The Ghost Sightings: Episode #11

Content Warning

Implied: Cannibalism, Necrophilia, Ghoulishness. Mutual Autophilia of a manner only possible in a world like Cyberpunk.

Conversation Log between Peter Duncan and Chloe "Cancer" Crabbe.

"What is it this time, Duncan?"

"Cancer, tell me Fredd's just fuckin' with me. Did you really tell him to tell me to make a brain dance of our setup and send it over to you for our yearly report?"

"I did. You received the recording setup I sent you, right?"

"Bullshit. You two are just messin' with me, aren't ya?"

"Those are your orders, Duncan."

"Don't go 'Those are your orders' me! Why the fuck do I gotta do this bullshit? What happened to you coming over and inspectin' things in person?"

"Look. With the recent elimination of Smogstack's cell, and our rivals collectively losing at least thirty cells throughout Night City, it has been decided that for additional security, physical contact between different cells needs to be minimized."

"It has been decided? What's with them corpo speak, Cancer? You sure you not fuckin' me?"

"No, Duncan."

"Right. Lookin' like this 'Ghost' got you all spooked. Hah! Not so tough after all!"

"Look, just get one of your gonks to record it. I'll forward you a checklist to give them. You don't even need to lift a finger."

"I can make my own checklist! None of that cookie cutter templated bullshit you use. And who'll be payin' for gettin' the kid chipped, huh?"

"What!? Duncan! Chipping a BD setup costs almost nothing!"

"Look Cancer, I didn't turn this place into the Most Efficient Abbatoir in Night City by spendin' eddies when I didn't need to. Now, cough it up."

"You can't be serious!"

"I am."

"Fine! Here's the fifteen eddies you need to get it installed, you fucking tightwad! You did at least receive it from the courier, did you?"

"Oh, we got it. I have a kid I just hired I can push the job onto."

"Do what you need to. You got your orders. Now fuck off."

"Love you too, boss."

Sammy "Yami" Green stood nervously in his boss' office, playing with the sleeves of his netrunner suit. Mr. Duncan's office was… intimidating, with the wrap around desk taking up the center of the room. On the back wall was a display closet showing off a rather impressive collection of guns. On one of the side extensions of his desk was one of those knife blocks, housing meat cleavers the size of his torso.

Mr. Duncan himself was a very imposing man, towering over Yami even while seated, fiery red hair and beard neatly trimmed. He wore an apron with some light blood splatter. Oh, and he was glaring at Yami, because Yami just couldn't stop tripping over his feet, could he?

Yami had no illusions about what Mr. Duncan and his group do. They are monsters. Murderers who snatch people off the streets, ripping out their chrome to sell on the black market. Mr. Duncan's group has likely killed a lot of people.

And before this is over, that blood would be on his hands too.

It was all he could do to not flee the room.

Get a grip Yami! This is your first real day on the job! You need to make a good impression! You are only the netrunner! You won't be harvesting people directly!

Your future Kusanagi depends on this!

"So, Yami," said Mr. Duncan, breaking the silence, "Because the management are pussies hidin' all scared in their bunkers, your first job is to make me a braindance of this base so Cancer can get to inspectin' it. You have your BD recorder chipped, yes?"

"Yes!" Getting the hardware installed set him back fifteen eddies, and calibration step was a pain, but that is a small price to pay for the paycheck he'll be getting at the end of each week.

"Good. Today want you to walk around the place testin' that BD recorder lookin' around and talkin' to people. Then starting tomorrow you'll be recordin' all of our operations. I've sent you a checklist of everything you need to capture. I want the BD recorded and edited by this time next week." said Mr. Duncan, "Ask Bear to help you. He's in the kitchen outside. He'll probably have some other tasks for you. You with me so far?"

"Yes!"

"If you happened to finish up the BD early, just pass me the shard and you get the rest of the week off. But I don't want you half assing shit, got it!"

"Yessir! I won't let you down!" shouted Yami, before he bowed.

Mr. Duncan snorted.

"Shit lad, this is a scav den. You don't need to bow to me." Yami straightened up, heat rising to his cheeks. Mr. Duncan looked right into his eyes, then harumphed. "Dismissed!"

Yami fled.

Yami took a fortifying breath after leaving Duncan's office. And another. And then a third. Then a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh.

Right, Yami, you can do this!

