《CyberHunters: Protobullet》


 Chapter 1: The cyber couple

    The neon glow of the city skyline flickered in the distance, a hazy promise of something better.


    Miles Peter leaned against his car, the dull hum of the gas pump filling the silence as he poured fuel into the tank.


    The night air smelled of oil and scorched rubber.


    Sarah Peter stood nearby, her synthetic eyes scanning the surroundings, "Neon City," she mused, voice laced with something between hope and skepticism.


    "You really think we can redo everything there? Settle down? No more running?" She asked


    Miles tightened the cap on the fuel tank and sighed, "We don''t have a choice. We either build a life there or we keep running until there''s nowhere left. We already changed our names, had our information deleted and an apartment to live for the time being. Trust me, this new beginning is better for us."


    Two gas station employees wandered over, their uniforms stained with grease.


    One of them, a wiry man with a data-pad strapped to his wrist, held out his hand expectantly, "That''ll be 220 credits."


    Sarah blinked, and in less than a second, the transaction was done, "Check your account."


    The other employee, a bulkier man with a mechanical left arm, frowned as he glanced at the data-pad, "You guys heading to Neon City?"


    Miles didn''t answer, opening the car door instead.


    "Not many people pass through here without a reason," the wiry man continued. "What''s yours?"


    Miles started the engine, "None of your business."


    As the car rolled forward, Sarah''s voice chimed in, laced with amusement, "By the way, I hacked their systems. Not only did I get our money back... I took all of theirs too."


    Miles clenched his jaw, "You''re gonna get us killed one day."


    The words barely left his mouth when his suspicions were confirmed.


    Headlights flared in the rearview mirror¡ªthree cars closing in fast.


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    Then came the gunfire.


    Bullets ripped through the night, sparking off the pavement. Miles didn''t flinch, his grip tightening on the wheel. "Sarah¡ª"


    She was already ahead of him, reaching into the dashboard drawer and retrieving three overhaul cartridges.


    Her fingers moved with mechanical precision as she slotted them into the cybernetic port at the back of Miles'' neck.


    The first cartridge¡ªAimbot¡ªsynced instantly, his vision sharpening as targeting overlays flickered to life.


    The second¡ªPistol Materializer¡ªloaded into his hands was 9mm pistol.


    The third¡ªShield S¡ªactivated a translucent energy field that shimmered around the car as bullets pinged off it.


    Miles turned off the shields once they needed to reload their guns.


    He didn''t need to turn back.


    He aimed with precision, squeezing the trigger.


    Each shot found its mark, tires exploding, windshields shattering. One car flipped, skidding across the road in a blaze of fire.


    Sarah, meanwhile, perched on the windowsill, her right arm unfolding with mechanical elegance.


    The transformation was smooth her humanoid alloy arms shifts seamlessly into a sleek machine gun.


    She took aim and let loose a hail of bullets, tearing through the remaining cars until they erupted in flames.


    Silence settled once more. Smoke curled into the air behind them as they sped forward, unbothered.


    Sarah leaned back into her seat, smirking, "Well, that was fun wasn''t it baby."


    Miles exhaled, shaking his head, "You and I have very different definitions of fun. But yeah, it was okay. Just know that we might need to get disguises cartridge if we want to earn some easy money."


    Sarah turns on the radio and blast a punk rock song and seemly vibing out to the song.


    Miles sighed with slight smile on face before increasing the speed.


    The car roared down the highway, the city of Neon glimmering on the horizon.

 Chapter 2: New home

    (Flashback)


    Standing with her back against the wall, [Redacted] watched the man in front of her with a mixture of fear and gentle calmness in her eyes.


    He had his gun pointed at her, but for some reason... he dropped it, "Why aren''t you attacking? People like me kill freaks like you... why are you just standing there?" he asked, his breath heavy, his chest rising and falling in sharp intervals.


    [Redacted] stepped forward but stopped just short of striking range, "Your mouth tells me a story others made you believe, but your heart tells me the story you truly believe."


