Read LUNARA #1 — The Wrong Side of Midnight, Parts 1 and 2

Lunara Comics presents — Part One — 8:00 PM, Neon City

One errand. One club. One debt. Everyone who looked underestimated her.

Panel 1

8:00 PM — Neon City

SPRITE (comms)Don't you think your ass is a little too exposed?

LUNARAI do.

LUNARABut that's the point.

LUNARABesides… you kind of like my ass.

SPRITE (comms)I do…

Panel 2

SPRITENow lock your weapons in zero-space and head to the Neon Market.

LUNARA (comms)Done. Don't forget the logo.

SPRITEDone and done…

LUNARA (comms)Go time.

Panel 1

8:07 PM — Neon Market

SPRITE (comms)Thanks for doing this, Lun.

LUNARAThank me when it's done, sweetie.

Panel 2

LUNARAYou still don't know what he did?

SPRITE (comms)He wouldn't say.

SPRITE (comms)Only that he owes Wonderlands. Like a lot.

Panel 3

LUNARAAnd they didn't break his legs…

SPRITE (comms)Apparently his skills are useful.

LUNARASo he is paying his debt in work… not good.

Panel 4

LUNARAFine.

LUNARAI buy the debt. He goes home.

SPRITE (comms)Simple.

LUNARASure… Simple.

Panel 1

8:12 PM — The 404

LUNARAYep.

SPRITE (comms)You're in.

Panel 2

SPRITE (comms)Whoa.

LUNARAWhat?

SPRITE (comms)There's an all-out BOLO alert on a job in this region.

LUNARAYou're kidding.

SPRITE (comms)Look.

Panel 3

Runner Region Alert — BOLO // Open — Recovery contract: “Aurum”, K9-Luxe companion unit — Reward 25,000 CR

SPRITE (comms)Apparently someone stole a robotic dog.

SPRITE (comms)A corporate dog.

SPRITE (comms)The pay is ridiculous… just saying.

LUNARAMultiple teams on the job. Too messy. Pass.

SPRITE (comms)Passing.

Panel 4

PIXYHi, Lunara.

LUNARAPixy. What a surprise.

PIXYSo… dog job. Easier if you join. We can split the pay.

LUNARAGo away, Pixy.

Panel 5

PIXYShe won't join. But she's not on the job either.

OLI (comms)You sure?

PIXYI'm sure.

Panel 6

LUNARAHello, boys.

Panel 1

8:15 PM — The 404 · VIP

GUARD 1Calm down, lady.

LUNARALet me go… you…

Panel 2

TOOTHESWhat's the racket down there?

Panel 3

GUARD 2This one is feisty, boss.

LUNARAPlease, I need to talk. I got money.

Panel 4

TOOTHESBring her up.

Panel 5

GUARD 1Heard the boss.

SPRITE (comms)“Please?” For real? You should get an Oscar.

LUNARASee? That wasn't so hard.

Panel 6

TOOTHESYou knocked out a guard. I'm impressed.

LUNARADon't.

TOOTHESYou mentioned money.

LUNARAI want to buy someone's debt.

Panel 1

TOOTHESSomeone's debt.

TOOTHESWhose?

LUNARAA kid, a student. Goes by Axon Pulse.

TOOTHESAh.

TOOTHESNo.

Panel 2

TOOTHESThe kid's a biohacker.

TOOTHESHis work contract's worth more than money.

LUNARAYou didn't bother to check.

LUNARACome on, Toothes. Easy money.

TOOTHESStill no.

Panel 3

LUNARAThen call your boss. I'll abide by him.

Panel 4

TOOTHESCall the Rabbit? For this?

Panel 5

LUNARACome on, do it. I'll play nice.

TOOTHESGot a cute ass, true. But no.

TOOTHESThrow her out…

Panel 1

LUNARAMe and my cute ass…

Panel 2

LUNARA…are so going…

Panel 3

LUNARA…to kick yours.

GUARDOh… damn.

Panel 4

8:19:37.12

Lunara goes through every guard in the room at once.

8:19:39.60

Panel 5

SPRITE2.48 seconds. Kind of slow today.

LUNARA (comms)Shut up, Sprite.

Panel 6

TOOTHESWhat?

TOOTHESHow?

LUNARASit, now!

TOOTHESWhat…?

