AOJ Episode 1: To Save A Life

AOJ Episode 1: To Save A Life

Chapter 1: To Save A Life

Welcome to my life. My name is Jere. I am a private investigator. I work from job to job in this dark city. I have seen so many things here that cannot be explained by logic. What lurks in the shadows of this town is a mystery to us all.

The year is 2024. It can be said it’s a post apocalyptic time. I live inside sector city, have not seen the light of day for many years now. Gosh its been over ten at least.

My memories have become clouded of my past. Not many of us remember much of anything before we came to Sector City. The city is ruled by corporate powers. The big ones are Helix, Diversified Genenetics, and System Unlimited. Everyone works and dies here for a company. That’s just how it is.

However I could never except such a life. So I became a Private I. The police force here does not seem to care much about the lower class here. They cater to the evil hands of the corporations. So finding work here is not hard. Allot of gangs have formed as a result. Constantly battering and mugging the few good people left here.

The health care programs here are broken. I know, it adds salt to the wound. If you are not rich they already consider you dead. As a result a strange disease is spreading. We call it the rot. Its like something out of a monster movie. Turning people into mindless decaying corpses. Strangely enough though its not contracted through the air or from being in contact with one. It’s a mystery how you receive it. I have investigated several matters of rot myself. Its one of the saddest things to watch. Peoples loved ones become these creatures and they have to kill them, or else… the other is not pretty. Not to say killing your loved on is pretty.

If you walk in the shadows of this city… you will find stray people huddled, mumbling words of insane nature. Most of them have the rot too.

Dead bodies are not uncommon ether. I often investigate such matters. Murder is spreading here like the plague. In fact a few months ago I had a case where a bunch of children disappeared. I later found out the culprit was a school teacher… she was eating her students. I have investigated cases of vampirism, unknown machines, cults, monsters and ghosts. They are all present here.

I am a Christian. A rare breed here. If not for the warmth of God I am sure I would be insane by now. I am almost all alone in this dark town of loose morals and decaying skin.

This morning I woke up from a loud buzzing sound. It was my black alarm clock. I swung my arm around to turn it off, knocking it off my wooden nightstands. I heard the sound of breaking glass and I quickly moved the blankets off me. The air was cool on my warm flesh.

I gazed down at my floor to see the alarm clock broken and the glass on the floor. I have to admit today did not seem to be starting off good. I rubbed my eyes and got up out of bed. It was still dark outside when I got up. This must mean that the dome screens have had a shortage. I stepped outside on my balcony to view a strange haze over the city. The emergency lights were on. However darkness was still clouding above.

I shook my head at the strange sight and continued on my normal routine. I walked over to the bathroom and did my business and washed up. The bathroom tiles were cold to the touch. I looked into my sink then into the mirror. I checked myself daily for the rot. I wanted to make sure I would never suffer such a fait. My dark brown hair was ear length and messed up. I fix my hair up into a nice wedge cut with bangs. I blinked a few times then turned off the cold water and walked into my hall.

I could not remember much of the previous night. The empty wine bottles and sickness in my stomach might explain why. I got some supplies and went back into my room and swept up all the broken glass. I deposited the remains of my alarm clock in the trash. I went into my closet and got my daily suit out. It always consisted of a black suit and tie. I headed into the living room and slipped on my black dress shoes and headed out the door. I tend to wander the city during the day. I also wanted to investigate the strange fog.

I also wanted to check the local bounty updates. Perhaps a small fry was out there waiting to be bagged. I arrived at the Crying Spider’s Alehouse, this was a common place to find bounty heads. Most bounty hunters frequent here and hang out. This was not my crowd however. There is a bar on the edge of my home sector that is called The Grunts Bar, I tend to enjoy the company there. Anyways back to what I was doing.

I entered and immediately smelled terrible fumes. They were using some type of smelling agent today… or someone was. There were strippers dancing for dirty old war soldiers and many brutish types. A bouncer stops me when I enter and then says to me “You think you can just walk back in here nark?” he says.

“I don’t know what your talking about.” I said to him. He has an eye patch and stands about seven feet tall he looks like a meat puppy, meaning he has lots of muscles. His head was shaved and he had fiber optic hair. It was clearly fake but it was a bright red.

