Take Your Pills

Another day, another dollar. Morning had long since passed, but the eerie woman slept like the dead. A trash truck could be seen a block away from the apartment. Men would jump out of the vehicle, empty the resident trash, then move on. 

This would be their work for the whole day. It didn't take much longer for them to reach the Glen Apartments. Unfortunately, a random bystander was loitering in their parking spot. He didn't even bother to move. As the truck lost his patience, his hand slammed on the horn. 

HONK HOOOONK

Lei's empty eyes snapped open. Her body rose from the bed as if attached to strings. Not even yawning or shrugging off sleepiness, she went to wash up. About half an hour later, she was ready to go. 

'Fucking hell, you give me the creeps.' Johnny said. He was sitting on the pool table downstairs. 

'I thought you wanted to bang.' She answered with smirk. The arrogant man grunted. 

'You wouldn't understand.' A digital cigarette rose to his lips. He seemed like a pioneer discovering the Grand Canyon.

'Oh I definitely understand. I know that I'm hot. I'm also scary. Mix the two and I'm scary hot.'

'Gonk. Go make me some food.' He said.

'Are you saying I should eat something?'

'Look at you. Get some food and get healthy.'

'How sweet...' 

Lei did not end up making food. On her way out of the apartment building, she stopped at a vending machine and pulled out a croissant. Free of charge. She's partly a netrunner after all. 

Her Kusanagi was in the parking garage. Casually mounting her bike, she checked the electronics. It was still fully functional. No problems. The engine roared to announce its awakening.

First task of the day. See the doctor and get some pills. Real pill popper over here. Her destination was Santo Domingo. 

After a quick drive due to speeding and lane splitting, she pulled up to the curb of a calm neighborhood. The place was teeming with NCPD, which didn't seem to bode well. She walked up to one of the driveways only to be stopped by a cop. 

"Hood off. No suspicious individuals are allowed here." He said. Lei casually pulled off the hood, causing the man to nod with approval. 

"Preem?"

"Keep the hood down if you don't want to be stopped again. Have a nice day." He said while walking away.

She finally went up the driveway and reached the front door. Pressing her finger on the black pad beside her, the doorbell rang. Noise could be heard from within. It almost sounded like someone was working very hard to move.The door eventually opened.

"Ah. You're here." Parzik said. He was short, craning his neck to look up at her.

"Hey, Doctor. How are you feeling?"

"Better than you I suspect. Come along."

Lei followed the old man at an incredibly slow pace. He used a cane with every step, his bottom lip always wiggling. The guy was a fossil. 

They eventually reached the living room to her delight. Parzik sat down on a comfy looking rocking chair. Not only that, he pulled a blanket over him. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. 

"Sit, sit." He pointed to the other chair. Just as comfy too. A pill bottle sat on the armrest. 

"Are these the ones?"

"Those are the ones." He confirmed with a nod. Lei grabbed it while sitting down. The infovisor was taken off.

"Thanks, doctor."

"Oh, you're welcome. Don't…Don't forget. Listen. Ah…" Parzik took a moment to collect his thoughts.

This was Doctor Parzik. An old man whose body and mind was starting to give up on him. He was a kind man, and because of that the corps took advantage. A brilliant doctor whose achievements were credited to a company and not him. Once he fulfilled his role, he was kicked to the curb. 

Of course, the man made a fair amount of money when he was working. Now he just spent his days watching TV from his rocking chair. No children, only a divorced wife.

"Ah…this pill is a new thing. Don't know the side effects yet but it shouldn't be anything crazy. I'm telling you right now…This is not going to make you feel better. Only keep you functional. No more blacking out or losing motor skills."

"I understand." 

Lei twisted open the cap and casually popped a pill. She didn't even use water as a chaser. Parzik watched the process. 

"Should kick in after 30 minutes. Stay here so I can see if there's any danger."

"Alright, will do."

The two sank into a comfortable silence as the TV droned on about trash products and crappy shows. Parzik seemed to zone out, not even watching the screen. Eventually, the news came on and started covering all of the disasters and accidents happening between gangs.

"Doctor."

"........."

"Doctor?"

"Hmmm? Has it been 30 minutes?" He returned to the present.

"Almost. I was wondering why so many cops were out. Did something happen?"

"Ahhh…there was a shootout. 6th Street Gang ran into some Tyger Claws."

"Right outside your home?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Honestly thought they would bust inside for cover." He revealed. 

Lei frowned. Oh hell no. Nothing happens to the doctor. Ever.

