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Polynya

Ryuk feels around on the side of the weapon and notices a small, square button. He presses it and steadies his aim on the female humandroid, who is about three meters away from him.

“Put it down,” she tells him, one of her hands in a fist and the other wrapped around her blade.

“Nope. And fuck you.”

Ryuk squeezes the trigger and the humandroid drops instantly.

No flash, no bullet, no blowback or report. She simply drops, as if someone had flicked an off switch on her back.

Ryuk lowers his weapon, not sure of how he should respond next. He waits to see if she’ll move. She doesn’t. And after he waits another minute just to be sure, he clears his throat and asks, “Um, is that it?”

A message appears.

Hajime: Yes. You’ve completely disabled her.

“What now?” Ryuk places the weapon on the counter. It is cold; there’s no sign that it has even been fired. There’s something completely eerie about it.

Hajime: I need to visit a humandroid engineer. I was weaker today than I would have liked to have been, and I believe it has something to do with robosynthesis, and the fact I haven’t been recharging properly.

“Okay.”

Hajime: We need to call a taxi to take us to a repair facility. Before I do this, I want you to go to your room, get your sweater with the big front pockets, and grab the real gun. Kodai may be coming soon with backup.

“But I don’t … I don’t know how to use it.” Ryuk glances at the black gun on the floor of their kitchen and swallows hard.

Hajime: It is a precaution. I can tell you how to use it if it comes down to it.

“And what about her?” Ryuk asks, suddenly overcome with panic. Seeing two deadish bodies, even though they aren’t human, is really doing a number on him. He feels like he’s part of a crime scene, that the police will be there any minute to arrest him for shooting her.

Hajime: Leave her. My guess is that Kodai will be up here pretty soon with his thugs. Grab what you need. It’s time we find a new place to live.

“Where?”

Hajime: Let me worry about that. Grab some clothes, call a taxi, and let’s get out of here.

Ryuk bends to pick the real gun off the floor. He looks again at the bodies and at his bedroom door. A wave of anger rolls over him as he thinks of his brother, and how his own flesh and blood could possibly do this.

First in Tritania, now here.

A deep breath in does little to cool his anger. Kodai will pay, of this he is sure, but it will take a miracle for this not to end in a way that will adversely affect them both.

Hajime: Hurry. I’ve gone ahead and called the taxi. It will pick us up on the rooftop.

Ryuk moves to his room and grab a duffle bag. He places a change of clothes, his haptic gloves, and his NV Visor in the bag. From there he goes to the bathroom for a few toiletries.

He returns to the living room, his bag slung over his shoulder.

“How do I carry you up there?”

Hajime sits up quickly, which sends a bolt of shock down Ryuk’s spine. The damn near faceless humandroid turns to him and a light flashes behind one of his eyes.

Hajime: Sorry to startle you.

“It’s fine,” he says as the humandroid stands. “Can you see?”

Hajime: My sensors will do just fine.

The humandroid takes a step forward and his foot scrapes against the overturned couch.

“Let me help you,” he says, rushing over to him. Hajime lifts his arm and places it around Ryuk’s shoulder.

Together, the humandroid and the Tokyo youth make it to the rooftop. A cold rain picks up, the water beating against their two forms as the taxi lowers.

After he’s safely inside, and Hajime is next to him, Ryuk takes one more look back at his apartment, knowing all too well that this chapter of his life has come to a close.

Ryuk Matsuzaki’s Character Sheet

(*as of the end of Book Two)

Ryuk Matsuzaki Level 19 Ballistics Mage

HP: 602/602

ATK: 118

MATK: 149

DEF: 89

MDF: 73

LUCK: 24

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Skill: Tonsil Shot

Level Three: 1 in 9 chance of connecting.