He stands in front of me as if to intimidate me. “Look pipsqueak you and I both know what you did last week? You through us to the gallows.”

I know exactly what he is talking about. Last week some officers stopped me and asked me some questions about the Crying Spider… they have prostitutes and some of them are not of age. I think a law requiring the girl to be thirteen is not too much to ask for but for some reason people want ten year olds now. Sick works they do.

“So what are you going to do about it rat breath?” I told him. He looked at me then grabbed my shoulder. “Get off me rhino face!”

He looks into my eyes and laughs. “You want to make something of it mosquito?”

I then draw my pistol from my jacket and point it at his head. “This is a colt pistol, it does not have a safety chip. One click of the trigger and you’re a wetwork. I suggest you let me by meat bag and take your greasy hand off my shoulder.”

He takes his hands and steps back lightening his tone with me he says “Hey hey, what ever you want.” then steps aside. I walked past him and headed over to the board and started searching it for work.

Nothing after about a half hour of searching. I then head out of the bar. I got back on my bike and drove for a while until got an email. It was a job request from the 45th trade district of this sector. There request is urgent and would like to meet with me ASAP.

I hurried over to the 45th trade district to see exactly what type of job it was. When I arrived at the area it looked trashed and run down. Broken windows and buildings covered with spray paint. I then check the specific address and headed over to the shop. I got off my bike and stood up. I walked over to the front door.. Some one had spray painted an X on it. I drew my gun as I walked inside. I scanned it with my eyes and found it was a general food mart. I slowly walked through the empty building to the front desk. Once I arrived I looked around for a clerk and none was seen.

I spoke out “Does anyone need help?” I did not hear anything but legally I have to be invited behind the desk. I “heard” a yes. I got climbed over the front desk and slowly peaked into room area to see the clerk tied up. I gave her a wink as I peeked around the corner. She looked to her left and I nodded.

I darted around the corner and aimed my pistol at a thuggishly looking man. He was holding a crowbar and was about to hit me. I shot him in the hand so he dropped the crowbar. I quickly ran up to him and kicked him in the face and restrained him. “What the hell were you doing here punk!” I said to him.

“Fuck you! What the hell are you doing with a gat?” he said.

I looked at him and laughed “That’s right. About time illegal weapons worked against people like you.”

“Oh my God you shot me!” he yells.

I guess the pain settled in. I then butted him with the back of my gun in his head. “Don’t take the lords name in vain! Its not respectful to him.” I said to him and cuffed his hands and then used a plastic tie to tie his legs together with his hands.

I walked over to the girl and cut her free. “Are you alright?” I asked her.

“I am glad you got my message.” she said.

I smiled at her. “Is this the problem?” I asked her.

“Yes but my father was the one who actually sent you the message. I was just lucky you came right now. He was going to kidnap me.” she said.

“Why?” I asked her.

“My father did not pay his protection money and the gang has trashed his place ever since.” she told me.

“I want to meet with your father. Oh before I forget please leave the room.” I told her. She obliged and left. I walked over to the tied up man. “The police can’t know I shot you.” I told him.

“You expect me to stay quite?” he asked me.

“Nope.” I said to him.

He then looked at me. “Then what are you going to do?”

I drew out a blade from my jacket and raised it in the air. I quickly cut off the top part of the hand I shot. He screamed out in pain. I then took out a vile of acid from my jacket and pored the acid onto it. The hand dissolved into a liquid on the concrete floor.

“No evidence of my gun. If you say a word I will kill you.” I told him.

He just looked at me. “How do you explain my hand to them?” He yelled at me.

“I don’t need to. They won’t think I used a gun. They have no evidence it was me. Now run and get out of here.” I told him. I then cut his leg ties.

I turned around and left him on the ground. I headed into the front area and smiled at the girl. “So where is your father right now?” I asked her.

“He should be back sometime soon.” she said. She was cute I have to admit. Short blond hair with light red highlights and she wore some new style clothing. Tight latex and fiber optic decals that glowed a pinkish color. He outfit was white and pink. It was like a mini dress but it was one piece. She wore thigh high white boots with pink edging. She had dark tan skin.

“So, is this a family business?” I asked her.

She nodded and then said to me “Yes, I enjoy working here. Its really not that bad once you get past the metal heads that keep attacking.” she said to me.

