An Eighty Percent Solution (CorpGov) by Thomas Gondolfi Read Free Book Online Page B

little shake of irrelevance .
    “You might also want to avoid the TriMet Hub tomorrow morning.”
    “Oh ? What’s up?”
    “Dunno, sir . But I wouldn’t want you to get hurt . Duck, sir .” Tony ducked just as a large metal projectile bent on mischief sailed over his head . Jock deflected it with his arms, not giving it another thought . Tony looked back to see three young kids running away into the darkness followed closely by two Metro officers . Just punks trying to get their kicks and maybe make a name for themselves.
    “TriMet, eh ? Where do you keep getting this information, Jock?”
    “Oh, I hear things,” he said with a shrug that accentuated the biomechanical interface.
    “Well, I won’t press . You have a good night, Jock.”
    “You, also, Mr. Tony.”
    Tony avoided the small riot, probably over food rations, only twenty minutes later to encounter a mugger at his condominium door .
    “Give me everything!” shouted a man sporting an un kempt beard and wearing clothes that should ’ve been condemned . He carelessly waved around an old Sony Blackburn laser pistol . Tony barely broke stride as he pointed his left hand toward the man . A trio of tiny dart-like projectiles burst out of the end of his index finger at just below the speed of sound . The would-be assailant collapsed into a pool of filthy rags , bleeding out of a 16 centimeter hole in his chest . Tony nudged the pistol away from the reflexively jerking hand , shaking his head sadly. Another welf decided he couldn’t make it on the welfare rolls and tried to augment his pathetic income by murder , home invasion , and robbery .
    “Just because you can’t see a weapon, doesn’t mean your victims don’t carry one,” Tony muttered in a derisive tone .
    Without a second look at the horrific mess or the fecal stench that now arose, he opened his door to hear Cinnamon’s tiny scratches from the bathroom, where he ’d kept her during the day .
    “I’m coming, Cin .” As he locked and bolted the entry, he had a stab of fear.
    What if someone had heard her ? They could ’ ve called the Metros o r maybe even Interpol ! His trepidation lasted all of about three seconds . He checked the entry log and his personal security measures , finding no evidence that his privacy had been invaded . Nope, nobody was here . We ’ re safe.
    “What a day ! ” he said. “ I’m so — ” he yawned wide, “ — tired .” He kicked off his shoes, stripped his socks .
    Tony released Cinnamon, playfully nicknamed Cin, from temporary prison . The tiny cat stropped his ankles, followed quickly by licking his bare toes. “Stop that, Cin . It tickles .”
    Cinnamon looked up at him as if she understood . She lifted her tail and bounded off to some mischief .
    “That’s right . I’ll make supper . Maybe you need some food.” Tony walked into the tiny kitchen and put a meatloaf, peas , and potato dinner from the freezer into the flash oven .
    “ Percomm Condo Association, Body Removal .” The solido of a heavily muscled woman came into view over the counter in his kitchen as he pulled out a replacement for the shredded finger-cap in a miscellaneous drawer amongst spare Velcro straps for his shoes.
    “Body Removal . Oh, hi there, Mr. Sammis.”
    “Hi , Adriana . I vaped another welf on one-fifteen .”
    “Fourth this year . You might get the association Top Gun award if you keep this up.”
    “I’d be happy if they just left me —” another yawn took him, mid-sentence, “ — alone.”
    “Well, you get some rest and I’ll send someone up to clean up. No Miss Carmine tonight?”
    “No, Adriana . She went to Tyc h o City .”
    “I could find you some companionship, if you ’ re interested.”
    “Thank you, but I’m just … so tired .” Another yawn tore his sentence apart . I’m going to tube out in bed . Been a long day .”
    “Understand, sir.”
    “Off .” The meatloaf slid out of the flash , steaming . “Mmm, but that smells