Philadelphia, 2032 AD
Aiden Rumerez walked down the little alley, rain pattering on his hat and coat, the golden lights from the skytowers of the upper city making them look like drops of gold. Taking another bite of his pastry grateful for the food after the long meeting, he was taking a shortcut he often took which led in between two apartments, when he herd the softest noise, like a cat skulking, trying not to be noticed. A car speeded by on the street behind him. The hover lamps flickered.
"What corrupts, Aiden? Is it money?" Aiden jumped, dropping his pastry on the slick pavement. A man appeared out of the shadows lying against the apartments. He wore a duster as dark as the gloom he stood by; fingerless gloves were wrapped around his hands, and dull boots on his feet. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses even though it was night; a cigarette stuck out of his mouth. He looked like any common retro-styled street urchin, probably a gang fighter. Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he stood there unsure of what to do.
"Money doesn't corrupt; it's an object. It is neutral. But objects can be abused by people, the wrong people." the urchin spoke again in his quiet, husky voice.
"L-look if you want money... " Aiden said this as he reached for the TX1 handgun he had in the back of his belt.
"I don't want your money, Aiden, and you'll stop reaching for that gun. You know what corrupts? Power. Power corrupts. You are filled with it. But if I kill you, does that make me corrupt? Am I doing a good and just thing; maybe. Am I no better than you for doing so? I'll probably never know the answer, but I must do what's been put in front of me. What were you promised?"
"W-what?" Aiden stammered.
"The executives of PharmaTech promised you money and something else. What did they promise you!"
"I-i th-they... !" sweat rolled down Aiden's forehead. The stranger lifted a finger to his lips.
"I already know: a promotion and you were to be relocated to a safe location. Is that why you took the bribe? Let those companies kill all those people. You are corrupt, Aiden, and it was time you were weeded out." the urchin lifted his hand; Aiden's handgun lifted out of his back pocket seemingly of it's own volition, floating to rest pointed at his temple. Aiden's hand then raised up, grasping the gun. Aiden was frozen, wide eyed and urine streaming down his suit pants.
"Then I'll go and plant neurionite in your house."
"What are you! Why are you doing this!"
"I'm a gardener, Aiden, and you are a weed."
Aiden's finger pulled the trigger.
Aiden Rumerez walked down the little alley, rain pattering on his hat and coat, the golden lights from the skytowers of the upper city making them look like drops of gold. Taking another bite of his pastry grateful for the food after the long meeting, he was taking a shortcut he often took which led in between two apartments, when he herd the softest noise, like a cat skulking, trying not to be noticed. A car speeded by on the street behind him. The hover lamps flickered.
"What corrupts, Aiden? Is it money?" Aiden jumped, dropping his pastry on the slick pavement. A man appeared out of the shadows lying against the apartments. He wore a duster as dark as the gloom he stood by; fingerless gloves were wrapped around his hands, and dull boots on his feet. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses even though it was night; a cigarette stuck out of his mouth. He looked like any common retro-styled street urchin, probably a gang fighter. Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he stood there unsure of what to do.
"Money doesn't corrupt; it's an object. It is neutral. But objects can be abused by people, the wrong people." the urchin spoke again in his quiet, husky voice.
"L-look if you want money... " Aiden said this as he reached for the TX1 handgun he had in the back of his belt.
"I don't want your money, Aiden, and you'll stop reaching for that gun. You know what corrupts? Power. Power corrupts. You are filled with it. But if I kill you, does that make me corrupt? Am I doing a good and just thing; maybe. Am I no better than you for doing so? I'll probably never know the answer, but I must do what's been put in front of me. What were you promised?"
"W-what?" Aiden stammered.
"The executives of PharmaTech promised you money and something else. What did they promise you!"
"I-i th-they... !" sweat rolled down Aiden's forehead. The stranger lifted a finger to his lips.
"I already know: a promotion and you were to be relocated to a safe location. Is that why you took the bribe? Let those companies kill all those people. You are corrupt, Aiden, and it was time you were weeded out." the urchin lifted his hand; Aiden's handgun lifted out of his back pocket seemingly of it's own volition, floating to rest pointed at his temple. Aiden's hand then raised up, grasping the gun. Aiden was frozen, wide eyed and urine streaming down his suit pants.
"Then I'll go and plant neurionite in your house."
"What are you! Why are you doing this!"
"I'm a gardener, Aiden, and you are a weed."
Aiden's finger pulled the trigger.