    The mercenary''s eyes flickered with confused anger, "What the hell are you talking about? You freaks of nature were created to take over this world and wipe out the resistance."


    She simply smiled, "Then explain why I didn''t fight back?"


    He hesitated, unable to find an answer.


    She pressed on, "I don''t bear justified hate toward humans, nor do I believe you bear justified hate toward us. The only thing I want to ask is: why did you allow yourself to be programmed with hatred when you don''t even know why you hate us?"


    (End of Flashback)


    Miles woke up on a soft sofa, the scent of something cooking lingering through the air.


    Blinking away the haze of sleep, he glanced around their two-bedroom apartment, impressed by how quickly Sarah had unpacked everything.


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    He turned his attention to the kitchen, where she stood at the stove, grilling dinner while swaying to the rhythm of a song only she could hear.


    Miles smiled and walked over, taking a seat at the counter, watching her.


    It took a moment, but eventually, she sensed his presence, her sensors registering his bio-data.


    She turned off the music and smirked, "Enjoy your nap? Here''s some advice¡ªstaring at a girl like me with those wanting eyes only makes me feel aroused, so use that information wisely."


    Miles chuckled, "Damn, Sarah, we just moved in and you already want to make a mess."


    Sarah placed a plate of grilled fish and chips in front of him, "It''s only right. I''ve got a new upgrade I wanted to try out¡ªespecially the milky and elastic mod I bought from a pleasure bot. Wanna test it out." She leaned forward, resting her head on her hand, licking her lips suggestively.


    Miles ignored her teasing and started eating, "You don''t say. Anyway, I''ll start looking for a job tomorrow morning. I still have enough credits for a stealth set¡ªmaybe I can help out at the police station."


    Sarah pouted, displeased that he wasn''t playing along, "How rude. You have an attractive wife in front of you, and you''re thinking about work instead of carrying her to the bedroom and ravishing her like the beast you are."


    Miles took another bite, "I was wondering¡ªdo you prefer I do bounty hunting, police work, or just take a simple job?"


    Sarah sulked, resting her head against the counter, "I''d prefer bounty hunting. I can get us started and create a work account for us."


    Miles gave her a warm smile, "Thanks. I''m lucky to have you. After I''m done eating, how about we watch a movie?"


    Sarah''s head shot up, her face flushing, "Only if I get to pick."


    Miles tapped on the counter, materializing a glass, "Sure. Let me guess¡ªyou''re picking a romance between humans and androids."


    Sarah leaned forward, tracing the rim of his glass with her finger as cola poured into it, "Why watch it when we''re living one?"


    Miles took a sip, smiling, "You''re right. Maybe we should just skip to the best part."


    Sarah perked up, "And what would that be?"


    Miles circled around the counter, scooping her into his arms. He carried her toward the bedroom, taking his time, "I''m kinda thirsty. That milk mod better be worth the buy."


    Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck, a sultry grin on her lips, "Then drink as much as you can."


    The door shut behind them.

 Chapter 3: Mysterious caller

    Miles woke to the soft hum of city life beyond the apartment walls.


    Neon light flickered through the blinds, casting shifting patterns across the ceiling.


    His muscles ached, a lingering reminder of the night before.


    Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake Sarah, he stretched, rolling his shoulders before making his way to the bathroom.


    The cool water washed away the last remnants of sleep as he completed his morning routine¡ªbrushing his teeth, checking his cybernetics, and strapping on his gear.


    From the closet, he retrieved his pistol and a hoverboard cartridge, slotting it into his neural port.


    It clicked into place, feeding him real-time diagnostics of the board''s status.


    With a deep breath, he stepped outside, ready to explore the city that might become their home.


    The streets of Neon City were alive with movement¡ªholographic billboards lit the skyline, pedestrians moved in organized chaos, and the rhythmic thrum of airborne traffic resonated through the alleys.


    As he navigated the walkway, he bumped into a spherical tour bot hovering just above the ground.


