moss has grown over the banisters on either side of the stone stairway before them; fissures like veins have crumbled portions of the stairs into chunks, revealing the raw soil beneath. A thicket of bamboo covers at the top of the stairs, obscuring the entrance to the ninja temple.
“Fine,” says Hiccup, “me first.”
Hiccup snatches the glass bottle out of FeeTwix’s hand with more speed and alacrity than he usually displays, but before he can so much as uncork it, an invisible force snags it from him.
Fantasy Online_Hyperborea Page 15