Quiet Days

Managed to gather data. Concluded that there is simply no reason for me to go. Had returned to doing what we usually do. Jules, who is friendly with us, at least to some point is gathering information about the event. Sent him what I know, got paid for it, and then went on about how most of the mercenaries he has been paying went to do some awful shit.

Looks like things got interesting for the mercs who smelled the scent of money on Pacifica. News headlines says that there is a massive reform in the corporate sectors and the law enforcement makes it hard for criminal elements to thrive.

I got an idea on what it will be. Even spent the budget we had on some of the stocks that are sure to rise in the future.

[Health: 1000]

[Armor: 100]

[Wanted Level: ✰]

[Reputation: Independent Mercenary.]

[Status: Stable]

My status remained somewhat stable. My inventory wheel remained full. There isn't much change and I doubt that my 'system' will have improvements. If anything it has become stagnant. I do feel at ease having them. I feel like a damn robot with them, and in a way I have been spending most time in first-person compared to third-person.

I guess I'd call my third-person as 'Morgan Mode'.

Agua City had become quiet after that matter with the rod dropped from the orbital stations. It does make me kinda feel strange that even though everything looks normal here on the surface. Space-side reminds me that things are somewhat different here. The orbital station surrounds a moon named Selene and there are about five cities on the floating object above us.

Not to mention that this is quite a parallel world. Though roughly similar in some ways.

Jisoo's handling her job quietly. I think I did something wrong. Don't know what I did wrong, but I can guess that she's still pissed at me for acting that way when that rod was dropped from space. I won't apologize for that. I don't see any problem and I think that I did well, considering.

She doesn't necessarily avoid me. I do think that we should talk to one another to understand. Still, we aren't to the point that we'll get to brawl.

Not to mention it's nice being alone. Suddenly living together isn't that uncomfortable. But somehow now that I have gotten a good acceptance to all of this. It does make me wonder about what I left behind.

Agua City is a peaceful city. There are pieces of shit here and there, but what city doesn't have its band of assholes? Agua City is relatively peaceful compared to the other cities. Not to mention that I like the overall aesthetics of the city compared to the modernized shitholes that other cities have.

I must admit that the marble and stone look. There could be improvement in regards, but I'm not working for the city so my opinion isn't that high enough that the city truly needs to change.

I spent time mostly on the rooftop of the safehouse. There's a view that allows you to see the city and the ocean line. Makes you think beyond these cities there are other stuff that you could do. I do admit that I am curious beyond what can be seen.

A parallel world that is so similar. Thinking about it makes me crazy and yet my mind can't stop wondering.

Perhaps I was so used to normality that all of this is just pure strange to me. I do wonder if one day it will just disappear. That fear never really leaves me. Of course, I did start my life in this world as a man who got himself shot in the head, and survived.

I could recall the days. I have his memories and I have mine. If anything it's like there are two memories struggling. Lately, I have been able to accept both or possibly it's nothing more than me thinking that I have accepted it.

If that urge didn't make me act. I could still be in Pacifica City. Oh, I hate how my thoughts drift back to Pacifica. The City's a sinkhole, awful, and yet the previous owner had a sense of belonging to that city despite how much of a shithole it is.

As I remain sitting on the rooftop. I heard the hatch move. Jisoo leapt up and landed gracefully. She looked around and then walked quietly to my side. She looked at me blankly before sitting down with the hot can of coffee in her hands.

"Yo, done with handling those mercs?"

"Yup," she sat down and handed me one of the cans. "They aren't so stupid that they need constant supervision."

I cracked the can open. I do enjoy the taste of the coffee. There was a vendor not far from where we usually got them. She was drinking something with milk while she got me one with some chocolate on it. Our taste buds are like children, but it's a drink.

"Are you angry at me?"

My piece of shit of a mouth betrayed me.

She eyed me blankly before chuckling.

"No, if anything. You are far too reasonable for me. I'm starting to think that you have other schemes in your head. Or maybe you just aren't going the usual way. Let's break up?"

"Well, sorry for being reasonable enough. We do live together and I would rather not make trouble."

"It's fine. I like it enough."

There was something she's interested in. I doubt that she'll tell me. And it's fine if she doesn't. Not that I can read her mind or even tell. She looked at me curiously before waving her hand off me.

"Too much staring."

"Can't help it. Normal for folks to get attracted to something beautiful."

"I wonder if you're foolish or you hit your head. I was told that I am intimidating. But when we met you were not afraid. Stared at my eyes with this irritating confidence."

"For the record, if you managed to slice me into pieces. I wouldn't be sitting with you here. Odd how things happened."

"You never did tell me what you wanted from that."

I became quiet. She snorted at me then looked away.

"Guess we aren't that eager to talk about secrets."

"Sorry. It ain't anything. Just think of it as something that I left behind."

"That so?"

She didn't believe me. It's easy to show her, but I wanted to keep the Morgan gear to myself. I don't like lying to her, but sometimes you have to keep one secret. She probably doesn't pursue it because we all have skeletons in our closets.

I do wonder if one day that skeleton will come out.

"Nik. Don't do that again. I'm not kidding about that."

"I won't try. But there is a high chance that I might break it. Not that I'm willing to easily do it again."

"Just don't do that again and we'll keep getting along fine."

I stared before nodding quietly.

"Okay. I'll try not to get into situations that put us into that kind of bullshit. I mean let's be fair. Who'd expect that some rod from an orbital space station would get dropped?"

She scooted close and touched her shoulder on mine.

"Yeah, so I'll excuse you for that. Nik, I ain't used to being protected, I admit that. Been a mercenary, a clanswoman for years. Ain't used to it and I'm not planning on getting used to it."

"I understand."

"Let's not speak about this ever again. Just keep it in your mind."

"I will, ma'am."

She looked at me for a second before taking a sip of her coffee can.

"I was expecting to be alone after my clan died. Didn't know what to do. Was lost until I realized that you got your revenge and skipped town. I guess in the end I thought you might understand. So I didn't mind."

"Ouch, that kind of hurts."

"Does it?"

"Maybe. Not that it matters anymore."

"Too good for me now? Got a piece of the pie so you're satisfied, eh?"

"Not at all."

"That so?"

She lifted her lips. That scares me since the two of us have facial paralysis, but hers is always constant.

"Thinking something awful?"

"Not at all, ma'am."

She scrutinized me before shrugging.

It's strange how the person who I thought would do nothing other than keep on fighting was now wasting her time here with me in Agua City. She was here and not in Pacifica.

Some things have not changed. The mess between the fuckers who are living to the top while not giving a shit about who are in the bottom. It'll happen, and there are others who are good folk that are going to suffer..

But I wasn't trying to save a damn city. Save folk and be called some morally superior bastard. I was living quietly. And yet I wonder if the quiet days we have will continue.