The Future, Year 3020
New York Virtual Zone Cafe
Jason Brown. Shame, he was such a talent in his day. What a waste.
Larissa Callay had answered his ad in the ethernet for a runner, the one he'd posted two hours ago. The aging actor was looking for someone willing to do a time jump. To the year 2018 to be exact. She smiled knowingly to herself. If he was seeking her employment, his choice of applicants must be slim.
She looked appraisingly at her slightly inebriated, potential client. He should be good for about a 1,000 kronan deposit. Syncing with her Avatar, she aimed for a brazen, flirtatious demeanor to counter the idiot's obnoxious swagger.
"All right Brown. If you've got the money for this jump, then I've got the time." Her Avatar, a platinum blond elven model with diamond colored eyes, smiled at him luxuriously.
With his strong arresting features, she could see Brown had once been a handsome man, but drugs, alcohol, and too much promiscuous sex had devastated his youth. His haggard face was pruned with wrinkles. Only his eyes, washed out and faded like summer denim, still shined with intensity.
"I've got the money baby, 'n even more than that to satisfy you." He leered at her lasciviously, making her want to gag.
"Somehow, I sincerely doubt that Mr. Brown."
Ignoring his drunken demeanor, she frowned as she revisited the sketchy details in his holographic ad. "If you want my final price for this jump, I'll need more specifics. What is it you're looking for in the year 2018?"
Brown leaned forward, sliding a digital picture over the virtual table top. His blond hair, styled in a blunt cut, fell forward in a shimmering curtain framing his forehead.
"This is what I'm looking for." He tapped the picture, causing it to embed into the shared data stream.
In the year 3020, only a few hard up runners were willing to risk their lives to return to the previous era of sporadic violence, mayhem and political upheaval. Larissa was different than most of her associates. She sought these suicidal jobs with a vengeance. Like a primal throwback, she needed to escape the engineered, germ free confines of the future and delve into earth's raw, untamed past.
Noncommitally, she removed goggles and her gloves in the three dimensional virtual cafe. Picking up the picture, she carefully examined it before ordering a drink. Her actions were all for show since she was really still in her own cubicle apartment, suspended in an anti gravity building, drinking a mild herbal tea.
That was how all business was done these days, log in and upload your image into the digital world, then play a game of intrigue. It was touted as safe, but Larissa knew it was a hundred times more dangerous than actually meeting a client in person. Not only could your bank account be hijacked by unscrupulous daemons, your brain waves could be fried if the connection went south.
She'd done her homework and read Brown's bio. He was still in early film negotiations with his studio. He'd be flush with cash for a few more months before he pissed it all away. Knowing this she wanted plenty of leeway before finalizing her time jump price. Downloading the picture he had provided into her memory implant, she looked at it on her screen's monitor. The woman in the picture was a mocha skinned beauty with arresting violet eyes.
Larissa looked up, shaking head. "Sorry, she's very beautiful, but I can't bring her back with me. She would disintegrate during the hyper jump."
Brown snorted in disgust. "I'm not looking for her. I want the ring!"
She looked at the picture again and saw an amethyst ring on the woman's right hand. The ring had an intricate band. The gem on the woman's finger matched her eyes.
Larissa smiled. "Now that's better. Jewelry's right up my alley."
********************************************
Renoir Apartments, New York City 2017 near Central Park.
Ray Price punched his fist into the wall inches from the head of the man he'd caught rifling through his apartment. "Tell me where it is you little shit!"
When the man didn't answer, he slammed his hand against the taupe wall even harder. Plaster dust exposed into the air, causing the scrawny punk to protest, and vehemently start coughing. "I didn't take anything, man. The door was already open when I got here!"
"Damn you! If you don't tell me where it is I'll kill you." Losing his patience, Ray grabbed the man's throat in a vice like grip and began squeezing. "I'm going to choke the last breath right out of you scuzzbucket!"
Before the man could pass out, he hurled the scrawny thief across the room onto a coffee table. The wooden table splintered explosively under the man's weight.
Suddenly, a loud commanding voice rose above the fray. "All right that's enough!" Vince Caletti, his muscular next door neighbor, stood in the open doorway of the apartment assessing the situation. He wasn't happy. An ex navy seal, he didn't like his Sunday morning peace disturbed by the sounds of brawling next door. Especially in this upscale apartment building he'd just moved into.
Muscles rippled down his powerful shoulders as he lifted the small man off floor by the scruff, then turned back to to face his neighbor and friend. "What did he take?"
"Tonya's engagement ring. It's missing."
"You're sure he doesn't have it on him?"
Ray shook his head. "I already checked-he's clean except for some body lice and his unwashed stench."
Vince released the homeless addict in disgust, then flicked his head towards the open door. "Get out. Now!"
The skeletal addict scurried to the door then bolted down the hallway. Ray was relieved his friend had saved him from his own temper, but he was despondent over the loss of the jewelry.
"Man, why'd you let him go? I spent over two k on that ring. It matched Tonya's eyes."
Vince leveled a no nonsense pull yourself together gaze on his friend before answering. "Because if he did steal it, he's probably already pawned it for drugs. He just got greedy and came back for seconds. I told you to get a better lock."
Vince understood why Ray was upset. Tonya was a Victoria's Secret model with rare violet eyes. He knew his friend was gaga over her. He'd never seen Ray woo a woman before with such devotion. He looked at the mess on the floor, then back at his friend's discouraged face. "Come on let's get something to eat, blow off some steam. We'll shoot some hoops down at the gym.
When Ray started to protest, Vince cut him off. "Don't worry, I know a guy on 5th avenue where you can get another ring for cheap cash."
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