    The bot whirred and scanned him, a small light blinking as it processed his data, "Newcomer detected. Welcome to Neon City!" it chirped before transmitting a tour video directly to his HUD.


    Miles sighed but let the video play. The city had its own rhythm, and he needed to learn it fast.


    Activating his hoverboard, he kicked off the ground, the board''s thrusters roaring to life. He followed the video''s itinerary, taking in the sights:


    First, the Neon Bridge¡ªa sprawling network of glowing pathways suspended above the lower levels of the city. Traffic zipped by in designated lanes, and advertisements flickered on every surface, selling everything from cybernetic upgrades to synthetic emotions.


    Next, he arrived at the Corporate Governance Office¡ªa towering monolith of glass and steel, where the city''s elites controlled everything from energy distribution to law enforcement. Drones patrolled the perimeter, scanning passersby with cold, unfeeling optics. Even from a distance, Miles could feel the suffocating grip of authority that radiated from the structure.


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    Finally, he reached The Dome¡ªa massive entertainment and commerce hub encased in an energy field that separated it from the rest of the city. Inside, the wealthiest citizens indulged in excess, shielded from the harsh realities of Neon City''s lower sectors.


    Hovering above the cityscape, Miles took a deep breath, exhaling as he absorbed it all. This was their new home. He just had to figure out how to survive in it.


    ---


    Miles returned home to the scent of a freshly cooked breakfast. The aroma of eggs and toast filled the apartment.


    Sarah sat on the counter, legs crossed, a laptop balanced on her lap. She barely glanced up as she typed away, "Took your time. Hope you''re hungry."


    Miles walked to the table and grabbed a plate, "Smells great. What are you working on?"


    Sarah smirked, "Setting up our bounty hunting profile. We''re officially in business. Got us approved for legal hunts on different-ranked criminals."


    Miles raised an eyebrow, "That was fast."


    She flipped the screen toward him, showing a sleek bounty-hunting website with their profiles, "Meet ''Demon Gunslinger'' and ''Protohive.''"


    Miles nearly choked on his food, "What the hell kind of names are those?"


    Before Sarah could answer, their holo-screen buzzed.


    A call request flashed from an unknown number. Sarah answered, and a voice filtered through, "Mr and Mrs Peters. I assume you''ve seen your new credentials?"


    Miles leaned forward, "And who exactly are you?"


    "Government contractor," the man replied. "I personally approved your application. We''re looking for efficient, cost-effective solutions to our city''s crime problem."


    Miles narrowed his eyes, "Cost-effective?"


    The contractor''s voice didn''t waver. "To be blunt, housing criminals is expensive and requires a lot of paperwork to be done. Eliminating them is cheaper. You do the math."


    Sarah grinned, intrigued, "So, what do we get out of this?"


    "Besides the money?" The contractor''s tone was almost amused. "You get to kill criminals without restriction. No oversight. No interference. Just some honest community service."


    Miles exchanged a glance with Sarah. The offer was tempting, but the implications were heavy.


    "I''ll give you time to consider," the contractor continued. "Expect my call later today."


    The line went dead.


    Miles leaned back, rubbing his temple. "Well... that was interesting. Surprised he new our names already. If he is from the government, wouldn''t be hard to locate where the website was created."


    Sarah chuckled, closing her laptop. "I used multiple VPN and made sure to not to leave a trace behind. If our information were leak, I would known immediately and sent a virus to their services. Looks like we have a decision to make."


    Miles sighed, "Contract killing criminal sounds like fun. If we doing it legally then it''s basically a dream come true for us." He takes a quick bite before saying.


    "We need to met up with this agent in a public area first. Load up with weapons and I will get us some disguises. If it turns to be true then we will be living the good life from now on." Before he could bite his food, Sarah sneakily eaten it off his fork.


    When he noticed the messing food and the fact she was chewing, she replied, "We already living the good life. It will only get from here onwards."

 Chapter 4: First target

    The dull glow of the screen flickered across the dimly lit room, the muffled sounds of gunfire and explosions filling the space as Miles and Sarah sat in silence.


