The view from Stealth Lights was immaculate, sombre and most of all peaceful. Jixafon and I sat by the window, getting a full view of Bridge City from twenty-four flights up.

In the distance, six bridges interconnected like an overran neural network for humans to travel across. Above those, spotted lights of yellow and green, separating Skylanes.

If I didn’t live thirty flights up, this view would have surely made me feel small.

“So…” I finally said, stirring the glass of rum in my hands. “How are things with since I left?”

“Things are great. I don't have your gravelly voice in my ears! Jix joked.

”Nice, I’m happy to hear that.” I answered laughing. “if that’s the case, why the hell are you trying to get me back in?”

Jix froze, then snatched up his glass of dark rum. He snapped his head back, downed the rum as if it were juice. Then singled the waiter after inhaling deeply. Something’s wrong I thought but decided not to ask.

“Thing’s have changed at CSS Cypher” Jix finally said.”Dental, Eye, monthly checkups, all the works!”

“hmmm…sounds like the Colonel got a big contract”

“The biggest, I’m telling you Cyph!”

“pay bump?

“The biggest…”

"sounds like you're missing a 'but' there pal."

“…I am.”

…and there we have it…the but

“I’ve been working the Waste for months, hauling water caravans up and down ensuring the water supply for some new plant is operational.”

“New Plant? I haven’t heard anything about this is in the news.”

“It hasn’t been publicized, I think they want to get it up and running first before making an announcement.”

I whistled, not from the scope…but the money that was sunked in. Anything that was done under such a tight leash meant billions were being spent…or worst.

“how many firefights you had in the past couple of months.”

“Enough to run me dry! I need you to come back Cyph!”

“Sorry, no can do,” I said firmly. “I’m sure Stelyne can find someone who's better suited than me.”

“Bullshit! The last two caravans have been hit and hard Cypher. I lost two teams in three months, that’s twelve men dead!”

“…and this hasn’t been publicized?

“No…” Jix said, keeping his eyes on the ice within his glass. I let Jix’s answer sit for a moment and was about to speak, but Jix cut me off before I even got a chance. “I know you’re done with this life Cyph, but I don’t think I’ll be able to get this done without you.”

“Alright. Let me ask you this. Are you here of your volition or did Stelyne ask you to get me back in?”I asked.

Jixafon rocked his head back, downloading another glass of brown rum. He smacked his lips, watering his throat some more, then whipped a trail of brown liquid that trailed from his mouth. Then gave a quick whiff, inhaling whatever wind he could, satisfaction resonated across his face.

“I need someone to have my back!”

“I didn’t ask that.”

Jix laughed bitterly, then shook his head. He bit his bottom lip then clenched his fist as though I was giving him a hard time. I wasn’t. “Yes. I’m here of my own volition Cypher, we haven’t seen each other since you left.” He answered.

“…and”

“…and!” He said firmly. “Yes, Stelyne asked me to get you to come back.” He continued voice trailing into a whisper. I nodded, not having the right words formed in my mind to answer Jix. I scooped up my glass and downed the mouthful of Pirate’s Eye, feeling as the fermented molasses tingle on my tongue, caressing it with its sweetness.

The slight burning sensation began as the liquid flowed down my throat and immediately, I felt Goosebumps erupt from my neck straight down my back.

Then I let the silence sit between us for a while, then downed another shot before Jix broke the silence between us. “I need your help bud, I really do.”

Delightful.

“I get that.” I told him, feeling refreshed from the rum I just guzzled. “but I’m not mentally in that space, Jix. I don’t wanna run around with a Carbine strapped to a flak jacket rummaging through The Waste…you know how much I hate it there”.

“I know, Cypher, but the cre—“

“I have enough credits!” I snarled, cutting him off.

A cold burning sensation ran up my arm, starting from my fingertips. “Was the glass always this cold?” I asked myself, staring into Jix’s eyes, noting the red, purple and white lights blinking from his temple. SMB…wait a minute, when in the Imbibe did he get that?

I could feel the eyes of Stealth Light’s patrons eyeing us both, but who the hell cared about pompous assholes out for a drink at lunch.

Me.

I forced a gentle smile, turning to watch gazes from sycophantic eyes and wolfish exteriors, in the form of business suits.

“Apologies, friends, I think I’ve had too much,” I said, raising my glass. Cockeyes and sneers followed, which all but made me lick my lips. “Another one for me and my friend,” I said, calling out to the waitress. She smiled back and hurried on over to the bar.

“You’re right, Cypher.” Jix finally said.

“Of course I am!” I said firmly, not wanting to let this linger for any longer. “Do you remember Ginoza was at the end of his tour, and I asked him if he was sure he didn’t wanna re-up for another?”

“Yea…I remember.”

“Do you know how I felt when he died in my arms?” I whispered. “I literally asked him to sign back up to die. In. My. Arms. Jix. Hell, man, I lost half my pissant upper body in that ravine that godforsaken day. It took me two years of therapy, just to simply adjust to bright lights. I got a new arm and a damned eye. When I had a perfectly good one.

“But you got back to work.”

“Not the point,” I said sighing my aggravation away. “Didn’t pay for your therapy? Hell, you met Elise around the damned block from the therapist.”

“…and I’ll be forever grateful to you, Cypher.”

“This isn’t gratitude, Jix.”

“I know,” he whispered.

Once again, silence. We sat there for a few minutes, not saying a word. The morning sun rose to its peak signifying Lunch and with that, people.

Droves of people entered the restaurant. The aroma of steak, chicken, onions, chopped vegetables and anything of fine dining roamed across the room.

If I hadn’t had breakfast an hour ago, my stomach would’ve surely growled. Neither of us ordered anything to eat, but we sure as well kept guzzling the rum by the glass. The only form of conversation we engaged in, was the clanking of our glasses which took place till the bottle was finally empty.

I was pissed, the Carib Waste? Me?…Never again.

The waitress came over with the second bottle of Pirate’s Eye. I didn’t notice at first, but she wore gold and white glitter underneath her eyelids. The all-white uniform she wore was well fitted to her figure, which was slim in build, curving into the shape of the Pirate’s Eye bottle.

Incoming Call…

“Kaiden,” I answered.

“EXiCON 26-10-01003?”

“Yes…that’s me.”

“Good Afternoon sir, my name is Officer Palati.”

“Cut the chat, Palati, what is it you need, has a case officer been assigned to my case?”

“Uhh,” Palati said over the line, “let me just check for you quickly….no, sir. No case officer has been assigned.”

“Why not? I need someone to interview Adrianna’s husband and the Co-workers.”

“Well, that’s why I’m calling, Mr Cypher.”

“Huh?”

“There’s been another Homicide.”

“Homicides happen every day in the beautiful utopia called Bridge City, Palati.”

“Yes, sir, but the MO is the same as Adrianna’s.”

“Same MO?”

“Yes sir…Three holes in the chest, two inches wide.”

I tried to gather my thoughts, and reason what the hell this could possibly mean, but the only thing that came to my mind was.

“Shit.”