Cyberpunk: Cyberpsychosis and Back

by Darksider82

Summary:

What if two Med-Techs (OC's) intervened before David Martinez went to his Ripper? What if two Med-Techs eager for their own reward decide to become affiliated with Maine and his crew?

Notes:

Started writing this after watching Edgerunners and started playing 2077 (Fantastic). First fic posted on here, I can't help but love David/Lucy as a pairing or David survives. So hopefully you'll enjoy.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

I
Today, Night City sucked. Granted Night City sucks in general. If you stray too far from your designated area you get flatlined, catch beef with the gang in your area…flatlined. Piss off the Corpo, you guessed it, flatlined. Hit the wrong son of a bitch and have Trauma Team, TT, cover…flatlined. Essentially, there are a million ways to get flatlined for something like sneezing at the wrong time. However, if you’re tough enough, have the skills for the bills, and know the talk and walk the walk, then you can survive and thrive.

Ajuka Ezekiel Bael, Juka, Z, Zeek with many other aliases was one such young thriver and survivor. He was a man of a non-descript build, mildly athletic, with messy brown/blondish hair in a ponytail with brown eyes. His background was that of he was an unfortunate prodigy from a family of Trauma Teams and raised by the Trauma Team. He was unfortunately a kid-genius so by the time he was in Secondary School, he was completing his degree as a surgeon. Then by the time he was officially an adult, he'd already been working at Trauma Team for five years.

Working in Team Bael, a Platinum Covered Team. He worked as an Overwatch Assistant Emergency Medical Technician, he got to shoot things then heal, or heal whilst others shot above him. After a rather nasty altercation with a Psycho with a baseball bat; he'd survived and had opened the Psycho's neck by smashing, the neck-deck inserts into the jugular vein and carotid artery; unfortunately a lucky strike with its clawed hand had robbed him of his sight, which resulted in his 2nd set of cybernetics; his eyes hadn't been destroyed but rather the lens, corona and pupil had been destroyed, coincidentally the parts that needed to be removed to install cyber optic eyes. That pair of procedures had set him back €500. Then his second cybernetic implant was a favourite, it was a top-of-the-range Sandevistan, Ajuka had been extremely nervous about undergoing the surgery for it, based on some of his research into Cyberpsychosis. He theorised that Cyberpsychosis was potentially induced by a mishmash of poor compatibility with cyberware and different company tech.

His adaptability was rather high with his three implants; his second cousin, a Street Doctor, had performed the surgery. Then it happened, just after his Sandy implant his entire family had vanished, leaving him all alone. The saving grace had been, they'd left him their money so he wasn't completely shafted.

Ajuka was jerked from his musing as the Atlus juddered encountering turbulence “Bael! You alright there?” Ajuka straightened up, this call came from the Trauma Lead, Samantha ‘Sam’ Kyshnyada.

“Lost in thought. Hoping we’re responding to an Emergency Pickup instead of a Lead Injection or Cooking Response.”

There were dark chuckles throughout the Team, Emergency Pickup was a reference to the Older Days when the Ambulance would come to emergency response. Lead Injection was a gunshot wound and Cooking was a firefight extraction.”

Sam shook her head “Don’t you start going Psycho on us, Miracle Maker. I don’t know many TT Ops…actually, none of us knows a TT Op as amazing as you. You’re one of the few TT Surgeons, Fewer on a List of Cyberesiliences, Even Fewer to wield a quite frankly an overclocked Sandy and honestly not so jaded despite knowing you since you were 21 on the Force.”

“Not going to go Psycho, Sam, not jaded? I am, just hide it better. Been doing this near-enough my entire life…actually entire life. I was born here, and grew up here.”

It was then the pilot spoke “Found them! On the rooftop, two…fuck…One’s pregnant, the other is unresponsive.”

“Distance to the building?”

“Thirty metres…Zeek, you’re not…oh wait you’re the Miracle Ripper, of course, you are.”

Ajuka turned to the team “You know the drill, the woman takes priority.”

Michael, the other EMT cleared his throat “Technically…her husband…”

“The woman takes priority. The client wakes up and finds out that Trauma Team left his uncovered, pregnant, wife behind…that’s a lawsuit and you’re out of Trauma…do you copy, Edward.”

Edward nodded, a gifted Med-Tech and had been brought onto one of the many Bael Teams, then subsequently assigned to the only surviving Bael…if only to ensure the then thirteen-year-old-genius didn’t get himself booted out by pissing off Trauma Team Higher Ups. The Bael family in a nutshell were dedicated to Trauma Team, and at least, on their shifts they used their own policy when responding to call-outs. If there were multiple casualties the Bael Teams would end up providing aid to everyone, not just the client. “We’re Health Care Professionals, it is our duty to do more. Plus we bill them anyway.” He remembered Joseph Bael saying, Joseph had been a Trauma Team Physio.

“Zeek, I know you’ve done this before, remember, you’re the least chromed of all of us.”

“Cybernetic Limbs can go fuck themselves…Anyway, initiating Sandy in 3…2…1.” Ajuka felt his brain open as excessive amounts of electrons surged into his Central Nervous System; he felt his body flood with adrenaline and time slowed as he sprinted and then launched himself out of the Trauma Transport. The leap was good, it was strong and the Trauma Team saw their member catch the ledge of the building, quit the Sandy and pitch himself smoothly over his shoulder displacing the kinetic energy, then into a second dive onto his feet next to the downed male.

“Danger, none. Not Responsive. No sign of breathing or circulation. Going hands-on, commencing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.” With that, the very fine clothing peeled away and he began with the rescue breaths and then the compressions. “I couldn’t wait for you to come to clear the cupboards.” two breaths. “But now you’re going to leave with nothing but a sign.” two more breaths “C’mon breathe, Another evening I’ll be sitting reading between your lines.” Another two breaths. “Because I miss you all the time.” Another two breaths, this wasn’t good. He was singing that song, that song nearly always ruined his day; unfortunately, it was a song you could do CPR too…thusly, Ajuka, thoroughly despised having to do CPR as it was the first song he knew.

“Trauma, when you landing?”

“Coming now, Choom, you’re doing good. Doing really good. We’ve got vitals, he’s coming around. Do the chorus.” Ajuka groaned as he carried on, he’d already started the chorus “I’m on top of you, I don’t wanna go.” two more breaths, god his arms were killing him. He didn’t care, he cared more for his patient “Because I really wanna stay at your house.” Two more breaths.

There was the familiar breeze on his back of the Atlus descending. The remaining members of the team rushed onto the scene. Edward rolled Ajuka off the Principle, passed him his rifle and Ajuka began his overwatch as Sam loaded the Woman with Michael, the principal gunner, onto Transport “Woman and Child are on.”

“Zeek let’s go! On your count.”

“Lift on three…1…3!” Ajuka was the last one on and the team were taking off.

As they were heading out in the noon-day, they caught the end of a transmission ‘Did we have to leave them there?’

‘Kid, you saved the boy…technically you shouldn’t have. Listen, there’s a chance you’ll work with Juka-boy; you’ll get on like Dorpher addicts. He thinks like you as well…listen the woman didn’t have Trauma Team cover. Its shit but that’s the rules.’

Sam grabbed Ajuka by the hand “Ajuka, calm down, listen I’m not going to hold it against you if you want to leave and go freelance. I’m with you, Main…as long as you want me around.”

“Sam…Love, thanks. How are they?” Ed grinned as the male groaned.

“Easy Mr. Hernandez, you’re in a Trauma Team…”

“Why does my chest feel like it’s been crushed?” Hernandez asked wincing slightly.

“When we found you and your wife, the pair of you were unresponsive, I’m a Trauma Surgeon Mr. Hernandez, I’m not even remotely qualified for treating unconscious, pregant women…you on the other hand I am. I’m not sorry for breaking your ribs but you’re alive.” Ajuka replied not looking at the man.

“Forgive my colleague, Ajuka Bael, he’s one of the best…” Edward began.

“...but he’s extremely abrupt. It runs in the family. Anyway, how is my wife?”

At that moment, his wife let out an awful scream, “Ajuka, not one comment. Peter, get a move on where’s the closest concrete hospital?”

"Five minutes, ETA."

"Let's get going. Ajuka, help me stabilise her." Those five minutes were the longest five minutes of Ajuka's life, he handed anaesthetics, and IV bags and kept his mouth firmly shut. Unfortunately, when they touched down on the roof of the hospital there was a god-awful scream. It turned out that Mrs Hernandez had gone into very complicated and painful labour that both Ajuka and Edward had no experience with. However, Sam nearly managed to save both Mrs Hernandez and the Baby, but ultimately chose the baby.

Like with everything in NightCity, why have one tragedy when you can have several. Both Hernandezs died en route to the hospital with Mr Hernandez promising legal action, Ajuka managed to tune out the range of insults. However, when he reached the interior of the hospital, he ended up vomiting in public.

The Trauma Team Executives didn’t like that at all, not one bit. Whilst they had all agreed that Ajuka had done exceptionally well since he’d started; they had collectively agreed that Ajuka would be laid off. “You’re laying me off? For vomiting in public?”

“Not just for the public vomiting, we have recorded numerous incidents when you have been…less than professional in your communication.”

Ajuka snorted “So like every other member of my family ever. I don’t remember you dismissing any of them.”

“That…was under different management.”

“So it’s thank you for serving, here’s the door because you lost your chill.”

“Erm…not so fast, Mr. Bael. It’s not just that, we brought you here because you’re invaluable and we want to make a proposal.”

Ajuka cocked his head and the reverberating pops and cracks of crepitus, air bubbles, echoed throughout the room. “What is it?”

“Med-Techs of yours and Samantha’s calibre, yes we know she’s leaving as well, will not be short of work. We want to be your suppliers for all of your hospital needs for your workshop, we’ll even supply you with pharmacy drugs that are exclusive to TT.”

“You want me to make an unaffiliated trauma clinic and ripperdoc surgeries and are willing to float the costs.”

“Providing, you keep an eye out for the Trauma Team nearby; occasionally we might need some information…you’ll be paid handsomely. As should… er…seven zeroes on your severance pay?”

Ajuka’s jaw dropped, he’d been left a tidy sum by his family but…seven zero payoffs! “That’s like…”

“Corpo lay off…We know. The Trauma Team works everyone to the bone but your layoffs and pensions are amazing.”

“Providing we can reach those ages. Gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure.”

“Thank you, Mr Bael, for your service. Let us know when you can get started.”

Ajuka nodded and left, as he walked out of the hospital a horn caught his attention. It was Sam, for once, not dressed in the armoured uniform of Trauma Team but rather form fitting pants and a top, just beneath her own tactical vest. “Hey you, going my way?”

Ajuka chuckled “And what way is that? Love?”

“Yours by Lizzie’s…”

“Make it mine by Afterlife and we’re on.”

The Afterlife Club was always packed, it was unique club with a unique clientele. Everyone was welcomed, provided people knew who you were. Ajuka and Sam piled out of their vehicle; a sixteen-month used Trauma Team Ground Vehicle, all the insignia had been removed. It turned out that this was but 1-part of Ajuka’s very hefty payoff.

They waited patiently in the line when one of the Bouncer’s eyes widened “Are you the Miracle Maker?”

“Miracle Maker? I haven’t heard of him.”

“Boss, the Miracle Maker’s a Trauma Team prodigy or something. He was patched through to me when my mother had a heart attack. I called him, sure he cost me the better part of 10k…”

“How is she? Your mother? The medication working? Still have enough?”

“She’s alive, still doing those exercises you instructed her on. Although she’s running low on those Statins you sold.”

“I’ll be over tomorrow.”

The Door Supervisor winced “Might be tight on the eddies…”

Sam interjected “We’ll sort something out.”

With that they entered the Afterlife, they quickly found themselves at the bar “What can I get you?”

Ajuka looked at the Board “Two Silverhands.”

“Normally people don’t go straight for those.”

Ajuka looked her dead in the eye “Most people don’t just lose their jobs, straight up, on the most pretencious charge ever. That’s life.”

“What sort of skills? I’m Claire.”

“I’m Sam and this is Zeke.” Sam cut in “We’re Med-Techs, Ex-Trauma.”

Claire’s eyes widened “Ex-Trauma Team, that’s a tough line of work.”

“It had moments. Getting shot at not so much, the operations, the in-field stuff that was wild.” Ajuka commented.

Claire chuckled “I can think of many a crew will come to see you, once word gets out.”

“If you have eddies, we’ll heal…nothing personal but…”

“You’ve gotta make a living.” A big well-chromed out man stated, as he brought his hands down on the bar. “Name’s Maine, where you based? I need…”

Ajuka looked at the newly named Maine “To chill out on the chrome or reduce the load. Sam’ll send you the deets. Right now, I just want to have a drink, a little quiet and then get familar with my apartment.”

Maine cocked an eyebrow “You don’t know your own apartment?”

“Good Trauma Team Formats are a hard combination. I can count on both hands, with fingers and thumbs left over to say how many times I made it home. Most of the time, I was sleeping in the barracks at the Trauma Team HQ.”

“That good, choom?” Asked either a young girl or a small woman.

“Very good, choom, I got the name Miracle-Maker for a reason…and…I’m probably more ‘ganic than at least 80% of you together.”

“Damn brat, get chipped up and chipped in. Chrome all the way.”

“Until you overgauge yourselves and find yourself staring down the MaxTac reinforcements…no thanks.” The slender techie looked like he was about to lose control of himself.

“Pilar, settle down. Zeke, Sam…Let us know when you’re going to be available.”

Ajuka grinned. He didn’t know how often he’d be in contact with this particular group but right now, bed and sleep called him. For the next day, Ajuka and Sam would get thrown right into the seedy underground world of Edgerunners.

(David Martinez)
The rent was overdue, that wasn’t anything new. His mother was dead, wiped out for simply being caught between two rival gangs; he’d been helpless to help out.

That was when he found it. It was a neurological implant attached to what appeared to be a mechanical spine. David’s mind was whirling, his mother had been on the scene to retrieve the dead cyberpsycho that was on the news and on the BD he’d experienced. “Mom did you…remove the implant.”

Currently, his mother was in a back-alley hospital, and here he was pouring over all of the accounts trying to find the money to A) pay rent, B) pay his mom’s medical bills and C) payback for the damages the gonk ripperdoc had caused.

He looked at the urn that contained his mother's ashes. God, he felt stiff and tender, especially after the beating he’d received from his classmate when he was disturbed by a knocking at the door.

He crept towards the door and opened it. Standing there was a male, a bit taller than David and possessed a near identical build to himself. David was nervous, there was something about him that unsettled him. “David…right? David Martinez?”

“Yeah, who’s asking?”

“I’m Ajuka Bael, I’m looking for your mother…”

“She’s dead.”

That rocked the man slightly “My sincerest condolences, er, may I come in?”

David nodded and opened the door slightly, only to find himself looking at thin air “Ah, so that’s where it went…the rogue military-grade Sandevestan.” David flinched, he turned to find Ajuka sitting on the couch holding the piece of hardware.

“Er…I’m…”

Ajuka chuckled “Kid, you’re in a ridiculously shit situation. Your rent’s way past, your mother’s deceased and due to the fact you’re from the wrong side of the tracks, under immense pressure from those shits at the Arasaka Academy and you’re in possession of a highly illegal piece of cyberware…probably looking to get rid of it or even stupidly install the fucker.”

“The thought…had crossed my mind.”

“My main will do it. But us to do this comes with some drawbacks.”

David paused “I’m listening, not like I have many choices.”

“I knew you were a smart one. Okay first one, I need your Ripperdocs address; secondly, you come to Me and Mine for ANY Chrome Upgrades and you WILL LISTEN to what we have to say…do you understand. Third, since you don’t seem to be all that willing to go back to Arasaka Academy, I’m going to need you to be doing some work for me; fetching, carrying, transporting and most of it is on a need-to-know basis and you’ll get paid 40% of all the deliveries.”

David stared at the man “You in essence just want me to work for you and get all my upgrades done by you…why?”

Ajuka pulled off his shirt and turned his back to the teen “I’ve got a Sandy, and, You want to get a Sandy installed…it takes one to train one choom.”

“Let’s chip it.”

“Whoa, amigo, whoa. Cool your jets boyo, cool yo’ jets; jumping into this shit is what turns Edgerunners into Cyberpsychos. I’m Ex-Trauma Team, believe me when I say I’ve seen this happen. The Sandy isn’t a piece of hardware that you can install at once, it requires several sessions of instalments. I got mine done over the space of two weeks.”

David nodded “Can we at least get the tests done, to see if this’ll work for me.”

“Don’t see why not boyo…Come on, Sam’s going to want you under her knife…if we can’t fit it, I can always refer you to Victor.”

“Victor?”

“He taught us…he’s the best we know. Come to think of it he’s one of the best Chrome-to-Ganic Rippers. He charges a pretty penny but he works.”

(Bael Clinic)
Sam let out a sigh as she stitched up a battered 6th Street Soldier. The Soldier had staggered into the clinic with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, normally his advanced healing cybernetic would have kicked in; but it turned out the bullet had tumbled and fragmented. “The bullet shards are out, I’ve managed to repair the damage. However, he’s going to need at minimum four weeks bedrest and these.” With that she placed three pots that rattled with pills on the counter. “It is imperative that he completes the pill medication and comes back here once every three weeks to ensure no degradation, although any signs of infection: coloured discharge, swelling, inflammation, soreness, you contact me ASAP.”

“Much obliged ma’am. The 6th Street thanks you for this.”

Sam snorted “You might well be, but, I’m missing out on some eddies…which you told me you were good for.”

There was a grumble before $12000 were transferred to her “These had better work.”

“Trauma Team Guaranteed. Oh and gents, I don’t care who you are or whose on my table but my property is a neutral zone.”

