OCtober Day 15: G

Anarchy Night at the Neon Eclipse. 8pm. No Police. No Consequences!

That’s what the flyer said. It got me intrigued, so I posted in a few online forums to find out more. From the response, I came to learn that it was a monthly event held at a local nightclub. Police weren’t allowed inside for the duration; it was pure chaos. The event served to be a hive for New Rome’s most dangerous, and that was what settled my decision to attend. 

Before the event I dug a little deeper, just to see what I was getting myself into. Quite a lot of media displaying the shenanigans could be found floating about the net. Anything from rave dancers, to gang shootouts and quite strangely bees. One content creator in particular seemed dedicated to this purpose. Operating under the name DJ Tal, I had a flick through their back log. The creator themselves almost never appears in the videos. Aside from the occasional photo, most of the subjects were other club patrons. Pilots, journalists, hackers, gangers, bounty hunters and so much more were shown across the portfolio. My nerves tingled with desire for conversation.

I strapped up with a pistol and some body armour, as had been suggested. Even if you don’t go looking for trouble, you aren’t safe from a stray bullet or pissed off pit fighters. Though I’m quite sure I’d be fine, it never hurts to blend in. I hired a taxi to get there, though the driver stopped a street short of the actual location, refusing to get any closer. I thanked him regardless, journeying on alone. As the evening drew a blanket over the city, my feet quickly took up pace to avoid whatever, or whoever lurks in the murkiness. After a few minutes, a car park popped up in the vicinity. My phone pinged, so I figured this must be the place. The place was underground, so the next step was finding the entrance. 

Upon approaching, it seemed that the place wasn’t totally empty. Several people were milling about. They were mostly traders looking to move ‘ware or drugs. At the time I desired neither, striding on forth with purpose. 

“Another one? They’ll be regretting those in a few years” someone muttered nearby. Looking around, I see a couple of men dressed in blue jumpsuits nearby. They were holding signs, and stacks of flyers all with rather unsavoury ideology. Sentiments like ‘bioware is not biology’ and ‘cyber is inhuman’. Horrified and curious, I approached the young men to ask more.

“Excuse me, but were you talking about me?” I asked.

“With those ears, yes! Why destroy your body like that?” The smaller one declares, gesturing to my pointy appendages. 

I want to say they’re natural, but that likely won’t fly. So, I play into it.

“Because I like them this way. Do you have a problem with them?”

“It’s horrible. You cyborgs and freaks are ruining the very meaning of what it is to be human. You need to cleanse yourself!” 

“I’m quite happy the way I am thanks. Your definition of human is abhorrent and with that attitude I would barely consider you that too” I retort, unusually riled up. 

“What did you say you bitch!?” the larger man screeches, grasping at my ears firmly, dragging me closer.

“You’d better unhand them right fucking now!”

A bullet comes whizzing through into the man’s arm. He lets go immediately, doubling back in pain. Turning to face my saviour I am quite shocked, in multiple ways, at who awaits me. 

I’d thought most of the pictures I saw of DJ Tal might’ve been photoshopped. But, here I was proven wrong by the glowing green being standing before me, holding a smoking pistol in one hand, and a video camera in the other. This neon being wore just a dark blue jacket over a black crop top, industrial trousers and boots. On the left side of all the exposed, fake looking skin were green circuit lines, glowing from under the surface. The short hair and glassy eyes matched the colour scheme, as do the wires threaded through the left trouser leg. Something about this person seemed so uncanny, like a mannequin had gained sentience. They held up the pistol ready to fire again.

“What’s it gonna be boys? I got it all on tape, and you know the folks in there don’t take too kindly to your rhetoric”

The jumpsuit men grumble, but reluctantly pack up their signs into a nearby car. It takes until they’re driven off for the green stranger to turn the camera, but not the pistol, on me.

“Sorry about that. Those guys are real bastards, dunno why they keep coming back here. Anyway, name’s G. You heading to the Neon Eclipse?” they ask rapidly.

“Oh, yes, first night actually. I’m M”

“Aw shit, nice, another letter name...wait hold on” G’s tone shifts from excited to panic.

“Did...did father send you? What fucking colour you supposed to be? Your eyes are kind of purple, are you Magenta? I’m not going back there you fucking hear me!”

They spiral and back away from me. I quickly try to reassure them I’m not a threat.

“No no no, I’ve got nothing to do with this father you speak of. I don’t even know what you’re talking about, I just use M to hide my real name. I promise I’m not going to take you anywhere” I sputtered out. 

G looks me up and down suspiciously.

“I guess you don’t have the usual features…” they mutter eventually. “Sorry about that, it’s...especially with those guys around, I’m pretty defensive about it”

“About what, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“They don’t like cyberware and bioware stuff. And, well…”

They gesture to their body.

“I’m kind of...all that”

That does explain a lot. I nod with understanding.

“Look, it kind of a long story. Short version, is I’m a runaway from a lab experiment but what I really want to be a filmmaker…” they start to explain, but I’m almost instantly overwhelmed.

“Wait, hold on, double back there. Lab experiment? Cyberware? You’re missing out the good parts of the story!” I exclaim.

Those green eyes glow, expressing a childlike confusion.

“Oh. Yeah I’ve told this story so many times now, it just got to be kind of normal for everyone else” G says. For a moment they look as though they’re pondering something. Then, a smirk appears.

“Say M, you any good with camera?”

“Uh, sure I suppose”

“Good. I’ll cut you a deal. Let’s go inside, and I’ll tell you the whole story in detail, but you gotta film it for me. Should make for a good ‘here’s my life story’ vlog or something. Come on!”

They grab my arm enthusiastically, dragging me like a child would drag a parent. It’s rather endearing. Who knew I’d be so lucky to meet someone so interesting before I made it to the door?

I could tell anarchy night was going to be something special.