Saint examines the data files away from the other runners. As he works, he can hear the *click-clack, click-clack* of a computer keyboard coming from his right. His sister is typing something secret, and has been for the past several days. He could open the file if he really wanted to, but he figured it was better to give her some space as she adjusts to her new self.
She's thinner now, and has stopped eating in his presence. Saint knows it's because she's self conscious, as her teeth have become sharp and elongated. She even has protruding "tusks" sticking out about half an inch from her lower jaw. Heat radiates from her body like a furnace, as if her metabolism has greatly increased. Saint knows she eats when he's not around; food doesn't last more than two days in the house anymore. But clearly, it's not enough. Her skin is stretched taut over sinewy, gangly awkward arms and legs. He can even see the bulge of her blood vessels just underneath the surface of her skin. She still won't talk to him, or anyone else for that matter.
He pushes thoughts of his sister aside, and concentrates on his job. Aleksander was right; the files are mostly useless for the Run. But, they are interesting. The notes on Ironjaw are particularly so. Aleksander doesn't know who Ironjaw was before he transformed, expressing his ork features, but the fixer has managed to dig up some hints into the ork's past. One file in particular is an audio recording, between an unknown woman in Aleksander's employ, and Ironjaw himself. The date on the file is December 29, 2011. Saint plays the file, which has no corresponding video.
[sblock=The audio file]A woman's voice. "Ironjaw?"
A gruff, male response. "Depends. You the fixer's lackey?"
"Yeah. That makes two of us, doesn't it?" The woman's response is quick and playful, but sounds a bit forced, as if she's not entirely comfortable.
The ork doesn't respond. The silence is awkward, perhaps deliberately so. Due to lack of corresponding video he can't tell for sure, but Saint gets the impression that Ironjaw is impatient, offended, or otherwise put off by the woman.
The woman speaks again. "Alright, fine. No small talk. To business, then. He says he'll give you fifty thousand."
"Why?"
The woman is taken aback, but recovers quickly. "Why don't you ask him yourself? Aleksander has made himself available to you via the Matrix. All you have to do is pick up the comlink."
"I told him before," Ironjaw replies. "No digital stuff. Cops track orks with it. You want me, you know where to find me."
"Then don't ask stupid questions, like 'why?', when you have such a generous offer."
"I don't want the money," Ironjaw says. "Nowhere to spend it in Westwood, anyway."
The woman replies, "What do you want, then?"
"I'll tell you if you turn the recording off."
"What are you talking about?" This woman is good. The lie sounds as casual as the weatherman on television.
"Fine, have it your way," Ironjaw says, and Saint can hear his footsteps as they walk away.
"Stop," the woman says. "Fine, I'll turn it off."
"Let me see it," Ironjaw says.
There's a moment where the recording device can be heard shuffling around, and then silence. The audio file ends. [/sblock]