The 6th Street Sergeant nodded “No hits on targets in your clinic, got it. You might want to ensure the other gangs know of this.” Sam nodded, she kept her hands precisely where they could be seen; she really wished Ajuka was here. There were six of them and her, she could probably take two or three but that still meant 90+ rounds going off.

“Ey Doc, quick question.”

“Yeah?”

“You know anything about this missing military tech? Be happy to give eddies for anything that you might know.”

Sam sighed “I don’t know much, but considering the BD I used…can tell you it’s a neural piece…very much like my mainliner.”

“Can you be more specific? The make?”

“Not sure. The only one I know of is the Sandevistan “Falcon” but that’s like major expensive, my Main has a Dynalar.”

There whistles and long draws of breath, Sam saw that another $7k had been deposited into her account “Sandy’s and the like always attract the eye of everyone, there’s not that many of them so anytime gangs here of an enhancer like that going AWOL and potentially on the market it’s going to make things…interesting. You and yours are doctors, so you might be coming into a windfall.”

With that 6th Street left and as they left Ajuka and some kid walked in “Hey you, who's the stray?”

“Gloria Martinez’s kid, gonk found something interesting and I told him if he wanted it, he had to come to us.”

Sam smiled at her input “Well then sunshine, ditch the trouser and the torso and, pop your ass in that chair.”

David did as he was told, “So what happens now?”

“I put you sleep and we do some tests. We’re getting the weirder ones done with you under, you really don’t want to be awake when we start sticking things up your ass right? Unless you’re into that.” David blushed when his brain finally caught up.

“Fine, fine, put me under.” Sam chuckled “Sweet dreams.”

With that, the duo got to work “He’s got the basic loadout for most kids his age, mostly organic. However his chip slots are in extremely good condition, and and rather healthy as well…salt and sugar are a little high, but nothing too much to be concerned about, however, his compatibility is through the roof! Pure company software is registering is just over 90%, mix and matching 75%.”

“Compatibility ratings?” Sam asked.

“The compatibility with chrome runs parallel and sometimes causally to cyberpsychosis; which as you know is the oversaturation of mechanical impulses to the Central Nervous System and overpowers the brain.” Ajuka retorted as he debrided David’s foot for callous.

“You should have been a podiatrist…”

“In this world with Adam bloody Smasher around? You’d have thought so, still did the modules though.”

(Maine’s group et al.)
Maine growled, Gloria hadn’t contacted him as to when he could pick up the Sandy! He’d paid very good money for that piece of chrome! “I need to find that piece of chrome.”

“You’re a fucking gonk, for paying up front.” Pilar cackled.

“Pilar, you’d best retract the unspoken insult about Gloria. She and I go back; I find it hard to believe that she’ll stitch us. She’s always been good with us. Oh her some professional courtesy.” Maine growled.

“Dorio! You’re gonna…”

“Gloria introduced me to Maine after they split. Was it awkward, only if we made it. Besides, Gloria’s good people, will run into a burning building, knowing she’ll burn to get someone out.” Doria stated “I got her to get her hands on Cyberware.”

Lucy sighed “I’ll head out, then, gonks. I’ll let you know if I find it.” Lucy sighed, gods Pilar was an ass sometimes. She wasn’t low on eddies but chip pocket session never really hurt.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Summary:

OC's
Ajuka Bael- Medtech
Samantha 'Sam' Kyshnyada (Pronounced Kushinada)- Medtech
Samuel "Sammy Shogun" Dallas- Rockerboy
Malcolm Green (Unseen)-Media/Rockerboy

II
(Trauma Surgery)
It had been three days. Three days since David had his pre-operation scans. Those three days had been jammed packed with, well, not excitement, but errands really. He’d arrive at the Trauma Clinic, get handed bags of packages and then be dispatched all over NightCity dropping packages and collecting eddies. The income was fucking nova when he finally managed to grab a bite to eat. “Sam, are you available?”

“Yeah, love…what is it? No, the operating table and procedure for your tech isn’t ready if that’s…”

“No, no…it’s more to do with the near enough 90k in eddies for dropping off packages.”

Sam chuckled “Not packages, their prescriptions. You wouldn’t believe how much people pay through the nose for stand cold cures, and don’t get me started on ripper surgeries and the rest. It’s good money, honest money. Is that everything?”

“Er, yeah…slightly worried that was all. I’m nearly done, I’ll see you in a bit.” David replied before disconnecting.

Sam grinned, the day had been pleasant. Despite not even being open for a week, they had developed a very solid client base. Despite dealing with everyone who had eddies; Cyberpunks, 6th Street or even Corpses the Trauma Centre had quickly become a cornerstone in the rundown, untouched district of Night City. 6th Street Footsoldiers, Megacorporation Security brushed shoulder to shoulder as the various walks of life set up lookouts and even had a few concealed security teams were nearby, everyone agreed the Trauma Duo were a good thing for NightCity. No fixers had come in, yet, to weasel in on the new thriving business. All in all, for Sam…life was looking good and up.

Ajuka was in the surgery room today, a patient had come in with minor discomfort…minor discomfort it quickly turned out to be shards of a frag grenade embedding into the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, along with vastus lateralis…in the ass and in the upper leg for idiots. Thankfully none of the fragments severed or cut the blood vessels in the surrounding areas but the nerves had been hit. Any damage to the femoral and sciatic nerves were life changing. You would walk, but, it would be excruciating. “Sir, I understand that you’re in agony from the frag-grenade; you’re not going to be able to walk completely again, but I can guarantee that you’ll regain 70-80% of full manoeuvrability if you keep on the medication courses I’m prescribing.”

“I thought you said you did cybernetic implants! Your sign even says that you do them upon request.”

“We do cybernetic implants, on request, providing we’ve tried to save the limb in question…which I have done. Sir, under the oaths we’ve taken, I am telling you, you don’t require cybernetics.”

“And what if I go to a Ripper and get one?”

Ajuka chuckled “You’re well within your rights to do so, but, we would have every right to refuse to perform any more surgeries.”

The man paused “You’re a, fucking scumbag, choom.”

“A fucking scumbag choom, that’s a new one. Look, come back after your meds are finished, keep an eye out for infection otherwise direct call me. If you’re sure, and I mean extremely sure that you want us to give you a cybernetic then we’ll run the tests and give you the options.”

“You mean it, doc? You mean that?”

“I mean it and I believe it…and I believe we’re done, you can pay Sam on your way out.”

The client nodded, he groaned as he got out of the chair; winced as he nearly tripped over his foot “I’ll manage doc, my wife’s outside; she’ll drive us home.”

Ajuka pulled off his disposable scrubs, and chucked them in the chemical waste as Viktor rang.

“I got your message…Implanting a military-spec Sandevistan…you can only pay for my experience.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way…I’ll see you in an hour or two.” With that, the call disconnected. Ajuka sighed, rotated his neck and began the meticulous process of cleaning down the chair, the floor, the walls, the primary field, secondary field and retrieving the various instruments that Viktor would require.

“Love…the 12:10 is here, the secondary heart operation.”

“I’ll be with them in twenty, just cleaning up. Also, love, it’s happening today.”

Sam, who’d stuck her head into the operating theatre nodded “I’ll inform David, he’s back after completing the errands.”

“Make sure he pays you everything, then give him back his cut. Actually, half the cut, explain that it’s his operation fee and finders fee.”

David was waiting as calmly as he could. God there were a lot of people in the clinic “You got an appointment?” David turned to find himself face-to-face with an Arasaka Officer.

“I work here, errands.”

“Move over to that corner.” David looked and in bright neon green and yellow, was a sign that read ‘Courier’.

“Martinez.”
“Kyshnyada…here’s the eddies from the collections, this morning.”
Sam nodded and accepted before refunding him $4050. “You’ll understand why this evening, come by after work…Anyway, your afternoon drop-offs.”

David nodded, his gut stiffening. He felt like he’d been scammed before the dots were beginning to connect. “Ajuka and Sam were going to implant Sandevistan onto me…the 27k I should have received I lost roughly 15%. They needed outside help and because I brought it, a finders fee.” The thoughts were whirling around his head like the hit he’d been in the middle of.

“David? David?” He snapped back, to find Sam looking at him with concern.

“Lost myself in thought. Anyway, send them in.”
(Rebecca and Pilar)
Rebecca and Pilar made for an odd pair, one was overcompensating with his height and elongated arms; with a little work Pilar could star in a horror extreme braindance, XBD; and the other, let’s say they’d heard the father and daughter routine enough. Rebecca, had also had more than her fair share of other comments, including being denied alcohol despite her tattooed frame.

“Why must you embarrass us whenever we’re with Maine and the others?”

“I can’t help it, Becca, they think it’s hilarious.”

“More dorph like…still…why are you always hounding Luce? She’s made it perfectly clear that she dislikes you.”

“Because it’s fun. That girl is feisty and hot. OW…” Pilar ended up grabbing his foot as his sister stamped on it.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that siblicide was auto Max-Tac, dorpher, I’d do it no problems.” The siblings were wrapped up in their own argument; they didn’t catch a teen a yellow EMT jacket walking by.

David was on alert, the last set of drop-offs were well outside of his comfort zone. He’d only had six hours worth of shooting; yet here he was walking with a leased lexington and 90k plus of prescriptions. Thankfully it had been a quiet day and he was on his last package when everything went to hell.

He’d just received the eddies, headed in the lift to the ground floor, the rusted door creaked open and David was promptly greeted by a storm of wildly inaccurate bullets. "It’s you or them, choom, I'd rather you gunned them down than you getting dead." He remembered Ajuka explaining.

David pulled out his lexington and began to return fire. “Kid! We only want to make you our new meat bicycle!” Shouted a Scav with what looked like a malfunctioning arm blade; David put three rounds into him. One hit him square in the head, dazing him, second blew out the knee and severing the popliteal and femoral arteries along with the genicular arteries. The final bullet skipped and buried itself in the Scav’s throat.

“I can see Uranus from here!” David called back as he dived behind the elevator as it appeared that the local gang had finally shown up. Or rather two gangs, every district had Scavs or Scavengers and in every district the population of the Scavs were kept under control by either the gangs or the NCPD. Here it appeared that the Tyger Claws and 6th Street ruled the roost.

David quickly found himself at assault rifle point by three very twitchy 6th Streeters “Just what were you doing? Letting loose iron in our territory? You’re no 6th Streeter.”

David collapsed “I was doing some deliveries in the area for the new Trauma Centre…Ajuka Bael and Sam Kyshynada. Then the Scav, took some shots at me; I fired back then you guys turned up. No, I’m not a 6th Streeter.”

“Hand over the iron, you’ll get it back once we drop you back at the Centre.” This was followed by a clip round the back of the head “You did good, nice shooting. David was bundled onto the back of a cab and driven back to the Trauma Centre.

Sam let out a sharp breath of relief. She hadn’t anticipated David being shot at! "Samantha Kyshnyada…it's been a while."

Sam spun and standing there, clad in a scruffy suit that certainly hadn't been seen in a few years, was Viktor Vektor; doctor extraordinaire, former lecturer and now one of the best Ripperdocs in NightCity. “Viktor! You’re here! How are you?” Sam, exclaimed pulling the man into a hug.

“You didn’t think I’d pass on this chance to teach you something new. Now where is your erstwhile Output.”

“Mainline, now, Professor.”

Viktor chuckled as he strode into the operating theatre. Sam turned away as Viktor’s cheerful voice called out “My congratulations to the pair of you. Now, Mr. Bael, I believe I am to be assisting…oh my good sir; now this is a most sorry mess that you’ve found yourself in. Lower Leg Cybernetic has ruptured your knee, base cause infection of the bone…Doctor Viktor Vektor, now I’ll be operating with my former pupil Mr. Bael…is that okay now?”

Sam moved away. Viktor, Vik, taught them that flattery and an open conversation was the best way to get the clients to do what you wanted. Now with two people in the operating room, the rest of the day passed quickly. David had been returned, with a small sum donated to the 6th Street. Sam and Ajuka didn’t like the prospect or the idea of having to pay for ‘Protection’, but had to put up with the necessity. “Go home, rest, come back this evening…DON’T EAT.”

That evening David returned. He looked awful “I’m back.” Ajuka stuck his head out the door and nodded. David saw that the man was wearing a leather apron.

“Sorry about the appearance, this is going to be a messy procedure. Please come through.” David followed to find Sam and another doctor, in the room.

“Mil-spec isn’t just a surgery, you two, it’s a life-changing or life crippling operation. Now the initial outline of the surgery is good…if you were operating on one of its budget predecessors when it was necessary to install neural operating stimuli implants. What you need to do is cut out the stages and do it in one job. Speaking of, have you managed to break the encryption yet?"

"Almost,q, Viktor, Gloria Martinez was a woman with a big brain and a bigger heart. Talented EMT, very talented…but why…”

David coughed “She was sending me to a ‘Saka School. I didn’t want to go because it was running her ragged but she was adamant that I got a decent education.”

Ajuka chuckled “Then there was the fact that you’re Blue Jockey and they’re all Corpse Brats. I get it, I was the exact same but that died down after I nearly got myself expelled, they left me alone after that. I told them I wasn’t interested in being a Corpse but rather more invested in Medical. Now, here, I am…running my own clinic. It’s your life, David, your mom wanted the best for you maybe you and her didn’t discuss what you wanted. Anyway, you sure you want to do this? This is the last chance to back out.”

David shook his head “I want this.”

Viktor nodded “Right then, remove your shirt and get comfortable.” David did so only to find himself being rolled onto his back. He felt a needle stick into his arm.

“Right, you’ve just had a sharp scratch and a prick. Now, night, night, when you wake up you’ll have your brand new chrome chipped to you.” David’s world went dark.

Ajuka, Sam and Viktor got to work, they quickly peeled back the skin, revealing the spine “Now, Sam…attach the Sandevistan and for everyone’s sake be careful.” Sam nodded and placed the cyberware onto the spine.

Viktor observed the dozens of tri-pronged claws in the centre of the Sandy pierce and clasp the spine, before locking into the nervous system as a whole. “Erm, you two…are you checking bio-scans and the adaptability relay?” The screens were revealing that Sandevistan was almost binding and adapting naturally to the new subject almost “Fucking hell, Vik, there’s like next to no incompatibility between the two…It’s like it was made to fit him.”

“Does that mean, immunosuppressants?”

“I wouldn’t because I don’t understand exactly understand what in the Unholy NightCity is going on. The last thing we, as surgeons, doctors and other healthcare practitioners should do is add variables to an unknown situation.”

Eventually, Sam stood back and they watched as the Sandevistan…sort of melted and rearrange itself around the spine. The mini-spikes that ran down the middle slid smoothly into the thin spaces between the invertebrate bones connecting with the nerve and the clasps tapped into the sides, effectively strengthening the spinal cord. “Viktor…what would happen, theoretically if this was installed WITHOUT a spine or anaesthetic?”

“You’d be shaving years off your ability to operate as a cognisant human beings that’s for certain. Ajuka was correct about cyberware tolerance and cyberpsychosis correlation and causality, but, he’s failed to remember humanity's greed and desire; especially if those humans happen to be mercs, people with skills or those already on the edge…Just so you know, as someone who was around for Silverhand and Samurai and the Time of the Red; I know some of the extents that people will go to be remembered. I disagree about giving this piece of tech to a seventeen-year-old orphan, but knowing that Bael has one and having confidence in his own organics he’ll keep him on the right track.”

“Now comes, the part that Ajuka hates, the waiting.” Viktor stated grinning.

Ajuka groaned “I’m out, David, doesn’t need three ugly rippers waiting for him to wake up.”

“I take offence to that Mister!”

“Two ugly rippers and a closet sadist then…”

(Outside Lizzie’s)
Sat on a pile of old crates, cushioned by garbage, a young man idly fretted on his guitar. Surrounding him were various people from most walks of life. Like many a busker in front of him was a hat filled with eddies.

As he finished, he finished with Silverhand style flourish. Was it perfect? No, no-one could replace the iconic Johnny Silverhand, but it was a damn good attempt. “Hey Choom.” He looked up and a smile crossed his face.

“Choom, surprised you ain’t dead yet.”

“Same here with you, Sammy. How’s things?” Ajuka asked curiously. Sammy Shogun, Samuel Dallas, had crossed paths with Ajuka before and the duo had struck up an interesting friendship.

“You heard the word on the street, Juka-boy?”

“Depends on the word, if the bird is the word; then yeah…Probably not.”

Sam smirked “Mind taking the amp? Just finished.”

“Not before you and I get some Brosephs and chat. I’ve been locked up in surgeries for the better part of fourteen hours.”

Sam winced “If it’s on you…”

Ajuka gave him a raised eyebrow “And a successful busker like you, can’t afford one round?

“I can afford one…fuck, Ajuka, I’m in trouble. I’m in some serious trouble choom.”

“Sam…talk to me.”

Sam took a breath, a sharp rattling one “Got turfed out. Been living out of my car for the past three months. Plus, ever since that…accident with the 6thers.”

Ajuka snorted “You’ve been a fair few of them. If I remember rightly, you used to go to Arthur Hand, or Arthur Footlong, that jank ass ripper who prefers XBDs and no pants.”

Sam shuddered “Not my brightest moments, but he does the job.”

“And he’s a complete dorpher…” Sam shuddered, by now they’d found themselves at a table near the door and had just started drinking their ales. Ajuka chuckled “And to think he was once a very good doctor. Anyway, Sam, I’ll help you out…like always but it’s not two bachelors in my apartment anymore.”

“Oh, you and Sam…isn’t she like your boss?”

“Was…we quit Trauma and now we’ve got our own med-center.”

Sam chuckled “Part of me moving in…I go to you guys for my check-ups and injuries.”

