Lost Rain

Up - Outrun - Chapter 102

I collapsed onto my bed with my med-kit, my arms practically dead from hauling up all the shit I klepped from the Neo-Jokers. I took a moment, finally deactivating Cold-Blooded as I curled up in bed under the warmth of my blankets. As I lay under the bulk of blankets, I wrapped my hands in bandages. The wounds ached and throbbed, but there was no point doing anything more since I'd be healed as soon as I fell asleep.

Once I got rewarmed up enough, I stood up and returned to my newfound ...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 101

I stared down at the man from out of his sight, feeling the blade in my hand. I shifted my gaze down to the blade, to the blood tracing down its length. It was surprisingly effective. I mean, I knew it could paralyze things thanks to Carone, but this was the first time I ever used it and saw the effects for myself.

I let out a sigh as I stared around the office. I had three hours now to move shit. I wanted to be out of here and gone by two at the most. I started with the s...

Q&A

Thank you all for taking such an interest in this passion project of mine. Wouldn't be here without you!

To celebrate hitting chapter one hundred, here’s a Q&A. If you have a question that’s been burning at the back of your mind, now’s your chance to ask and get some answers! Or even if you want to know how I write. I’ll answer questions until this time next weekish when I can find the time.

I’m going to try and avoid any questions that are a bit heavy ...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 100!!

I stabilized myself as my feet hit the top of the rack silently, immediately dropping into a crouch to further hide my form. I took a moment to calm my breathing, made sure my Perks were active, and grabbed my Scouter from its resting place. Then I crept along the top of the rack towards the restaurant end of the warehouse.

Instead of immediately crossing the racks to get to the right aisle like last time, I took my time and watched the security of the place. There were far more guards ...

Artwork - Outrun - Chapter 99

This was supposed to come out Monday…

Here’s Shiro’s calling card.

Up - Outrun - Chapter 99

As soon as I got home, I started work on my calling cards once more. I took measurements of the holoprojectors and then tinkered around on my deck, getting the model just right. It wasn’t anything crazy, just a simple playing card.

The playing card was a light gray, contrasted sharply by a dark blue crescent moon in the dead center of it. The two corners where a normal playing card had the number or letter were punched out, leaving a small gap. The card itself was a bit thick since it...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 98

As soon as I returned home, I changed into more comfortable clothes and got busy writing in my notebook. So many names, faces, and detes to remember floated around my head, and I was worried about forgetting some of them. Every mark I gathered information on had their detes written down and a brief search of them through their net for even more information.

Those of particularly high interest, such as the lady who owned the silver and gem-encrusted cast of the Mau, I marked wit...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 97

The first part of the gala passed with Sean and I moving from one display to another, idiots following us around as they told us about one piece or another they held in their private collections. Some even spoke of the security with some slight prodding from me. It was far too easy. It was like the entire party had their guard down when around Sean.

A stage near the front of the room lit up as spotlights shined onto it. A man in a simple tuxedo took the stage, the only one...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 96

I looked at the clothes Master Telos made, idly watching as the silver highlights caught and twirled under the neon shining in from my apartment’s window. Getting the thing had been rather painless. After cleaning up as best I could, I simply went and finished the fitting process. It barely took any time at all. Sean had been more than happy to pay for the whole thing too, which was nice. I definitely couldn't afford it, not that he knew that.

Sean was a bit suspicious that Torren had...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 95

"Damn rat!" A flash of Insight gave me time to duck down right as a chunk of metal whizzed over my head. My head stayed neutral as I looked back, spotting the gang leader’s outstretched arm, stuck mid-throw. That only lasted a moment before Torren gripped it and twisted the chrome backward like a twig. 

The gang leader didn’t scream - maybe a Pain Editor? - but he did grit his teeth and slam his other fist into Torren’s face. Torren barely flinched back as he kept his grip on...

Update

Heyo!

This is a bit of an update about the whole writing thing. I’ll try and keep it short and sweet since, to be honest here, you lot are probably more interested in the story than anything else. Or at least I am. It does feel really weird to make an update like this.

I’m about to have far more time to write and keep the gears of flowing for Outrun after this Monday. And time to actually edit instead of cramming a ten minute glance into my lunches like I’ve been doing for ...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 94

“… but it is all reliant on you. Can you do it?” I asked, my voice oddly cool to my own ears as I resisted the urge to shiver. Cold-Blooded was doing its work, and I could feel the creeping cool helping to keep me calm with every frigid heartbeat. 

It wasn't that the Perk kept me calm per se. It was more so that all of my emotions felt muted, drowned out below a frozen ocean. Even my heartbeat felt dull, far slower than it should've been given the situation.

He looked u...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 93

I shut the thick synth-wood door, my eyes catching on the wrought iron accents covering it. And it wasn’t just the door. Wrought iron bars done in a gothic style covered the windows too, hopefully providing decent cover. Assuming they were real iron, that is.

I turned to face the rest of the room which was done in dark reds and deep blacks, casting a moody feel. The dim lighting didn’t help anything either. A red shade covered the only light in the room, shading the entire room like...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 92

Mr. Jarvis’s math class passed without too much of a hassle. Once again, Torren was pulled away by some weird circumstance, leaving me wide open for Sean to come and mess with me. I passed notes with him, this time far more subtle than the last. Other than that, I half paid attention and half wandered around my brain. Really, that’s how most of the day passed.

I couldn't be blamed. Honestly, there was just to much on my brain. What was this ‘Circle’ that the Inquisitor was so ke...

Thank you!

Up - Outrun - Chapter 91

Inquisitor Ligh Strumgard and Hope Esquire, or whatever her actual last name was, sat in his office as I knocked on the open door. Their very serious conversation halted as both looked up at me.

