All this talk of Ops turning from the company got me thinking. Here's the result:
... they're lying to you ...
No shit. Look, I'm taking this BPN, ok? I queued for it, it's mine and I'm taking it. I got payments to make and a lifestyle to fake and I don't need no additional problems from *you*. And I can tell you right now that the squad feel the same, so don't try to give me any more of your shit, ok?
... but it's *wrong* ...
I don't care. Homelessness is wrong. Starving to death is wrong. Sitting alone in some Downtown apartment surrounded by damp and vermin, only the TV to talk to, dying of some two-bit disease you can't afford to have cured, is *wrong*. If this BPN puts 50 more creds between me and that shit hole, then fuck you, I'm taking it!
... and if you have to-
Kill? Again? Then I'll do it. No hesitation. No bullshit 'ohh, ain't-life-precious?' sentimentality. That ain't me. Besides, this is a Blue. No-one gets killed on a Blue, except maybe dumbass Slops with an unhealthy regard for ...
I just think you're missing the point, thats all. It was a routine mission. Just another Blue. I didn't ask for the Red, but you don't turn down 500 creds and you *definitely* don't turn down Cloak Division. Shit, I was bored! Two solid days of changing light bulbs. C'mon, don't tell me you get off on that whole work ethic bull? Two days! Man, after the first two *hours* I was praying for some punk to come and try and take our stock. I don't know whether I would've busted 'em up, or given 'em every last crate of bulbs with a smile on my face. When the Red came through I could've punched the wall for joy, man!
... 'All citizens in apartments 1700 - 1720 to-'
'-be terminated immediately', I remember. Look, I got the slip right here. It says 'release forms and warrants available retroactively', see?
... and that makes it ok ...
Hell yes! Look, Station Analysis pick up an illegal broadcast, they trace it to floor 47 of the building we're in, they despatch us to the scene 'cause we're closest. Five minutes later the block was crawling with DarkFinders. There were four or five of them! I haven't been so scared since I was 'volunteered' to be the demonstration subject of the potency of Ebb Healing at Meny. What do you think would have happened to me if we hadn't been following orders? I don't want an all expenses paid trip to Furnace, courtesy of Cloak Division, if that's ok with you? We weren't alone either. A Squad of Shivers started at the other end of the floor. I guess they were unlucky, 'cause they found the pirate station first. They took a couple of casualties before we got to them.
... but before that ...
What? What about 'before that'? Hey fuck you, 'cause the BPN said 'All citizens'. We were just being systematic.
... he raised his arm in front of his face ...
Oh Teeth, man, why did I get the kid? He was, what, twelve, thirteen? Sitting at the table in his Captain Contract T-shirt, eating his damn Captain Contract cereal. He turned his head towards me when I kicked in the door. That's all, just turned his head. Then he ... he ...
... he raised his arm in front of his face ...
... he raised his arm in front of his face. And I shot him. Three round burst. Hollow Point. He left the chair and he hit the wall and he was a fucking mess, you know? A real fucking mess. Shit, why did *I* have to get the kid? No parents home. By the look of the place, they probably had jobs. Poor kid probably didn't see much of them.
... and still you toe the company line ...
He raised his- What?
Oh I see. Nice fucking try. Hey, you let the little bastard grow for a few years, give him a gun and you can be *damn* sure he'd shoot me. And you know I'm right. Look, only the dead have enough sympathy to share around. While you're still breathing, it's still you're problem. I took a week off, and yes, I'm going back to work. If you have a problem with that, do me a favour and keep it to yourself, ok? I didn't ask for a guardian angel.
... no-one does, not any more ...
Matt Rose
Space is not a vacuum but it's getting pretty close...