Malfunctioning Utopia

Chapter 45: Unworthy

As Song 6PUS spoke to the 6th Unit leader, he opened Port 25 and sent over all his video logs from the day. After a brief confirmation from the internal network that his claims were true, the bearded officer’s stern expression softened slightly. “Where’s the woman’s body?”

“In the car! I figured it might be needed, so I kept it with us the whole time,” Song 6 replied quickly.

“Bring it down. That’s critical evidence—it’s the keystone of the entire case.” The officer unscrewed a portable flask from his belt and took a deep swig.

“Got it! Jack, Tapai, Father! Hurry up, let’s help the officer with the evidence!” Song 6PUS waved them forward enthusiastically.

The members of the Graffiti Gang undergoing BCPD inspections glared at Sun Jack with murderous fury. If looks could kill, Sun Jack would have been torn apart. Yet the rotating turrets on the BCPD hover vehicles kept them swallowing their rage, unable to act.

“Let’s get out of here first,” Sun Jack muttered as he, Tapai, and the Father made their way toward the garage exit.

As the three stepped outside, a cybernetic BCPD officer turned to the leader. “Sir! These three haven’t opened their ports for inspection!”

The leader stood silently, watching Sun Jack and the others. Sun Jack instinctively glanced at Tapai, his mind racing.

“Wait,” the leader suddenly commanded, the tension around them growing palpable.

“How much did HQ pay you for this job?” he asked abruptly.

“Uh… 57@,” Song 6 answered cautiously.

“That’s it? For this kind of work, with so many casualties? You deserve a bonus!” The leader clapped his hands together.

“I’ll file a report to get you bumped up to 80@! It’s within my authority.”

Song 6’s face froze for a moment before breaking into an overly enthusiastic grin. “Yes! Absolutely, sir! 80@! But of course, the extra isn’t for us; it’s yours!”

“When the payment comes through, I’ll transfer it to your account immediately!”

The leader smirked faintly and gave Song 6PUS a hard pat on the shoulder. “Don’t talk nonsense, or I’ll sue you for slander! Everything’s recorded in the internal network.”

“Now, what are you waiting for? Go bring me the evidence already!”

Song 6PUS caught on immediately and nodded vigorously. “Right away! Let’s move, guys, get the evidence for the officer!”

After some back-and-forth, the group finally left the underground garage. Sun Jack looked up at the rain falling through the gaps between the towering buildings above.

“Move it! Quick!” Song 6PUS dumped the woman’s corpse unceremoniously on the ground before leaping into the car.

Once Sun Jack and the others were inside, Four Ai stomped on the gas, launching the car forward at breakneck speed. The vehicle swerved wildly through the fast lanes, narrowly avoiding collisions several times, but Four Ai didn’t slow down. ꞦἁƝȫʙÈᶊ

The SUV finally screeched to a halt in front of a rundown motel in the Queens District.

“King Kong, clean up for us!” Song 6 shouted.

“While you opened Port 25, the Graffiti Gang tried to slip malware into your system. I’ve already dealt with it,” King Kong replied calmly.

Hearing this, Song 6 exhaled deeply, relieved. Getting out of the garage wasn’t enough—they were only truly safe now.

“Impressive, Song 6. You actually pulled off something reliable today,” Tapai teased.

But this time, Song 6 didn’t respond to the banter. Instead, he leaped out of the car, slamming the door shut hard enough to make the vehicle shudder.

“What the hell are you guys trying to do?! Are we still doing this or not?!”

Song 6PUS, usually all grins and jokes even in dire situations, now looked genuinely furious. His gold teeth clenched tightly, and the skull tattoo on his face made him appear especially menacing.

The Father didn’t answer. Instead, he gently cradled the baby with prosthetic limbs, inspecting it carefully. The infant tilted its head curiously to the left, staring out the window at Song 6PUS.

Meanwhile, Sun Jack pulled a rag from his prosthetic limb to clean his blade before retracting it into his arm. He glanced out at Song 6 and said, “Money is important, but there’s some money we can choose not to earn.”

“F***!! You’re wrong!” Song 6PUS snapped, his voice trembling with anger. “In this city, money is everything! There’s nothing more important than that!”

Sun Jack stepped out of the car and walked up to Song 6, locking eyes with him. “I don’t give a d*** about the rules of this city! I do things my way!”

Song 6’s finger shook as he pointed at Sun Jack. “This is my team! My team! Bro! And in my team, everything is done my way!”

“Oh, is that so? Fine, I’m out. Like I ever cared,” Sun Jack replied with a mocking grin. He turned to Tapai, exchanging a high-five.

Then, his grin faded as he looked back at Song 6. “Team? Give me a break, Song 6. I know why you hired us. You wanted to use my strange abilities like a tool. If I were useless, you’d have sold me off without hesitation. Would you even bother calling me ‘bro’ then? People aren’t stupid.”

“Sure, I’ll let you use me if it helps me survive. But there’s some money I’ll never touch, even if it kills me.”

“Why?! Why?” Song 6 shouted.

“Because it’s different. He’s human,” said the Father from inside the car. At the mention of the word “human,” Tapai’s camera lens immediately zoomed in on him.

The Father continued, his voice steady, “God said: Even if our means of production are completely stripped away, we are still human. We are not lifeless machines, nor are we beasts trained by capital into emotionless creatures.”

Song 6PUS exploded with rage, practically roaring, “You think you’re holy just because you’re a Father now?! B.S.! What about the corporate wars? All those people you killed—did that just vanish? Are you kind? Are you virtuous? Are you worthy? I’m telling you, kindness is like organic food—it’s a luxury! A luxury only the people in the city center can afford!”

“For people like us, we don’t deserve kindness! Remember that—kindness is a luxury! We are not worthy!”

Song 6’s shouting startled the baby, who burst into loud, piercing cries. The sound cut through the rain, carrying far into the night.