Chapter 52 Market Research

Chapter 52 Market Research
"The signal is moving," Cedric’s voice echoed. "He’s right above you, boss. High up."

I looked up. The warehouse roof was a mess of rusted beams and old ropes. A pair of boots dangled from a crossbar thirty feet up. "I see him," I said. "Is he the one?" Oswin asked. I heard him pacing in the office. "The unbranded guy?"

"He's the one," I said. "Keep the perimeter clear, Oswin. I don't want any gold-heads wandering in while I'm doing the pitch."

"I'm on it," Oswin said. "But hurry. I can hear the Syndicate patrols. They're getting louder."

I didn't use the stairs. I drifted upward, my form a blur of blue light. The man in the rafters scrambled back, his back hitting a brick pillar. 

"Get back!" He yelled. He swung a piece of pipe at me. It went through my chest like water. "That won't work," I said. "You're already dead, Jarek. You should know that by now."

"I'm not going back!" Jarek shouted. He was shaking. His form was thin and transparent. "I won't let them mark me. I'm not a battery!"

"I'm not with the Syndicate," I said. "Look at me. Do I look like a man with a branding iron?"

Jarek squinted. He looked at my suit. He looked at my face. "You don't have a mark. How? Everyone here has a mark."

"I'm new in town," I said. "And I'm looking for staff."

"Staff?" Jarek laughed. It was a dry, nasty sound. "You're crazy. This is Onyx Harbor. If you don't have a mark, you're a glitch. And glitches get deleted."

"That's why they can't find you, isn't it?" I asked. I leaned against a beam. "Cedric told me your records are blank. No name. No death certificate. You're a hole in the system."

"I was a floater," Jarek whispered. "Worked the docks forty years. Paid in cash. No ID. When the crane snapped, nobody told the city I was gone. The books stayed empty."

"Perfect," I said. "The Syndicate can't claim what they can't track. You're the only free man in this harbor."

"I'm not free," Jarek said. "I'm starving. I can't touch food. I can't touch money. I'm just waiting to fade away."

"That’s where we come in," I said. I waved my hand. A blue screen popped up between us. 

"What is that?" Jarek asked. "A contract," I said. "Read the first line."

"Fenwick Benefits Package," Jarek read. "Health. Security. Physical Standing. What does that mean?"

"It means you stop fading," I said. "You sign that, and I give you enough soul-code to stay solid. You'll be able to pick up that pipe and actually hit something."

Jarek looked at the screen. "And what do you get? My soul?"

"I get an employee," I said. "I need someone who can walk this city and open doors for me.

Someone the Syndicate doesn't own. You work for me, and I keep the gold-heads off your back."

"You and what army?" Jarek asked. "The Syndicate has hundreds of guards. They have the law. They have the money."

"I have the Auditor," I said. "And I have this."

I tapped the screen. A new icon appeared. It was a heavy, square-headed hammer. 

\[Item: The Spectral Sledge\]

\[Type: Founder’s Tool\]

\[Effect: Ignores 100% of physical and magical armor.\]

\[Note: For employees only.\]

"A hammer?" Jarek asked. "Try it," I said. I pushed the icon toward him. The light flowed into Jarek's hand. His arm looked solid. The grey mist turned into muscle. The hammer felt heavy in his grip. 

"I can feel it," Jarek whispered. He swung the hammer at the brick pillar. The brick turned to dust instantly. 

"It ignores armor," I said. "Those leather coats the guards wear? Those brass poles? This goes right through them. To this hammer, they are already dust."

Jarek looked at the hammer. "Who are you?"

"I'm the man who's going to audit this city," I said. "Are you in, or do you want to keep hiding?"

Jarek gripped the handle. "I’m in. Give me the pen."

"Sign here," I said. Jarek swiped his finger. The screen turned green. 

\[New Employee Detected: Jarek (Rank: Dockhand)\]

\[Branch Stability: 15%\]

\[Physical Standing: Granted\]

"Welcome to the team," I said. "Boss!" Oswin’s voice boomed. "We've got company! And they aren't here to talk!" I looked down. The metal doors of the warehouse were shaking. 

"How many?" I shouted. "A dozen," Oswin yelled. "Led by a big guy in a gold coat. They’ve got something weird. It’s glowing."

"Soul-Magnets," Cedric yelled. "Cyprian, get down here! If they turn those on, they'll rip us out of the building!"

I looked at Jarek. "Ready for your first shift?" Jarek stood up. He wasn't shaking. He looked at the doors and spit. "I've been wanting to hit a gold-head for a long time."

The doors exploded inward. A man stepped through the smoke. He was tall, with a thick beard and a coat that looked expensive. He held a brass device that hummed with a high sound. 

"My name is Garrick," the man said. "By order of the Gilt Syndicate, this property and all spirits are under seizure."

Oswin stepped forward. "You're trespassing, pal. This is Fenwick property now."

Garrick laughed. He raised the brass device. "Property? You don't even have a name. Collect them."

The device started to glow a blinding white. I could feel the pull. It felt like my skin was being peeled off. 

"Cedric, block the signal!" I yelled. "I can't!" Cedric shouted. "It's too strong! I'm losing the office!"

Garrick smiled. He looked up toward the rafters. "There's a glitch up there too. Two for the price of one. Turn it up."

The humming grew louder. The floor began to vibrate. Oswin fell to one knee, clutching his head. 

"Jarek," I said. "Show them the benefits package." Jarek didn't wait. He leaped from the rafters, the hammer trailing light like a falling star. 

Garrick looked up, but he didn't move. He thought his armor would save him. He thought he was safe behind his gold. 

He was wrong. The warehouse doors were kicked down by more men, all carrying the same glowing magnets.