“You got it. Anyway, have you heard from Green recently?”

Ajuka paused, Malcolm Green…a Rockerboy Media if he ever knew one; a man paranoid enough that he was at any moment in time, ready to perform a Morgan Blackhand. Disappear off the face of the planet and make everyone think he might be alive or dead.

(Trauma Clinic)
David groaned as he slowly woke up. His mouth tasted like cotton had been shoved into it, he felt as weak as a newborn and as coordinated as one. "Well, the sleeper awakens…pity, I had two hundred eddies on you being our longer. I'm Viktor Vektor. How are you feeling?”

David groaned as he tried to move his hand, only to find he slapped himself in the face. “Seems Anaesthetic works very well on you; anyway, the surgery was a success."

David could only groan "How'd I…"

"You don't…not until my Man comes back."

(Dorio and Maine)
"You, thick headed chrome domed moron…how and why I decided to be your input, I have no idea. Stop obsessing over that piece of tech, seriously…I…" Dorio growled.

Maine nodded "Are you suggesting that I roll over and accept that Gloria stitched me over?"

"I want you to consider that something has happened to Gloria and she's had to improvise; it wouldn’t have been the first time."

Maine sighed "Have we found anything?"

Dorio shook her head "No…give her until tomorrow to check in. Then we pull the 'concerned family friend' card and get your precious Sandy."

Maine could only nod. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, his mind wandered, the abandoned airfield appeared almost like a friend. He spied a much younger, less chromed him running up and down the field.

He saw himself again, this time being dragged from his house. His mother screaming, sister crying and his father…trying not to cry as he stated where his own legs had been. Maine's father had served in the 3rd corporate war, in fact a Maine had been serving in the Military since the nineteen-thirties.

Maine's memory changed again, this time him loaded up on bionics sitting with a much younger Dorio and a woman with red hair and brown eyes…Gloria, Dorio and Gloria…two people whom kept him from regressing to his darker days.

Meanwhile Dorio gulped, Maine had always been teetering on the edge but with his recent upgrades. “Maine, I need to make a call. I’ll be outside.”

Maine grunted, his mind elsewhere.

“Bael Trauma Centre, Viktor Vector, speaking.”
“Name’s Dorio…and…I need some help.” The boredness was gone.
“What’s the problem? Is it physical abuse? Do you have Trauma Coverage?”
Dorio paused “No…we don’t have Trauma Coverage, look my…Output…he’s a bit of a chrome junkie currently it looks like he’s got early onset of Alzh…”
To her surprise Viktor cut her off “Flick me your detes, on my way…first of all…is or was he looking for another implant?”
“Er…yeah…he was…I’m not…comfortable talking about this on open coms.”
Viktor nodded “We’ll have this discussion in person. Dr. Vector out.”

“You called the Trauma Team…” Maine rumbled, eyes flashing with poorly constrained madness.

“No, gonk brain…I called that new Trauma Clinic, we met them remember…the Ex-Trauma Team Couple…”

“I remember. One told me to lay off the chrome, I’m not like the others; I’m built differently.” Maine protested.

Dorio fixxed him with a stare “A Doctor is on his way here…the three of us are going to listen to him. Do you have a problem with that?”

Maine quailed but nodded before reluctantly sending his address to the newly added Doctor.

(Viktor)
Viktor grinned, he couldn’t believe his luck, so far his newest client didn’t live that far from where he was temporarily working…in fact, they were equidistant from the Trauma Centre and his own Clinic. “Sorry, Samantha, I’m poaching these two gonks. You can have David, but these two are mine.”

He arrived and made his way through the courtyard, attracting lots of stares due to his evident lack of chrome. He entered the rickety elevator and headed up; the apartment was tucked away in the corner. He approached and gently wrapped on the door. “Who is it?”

“The Candyman.”

The door unlocked revealing a well built woman with blatant modifications to her arms and legs “Dorio, right? I’m Vik. Are you going to let me in or am I going to have to look like a desperate XBD Pusher on your doorstep?”

Dorio chuckled “We weren’t expecting you for an hour or so…Please get in.”

Vik entered and he paled when he saw the state of the person he was going to be meeting “Sir, you’re going to get your gigantor frame comfy and you’re going to shut up, before I have a breakdown working out just how you’ve only just reached your condition.”

“Only just reached my condition, Doc? I feel fine?”

“It’s the end of your world as you know it, of course you do, now shut up and let’s see if I can give you a bit of an extra leese on life…”

“And then doc?” Dorio asked.

“I call my Trauma Team to traumatise your Ripper…he’s a disgrace to the profession.”

(Ajuka and Sam)
The duo stumbled out of Lizzie’s “Thanks man, for bailing me out.”

“No worries. Just…keep the music down throughout the evening.”

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Summary:

Life carries on and paths begin to cross

Notes:

Starring
Edgerunners!
Ajuka Bael- Med Tech
Samantha Kushnyada- Med Tech
Vikor Vektor- Himself
Various Arasaka brats

III
Dorio let out a sigh of relief as Maine slumbered. Yes, slumbered, not twitched and turned into PTSD-wracked dreams or dreams caused by the onset of Cyberpsychosis. “Dr Vektor…”

“Please Dorio, call me, Vik, please. I’d be classed as a Doctor if I was working at a Concrete Hospital or at the Trauma Center. I’m a Ripperdoc, one of the best, if I can be so…egotistical.”

Dorio chuckled and handed him a Broseph “Well then ‘Best Ripper’, how come you’re working in a Trauma Center sponsored by Trauma Team.”

“Because the owners and runners of the place happened to be my students…two of my greatest, they…understood and understand the subliminal lessons I was trying to teach. Of course, they’re young, dumb and all too Johnny Silverhand to realise that to bring down an established corporation like Trauma Team or ‘Saka isn’t just a tactical nuke to a physical building.”

Dorio’s eyes widened “Johnny planted a TAC NUKE…”

Vik chuckled “Yup. He, Rogue, Shaitan and Spider-Murphy are in one team. Bartemoss and Uncle M in the other…I was already practising when that happened.”

Dorio looked at the man, her eyes widening even more than she thought possible. She and Maine had been barely out of their teens, early twenties at best; Maine had just been discharged. “What did you do to him? Maine, I mean.”

“Put him under anaesthesia, then tuned up his chrome. His results are here, the fact that he’s supporting so much from various suppliers…and all of it not necessarily in the best condition when he got it…he’s definitely built differently.”

“He was always saying that he was ‘built differently’.”

 

“Built differently is another term for built stupid. Your Output is a Category A idiot. With the tuneup and him listening to my instructions, he shouldn’t need immunoblockers; but it is imperative that he listens to me.”

“And if he doesn’t”

Viktor chuckled darkly “I’ll set Samantha on him…that girl is the Lady of a Monkey Wrench and CLMG. If he lays a finger on her, well…the Medical Wagons won’t be needed.”

Dorio chuckled “They that good?”

“She’s better than him. He’s built his existence around her.”

Dorio paused “Damn…how much do we owe you?”

Viktor paused “On the house, but…you and your Output come to me and me alone…And that includes any sort of Chrome that you might want.”

Dorio paused “Speaking of chrome, we’ve got 8k in eddies for any sort of information to do with the following: Gloria Martinez, Mil-Spec Sandevistan.”

Viktor paused “Anything specific?”

“Preferably the exact coordinates to the sandevistan and Gloria Martinez.” She thought “Whatever, you can dig up.”

“Sorry punk, a guy’s gotta make a living. Besides it's not like Ajuka and Sam are going to be doing something like this.” “Gloria Martinez, a former EMT…she got killed for being in the middle of two gangs carrying out a hit on Trauma Team covered Client…co-incidentally the same shift that caused Ajuka and Sam to quit their jobs.”

“Three days…right? The Trauma Center opened three days ago! At the same time, those two, appeared in Afterlife.”

Viktor paused “I wouldn’t know about them going to Afterlife, but, that’s possible. Anyway, Gloria Martinez has a son, David; attending the Arasaka School.”

Dorio nodded “That’d explain why she was strapped…oh…no…oh no. The Kid…how old is he?”

“Seventeen…Eighteen…Oh fook, the perfect age.”

Dorio looked like she wanted to cry and laugh at the exact same time “I’m betting David, doesn’t know about us, got himself chipped with the Sandevistan when he found it in Gloria’s jacket. He didn’t know it wasn’t for him and it was for Maine.”

Viktor looked her dead in the eye “If your Output even attached that Sandy to himself, Cyberpsychosis within 18.”

Dorio’s eyes narrowed “18? Hours? Days? Weeks? Months?”

“Minutes. Maybe even seconds. Your Output was already treading the edge and slipping with his Gorilla Arms, Dermal Implants, Cyberaudio and Optics and let’s not forget those Legs of his with that nova Arm Cannon…his cross-company compatibility is by far the worst I’ve ever seen. But, he has taste, incredible taste in chrome. Anyway, I’ll zip you my detes for when you come to me for checkups, rewirings and general health.” With that Viktor nodded and slipped out of the apartment, Dorio took the moment to let the tears of joy roll down her cheeks. “Fuck the Sandevistan…if keeping it from Maine keeps him with me, I’ll do it.” With that Dorio sat in the mountainous chair that she’d made for Maine in their room as she sat watching his chest rise and fall.

She wasn’t sure how long it had been, might have been an hour or two, but in reality, it was closer to half an hour, before Maine groaned. “Durio? You there?”

“I’m here, gonk. I’m here. Easy, stay still…you’re going to be sluggish. Orion Cassius Maine! STAY PUT. I’m getting you a drink and then you are going to take your medication, and I am going to talk and you will listen…understood?”

“Undershtood.”

Dorio headed back into the kitchen, grabbing two cans of stilled water from the fridge. Tacked to the fridge was a note from Viktor.

‘D, the chrome jock needs rest. That does not mean he can’t get up to go to the loo or walk about the house but nowhere else. In the brown bag are twenty of my inhalers. Each inhaler has six charges, only three per day…once in the morning and the others between 4-6 hours between them. You’re also going to find a course of immunoblockers, it’s a week-long course of 21 Immunoblockers, 3 a day; before eating each time and at 5-6 hours between them. Come to my clinic after he’s completed his immuno-course for a checkup. Regards, Vik.’ Dorio grinned and she grabbed one of the inhalers before looking at the time on the microwave. It read 20:30.

She returned to find Maine sitting firmly against the bedhead. “Water? Really…”

“I’m not about to risk you. Now have the drink and take a deep breath of this.” Maine looked at her oddly but complied, Dorio and Gloria were two of the best people in his life and he wasn’t about to lose them.

Maine grudgingly opened the water, gulped half, inhaled and then took a deep breath “How are you feeling?”

“Out of it. Chrome doesn’t feel too bad.”

Dorio nodded “Good, good. Just so you know, Viktor has informed us of any further implants and health checks we’re going to him.”

“Alright. When can we…”

“Maine, you had best drop any ideas about chippin that Sandy to you…Viktor all but told me, you’re on the edge and verging on falling. If you chip that piece of chrome, you’ll have it for all 18 seconds before you become a Cyberpsycho. Before you even say I’m built differently, Viktor agrees and has stated that your tolerance for overall Chrome is through the roof; considering we don’t even know where most of your chrome came from aside from Gloria…She’s called TO Scenes, and she kleps it, but that doesn’t mean she knows how many other people have worn it. Are you following me? Chrome Dome.” Maine nodded.

“Viktor says I’m built differently. Don’t chip the Sandy, really don’t chip the Sandy…Cyberpsychosis is a no-go. Again Viktor says ‘I’m built differently, I don’t know my Chrome history. Oh, and my tolerance for chrome is through the roof. Something about we see only him?”

Dorio nodded “Correct, he’s told me that we’re better off in his hands than Arthur…speaking of Viktor wanted his detes.”

Maine nodded “So what are we going to do about Sandy? If only for Gloria’s…sake.”

Dorio chuckled “I know why she was meeting us with all that chrome now.” Maine raised his head “She’s got a kid, about seventeen…roughly the same time you and her split up…he’s in the ‘Saka Academy.”

Maine chuckled “I completely get it. Gloria getting further into bed with us to help her son…she does have a heart of gold.”

“She did Orion, did, have a heart of gold. Gloria got zeroed just by being in the way of a gang and their target. Only David survived, he found…”

Maine let out a booming chuckle “That’s ironic. David Martinez, looking to save his mom, finds the Sandevistan and chips it to himself. Unknown that I’m looking for it. Well…let the boy have it, have we got her address yet? Have we burned the ‘concerned family member’ card yet?”

“No and no. Besides, what are we going to tell Pilar, Rebecca and Lucy?”

“We’ll let Lucy and Rebecca know not to alert us that they’ve found the sandevistan, I’m not interested in it. I am however more interested in meeting Gloria’s kid.”

“And potentially your son.”

Maine nodded “If he is…even if he’s not, he’s still Gloria’s kid.”

Dorio could nod at that “So you’re leaving Pilar out to dry…”

“I might ignore what he does off the clock, but on the clock…I’ve been waiting for him to give himself enough rope. Plus with his advances on Lucy…yeah she’s told me…No Dorio, Lucy’s like a niece or little sister to me…Becca, needs, needs all the laughs she can get at Pilar’s expense, how they’re related and so utterly different is beyond me.”

Dorio nodded the relationship those two had was very much like a family-style relationship. “Fair enough. I’ll make the call.”

(Ajuka and Sam)
It was only 21:00, and, the pair were both steaming drunk. Far too drunk to even contemplate driving. It turned out Sam’s car was on the other side of the street, accompanied by two Mox; the drunken rockerboy staggered over, popped the boot of his car and pulled out his meagre possessions. Two black bin-liners and a rucksack. “It stinks.”

“Because I’ve been living in it…Yeah, I know.”

“It’s going to cost you 4k because we’re going to have to get it cleaned…living toxic waste.”

The pair managed to flag a cab and after one disaster with a pothole, Ajuka had to open the door and fall on fours, before climbing back in. Fifteen minutes and 40eddies later, the duo staggered into Sam’s apartment. Which was coincidentally two floors down from Ajuka’s own apartment.

Sam was sat in an armchair, snoozing David on the sofa, the radio was playing a Samurai track on low. In her hand was a book and on the table next to her was a bottle of broseph “I should have known…Ajuka, when are you going to stop bringing Sam around like this?”

Ajuka’s eyes narrowed “This time it was important, Sam, look, Sammy, go get yourself set down in the spare room; I’ll clean up.”

Sammy nodded and swaying slightly, headed towards the spare room. Ajuka turned to his Input and nodded his head to the kitchen. “What happened this time?”

“Lost his apartment, Sam. Been living out of his car for the last three months, busking to get by.” Sam paled.

“And you brought him here?” She hissed.

“I WAS going to put him in my place, but, I’m not about to risk him hendrixing on his own. Besides, you know he’s a solid worker.”

Sam grabbed Ajuka and held him tight “Do you owe him anything?”

“Shortly before you and I were serious, like eight months before and in the middle of down spiral at what happened with my family vanishing…Shogun found me slumped in an alleyway absolutely delirious from alcohol poisoning. Any other would have left me to die and then klepped my cybernetics. Shogun dragged me back to his place…called the Company and looked after me until I was sober enough to go back to work. He nearly lost his job because of that…It also helps that he and I used to run together.”

Sam shook her head “Of all your friends from back when you were younger, Shogun…is the best of them. What did your parents think of your motley crew?”

“Bad influences, they were right. MaxTac took most of ‘em in one evening, Shogun and I had split earlier from them. Please love for me."

Sam sighed and let out a breath “He can stay with us, for as long as necessary, but there are conditions.”

Ajuka nodded “We can discuss these in the morning. How’s David?”

“Sleeping like a baby. He’s got a set of medication that he’ll start when he wakes up. You’re explaining it to him as you’ve been on this course of medication. He woke up, staggered to the loo, staggered back and has been sleeping ever since.”

Ajuka chuckled. “The easy bit is done; speaking of…I've had my Sandevistan for the better part of a decade…yeah not much older than David when I got mine installed…I think…the rumours of Ganics and Sandy’s are real and they’re catching up to me.”

Sam choked “What…do you mean?”

The Sandevistan puts a huge fucking strain on the muscles of the body and I’m talking instead of microtears from exercise more like ripping every single muscle apart in noticeable ways. Haven’t you noticed I’m nearly always bed bound for at least two days after using it!”

“I’d seen…What are you going to do?”

“See, Vik and get his advice on chroming…Synth Muscles most likely something to make me more durable when using it.”

“Were you going to tell…”

“I’m not stupid. What I’ve learnt about being a Sandevistan shall be imparted onto David Martinez.”

Sam nodded curtly “Now let’s go to bed.”

(Next Day)
David woke to find himself on a sofa, with the sound of chatter in the kitchen. “So let me understand. Sam, I’m to keep the music down or off from midnight until 6am; all my chrome is to be done by the pair of you or Viktor; similarly, any requisitions to be talked through and during the day you want me to help in the clinic as a runner…You know what my skills are.”

“A brilliant musician, who relies too much on the word of Samurai. You are extremely talented and I don’t see why you can’t create your own material, too take potshots at the corpses.”

"New material! Do you realise how much effort that is!"

"You're a Rocker…you can observe the influence of the Corpse's constant squeeze on the Lower Classes and everyone who they deem 'disposable'. The evidence and the material is around you Shogun, all you need to do is look."

David's eyes widened, Sam Shogun was here! This was fucking nova! He rolled, and for a moment, he was stationary in the air before gravity took hold and he crashed onto the floor. "The sleeper awakens…again. David, I want you to meet…"

"Sammy Shogun…I've heard your covers of Samurai…right?" Shogun blushed "Nowhere near as good as Samurai themselves but they did pave the way."

