The Red Dragon Casino, was a sensory overload.
The moment we stepped inside, the awful smell outside vanished, replaced by fake jasmine and pricey tobacco. The air was cool and clean. Above us, the ceiling showed a huge hologram of sharks swimming through gold coin clouds.
The place was packed with people, cyborgs, and androids, they all crowded around light poker and holographic roulette tables. Waitresses in bunny ears and robotic legs squeezed through the crowds with trays of glowing drinks
Don't stare, Sarah whispered. Don't touch. We're guests, but also targets.
A beautiful woman in a red silk dress walked up to us. She was gorgeous, but her eyes were totally silvee implants.
Dragon Head Wu is expecting you in the Penthouse, she said. Follow me.
She led us past slot machines where desperate folks plugged their neural jacks straight into the machine, gambling their memories for credits. We were heading towards a private elevator.
My wrist comp buzzed again.
MESSAGE: Not the Penthouse. VIP Lounge. Left turn.
I stopped.
Any problem? the silver-eyed woman asked, turning.
I... uh, need the restroom, I lied. Nerves issue.
She frowned. Be quick. The Dragon hates waiting.
She pointed to a hallway on the left.
I looked at Sarah. Go on. Start talking. I'll catch up.
Elias, don't screw around, she warned, squeezing my hand. This isn't a game.
I know, I replied.
She got in the elevator with the hostess. The doors closed.
I turned and headed for the VIP Lounge.
A huge bouncer guarded the entrance, he looked more like a tank. He skin was covered with Grey metal armor.
Members only, he grunted.
I didn't argue. I checked the scanner on the door.
Skill: Weapon Hack? Nope.
Tech Control.
I put my hand near the panel, reaching out with my mind, feeling the code. It was locked, and complex... but it had a pattern.
Open, I commanded
ACCESS GRANTED.
The door slid open. The bouncer blinked, was confused, and checked his console. I slipped inside before he could stop me again.
The VIP Lounge was darker, quieter. Booths were hidden by smoky curtains. Alone at the back, a figure sat at a table.
It was a kid.
Maybe fifteen. He was wearing a hoodie with a glowing smiley face on it, headphones around his neck, he was eating noodles. A laptop covered in stickers was open in front of him.
You're late, Caretaker, the kid said, slurping a noodle.
You? I walked over, hand near the pistol I lifted from the guard. You sent that message?
Sit, the kid said. He tapped a key, and a privacy field activated around the table, blocking outside sound.
I'm Glitch, the kid said. And you're the most interesting weird thing I've seen in years.
What do you want?
To help, Glitch said. He turned his laptop. The screen showed a live feed of… me. Running from the Reaper. Blowing up the power cable. And draining the energy.
You aren't a Technomancer, Elias, Glitch said, his eyes shining. Technomancers write code. You ate it. Know what that makes you?
A freak? I said.
No. "You are a Devourer", Glitch whispered. Its a Legendary class. Not seen since the First Ascension. You absorb energy and turn it into XP directly. No need to kill monsters. You can Level up by draining a battery.
He pointed to the slot machines.
You can drain this whole casino if you wanted. You could Level up to 50 in one night
Why are you telling me this?
Because I hate Malachi, Glitch said, his face hardening. He killed my brother. And used him for parts in Server 3. I've been trying to hack the Corporation for years, but their firewall—the 'Black Ice'—is too strong. But you...
He smiled. You don't need to hack it. You can eat it.
So, you want to use me as a weapon?
I want to make a team, Glitch corrected. You have the power. I have the info. Sarah has the Admin codes. Together? We can take down the whole system.
My wrist comp beeped.
TEAM INVITE RECEIVED: GLITCH (LEVEL 20 HACKER).
ACCEPT? YES / NO.
Level 20? This kid is strong.
I accept, I said, tapping 'YES'.
TEAM FORMED.
Good, Glitch said, closing his laptop. Now, you better get upstairs. Dragon Head Wu is going to kill your girlfriend.
What?
Wu doesn't care about Sarah's codes. He's selling her back to Malachi. The deal happens in five minutes.
I froze in fear.
How do I get up there?
The elevator is locked, Glitch said. But the ventilation isn't.
He tapped his keyboard. A vent cover in the ceiling popped open.
Go, Glitch said. I'll turn off the cameras. Save the Queen.
With haste .... I jumped onto the table, grabbed the edge of the vent, and pulled myself up.
I crawled through the tight metal tunnel, the dust was choking me. I could hear voices coming from the vents ahead.
I got to the grate, i looked down into the Penthouse.
And saw them.
Sarah was tied to a chair. Dragon Head Wu, an old man with a golden dragon tattoo that moved on his skin, stood over her, smoking.
And on the big screen behind him, Malachi's face was there.
The Asset is secure, Wu said to the screen. Transfer the credits.
Done, Malachi replied. A recovery team is coming.
Wu turned to Sarah. Nothing personal, your Highness. But it's just business.
He drew a long, long dagger. Malachi wants you alive. But he didn't say anything about keeping all your fingers.
He reached for her hand.
No! Sarah screamed.
I kicked the grate without a thought.
CLANG.
The metal grate fell, crashing onto the glass table. I jumped down right behind it, landing in a crouch, with the stolen pistol in my hand.
Get away from her! I shouted.
Wu looked at me. Unimpressed. The four guards in the room drew their katanas.
The boyfriend, Wu sighed. Kill him.
The guards charged.
I raised my hand. Not the gun. My hand.
Skill: Energy Siphon.
I didn't aim at the guards. I aimed at the room. The lights, the screens, the security systems, everything ran on power.
D R A I N.
The lights in the Penthouse blew up. The room went dark. The guards yelled in confusion, swords flickering as I took the power.
XP GAINED: 50... 50... 50...
My body glowed with blue energy.
You want business? I said loudly, my voice changed. I'm here to audit the books.