“I can see that as a minor annoyance.” I joked.

She looked at me and said to me “Where did you get a gun?”

I hated questions of this nature. Guns are illegal here and I am not supposed to have one. Even the police weapons have mod chips on them so they can’t fire without a gun card. Mine is an older style gun. It’s an M1911 Custom. She has always served me well. I don’t know actually how I acquired it but I assume it has to do with my blocked out memory. I have always had it since I have been here.

“I can’t disclose that information madam.” I told her. “I would prefer if you forget I have a gun entirely.”

She nodded “I understand the police here don’t seem to care about this sector.” she said to me.

“I know. I have seen it all too often.” I told her and sighed.

She smiled at me, “Do you remember your past?” she said to me.

“No. Does your father?” I asked her.

“No. I wonder what happened to get everyone to forget there pasts.” she said to me.

I nodded. “It is annoying. Probably for the best though. All I need is my faith. That will pull me through this life.” I said to her. “So these thugs, who are they?” I asked her.

“They call themselves the Metal Heads. They act like they own this sector and vandalize everything if you don’t pay them not to. It’s terrible. Apparently my father stopped paying them a few months ago and ever since they have vandalized the entire area. People are beginning to turn against my fathers store because of this.” she told me.

“Have they made any death threats?” I asked her.

She nodded then said “That’s why my father finally contacted you. They made a threat on our lives. They said tomorrow night they are going to hang us if we don’t pay them.” she told me.

“The police won’t do anything?” I said to her.

“They say it’s a domestic issue and that we can resolve it ourselves.” she told me.

The door opened to the store and chimes were herd from the bells over the door. A man then said to me “Who are you?”

“My name is Jere; I am the detective you contacted.” I told him.

He smiled “Thank you for coming so quickly.” then his daughter ran up to him and hugged him.

“I see you already met Audri.” he told me.

“Audri was just telling me about your problem with the, Metal Heads.” I said to him.

Audri then burst out. “He saved my life. They tried to kidnap me.” she told him.

“Is this true?” he asked me.

“One of them tied her up. I am not sure if he was going to kidnap her or not but yes there was a person of thuggish nature here.” I told him.

“He shot him.” she told her father.

“He shot him? You have a gun?” he said to me.

“I carry protection.” I told him.

He walked over to me. “My name is William Ashton, its nice to meet you… what is your last name?” he said as he extended him hand to shake. I grabbed his hand and smiled at him.

“You can call me Jere. That is all I go by.” I told him.

He nodded then said “Fair enough Mr. Jere. Let’s head upstairs and have a drink while we discuss business. I got a bottle of scotch that is just waiting to be opened.”

“Sounds like a date?” I said with a smile. He looked at me funny until I said “It’s a joke.” He then laughed along with me.

We headed to his apartment upstairs. We sat under a dull light and had a few shots of scotch and enjoyed casual conversation for a while then we started talking serous.

“So what exactly do you want me to investigate?” I asked him.

He looked at me and laughed. “I was kind of hoping you would be a body guard for me.” he told me.

“A bodyguard?” I said.

“The thugs want to kill me. I was hoping you could guard me tomorrow and scare them off.” he said to me.

“Mr. Ashton I am not a bodyguard. I can give you some good references. I mean I know some great bodyguards that need work.” I told him.

“No, I researched you. You’re not like the others. You actually care about your work and helping people. Bodyguards don’t really care about the person they are protecting. They only care about the money. I need someone like you that will protect me and my daughter with all you got.” he said to me.

“I am not qualified to guard someone. I am not a fighter. I investigate crimes and people.” I told him.

He laughs “You can’t bullshit me like that. I have seen your record. The police don’t take a very good liking to you. However they tolerate you because of all the work you have done. You had a hand in the crisis.” he said to me. The crisis was a terrible time here. Several bombs were set around the sectors. I defused one that was in this sector and fought through the crazed members of a cult that said it was the apocalypse. They tried to prevent police from getting to the bombs. No one ever found the person responsible for the bombs.

“That was years ago and I had to do something about it.” I told him.

Mr. Ashton then said to me “This is an emergency. If you don’t help me, my daughter will die. Please find it in your heart to help me. If its money you want I will give you what ever you wish.”

