Outrun - Chapter 369 (Patreon)

Neon reflected through the storm washing over Aythryn City. The rain was somewhere in between medium and heavy, with thick drops of water sprinkled in. It wasn’t quite spring, but the rain certainly matched that time of year. The winter was a bit too short this year. 

I stared down at the parking lot as my brain worked at one problem after another. The cracked asphalt was torn up and covered in potholes from years of abandonment and being left to the elements. Just like everything that was built up, time had worked its magic to tear it back down. 

The way back was mostly silent outside of radio chatter now that the jammer was dead. Apparently, we got off lucky. The team that went to the distribution east wing had to deal with high pressure water jets that could cut straight through metal. No fatalities, though most of them were severely injured. The Crusaders that went the other way, by contrast, had a nice time destroying hundreds of crab-like robots.

None of us were seriously injured, and Garrick only lost an arm. A chrome arm at that, so it didn’t really matter… Interestingly, from start to finish there were no moves to betray us. It seemed Hope and I were just jumping at shadows.

A Medtech Medevac was already on its way, so the injured were set off to the side to wait for them. The Crusade certainly had its benefits. Medtech would see them fixed up and right as rain.

Reinforcements had finally started to arrive. The flashing lights of dozens of Crusade Cruisers lit up the rain-slicked parking lot outside of the water treatment facility. There was even a Waymaker hovering in the air with its heavy cannon pointed directly at the facility.

The car door slammed beside me as Hope started up the cruiser. She’d been busy talking to what looked like chemical technicians. “That went well… still have the drive?”

I groaned and likewise shut my door. The cool rain had felt rather refreshing. I shook off my poncho, and drops of water scattered across the cruiser. “Chek. It’s in my bag somewhere.”

I glanced around between all the Crusaders present. None of them were watching us too closely, which could indicate that there weren’t any traitors present… or that the traitor had already started to make a break for it instead of trying to ensure his identity remained hidden.

”Nova.” Hope wiped off the windshield HUD, shifted into drive, and whipped out of the SmileFriend Purification Zone. “You are fine, right? I don’t need to run you to the medics?”

”Just a little sore.” I rubbed at my legs. Repeated use of Burst Step on top of the long walks had left me utterly drained. It wasn’t looking great considering how much I still needed to do.

We were silent for a few streets. There was nothing but the screech of tires and the heavy thud of raindrops on the cruiser’s roof. Hope moved for the radio—

“I have something to say.” I lightly caught her wrist just before she could turn it on. As much as I wished I could just stay silent, it was now or never.

”Oh?” She retracted her hand and glanced at me. Her silver inquisitor mask reflected the worry and tension on my face as clear as day. “What is it?”

I put on an Honest smile and tried to get rid of the tense look. I wasn’t tense… not one bit. I’d already planned on revealing it today. I had backup plans, and those backup plans had backup plans. If it didn’t go well—I looked at my HUD and tracked the Roughrider tailing us. 

“Um… s-so…” Where did I even begin? Everything you know about me is a lie? I’m actually a thief and was just using my position to get access to certain assets? Funny how I managed to plan everything, yet somehow didn’t come up with what I was going to tell her.

”No pressure, Zukes. This is a safe place.” She drifted around a corner with her lights on, throwing me against the car door. This so very much was not a safe place.

And—and did she just use a pet name for me? I grabbed at my chest. Way to twist the flipping dagger, Hope. As if I wasn’t already beating myself up enough. I shook my head and stared out the window.

The bruised cityscape flashed past us as we practically flew down the streets. “I… c-can I trust you? I… I don’t quite fit into the Crusade’s box.”

”I know.”

”I mean, I disappear for weeks on end, barely show up to work and—you know?!” Her words processed way too late.

“Yeah.” She hesitated for a moment and then casually pulled off her mask. Her heavy eyes looked as tired as ever, though there was a certain spark in them this time. “It’s okay… If it's really something serious, I’ll protect you.”

“R-really?” I grabbed my pistol and allowed Dexterity to slow the world down so I could have more time to think. An offer for protection… I’d heard it numerous times before, ‘course. This time though—this time I felt that she might actually keep her word. Or maybe I was just biased since I liked Hope. 

“Yeah… so? What did you want to tell me?” Hope pulled off the road and slid up into an alley. She fully parked the cruiser in between two trashcans and gave me all of her attention. I tried really hard not to notice that the doors were incidentally blocked so I couldn’t try to escape.

It took all I had in me to keep from hyperventilating. I stared out the windshield at the passing cars and tried to adjust my mindset. Maybe it was just an accident? But if it wasn’t… I should’ve left a Spectral Flock on my bike too. An escape route didn’t matter if I couldn't get to it.

I twisted my hands together. I was really going to do this, wasn’t I? Just take deep breaths, Shiro. One word at a time. The Shiro Alliance was cheering you on. Chek, I could totally do this. “S-so… Um… wh-what if I said I wasn’t who you thought I was?”

“Are you not who you say you are?” Hope’s head tilted to the side. Her eyes crinkled slightly with amusement, which made the bags under her eyes all the more apparent.

”H-hypothetically speaking.” I bit my cheek. I was so stupid. I practically admitted it by saying hypothetically. Was it getting hot in here? I pulled at my poncho uncomfortably.

“I’d hypothetically ask what's your name?” Hope smiled encouragingly at me. She didn’t seem shocked at all, which verified something I was scared of. She already knew I wasn’t real. Why wait so long, though? And she never directly asked until I brought it up.