He activated the recorder and looked around the run down hotel suite he was in. According to the primer he was given, this place is the designated lounge room. Shabby couches and armchairs were scattered around it, facing a television. The attached kitchen was pristine and well equipped in contrast.

It was also in use.

The man was tanned, with fierce red and blue tattoos down the sides of his face. In place of his ganic arms, he had two pairs of cybernetic arms sprouting from his shoulders. They were black, with red flames decorating the upper arms and blue waves printed on the lower arms.

He also wore a hairnet and an apron.

His lower arms were dicing vegetables on a cutting board while the upper arms were stirring a pot with some sort of spicy smelling stew.

Relax Yami. Relax! Just talk to him!

"Um… uh… excuse me?"

"Hey there. How can I help?" said the man, shooting him a smile before returning to his work.

"I'm Yami. Are you Mr. Bear?"

Relax Yami!

"That would be me. Joshua Grey, but everyone calls me Bear. Just Bear. What do you need?" said Bear, pouring the diced vegetables into the stew, giving it a few stirs and slamming on the lid, before turning to Yami. "You don't need to be so nervous, man, I'm not going to eat you."

Right. Deep breath. Exhale. Calm.

"I'm supposed to record a brain dance of this place in operation. So, uh, today I need to get introduced to everything while testing the recorder. Then starting tomorrow I'll be doing an inspection of the place and of every operations. I'm also suppose to help you with any task you assign me,"

"Got it. Have you eaten?"

Yami had been too nervous to eat. Skipped lunch. And breakfast. He shook his head.

Bear tsked. "Now, that won't do. Let me get you something real quick,"

Right then, the oven dinged. Bear pulled it open, pulled out a covered tray and set it on the island. He pierced the foil, revealing a meatloaf. An explosion of savory smells, the scent of meat, herbs, spices and cheese filled the room. Yami could feel his mouth watering.

"That smells amazing Bear!"

"Thanks, kid. I'm proud of my meat dishes. Use real meat too, none of that artificial stuff!"

"Wow! What meat do you use Bear? Beef? Pork? Chicken?"

Bear gave him an odd look.

"Uhhhh. Pork. Yeah. Let's go with that." he said, then grimaced, "Yeah. You can't have any of this, or the stew," Yami couldn't help but droop. Get a grip Yami, of course Bear isn't giving you something as expensive as real meat for your first meal on the job!

Bear patted Yami on the head with one of his cyberhands. Messing up his hair.

"Let me whip you up some pasta real quick!" Bear continued," I'll need your help in about an hour from now, to help deliver some meals to a couple people. Feel free to explore until then. Just knock first, okay. Some of the people here are… jumpy."

It was entrancing, watching a master cook, all four arms working in perfect symphony. A plate of mushroom pasta was soon slid in front of Yami.

It was the most delicious meal he had ever had.

Bear had pointed Yami towards the security room. It was opposite the main dorm, where about half a dozen men were lying in their beds, reading or watching BDs. This was the place that Yami would spend most of his time here in. According to Bear, Kathryn, the resident netrunner, spends most of her time in this room.

This is his direct superior! He needs to make a good impression!

So naturally, he tripped and slammed into the closed door hard enough to break the lock, dumping him into the room.

Yami quickly scrambled up. There was a bank of monitors, showing feeds from all the base's cameras. Two office chairs were in front of the console. One had a woman with short blond hair in a brown sweater, blue blanket draped over her. She was slumped over with a mug next to her head, sleeping with her head at an odd angle.

Yami's neck hurt just looking at her.

There was another woman in the other chair. She was jacked into the console, wire snaking out from between her purple hair and the collar of her half jacket, which she wore over a cut down netrunner suit.

This must be Kathryn.

Oh, and she pointing a pistol right at his face, without even looking at him.

Shit!

"S-s-sorry Miss Kathryn! I'm new! First day! I'm Yami! Sorry for breaking your door! P-p-please don't kill me!" he screamed.

After what felt like hours, but was probably only a few seconds, Kathryn gestured with her gun for him to leave. Yami took that as permission to scramble out of the room, closing the door behind him as best as he could.

"You alright there, Yami?" shouted Bear from the kitchen as Yami gasped for breath in the corridor.

"Yes! I don't think Miss Kathryn is happy with me. I… uh… broke the door. What should I do?!"

"Let her cool off, kid. Try again tomorrow. I'll be cutting the repair cost from your pay though."

"Okay. Sorry."

