Moxyland - Lauren Beukes [51]
'You know, if I was from your current employer's internal investigations, you would already have incriminated yourself.'
'I really don't know what you mean. I was in the middle of asking you if this was another one of Genevieve's half-baked romantic set-ups. You interrupted, rudely, before I could finish my sentence. It's hardly my fault if you want to jump to wild conclusions.'
He slaps his leg and laughs loudly enough to disturb the suits on the couch across from us, who glance over briefly. Unfortunately, audio interference only works on electronics.
'You really are something. So, what would it take to – uh, get you into bed?'
'I'm not a whore, Stefan. But if you're asking me about my ambitions, my dreams? The kind of things we might discuss on a date? I want to live up to my potential. You know I was raised in a skills institute? Eskom Energy Kids.'
'I saw it on your CV.'
'Compared to scrabbling for opportunities with three thousand other Aidsbabies, believe me – corporate life is a breeze.'
'Good wine does depend on its terroir. So what are your dreams, Lerato?'
'The things any girl wants. A pony. True love. A diamond ring. A generous car allowance. A sea view, a space to call my own, that's really my own, sans roommate. Work that is meaningful, you know, where I can make a real and valuable contribution to society, although I'd settle for challenging and remarkably well-paid with international firstworld opportunities. Maybe one day.'
'Maybe soon.'
'I'll toast to that.'
Toby
Unathi is still wearing the same leopard-print vest. I study it carefully to make sure, but even the stains look identical.
'What is with you? Stop staring at my tits, man!' He hands me a gamechip. 'Congratulations, you made the big league. Realspace, and you don't even have to go elf. Or vampire. Personally, I don't think you're qualified for this, but some chick did a recommend on you. Julia Thambo? Know her?'
I shrug, non-committal. Fucked if I know. Which is probably exactly what happened.
'Said she saw you play in the barcade up St. John's Wood way? She's quite the cherry. You better not have slept with her, you twat.'
Again I shrug, which winds him up more than a straight confession.
'Asshole. Anyway. Their clan has a lastminute casualty. They need a replacement. Don't go thinking this means you get to play with the grown-ups regularly.'
'So what's the game?'
'Load up the chip, asshole, and see.'
I slot the card into the gameport on my phone. The screen goes that particular cyan that quickens any realspace gamer's pulse, cos it's all happening now, kids, connecting to Playnet.
FallenCity™ Scorpions Elite
>>Welcome agent BUZZKILL
'Great call sign, you've preselected for me, Unathi, thanks.'
'Thought you'd appreciate it.'
'How do I change it?'
'You're stuck with it. The account is all paid up. That's your call sign.'
'You are such a bitchmonkey.'
'Just read the assignment, asshole.'
>>You have a new mission briefing…
BRIEF DATE: Wednesday 20 September
OPERATION: Rosa Parks
TYPE: Realworld
LOCATION: Adderley Station Deck, Adderley Street, Cape Town City
RISK LEVEL: 4+
MISSION OBJECTIVES: Find and subdue terrorists on the underway and recover
and disarm dirty 'suitcase' bomb. This is a multi-operative mission.
EXECUTION: 20h05, Saturday 23 September
DETAILED BRIEFING: Scorpion Elite's intelligence agents have uncovered a terrorist plot by militant mercenary group MaVimbi, to plant a 'suitcase' nuclear bomb on the M-line train with the intention of detonating it once the train reaches
Robben Island Memorial Industrial Park. Fallout will affect the entire East City coastline. Projected casualties are 16,000
on Robben Island alone.
The carrier is believed to be the terrorist known as UNITY. No further information is available, but s/he will certainly be disguised as a corporate and will likely have fake identification. S/he may have additional terrorists travelling with him/her as protection and cover.