The barrel of my gun is pressed against her cheek; tears spill over it and I can’t help wonder if it might rust.

“Don’t hurt me.”

I usually remember detail but I’ve overlooked something.

The city canopy swayed overhead casting a light shade to the buildings and streets some six hundred metres below. Still, the sandy desert wind bit hard underneath, not many ventured out from their comfy air-conditioned homes or offices. I leapt from a rooftop and easily landed in a roll on an adjacent platform. I felt fuzzy from the blow to my head. My readouts flickered in my sight –

Memory Caching Error 0x1AF

- my target, a building downtown. I scaled the wall, scratched my way up the crumbly concrete before it’s self-aware™ surface repaired. The roof was vacant. I kicked through the service door – Habitat A – and sprinted through the guts of the building to room 2401.

“Taren please.” She struggles against the vines, “it’s me, why are you doing this?” I glance at her. She’s naked.

“A runner finishes the mission.” I place my finger on the trigger.

Memory Caching Error 0x0AC

I open my eyes and it’s dark. The implant restarted.

“Sarah.”