Chapter Forty Five: The Consequence Of Your Actions
Wanted: Sinclair due Vow .
Affiliation: little John's pizza place.
This criminal is considered armed and very dangerous approach with extreme caution or contact your local authority’s with any information.
This suspect is in violation of Pinal code 2.42.3 the unsanctions addition of pineapple or pineapple adjacent products.
-- Wanted poster at the local mercenary headquarters current bounty 23 thousand credits.
When I wake up for the first time in a while I feel well rested, if just a little sore. I smile as i feel this happiness boil up in my stomach as I nuzzle myself a bit closer to the naked flesh of Cierra’s chest. Last night was awesome. I quickly check the time on my clock to see if I still have some time to relax.
Safe to say that i am a little disappointed when i find out it is already time to get up. I have a talk with Jason about the orphanage situation. Jason has been spearheading the construction of an orphanage on the floor below the hotel, and now that I have a collection of orphans to house, I thought the nice thing to do was offer my help with the project.
And since my therapy session will be today as wellt, I have to make sure that i am on time. Because i don’t want our new doctor to think that we are more problematic than we are.
So with great reluctance, I get myself out of bed. Once I am out, I take one last glance at the bed where my two girls are still sound asleep. To not live a busy life and to sleep in with these two must be amazing.
I sigh getting myself out of dreamworld and back into reality. I quickly throw on some comfy clothing and set up my mask bracelet to display a suit, making me look proper and business ready. Though that makes me wonder if there is any point to me wearing clothes at all since the mask's facade feature just makes it feel real, anyway.
I head out of the bedroom towards the kitchen and then pause in confusion. Sitting on one barstool of the kitchen island sits a white foxgirl sipping some kind of drink while petting Daisy.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, now completely awake.
Luna looks up and smiles at me. “I was going to ask the owner of the house where I might find you, but it seems that won’t be necessary.”
“Right, sure, why not?” I say, shaking my head as I walk in further. “Why are you looking for me again?”
Luna put down her cup. “I am here to take you to court. You are getting sued.”
I raise my eyebrow. “And why exactly are you suing me? Not fluffed your tail enough?”
“Oh, I am not suing anyone. I am the neutral party that was tasked with ensuring your cooperation.”
I shake my head and head to the fridge to get myself some yogurt with berries. “Why exactly should I care about any of that in the first place? As far as my experiences go, the court is only there to fuck people over.”
Luna turns to me with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “Fair enough, I assume something happened?”
“I would call it deeply traumatic instead.” I point at my bowl.
The way that Luna is staring at me makes me think that I indeed have to. “I… fuck. People came to my house and shot my parents, then they put me and my brother on trial for damages against the companies. We were found guilty and became indentured servants.”
“I thought I outlawed indentured servitude.”
“Not here.” I get out between bites of my food.
She gnashes her teeth at that. “I hate it when people forget the memo… Looks like I’ll need to do a few house-visits.”
I perk up at hearing that “Mind if I tag along for that?”
“I thought you hated court?” Luna asks, having an amused look on her face.
“I hate court proceedings and hearings and such. If we are going there to blow the ever-loving Antithesis out of everything, I am more than willing to go.” I say, with a big smile, as I bounce from foot to foot in excitement.
“You, my child, should get a hobby.” Luna says.
“I already have one,” I say, taking out the pen we stole out of Luna’s car.
The corners of Luna's mouth turn up just a bit to a smile. “What is that?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say with a smile, “So why am I getting sued, anyway?”
“You’re getting sued for the destruction of Zürich.” She says while petting Daisy without a care in the world.
“Right, that. Yeah, now I am definitely not going. That just sounds like a great place for everyone to gang up on me.”
“Well they can certainly try,” she says with a conspiratory smile.
“Okay there foxxie, so what is the plan? Do I need to get a lawyer or something? I am pretty sure Cierra can get me a good one or like five.”
“Why would you get a lawyer? That’s what I’m here for.”
“I don’t remember anything about you having a law degree. Whatever, it isn't important. So, what is the plan? To say that i am not guilty, and beat everyone up that disagrees?” I suggest, as I pick up my empty bowl and put it into the sink to rinse out.
“That’s probably what this will devolve into, but let’s try talking things out like reasonable and civilized people first. If nothing else, it will make us look better for having given diplomacy a chance.” She says, giving me a shrug.
“Okay, that seems like a plan. Not a good one, but definitely a workable one.”
“Don’t worry,” Luna says, giving me a dismissive wave. "Most Samurai are power tripping teenagers. Once you demonstrate that you have more power, they shut up pretty quickly.”
I pause, not really knowing what to say to that, so instead I try to change the subject. “So, when is this hearing? I am kind of busy, you know.” I ask, before I continue my breakfast.
“In a few hours, so we might want to hurry.”
“No, fuck that. They can wait a bit. If they're going to summon me without prior notice, they shouldn't expect me to show up on time.” I say, leaning forward and grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl.
“They’re not going to like that,” Luna informs me
“I am not doing any of this to be liked. If I wanted to be liked, I wouldn't wear a mask everywhere I go.”
Luna nods, but before we can continue our conversation, Daisy suddenly gets up and runs into the hallway.
