Oh, so you're in Neon Han today? Welcome, welcome.

You know, there's a funny guy over here. Private investigator guy. His name is Cal. Carl? No, no, no. It's Cal.

Anyway, he's a real downer guy. Well, once you actually get him to warm up on you, he's that classic fucking dude. Just wants to get the job done and maybe get enough money so he can feed himself another night, you know?

But you can tell when you look at that guy that he's seen some shit. Straight-up thousand-yard stare. Like he was built for Vietnam or whatever.

So last week, right? He was talking to Rook.

Rook. You know Rook, right? Course you don't. Guy's been a fixer since the city was born. Trades in favors, not money.

And, well, I'm currently thinking to myself: I'm wondering if it's better to be in debt to one of the debt corps, or if it's better to deal with his ass!

Anyway.

They were talking to each other, and in pops some little girl. I don't know. She couldn't be more than 25 years old. Looks like she just came out of fucking university.

So she's walking in, and the room starts flickering. Lights stutter. My commlink gets hot in my pocket, display scrambling. Her voice sounds fine but every screen in the noodle shop goes to static when she talks. The vending bot across the street reboots mid-pour, sprays cherry cola all over some corp suit. She looks confused, like she doesn't even know she's doing it.

I'm thinking to myself: whoever the fuck this girl is, she needs to get out of here before the Tidewall Authority sends their goons out to check the Spectrum analyzers.

Cal grabs her arm, mutters something I can't hear over the static. Rook's already moving toward the exit, scanning the street like he expects trouble.

They're gone before the bus even stops smoking.

Cal's the type who'd dig up your ma's grave for a lead. Rook's built like a tank that runs on spite. But that girl? She glitched, and they vanished.

Reminds me why I stick to this stool. Glitches get you zeroed in this city.

So yeah. That's what I mean when I say this place attracts the weird ones.

Anyway, have you been to Chen's? It's this freaking spot, about a few blocks from here. I know the noodles at this shop are good, but if you go to Chen's and you have just enough credit? Tell him you want the special. That's all it's called: "the special."

All I'm saying is: you'll eat it, and you'll forget what day it is. 'Cause the only thing in your mind that you're thinking is, "God damn, that food is gonna make you fucking..."

All right, I'm not gonna use any extreme vulgar language. But think about the weirdest sexual innuendo, and that's what I'm thinking about when I eat that food.

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