"If something like this happens again, you call me. Okay?" She stated. He smiled at her. 

"Okay." 

"Don't forget." 

"I won't."

"You're definitely going to forget. Let me write it down." 

The sickly girl stood up and immediately paused. She felt a bit different. Her heart didn't ache as much. That sense of weakness wasn't as strong. Pill had definitely kicked in. 

"Loralei, do you really think-"

"Doc, the pill just kicked in." She interrupted while searching for a pen and paper. 

Such a thing was surprisingly hard to find. In this day and age, people rarely used them. She cursed under her breath. Holopad it is. 

"What do you feel?"

"Less weak, less painful."

"Mnn. Good."

Lei grabbed the holopad sitting on the counter and created a customized lock screen. He would see this whenever he interacted with it. There was a black heart emoji on the corners of the basic wallpaper. 

GANG VIOLENCE = CALL LORALEI <3< p>

"Here. See this?" She pointed at the screen and he nodded. 

"I'm not going to forget."

"Just in case, Doctor Parzik. You can never be too careful."

Johnny appeared and leaned against the wall. He looked at the old man. After a few moments, he shook his head.

'A good man…and good men die young. To still be alive, it must've been the better option to milk him than to plunder.' He said.

'Save it.' She stated. Her mind's voice was dangerous.

'Relax. I'm saying that you better keep an eye out for him.'

'Way ahead of you.' Lei glanced at the corner of the room. 

Sitting on the shelf was a black teddy bear. There was an eyepatch over the right eye, but a red glint could be seen on the left if one looked closely. Hidden cam. It was a necessity. 

The man had no security. What if someone found out that he was an ex-doctor? Neighbors could take advantage. Gangs could find out. The list goes on. Anything could happen. That was the only cam since he stayed in this room most of his days. Right on that chair.

"Is there anything else you're feeling? Any side effects?" Parzik asked. 

Loralei stopped for a moment and closed her eyes. What did she feel…what did she feel…Maybe a bit mellow. Like she'd had a small glass of wine.

"Just more calm. I can't really feel anything else besides that."

"I thought so. Your expressions haven't changed since they took effect."

"Really?"

"That's right."

"Weird. Maybe dampening certain feelings?"

"Try to invoke each one." He said. 

Lei thought of things that made her angry and couldn't find the spark to get mad. She then thought of the steamy session with Meredith, but lust was still raring to go. Sadness was still there. Paranoia was a bit less, but present. 

When it came to happiness…She couldn't remember the last time she was happy for more than a few seconds. Well except when she satisfied her lust. Either way she wasn't worried. 

"Eh whatever. I'll be fine."

"Remember to smile or people will be scared of you." He spoke as if she was his niece.

"People are already scared of me."

"That's because you don't embrace your look. Just pretend to be goth. You already look the part. Put on some black lipstick."

"You can't be serious."

"I'm being genuine. I think it would add a bit to your charm."

"Hmm. I'll think about it. On that note. I gotta go." She announced while putting on the visor.

"Lock the door on the way out, Loralei. Oh and remember! Ah…"

The hollow eyed woman waited patiently for him to remember his words. She leaned against the front door and scrolled her contacts. Panam's number was pulled up. 

RING RING

"Hello?" A beautiful woman appeared on the face cam.

"Hi, is this Panam? Drifter here."

"Speaking. How'd you get this number, Drifter?"

"Rogue."

"Of fucking course. What the hell does that warhorse want with me now?!" She snarled. Definitely still angry.

"Forget about her. I heard you need help with a gig, and that you could help me."

"Depends on what 'help' you need." She answered with sarcasm.

"Wanna speak with your Voodoo Boy contact."

"Pshh that's it!? Haha! Sure. Meet me at the Royal Freight yard on Bonita Street. It's hugging the city. I'm there right now." She concluded after a brief giggle.

"Preem."

The call dropped. Lei immediately frowned. Maybe she should've asked for more. It didn't seem like a big deal to Panam.

'The importance of things isn't the same for everyone. Why sweat it? Should make this easier for you.' Johnny spoke up.

'True.'

Lei turned back to the old man who was lost in his thoughts. He didn't seem to be making any headway. Probably needed a little jolt. After giving it a second, she spoke. 

"Parzik." She called out.

"Huh? Oh, right. That medication should last you 3 months. Come back to restock after. One pill every two days. No more."

"Preem. Thanks again." 

As she left, she made sure to lock the door…and buy some black lipstick.