Ajuka turned to David "Mate, you're gonna want to take a huff on this." This was what appeared to be an inhaler, confused, Ajuka obliged before almost coughing his lungs up.

"Take another puff of that in five hours or so, before eating. And another again five hours later. Keep to that routine. You've got a beast of chrome on your back, best to keep it fed." David nodded.

"Each inhaler has how many charges? Take them three times a day before eating?"

Ajuka nodded before handing out six cardboard boxes "These are pre and post-blockers; you take one before using your Sandy and it should work without too many side effects…only use it, your Sandy twice a day, at maximum until you complete the medication course.”

David eyed the older man, who was giving him a cold-dead stare “Why…”

“Because I know very well what it’s like to be grafted to possibly the Edgerunners DREAM piece of chrome…and I am very much well aware of the impact it has on a ‘ganic body…I won’t tell you the intricacies because that’s way beyond high school education but in essence…you know when you exercise, the next morning, you’re hurting all over.”

David nodded “Yeah, you cause microtears in your muscles which heal and make them stronger.”

“Imagine that but turn it up to eleven thousand. Before I got acclimated with the damn thing, and even after, I was bedbound for the better part of two days. I still am and you know what my job was.”

“Trauma Team.”

Ajuka nodded “Hell, even now in my early 30’s, I’m still mostly ganic…I’m contemplating a synth-build…with a reinforced nervous and skeletal system…because the strain is beyond belief.”

David gulped “Why did you even…”

Shogun chuckled “Ajuka Ezekiel Bael is a bleeding heart and better the Ripper you know than the one you don’t.”

David nodded “So I’m free to go? Not that your couch isn’t comfy but with…”

Sam chuckled “You don’t live far from us…Listen, we weren’t close chooms of your mother, but TT and EMTs have a close-knit social circle. Listen until you get back on your feet and you know what you want to do, we’ll cover your rent and give you work.”

David paled “I couldn’t…”

Shogun grinned “I was going to be only wanting to stay for a few weeks…but…I need an apartment, you’re still reeling from tragedy and it’d certainly ease these two if they knew where I was.”

David had to pause “In the…four days…since my mother died, I have found myself a decent paying job, got myself chipped with a klept sandevistan of a military spec that no one actually has any idea of its specs; destined for someone else…probably for free, found myself a team of Rippers WILLING to give me any chrome I could want, training in said piece of chrome and I have a new lodger in needing of a place to stay to help me keep my head on straight.”

Ajuka chuckles “There are worse summarisations.”

“What could happen next? Does my unknown father reappear in my life? And I find someone willing or at least accepting me to become their Input…”

Sam chuckled “Probably, or, you end up with a harem or maybe two inputs…Now I believe you’ve got school to attend.”

(Arasaka Academy)
David didn’t get changed into his Uniform. “I’m sorry mom, but, Corp-life isn’t my life…I need my own dream.” As he rode the train, in a daze, he easily found his way off the station.

As he passed by another station. He saw her. White and rainbowed hair, in a black, sleeve- and thighless netrunner jumpsuit with red accents over a pair of white shorts and high grey stockings, and black knee-high boots.

David looked over his shoulder and standing on the opposite balcony were Tanaka Katsuo and his friends. David paused…did he go for the girl or did he choose petty revenge.

Lucy stiffened, someone was watching her. “Hey choom, you there?” Called Becca.

“I think someone’s made me…I’m half tempted to see…” She replied a grin on her face, something her friend wouldn’t be observing just yet.

“Oooh look at you, out on a job to find something and scoring a side piece.”

Lucy flushed red before cutting the call. She turned her head, and her eyes widened…She recognised the coat; it was the coat that Maine’s supplier wore! She turned and followed at a distance, easily hacking into the local subnet she was able to eavesdrop.

“Little piece of advice, Martinez. Learn to take a hint.” Lucy winced, thoroughbred corpo brat trying to talk tough.

“About?” The insolence in the tone made Lucy giggle. Oh she was liking EMT-Jacket, more and more.

“Our class. You’re not welcome. Got it?”

“Oh…that. You’ve made that evidently clear from the moment I arrived.”

“You might think I give you a hard time because you’re poor. Simply not true, I’m actually quite charitable. With everything your mother…”

Lucy revealed herself, but, it was unneeded. Everything that happened next occurred on a much swifter scale than she anticipated or even expected. David Martinez, vanished. Lucy watched with disinterest as the prep boy appeared to perform well choreographed martial arts techniques in thin air. David reappeared delivering a punch to the side of the teens face before kicking him square between the legs.

I cLucy tied and knocked out the other two students before klepping their wallet shards. She drew her pistol, a Unity “Are you David Martinez?”

“I am.”

Lucy smiled "You have a choice…be a Corpse or a body for Arasaka, or, Live fast and potentially die young?"

David nodded "Thanks for the assist."

"You had them…you merely gave me an opportunity. Besides…” She closed the distance between the pair of them “You interest me…a lot.”

The duo quickly left the Academy Grounds before jumping onto a trainline headed away. “Now what does a guy from the wrong side of the tracks doing here?"

"That is a story." David replied. As they jumped onto the train, the Sandy began to transmit a signal.

(Shogun and Ajuka)
"Ajuka, Sandy’s deviating from the agreed course…tracking now."

Ajuka nodded, today was going to be a slow day. He pulled off his inside uniform before replacing it with his Trauma Vest "So…you're making your move today."

(Maine et Al. Sans Lucy)
"It seems Lucy's come through for us." Maine rumbled.

Pilar chuckled "Some punks gone regret klepping that Sandy." Maine and Dorio managed to keep their faces straight as Pilar went nuts, describing how he was going to peel the Sandevistan from the kleppers back.

“My gonkass brother, is, he in danger? From the klepper?” Rebecca asked nervously.

“Not from him…Pilar could take him blindfolded…from Moondancer, certainly.”

Notes:

Next chapter eta week-fortnight

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Summary:

Paths collide even more

Notes:

Character Roster time
Edgerunners!
Ajuka Bael
Sam Kushnyada
V- Yes that V, Corpo path
Malcolm Green- Finally seen Media/Rocker
Edward "Blackbeard" Teach- Trauma Team Surgeon and Medic
Arthur Bones "Bones"- Trauma Team Pharmacist
Michael "Freeze" Frieze- Trauma Team Cryo-op
David Barnes- 6th Street gangoon

“Are you absolutely certain, that’s what you overheard,” Green growled at his colleague. His colleague was clad in a Neomilitarism Entropic outfit of black combats, reinforced black trainers that could be passed off as shoes with a white shirt with the ‘Saka emblem on the pocket, finished with a black zip-up jacket with a red lining.

“I’m Counter-Intel…Green…I don’t trust all of my information, but when all of Counter-Intelligence is whizzing around with the similar message, then yes, what I overheard can be taken as a fact…Green, as much as ‘Saka hates your guts and would like to see you flat-lined for your stance as Anti-Corporation, the fact you find dirt on all Corporations endears you to us. Fucking hell, when I read that expose you found about Hanako-sama and Smasher on her eighteenth birthday…”

Green chuckled “I wondered what the response would be…outside of a Suited ‘Saka Shooting Squad, V?”

V chuckled “That Quad-S Group…they were sent on that mission because we had no…official way to get rid of them due to their incompetencies, not without at least calling down a Rule 731.” V chuckled at her acquaintance's full shudder.

“Rule 731 doesn’t give a shit about…”

V nodded “It’s pointed at a department then it's every gonk and dorpher for themselves. But yeah, it’s true, the Militech “Falcon” Mk. 5; is in the possession of a ‘Saka Academy Dropout by the name David Martinez.”

Green’s eyes widened, he’d gotten a pretty eddy for that particular massacre; and even more to hide the fact that an EMT had klepped it and he’d caught her on camera. “Just how many morons are there running around with Sandevistans…”

“On or off the record?”

“Off…considering what you’ve told me on the record is enough to make things a little more interesting…maybe kickoff another gang-war potentially Tygers and 6th Streeters with the possibility of what’s left of the Valentino’s joining in.”

“Green, the Valentinos haven’t reduced anymore; never have been. They just got smarter about how they operate. On the Record. Off the Record we’ve got the intelligence to suggest that a QianT Sandevistan was in the service of someone from the Trauma Team; Counter-Intel isn’t pushing that one too harshly.”

Green grinned “V, let’s go get a drink…” V shook her head, “Yes, Malcolm Green…is a major, major asshole, but, he’s good company.” She dismissed the call from her supervisor, her supervisor might have dirt on her; it might have her dismissed and her ‘Saka implants shut down, but she had the man’s very existence on the line. Although his Thermal Lance Mantis Blades looked VERY tempting. It wouldn’t be THAT hard to organise a hit on him.

However, as Green got the door for her she received a call “Go on.”

“How can I help, Tanaka-sama?”
“I have a job for you.”
“I’m listening.”
“You are going to track down the Sandevistan that has recently gone missing. However, in order for you to do so…you must be completely untraceable and unable to be linked back to Arasaka. Consider this your termination notice.”

There was white hot pain, V screamed in pain before she hit the floor and knew no more. The last thing she was Green rushing towards her.

(David and Lucy)
The duo were sequestered on an NCART “You’re a picksocket…Not going to lie, nova, but seriously?”

“Are you going to judge me as a picksocket if I only target ‘Saka?” Came a husky whispered reply.

“No…just didn’t take you for one.”

Lucy giggled, she draped her arm around David, before the teen realised what was occurring, and slammed him into the wall. Her eyes glowed red as she effortlessly carved through his paltry security defences. “An intelligent bad boy, has a ‘Saka Academy ID; that’d explain why Maine was paying Gloria so many eddies…And he DOES have the Sandevistan that Maine was after.” She then klept his wallet, only to find David plucking out of the air and back into his neck.

“I’m broke…You’re not going to want mine.” David stated, catching Lucy off guard with his natural reflexes.

Lucy smiled impishly, “Damn…he’s cute. Hopefully, Maine won’t fuck him up or over too much…Hang on, he’s Gloria’s kid and potentially his kid…Maine wouldn’t harm a kid deliberately…but David IS running around with the Sandevistan that Maine bought. BOUGHT from GLORIA. Calm down, calm down…you can stall Maine, have your fun before calling.” David smiled, he felt his heart speed up. “Damn…calm down. You can only use the Sandy twice a day until you finish the medication course…Okay, she’s cute…” “Hey David, David…”

“...vid? David.” David snapped back to reality.

“All the lights were on, but no one was responding.”

“Lost in the gaze of a beautiful woman…not a crime is it?”

Lucy blushed “No, but it can be hazardous when they have a monofilament wire and know how to use it.” With a grin she unfurled her monowire and playfully wrapped it around David, before pecking him on the cheek “Now…I spy, a full carriage of ‘Saka suits just desiring to be picked.”

David nodded and as the cart stopped, he moved to the other end of the carriage. After a bit of communication to ensure that their communications were secure and they could hear one another, they got to work.

David was definitely not the fastest of people around outside of when he would use the Sandevistan, was rather quick off his feet. He also had a good eye for trajectory and was able nonchalantly to pluck the high-flying chips from the air. Lucy stared at him with a slightly open mouth “I…was…expecting you to use the Sandevistan.”

“My Ripper told me ‘only use it twice a day maximum’, right now.”

“I didn’t take you for a person to listen to the Doc.”

David didn’t break eye contact “When said Doc has a Sandy, himself, and his Output all but promised that if I fucked up she’d introduce me to her monkey wrench…she was the one who installed it, that wrench as long as my arm and as thicker than my own chest and had a predominately red colouring which didn’t look like paint…I listened.”

Lucy giggled “So, not only are you a Santiago Boy; ‘Saka prep dropout; a picksocket, you have a thing for dangerous women.”

“Beautiful, dangerous women…also…I…” David felt himself blushing causing Lucy to giggle even more. “Oh, David, Rebecca’s going to eat you alive.”

“Come on drop-out. We’ve got picksocketing to do.”

“What’s the split?”

“80/20.”

“You’ve gotta be pulling my chrome! 80/20, bull, 60/40.”

“70/30…you wouldn’t believe the hassle to fence them.”

“I’ll take what I can get. 70/30 it is.”

And what a score they made, David had to use the Sandevistan once. Lucy’s eyes widened at not just how quickly, he’d used it, but rather his natural aptitude towards it. “Maine wouldn’t have this kind of affinity. No, I’m not handing him over to Maine either.”

“No after-effects?”

“Nothing,” David replied with a cocky grin. “I guess, I’m built differently.”

Lucy stiffened, she’d heard that phrase so many times before “If you mean built differently means built like a gonk then yes. Yes, you are. An exceptional gonk at what eighteen?”

“Seventeen.”

“Point made, at seventeen, your first piece of chrome is a Sandevistan.”

“It wasn’t…”

Lucy nodded, before lighting a cigarette “Come on…I’ve got one more stop.”

(Ajuka and Shogun)
“Remind me, why, I let you drive!” Yelped Sam as Ajuka drifted another corner.

“Because I’m Blue-Light trained and drive like a pro and you drive slower than a desperate Mox.”

“Fuck you.”

“Sam does regularly. Sides, what’s David’s apartment like? I don’t need to hire fumigation?”

“Cleaner than you’d expect for a recently orphaned teen, on the cusp of spiralling…Ajuka, oh shit…” Ajuka nearly ploughed into the back of an 18-wheeler. “I really think your personal judgements are off! Supplying the kid with a piece of chrome that adults barely use! What were you thinking?”

“He was gonna get it chipped. Better someone reliable with a good rep with this sort of thing than going to some sleeze-bag who uses his table as a wank-bed…speaking of, once we’ve saved David from whatever shite he’s gotten himself into, fancy a klep job? Oh and my personal judgement is off? Look who's talking, remember when you rang Max-Tac on us…nearly flatlined all of us.”

“Of a wank-bed surgery using potential XBD pushing ripper? Fuck yeah…60/40 split. That…wasn’t my finest call.”

Ajuka snorted “Fuck no, with your aiming…20/80.”

“Remember whose car you’re hotwiring.”

“Didn’t hotwire…I got your keys first. With your permission.”

Shogun sighed “I was on the shitter wasn’t I.”

“Not going to confirm or deny. Besides, we still need to pay the Mox for their deep clean.”

“And you’re not offering to give them a…”

“Sam already does. She’d castrate me, without anaesthetic with a splintered wooden spoon.”

“When did she get so homicidal?”

“Always was. She hid it better than anyone knew. God, I love that woman.”

“Putting up with your fender face on the shift and choosing to wake up next to you? Yeah…I can see why.”

Ajuka ignored that jibe “She’s…everything to me…After everything that’s happened, you, her and Vik are the only constants I’ve still got. Anyway, where is that gonk?”

“Erm…just using your doo-da, the medical vehicle being stolen thing. Reports come in of a runaway gurney going down the highway. Driven by a woman with a nice ass and pastel hair…no, I’m not making this bullshit up, that is literally what it says.”

Ajuka looked like he really wanted to headbutt something “That story had better be worth it. Then his comm began to ring.

“Ajuka speaking, who is dying? It’s not my fault.”
“Jukey boy! It’s me.”
“Mario?”
“Fuck you, joke killer. It’s me, Michael…The Surgeon. Anyway Edward, some new guy called Arthur Bones and I, well…”
“You’ve either quit or lost your jobs and are looking for work.”
“Yes.”
“Contact Samantha…she’ll help. Currently, chasing a runaway medical gurney.”
“Driven by a woman with a fantastic ass and pastel hair? With her is a young man in a yellow EMT jacket…Yeah, we’ve heard and I’ve seen. Heading towards H8!”
Ajuka hung up, before pulling into a sharp reverse 180 and heading back towards Westbrook.

Shogun reached into the glove compartment and began prepping his heavy pistol, before checking Ajuka’s medical bag to find a Squad Assault Weapon and two pistols. “Erm, Ajuka…”

“Trauma benefits. Yes, that means we get Assault Weapons. We’ve even got some shotguns amongst other goodies…perfectly legal.”

(Samantha)
It was quiet, not a good thing but definitely not a bad thing. A Trauma delivery had arrived a little while ago and she’d temporarily closed up to sort out what had arrived. It was the standard pharmaceutical supplies, along with the ingredients to make some more…potent painkillers.

A few of the neighbours had dropped by, including a large gentleman by the name of Jackie Welles; he’d come by, face red and panting. It turned out his mother had come down with a serious infection and the eddies, Jackie had weren’t enough for most pharmaceuticals. Sam had taken the eddies and given him the chance to work as a distributor.

Just then there was a knock on the door. Sam opened it to find herself staring down the barrel of a well-used shotgun. “Stay chill, choom and no one’s going to get flatlined.” Stated the leader, Samantha analysed the group rushing her.

“Fucking Animals. Of course, the fucking Animals would be the ones to knock us over…hang on, they’re not…” The shotgun stock slammed into her solar plexus flooring her. Sam, groaned and spat blood on the floor; she received another boot to the head as eight thugs rushed in.

Unfortunately, what they were looking for happened to be ready-made painkillers, Lofexidine, Methadone, Oxycontin, Novacaine and various other medications. There was 48 boxes worth of the assorted medication.

Sam kept her head down to conceal a grin. When the Animals had rushed in, they’d immediately been caught on the four security cameras; whilst not the top-of-the-range corps issues which had infra-red, voice capture, facial recognition; tracking and linkage to the NCPD. The Clinic’s had voice capture, facial recognition and linkage to the Tactical Recovery department of the Trauma Team.

Tactical Recovery, Corpse Catchers, and Body Jacker Jackers were in essence the morticians of the Trauma Team, they worked relatively close to the Night City Medical Center. TR was also called in to find out when drugs were liberated from pharmacies. With Sam and Ajuka being Ex-Trauma Team, TR was willing to outsource their skillset to them, for a fee.

