Harry checked the alley again. Their contact was supposed to be there half an hour ago, but he hasn't shown his face yet and Hayley is starting to get irritated. No one likes Irritated Hayley. She turns into an even bigger monster than she already is, and then it takes Dan days to calm her down. So then they're all miserable for a few days. Of course, no one likes that too.
The light at the end of the alley flickered like in one of those horror movies they watch at the Pantheon, which was the only movie theater in the outskirts of Mega City. Harry felt a shiver down his back. Until Hayley opened her mouth.
"If your contact doesn't arrive in 5 minutes, I'm out of here."
Harry didn't have to reply because just then they heard footsteps and wheels on pavement. Harry had to double take when he saw Stephan Bramlov, heir to the Bramlov estate, pushing a cart with a huge, human-sized cryo box.
"What the fuck is that?" Hayley took the words out of his mouth.
"That's not going to fit in our wheels!" Dan, who had been quiet up until, grunted.
"Don't worry," Stephan said rather calmly, "this isn't how you're taking her out."
"Wait—her?!" Harry shrieked. "You never said we're taking out a person!"
"This is obviously a scam! Let's go, Harry," Hayley said, picking up her backpack. Stephan dropped a huge duffel bag in front of her. The flap opened and inside they all saw bundles of American money. A relic in the New World, but priceless underground. That bag could easily fetch them millions of credit. They might even be able to retire.
"This isn't a scam. I owe her a life debt."
The moment Harry heard the words, he realized the shit they are in. This isn't just a simple job. This could potentially get them jailed, killed or both. Life debts are serious in the New World. It means Stephan is bound to this debt. Which also means this person is very, very important for him to risk his life and his family's reputation. Getting people out of Mega City can be hard if you don't have the right paperwork to back you up.
"Who is it?" he asked. Stephan opened the tiny window in front that lets you see inside the cryo box.
"No! NO!" Hayley cried. Inside the cryo box is Morgan Conway.
"Harry, we touch that box and we might as well doom ourselves," Dan said. Harry stared at the Morgan's face. Frozen and asleep, she looks serene and quite a beauty. You'd never know she is one of the deadliest warriors in the underground world. She was also very much wanted by the government. Up until recently, she was elusive and untouchable. But then, a mistake in one of her missions got her arrested and tried. Her execution is up in a couple of days. This might be her only chance to escape.
"She will double the payment once she's out of the city," Stephan added. Hayley shook her head, unconvinced.
"How will she double the payment if we're all dead?" It wasn't really a question. Stephan looked to Harry. He was the contact, therefore, it is his call.
They could really use the credit. Hannah's medicines are getting more expensive. Hannah is their youngest sister who is suffering from an auto-immune disease. With the credit they can get from this job, they can finally buy her a medcard which would half the cost of all her medical needs. That includes the surgery she's been needing since she was a little girl.
Harry pulled Hayley and Dan aside.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime gig. Think of how much creds we can get," Harry said.
"You're assuming we're going to survive," Hayley retorted. "We probably won't make it out of this alley alive. Who's to say Keepers aren't surrounding us right now?"
"They're not. I made sure we're untracked." Stephen spoke as he pointed to the back of his neck where a regulated tracker is supposed to be. Only it's empty—a feat because getting rid of those things is nearly impossible. Being a Bramlov certainly helped.
"I don't care if you were untracked. The moment she wakes up Keepers are gonna be on us like dogs," Hayley said.
"Is she always this snappy?" Stephan asked Harry, ignoring her. Hayley almost punched him if not for Dan who stopped her.
"You have about 2 hours before anyone at the Block realizes she's missing," Stephan continued. The Block is the prison where they keep those who are up for execution. It is easily the second most guarded place in Mega City, the first being Raenon's palace. How Stephan managed to get her out must have cost him a LOT. Much more than they are getting.
"That should be enough time to get her out, right? Or should I find someone else to do the job?" There was a challenge to his question. And Harry knew it's now or never.
"Triple the credits and we're onboard."
Hayley and Dan were immediately all over him.
"No way! I'm not going anywhere near that murderous psychotic bitch!"
"Harry, is this really worth our lives?"
But Harry ignored them both and gave Stephan a sturdy nod. Stephan let out a relieved sigh.
"Done," he said. Hayley and Dan grew quiet, though Hayley continued to mumble obscenities as Stephan started unfreezing Morgan.
The process was quick and after only several minutes, Morgan emerged from her box, gasping for air and ready to kill.
"Consider my life debt repaid," Stephan said as Morgan pulled herself out of the box. She smirked at him.
"Pray to the gods then that I make it out of here alive. Otherwise, no debt has been repaid." Stephan grimaced. "Where are my weapons?"
"Couldn't take them out without raising suspicion."
"That payment is looking more impossible by the minute," she said. Then she turned to Harry and the rest. She cocked an eyebrow at them.
"I'm starting to think you really want me dead," she spat at Stephan. Harry watched her sister turn beet red. But Hayley remained quiet. Her fear of Morgan is genuine.
"Whatever, I'll make do." Morgan grabbed the sword that was slinging from Harry's hip.
"Hey—" he started saying but stopped when Morgan pointed the sword at him. Harry wanted to scream that the sword is off limits because it belonged to their dad. But he didn't. He can get the sword back later after they've escaped the city. None of this would matter if they don't make it out alive. So he picked up the duffel bag instead.
"Let's go," he said. Stephan is already walking away. Morgan looked at him pointedly.
"Lead the way."
Harry said a little prayer and then started walking.