Been two weeks since Hightower paid me a lovely visit. Didn't listen to his advice and took up a new job. Shouldn't really work in my condition but someone's gotta pay the bills. Got something simple. Drop by, hack a computer, and send data to client. Right shoulder still in pain, but I can do it. Try to use the arm as little as possible. Don't need it to jump anyway. Breathe in. Breathe out. Now I'm on the roof. Take out Crosslink. Computer on second floor. Rewire front security camera to open front door. Way in: clear. Rewire nearby lightswitch to open computer room door. Now just a matter of avoiding guards.

Drop in front of camera. Door opens. Jump to ceiling to keep hidden. Clench my teeth. Moving up here hurts. Gotta put lot of ice on shoulder when back home. Drop behind guard. Walk up stairs. Jump up again. Ouch. Let myself hang up by one arm for a moment. Breathe in. Breathe out. Alright. I can do it. Drop behind guard. Flip lightswitch. Door opens. Enter room. Close door. Start hacking.

Noise. Uh-oh. Guard's already back. Jump to ceiling. Jesus fuck. Shoulder's gonna kill me. Watch guard come in. Not guard. Someone else. No idea who it is. Wasn't planned. Red dot. Headshot. Silent death. What the-

"Is this a fucking joke?"

Hightower's here. Killed that not guard. Closed the door behind him. Like a gentleman. I should have shut the fuck up. He looks up to me.

"Conway."

I can see his frowny face. Obviously, he's not pleased to see me.

"How many times do I have to beat you up to get you out of my sight?"

I don't answer. I'm still clenching my teeth.

"Not enough apparently."

I cough.

"Not my fault if we're like the only two agents in this fucking town."
"Sounds like that's one too many."
"Did you work on your one-liners or what?"

He keeps staring at me. What is he waiting for? That I drop from the ceiling so he can punch me all he wants?

"You can't stay up there all night."

Oh, yes. Nailed it. I shake my head.

"If you want me to get down you'll have to get me yourself."
"Alright."

Shit shit shit, what? He isn't… He is. I don't have much time to react as he jumps up and grabs me, pulling me down. We both roll on the floor. I let out a scream. My shoulder knocks on the desk and my hat flies all the way across the room. Jesus fuck as if I haven't had enough. A hand goes for my mouth and covers it. I understand he's trying to figure out if the guards heard us. Not my major concern. So I bite him. He clenches and slaps me. Of course, I would have already gotten out of here by now if he wasn't sitting right on me, and struggling wakes up the pain in my shoulder big time. I'm guessing it's only going to get worse, and I wish I was wrong. He grabs my face in a firm grip, immobilizing my head, and straight punches it twice. I hear a crack in my nose. With my sane arm, I try to punch him back, but I am myself very aware of the little strength left in me. He easily catches it before my fist even touches him, then proceeds to twist the arm, his other hand smothering my cries. I keep wiggling around, hoping for a way out, somehow. He knocks this idea out of my head by repeatedly bumping my skull against the floor. My muffled whinings are mixed with blood, I can taste it in my mouth. Soon, his face disappears, blurred out by the tears coming to my eyes. I'm sobbing violently as he uses my body as a rag doll.

It takes me some time to realise he stopped punching me. I still hear the banging in my brain but I can feel he's not here anymore. My whole face is burning. My face, my arms, my shoulders. I can't believe I'm still alive. Thankfully nobody heard the fuss. Top notch security, guys. Slowly, I get up. Jesus fuck it hurts like hell. I stagger, and let myself drop into a chair that wasn't surprisingly knocked down. The computer screen catches my attention. I still have a contract to wrap up. Let's get this over with.

Drag self to computer. Hack the damn thing. Lots of blood drop onto keyboard. Don't care. Got the data needed. Plate glass window completely shattered. Must have gone this way.

I grab my hat and jump away, carrying my bloody self home.