The Animals with their newly acquired drugs rushed out. With the Leader staying behind to mock Sam. Unfortunately, that was a serious mistake, Sam rolled to her feet; her heavy-duty pistol in her hand as she popped up next to the Animal. The gun was at the thug's head, and the thug’s shotgun was across her back and the thug barely had time to call for reinforcements as the trigger was pulled, the hammer cocked back and snapped forwards. For a tenth of a millisecond, there was silence before the pistol barked, decorating the interior of the Trauma Clinic.

Sam listened as the sounds of screams and gunfire began to echo inside. She smirked “Fucking gonks…Animals have no territory which is smart on their part; you really didn’t think a simple smash-and-grab on a trauma clinic wasn’t going to trigger a response.”

As for outside the clinic, the pack of Animals, which numbered eight strong, not including their leader ran into trouble. They’d thought that this would have been a simple job. Incapacitate the worker, get out with the supplies; and to an extent they were correct. They’d driven through the cordon of 6th Street and ‘Saka suits without hassle. This confused them, 6th Street disliked Corporations and Corporations disliked gangs; furthermore 6th Street really disliked Arasaka. It was common knowledge that 6th Street was formed by Veterans of the Fourth Corpo War which was OTEC and Militech vs CINO and Arasaka.

However, when the Animals had run out carrying freshly labelled Trauma Team products, their luck ran out.

David Barnes, a former captain in the Fourth Corpo War was keeping an eye on the Animal van that had pulled up three minutes ago. He had been keeping an eye on it but then again the Clinic treated everyone and anyone. He liked the law that they’d placed around the clinic, it was very presumptuous to state ‘no violence here’ in a city that was known for FISH and CHIPS or fighting in someone’s house and causing havoc in peoples streets; but 6th Street would abide. They were surprised that ‘Saka had placed people about, but, as long as the truce held, it’d be abided. “Let it not be said that 6th Street cannot hold to their word.”

At that moment the Arasaka on watch had pulled their weapons and trained them on the drug-laden Animals “Put the drugs on the ground and leave. This facility is under Araska protection.”

David pulled his Copperhead rifle and his squad moved to flank them “Animals! Drop the drugs, you’re outnumbered. 6th Street looks after its investments.”

“And if we choose not to?”

“Then there’ll be eight bodies outside the clinic.” There was the sound of a single gunshot from inside the clinic. Not a phrase was offered as the single gunshot was the only signal both sets of overwatch required.

Bullets were fired in quick, clean and precise bursts. Eight bodies dropped, riddled with holes and as Morgan Blackhand wrote ‘throw a chunk of lead through a man's body at near supersonic speeds. Plastic frames and caseless ammo are just icing on the cake…’ The thugs had no chance. The whole slaughter might have seemed to have taken an eternity but in reality, it was about 10 seconds. 10 seconds is all that it took from the first gunshot to the last. David nodded to the Arasaka who had initiated the challenge and he quickly began to bark orders.

As the Arasaka agents carried the boxes inside and began to assist Sam in reorganising her shook down clinic. The 6th Street had begun to expand the perimeter, no-one was going to get through without them clearing it, unless it was NCPD. The true origin of the 6th Street was to act as extensions of the NCPD until a few sects broke off to bring additional funds in. David stepped out into the path of an ambulance that was barrelling down the street towards them.

“Who are you? What’s your purpose here?”

“Edward Teach, occasionally known as Blackbeard, when I get my beard growing. Ex-Trauma Team, specialisation Trauma Medic and Surgeon. I’ve got with me a Pharmacist and a Cryosystem Operative. We’re here for Sam, Trauma Team Ripper and Zeek, Trauma Team Prodigy.”

David nodded, his eyes turned blue “Yes, boss. Right away, boss.” He nodded and let them through.

Sam let out a tense breath, when a NCPD with a hint of Irish accented voice rolled “Hey, gaff, why didn’t you say Friday Night Firefights happened on a Thursday?”

“Blackbeard, lovely to hear from you. Haven’t you checked the news? Friday Night Firefights happen here on any day ending in a ‘y’...Don’t tell me, you guys all quit or got fired?” She replied, exhaling through her nose.

Edward paused “Bones, Michael and I have…more time on our hands.”

“And Ajuka left it to me…that bastard. Where is he?”

Michael smirked “Chasing a runaway gurney down a highway, following a suspect with a nice ass and pastel-coloured hair.”

Sam sagged into a chair, a relief appearing in her voice “And he’s taken a Rockerboy with him…and…a…SAW Gun. Most likely to do with our most recent bad idea. Fine, Michael, Bones, Blackbeard…stash your shit, get presentable you start now.”

(Lucy and David)
After an attempted mugging, that had resulted in David and Lucy getting caught up in a Scav gang in an old ambulance; which then resulted in Lucy driving them down the highway, with David on an oxygen tank. The duo had ended up back at her apartment and had settled on her bed, both of them sharing a braindance.

“Check out this resolution! You can feel the sun!” David exclaimed.

Lucy fell apart laughing today, for her, had been one of the greatest…no, the greatest day of her life. It amazed her that, David; a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, had ended up at the Arasaka Academy. Yes he'd dropped out but the fact he'd lasted as long as he had and for his mother…that…explained a lot about him.

Lucy during the braindance had sent a quick message to Maine stating “My apartment.”

The radio was on the station Heat playing I really want to stay at your house.

(Maine et al.)
Maine chuckled, Lucy had come through for them, he knew she would. This… was going to be very entertaining. Dorio was at the wheel of his Quadra, he was on medication and advised to rest and do as little as possible.

Pilar and Rebecca would meet them at Lucy’s apartment and Kiwi, she’d fobbed them off. Not that was anything unusual for the ventilator-wearing Netrunner. “No need to bring everyone to this. Lucy will need Rebecca to keep Pilar in line and Dorio and I wanna have a look over Gloria’s kid.”

Completely unaware of them, they were being followed. Ajuka and Shogun smirked as they parked on the far end of the parking lot underneath the sprawling megacomplex. “Shogun, you join them in the elevator and tell me the floor.”

Shogun turned “Why me?”

“Those two…the big pair…they know me.”

“And you’re only telling me this now?”

“How the fuck was I supposed to know that these fuckers were looking for the same thing, I helped chip?”

Shogun sighed and got out of the car, grabbing his pistol “You, fucking, owe me…if I get flatlined…”

“Yeah, yeah…I know.” Ajuka groused as he got out of the car, taking his bag with him. He went behind the car and quickly holstered his sidearm and assembled his SAW. Ajuka smiled almost lovingly to himself as he quickly assembled it, his hands dancing the familiar dance of slides and switches. This SAW had been the very one he had used during training. "This is my SAW! There are many like it but this one is mine. My SAW is my best friend, without it I am useless." He told himself as he loaded the magazine, and covered it with paper bags filled with empty and blank boxes.

Maine and Dorio got out of their car and headed to the elevator. “Hold up Choom!”

Maine turned to see a Rockerboy, clad in Nomad leathers a bohemian top with a leather jacket and boots that had definitely been liberated from a 6th Streeter with mirror shades. “Sure thing choom. Which floor you headed to?”

“Not sure, an old choom of mine moved into here recently. Gonk didn’t tell me but it had a killer view of the launchpad or something. Said his destination was the moon someday.”

Dorio let out a forced chuckle “That’s a coincidence, you’re gonna want the same floor we’re heading for. Floor 16.”

The Rocker nodded and let out a ragged breath as he analysed them “It really is isn’t it. Anyway thanks.”

The elevator doors shut before Dorio pulled her pistol and Maine did the same “You think you’re being funny punk?”

“I think you’re all misinterpreting the situation.” The Rockerboy responded only for Dorio effortlessly overpowered him; she didn’t want to rough the guy over more than needed. During the ruckus, Dorio found his heavy pistol. “Damn, kid, Maine…kid’s packing a Hellbringer.”

Maine’s eyes widened as plucked the weapon from the leather jacket “And it good condition…for a Rocker, you’re seriously packing some heat.”

“Takes…one…to…know…one. Look, honestly I’m here with a choom of mine, to find another choom of mine. Well the latter parts a lie, choom to find owes me and my other friend a bunch of eddies. Tracked ‘im here. Saw you two. We’re heading in the same direction.”

Dorio let the Rocker down “Whilst I’m quite likely to believe that you might be here for your choom. Your choom, whom you arrived, is known to us.”

“Ah fucks’ sake Juka…why didn’t you…oh wait, you’re never the fuckin brains of the operation. You’re just the meat-head all healing no planning guy; more likely to piss off your patient than give them advice and care.”

Maine groaned “He’s here? Why?”

Ajuka grinned “Please tell me your reasons. You have my Hellbringer, and your strong amazonian Output has got me by my shirt.”

Maine chuckled “That’s fair punk. I received word from my Netrunner, that she’s got the guy who klepped my sandy from the person I normally get my chrome from.”

Rocker chuckled “Funnily enough we’re tracking a kid who got a sandy chipped in. Who funnily enough found it with his mother's possessions.”

Dorio released the Rocker “And the kid your tracking’s kid name is David Martinez.”

Rocker paused “I don’t know David’s moms name but I know she died recently.”

It was then out of the corner of his vision Ajuka appeared. “One moment.”

“Yes, J?”
“Everything alright? Saw you enter but no movement.”
“Erm…having a very intense chat with the guys in the elevator, talking about klepped cyberware, dead women and a runaway gurney.” Maine and Dorio were listening trying not to giggle.
“Did they mention ass and pastel hair?”
“Something about a netrunner…may or may not be our person. Anyway, floor 16 and they’ve got my hellbringer.”

Ajuka sighed and as he picked up his bag, he found himself looking down at the barrels of three pistols. “Sammy, I’m going to have to hang up…in a Friday Night Firefight with a lanky gonk and a compact can of Mox.”

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Summary:

Things are resolved and deals are made

Notes:

Starring
Edgerunners!
Ajuka Bael
Sam Kushnyada
Edward "Blackbeard" Teach
Arthur Bones "Bones"
Michael "Freeze" Frieze
And a certain Fixer

Ajuka looked at the two who’d pulled handguns on him “Y’know, this is normally the part where you scream out your demands.”

“Why the fuck would a Trauma Team be slumming it in these parts? Also, you’re near a friend of ours apartment choom…” The pint size snapped.

“First off it’s Tactical Trauma, not, Trauma Team. The Trauma Team are paid to patch people up and then fuck others up. I’m paid to fuck people over and then patch them up. As for why I’m near your chooms apartment, I’m looking for a payee; he’s late with his payment plan. Need to check he’s good to pay and or work out another payment plan…that doesn’t involve me taking one of his nuts and kidneys.”

Pilar cackled deranged at that “We’re going to call some our chooms…”

Ajuka snorted “I don’t think you will…I’ll catch you on floor 16.” The Pint-Sized Girl went to pull the trigger but it looked like she was moving in slow motion; Ajuka activated his Sandevistan and ran for the lift. Thankfully, it was still on the floor with the door opened.

The thing about moving at high speeds, it’s not exactly stealthy. When wearing reinforced steel occlusive footwear with padded insoles to provide additional support whilst running at high speeds it’s rather loud. Sam, Maine and Dorio turned as they heard the heavy footfalls, that reverberated throughout the cement made carpark like thunder “Just what is that?”

“That’s Ajuka, MedTech, and he…doesn’t stop.” At that moment, Ajuka ended his Sandevistan, slid and collided full on with Maine. The Seven foot something chromed out Solo, took two steps backwards as the foot and three quarter shorter man ploughed into him.

“Ow…Nothing broken, just pride and dignity.” Ajuka grumbled as he looked at the two large occupants of the lift “Going up?”

“Erm…we’re waiting on two chooms of ours, Zeek.” Dorio chimed in emphasizing the name he gave them on their last meeting.

“Can I get descriptions? Kinda got accosted by a…”

“Lanky asshole with a mohawk and long limbs? And a pint-sized girl with green hair and tats? Yep they’re Pilar and Rebecca.”

Sam groaned “What the fuck did you do? Please, please, please tell me you’ve not destroyed my car!”

“It’d be a service to the car…Besides isn’t that thing older than you?” Sniped Ajuka.

“And…it works dunnit? What about you, Mister unsustainable car.” The Rocker groused

“As a death trap, yes, it works. As a feasible safe vehicle on the roads of Night City…and shut up! I’m not paid to drive, I’m paid to repair the consequences of stupid.”

“Where no-one has a licence so it doesn’t matter.” Pilar chimed in, Rebecca, Maine and Dorio were failing not to crack up at the dialogue between the Ex-TT and the Rockerboy.

“Zeke, Ajuka, whatever your real name is allow me to formally introduce the majority of my crew. Lanky is Pilar, a Techie; the Pint-Size is Rebecca, Solo; this is my Output Dorio, Solo and my right hand. I’m Maine, Leader and also a Solo. We’re off to gatecrash one of our Netrunners apartment, by the name of Lucy because we’ve been tracking an military-spec Sandevistan that was promised to me by Gloria Martinez…only it’s recently been broken to me that she’s dead.”

Ajuka let out an explosive groan as he flicked the safety of his SAW on. “Then we’re after the same people. Sam and I are tracking David Martinez, Gloria’s kid, whom, I with the assistance of my Mainline and Viktor, had a military-spec Sandevistan recently installed as of nearly 36 hours ago. He was supposed to be heading to the Arasaka Academy only he never arrived; when we went to track him down, we recieved a report of a woman with pastel rainbow hair and a nice ass riding an ambulance gurney down the highway not to far from here.”

Rebecca began to cackle “Pastel rainbow hair and a nice ass, yes, that’s Lucy.”

Ajuka could only sigh “It’s days like these I really wish I could sleep a day off.”

Maine chuckled “So, what do we do? Because I’m pretty sure you,” He pointed at Ajuka “will try to flatline us if we try to klep the sandy.”

“And you…could really, really, really, do with laying off the chrome. Yes, I would flatline you or attempt to. Not because David klepped your Sandevistan that you bought; but rather he’s a fucking teen whose gone through hell and back and was definitely not thinking straight.”

Maine paused “I agree…Dorio called your clinic and Viktor showed up within the hour. Tuned up my chrome, removed some chrome and gave me a bunch of medical courses. I’m feeling better…I think.”

“With the I think, yeah, you’re on the mend. Everyone thinks they’re feeling better when they really ain’t. I have an idea, David and I do some gigs with you to pay off what you paid Gloria.”

“You got anything in your favour, aside from being a MedTech?”

“How about an Mk. 4 Dynalar Sandevistan…one of the preemest pieces of chrome. It’s nowhere near as good as the one that David has…that’s arguably on point with a QianT “Warp Dancer” and the “Falcon” or above.” Ajuka stated “I also come with a fully equipped clinic and backdoors into any Trauma Team warehouse.”

“This guy’s gotta be joking…there’s no…” Pilar began.

“Like the fact, I, miraculously VANISHED from being held at three pistol points to ploughing into your boss at ‘oh shit, I can’t stop’ speeds. Also, I’m as serious as the SAW I’m carrying.” Ajuka reached into his bag and pulled out said SAW.

Maine and Dorio chuckled “You know that’s a little overkill right?”

“No such thing as overkill when you’re rushing a Scav Shop to rescue a sixteen-year-old on Platinum Coverage. There’s merely dead and not yet dead. Believe me Stringer, if I wanted you dead…you’d be dead. Right now due to the fact I don’t know many Techies, you’ve got a stay from lead. Now can someone give my choom his Hellbringer back?”

Maine grumbled and handed the pistol back. Pilar hit the elevator button and the six of them waited as the elevator groaned and ascended “Is this a bad time to suggest that Becca and Dorio are stuck in an elevator with four guys on high SCOP diets?” Sammy stated.

“Don’t you fucking dare or start.” Pilar rumbled, he got enough of that movie’s references from Becca.

“MedTech, just get ready to go to work. Rockerboy, give us something to jam to.”

(Lucy and David)
The duo were sitting on the edge of the crater, overlooking the earth. I really wanna stay at your house, playing in the background. “If you’re going to become an edge runner, you’re not remembered for how you live…but for how you die. David, I’ve only just met you and you’ve made me feel more alive. I…don’t…want you to die.”

David looked at Lucy, even in the braindance his heart skipped a beat “Lucy, I…don’t want to die either. I don’t know what I really want, this might sound stalkerish and maybe just a little bit weird but you’ve made me feel more alive as well. I’ll get you to the moon.”

Lucy stared at the gonk. There was something in his eyes, the utter honesty and the willingness to help her with no disregard for his own well-being. Honestly, it was scary and a little arousing, she turned away to hide her blush. “This guy…Kiwi…you said to never trust anyone in Night City…but…I think I’m going to trust him…maybe, in time…I’m going to tell him everything.”

“This girl…if I can do one thing right mama, it’s help her. I’m sorry…but I don’t want to be a Corpo. I just wanted to make you happy, and, I think, she makes me happy.” David thought.

“You fell over the Edge, punk.” Came a deep rumbling bass voice.
“Davey boy, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do…easy big man, we don’t need to inflict more trauma yanking him out of a BD.”

Lucy and David felt the BD end, Lucy sat smoothly bolt upright, her monowires extending. That wasn’t a smart move, she took in her surroundings; she was in her apartment. The crew was there, along with two strangers. The moment she began extending her monowires, it caused a chain reaction, the one clad like a Rockerboy started pulling out a heavy pistol causing Pilar and Dorio to draw on him. As they started to draw, she heard a bag hit the floor followed by the sound of a bolt being pulled back. The other figure clad in Trauma Team attire was carrying either a very heavy-duty assault rifle or a machine gun; she wasn’t sure which as due to her being a Netrunner being anywhere near a firefight was far too close.

