Here's a short story I wrote based in the world of Psyber X. I want to try and expand on some lore for the game and find the best way to do this, is by getting stuck into some writing.
Also, to help with the visuals I found an A.I generator called Night Café, which has been great. Here's A Link If You Want To Check It Out. It's free to use, but, there is a paid version.
Jessup Drann looked out over Zeelis. The city that never slept; the city that always seemed to keep one eye open, more like. No matter how careful you were, you always had to expect someone was waiting to rob your valuables or pry them from your cold husk.
He took a deep breath through his oxygen mask as he looked up. The buildings stretched on for what felt like miles. Even though I'm on the third level. I still feel like an alley rat. He thought to himself. Hearing the bleep of his com-link, his mind was taken from his thoughts.
He answered the call and the face of his old Fren Faller came up. He was panting heavily and looked a little shaken. "Jessup, looking for a place to stash my Re-up. Mind if I drop by?"
"You in trouble Faller? What's the stash?" Faller shook his head. "Can't talk on the open air, can I call by or not?" He replied impatiently.
Jessup didn't want anything to do with it, he knew it was going to drag trouble to his house. After so long distancing himself from Street Biz, it would be a waste to get back into it, and he had a right mind to say it. "Well? What's it going to be Jessup? Can you help or not?" With a sigh, he nodded. "Yeah, anything for a Fren. Just make it quick."
The call ended, then Jessup stopped leaning on the balcony and turned around to walk inside. Before entering he stubbed out his Mist-Stick on the wall and tossed the butt on the floor.
His apartment was befitting a man in his position. He had more space than his old ground-level pad. But, barely any tokens to furnish it. He had the essentials and liked to think he was going for a minimalist look. But, he knew that was a lie. Soon the door was banging, he turned to it and the banging stopped, but, before he could reach the door, another bout of frantic banging started.
He opened it and Faller was clutching his left arm, slouching slightly. "You're bleeding man! You're getting it everywhere!"
"Shut up, I don't have time." Faller barged past Jessup, almost knocking him over in the process. The door shut automatically behind him, then Jessup hit the emergency lock.
Faller wasted no time in running to the window, to peek outside. "I don't like this, Faller. What's happening? Who shot you?" He asked, but, as a reply Faller just raised a grubby blood-soaked finger to his mouth. Jessup waited for what felt like an eternity before Faller finally stepped away from the window. "Okay. I think we're safe. I don't think they followed me."
"Who?" Jessup asked while Faller took his jacket off, dropping it to the ground. As well as a large duffle bag Faller had slung over his right shoulder. It made a clang as it fell. He then continued to the sink and started to wash out his wound. "Look in the bag. That should explain it to you."
Without wasting any time, he picked it up and sat it on the kitchen table. It was heavy, Jessup knew it wasn't a chemical Re-up, it felt like a bag of guns or something to that effect. The curiosity was too much for him so he didn't stare too long at the unopened bag.
He unzipped it, but, it got caught, he had to force it slightly to get it open. The chrome contents shined brightly when hit by the light. Silver, gold, and some of the gear was grey, nearly all of it was speckled in red. "Is this what I think it is?"
Psybernetics He thought to himself. He had very few body mods, himself, on account of the price tag that came with such purchases, then the installation fee from a local Ripper-Doc was another expense altogether. "Where'd you get this stuff?"
"Empty the bag, I haven't had a chance to examine it yet," Faller told him. Instantly Jessup wiped the rubbish off the table with his forearm. The old food containers, cans, and leaflets crashed to the floor, as he gently started to take the pieces out. Lining them up as he did. "This is a lot of hardware man. Where'd you get it?" Jessup asked as the last piece was out of the old duffle bag, which he then dropped onto the floor after it was emptied.
Faller turned off the tap and grabbed an old towel off the counter, he started wrapping his wound as he approached the table. "Where'd you think? I had a deal going with some of The Snatchers." "What are you doing dealing with them?" Jessup asked as he stepped back from the table. "Don't you have morals? Who knows where this stuff is from,"
Faller shook his head as Jessup finished. "We can't all live off morals alone. Easy for you to browbeat. You're a Flyer, living up here above the dirt. Street cats still have to make deals, even if it means working with the alley rats sometimes." Faller said confidently, even though in his tone, he didn't seem to be fully convinced of his own words.
"Regardless of the morals. Do you know the punishment for dealing in boosted gear?" "No risk, no reward. You know how much I can make with this equipment. This is high-grade stuff, basically brand new too." Jessup crossed his arms. "Yeah apart from the blood stains."
Faller waved a hand to that and let out a tut. "The blood will wash off the chrome easily. I'll cut you in on the deal, after all, what are Frenz for." Jessup walked back to the table to inspect the gear. "I have a contact with a Ripper-Doc on the ground level, he deals in this kind of stuff."
"Okay. But, you never told me what happened. Who shot you? The Snatchers?" Jessup's voice was shaky as a barrage of questions continued to bubble in his mind. Faller shook his head to the few Jessup managed to get out. "Nah, they only go after people with mods worth stealing."
"Who then?" Jessup asked, but Faller looked away, rubbing the back of his head with his right hand. "Well, you see. That's the thing. The ZPD raided the spot. As soon as the exchange took place too." "The ZPD! Are you crazy? They could have followed you here!"
"I got away. I took a shot as I ran. But, you know what's worse than them interrupting the deal? They ruined the connection I had with The Snatchers. I heard some of them shout at me for informing. Which I didn't by the way." As Faller finished, Jessup took a seat and rested his face in his hands. "So, wait. You're saying that there are two groups after you, and your first instinct is to lead them here!?"
"Hold on, I didn't lead anyone here, Jessup." "The blood stains, what if they track them back to my door?" Faller shrugged. "Don't forget, every street in Zeelis is covered in blood stains."
There was a bang on the door as Faller finished. Jessup stood up, reaching for his pistol. He stood staring at the door for a moment, then he slowly approached it, followed by Faller. "You expecting someone?" Faller whispered.
Jessup couldn't think straight, but, after a moment he nodded his head. "One person, My roommate works as a Dolly and gets off around now." He said as he turned to look at Faller. "Wouldn't she have a key?" Jessup nodded once more. "She does, but, I locked the door when you came in."
Jessup then looked back at the door and stepped to one side of it, while Faller stood on the other. His hand hovered at the keypad, and then he stared at Faller.
What are Frenz for?
