Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 7: Same Old Story, Whole New Century

************

"JACOB?!"

The shrill shriek reignited the throbbing in my head as I came to, lying on the ground and staring up at a face I never thought I'd see again. The shock reflected in those eyes told me she'd thought the same, and probably wished it would have stayed that way.

Well, that was Piper Wright, alright. And lord knew she always thought she was right too. She'd tell you so herself, and point to a long list of articles to "prove" it too. Journalist, photographer, and possibly the most stubborn woman I'd ever known... She looked exactly the same as the day we'd first met, right down to the ink stains on her hands. She was wearing her long red trench coat, a pack slung over her shoulder and a "Press" ticket sticking out of the band of her old newsie cap. It was a look I'd seen her don a million times before, just before she went out on the prowl for her next big scoop. Well, she caught something alright. Too bad I was the last thing she was looking for.

"What are you... how did you... I mean... WHAT?!" The black-haired woman sputtered in disbelief, shocked into a rare bout of silence before she finally remembered that we were still standing out in the open. Curious stares were already turning our way as she snapped to her senses.

"Dammit, never mind, just get him inside, quick!"

Before I knew what was happening, I was being dragged inside by my arms and legs, but no sooner had the door shut behind us, then I was dropped to the floor faster than a sack of nuclear waste. Suddenly I was under attack, tiny fists of fury were beating down on me from all sides while Ilya stood shocked in the corner.

"What ... the HELL... are you doing here?!" Piper screamed as she landed a punch to my gut and a kick to my ribs. "Or better yet, where were you three months ago, huh? You've got a lot of nerve showing your face around here after what you pulled, Jacob Burns. Do you honestly have ANY idea what you put me through? Well, do you?!" She said before kicking me once more for good measure.

"Well, a fine hello to you too!" I yelled as I staggered to my feet. "Oh no, don't help me get up or anything, I've only been living on the street and running for my life for months on end, what with the Brotherhood at my back and the bounty on my head, which you just cracked open, by the way, thanks for that. Really," I said as I rubbed at the newly forming welt and it occurred to me I was bleeding. "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me, ya know, not being dead and all, but hey, I guess that's one way to greet an old friend."

"Friends? Oh so, we're friends now are we? Just regular old pals!" She howled in response. "That's real rich coming from you. The last time I checked friends don't disappear without so much as a goodbye. Friends don't make promises they can't keep, and friends don't leave friends stranded in the middle of nowhere without any way home!"

Oh boy, here we go again... I thought, as I rolled my eyes. It was just like Piper to make this all about her, as if I had just abandoned her out in the wilderness to die when she knew damn well that wasn't the case. I wanted to say something, but it was far too late now. She was already in full swing, brewing up a guilt trip bigger than a radstorm in the Glowing Sea.