”I-it’s—“ I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The stress was starting to get to me. I flicked on Cold Blooded, and immediately felt ice spread through my veins. “Shiro. Sh-Shiro Tsukuyomi.”

”Then it’s nice to meet you, Shiro.” Hope grinned and stuck her hand out to me. Her silver gauntlet flashed with neon from a sign across the street. “Hypothetically speaking, ‘course.”

“Har har…” I stared at her gauntlet and let Dexterity drop. “You’re, uh, you’re taking this surprisingly well.”

“You’re getting it off your chest surprisingly well.” She lifted a brow and waved her hand up and down as if to remind me it was still hanging there. “So?”

”Right…” I carefully shook her hand. The Crusade silver felt particularly soothing against my flushed skin. “Nice to meet you too, Hope.”

She smiled softly, started the cruiser back up, and pulled back out onto the street. She took a roundabout route to the Crusade instead of crossing onto the highway. “So… Shiro, huh? Isn’t that a guy’s name?”

”Obviously not.” I shot her a glare. I could appreciate what she was trying to do, though. “You already knew, didn’t you?”

”Ligh told me just before you and I went on that Circle raid.” She shrugged and flicked on her lights to speed through a stoplight. 

“Woah.” That was a very long time. “Why didn’t you say something?”

”I figured you’d bring it up sooner or later.” She side-eyed me. “And you did, didn’t you?”

“After you dug it out of me.” My voice filled with a weak accusatory tone. “Don’t think I missed the subtle jabs in my direction over the past week.” 

“Oh, Shiro, there was nothing subtle about those.” The Inquisitor snickered and lazily stretched a hand out to ruffle my hair. I habitually dodged the motion. 

  “What now?” Some of my tension eased up with her jokes, but it didn’t go away entirely. I doubted it ever would.

”Now? Now you have a decision to make. We can hire you officially as Shiro Tsukuyomi, you can quit, or you can keep pretending to be Zuku.” Hope reached over and slid her mask back on.

I could quit. I wanted to hear those words for so long back then. Now, though, they felt bitter. Quitting… Part of me still wanted too, ‘course. I risked a lot staying in the Crusade, and I wasn’t gaining all that much out of it. I’d be lying if I said I wanted to quit, though. The Crusade—I had mixed feelings about it.

Staying on as Shiro Tsukuyomi, though? That… that sounded dangerous for plenty of reasons. It wasn’t something I even considered when I thought about how this would end. I always figured Hope would arrest me and try to lock me up in one of the Crusade’s secret panopticons. 

“I—“

”Take your time.” Hope patted me on the shoulder. “There’s no rush. Ligh adjusted your paperwork so internal affairs wouldn’t pry too deeply into you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

I was wondering how I lasted as long as I did. The shoemaker—unless it was some treasurer in the Crusade somewhere, then there was no way the shoe fit enough to ward off an actual internal investigation. Especially when the investigation was geared toward ousting traitors in the first place. “Thanks.”

We went silent. More accurately, Hope gave me some time to think things through. I reclined my chair back and stared out at the city passing by. This was a decision that could potentially haunt me for years to come. Rushing it wouldn’t be smart.

”Can I turn the radio on now?” Hope asked.

”It’s your car. Do whatever you want.” I glanced at her and then stuck a pair of earbuds into my ears to listen to music of my own. It helped clear my head so I could focus. 

The drive was quiet all the way back to the Crusade’s HQ. Hope pulled down the ramp and into the Crusade’s parking garage. I plucked the earbuds out. “Can I… can I get back to you?” 

“Just don’t ghost me when I call you, eh?” She turned the car off and stretched out. “We’ll probably be put on the strike squad to go get the armor back soon.”

I fished the drive out of my bag. I was more than happy to shift the conversation to something else. “You really think he was being honest?” 

It was far more likely that he was lying… then again, he did seem like the kind of narcissistic asshole who was too wrapped up in his own ego to bother with lying. The rancid stench of an ex-corpo exec practically wafted off of him.

“It’d be right up his alley to burn his ally when things went south.” She grabbed the drive from my hand. “I’ll hand this to the runners. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off, Zu—Shiro?”

It was so weird hearing Hope call me by my real name. I’d gotten used to Zuku. “Chek… thanks again.” 

“Don’t mention it.” She waved a casual hand and turned for the elevator back up into the HQ. 

I watched her for a moment and then split off back toward the street. I had a lot to think about… back to my workshop. I always did my best thinking while working. “Bring my bike around, Luna.”

******

Alternative Universe brought to you by Lost Rain Co’s Prying Eye!

———

“Yeah… so? What did you want to tell me?” 

I twisted uncomfortably in my seat as a flush of cold passed through me. If even Insight was triggered, then maybe I shouldn’t tell her? “S-so—”

Bam! 

A truck slammed into the side of our cruiser and flipped us down the street. We rolled a dozen times before grinding to a stop. I looked over to see Hope—no, she’d been flung free from the collision. I—I couldn’t see her! Hope! No!

———

This is why we always should wear our seatbelts. Seatbelts save lives. They reduce the risk of fatal injuries by up to 45%! Isn’t that crazy? Or you could buy LRC’s newest portable seatbelt! 50% off with this offer!

******

AN: I got distracted while writing and totally butchered the scene originally. ^^

Also, after a bit of thinking, I’ve decided to rewrite the last chapter. Haven’t gotten around to it yet, but I’m going to change it so they don’t take an AI home. I was jumping ahead of myself with it, and as some readers pointed out it was outside of Shiro’s usual approach to stuff. I’m about to fall asleep, so it’ll probably be done sometime this weekend.