"Don't worry too much about it,"

Yami walked out of the gym. Lexis, the gigantic man who had been using it was friendly enough. Yami was about to knock on the door of the next room when he heard…

Oh my.

Yami backed away, an eruption of a blush painting his face.

"Something wrong?" asked Lexis from behind him, causing Yami to jump. Because the quarter ton man with elephant feet was somehow so silent.

"N-n-nothing! T-t-they're just, uh, busy! I'll come later!"

"Ah. That would be Crane and Dozer," said Lexis. "Probably best not to disturb them. Not if you don't want to be shot. Heard them talking earlier about sharing a girl they acquired."

"Acquired? As in a joytoy?"

A giant hand mussed Yami's hair, almost knocking him to the ground.

"A joytoy, sure. Let's go with that."

Yami knocked on the door to the next room. He opened it after being told to enter.

The furniture had been shoved to the sides, creating an large clear space in the center. There was a woman there, with long blue locks cascading over a red leather jacket. She was sitting cross-legged, consulting a tablet. She had a pail by her side and paintbrush in her hand. Oh, and she was inside what looked like a ring of blood.

What.

"So you're the kid who pissed off Kathryn?" the woman asked.

"Yes! I'm Yami. The new netrunner. What's your name?"

"Sonnie. What do you need?"

"Just greeting my new teammates."

"Right. Come in, but mess with the circle and I will shoot you." Sonnie said.

Right. Yami will just stay in the doorway.

"What is it for?"

"It's a protection circle. Blood mixed with salt and iron. For keeping away ghosts,"

"Ghosts?"

"Yup. There's some vengeful spirit wandering about lately, clearing out scav dens. Like the one we are in. So I'm giving us, well, me, some protection. Spirits can't cross this threshold, you see, so even if the spirit comes here it wouldn't be able to kill me."

"Right. I'll… leave you to it,"

He left, closing the door behind him.

Twhip. Twhip. Twhip.

Splurt.

Gurgle.

Some of his new coworkers were a little weird.

Yami knocked on the door to the neighbouring room.

"Come in!"

The door opened into another bedroom. There was a double bed taking up half the room, with two identical girls sitting on it playing some game on a console. A large wardrobe sat opposite the bed, taking up the entire wall.

"Um… I'm Yami. I'm new."

"Emma Kent. My input here is Emily Blaire. No, we aren't twins. No, we won't fuck you. Keep your fantasies to yourself."

"But I didn't say anything!"

"Don't worry about Emma," teased Emily. "She's like this with everyone. Welcome to the team."

"Whatever," said Emma, "Now, buzz off."

After exiting their room, Yami received a message from Bear, telling him to deliver a couple of meals. Walking past the open dorm room, he noticed that everyone inside seemed to have fallen asleep, covers pulled up over each of their heads.

They must be the night shift.

He picked up the tray from Bear and headed back down the corridor to the workshop. The door was open, and Bear had told him to just enter, so he did.

Mr. Johann's workshop was large and well put together. There was a wall of tools on one side, while the other sides was filled with storage, holding stacks and rollers of cloth that ranged from dark brown to pale pink. There were several tables in the room, laden with hats, cushions, jackets and what looked like a half finished handbag. All of them made of those materials. On the other side of the room was a door, under a sign saying 'Tannery',

There was a framed picture above the tool racks. It showed a man with his family, a pretty woman, with two girls and a boy.

"Can I help you?"

"Ah!" Yami did not squeak, snapping his head towards the dour looking man that walked in from the tannery door. "Sorry! Was looking at that picture! It's, uh, very nice,"

"Thanks. That's me wife and kid. I'm Johann. Johann Fraser."

"I'm Yami, Mr. Johann. Here! Bear asked me to help deliver your dinner," said Yami, holding out the tray.

Mr. Johann thanked him, taking the tray and setting it on one of the open tables.

"So, uh, you're a craftsman?"

"Yep. I'm mostly a leatherworker." Mr. Johann said, between scoops, "Honestly half of what this place makes is from selling my products."

"So you work with synthleather?" asked Yami.

"I do use some synthleather, but I also use the real stuff. Make a lot of money from it too, enough to put all three of my kids through college. My youngest is 23 now, and makes a lot working on lunar transportation!"

Yami had seen some ads for authentic leather, usually marketed to the elite. A well made leather hat could sell for thousands. He had seen a leather couch going for half a million.

"Oh wow! Real leather is rare isn't it? Did we steal some shipments from the corpos?"

