Page 95 of The Fall

“Do I ever.” Kerr gave in and took a mouthful of absinthe. She winced.

Greasegun leaned on the counter. “Now, regale me with the tale of your fall from the graces of that goddess.” Their eyes begged for the sordid details.

“You’re a ghoul, yeah?”

“Yes, Seacake. That’s why I work here. Now spit it out. I don’t enjoy edging when it comes to guilty pleasures.”

Kerr sighed and took a much larger mouthful of alcohol. “She’s an Adlet.”

“A cross-gang romance!” Greasegun let out a delighted squeal. “But they’ve all but disappeared?”

“No-one knows where they went and they’re tight-lipped about it” Kerr still didn’t know exactly where, but it wasn’t here. “She did this to me years ago.” Kerr held up her prosthetic arm and flexed her fingers.

“I haven’t heard of that kink since my friend, Jess. Works at the dock. Obsessed with a witch.”

“The one that runs that vore porn channel. I know.”

“You have even more unique tastes than I thought.” Greasegun poured themselves a glass and tipped it toward Kerr before their eyes popped wide. “Wait, did you fuck her with that hand?”

“Don’t be crude,” Kerr warned.

“Oh my god, you did! Tell me more.”

Kerr relented. “It was around the same time she killed Piston.”

“Lusa?” Greasegun stood up straight. “That was Lusa in my bar? You’re fucking the woman who took your hand and killed your ex’s father.” Greasegun started pacing, nattering to themselves. “I mean, she’s hot, but wow. I don’t know if I could…”

“It’s complicated, okay?” Kerr snapped. She did not need judgement from this shitebag.

“Alright, calm your tits.” Greasegun glanced at her chest. “Such as they are.”

Kerr curled her lip. She was aware she was not particularly gifted in that department and Greasegun had no interest in her, but the remark still stung.

“So sensitive.” Greasegun muttered. “Sorry.” They rolled their eyes. “Tell me more. Why is she here?”

Kerr knew that was as much apology as she’d get from them. “Chalice lured her sister here and kidnapped her. She’s wearing Piston’s arm.”

“A sister? Who has sisters anymore? Or are we talking about friends who are like sisters?”

“Nope.” Kerr finished her absinthe. “An actual full-blood sister. Twins, even.” She set the tumbler on the counter.

“Wow.” Greasegun grabbed the bottle and refilled her glass. “The first twin in a hundred years, I bet.”

“I know, right?” Kerr scooped up the refilled glass. “Three moms too. They have tech I can’t even imagine,” Kerr lied.

“Three?” Greasegun downed the rest of their absinthe. “I need more alcohol for this.” They poured generously. “Why is she wearing Piston’s arm if their tech is so advanced?”

Kerr still didn’t have all the details on that, she only knew that they couldn’t. She’d also overheard something about a lake and traders and kidnappings, but not enough to piece anything together. “It’s one of their secrets.” She watched with amusement as Greasegun’s ears pricked up at the word secrets. Their face fell when they realised they wouldn’t be getting them.

“Chalice thought we could use her to get Model 2’s memcore. Use it to keep us safe from the Styx and anyone else who might try to take a shot at us.”

“And did she?” Greasegun swirled their tumbler.

“Model 2 melted the memcore.” The alcohol was starting to hit Kerr’s bloodstream, but she still had enough wits not to spill everything. What would happen if word got out that Model 2 was loose? And had a human body, apparently.

A stupidly gorgeous human body that was after her girl.

Hers.