SPRITE (comms)Hmph. The 404…

Panel 7

LUNARAComputer, call Bunny.

SPRITE (comms)…is now Lunara's.

Panel 1

BUNNYToothes. That better be important…

Panel 2

Bunny, on a holo call from his club, takes in the room in silence.

Panel 3

BUNNYCare to explain what happened to Toothes' men?

Panel 4

LUNARAThat was me being nice.

BUNNYNice?

LUNARAThey're not dead, are they?

Panel 5

BUNNYSo, Lunara…

BUNNYWhat do you want?

LUNARAI want to buy this man's debt.

LUNARASending details.

Panel 6

BUNNYThat's a tight contract, Lunara.

BUNNYYou sure?

LUNARAI'm sure.

Panel 7

BUNNYWhy?

BUNNYWhat's he to you?

LUNARASprite's niece—

SPRITE (comms)Nephew.

LUNARANephew… something.

BUNNYOh.

Panel 8

BUNNYIf I clear his debt…

BUNNYyou owe me.

LUNARAOh no. I buy his debt. I owe nothing.

Panel 9

The Looking Glass

BUNNYIt's 50K. And that's me being nice. Not taking my cut.

LUNARA50K?!

SPRITE (comms)I… didn't know.

LUNARAFine. 50K.

LUNARABut his debt is squared.

Panel 1

Nexus News — News flash: luxury transport crashed in the Nether Zones

BUNNYDone.

LUNARAThe next thing you get for free…

LUNARABut you owe me.

BUNNYFree?

Panel 2

Nexus News — News update: reports of gangs moving for loot

LUNARAThere's a runner crew here.

BUNNYWhich crew?

LUNARAThe Droplets.

LUNARANot for your… business.

LUNARAStay out of their hair. Safer for everyone.

BUNNYUnderstood. Thanks.

Panel 3

Nexus News — Breaking news: massive fights erupt around Nether Zone transport crash. Loop transportation service to the area has been suspended.

LUNARASo…

LUNARAWhat does a girl have to do to get a proper drink in here…?

Twenty-six minutes later — Part Two — The Nether Zones

A 500K job. A golden cube. A voice on a channel that shouldn't exist.

Panel 1

26 minutes later

LUNARASo, boys… We good?

GUARDWe good.

TOOTHESSo you and the Rabbit?

LUNARAMutual respect.

SPRITERespect? That's what you call this?

Panel 2

LUNARAAnd here's to Sprite.

TOOTHESSprite, why don't you jump in? Today, I'm buying.

SPRITEI'm good here, thanks.

LUNARAA Netrunner stays a Netrunner.

Panel 3

SPRITENo way… Whoa…

SPRITELun, we got a job…

LUNARAPass. I'm having too much fun.

SPRITE (comms)500K, Lun… Check.

Panel 4

Contract // High priority — 500,000 credits — Verified

LUNARAWhat? Is this verified?

SPRITE (comms)Verified… Diva.

LUNARAOther teams?

SPRITE (comms)None… Just us.

Panel 5

LUNARAI need to go.

TOOTHESWhat do you need?

LUNARAA back door to the street.

Panel 6

TOOTHESJeff — show her.

Panel 7

LUNARAAnd remember…

LUNARADrop by my comic place. Got some surprises in store.

Panel 8

LUNARASprite — have Midnight meet me at the exit.

Panel 1

Midnight

LUNARAThat crashed transport from the news… What do we know?

SPRITE (comms)Nothing. All digital data… scrubbed.

Panel 2

LUNARAThe fights?

SPRITE (comms)Heavy. Not sure which factions.

LUNARADiva… You still can't ID her?

SPRITE (comms)No.

LUNARACan she be trusted?

SPRITE (comms)100%.

MIDNIGHTETA 30 seconds.

Panel 3

Lunara rides Midnight through the city at speed.

Panel 4

Midnight, from the side.

Panel 5

Midnight, from behind.

Panel 6

Midnight, weaving through traffic.

Panel 1

LUNARAThis isn't gang fighting.

LUNARAIt's a war zone.

Panel 2

SPRITE (comms)Still 500K.

LUNARAWe'll see.

Panel 3

SPRITE (comms)Incoming from Diva.

Omega encryption — priority now: Package inside transport. Silver courier inside will deliver. Friendly forces will provide cover fire.

