2. celebrity
7 years ago. A lot has changed since the war between the Old Humanity Federation and the New Human Federation Government, or simply the war between the Old Humanity and the New Humanity.
First of all, the pioneer city became free. Resources and labor could be sold at a fair price, without the need to pay taxes for noble ‘real’ humanity. And order is gone.
Some say that oppression, not order, has disappeared, and others say that freedom has been paid too high a price. While corporate warlords who monopolized technology and resources maintained a sloppy social order, gangsters and scavengers flocked to commit violence.
If you are interested in history, you will feel that it resembles the 19th century pioneering of the West. Instead of gunslingers in cowboy hats, psychocyborgs intoxicated with e-drugs ran amok, and instead of local sheriffs, the Federal Armed Patrol (FAP) armed with war machines only suppressed them with 7.62mm miniguns.
“It’s the same for veterans who have no place to go and sell killing techniques to make ends meet.”
The fixer sat down on the torn sofa and put his feet on the shabby table. The crime committed last night was coming out through the pirate broadcast. Regular broadcasting channels receive back money from companies and repeat only propaganda broadcasts, so darknet or unauthorized broadcasts were good to get the right news.
“Wasn’t Mr. Leonard a member of the Allied Forces?”
“I told you to call me Leo.”
“Yes. Mr. Leonard Walker.”
The second-generation Android Sigma replied insincerely. In an age when fourth-generation human-like Androids were commercialized, the old model that was in vogue half a century ago was a perfect antique. Still, if you look closely, it was not an ordinary 2nd generation. The upper body has four arms, and the lower body has a rubber wheel removed from the wheelchair.
“And the allies are not people? If you look at the bio-ratio, it’s closer to the real thing.”
“Is Leonard like that too?”
The fixer, Leonard Walker, muttered, ‘Damn the old AI…’ and ignored it. Learning ability was quite selective.
Tittittittit-tittittik-
A mechanical beep rang through Leonard’s auditory module. In an age when AI voices are built-in by default, I deliberately downloaded and installed an old-fashioned alarm, so its nature was understandable.
Leonard swiped down the hologram on the sofa to lower the volume on the TV and answered the phone connected to the brain chip. My phone-cum ID, credit wallet, work tool-was in my back pocket, but I didn’t have to take it out. Linked to the implant eyeball, the sender’s profile came to mind in one field of vision.
‘The Broker’ Jake. It was a bald man wearing a tropical tree shirt popular a century ago and carrying an anti-cyborg 12-gauge shotgun over his shoulder.
– Work results came out.
Contrary to his ridiculous profile picture, his voice was as hard as that of an android. Leonard responded right away, as if he was familiar with the businesslike manner of a broker.
“They said it would take two days?”
-Your client got angry.
There was noise in the broker’s voice. Speaking of work, he seems to be concerned about security.
– 7% corporate tax, 8% city tax, 20% brokerage fee, total 4,277 credits. deposited now
A message popped up in my field of vision. It was an announcement that the credit had been deposited into a corporate bank account in the name of Leonard Walker.
“There are a lot of places where they don’t eat anything but tear them off.”
-If you don’t like that, do you stand alone?
“You want to be a scavenger? Just re-enlist.”
The broker, knowing how Leonard got out of the army, let out a dry laugh. This is what makes Cyborg better than Android.
-Your reputation is very good these days. I was wondering what to do when I was rumored to be a former Hexagon, but now there is a client who is only looking for you.
“That is not pleasant.”
– You have to endure for the sake of credit. Because you are the one who solves the problem without firing a single gun.
“yes? Did you shoot?”
– You didn’t shoot anyone? That’s it.
It’s an era where dead bodies are being scrapped, but there are still laws and fines. When a person dies, a lot of annoying things happen. Leonard, who did not kill ‘as much as possible’, was a self-proclaimed high-class solver.
“Looking at the mouth-watering noises, it looks like you’ve got a new job. How much is it?”
– I’m tuning in. Because the cost has to be right. I’m taking a few days off Contact me when done.
And hung up. Looking at the call time, it was exactly 59.00 seconds. In the world of vicious corporate capitalism, even laughing and talking is charged, so it was only natural that the thrifty bald would be picky. Of course, there were also security reasons such as wiretapping. Rumor has it that conversations longer than one minute will be recorded in corporate data, which many people, including bald brokers, believed to be true.
“Because the real world is really important.”
Leonard checked his credit account and hummed. This month’s rent was settled, and it seemed that if I earned a little more, I would be able to afford light luxuries.
“Ah, while I was thinking about it…”
Leonard pulled one of his luxuries from his shoulder holster. It was an old pistol with a barrel length of 25 cm. More specifically, it was a 1977 Model 45 ‘Army’ revolver from Gun & Guns. Contrary to its appearance, it was a very rare gun. The first was precious because it was a military revolver, and the second was precious because Gun & Guns was a munitions company of the Old Human Alliance.
“Don’t the Old Humanity Alliance use smart guns?”
Android Sigma asked. If you allow an internet connection, it will find the data in 0.3 seconds and learn on its own, but it did not.
“Weapons that cannot be used without electronic equipment are useless on the ground. It breaks down well because of air pollution. What is the reason for reselling a revolver that was abandoned hundreds of years ago at a high price?”
