Titan: Episode One

Welcome to Titan. In this web series, join characters as they navigate through unexpected twists and turns in their lives and they find ways around them or perish trying. This is an ongoing series with no end in sight. Episodes will be published here as well as on Patreon. 

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Some of the themes and content of this series may not be suitable for younger readers. When sections that are not suitable for younger readers are in an episode, those sections will be missing (but noted in the post) but will be available for Patreon subscribers.

In this episode join Synth and Reed as they look for a new client. 

Episode One

Synth was seated with Reed in a secluded corner booth at the back of The Crimson Cask. She took a sip from her drink and placed it back on the table, watching the liquid ripple in rhythm with the pulsating music that reverberated throughout the club. Her gaze swept across the room, taking in the throngs of people gyrating and swaying on the dance floor, while others huddled around the bar placing drink orders.

She stretched out her arms, surveying the room. God, I hate having to do this, she thought to herself. Money. It truly was the root of the world's problems, wasn't it? Beside her, Reed swirled his drink.

"We need to find a client," he sighed.

Reed was in his late twenties, but with the life he'd led, he looked more like a man in his forties. He had short, cropped hair, a muscular build, and mechanical arms. Reed was a cyborg. She had met him shortly after his departure from the Marines, and they had formed an effective team. She considered him one of the few individuals she actually trusted.

"Yeah, I know," she responded.

They did need to find a job. Their situation was becoming increasingly strained.

She glared at her drink, cursing it under her breath. "Fucking hate this," she muttered.

"What, the drink?" Reed asked.

She glanced at him. "That and so many other things," she replied.

Reed shrugged. "Then don't drink it. I don't even know why you buy it. You don't need them.” 

He was correct. She didn't. As an android, she didn't require food or drink. Her systems could metabolize it into energy, but it was far less efficient than simply recharging. She sighed. "Gotta be a paying customer," she explained. As she swirled the drink around, she took another sip. "Besides, it unnerves people when you don't have a drink," she added.

Reed shrugged. "I guess that's fair enough," he conceded.

Synth returned her attention to the club. The Crimson Cask wasn't exactly a nice place. It wasn't terrible per se, but it certainly wasn't impressive. It was slightly grimy, somewhat seedy, and there was a lot of under-the-table action going on. That's why they were there. It served as an unofficial hub for finding and hiring help. That's what Synth and Reed were. Help. If you needed help with something, they were who you came to. If you needed help finding someone, that was them. If you needed help getting something back, that was them too. You needed security? Yeah, they could help with that. There was a lot that they had helped people with over the years.

She finished her drink. "Alright, I'm going to go up to the bar and see if Roy has any leads for us," she said.

Reed nodded in acknowledgment. Synth rose and navigated her way through the crowd to the bar, where she found Roy in his usual spot, engaging in conversation, tidying up, and serving drinks. She took a seat. He glanced at her and nodded. Roy was older, tall and lean, with graying hair. He was also privy to every bit of information about everyone in the city and beyond.

He approached her, pouring a drink. "What can I do for you?" he inquired.

"Looking for work," Synth replied.

Roy chuckled. "I had a hunch."

She smirked. "Got anything for me?"

He grinned. "I could use a new bar back," he suggested, making her snort.

"I'll get right on that," she retorted.

He laughed. "Actually, I might have something for you. It's not guaranteed, but it's worth a try," he said.

Synth raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

He gestured down the bar to a woman with flowing black hair. She was strikingly beautiful and seemed out of place. Not because she was wearing too nice of clothes out of place, but because the Crimson Cask didn't usually attract women that looked like her. At least not ones that were alone. Synth glanced back at him.

"Okay, I'm curious," she admitted.

Her mind was spinning. She thought she knew the woman from somewhere.

"Do I know her?" she questioned him.

He smirked. "Possibly. Ever heard of the harlot?" he asked.

Synth rolled her eyes and groaned. "What does she want?" 

She didn't personally know the harlot, but she had heard of her. It wasn't that the woman had a notorious reputation, it's just that when you date enforcers from certain crime syndicates, you become well-known.

"Says she's looking for someone," he said.

"Aren't we all," Synth sighed, "alright, I guess I can talk to her.”

Roy winked at her. "If it works out, I'll take my usual fee," he stated.

"Deal," Synth agreed.

She rose and strolled down the bar to the woman. Green eyes looked up at her with a tentative smile.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

"I'm Synth. Roy mentioned you might need help locating someone," she explained.