“Hey girl, did you sleep well? Awh you're such a good girl,” Cierra’s cooing can be heard from the kitchen.
As she walks into the kitchen, she immediately freezes. “FOXFIRE!… uhm, what are you doing here?”
“I came here to ask for the whereabouts of that one. Seems that won’t be necessary anymore,” she says while waving her hand at me.
“I am getting sued.” I helpfully add.
“What?! Why? what did you do?” Cierra asks, while giving me a look.
“Nothing really, I just escaped. Not my fault that someone decided to use Zürich as the foundation of my prison.” I quickly defend myself, giving Cierra a wink.
“Right, do you need me to get a lawyer? I think I might still contact some good ones in time.” she says as she opens up a screen on her AUG.
“Not really, Luna says it is more about posturing rather than being right.” I say as I walk up to Cierra and give her a kiss.
I feel Daisy's nose bump against me as I do so. “I guess you want some food too, right?” Daisy spins in excited circles at my words. I quickly recover her bowl and have Lyssa summon a hunk of meat into it, that Daisy eagerly devours.
As I turn around, I see Luna give me a look. “Why did you get a hyena anyway and not something more manageable like a fox?”
"Because you can punt away a fox, and if I tried that with Daisy, I'd break a toe." I say, petting the hyena’s flank.
Luna gives me a look of horror, ears flat against her head. "Why would you punt a fox?”
“Well, not me, but if I brought it into battle, that would be the result, while Daisy over here is built like a tank with a jaw like a vice,” I explain.
“Sure, but you realise a pet is there for cuddles and stuff, right?” Luna asks.
“Are you telling me Daisy is not huggable?” I say, my tone going low.
“No, of course not. It would just be hard putting her in your lap, unlike, say, a fox.” She hastily explains.
I give her the hand gesture of I am watching you. Then I turn to Daisy who is mostly done eating her meal. "Don’t worry girl, you are perfect just the way you are”
“But a cute little fox would be nice to have around in addition,” Cierra chimes in.
I give her my best betrayed look. “How could you devalue Daisy like that?”
Cierra laughs, “I'm not! It’s just that Daisy is yours, so I think it would be nice for me to have my own pet animal.”
I sigh and just when I am about to agree Claire walks into the room still looking dishevelled.
I smile as I start walking to Claire “Maybe, but we have to go now, Luna said my trial is happening soon, so,” I give Claire a kiss on her cheek “Tag you’re it.” Then I turn and start walking to the door, Daisy following close behind me.
As I step into the elevator, Luna suddenly appears beside me. "You do know it’s not good to run away from problems in your relationship like that.”
“I'm not running away. We are in a hurry, and because of this trial bullshit. I have to reschedule most of my appointments. Do you even know that there are people still walking around, that I want to put in the ground, and the only reason they still breathe is because I am so busy?”
Luna cocks her head. “What has that got to do with giving your girl a fox?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to vent. As for the fox if she wants one, sure, but I am already considering giving her a kid. Having an extra dependant around doesn't seem smart.”
Luna “Sure, but protector tech can do amazing things. Why not make it a nanny fox of some kind?”
“Is that ethical?” I wonder.
“You're not hurting it so I think it would be fine.”
“I meant for the child, you fluff-filled idiot.”
“Ah. I mean that should be fine, too, right?”
“Anyway, we will worry about that later,” I say, snapping my mask off my wrist and putting it on. “Okay, I need to square some things away, then we can go.”
Luna smiles. "Sure, we were going to be late anyway, so who cares?”
We quickly get out of the elevator and head to the office of PsyCo’s new therapist. The door to the room is open. So I quickly poke my head in as I knock on the door frame.
Katherine's eyes go wide. “Maniac, you’re not supposed to be here for a couple of hours.”
I am hit with a flash of dissociation as Maniac almost gets flung into the driver's seat. “Yeah, about that. I have to go to trial and I am not sure when I will be back, so I'm not sure if I can make it to our session.”
Katherine pauses, then blinks “I see, good luck with that,and when you are back, I would like you to see me as soon as possible, if that's okay?”
I nod. "I will try my best, that's all I can promise. I am sorry, but I will be off now.”
I quickly make it out of her office and start fast-walking through the hall. Luckily, the meeting room Jason and I were going to use is close by. As I enter, I find that Jason is already there.
“Maniac, good to see you. Foxfire, it's good to see you again. Have you been well?” he says, with his big, handsome smile.
“Well, it has been a while.” Luna says.
“So, Jason, I hate to do this, but I have to go back to Zürich to stand trial, so we kind of need to postpone this meeting.”
Jason blinks that rubs his chin as if he is thinking “Aren’t the orphans you were talking about still in Zürich,”
“Yeah, they are. Why?”
“Good, then I'll drive. We can take my bus and have the meeting on the road. Then, while you stand trial, I can go and pick them up.”
I smile. “Fuck, that would be great! Thanks a lot, I owe you one.”
He shakes his head. “It's no problem, and you can start paying me back by stopping the swearing.”
“Wait, what? That sounds hard.” I complain.
“It's something you have to do, if you want to take care of children.” he says.
“Fine,” I acquiesce.