Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 569: Black Skull. (Part One)

Neo-Vatra was like any other big city in that it never slept, but even big cities had areas where the night showed its dominance. Residential neighborhoods were such places, and streets with daylight businesses were the same. Blue Moon was a mix of the two, so once the sun dove behind the horizon, things got quiet real quick. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

One place in particular had been quite lively during the day. From the rumors going around, it was being converted into a shelter of some sort, hence the noise that made it comparable to a playground during the weekend, and just like any playground, the noise goes away once the night arrives.

Around ten past noon, all lights in the building are turned off. Only some of the staff rooms remained illuminated, but even those would eventually go dark. A few minutes before midnight, a gorgeous woman stepped out of the building, gathering her purple hair in a bun as she walked up to a bike parked nearby. She put on the helmet hanging from the handle, and a few seconds later, she was off.

The sound of her bike echoed through the neighborhood, and its headlights cast a brief flash over the side alleys where the street lights couldn't reach, reflecting from the vehicles parked in such locations instead of a proper parking lot.

Doing so was a dangerous gamble, so the people who risk it are usually close by, and a lot of times, they might even be sitting inside the vehicle, patiently waiting for something. The engine noise was loud enough for them to hear, and when the light flashed by, they followed its source with their eyes. A couple of minutes passed, and the vehicle came alive, its engine singing a barely audible hum. Exiting the side alley, it made a turn and drove off, taking the route opposite to where the biker went.

~[ ]~

April 28, 2099

Another normal day, just like any other, and the night was looking to be the same. Being a Wednesday hadn't stopped people from partying, and the Red Oni Club had its doors open to anyone wishing to unwind after another grueling day of doing what it takes to survive.

The club's owner wasn't much of a party guy, but this time, he reserved the entire second floor only for himself and his companions. Apparently, they had a lot to celebrate, which is why the VIP area was quite busy that day.

Three trucks pulled up to the entrance soon after the clock struck midnight. Their obsidian coating reflected the colorful light from the neon signs scattered around, and every pair of eyes in the area turned to stare at them with awe. Their doors slid open soon after, and a bunch draped in colorless winter attire stepped out, their appearance chasing away the curious onlookers. Walking side by side, they looked like a pack of bears with jet black fur. The trench coats were one thing, but the hats told that they had more than a little to hide, and anyone with a survival instinct knew not to linger around them for long.

Inside the club, a few people exchanged discreet looks, as if having received a signal. The doors slammed open soon after, and the music went off as if to guide everyone's attention to whoever was making the dramatic entrance. Seeing the men in trench coats walk inside, a sudden tension fell on the partying crowd, and though they might not have realized it, they all shared a thought at that moment.

A loud metallic ringing snapped them back to reality, and their heads turned to its source at the same time. It took some of them a couple of seconds to realize that the sound was a clap from the owner's bionic hands. He was looking down from the balcony, leaning over the rails with an annoyed look on his face.

"Alright, folks," he said, his voice echoing from several directions. "The part is over."

Silence permeated the dance floor, and for a few seconds, no one moved or said anything. Someone realized that they were being told to get out and hesitantly approached the exit. Once he made it out, the rest of the crowd rushed out, going around the men in black like a river flowing around a rock. The staff had received a message not that long ago, so they headed out from the back.

In just a couple of minutes, the entire club was emptied. Even the gangsters on the second floor made their retreat, leaving only the owner leaning over the balcony. Besides the mysterious visitors near the entrance, a few others had used the rush to hide and position themselves. The spots they chose showed how well acquainted they were with the club's security system, though they would be mistaken if they thought their presence had been erased entirely.

"So? You gonna say what you want or what?" The owner looked displeased, and he had a good reason to be. "Not sure what you had planned, but couldn't it have waited? This isn't exactly the place for those things."

His sharp gaze made it appear as if he could look through the visitor's disguise, rendering it useless. The one at their front slowly raised his arm, but halfway through, it suddenly snapped in the young owner's direction. The long sleeve covering it was ripped apart, and from inside it, the alloy plating retracted to reveal the three barrels of a machine gun.

As if unbothered by the weapon aimed at him, the red-haired owner continued to stare down at them. He didn't move even when the barrels started spinning. Light flashed through the dance hall, and gunfire roared, replacing the music that had gone silent.

Glass shattered, and concrete exploded. The high-caliber rounds pierced the thick walls as if they were made out of paper, and in just a couple of seconds, the club's second floor was riddled with holes. The clamor of empty shells replaced the noise as the barrels stopped spinning.

The visitor lowered his overheating weapon, not to let it rest, but to aim it again. On the other side of the dance hall, the red-haired owner slowly removed his jacket, looking like he had been shot a thousand times.

"Well, now you have done it,"

As if to imitate him, the rest of the men in black removed their attire, though it would be more accurate to say they ripped it off.