"Yeah," I said as I turned with the man and brought him over to the table that Alizra had cleaned off while I was gone. "I didn't have much money in it, but I was perturbed about it. I am pretty savvy when it comes to tech, and I had a device in my wallet that I used to track the guy. I was just going to confront him at first and get my wallet back, but I ended up following the guy around for a while, watching him. I ended up learning a lot of things that I shouldn't do from this, and then robbed the man of all of his ill-gotten gains. It was at that moment that I first felt the rush of doing something that was clearly wrong, even though it was a twisted justice in my mind. From there, I started to case out more criminals until I got caught," I said as I strapped the man down to the table.
"So you got caught? That does explain how you became the boss?" She asked, and I nodded but put up a hand.
"I will explain the story, but you need to back up," I warned as I ran scanners over the man. This time I was going to try using plastic to grab them.
Alizra did as I asked, moving back about twenty feet, and I created a tiny plastic tool that could be inserted into the ear.
"The person that caught me took me to the head Crime Boss of the district, and I was tossed in front of him. From there, I was questioned about why I was robbing people that worked for him and what made me start. Once I finished my story, the man was almost in tears from laughing at the irony of it all. After that, he offered me a position working for him, and that is when I started to climb up the ladder pulling off heists that no one else could. Didn't take long before I stood on equal footing with the man that brought me in, and then soon even surpassed him so that he worked for me," I explained as I slowly inserted the plastic tool in the man's ear.
"So, you know how to rob people?" Alizra asked, but I put up a hand to make her be quiet.
I was just about to the first metal oval, but I was taking my time. This was plastic, and I wasn't even sure if this world had created this material yet, so it should be safe.
I was wrong.
Alizra screamed as I was filled with pins, and the man's head exploded into shreds everywhere.
"Son of a bitch!" I snapped, breaking and bending the pins as I repaired, and absorbed the bit of platinum into me.
"Are you okay?!" Alizra asked in a slow voice.
I looked over at her and winced. There were bits and pieces of the man peppered all over her, and she had a faint look on her face.
"I'm fine," I said as I shook my head. "You had best go have another shower. I will make sure to set up a covered area for you next time," I said, and Aliza looked down at her body.
My body started moving before I even knew what I was doing as I watched the light fade from her eyes as she fainted. I caught her before she hit the ground and picked her limp body up with ease, shaking my head. This was the last thing that I expected out of a woman like her, but no one was perfect. I was sure that in a more intense and dangerous situation, Alizra would be able to keep her head, but being in a safe environment can change that.
I looked back at the mangled body and sighed as I headed over to the hut house I had made for Alizra, taking her inside. I was overly frustrated with losing to people already and being no closer to an answer. That just meant that I was going to have to get more information before proceeding forward.
Once inside, I took Alizra to the bathroom and used my drones to clean most of the chunks off her, and then they de-atomized her clothing. As they did, I started the water in the bath and then set her in when I was done. As I did this, Alizra woke up in a daze, looking up at me with confusion.
"How did I get here?! Why am I naked?!" She demanded, and I backed up and turned away respectfully.
"You fainted, and I brought you in to get you cleaned up. Hard to do with blood-spattered clothing. I could have just left you covered in brains and flesh," I said, and Alizra went quiet.
"Why did you catch me?" She asked, and then added, "I should be sore from hitting the ground."
I hadn't really done it by choice, but I wasn't about to tell her that my goddess had programmed me to have a soft spot for women while also being highly suspicious of them. Still, she had a valid point. For a jailer, I was being far too reasonable and lenient, but I didn't really see her as a prisoner, just someone that I didn't trust.
"It was a reflex. You fainted, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. While I am keeping you as a prisoner, I do not see you as one, just as a person I don't fully trust yet. I am also doing this for your own good. I don't know what Ned is doing, but he is operating on Thomas, and some of the other Order of Salvation members to set loose on the city. I am sure that Thomas will come looking for you since he clearly doesn't think very highly of you," I said with my back still turned.
"You can turn around and look at me when you talk, you know? You have already seen my body, and I am not trying to hide it from you, I was just confused. It is not normal for me to wake up naked in a perfectly warm bath. It was a surprise at first but a welcome one when I understood how I got here," Alizra said, and I turned to look down at her. "You know? You try to act like you don't care, but there is a small part of you that just can't seem to help it, right? You didn't have to clean me up, but you knew I would be uncomfortable if I woke up like that, right?"
"Whether I do or not is not relevant," I said, and then switched the topic. "Now, what would you like me to tell your Clan member?"