Panel 4

Omega encryption: The shape of the future. For better or worse.

LUNARASprite… This package… Ask her — is it worth it?

SPRITE (comms)That's impossible. She can't—

SPRITE (comms)…She heard you.

Panel 5

LUNARA…can't believe I'm doing this…

LUNARADeploy drones. Defensive formation.

LUNARAI'm coming in hot.

Panel 1

SPRITE (comms)Registering heavy fire.

LUNARAYou noticed.

Panel 2

LUNARADrones are getting hammered.

SPRITE (comms)Sending safest route. One hostile.

Panel 3

SPRITE (comms)Go in 2… 1…

LUNARASprite?

SPRITE (comms)Oh damn.

Panel 4

SPRITE (comms)Someone is trying to override the drones.

LUNARAIsn't that impossible? Counter it.

SPRITE (comms)Trying…

SPRITE (comms)I… whoa.

Panel 5

Blocking override attempts — control restored — ready railgun — go in 2… — go

Panel 6

Midnight breaks from cover, drones in escort.

Panel 7

Lunara fires on the run toward the transport.

Panel 8

Midnight dives into the breach in the transport's hull.

Panel 1

COURIERLunara?

LUNARALunara!

Panel 2

COURIERRed panel. Press it.

Panel 3

Bio-neural signature confirmed — occupation: Edgerunner — callsign: Lunara — access granted

COURIERThank the Goddess.

COURIERComputer. Blast doors.

Panel 4

LUNARAYou're injured, soldier.

COURIERDan… Call me Dan.

Panel 5

LUNARASo, Dan… Why am I here?

DANFor this.

Panel 6

DANFor the future.

SPRITE (comms)Oh… My… Goddess…

Panel 7

LUNARACome on. You need medical.

DANNot coming, Lunara. I'm stabilized.

Panel 8

Rear exit sequence — 60 sec

LUNARANot leaving you.

DANOne minute to EMP pulse. Back door's open. Go, Lunara.

Panel 9

DANI will see you yet…

Panel 1

LUNARAYou saw that. That black and red…

SPRITE (comms)It's a myth. You know that.

LUNARALike Diva?

Panel 2

SPRITE (comms)What did we get ourselves into, Lun?

LUNARAA 500K job, sweetie. A 500K job…

Panel 3

Omega encryption: follow projected route. Route updates at each point.

LUNARA (comms)Sprite — Drop point?

SPRITEGot partial route. Sending now.

Panel 4

SPRITEHa… For real? Cute.

SPRITESomeone thinks they can hack me. Let's see how they like this.

LUNARA (comms)Sprite?

Panel 5

LUNARATalk to me.

SPRITE (comms)I got my end, Lun. You got yours. We got this.

Panel 1

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEChange route… Deliver the cube.

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEAcknowledge… or else…

LUNARAComm hacked.

SPRITE (comms)What? No way.

LUNARAYou got yours, baby girl. I got mine.

Panel 2

Midnight flips off a wall. Lunara launches mid-air, blades out, and cuts through both pursuing interceptors in one pass.

Panel 3

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEIf you care about the Redhead,

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEdeliver the cube to me.

Panel 4

LUNARASil, 101. Lockdown mode.

LUNARAProtect Sprite!

LUNARASeal the store!

Panel 1

Lunara Comics

LUNARA (comms)Sil, 101…

Panel 2

LUNARA (comms)…Lockdown mode.

Panel 3

LUNARA (comms)Protect Sprite!

Panel 4

LUNARA (comms)Seal the store!

Panel 5

SIL-101Lockdown initiated. 101 engaged.

Panel 1

SPRITEComm hacked… hmm… What do you know…

SPRITEA hidden slither-stream. Clever… very.

Panel 2

SPRITENice one. Noted. My turn.

Panel 3

Slither firewall

SPRITEGot you.

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEThat's… impossible.

SPRITESpiked you. Bye-bye.

UNKNOWN · PRIVATEI am… impressed.

Panel 4

SPRITEComm cleared.

LUNARA (comms)Activate the Bertas.

LUNARA (comms)Then vanish.

Panel 5

SPRITEYou said the Bertas were emergency only…

LUNARA (comms)This is an EMERGENCY!

Panel 6

Bertas powering up

LUNARA (comms)Coming for you, baby girl.