Inquisitor Ligh stood, his silver-clad arms raising slightly. “Shquire! So glad you could make it.”

Not like I had much of a choice... “‘Course, Sir.”

Hope smiled politely at me, the smile dragging sharply as her eyes seemed to sag with bags. “Greetings.”

“Come ...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 90

I stared at the clock, watching the minutes tick by as I played with a pen. I spun it round and around on the table, idly staring at the clock without too much thought in my head. 

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. I did have thoughts, but most of them were fleeting. Like how I would get into the school if need be. Or the fact my Listener in the principal’s office would be out of range as soon as I left the building.

Mr. Jarvis went on and on at the front of the room, tryin...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 89

Master Telos ended up coming and going at least half a dozen times before he finally settled on a design. A design I still had yet to see. That lunatic left with a ‘Come see me Friday’ and nothing else.

By the time he left, Sean had passed out on the couch and I wasn’t much behind him. Unfortunately, I still had far too much to do to go to sleep now. I discreetly summoned Crow’s Canteen of Chaos under my jacket and set it to produce XtraEnergy Quantum™. I still had a long nigh...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 88

Crystal Aesthetics was… well, about what I would expect based on its name? It sat on the forty-fourth floor of Albany Rise, showcasing the entirety of the city with a crystal clear three-sixty view of the city. 

Crystalline statues sat all over the place, each wearing lavish clothing that looked more expensive than everything I owned combined. The flashes of neon from the city skyline beyond the windows flashed through, hitting the crystal statues and decorations as they split in...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 87

”I can’t believe it! Sean actually asked you to the gala?” Christine laughed as she put on the finishing touches to our project.

I looked around the room, catching sight of many people looking over in interest. “N-not so loud! And is it that rare?”

“He rarely talks to anyone not in his tower.” Jayne shrugged. “Much less ask someone to an event. It seems you’re quite the hot topic, Lady Meno.”

I rubbed at my arm and leaned back in my chair. “P-please, ju...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 86

As much as I didn’t want to, the next morning I awoke bright and early and headed for school. Still, today would hopefully prove to be more exciting than anything. I had some plans to hopefully help out with my double gig. After school, of course. There would be less people walking around. Now I just needed to get through my first several classes without too much of a hassle.

From the get-go, that thought process was flawed. In the first hour, just as everyone sat down, a student walk...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 85

I looked through the list Mr. Jarvis gave me, mentally calculating how much I would need to spend on it. Thankfully, there was only a bag and some writing utensils on the list, so I already had most of the stuff. Sure, I would have to clean out my bag, but at least I wouldn’t have to go buy a new one.

Speaking of things I need to do, several more points of interest came to mind. For one, if I wanted to attend the art gala I would need to get a high-end dress so as not to stand out in ...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 84

I plucked at my dumb skirt as I watched all of them eat. My stomach sat on the edge of growling, and I almost regretted my decision to skip food today... and that's after drinking Jack's Sun Kicker this morning! Maybe I should bring a cup with me fill it from the canteen whenever? A normal cup would be a lot less eye catching.

Aaron, the dog-like guy, smiled brightly at me. “So, I haven’t seen you around here before?”

What a shit pickup line. “O-oh, I’m new. J-just start...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 83

Several of the students around the room stared at me like I was a piece of meat as they ‘subtly’ scooted over to make room for me. Not room for Torren and me, just me. It was weird. Were they- were they trying to include me? This isn’t how school is supposed to go. They should mock and kick me to the back of the room- right, I’m a noble. Must be because of that…

Instead of picking a seat with any number of strangers, I moved to an abandoned back window seat. It was far enough ...

PE - Outrun - Character 3

I've got a character coming up, and once more want to name it after a patron. If you're interested, it's on a first come first serve basis. Simply reply with an adjective. I'll then take that adjective and your profile name(or a different name if you want), and base the character around that.

Also, this character is going to be one of Inquisitor Ligh Strumgard's other 'Shquires'.

Up - Outrun - Chapter 82

’Sir, you already put me on a case, remember?’ I sent back, icy cold resignation hitting home. This was my last chance to get out of whatever hellish case he wanted to drag me into.

A few moments later, my phone started to ring as he called it. I hit answer, ‘course. Not like I could just hang up on ‘my’ boss. Well- I could. Unfortunately, I needed to appear ever the willing and helpful Squire to avoid attention.

Inquisitor Ligh’s voice came across as incredibly muted....

Up - Outrun - Chapter 81

Arisen Tower sat in the ‘small’ fenced area of the Corporate Circuit with practically a private army of troops patrolling around everywhere. As soon as we entered the gate, we were stopped and had to give them a pass, which was reassuring. Not because the security was good, that much didn’t reassure me in the slightest, but because we actually had to come all together due to not having more passes.

And have no doubt that the security was good. It would be a tough nut...

Outrun - Artwork - 1

I did promise some artwork, so here it is! Hopefully more will follow at some point.

Up - Outrun - Chapter 80

“You- you want me to wear this?” I held up the thing in disbelief.

Feras looked confused, though I could see a bit of glee hidden in his eyes at my sheer discomfort. “It’s just a skirt? Haven’t you worn one before?”

“I-its been a while.” Since back before my parents died to be exact. Skirts didn’t exactly leave much room to hide a gun or klepped items. Looks like I would have to rely on Concealment and my Perks to make it through.

“Well, the...

Up - Outrun - Chapter 79

I spent about a week just lazing around, enjoying my life, and trying to cool down after all that happened with the Nomads. I got back to work on my Doctor Absolom figurines, tweaking and messing around with them to get them to a higher quality. I even managed to find out how to make the 3D printer use a hexagonal print grid to further enhance the durability and strength of the toys. I doubt they would need the enhancements, but it was good practice for the future.

It was a therapeutic ...