Mr. Johann reached out and ruffled up his hair.

Seriously, why does everyone do that?!

"Yeah, let's… let's go with that. Kid, are you sure you belong in this business?"

"Y-yes? Why wouldn't I. I know I'm only fifteen, but I can do the work!"

"It's not about that. You do know what we do here, do you?" asked Mr. Johann.

"Yes, but I'm willing to do this. I have a dream to reach!" declared Yami.

Mr. Johann looked him in the eye, then sighed and shook his head.

"Just make sure you don't regret it kid."

Yami's next delivery was to a Mrs. Preston, the burly woman who lived at the very end of the corridor and served as one of the crew's drivers. After dropping the tray off, he was walking back to the lounge when-.

"Mhmhmhh—"

Yami stopped. What was that?

It sounded a like a whimper, coming from Mr. Johann's room. He knocked on the door.

"Mr. Johann?"

Nothing.

Maybe he was busy?

This is a scav den. That scream could have easily come from one of their victims.

That must be it, right?

Yami tried the door, and it opened. There wasn't anyone in the workshop.

He opened the door to the tannery, seeing racks upon racks of leather in various stages of processing. No one there too.

Was he imagining things?

Maybe Emma or Emily might know what that was?

He exited the room, and knocked on the opposite door.

No response.

Opening the door, he saw that the room was empty.

What was going on?

Did they go out?

He checked Sonnie's room next.

There was a pool of blood in the middle of the blood circle, surrounding the now upturned bucket.

But no Sonnie.

That… wasn't her blood right? Just the contents of her bucket?

There was a lot of blood though.

Yami was starting to get a bit freaked out.

Please let this be some hazing ritual!

Then at the end of the corridor, Mrs. Preston's door slammed open.

Yami rushed into the corridor.

Mrs. Preston was on all fours in her doorway. "Attack!" she screamed, before she was cut off by the crack of a shotgun.

Fuck!

Yami rushed towards the lounge, running harder than he had his entire life. He could see Bear running into Mr. Duncan's office, throwing the door open.

Then, just as Yami was about to enter the lounge, there was a crack as his leg exploded, sending him sprawling onto the ground.

It hurts!

Behind him, Yami could hear the ripping of steel as the gym door was torn open. The floor quaked as Lexis charged into the corridor. It was followed by the thunder of a machine gun.

Yami fought the pain as he tried to pull himself up.

He failed. His legs just wouldn't lift his weight.

Lexis was holding the attack off, but for how long?

He didn't want to die here.

He hadn't done anything with his life yet!

Agonizingly dragging himself into the lounge, Yami could see Mr. Duncan's office through the open door on the other end of the room. Mr. Duncan was…

Oh, he was face-down on top of his desk.

One of his cleavers was sticking out of his skull.

Then there was an explosive roar from high above.

Lexis' gun cut off.

A second roar.

Then an immense weight fell onto Yami's back. His legs snapped like twigs in an avalanche. His chest caved in. His hair was drenched by a fountain of red, pouring down his face and clogging up his nose. The smell of copper was unbearable.

He screamed. It was barely a gurgle.

It hurts it hurts it hurts!

He tried to pull himself out from under the corpse crushing him, but there was too much weight.

There was too much pain.

It hurt to move.

"H-help me," he croaked.

It hurt to speak.

Bear stepped out of the office, firing a pair of shotguns into the ceiling while training his remaining gun, an assault rifle, at the corridor.

"B-bear, help me," he tried again.

Bear either didn't notice Yami over the sound of gunfire, or didn't care.

Yami hopes it was the former.

It hurt to breathe.

Darkness was creeping in at the corners of his vision.

Yami was going to die here, wasn't he?

He couldn't feel his legs anymore.

Couldn't breathe.

Couldn't do anything.

It hurt to even think.

There was a crash as Bear jumped out of the window, covering his escape with a hail of gunfire.

Leaving Yami behind.

Alone with a monster.

No.

Someone.

Please…

Me: "I'm going to write a subtle horror about a junior scav member having to record a BD of a scav den, with a lot of the gruesome nature of what scavs do getting hinted at but not shown, with the recorder not realizing that people are just getting picked off around him until he finds out too late before dying himself"

Muse: "Let's make it a comedy!"

Not really happy with the last scene. Must have written and rewritten it nearly two dozen times now. Maybe my standards are just too high for how much experience with writing I have.