A Kusari Story

[Cat]

Chapter 6: Fugitive

I sit on a chair and observe the Crow Nebula that surrounds me. Somehow, looking at space like that helps me focus and bring my thoughts together.

So, what do we have? Shinchoku Inc., a corporation I used to work at. It got attacked by... let's call them "The Masked Men". They stole something from the research section, although I don't really know what or why.

Shortly after the attack, a major part of Shinchoku's stock gets bought by Ajax Combine Inc. They are the only ones who benefitted from it, apart from the masked men themselves.

I end up on the list of suspects, but get released. When I try to get to the bottom of the attack, one of the masked men saves my life and then frames me moments after.

What's more interesting, he runs off on a ship belonging to Ajax Combine. Is it a coincidence? I wouldn't bet on it.

I sigh and take the Enhanced Reality Sunglasses off. The space around me disappears, along with the floating images of ships and files, making way for a small room on Newport station, which I rented for a few hours. Lately I've been getting dizzy when I switch from the holographic illusion to the real world, and this time is no exception. I rub my forehead, getting back to the problems at hand.

I had to flee from the crime scene after I got set up. As soon as I realized that the masked man was gone, I ran to my apartment, grabbed the ERS, jumped to my ship and went here. I didn't scan the crime scene with the ERS, as the State Police could've arrived any moment. I didn't run straight to Liberty because it was too obvious, and it'd have been easy to track my movements through the Independent Worlds. The Sigmas at least allow me to head for Rheinland or the Omicrons. But seeing how Rheinland might have criminal exchange treaty with Kusari, I don't really have too many options.

So, did my moral compass actually get me into this situation? I decided to go through with this case. I left two witnesses alive, knowing that they'd point fingers at me. And the masked men have effectively shifted the blame on Arata's murder and Shinchoku incident on me. And with a scapegoat like that, nobody would search for any proof of Ajax involvement now. Except for me.