The Harlot nodded. "Yes, that would be great. Is there someplace we can talk?" she asked, then quickly added, "Oh, by the way, my name is Kasey, Kasey Jones." She extended her hand.

Synth didn't take it. She gestured towards the corner booth. "Sure, join me and my associate," she invited, and began walking back to her booth. So the harlot has a name, Synth mused.

She noticed Reed glance up as she neared the table. Use the right head, she thought. Reed was one of the least trusting people Synth knew. That's why they made such a good team. But Reed also had a cock which, in Synth's experience, meant that the brain in his head was only responsible for about sixty percent of his thoughts. She could see the hints of stupid in Reed's expression, so she mouthed, "She's The Harlot." His expression hardened.

"Reed, meet Kasey Jones. Kasey, this is Reed," Synth introduced.

She gestured for Kasey to take a seat.

"So, Roy tells me you're trying to find somebody," Synth probed.

Kasey's head bobbed, "my brother," she said, "his name is Nathan."

Synth studied Kasey, trying to gauge her.

"Why aren't you asking your friends in the Onyx Dragons for help?" Reed questioned.

Kasey's expression soured slightly, "I'm kind of on the outs with the Dragons at the moment."

Great, Synth thought, "Why?" she asked.

Kasey looked down, "Blake and I split up. Let's just say it wasn't a clean break." She confessed.

Synth scrutinized her, taking in every detail. Synth had been designed for companionship, which required a keen ability to read people. Her eyes analyzed everything from Kasey's pupil dilation to her breathing and perspiration. She's not happy about it, she thought, but she's not lying.

Reed shifted in his seat. "Alright, so tell us about your brother," he said.

Kasey seemed to relax slightly. "What do you want to know?"

Reed shrugged. "Is he older than you? Do you have any idea why he's gone missing? Stuff like that," he said.

Kasey held out a picture. Synth took it, and Reed leaned over to look at it. It was a man who appeared to be slightly older than Kasey with the same black hair, except the sides of his head were shaved, and the top was shaggy. He was thin, and Synth decided that he looked like a moron. 

Kasey began to speak. "He's two years older than me. He's only been in town for a couple of months," she explained.

"And he just up and vanished one day?" Synth asked.

Kasey shrugged. "Yes. I came home, and he wasn't there."

"And he couldn't have just moved back home or be staying at a friend's house?" Reed asked.

"No," she said, "He hasn't made many friends here. I know he was going to the Red Room that day, but I don't know if he made it there or not."

Reed eyed Synth. 

"What was he doing at the Red Room?" Synth asked.

Kasey sighed. "I don't know."

Synth felt Reed shift next to her. "We aren't interested," he said flatly.

"What, why?" Kasey asked, her eyes wide.

"If you want us to find your brother, you're gonna have to be a bit more open. You don't go to the Red Room to get a drink," Reed said. "Go on, get out of here."

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry," Kasey said. Synth noted a look of desperation in her eyes. "He was going there to try and set up some sort of deal. I don't know what it was." She said, "And I can pay." She pulled out two earrings and set them on the table. They looked like gold and diamonds. "There's a necklace too, but I have to find it."

Synth snatched them from the table and looked around the room. "What are you doing flashing something like that here?" She hissed. 

"I…" Kasey started.

"You don't have the Dragons to protect you anymore," Reed said earnestly, "there are just as many crooks in here as people like Synth and I," he said and then chuckled, "fuck, what am I saying? We're crooks too. We just aren't the type to snatch jewelry from a girl or leave her dead in the alley. Understand?" He sat back in his chair and gave Synth a look.

Kasey looked terrified at Reed's words.  

Synth huffed. "Fine," she said, "We'll take a look, but no promises." 

Kasey looked relieved. "Thank you," she said.

They went over some basic communication protocols and sent her on her way. Synth watched Kasey walking out of the bar. She noticed Reed doing the same.

"Why are we taking this again?" Synth asked, "And it better not be because she's attractive."

Reed downed the rest of his drink. "You saw her. She's worried about her brother. And with how she tossed those earrings out, she's not street smart. She's lucky she found us and not someone else. And I don't know about you, but I have bills that need paying." 

"That crossed my mind. I suppose you don't have to have the mind of an enforcer to date one." Synth smirked, "And the last part?"

Reed chuckled. "That doesn't hurt things. But you could have fought me on it."

Synth sat back in her seat. She looked at what was left of her drink. "Yeah, I know, but like you said. Bills." She downed her drink, "Red Room."

Reed nodded. "Yeah, Red Room."