Chapter Thirty-Four - Un-Funny Jane

Jane had pretty much everything I needed already in storage somewhere, so I mostly followed her around, pushing a definitely-stolen shopping cart along while she moved through rows of stuff that didn't seem to be even slightly organized and picked out what I needed.

"Backpack.... Got two here. This one's big, but I'd suggest this smaller one. It's much lighter, better material. Bit expensive, but it'll also match your outfit some more."

"Sure," I said. "How expensive is a 'bit expensive?'"

"Three twenty."

I winced, but... yeah, a military backpack was about that much. It was super light, and the material felt high-quality. I tossed it into the cart and followed her.

"IFAK, from NetherGain. Basic, but it's got everything you need in it," Jane said. She tossed a sealed first-aid kit into the cart.

I grabbed it and looked it over. There was a small NG emblem on the side, but that would be easy to remove, and maybe I didn't need to. NG was one of the biggest portal-delving corporations out there. They had gone on a massive purchasing spree some ten years back, bought all sorts of small companies that made the kind of gear that delvers used. It had rocked the boat a little, but now NG didn't just have the biggest portal-delving group in the nation, it also provided its own equipment.

They were on my shortlist for corps that might be involved with the Breach.

Fortress ENE had a half dozen smaller corporations that handled portals. Luna Corp was one, Bright Lightning who had the Storm Chasers was another, and there were a few more, all competing for the portals in and around the city.

Most cities had NG. Or another major corp. Sure, there were guilds, but the guilds acted more like unions and subcontractors to the bigger corps.

What we had here was semi-unique, and it might, maybe, have been the reason for the breach in the first place.

"What else did you need?" Jane asked.

"Ammo," I said. "For my little pea-shooter."

"Pea-shooter? That revolver can punch a hole through anything D and below," Jane said. "Might take out most C-rankers too."

"Maybe, if you land a hit," I said.

Jane led me back towards the entrance, then dug around in a cabinet for a while before coming out with a little red box. "They come in packs of twelve."

"I'll take two," I said. "Can't imagine you have speedloaders?"

"For that specific gun? Nah. But I can source one if you give me a few days. Probably pretty cheap too. There's a whole network of guys and gals that sell iron around here and sometimes we keep in touch if a client's looking for something specific. I can ask."

"Thanks. Try to keep it half-way discreet?"

"Always. I don't kiss and tell." Jane winked.

I rolled my eyes, but didn't complain. "So, that stick I found. The macuahuitl?"

"Oh! I have a guy coming in tomorrow to look at it," Jane said. "Sorry it took so long. I'm not usually in that side of the business."

"That's fine," I said. "What side are you on?"

Jane shrugged casually. "I sell gear and toys for the discerning customer. Not what I aimed to do for a living, but it pays the bills and it's kind of fun."

"And what did you aim for?"

"I went to college for three years for fashion. Got a nice piece of laminated paper and everything, and that's despite spending most of my time in college fucking."

"Of course," I said. "At least you learned one thing while there."

Jane grinned. "Wanna see what I picked up? There was the all-girl sorority place just down the block from my dorm, and lemme tell ya..."

"Ah, no thanks. Maybe some other time," I said. I really didn't want a distraction. "Actually, I might have something for you. Do you know anyone who'd buy information?"

"What sort?" Jane asked.

"Sometimes I talk to people, get a good idea of what's going to happen before it hits the mainstream. That kind of information could be real valuable to the right person. Problem is that I don't know how to make use of it myself."

"Sure. I know someone, could put you in touch?"

I shook my head. "I'd rather work through you," I said.

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It was a bit of a leap of faith. Did one (admittedly good) night of sex make me trust Jane that much? No, but I was short on other options, and with Jane acting as middlewoman, I had that much more space between me and trouble.

"Okay, sure," Jane said. "Twenty-percent."

I considered it, then nodded. "That's fair. Uh, I've got a few things..." Now is where I had to be careful. I couldn't say anything about any portals opening. That news wasn't the kind of thing that someone should be able to predict. Other things though? "Ever heard of Bloody Violet?"

"Big A-ranker from out west? Fortress... NW?" Jane asked. "I think he once wiped out an entire bandit village with one spell, right?"

"That's him," I said. Back when he was just a B-ranker too. That had been on the news, but it was a while ago. "He's coming here. Quit his guild and is now looking for work. Should be arriving on Monday, around noon-ish."

Jane's eyebrows shot up. "People have to know."

"I think a few might, but it's not on any official channels yet. He's looking for work from what I know. So... yeah."

"Oh, shit, that might actually be worth something. Some corps would bend over backwards to be the first to welcome him in and get a head start on the asskissing."

"Yeah. You let your info-broker friend know, and if it's worth something I want my share."

"Sure. Even if it's worth a lot, by the time it gets to us there won't be much left, you know?"

I had figured as much. There was probably a proper market for selling information, but I was very, very far from the loop. With time, maybe I could get a better grasp on it. "I've got some more. If your broker's any good, then he might like it, but it'll be contingent on making something from the Bloody Violet news."

"Sure, sure," Jane said.

Unfortunately, I couldn't stick around too long. I was just gearing up to say bye to Jane when the TV hanging up over her counter said something that made me look up.

There was a newscaster on air, a somber, well-dressed man, bright eyes of an E-ranker, and next to him was an image of a pretty young woman.

She was very pale, with long blonde hair and some visible cyberware wiring under the skin of her face, but the sort that was left visible on purpose, as a statement of wealth. Probably some top-end Orchid Lux model.

"Miss Ojou, the heiress of Redline Global, is still missing three hours after her kidnapping." There was footage,grainy CCTV, of the side of a nice hotel in city centre. A van with no plates, three guys with masks on and oversized leather coats, one of them bloody, pulling a small woman into the van. "Miss Ojou's two bodyguards were assaulted, with one confirmed dead and the other in critical condition at ENE General. Redline Global has made a statement about the kidnapping, saying that they will 'put all efforts towards retrieving Miss Ojou' and won't 'back down in the face of terroristic threats.'"

"No fucking way," Jane said as she caught me staring.

"Shh," I snapped. I could barely hear the TV as it was. But Jane fumbled around and came up with a remote and the volume increased.

"At the moment," the newscaster continued. "No demands have been made public. However, the Ojou family have put up a ten thousand dollar bounty for information leading to the safe return of their daughter."

"That's who you're going after?" Jane asked.

"You know I can't confirm that," I said.

"Shit, Beanstalk, didn't take you for the hero type for real."

I shrugged. "We'll see. Keep that to yourself, okay?"

"Lips sealed, baby." Jane leaned back. "But hey, if you're going in like that, you might want some extras. Bring a set of kevlars for the princess, maybe? Or some flowers, you know?"

I sighed. "I'm sure that I don't need that," I said. "And on that note, I'll be off. See you tomorrow, maybe."

"Yeah, I imagine you're on a deadline for this one, huh? See ya, Beanstalk!"

I left, disappointed.

Not because of the stuff I'd bought, or the price I paid for it. But... well, I was starting to like Jane. Not love her, or anything, but like... the thing is, I wasn't sure I could be in any sort of relationship with someone who thought that puns were funny.

I had limits.

***