From Chains

Chapter 4: Deception

I put on a heavy jacket. It conceals the gun well. The police wouldn't take too kindly to a civilian with a gun, but now that Guppy's after me, it has become a necessary risk.

I take Pip back out to the truck and cuff her hand. "I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Where are you going?"

"Someone threw a wrench in my plans yesterday, so I've got to find a new job."

"Can I come with?"

I furrow my brow.

"Please. I'll be good."

I scrutinize her face. Is she up to something? She hasn't tried escaping yet, so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

I unlock the cuff and put both ends on the same wrist. That way she's free, and I don't have to carry them.

I climb out the truck before I notice that she hasn't moved. "You coming?"

"Yes!" Her face lights up, and she hurries over.

I decide to walk to save on petrol. I head to the nearest mechanic. They're always trying to move something illegal here or there.

A bell chimes as I open the door. There's a skimpily dressed woman smoking by the door, and an old man behind the counter.

"Hello. The name's Anthony." I introduce myself with a false name. "I've come to offer my services."

"And what would those be?" The man grunts, annoyed that I'm not a customer.

"Couriering."

"I don't need no courier."

He doesn't get it. I need to make it a little more obvious without alerting that woman. "So, you have nothing you need moved?" I lean forward on the counter. "Nothing at all?"

His expression changes the moment he gets it. "Let me ask the boss."

"Hello, I'm Pip," I hear behind me. She's introducing herself to the woman. "It's nice to meet you," she says with a smile.

The woman smirks and takes another puff. "Pip 'ey?"

"Ah-huh." She nods, trying her best to be friendly.

"Odd name."

"My master named me."

I did? I guess I did.

"Do all you humans have to answer to..." I lose track of their conversation when a new man arrives.

"I'm Jack," he begins, "We've got a job. One hundred Rens to move some stolen parts around town."

I rub my eyes in frustration. "I need a real job. At least ten thousand." That's the price of one year's tuition for my sister.

He mulls it over. "Well, the boys in Rosslin need lithium. It's a strictly-controlled and highly-coveted substance, very difficult to get your hands on these days."

"I'm listening."

"Human's used to use the stuff to make batteries, and it has a tendency to explode. Crazy shit if you ask me. But you can find these batteries all over their destroyed cities. We'll give you a thousand Ren per kilogram you smuggle into Rosslin."

"That seems almost too easy. What's the catch?"

"Rosslin's border guards don't mess around. If they catch you, it's years of prison time. High risk, high reward."

"Fair enough, but I'll need some cover cargo. Something legal in case the guards search my truck. It has to be big enough to hide the batteries."

"We've got a bunch of old compressors down at our warehouse. They'll do the trick. It's building seven on fifty-fourth street."