“Filling the sensibility of the analog era?”
“…because it breaks down less.”
Analog sensibility was also one of the reasons. Classic devices that operate on simple principles in an era of automation, modernization, and digitalization of everything stimulated a strange sense of nostalgia.
“No risk of hacking.”
For ex-hackers, the second reason was more important. A smart gun capable of automatic aiming and automatic firing connected to a visual sensor made the word stormtrooper the best humor of the 21st century, but on the contrary, it became like a naked child in front of cyber hackers playing with electronic devices. Of course, there are white hackers behind the smart gun-wielding soldiers, but it’s not something a freelancer who broke away from the best hacker organization would admit.
Leonard explained why implant hacking is dangerous and how lethal it is, removing the barrel and chamber and oiling the imported fabric. At that time, the TV suddenly went black with a crackling sound. It was a pirate broadcast that was transmitted illegally in the wasteland, so stealing radio waves was a daily routine. As expected, a new broadcast came out.
“We are the fighters of the anti-corporate liberation front! Salute to the free spirits of Sodom City! Protect yourself from corporate tyranny! Defend your family! Protect your sublime free will!”
“Are those guys again?”
Leonard casually changed the channel. However, wherever they turned on, only self-proclaimed fighters came out except for regular broadcasts. If not every day, I was fed up with what I heard once a month. Don’t buy the company’s products, don’t cooperate with the company, resist the company’s unsuspecting checks, etc. It was funny. Half of the citizens would die if it were not for the energy bars and implants produced and distributed by the company, so what are we to believe and resist?
“Even if it’s just credit right now, it’s a credit point managed by a company, so it’s a call to go back to the hunting era.”
The traces of the state were as dim as embers, laws and ethics were nameless, and corporations were the only remaining social order on earth overflowing with base desires. It’s not a group for the public good, but without it, humanity wouldn’t have survived the last war, no, in the first half of the frontier period.
“Sigma, turn off the TV.”
However, the business-friendly belief did not last long. Right before lunch, a celebrity came to the residence/office. Since it often appears on TV, it must be a celebrity.
“Are you Mr. Leonard Walker?”
Leonard put aside his trivial concerns from a moment ago, such as whether to eat a hot dog-flavored energy bar or a ramen-flavored energy bar, and looked at the celebrity. Like most of Sodom City’s fixers, Leonard got the job through an intermediary. Even though it hurts to pay fees, it was cheaper than fighting bloody battles with workers in the same industry and worrying about not getting the commission. In other words, it was worth signing a direct contract if there was no need to lose the rice bowl.
“What is liberation?”
“I am Sodom City Liberation Front Soldier B of freedom and equality that resists the corporate state system.”
“So… a terrorist?”
The answer was cold iron. Seven guns were aimed at Leonard’s head. It is unusual because there are 3 people and 7 guns, but one of the self-proclaimed soldiers had two guns on each arm. It was an illegally remodeled prosthetic arm that the police would love. Leonard frowned and said.
“If you knew my name, you would know my job too, right?”
“You seem quite confident in hacking. Of course, we took countermeasures.”
Self-proclaimed soldier B took out a jammer and shook it. He seems to have heard of it somewhere, but if he could block the Hexagon with a toy like that, the federal army wouldn’t have died en masse in the war seven years ago. Leonard sighed.
“yes. I am not a terrorist.”
“If it is an apology, I will accept it.”
“You should apologize.”
Leonard was not alone in Leonard’s office. Modified android Sigma stretched out his four arms. Large and small muzzles protruded from each arm up, down, left and right.
“Identification of Hostilities. Approval of suppression fire. Conducting a final notice. Lay down your weapons and surrender.”
Leonard added proudly.
“There are more guns this way.”
“…I didn’t come here with the intention of fighting.”
Self-proclaimed Soldier B let go of the pistol grip and raised his hand with his finger on the trigger guard. Also saw a lot. Leonard pulled out a revolver that had been overhauled, thinking he was a romantic who wanted to be free or liberated. It wasn’t a very fast movement, but it was so natural that no one reacted.
“What do I think? If you’re a trespasser, aren’t you innocent even if you kill me?”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Uh-huh, don’t move.”
Leonard put the muzzle on self-proclaimed Soldier B’s forehead and turned left. Sigma spun the wheel and turned right. It was a wonderful breath. The three of them were completely surrounded.
“You were the first to pull out the gun. Please don’t feel bad.”
“You’re the first one to be uncooperative!”
A self-proclaimed soldier with a gun attached to his prosthetic arm shouted. His appearance was so vicious that he blew up three or four corporate buildings, but his voice sounded like that of a child. It was a kid who had a particular taste in vocal chords or had a high implant rate.
“Non-cooperation is the negation of cooperation. You should have asked if you would cooperate first.”
“Leonard Walker, I have a request.”
“Of course it is.”
If I had no intention of trading, I shot right away. Self-proclaimed soldier B calmly turned around.
“You guys like the credits.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t like that?”
He was nervous, but not frightened. It didn’t seem like a promotional face madam. I really like that boldness, but I liked the lines even more.
“100,000 credits. How is it?”
Looking back, he was a very polite guest.