    An old action movie played before them, its over-the-top stunts filled Miles eyes with excitement, "They don''t make movies like this anymore."


    Sarah rest on top of him, one hand holding his left while other held the popcorn, "It not romantic but I suppose if it makes you happy then it doesn''t matter how predictable these scenes are."


    "We watch romance so many times that it has gotten boring. Besides, we agreed that I will take you out on a date if you let me watch Dead Stalker." He gently pitches her cheek.


    "Nothing but three star or above." She pout


    Then, suddenly a call came from their laptop.


    Sarah''s head tilted slightly, as she intercepted the incoming transmission from her laptop.


    Without a word, she projected the voice outward, filling the room with the crisp, static-tinged tone of the mysterious agent.


    "I assume you''ve had time to consider my offer," the agent said.


    Miles sighed, rubbing his temple, "We''re not agreeing to anything until we see proof that you even exist. We don''t trust faceless voices you know."


    A pause.


    Then, the agent chuckled, "Fair enough. A meeting, then?"


    Miles and Sarah exchanged a glance before Miles replied, "Somewhere public. A caf¨¦. And we come in disguise."


    "Agreed. There''s a place in District 3, Rose Caf¨¦. 1300 hours. No weapons. No backup. Just a conversation."


    Miles clenched his jaw. "Fine. But if this is a setup, you won''t get a second chance."


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    The line cut out.


    Silence hung in the air between them. Sarah turned to him, her expression remained neutral, "Believe this could be our old ''friends''."


    Miles exhaled, staring at the celling, "No, I doubt they have the time and the resources to track us. Given that they have their own problems. But let''s not rule out that possibility."


    Sarah dropped the popcorn bowl and stretch her arms, resting her hand against his face. She said, "If this turns to be a set up. I will do anything in my power to make sure we are left unharmed."


    He nodded, resting his hand onto of hers, "Let''s get ready. We''re walking into unknown territory, and I don''t intend to leave unprepared."


    ---


    They met up in the Rose Caf¨¦ wearing disguises that showed different appearances.


    Miles had altered his facial structure using an advanced holo-mask, while Sarah had changed her synthetic features to appear more boyish.


    They took their seats at a corner booth, scanning the caf¨¦ for potential threats before settling in.


    A man in a dark coat and tinted glasses approached them, sliding into the seat across from them.


    He set down a steaming cup of coffee before leaning in slightly, "Agent J," he introduced himself, "Let me say that we had troubles founding out your information since the time you arrive."


    Miles remained silent, waiting.


    J took a sip before continuing, "The survey team noticed two new people entering the city, but your backgrounds were blank. No records, no history¡ªnothing. That immediately flagged you as potential threats."


    Sarah folded her hands together, "So you tried to spy on us."


    J let out a breath, "Yes. And when we attempted to access security footage to get a look at your faces, the cameras glitched out. When our tech team tried to decipher the encryption hiding your identities, a virus was uploaded to our system." He sighed. "It redirected them to... an erotic website filled with man on robot suggestive content."


    Sarah tilted her head, "Then perhaps you shouldn''t have tried to spy on us. You had no idea how annoyed I was when I noticed someone was trying to decipher my security features."


    Miles ignored Sarah''s remark and leaned forward, "How many people in the government know about us?"


    J hesitated before answering, "A small number within the survey team, around eight. And some government officials only those within our circle. Which would be five, we are going to be the people provide the hit for you guys."


    Miles narrowed his eyes, "Can you assure us that nothing bad will happen to us?"


    J placed his cup down, "Not only will you be safe, but you''ll be given a life no normal person can experience. Get permit to travel all over the world but to the stars as well. A future beyond what you could have imagined. What do you think?"


    Miles and Sarah exchanged a glance.


    After a brief pause, Miles nodded, "Alright. Who do we go after first?"


    Agent J sent a pdf to both Miles and Sarah. Upon opening it, "Your first target is a gun leader name Bill Kid Morgan and his Billy gang. It''s a fun warm up for you guys so have fun."