The Job
Greta Zhao stepped off the magnetic rail platform, her boots clicking against the polished titanium floor. Sleek advertisements hummed to life around her, beams of light softly tracing her sharp silhouette. She looked out of place in the neon-drenched capital of New Cathay, where the sky was permanently set on fire by endless holograms. Her dark, well-worn leather jacket contrasted sharply with the glowing fabrics currently in vogue. A scar ran from her right eyebrow to her cheekbone—a faint, silvery line that caught the light—and her short, raven-black hair looked windswept, though the air in the city was unnaturally still. Greta's lean physique carried the tension of someone accustomed to danger, her movements fluid and deliberate. Strapped to her hip was a custom-crafted gauntlet, fashioned out of chromed gallium alloy, its surface rippling like liquid mercury when she moved.
She didn’t belong to the corporate elite or the glittering neon class. Greta was a smuggler, a scavenger of secrets. And tonight, she was chasing the whispers of two metals: germanium and gallium—metals that could change the future of technology and, perhaps, the balance of global power.
The Job
She wasn’t alone. The visor of her partner, Ira Mishra, glowed blue in the dim light. He was taller than Greta, his wiry frame clad in a matte body suit that regulated his vitals and hid a number of concealed weapons. Ira wasn’t much for conversation, but his tech skills were unrivaled. For Greta, who grew up fending off feral drones in the alleys of the Outer Grid, his calm precision brought a sense of stability to jobs like these.
“Do you trust the intel?” Ira asked, his voice distorted through his mask.
“No,” Greta replied, smirking. “But that’s what makes it interesting.”
Their destination was rumored to be in the depths of the city, beneath the shimmering façade of New Cathay’s technocracy. The world’s largest producer of gallium, China had recently weaponized its control over the supply chain to throttle its rivals, especially the U.S. Geopolitical tensions had turned resources into currency, and the metals were as valuable as uncut diamonds—for the right buyer.
The Descent
The path led them to the SubGrid, past alleys that reeked of acid rain and burned circuitry. The neon glow faded into shadows as they ventured into the depths. Greta could feel the temperature drop as if they were descending into a metal tomb. Ira worked his toolset with surgical expertise, hacking through doors sealed to everyone but the corporate elite.
“Almost there,” he muttered, his fingers dancing across his holo-terminal.
As the final door slid open, the pair was greeted by a labyrinth of abandoned tech. Lights flickered dimly, casting jagged shadows on the walls. The air was stale, thick with the tang of rust and decay. In the center of the cavernous space sat pulsing crates—containers rumored to hold raw germanium and gallium. But as they stepped closer, Greta’s instincts screamed at her to stop.
“Trap,” she hissed, just as the room lit up in a blinding flash.
The Shadows Strike
Figures emerged from the dark corners, clad in all-black suits with matte visors obscuring their faces. The Shadow Syndicate. They were mercenaries known for enforcing the will of the megacorps, and it seemed Greta and Ira had wandered directly into their kill zone.
Without hesitation, Greta activated her gallium gauntlet. The rippling metal coalesced, forming a serrated blade on her arm. Ira rolled to the side, firing a barrage of electric charges from his concealed taser pistol. The fight broke out in a flurry of light and movement, each strike sending sparks flying against the metallic walls.
“Cover me!” Ira shouted, his voice edged with urgency. Greta leaped forward, demolishing one of the attackers with a brutal swipe of her blade. The glowing residue of gallium burned like liquid fire where it hit, forcing the remaining mercenaries to step back.
Behind her, Ira synced his terminal with the crates. “They’re booby-trapped. This whole place will go up the moment we breach them.”
“Then don’t breach them,” Greta yelled back. Her voice was sharp, but her eyes glimmered with something dangerous—an idea. “We’ll steal the entire supply. Help me push them onto the rails!”
The Escape
Together, they worked furiously. Greta held the syndicate operatives at bay, her gauntlet shifting forms with each movement, morphing from blade to shield, responding to her thoughts. Ira used his suit’s augmented strength to shove the crates onto a nearby cargo rail. Bullets ricocheted off walls, and the flashbangs of their pursuers left a haze hanging in the air.
As the final crate locked into place, Ira triggered the rail, sending the shipment hurtling down the path towards their extraction point.
“Move!” Greta shouted, yanking him by the arm. The two dove for the railcar just as an explosion ripped through the facility, flames licking at their heels. The rail system rocketed them upward, toward the city’s surface. Greta looked back, catching a glimpse of the syndicate amidst the fire and rubble. For a fleeting second, she saw not humans but machines—a chilling confirmation of rumors she’d long ignored.
The New Frontier
Hours later, on a hidden airship bound for an undisclosed buyer, Greta leaned against the outer railing, staring at the cityscape below. Ira approached, holding a datapad filled with encrypted contracts from prospective clients. They had both survived, but a storm was brewing. Whoever owned those metals now had leverage over the next era of technological evolution.
“So,” Ira began, his tone light but cautious, “what’s the plan?”
“Plan?” Greta replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “We just rewrote the rules of the game. Let’s see who bites first.”
In the distance, New Cathay glimmered like a jewel, its beauty hiding cracks too deep to see. Greta tightened her jacket against the chill, a faint smile curling her lips. The future was uncertain, but uncertainty was where Greta thrived.
The metals weren’t just resources. They were power. And power was a game she intended to win.
Genre: Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
The Source...check out the great article that inspired this amazing short story: China Implements Ban on Greentech Metal Exports to US (July 2023 Update)
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations and reviews are always independent and objective, aiming to provide you with the best information and resources.
Get Exclusive Stories, Photos, Art & Offers - Subscribe Today!
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.