I walk about ten paces ahead of Austin. My hands are stuffed in my pocket, occasionally coming out to fiddle with my newly acquired weapon; it’s heavier than the last and poses quite a deal of discomfort to walk around with pockets full of its magazines.

I don’t complain though, my goal is straight ahead of me. It’s late at night and currently there are very few trikes willing to take any passengers in, and the snow doesn’t make driving any easier anyway.

It’ll be shovelled away in the morning though, the city's environmental workers are always on a prowl for whatever reason, the most diligent facet of the local government anyone would say.

So that leaves me with strutting and near on running away from Austin. However, his legs are longer and with the barest of effort he catches up.

His voice sings tunes I don’t want to hear, talking constantly about how we’ve got a mission to complete.

Does he not see it’s past midnight and nearly every business owner is unconscious in their beds?

I shake my head at this. But I know none of that’s the reason he’s chasing after me still, he’s let it slip even and his unwarranted help earlier in the gun shop was all the indication I needed.

This fool is going to try and comfort me, isn’t he, I sigh.

Contrary to his current belief, I am very much aware of what has happened, what I’ve done. I am also very aware of my position as a child, well, a pre-teen anyway.

I understand clearly that he feels a responsibility to look after me, especially after I’ve gone out and capped someone. I know he’s just trying to do what he feels he has to do, for my sake as a kid, as someone younger, much younger than himself.

However, what I don’t understand is why he can’t see that I’ve got all of that under a lid. I’m perfectly fine, heck I’m set!

All I have to do is head back to the motel and Paige will be waiting for me. Whatever nonsense, inhibiting feelings I may have in my subconscious about killing Desire will be banished to the depths of forgottenness once I lay my eyes on her.

In the first place, I don’t feel all too remorseful about capping her. I don’t feel a thing even, I’m just about to go through the rest of my day, my new day, like normal.

I let out a sigh as I realize I’ve been out through the city terrorizing business owners and putting bullets in people. The thought that in one day I’ve helped to impair a man and take all the money he has left as well as threaten his child’s life, and in the next beat kill a woman defending her personal interests and prosperity…

Well, I suppose that bit weighs on me. But that’s all, I haven’t lost focus of my goal, I know why I’m doing all these things and I know I’d do them over and over again if I had to.

They stood in my way, that’s all this is…it’s nothing personal.

“Vern!” Austin’s voice pierces through my thoughts once again and I barely restrain a groan, “Are you even listening to me, this is important Vern.”

I shrug. I haven’t been listening to a single buzzing word he’s spoken all this time and honestly, my legs are beginning to hurt from all the walking.

How much farther is it to the motel?

I’d pull up a map if I had a band or heck even a tab but I’m far too impoverished for such gadgetry. Instead, I measure the distance by landmark, and since I haven’t gotten to the busty neon sign of that one bar then that means I still have a while to go.

Fuck. I’m stuck with Austin for that long?

Unfortunately, that’s the situation I find myself in, “What is it?” I drawl, not bothering to pour in an iota of respect.

He frowns at my tone but doesn’t mention it, “Oh I’m just explaining how you’re going to explain to Rey that his precious payment will be forever lost to junk.”

I look up at this, raising an eyebrow.

Taking the cue he explains, “Desire doesn’t have anything worth the amount she owed…except for the droid that you let get shredded by the turrets!”

Inhaling a bit at the mound of stress that falls on my shoulder at this, “The droid was going to saw my head off, sorry if I let it get seasoned with bullets to save my hide, Austin.” I breathe sarcasm while he growls.

“And,” I continue, “The turrets should be worth something. There’s also the fact that you’ve got an entire store of guns, you can equip the men with the good stuff and sell whatever’s left, no?”

Frankly I’m impressed I thought up such a brilliant plan all on my own and on the spot.

These guys really are all brawn and no brains, I snort.

“You must think you’re such a genius huh?” Austin starts, pulling me out of my self-idolatry, “The store is far more of a liability than it is an advantage. For one we don’t have any of Desire's contacts outside the city nor do we have access to her chip that has now been deactivated, we can equip ourselves with the good stuff sure but what’s left now is all there ever will be unless someone takes up the business.”

He breathes a sigh at my confused face, “I’m starting to think you shouldn’t go around shooting people in the knee and elbow.”

Ignoring that jibe I ask, “Why exactly does her being gone mean anything? Can’t we just get someone else behind the counter, get our own supplier and start selling?”

He shakes his head terribly at my words, his face twisted by my ignorance, “No, we can’t do any of that because the chip implanted at the back of her head has long gone off, the government already knows she’s dead and by morning they’ll be coming to transfer the property, that being the store, to her next of kin and if she doesn’t have one, then it reverts back to the government.”

This frightens me, “We have chips in our heads?” I nearly exclaim in the empty streets.

Perhaps I should have been listening a lot earlier.