Maine pulled his pistol and began to deploy his arm-mounted launcher. “Zeke, what happened to keeping things cool?” Maine growled in the direction of the Trauma Team.

“That kinda went out the window when your Runner starts unfurling her monowires…I’m good Maine, but the fact she’s got her wires out means I’m too close to comfort. Now, Lucy, right?”

Lucy nodded “Yeah?”

“Nice job on the gurney…now, I apologise for my Rocker choom. He freaked out when you unfurled your wires. Now please, retract your wires.” Zeke almost pleaded.

“If your choomba does it first.” Lucy countered.

Maine groaned “I’m putting my guns away.” With that he slowly holstered his weapons, Lucy followed suit and then everyone else. Lucy kept her eyes on Zeke, he looked like he was about to have a meltdown. “Rocker, is your Trauma friend going to be okay?”

Sam took a look at Ajuka, who was pale and clammy and muttering to himself “Eh, don’t worry. Loses his head every now and then. Gets himself a course of medication for a few months, gets his head on and then it happens a decade or so later.”

“Is he…erm…” Dorio began to tackle the Cyberpyscho in the room.

“No…not suicidal. Too many hypotheticals appear to even contemplate it. Dorio, I’m…not okay but my good days far outnumber my bad ones. It’s why I joined Trauma Team and why I left Trauma Team.”

David meanwhile had slowly gotten up, trying not to draw attention to himself “Ajuka…just…why are you here?”

“Sam, MY Sam, placed a neat little tracking chip on you whilst you were out for the count post-operation. Was using it to ensure you weren’t using the Sandy right after installation; Neural Operating System Cyberware along with Cerebral Cyberware are two completely different circuits compared to the nine types of cyberware. With those two, you need to wait for your body to adjust to their presence and ensure that the white blood cells don’t start sabotaging your body. It’s why I do a free consultation on any chroming. But that’s by the by, anyway secondary affect of the monitoring chip with a little bit of jiggery-pokery, it doubles as a tracker. It tracked you to Arasaka Academy and then it showed you leaving; I thought you were intending to finish out your education.”

David sighed “Tanaka Natuso…him and his cronies started making fun of my mother. I used the Sandy to cockshot him and then knocked the shit out of him. Lucy turned up and we shook them down before leaving the academy.”

Maine chuckled “Then you went on a pickslotting spree…and somehow ended up on a gurney going down the highway.”

Lucy giggled “Gonk goes and trips over his feet, falls down some stairs, and hits his head once or twice. An ambulance is passing by, it’s not until we get in that the Scavs notice he’s got a Sandy. I kicked the Scav in the head, shot him; the flatlined moron hits the door release and I rock the gurney onto the highway.”

Ajuka moved closer, activating his glasses to scan David “Good news, nothing broken up there…bad news, you’ve got a concussion.” He turned to Maine “And now onto business.”

David raised an eyebrow “What business?”

“The Sandevistan,” Maine stated. “I, paid good eddies to your mom, my condolences by the way. She was a good person, an exceptional one. Point is, I bought it and yet you have it.”

David nodded “Sorry about that, I knew nothing of you or whom it was for. My mother died, I snapped…and didn’t think quite a few things through.”

Rebecca snorted “Choom…that’s how most Edgerunners get started. Don’t think something through. Maine was PISSED when he found out that someone had klepped it from Gloria.”

“Easy, David, take it easy. A ripper informed these fine misfits about the circumstances, I bumped into these misfits when I lost my job. I didn’t think I was going to be seeing them until one of them got dragged through my door on the verge of going Cyberpsycho. So Maine and I came to a business arrangement.”

“I work for Maine, work off the debt incurred due to klepping the Sandevistan. Does our previous arrangement still stand?” David questioned.

“You deliver the prescriptions…uh, yeah…Sam would kill me if I let our valuable errand boy go walkabouts with edgerunners all the time.” Ajuka replied before he stood up.

“Lucy, you got any booze? We might as well get to know each other as we’re probably going to be working together…more…I’m going to be seeing you on my slabs at some point or another. I like to try and get to know my vict…patients.”

Rebecca perked her head up “Were you about to call us victims? Dude, that’s harsh…I thought MedTechs were all about trying to save lives.”

“If you’ve got the eddies, then yes. Victims are those who bring their afflictions such as lead injections onto themselves. Patients are those in the wrong place at the wrong time or unwell due to bacterial or viral infections. Plus, nowhere does it say in the Medical handbook that we have to be nice.”

“Touche choom.”

Lucy got up and made her way to her fridge. David watched her go whilst the others managed to hide their smirks from him. “Zeke, how long does David have before I can take him for his trial run? To see if he fits and can survive with the group?” Maine asked.

“He can use it twice a day, currently. Give him a week, after which, Viktor will be stress testing him and from then on he takes his chrome usage from Viktor.”

Maine nodded as Lucy returned with eight bottles of broseph, all held securely in her long slender fingers. Everyone grabbed one, even, David; Ajuka snorted. “What’s so funny?”

“Just watch David.”

The Edgerunners watched and fell apart laughing as the seventeen-year-old’s face screwed into a pout at the carbonated drink. “Seriously, Zeke…you know…”

“You’re going to shut up and drink your broseph, David, I get it you’re a spirit type of guy…you’ve not really been to a friends for drinks have you?”

David scowled “Is that a jab at me being socially inept or being a street rat…”

“Choom, it’s none of that. It’s more about experiences you’ve not had yet for whatever reason.” Rebecca chimed in, as she took a swig of her drink. “If we’d met at say Turbo’s…you…” David, nodded. He knew of Turbo’s, Rebecca grinned and carried on “...you having spirits their is okay because you’re out with chooms. But when you’re round peoples houses it’s a little…disrespectful and not really cool to go through their spirits without permission or so early.”

David nodded slowly and began to drink the broseph without complaints. “Zeke, you’re not a people person are you.”

“Not really, generally more concerned about keeping the people in question alive…So what’s the objective?”

Maine chuckled “Eager, much…we’re going to be keeping you at the hideout. I know how good TT are at shooting but, I can find Solo’s ennies on the eddies, but decent MedTechs…not so much. Plus I want to keep you away from my Fixer.”

“Your Fixer?”

“Guy called Faraday…pays well.”

Ajuka let out a tense breath. It appeared the name of the Fixer didn’t sit well with some members of the group “What’s so bad about this Faraday guy?”

Dorio paused “He tells you next to nothing above the bare necessities. Brushes off your concerns. He’s got a reputation for being not one of the better Fixers…but as Maine said, he pays well.”

The world of being an Edgerunner and Cyberpunk hadn’t fully settled on Ajuka’s shoulders yet, but, he was familiar with the sorts of people who made up the underbelly of Night City. He knew how gangs or teams of Cyberpunks formed and broke apart and that Fixers were the ones in the middle and everyone knew of Rogue, the Queen of the Fixers, Ruler of the Afterlife.

Ajuka finished his beer “Lucy…please, look after the gonk for me. He’s got a good heart and a good head but can be a…little dim.”

Lucy nodded and slowly relaxed against David “I was planning on it, Doctor…”

“Call me Ajuka. Now, Dallas, the night is young fancy helping me do a quick job.”

Sam looked at the MedTech “This that thing or the other thing?”

That thing meant dealing with the sleazy scumbag Ripper in Arroyo, the other thing meant paying off the Mox for the deep clean of the car. “Both.”

“Let’s do this.”

“Where are you two going?” Lucy asked curiously as she lit a cig.

“Deal with a problem or two. City will be down a Ripper and a tab will be settled.”

(Arroyo, Ripper Office)
Arthur Borg, Borg, to others was indulging in his favourite hobby, a brain-dance whilst being jacked off by a machine. His cybernetic arms were detached as he thrived in pleasure, his body twisting in ways that would only normally be classed as normal when in throws of passion.

On the wall of the surgery was the symbol of the 6th Street, Patridiots was another name. But none of the 6th Street actually deigned to enter the establishment for anything more than the BDs and XBDs. Ajuka and Sam encountered no resistance as they entered the dingy shop.

Ajuka let out a low whistle as he saw the vast array of cybernetics, all definitely acquired off the black market. There were various arms, a few synthetic organs “Talk about a chop shop…”

Sam sighed “Are we changing the parameters again? I thought it was walk in, flatline, leave.”

“It was. Now it’s walk in, shakedown, flatline and then grab as much as we can and leave…it’s only a matter of time.”

The Rocker nodded. With that Ajuka walked over to the thrashing and moaning Ripper and slammed his hand onto the mans chest before ripping the wreath off the mans face. “Hey! What sorta man just rips a man out of his private time!”

“One who gets some nearly every night, choom. Arthur right? Also known as Doc Borg?”

“That’s what da people be callin me. Now what do ya want.” Arthur replied, Ajuka pulled out his pistol. He cocked the hammer and stuck it onto the mechanical onahole that was still operating “Eddies, transfer, now.”

“You wouldn’t shoot a man in de junk, like a savage?” There was a gunshot and Arthur shrieked, he rolled his legs backwards, revealing his asshole as feces rushed out painting the chair.

“I didn’t shoot you in the junk…but the next shot will be…you see, this isn’t personal but you’re causing decent Rippers to have a bad name.”

Arthur held his hands up “Look, not my fault if people don’t have de eddies to pay for me care.”

“Or lack of it…” Sam growled as he pulled out his Hellbringer “...Eddies, now, or Hellbringer speaks to your knee.”

A paltry $20k entered Sams vision “Please sir that’s all I have. Please, I’ll never be a ripper again!”

“No…no you won’t.” Ajuka growled as he picked up a rusted hacksaw and opened Arthur’s throat through the carotid artery and jugular vein. “Tactical Trauma sends their regards.” Sam found another $10k in cash as Ajuka found various large and empty bags before cramming all of the cyberware into them. The utter revulsion on the MedTechs face was telling that the building and its inhabitant utterly repulsed him.

“We’ve got everything?”

Ajuka nodded as he spied an incendiary grenade. He grabbed it, pulled the pin, cooked it and rolled it into the furthest part of the clinic; he grabbed Sam in a fireman carry and the bags before activating his Sandevistan and they rushed out of the clinic as it exploded in a fireball.

Sam turned the ignition had driven off into the night, as Ajuka passed out from the pain and exertion of their most recent ordeal.

“Viktor.”
“Hey Vik.”
“Ajuka…what’s happened?”
“It’s done…can we…drop by?”
Viktor paused “Sure and we can discuss what you’re being so vague about.”

(Trauma Clinic)
“If I’d known your clinic was going to be this nova, I mean, look at the space! Nova, Sam…absolutely fucking nova. No more risking breaking my colleagues with my cybernetics as I’m stashing people into cryo. I’d have left a long ass time ago.” Freeze exclaimed as he observed the empty spaces left for the cryopreservation equipment if and when it arrived. Freeze, whilst being a Cryo-operative as his main specialisation had also dabbled in surgery and being a pharmaceutical technician. It also helped especially that he got along with Bones like two chooms in a Friday Night Firefight.

“Easy, Freeze, easy…even though Trauma Team lets us walk into their warehouses and take whatever we need…they’d frown upon us taking some of their cryostasis materials and machines.” Bones replied as he detached his cybernetic hand before giving it a proper clean. Bones had set his hand on fire whilst making some above-strength antibiotics and in a moment of delusional clarity had lopped his hand off; the flames had cauterised the injury instantly. Bones had then paid handsomely for Vik to replace his hand, the young pharmacist had been eating kibble for three months afterwards.

As the team were talking about further installations, they didn’t notice a Limo pull up. However, they recognised the Militech equipped Bodyguards as a man in a red suit with four eyes walked over to them “Good evening, please, forgive the intrusion, my name is Faraday and I have a proposition for you.”

Sam and her friends eyed the man, and for once, wished for Ajuka and his less than people friendly attitude for those hale and hearty to be in. “I cannot speak for all of us, as not all of us are present, but consider us intrigued by your…proposal Faraday.”

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The offer was good. Very good in fact, but if it wasn't for the fact that Faraday was willing to wait for Ajuka to return it was the fact that unsettled the MedTechs.

 

Eventually, the sound of cars pulling up, distracted the Fixer and MedTechs from the build-up of tension. Bones, looked out the door “Sam, we’ve got a rather motley crew of people coming our way.”

 

“I need descriptions Bones.” Sam replied frostily.

 

“Got a really, big son of gun…clocking 7ft, heavily chromed; his arm is around a woman who could easily be a powerlifter. There’s also a lanky bastard with extremely long arms, your boy is there, seems he’s gotten himself an input. There’s a woman in red and a kid with them…I’m not exactly sure what sort of descriptions you’re wanting Boss.”

 

Sam chuckled “Well you’re bone-headed lack of attention to detail show’s why you specialise how you specialise. Thankfully, I recognise the people you’ve described, they’re friendly…given the nature of Cyberpunks.”

 

Faraday snorted softly “Ah…I see that you’ve met my team of mercenaries.”

 

“Your team? Oh fuck, we’ve been dealing with a sodding Fixer. I’m not going to…” Freeze groaned as the door opened.

 

“Dealing with Fixers without me are you love? Might have been easier to put a bullet in my head.” Ajuka japed as he entered.

 

“Give me another smart-ass remark Ajuka and I might well do that…although not before I pump you full of Bones super max Viagra.”

 

“I knew you loved me. Now, Fixer, give me…an extremely good reason why I should not flatline you.”

 

“I have Platinum Trauma Team Coverage, you flatline me, and they’ll flatline you.”

 

Sam snorted “That’s Afixingdorable. We’re still Trauma Team, just…not official Trauma Team…So Fixer, give my fiance a good reason. We have no reason to dip our feet into the underbelly of Night City than we already have.”

 

Faraday sighed “I have money and contacts, reaching up to high levels of various Megacorporations that would be very willing to provide their services to your…little clinic."

 

Ajuka coughed "So, you're a Fixer."

 

Faraday turned and held out his hand "Faraday and you are?"

 

"Not interested in the stuff your selling or am I impressed at your blatant heavy handed attempt to threaten us. I heard about your Platinum Coverage spiel and whilst true, I am finding you more than a little repulsive even more so than the Arasaka Security. Let make one thing clear Fixer, I don't want your shite you're peddling coming anywhere near my clinic."

 

Faraday bristled at the insinuations "Apparently I was mistaken, coming here was a waste of effort. However…" His smile turned crueller "I can make your life difficult. Maine, if…"

 

Maine turned on Faraday "Do I need to remind you that there is an understanding between Mercs and Fixers? We only stick with you because you pay well despite all your less than helpful attitude when it comes to specifics."

 

Faraday paused, he had no idea when he had lost control of the situation. Sam interjected "We've heard your proposal and found what you're offering is not satisfactory to the Trauma Clinic. Have a pleasant evening, Freeze, please escort The Fixer back to his car."

 

Faraday turned "I expect results and data from the upcoming gig." With that he left.

 

Ajuka waited and watched as the Limo drove off "You guys need a better Fixer."

 

"Did you really have to flip him off like that? Faraday's got a reputation." Dorio murmured.

 

Ajuka held the big woman's gaze "He might well do. I have one as well, I've got the major gangs around here to declare thus Clinic Neutral Ground. It's a small bastion of good in this shitty city."

 

Maine nodded "Well good luck. Faraday's a prickly shit."

 

(Afterlife)

"Nix, what's the rush?" Rogue asked her Netrunner, who barged into her booth without checking it was clear.

 

"New information. Well maybe not new but certainly interesting."

 

Rogue inclined her head "Go on."

 

"Faraday's appeared again. Then again that's not exactly new but he's approached that new Trauma Clinic."

 

Rogue did sit forwards. She had known about the MedTechs leaving Trauma Team but hadn't realised that they'd set up shop. "That is interesting. What did Faraday do?"

 

Nix smirked "Judging by his raging tantrum from his compromised Limo…you're welcome…I heard that he offered the Clinic definitive Corpo Protection from the gangs in the area."

 

Rogue smirked "Didn’t he already know that the gangs and the corpses are already working together to make it a neutral ground?"

 

"No he didn't. Anyways he's appearing rather desperate. He's looking for something to get him higher in the Corporate Ladder. I shouldn't be but I am worried about his Mercs."

 

"The mighty Nix, concerned for some humble Mercenaries."

 

Nix nodded "They’re a good bunch. However, they seem to go to Faraday as he offers them large bonuses should they do a job to his complete specifications."

 

"And have they?"

 

"Numerous times but Faraday has jobbed out on them." Rogue narrowed her eyes.

 

"Well then as Fixer, I must rectify this. Nix, have I got anyone on that missing Millitech Convoy that got jacked?"

 

"No boss."

 

"Give that to them. Tell them it's worth 20k eddies half up front and the other half on completion. If they give us any other information that can be used, give them a bonus. Also if they impress me tell them that you'll have more work for them."

 

Nix nodded "And the Clinic?"

 

"I'll handle that personally. I'll meet with them on their ground, I do need to get my cyberware looked at."

 

"Very good boss. Another?"

 

Rogue emptied her Johnny Silverhand "Please, and get yourself something. On the house."

 

Nix nodded, it was good to work for Rogue.

 

(Maine et al.)

Maine watched as his crew were escorted one by one off to a room to have a checkup physical, mental and chrome checkup. Ajuka grinned as he observed David sitting in one of the seats with Lucy sitting next to him, her hand resting on his. “You like him don’t you?” 

 

Lucy looked at the smirking MedTech “Yeah…and?”

 

“Keep an eye on him. He might need a short-circ every now and then to remind him that chroming up…whilst useful, doesn’t replace learning your organic limits. Also as his Doctor, I’d suggest you bring it up with him about investing in BioTech; Sandevistan…doesn’t really cooperate well with much other cyberware.”