“This does not sit well with me sir. However if you insist on having me guard you, my fee is fifty credits an hour.” I said to him.

“Thank you Jere. I really appreciate it. Could you start tonight?” He asked me.

“Yeah, Audri might be in danger.” I told him. “However after this is over wont they just come back.” I told him.

He nodded. “I am afraid of that too. I hope they are scared off by you.” he said to me.

I looked at him. “I can do my best. However without causing a mess I don’t think they will be scared away. Gangs are stuck up and don’t give in normally. They just keep coming back and dieing. I suggest you move to a different sector. Also change your last name. They will follow you if they are persistent enough.” I then sighed. “I hate gangs myself. They are nothing but cowards.”

“I will consider that then.” he told me.

He worked hard to be at this point and to have to through it away because of some gang must be hard for him to accept. However it’s a must since it is so dangerous for him to be here. Night fall finally came and I waited in the back room for them to come. It was clear when they did come because I heard the roar of there bikes from about a mile away. They were smashing the up buildings and screaming. I got up and walked out of the back room and yawned.

“Looks like its show time?” I said to Audri and William. I started walking to the front and finally went outside. I watched them screaming and do there thing then I yelled out to them “Could you guys keep it down out here? I am trying to get some sleep.”

The road up to me and surrounded me. With metal pipes and knives they laughed. The leader of the gang had a sword with him and he said to me “Looks like we got a brave one.” he told me.

“Yo dumb ass.” another one said.

“Dumb ass?” I asked the guy.

“That’s you dip shit.” another one said.

I cracked my neck. “So you guys think your tough?”

They all laughed at me. One guy then says “Boss can I take this punk out.”

The leader nodded his head.

He got off his bike and started to walk over to me. He had a metal crow bar in his hand. He drew his arm back to swing at me and I kicked him in the face then kicked him in the side with my other leg. I punch him the face with my other arm and finished the combo by grabbing his shoulder and kneeing him in the stomach. He feel on the ground with a bloody nose.

“What he hell?” said one of the guys.

I laughed at them. “Common how about the rest of you.” I picked up the crow bar and got ready my footing ready. There was eight of them left to fight. Four of them got off there bikes and started to charge at me. The other four started riding around with their bikes. One of them charged me and I kicked him in the stomach and hit him in the head with an upstroke with the crowbar. One of the cyclist came up behind me and tried to hit me from behind and I swung around and hit him off his bike.

Another guy came up to my back and tried to stab me but I grabbed his hand and twisted his arm then beating his leg with the crowbar till it broke wide open. I then threw the crowbar into another one of the guys face.

I then drew out my pistol and the guys freaked out. “Alright you bitches enough play. I don’t want to see you here ever again. If I do I will blow your damn heads off.”

The boss started retreating and the rest followed him. I brushed myself off and watched the other ones scramble to there bikes. I fired off three shots at them just to scare them. They speed off quickly and I walked back inside.

“Your were amazing out there. You certainly earned your reputation.” said William.

I shook my head. “They should not be coming back. I am going to head out and get some supplies for the watch. I want to stay here a couple nights to make sure.”

“We are very much in your dept Mr. Jere. Thank you so much.” William says to me.

“Its really no problem.” I then head out of the room. Hop on my bike and drive down to buy ammunition and some magazines and maybe a few things to snack on.

When I returned from doing my errands the place was on fire. I quickly jumped off my bike and rushed into the building. “William, Audrey!” I drew my gun as I walked into the fiery building. I felt a tingling inside my chest as I ran into the smoky room. The smoke amazingly was not bothering my breathing condition.

I headed into the were house where I saw two bodies hanging from hooks burning. The bodies of William and his daughter torn and falling apart easily. It was a sight to bring sickness to the heart and I got sick to the stomach as well. I just watched as the room was consumed in fire for a few moments. Then rage sparked in me.

I road all night looking for street punks on bikes to beat there skulls in. I road down block after block ally after ally not finding them. Anger and hate burned in me. The city lights turned on brightening the city. I grew aware of my feeling. I stopped and decided to ride back home. Sorrow filled me as I gave way to giving up. These men are butchers and brutes. Next time I cripple them all. I try to save the world but in the end, I fail.