Chapter Twenty - Up Shit’s Creek


    They tried, you know. Way back in the late 2020s, there was this whole thing where they tried to cut down on drug use. It wasnt all that great. The world was going to shit, what did they expect, people to inject less shit into themselves?


    Nah, we still made bank. It became harder to move materials around, but then, no one ever really checked the sewers.


    --Excerpt from a 2049 autobiography.


    ***


    One thing became increasingly clear as Gomorrah questioned our ambushers. They didnt know jack shit.


    If they did know something, then they werent spilling. Myalis and Atyacus both took a turn rooting around in their augments to see if there was anything worth finding, but other than some questionable kinks, a few bits of potential blackmail, and a lot of mundane messages, there wasnt really anything worth our time.


    One of them knew about the kidnappings. A younger member had been helping transport some people grabbed from the upper levels. He was a ferry driver, and that meant he had seen the kidnapped people being shifted to one of the locations Myalis had tagged as a likely spot for the kidnapped to be housed in.


    But as for the why, he had nothing.


    This is such a waste of time, I muttered as I stood up from a crouch. Talking to our new buddies was made more complicated when all of them were glued to the floors and walls in rather awkward positions.


    The goop was starting to melt off though. Given another four or five hours, theyd be able to start fighting their way free. I didnt plan on being around for that.


    I think I agree, Gomorrah said. Any ideas, Raccoon, Franny?Upstodatee from


    No. These people seem like... pardon the term, but they seem like lowlives. Theyre not at the top of the food chain.


    The way they put it, theres no food chain around here, I said. I reached up to rub at my nose, then sighed and let my hand drop. Masks were annoying. I think we might need to go pay this Doc Hack guy a visit though. He doesnt seem to be quite in charge, but he is giving out orders, which is close enough.


    I think Ive heard of him, Rac said. Hes, like, this super smart guy that used to be a bigwig in some company, but then he did something sleazy and he came down into the sewers to be left alone. Hes been there forever though. Some people say hes like a boogieman.


    Oh, great, I said. I loved the idea of a sewer-dwelling bogeyman. The name Doc Hack inspired such great imagery too. I could imagine telling the kittens to shut up and go to sleep, or else Doc Hack would show up and gut them.


    Gomorrah picked up her flame-thrower where shed left it on the ground. Should we keep moving? she asked. I have the codes for one of their vehicles.


    Thatll save us some points, I muttered. Yeah, lets move on. These guys can chill out over here. Do a bit of thinking about all of their, uh, sins or whatever.


    Being glued to the floor isnt exactly like visiting a confessional, Franny said.


    I laughed as I gestured to the end of the room. Were continuing down that way?


    They dont look so reliable, I said.


    Of the three, two looked like theyd been scavenged from one time too many, which meant there really was just one boat we could use.


    The third was about as big as a minivan, with hip-high walls around it covered in a nice spray of shit over off-white plastic boards. There was a small cabin in the centre, with a window and a wheel next to some levers that no doubt operated the whole thing.


    Thats our ride? I asked.


    Its that or we swim, Gomorrah said. Or you could buy something.


    Im not buying a vehicle specifically made to navigate through shit, I said. Thats... such a waste of points. No, lets use that thing.


    I started to regret my choice the moment I walked down the ramp leading to the dock. The boat was even worse from up close, with a few holes in its bottom and some obvious decay all over. Even the bits that looked like they were made of aluminium looked like they were starting to fall apart.


    I dont believe this thing was made for these conditions, Gomorrah said as she leapt onto the boat. It bobbed in place, sending a few quick-fading ripples through the sludge.


    I pity the poor idiot who discovered their boat was stolen and brought over here, I said.


    Gomorrah installed herself behind the wheel and looked over the controls. There was a small onboard computer on the dashboard, with a touch screen that was entirely dark. She poked at it, then the obvious on button next to it. Predictably it did nothing. Theres nothing on here to start the engine, Gomorrah said.


    I shifted over to the back and grimaced at the onboard. I think its electric? There wasnt an obvious gas tank or an exhaust. The latches to the side of the engine were undone, so I tugged them open then stared at the stuff within. Theres a gun here, I said. And... I think those are batteries?


    There was a thick wire with a metal loop on the end dangling next to a battery post. I grabbed the wire and touched it to the post, then shifted my legs for balance as the engine whined to life and started to push the boat forwards--while we were still connected to the dock.


    That worked, Gomorrah said. She throttled down and the boat stopped bobbing quite so badly.


    Great, I said as I slammed the case shut. I walked over to the nearest line holding the boat in place and, after a moment of staring, recalled that I had a super suit that had very sharp nails. The shitty ropes holding us in place didnt last long.


    The boat moved over towards the middle of the sludge line, and Gomorrah spun it around to face the direction we had to go. There werent any seats on the boat, so I gravitated to the middle and hung onto the cabin.


    Lets get going then, Gomorrah said.


    Im real happy Im here and not there, Rac said.


    I didnt say anything, but I wished I was back there too.


    ***