 

David groaned “So I’ve…shot myself in the foot with cyberware?”

 

“A little bit. Bioware is a really effective thing, a Sandevistan puts unholy strain on the body; I’ve just got booked myself for a full BioTech body. An Organic Body can’t hold to the upper limits of any Sandevistan, Kerenzikov or anything requiring tuning to the Nervous System…I’ve had my Sandevistan for over a decade and through occasional use I’ve managed to prolong my need for this operation.”

 

David raised an eyebrow “That’s a jab at the fact that I’m going to disregard your advice.”

“Most likely, and your clingy cat-like netrunner friend is most likely going to be the brains in your partnership.” Ajuka and Maine grinned as the duo flushed bright red.

 

“We barely know each other!” Lucy protested.

 

“But nothing in your statement suggests that you wouldn’t say no.” Sammy stated as he walked in, handing Ajuka a substantially smaller envelope compared to his own.

 

“Really Sammy?”

 

“Really Ajuka…you fobbed me off to get here leaving me to head to Viktor’s and hand over everything solo and left me to bargain with him. So yes, you’re getting a smaller cut.” 

 

“Fine, Sammy.”

 

Maine guffawed “Burnt by your own partner.”

 

“No. I stitched him up, this is the counter stitch.”

 

Maine looked at him “Is this to do with ‘ that thing or the other thing ’ thing you two were talking about.”

 

“It was that thing , the other thing will be done tomorrow.”

 

“And what was that thing, exactly?” Dorio asked “The pair of you sounded far too happy to go ahead with it.”

 

“Doc Borg…met an untimely demise due to a fuel leak in his ripper clinic.”

 

Maine’s eyes widened and Dorio’s jaw dropped “You murdered, straight up murdered, a ripper!”

 

“Borg was giving the rest of us a bad name. It’s hard enough to be a MedTech freelancer without hack rippers giving us a bad name.” 

 

Maine snorted “You sure you don’t want to tag along on our job this weekend?”

 

“What’s the cut?”

 

“63k then divided amongst all of us. 9k a head, a fair shake is the only way I do these gigs.” Maine retorted.

 

“Say I’m interested?”

Maine grins “We’ve got a target, the idiots name is Maxim Kuznetsof. When he’s not on shift he’s at some underground fighting ring, now my Lady knows a fighter and for a cut her bagger will kill the champ in the first bout. Then he’s going to Jacked and Coked and drown his sorrows and we’ll klep the data and hand it back the moment we’re done.”

 

“I never suggest this normally but…have you ever thought once personal profit of the crew outside of the mission?” Sammy asked.

 

“Nope, business and pleasure never ever mix. If mixed well…it ends badly for everyone.” Maine said.

 

Ajuka paused for a moment “What if this isn’t business or pleasure, more seizing the initiative.”

 

Dorio was intrigued “Babe, I want to hear this.”

 

“You.” He said pointing at Dorio “Happen to the Bagger whose fixing this match. Where Kuznuts it’s going to be betting heavily. Plus your Bagger’s probably taking what 25-50% of your personal cut from this job.”

 

Dorio nodded “What if we’re to offset that loss by betting long odds that the bookies think only a gonk would take, ie the Champ loses or dies in the first round. Boom fight goes ahead, your Bagger follows the plan, we’re richer, bookies are pissed but they’ll pay up. You pay off your bagger with your share of the profits from the bets and hey presto, even if things fall through from Faraday we’re still getting a payday.”

 

Maine and the Woman in Red looked at the MedTech like he’d just spawned a second head “That’s…really good work.”

 

“Not really, quick twenty-second analysis on your plan.”

 

Maine chuckled “I think you’ve already earned your cut twice over.”

 

“The name’s Kiwi, and I’ve posted an online bet…I might have hacked several bookies and scrambled the signal. We’ve already got some biters, big ‘Saka guys. Well, not big, big but enough for them to go ‘shit is tight’ for a month or two.” Kiwi chimed in, voice muffled through the vent.

 

“You okay with that vent trap? Gotta be something rough.”

 

Kiwi snorted “It’s more comfortable than it appears. It’s bulletproof, plus got bad allergies. Thanks for the offer though, although you look more like a practical guy, not an aesthetic one either. You’d probably give me some old pre-Corpo war mask.”

 

“Not wrong and not pre-fourth corps war, but Great War or World War II style. I mean, I’ve got a few.” 

 

Pilar, god Bones even on a bad day was better than this guy. “Bullshit does he…”

 

Ajuka looked at him “And you look like you’d really want to be back on the Glitter…dude, you’re worse than Bones and Freeze on bad days and they don’t channel half as much shit as you do…Please shut the fuck up.”

 

Maine shifted his weight “Alright you two, enough, Pilar pipe down. Bael, we’ll catch you for the shift.”

 

With that, the Edgerunners began to troop out of the clinic. Lucy gave David a hug, one that lastest a bit longer than usual. Maine had to let out a chuckle at just how effortlessly David had broke down his newest Netrunners walls. “You’re too good for this city, kid, Gloria…you’ve raised one heck of a son.”

 

Ajuka looked at David with a shit-eating grin “Now, David…have you had the plug and socket talk?” David blushed “I know the basics.” He managed to stutter.

 

Sam giggled “Darling…please, don’t, traumatise him too much. Unless you want me to do it?”

 

Ajuka went red “I’ll do it. I think we’ve got some of those devices in stock.”

 

“We do.” Blackbeard stated looking at his boss with a dead stare “The question is why?”

 

“Erm, to give Corpo kids a hands-on lesson on where, when and how on interfacing with whomever. Normally, we try to refer them to the Mox.” David choked. Ajuka grinned “Now the quicker we get this done, the sooner you can obliviously woo that Netrunner of yours.”

 

“She’s not…”

 

“Yet. David, she looks at you like you’re the best thing in the world since SCOP. My training was geared towards kids than adults, so I know my shite. Scars of childhood impact greatly the adult they become. Trust me, she likes you or at least likes the dream of liking you.”

 

(Lucy)

Lucy was away with the Net, and Rebecca had to poke her in the hip to get her out of the car. Still, in a daze, Lucy got the lift to her floor and just outside of her door was a drink and food vendor. She was a hungry girl! And she was out of sorts, so two quick hacks later Lucy was curled up on her window with her very comfy blanket wrapped around her and a burrito in one hand with two empty NiCola Purple’s and another one to be opened, she allowed a small secretive but beautiful smile to cross her lips “If I’m in a Bd, don’t ever let it end.” She thought to herself as she lit a cigarette.

 

For a moment she lit it as she thought about the ordeal of the day. Had it only been a day, she left the cigarette in the ash tray, left her uneatened Burrito where she was and she went to bed. As she plugged in the Braindance of the Moon, I really want to stay at your house began to play. Lucy fell asleep in the Braindance.

 

For the next morning they had a job meeting and plan to do.

Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Summary:

Rogue shows up and David and Lucy bond

Notes:

Appearing
Rogue
MedTechs
Viktor Vektor
Lucy
David

Cyberpsychosis and Back

 

Ajuka wasn't prepared for the following day. Sam had been highly enthusiastic last night and was having a well-deserved day off. The other members had drifted in and were beginning the diligent process of readying the day's deliveries, checking stocks of anaesthetic, synth-blood, and the various bits of cyberware that might need to be installed in a hurry. Then perhaps most importantly the armoury, they’d never admit it to anyone but the poorly concealed animosity that came from that piece of scav-meat Faraday.

 

Ajuka looked up at a gigantic solo, armed with what appeared to be a heavily customised assault rifle entered. Ajuka wasn’t a big guy but he carried himself in a way that made him feel taller; however, compared to this gentleman he was definitely small. “Can I help you?”

 

“I’m good, although, I could do with my optics being checked…if that’s possible. But I’m here on business.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Alright, you’re a Solo…this means you’re here with someone. Where are they?”

 

The Solo chuckled “I was sent ahead to ensure that it was clear.”

 

“There’s only four of us in the building, we’re Ex-Trauma Team.”

 

“That’s all good then.” Ajuka watched as the Solo’s eyes turned a yellowish orange. Ajuka’s stomach dropped as Rogue Amendiares walked in. 

 

“Oh boy…”

 

Rogue smirked “Surprised to see me?”

 

“Surprised no. Completely dumbstruck that the Queen Fixer of Night City as a whole, the Owner of the Afterlife is visiting a group of semi-legitimate Ripperdocs. I’d have thought after we escorted the Fixer Faraday out we’d have suffered a blow to our fledgling rep.”

 

Rogue snorted “Please, Faraday’s an annoying bit player in the grand scheme of things. Not even his sponsors like him, he’s too obvious and far too egotistical to actually consider that he might not be as great as he thinks he is. I am interested in you for a different reason, the fact of a group of as you said semi-legitimate Ex-Trauma Team setting up shop in an area that is one of the many nebulous areas of Night City and have managed to enforce the closest thing to Law and Order.”

 

Ajuka nodded “It’s marvellous when common sense manages to prevail. So what can we do for the Queen Fixer? I really doubt you came down here for just a discussion.”

 

“I’m here to check if by BioTechnica implants are still working.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Right, now if you’d follow me.” It turned out Rogue had arrived just in time, as her BioTechnica bioware had just started to decay.

 

“There’s a slight decay, predominately in the liver but everything else is good.”

 

Rogue nodded “I’m drinking ten or so Silverhands a day.” To her surprise the MedTech nodded.

 

“At least you’re open about it. Now, as an idealistic MedTech, I’d love for you to stop drinking entirely, that way your liver would be able to fully repair itself. But, considering your line of work if you can restrict yourself to ten drinks a day for let’s say three months and come back for another checkup. We don’t have much in terms of Biotechnica stock currently as they’re tight asses and we’d need about eight months to actually get a  contract with them for a constant delivery.”

 

Rogue nodded “Are there any ways, I can help expedite the process?”

 

“I’d need some blood, bone, saliva and muscle samples in order to get things tailor-ordered to you. Or, get a job put out for some BioTechnica  hardware…and I’d rather not drag my clinic into the Underbelly just yet.”

 

Rogue nodded “I’ll tell you what, I won’t take payment from you as what you’re doing is for the betterment of Night City. I respect it, don’t like how you’re doing it but I respect it. So we’ll work this as favours for favours. I won’t ask you to compromise your principles, annoyed Fixers are one thing but annoyed MedTechs are another thing entirely. Furthermore, I understand you’re in contact with Maine?”

 

“To an extent, why?”

 

“I’ve got a job for him. It’d come better coming from you.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Yeah, Gloria’s kid…I’m keeping an eye on him.” Rogue paid and left, and fifteen minutes later David dropped in.

 

Blackbeard who’d taken over the receptionist handed David two medical bags “You’ve got the locations now?” David nodded, he’d found that the MedTechs giving him the same group of patients to build a reputation.

 

With his bags, he set off.

 

(Sam)

Sam moaned as she rolled over onto the bed. She inwardly pouted, as Ajuka wasn't with her. But one of them was needed in the clinic as Freeze, Blackbeard and Bones were not the most people-friendly. In fact, neither was Ajuka, but his name was on the clinic and so was hers.

 

She lay in bed, she could barely feel her legs. However as she observed her body, she chuckled. She’d wanted Ajuka to be rough with her and oh how deliciously and sensually he was in his antics. She was so grateful for last night.

 

Despite it being her day off, a day off from the Clinic could mean a disaster. “We need more recruits.” Was the main thought on her mind, the Clinic was slowly beginning to make a profit, the payment plans were proving to be extremely beneficial, and with their regular supply of injured local gangs, suits and edgerunners…that was an interesting thought. With the clinic being open and in contrast to Trauma Team coverage, the number of people actually training and preparing themselves to be edgerunners in the Santo Domingo area was beginning to extrapolate, it wasn’t immediately noticeable but it was happening.

 

She got herself dressed in her Trauma Team field trousers and undershirt, she had her vest in hand and she headed down to the Clinic, two XXXL Breakfast Burritos in hand. If it was her day off, she could have a cheat day. Ajuka’s cheat day was a sixteen-hour binge drink and Watson’s Whore marathon.

 

Sam shook her head as she thought about that show, yes it was very well written for the most part, but she and Ajuka preferred the salvaged episodes of a show known as Dad’s Army.

 

(David)

The rounds were done, and the temptation to use his Sandevistan was extremely tempting. But, he’d given his word to Ajuka, Sam and Lucy that he wouldn’t use it so frivolously, especially with the job coming up.

 

Speaking of Ajuka was calling.

A: David, how’s it going.
D: Got-got them done. Anything-thing else?
A: No-no jobs, but you want-want you could pop over to Viktor’s, ask him about ‘cleaning your head’. He’ll love it.

D: Vik’s clinic, cleaning-cleaning my head. Got it.

A: Don’t forget your pay-pay.

 

David dropped in, showing an ID Tag and an Arasaka Soldier let him through “Didn’t you used to go to the Academy?”

 

“Yeah…why?”

 

“Nothing, just you looked familiar. Hang on…you’re Martinez aren’t you?”

 

David felt on edge “I am.”

 

“Don’t worry, honestly you did the right thing. I went to the Academy and despite being the son of two low-level corpos I couldn’t hack it. I wanted to say thanks, I appreciate what you’re doing for my parents. They love seeing you come around dropping off their medication and they told me to say thanks if I ever saw you.”

 

David nodded “It’s a pleasure choom. All the best to your folks.”

 

David collected his eddies and quickly got on the NCART, only to see Lucy. She caught his eye and winked, David grinned as he made his way over to her “Not klepping me today?”

 

“No, made my haul for today. You’re not normally on this line.” Lucy responded, pulling David closer to her. "So what are you up to?" David stiffened at the cottequish tone. "God, she's driving me nuts."  

 

"Er, er…I'm going to see Viktor. Something about 'cleaning my skull.'" Lucy giggled.

 

"Vik's a former boxer turned Ripperdoc. Coincidentally that's where I'm going." She replied, before slipping her hand into his. She giggled at him freezing up. “Lucy, you really need a grip.” Her internal voice told, but, another voice whispered in her ear “Is it so bad that you want to trust David? Everything about him screams, trustworthy.” 

 

David was content with the comfortable silence, just him and Lucy, two edgerunners in a car full of corpses. “Lucy, you okay?”

 

Lucy shook her head and cocked her head at David “Yeah, yeah…just having an intensely weird internal dialogue.”

 

David nodded “Want to talk about it or not?”

 

Lucy sighed and looked away from the pair of earnest brown eyes “Maybe, in the future.”

 

“What if I bought you lunch?”

 

Lucy stopped and looked at David and a sly smile crossed her face “David, are you asking me out?”

 

“Yeah, I sup…no, yes I am.”

 

Lucy giggled “David, I’d love to get lunch with you. But first, we’re off to see the Ripper.”

 

“The wonderful Ripper of Watson.”

 

Lucy stared at him “You know the Wizard of Oz?”

 

David paused “Only know of that particular quote, ‘no place like home’ and ‘Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”

 

Lucy sighed “I’ll have to educate you on good pre-krash movies.”

 

David’s eyes widened “You have pre-krash movies? My mom had a small collection she had ‘Terminator 1 and 2’, ‘Saw 1-3’ and something known as ‘Final Destination’.” Lucy paused, “I paid her in pre-krash movies and music, your mom on a few occasions bought me meals, and I’ve never liked being in debt to anyone.”

 

David pulled Lucy into a hug, causing the girl to stiffen but eventually relax into it. She tentatively wrapped her arms around him, his slender but sturdy frame felt reassuring to her. They reluctantly, rather Lucy was reluctant, pulled away as the doors opened into Little China. “Lucy, what do you like doing outside of well pickslotting Arasaka Suits?”

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

“I don’t really do well walking in silence with someone I don’t really know, plus I know that Ajuka is being an asshole in trying to set me up with a date…if his thorough and I mean thorough explanation of…”

 

Lucy giggled whilst trying to fight back a blush “You’re not the only one. Someone, rung Maine and suggested to him to ring me and tell me to head over to Vik’s for a checkup for a certain time.”

 

David let out a sigh “I’d place eddies on ennies that it was Ajuka. Guy’s a bastard about meddling but he’s a good employer.”

 

“You work for him?”

 

“I’m the clinic’s courier. I get paid eddies buy the people I’m dropping the medication for, then I give the money to whoever’s at the reception…although I normally ask for Sam…the rather eye-catching MedTech who works there.”

 

“Any particular reason?”

 

“Ajuka is busy, Freeze and Black, something tells me they’re more trouble than they’re worth and Bones I’ve heard from Sammy has short-term memory problems and smells like kibble.”

 

Lucy couldn’t help but chuckle at the rather rude but true character assessment “But they’re good people, David…they were taught by The Saint Ripper.”

 

David nodded “I did have a few queries for Viktor.”

 

“Concerning chrome?” Lucy stilled, she liked David but once you chipped in, it was like an insidious voice saying ‘get more’.

 

“Maybe, unless he has other ideas.”

 

Lucy grabbed David’s hands “David, please, look at me, please.” David did as instructed.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Please don’t chip any chrome if you have to or at least consult with Ajuka about it or me.”

 

David looked into Lucy’s purple eyes utterly serious “I promise.” As those words fell from his mouth, she smiled before taking his hand again.

 

“I’ll explain when we have lunch…you can pay right?”

 

David rolled his eyes and idly checked his scratch, his rent was done. He had no outstanding fees “Yeah I’m good and I was going to pay for all of it.”

 

Lucy paused “Please let me contribute.”

 

“If you really want. Let me cover the food and first round of drinks, you get the next.”

 

Lucy grinned, eventually she led them into a shop labelled Misty’s Esoterica, to their surprise as they entered they found Vik just about to head downstairs “Hey Misty, Hey Vik.”

