Sci-Fi Story Preview

The Hydro View Apartments; it takes a special kind of person to boldly lie on the front of a building. The only view you would be getting is concrete slabs, abandoned buildings and tweakers. Even the website boldly stated, ‘Come for the wonderful view of seasonal New Delphia!’ right on the front page. The NDPD is always down here but I have never heard of them needing a Runner.

I stared at the front office, my cigarette dangling from my lips. Two police cruisers were around, their sirens silently flashing. I took one final hit off the cigarette before letting it fall to the ground. I smothered it with the tip of my shoe before heading inside.

The door dinged as I opened it. Sitting at the desk was a young woman, early twenties. Standing beside her was a middle-aged man in a suit. He was shouting an officer.

“…I want you to take the body and clear out!” He jerked his head towards me. “We are closed right now!” I felt sorry for the woman. If he talked to his potential renters that way, he must be horrible to her.

He returned to shouting at the officer, who somehow remained calm throughout the entire ordeal. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my holobadge emitter. I clicked the top of it and showed it to the woman.

“I’m Runner Asugot. I’m here to investigate the homicide in I9.”

“Are you here to remove the body?!” The suit shouted at me.

“No.”

“Then are you in charge?”

“No.”

The man scuffed at my answer. He stepped closer, his finger in my face. “I’m a taxpaying citizen and I do not appreciate the way the NDPD has been treating me! The longer that body stinks up my apartment, the more my business suffers! What does the police intend to do when I have to shut down my business and kick these people to the street!”

As he prattled on, I pulled up virtual file we have on the apartment. “That body isn’t stinking up your business, your attitude is. Officers are called out here at least twice a week. Maybe we should be investigating how you run this establishment.” I leaned forward to add, “Then we would see how much taxes you really pay.”

The manager stepped back, a look of embarrassment and anger was on his face. “Your supervisor will hear about this!”

“Go for it. He’ll just put it in my folder.” I turned to the other officer. I could see he was fighting the urge to snicker. “Take me to the crime scene.”

The officer led me outside to a decent sized common area. If the grass wasn’t dead and the trash was picked up, it might have been halfway decent. It appeared to be a popular area for the homeless too.

“You don’t seem worried about him reporting you.”

“Cause I’m not. My supervisor will just cuss and howler, but he won’t do anything to me.” I could feel his eyes staring into me. “What?”

“I’m sorry but I got to know. Are you the Runner with the Red Eyes?”

I glanced over at him, but I didn’t say anything. The apartment was in the back, judging by where he was taking me. I noticed a homeless man began to stir. This caused the officer to freak out.

“Woah!” He shouted as he reached for his gun.

I held my arm out and we waited. The man got up, mumbled to himself and walked past us. He didn’t even acknowledge us.

“I thought he was going to attack us,” The Officer said as if I had some kind of future sight.

“You aren’t from around here, are you?”

“No sir. I’m from Missouri but I…I know what the other officers call this place.”

“And what is that?”

“Hell’s Park.”

I couldn’t roll my eyes hard enough. “That incident was over twenty years ago. I live a few blocks up the way and nothing happens. This area isn’t any more run down then the rest of the poor sections.”

“Are you from New Delphia?”

I nodded as we climbed a flight of metal stairs. They shook as we walked, and a step was missing. “I have lived here most of my life. I remember when the cities used to be separate and this was called Philadelphia.”

“Wow!” He proclaimed before adding, “You must be like over a hundred years old.”

Now I know I’m rough looking but I’m not THAT rough looking. “I’m not that old!” I sternly replied before picking up my pace. I didn’t need a rookie to find I9.

The apartment was even easier to find then I thought. It was the only one with the door open and a crew of police inside. Another officer approached me and asked for my ID. I showed him my holobadge before asking, “Who is in charge?”

“That would be me,” A burly, mustachioed man loudly declared. Unlike the officers, he was in street clothes. Street clothes that looked like they were ready to burst.