“Hi Rita,” Zoe greeted the older woman when she entered the Cartier Transport office. Rita was manning the front desk.

“Hey Zoe. Through with your runs?” Rita said in greeting.

“Yep. What are you doing manning the desk?” Zoe replied.

“Lionel and I take turns covering for Henri when he needs to step out for a bit since we run less than the rest of you guys,” Rita answered.

“That’s nice,” Zoe replied. She looked around and spied Lionel stretched out on a couch in the lounge. He was listening to some really old music. “What is this racket?”

“Racket?” Lionel asked all but glaring at Zoe. “You kids have no appreciation of the classics! Just listen to the mix of blues, rock, and roll.”

“Thorogood is good stuff!” Rita exclaimed from the other room. “I love this song. It’s called Who do You Love?”

The song ended a few minutes later.

“That wasn’t bad,” Zoe admitted. “Actually, it was pretty good.”

“Lionel, play a few more of George’s more popular songs for Zoe,” Rita said. Zoe assumed George was this Thorogood’s first name, so didn’t ask about it.

“Alright,” Lionel agreed. Several songs played.

“Ok. I admit I can see the appeal of that style of music,” Zoe said.

“Here, let’s go a little deeper in the vault and try Reelin and Rockin,” Lionel said.

“Lionel, I don’t know if Zoe is ready for that,” Rita said. “She seems a little… uptight. Boogin Chillen No. 2 with John Lee Hooker would be better for her.”

“I’m not uptight,” Zoe objected.

“Alright then. Here we go,” Lionel replied sitting up. “This version was recorded live at the Hampton Coliseum.”

“I’ve never heard of that place,” Zoe said.

“Probably because it was destroyed before you were born,” Rita said.

“Oh.”

“Shush! Just listen,” Lionel said as the music started.

“Oh my God! He did not just sing that!” Zoe exclaimed. Lionel and Rita burst out laughing. “Is this song about sex?”

“Somewhat,” Lionel laughed. “A lot of songs from the 1960s through 90s were about sex.”

“That was the way things were back then,” Rita added walking into the lounge. “Reelin and Rockin was originally written by Chuck Berry back in the 1950s.”

“Giving me a little musical history lesson?” Zoe asked.

“Just a small one,” Rita replied showing Zoe a little gap between her thumb and index finger. “And in case you’re wondering, there’s no more runs for today.”

“That means you can hang out with us old fogies,” Lionel said grinning.

“Sure, I can do that for a while,” Zoe replied dropping her backpack beside the wall. She took a seat across from the couch. “What other classic rock music do you guys listen to?”

Rita looked at Zoe. “You asked for it.”

“Prepare to learn and be amazed,” Lionel said rubbing his hands together.

*

Zoe’s idea of classic rock had been bands from the 2030s and a few songs that her grandparents had listened to from before that. She had never heard of the music her older co-workers listened to. She was pleasantly surprised to find she liked most of what they played for her. Her favorites of the three dozen artists that were played for her were Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Metallica, AC/DC, Alanis Morissette, Van Halen, Sheryl Crow, Garbage, Guns N Roses, Jimmy Hendrix, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Lynyrd Skynyrd, No Doubt, Band Maid, No Doubt, Aerosmith, and George Thorogood. The last one surprised her.

Lionel and Rita had even given Zoe copies of all the albums from those artists they had. Zoe gave them copies of a couple of daemons she had picked up in exchange, which led to Zoe telling them about her run in with the Yakuza.

“You just have rotten luck when it comes to the criminal types,” Rita observed.

“Tell me about it,” Zoe huffed. The older couriers laughed.

“Take this,” Lionel said sending Zoe a data transfer request.

“What is it?” Zoe asked running a scan on the file before accepting it.

“A little something Rita, a couple of friends, and myself cooked up. “We call it Plague,” Lionel answered.

“The daemon makes up to five people on the same network sick,” Rita explained. “Anyone infected with Plague can have a headache, blurry vision, vomit, run a mild fever, cough, pass gas, and/or have explosive diarrhea.”

“Explosive diarrhea?” Zoe laughed.

“Yes, indeed. That part is my favorite,” Lionel said. “It all depends on what implants the targets have though.”

“For example, someone with just optical implants will get a headache and blurry vision,” Rita said.

“Will it kill someone or is it completely non-lethal?” Zoe asked.

“Non-lethal,” Lionel answered.

“This is fantastic!” Zoe exclaimed. “What do I owe you guys for this?”

“Nothing,” Rita shrugged. Lionel just nodded in agreement. “We’re co-workers and friends after all.”

“Come on guys! I can’t just take Plague. It’s too much,” Zoe said. The other two couriers shrugged. “Why don’t I buy you a nice steak dinner?”

“That works,” Rita replied after Lionel nodded. Zoe sent Lionel 300 credits.