It's a boy. He looks to be about fifteen or so.
He's just hanging out.
It's Warren Hughes, artist and gangbanger. Interesting combo.
It's Warren.
It's out of order.
I think I'll just take the stairs.
Nah. He's sweet, but a little too young for me.
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Hi.
What's up?
Hi, Warren?
Changed your mind?
Do you know where I can find a kid named Warren Hughes?
What's your name?
All right, well, I guess you can't help me.
Who's asking?
Uhm, I am?
Warren Hughes? Never heard of him.
What's yours?
April Ryan.
Lucky you.
Nope, nobody can.
What do you mean?
A nice, pretty girl like you in a neighborhood like this, asking all the wrong questions... You're heading for some serious trouble, y'know.
I can take care of myself.
Uh-huh, sure you can. The thing is, there are four guys waiting downstairs for you to come back out, and they can take care of themselves real good.
Don't threaten me.
I'm not looking for trouble.
Please let me go.
I ain't threatening you, girl. I'm just telling you how it is. You're in deep shit, and you've only got yourself to blame.
Trouble found you, girl.
I ain't holding you back, girl. Go. If you're real fast, maybe you can outrun them. But I wouldn't count on it. They're boosted up real good, and they're hungry.
What do you want from me?
I don't have any money.
I should ask you that question, except I don't care. You shoulda thought twice before comin' after me.
You think I want your money? Shit, you can keep your damn money. Just 'cause I live in the projects don't mean I'm a thief, y'know.
After you? I didn't come...so you're Warren?
What, like you didn't know?
No. Cortez told me your name, where to find you, but--
Hold on. Cortez? Old Spanish-talking dude? Real crazy in the head?
That's a fair description, yeah.
Shit. You're not a cop? Social services? Corporate?
No. No, I'm a, uh, friend of Cortez. He said to look you up.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean--
Of course not. You people never do.
I haven't seen Cortez in a while, not since before... So, what does Ser Cortez want with me?
We need some help.
What kinda help? Look, I gotta stay incognito most of the time now that the corporates and cops are stepping up their search for us. I can't go risking my ass for nobody, not even Cortez.
That's all right. I just need some information on a group called the Vanguard, and their leader, Jacob McAllen.
Ah, sorry. Never heard of those guys.
You wouldn't have. They keep to themselves, and they got some kind of cover-operation going, but I don't know what it is, and--
You want, need, to find out. All right, here's the thing. I got a friend who might be able to help you out.
Fair enough. What do I have to do?
Easy. Break into the Newport Police Department computer archives, get me some information on my family, destroy my criminal record, and get the hell outta there -- preferably alive.
Hold on. Before I use up my favors with him, I need you to do me a favor in return. Probably even help yourself out at the same time.
Great!
Forget it, that's illegal.
You want me to risk my life for a personal favor?
I'll do it.
If you don't do this for me, I won't help you out. Besides, there's probably some information on the -- Vanguard, was it? -- in the archives, and that information will be valuable to my friend if he's gonna help you.
Damn, woman, is it? I had no idea.
You got guts, girl. That's cool. Besides, there's probably some information on the -- Vanguard, was it? -- in the archives, and that information will be valuable to my friend if he's gonna help you.
Listen, you won't just be doing me a favor. There's probably some information on the -- Vanguard, was it? -- in the archives, and that information will be valuable to my friend if he's gonna help you.
I'll do it.
No, it's too dangerous.
Whatever. It's your loss.
Smart decision.
So here's the thing. My Dad, doped up on Raps and seduced by commercials, sold our whole family to the shiny, happy colonization program for a lifetime's supply of the big R. The Rapture.
He neglected to ask his lovely wife and children, and the corporates didn't care. One day they came to pick up my Mom, my sister...and me.
And your family?
That's just it. I don't know. Off to the colonies, of course, but which one, I don't know. Sometimes they split up families too, y'know? They don't tell you that in their ads.
I don't give a shit about my Dad, and my Mom -- she's tough, she can take care of herself. But I want my sister back. We were real tight. I'm not gonna let 'em use her in the mines and factories out there.
So you want me to find out where they took your sister?
That's it. You're catching on. You do that for me, and delete my criminal record at the same time to get the damn corporates off my ass, I'll give you all the help you need.
I got away, though. Snuck out the window I spent the next two weeks in a dumpster.
What was it you wanted me to do again?
Where's the police station?
I'd better get going.
Break into the police archives, get information on my family, delete my criminal record, and if you're smart, check out what they got on the Vanguard...or whatever they're called.
Take the subway to Metro West, and you'll come out on what they call Cop Street. You'll see the NPD headquarters down the block. Can't miss it.
Be cool, yeah?
And then you'll put me in touch with your "friend"?
He owes me one, yeah. And he can help you out with everything you need.
How do I get to the police station again?
Take the subway to Metro West. You'll see it.
What was it you wanted me to do again?
Break into the police archives, get information on my family, delete my criminal record...and while you're there, you should check their systems for information on the Vanguard.
How did it go? Did you get the information? Is my sister okay?
It wasn't easy, but I did it. Your sister is fine. And you don't have to worry about the law or the corporates anymore.
That's great. That's-- Thank you. Really, thank you. So, do you have the information for me?
Sure. Right here.
Can I ask you a few questions?
Anything for my sister.
Listen, Warren, your parents...they're... They're dead. But your sister is okay. She's been adopted by some woman named Drake, a Lieutenant with the Bokamba/Mercer Corporation.
My sister's a corpbrood? And my-- My parents... You know, that should hurt, but it doesn't. I don't feel anything. My parents left me a long time ago. But my sister? I gotta find her.
I'm sure you will, Warren.
I see you wiped my record clean. That's good. I wasn't sure if you'd be able to do that.
Hey, wait...you killed me? Thanks a lot.
When you're dead, nobody cares. The cops are not gonna be chasing after you for crimes committed by a dead guy.
Yeah, you're right. But I'm gonna have a tough time getting a new ID. You should've just wiped my record clean. I'm not complaining, though. I'm better off now than I was a few hours ago.
No problemo. I'm not too shabby with computers.
So, lemme know what I can do for you, sister.
So, what can I do for you now, sister?
Can you put me in touch with your friend now?
Yeah, for that information you needed, right? You got it.
Head on out to the Newport docks, down in the outskirts of the city. It's all deserted now since they stopped using the boats for cargo shipments. Head across the construction yard to a large garage...
...you can't miss it, it's got these large tubes outside. Knock three times on the door, and tell Burns Flipper -- this guy's weird, so don't mind the stuff he says -- tell the Flipper that I sent you.
I'll call ahead, let him know you're coming. He should be able to help you out with most everything you need to know. Okay?
Thanks.
Where does your friend live again?
Burns Flipper? Go to the Newport docks, knock three times on the large garage door. He'll let you in.
Bye, Warren.
Yeah. Keep it cool, sister.