 

Vik turned to see Lucy and his latest patient “Kids…please tell me you’ve not…”

 

David snorted and blushed “Not yet, er, no. Well, anyway I was sent here with a message by a certain MedTech.”

 

Vik rolled his eyes “Damn Ajuka and making me more problems. What was the message?”

 

“Are you able to help ring my head like a bell?”

 

Vik snorted “Yeah. I’ll teach you how to box, but, I have a feeling you’ve got another question or a few?”

 

David nodded, his mind began whirring as he began to try and process what he’d wanted to say “Outside of chrome, what other ways are there of improving physical human limits?”

 

Vik let out a breath that seemed to chill the room “Are you sure you want to go down that route? Be honest with me David, and do Ajuka and Samantha know about this?”

 

“I have no idea what you mean by that route, doc. As for Ajuka and Sam knowing about this, no, because, after chipping the Sandy I’ve been feeling weird like this craving. I’m asking if there are alternatives because as cool as Maine looks, that’s not what I’m going for.”

 

Like that the room seemed to warm up again “There a few. The first is you know, actually going to a gym lifting weights and cardio but if you’re looking for implants Bioware is an option. Considering you’ve got a mild case of malnutrition, I’d have recommended you got some Bio-Implants.”

 

Curiosity sated David let out a breath “Let’s go with the gym and learning to box and all that, then think about Bioware.” Lucy meanwhile released her breath that she was unaware of holding, she’d never seen this side of Vik before.

 

“Yeah, I’ll teach you. I’ll contact you when I’m ready to teach you.”

Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Summary:

Things begin to move

 

David shook hands with Vik, and a deal was made. Vik would train David and help him find his limits as well as source David his bioware on the condition that either he or Ajuka’s crew would perform the operation under the eye of the other so both parties could keep their eyes on David. Thankfully, for Vik, David had noticed that he was developing a chrome addiction. 

 

Ajuka explained the signs and symptoms in extreme detail. David left the store above the clinic and slumped against the wall.. Lucy squatted down next to him tenderly grabbing his hand “What is it?”

 

“That was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had.” David replied as he slowly made eye contact with her.

 

Lucy smiled “Hey, you're going to be okay. You've got people to help you. I know Maine looks absolutely nova to you. Do you know what I see when I look at you?"

 

Lucy hadn't been able to keep her eyes off David since they'd met. The fact that he was mostly organic aside from the basic cyberware and the sandevistan and he was still organic. “I like him. I just don't want him to lose sight of what he can have instead of what he should have. He doesn’t need the chrome, I li…ke him more without it. Sorry Kiwi, I can’t not trust him.” “Lucy?”

 

Lucy shook her head as she looked at her crush “Yeah?”

 

“You were about to say something about what you see about me?”

 

Lucy smiled “I see a guy that can become a legend, I see someone too good for the likes of me and even more than this city. This city, feels like a cage, it closes in on you choking you to the point where you have to sacrifice what it means to be a person just to survive. I want to leave, and, I see that in you as well."

 

David paused "Leave Night City? That…that sounds good." "I've not thought about that." He pulled Lucy to him in a hug which she slowly relaxed into. 

 

“You, complete, gonk. Thankfully, I’ve got enough brains for two.” Lucy whispered into his ear, before stepping back “Come on. You still owe me a date.”

 

David grinned “That…sounds like a wonderful idea.”

 

Lucy smiled impishly at him, David blushed and felt his blood rush to his lower appendage “I’m picking. I hope you know how to use chopsticks.”

 

David paused, he didn’t. But he was going to learn. It turned out, Lucy’s restaurant of choice was very close to her megabuilding.

 

It was a quiet and secluded Japanese-style restaurant. "Your mother brought me here once, and, whenever I've managed to scrape together eddies and I've done a good job, I'd treat myself."

 

David nodded "I understand that." Lucy was surprised when David managed to order their dinner and drinks in fluent Japanese.

 

"I didn't know you could speak Japanese."

 

"Spanish and English…all without the need of a translator chip…yeah, that annoyed the Corpo-brats that I was able to speak fluent Japanese."

 

"That's a very good way to get an opening with Madame Wakako, Lead Fixer in Westbrook, also known as The Lady of Westbrook. She's a strict but fair Fixer and David…if you do become a Solo, you'd be able to rise much quicker in Night City."

 

David nodded and pouted as Lucy stole his egg. "I'll do so. Once I've finished paying off my debt to Maine."

 

"No, do it whilst you're working for Maine. I'll help you." Lucy replied her hands brushing over David’s.

 

"Why? I barely even know what I'm doing…I'm just a courier with a hi-tech piece of cyberware."

 

Lucy grinned at him "Who also managed to get Maine’s most antisocial Netrunner to go out to lunch with him. David, this is the part where you just nod, relax and accept the inevitable truth. I'm a possessive person over what I want, even though I don't know what I want."

 

David nodded and he held onto Lucy's hand "I'm going to need your help. I don't know if or when I'm going to probably go crazy on chrome…so…I…"

 

Lucy paused, she knew what he was going to say, but, he needed to be able to voice what he wanted. "Yeah?"

 

"I'd like a picture of us. Here. Something to anchor myself in reality. Something that I can hold dear to my bruised and battered heart, something I can hold onto. Something to come back to and hopefully and maybe someone to hold on to and someone I can kiss."

 

Lucy couldn't control her blush. She was red in the cheeks "I want something just like this."

 

As they took the picture, Maine rang.

 

M: Don't want to-to interrupt you love birds

D: You really do, Maine. What is it?

M (holding back a snigger): Oooh loo-look whose all serious. It's game time tomorrow. Make sure you've got your wallet, iron and cock-sleeve. Oh and Luce keep-keep your Lady tuned up. Night-Night City ain't a place for unintended happy consequences.

 

Maine swiftly hung up. On the other side of the line, David and Lucy flushed crimson. "Bastard." Lucy growled, Maine was deliberately trying to keep them separated.

 

"He's not. If you listened, that wasn't all his script. Ennies to eddies that was Ajuka."

 

Lucy paused "Maine would have just said 'show time tomorrow.' Because that's Maine, short and direct."

 

David nodded, they finished their food, forgoing a second round of drinks causing Lucy to pout. "You get the first round after the job tomorrow."

 

Lucy nodded "David, what are you planning for the rest of the day?"

 

"Go home, maybe some target practice…why?"

 

Lucy paused "I really want you to stay at mine tonight, just holding."

 

David froze “You sure?”

 

Lucy nodded, a true smile reaching her eyes, in response. “Yeah…now, you said something about shooting practice, any reason why?”

 

David sighed “Never handled a gun before, don’t have my own weapon, I was given one but that’s only because I need to protect myself from anyone trying to klep my merch.”

 

Lucy nodded “And have you? Had to use it?”

 

“Pulled it on some Tyger Claws, got some shots off before some of the more reasonable 6th Street intervened. I was on the border of theirs and Tyger's turf.”

 

Lucy giggled “Bad luck does seem to follow you. There’s a Firearms store in my Building.”

 

Lucy did the negotiations, apparently, the food dispenser was one of the better ones in the Building. Apparently Lucy was winning the man over, not that it was that hard, as Lucy cocked her hip and jutted out her chest. David felt a blazing hot rage burn in the back of his head, he didn’t know why. Lucy looked over at David and winked, David stiffened and he headed over. His hand drifting over the Lexington on his back.

 

“Hey, love.” David stated attracting Lucy’s attention, Lucy had been thrown off guard slightly but quickly recovered herself to maintain the act. The Gunstore owner blanched slightly, he could feel the rage emanating off the young man. He had a feeling he could take this punk, he didn’t look that chromed-up or even chromed, but it was better to err on the side of caution.

 

“Er sure, how about I throw in forty hours of practice time as well? Look, I used to serve in the military and I just sell guns but the fact Lucy, I’ve smelt the gunfire residue coming off you a few times, if your gentleman friend is joining you in your line of work then I want to help you out. You’ve helped me out before.”

 

Lucy grinned “I’m glad we can come to an arrangement. Now can we start?”

 

“Business is quiet, so yeah. Pal, what are you carrying?”

 

David stopped for a moment before he pulled out his Lexington, the owner’s face didn’t reveal anything, but his eyes portrayed disappointment. Reading body language had become a necessity when surviving Arasaka Academy. With one glance, David, could tell which students were the ones that were most likely to give him grief on that particular day. "Something wrong, choom, your eyes are saying you're disappointed in my weapon of choice."

 

The Shopkeep sighed "Yes and no. Yes, because the Lexington is predominately a woman's firearms, due to the fact it can be hidden in a purse or pocket…plus the stopping power is quite frankly atrocious. So you're going to want something a bit sturdier, I'd say due to the noodles that are your arms you'd better start with a Unity or an Overture."

 

David nodded "I'll get a Unity, I'd give you this, but, it's my work issued firearm."

 

The duo spent three hours on the range, the first hour was on actual safety. The next hour was on dry firing to get David accustomed to the Unity and the final one was devoted to putting ammo down the range and into a target.

 

It turned out that David learnt quickly. He was able to form a tight grouping on the target "Firing at a target is one thing. Combat is another, the only way to gain experience is to be in combat."

 

Lucy grinned and all but dragged David out of the store with his Unity. She was giggling, finally, with the job imminent and no-one bothering them, they could finally have time together.

 

Like the last time, before they were interrupted, the pair were lying on her bed in the Moon Braindance. The only difference was Lucy had moved herself closer to David and was resting her head on his chest. The duo finally fell asleep still submerged in the Brain Dance.

 

The morning came too quickly for them. The radio was blaring Samurai and there was singing? Lucy sat up deactivating the braindance and headed out of her room to find Shogun sitting in the living room. "Morning, neither you nor David were answering your comms, Maine’s anxious. I volunteered to pick you lovebirds up."

 

Lucy blushed, she turned an even brighter red as David woke up. It took them ten minutes to fully wake up and the duo were climbing into a MaiMai with sleeping Ajuka in the front passenger seat. Lucy gave backseat instructions to the gang safe house out in the Badlands, and they arrived next to a motley crew of vehicles including another MaiMai and an Emperor with a Motorbike as well.

 

"Ajuka, wake up, lazy flatliner." Ajuka bolted upright and unceremoniously opened and fell out of the car with his SAW. Lucy and David climbed out as well, with Lucy leading the way they entered the warehouse.

 

"Lucy, Kid, MedTech, Rockerboy." Maine grunted.

 

David looked like he wanted to protest "We're the new guys, untested, don't tell them your name. It makes it easier for us to not form a bond should you die on the job."

 

"That sounds…"

 

"It's bullshit, but, effective bullshit. I don't bother to learn my patients names until their second appointment. It's a shitty but necessary thing to do in this shithole of a city." Ajuka explained "Kid, listen, I need you to get with the programme and I really mean it. Good I can feel the spectral heat-seeking chanla aiming towards me right now. You're mother would kill me if she knew what you were doing and I was helping you. She'd definitely kill me if you were doing this and I wasn't helping you. I need you to keep with the programme. Can you?"

 

David could only nod, he was beginning to think that chipping the Sandevistan had been a dumb move. "I can."

 

Ajuka nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "Right then, Chrome-Dome, the job?"

 

Maine nodded “Our Target is a high-level executive, by the name of Tanaka. He has data that our Fixer wants, so we’re going to get him through his driver, Maxim Kuznetsof. Our driver is as predictable as water runs through a tap.” 

 

Ajuka raised his hand “Have we got a mugshot of the guy? Just so we know whom we’re looking for.”

 

Maine nodded “You’ll get the specifics in a sec. Anyway, our driver on his days off likes his underground fights and betting on them. Anyway we have someone willing to give him a bad day, afterwards, he goes and drowns his sorrows or victories and the Jacked and Coke, which is where we’re going to be waiting for him. We’re going to be in two teams, Myself, Dorio, The MedTech and the Kid will be on site, ready to swipe his nav-chip. Lucy will also be there, the rest are going to go to Site B and set up a holding facility for the main Tanaka.”

 

“What if Tanaka calls him in?”

 

“On the mans day off? He wouldn’t do that, kid.” Maine retorted dismissing David completely.

 

“He would, could and probably has. I know that much when I joined the Arasaka Academy. Yes, I'm a baby corpo, why do you think my mom was strapped for eddies so much?"

 

Maine paused "That explains quite a bit actually. So you were a baby corpo, Kiwi…”

 

“It adds up. I cracked his ICE, which was nonexistent.”

 

Maine nodded “The other team is going to go to the fight and see if we can get a few more eddies.” He then passed a shard around giving everyone a mugshot of their target. “Any questions? Good let’s go.”

Notes:

I'm back. Sorry for the delay, mental health took precedence

Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Cyberpsychosis and Back 

 

David was bored. He was sitting up at the bar, sans his Neon Yellow Coat. Ajuka had told him to leave it in the car, said that 'yes its a momento, but, you'd much rather have it to wear after a job than lose it on a job.'

 

David had seen the man's point. Thankfully, Ajuka was just out of his peripheral vision. Everyone was sharing a group comms.

 

A: How you holding up?

R: I wanna shoot something, so, holding up badly.

A: Wasn't talking to the pint-sized war machine. I was talking to my ward.

D: Nervous, I guess, also with a side of shitting myself with a hint of excitement.

M: All normal punk. Just make sure you keep your shit inside of you.

P: Hey ladies, fancy joining good 'ol…

L: Nope. As I said before…uri at best, clap or something worse and worst. I don't know where you've been.

K: Well said Lucy.

Do: Keep it professional. 

S: I've got one big bastard pulling up right now…might want someone to hack the car for easy get away incase shit goes sideways

M: Quiet. Now we've got our jobs, time to earn our keep.

 

At that moment Maxim walked in, a literal giant of a man. Clad in a nice two-piece suit and shoes that seemed to positively glow. The Edgerunners observed as their target sat down and ordered a drink. "D: When do I move?"

 

"A: Wait…Now." David blurred and court the hastily ejected shard. Maxim turned around ad Ajuka moved.

 

"You alright, friend? Barkeep one more for my friend here and I'll have the same."

 

Maxim eyed the newcomer "Thanks, but, you're no choom of mine."

 

Ajuka chuckled "Maybe not. But tell me my friend, what would you prefer? To be drowning your problems on your own or drowning them and exchanging bullshit with another guy who wants to drink alone."

 

Maxim paused "You've got a point. Besides I need to pay you back for the round. I'm Maxim. Maxim Kuznetsof."

 

"Zeke. Ezekial 'Bones' McCoy, and yes I'm a medical examiner."r, I work for Trauma Team.”

 

Maxim stared at him “Okay, this is a coincidence, Ezekiel, one that I would say feels far too much like a setup.”

 

Ajuka cocked his head curiously “How so?”

 

“I had said to myself that I need to find a MedTech and after I went to my fights, that’s why I’m drinking, I like to put a bet or two down and normally I’m on a winning streak. However, I lost, I lost badly and this is where I go when I lose.”

 

Ajuka nodded “I know what you mean. Yesterday, I clocked into work for my standard twelve-hour shift, as part of Recovery Company Alpha, Team 2. I’m good at my job, I’ve had my head in medical shards since I was five years old, maybe younger. Also, there are nearly Seven-Million people in Night City and we just happen to be in the same bar. Set up, highly unlikely, definitely probable if you’re suspicious type but me being a MedTech and you a Bodyguard needing a MedTech. Call it a coincidence. Ajuka held out a gloved glowing hand which Maxim tentatively took.”

 

“Your details for a Trauma Team Clinic?”

 

“It’s not exactly Trauma Team, but rather an individual subsidiary of TT. We’ve got the right to label ourselves TT but I’ve labelled us TaTr. Tactical Trauma.”

 

Maxim snorted “I’ll definitely keep you in mind…do you do…upgrades?” He asked in a low whisper.

 

“What kind? I mean, damn man, you’re in very good health at least from what I can see from a glance. What other sports are you following?”

 

Maxim grinned “Another sporting man! I have to admit I do have a passion of the NCR, I’m not a Night City Native, but, I know that it’s always good to follow your local team, yes?”

 

“Never go wrong with the Rangers. They’ve grown on me, I was always a fan of Death Soccer, but then ‘Ice Pick’ Scholes and ‘Bender’ Becks both got killed in the finals resulting in an 0-8 home game loss for the trophy followed by sixteen hundred people dying in the following rumble including a cousin of mine I turned my back on sports. It didn’t help that the Blackouts, and the others including the Rangers were all on a major losing streak…I lost faith. However, my faith in the Rangers was returned when I was a teen and the Rangers debuted with a team greener than nomad weed…”

 

Maxim boomed with laughter “And went on to win, the trophy, twice.” As they were talking the copying of the chip was nearing completion. The previous device Dorio was going to be using would have taken much more time; but due to an incredibly rare slow day at the clinic, the geniuses, or insane, the reports were conflicting; either way Blackbeard and Freeze had managed to rebuild and update the tracker using spare parts from a Cryo-chamber and an old microwave. How it worked Ajuka wouldn’t know, nor did he care. He’d muted himself from the convo and he immersed himself in chatting with the unsuspecting target.

 

Dorio checked the scanner, it was at 95% and climbing…slowly. Ajuka was doing his very, very, best and succeeding in keeping Maxim occupied and off guard. “Babe, had no idea that, Ajuka was so good on his feet.”

 

“I heart that Dorio. How’s the copying?”

 

“94% and slowly climbing. It’s better than it could have been but…”

 

“I might be able to do something, I’ll have to be on the premises though…” Lucy chimed in. Maine snorted into his fake pint, he could picture the girl out side, pinky and thumb outstretched and other three fingers curled talking into an imaginary phone. It was quite adorable “How’s David?”

 

“I don’t know anyone by that name, Lucy.” The deep rolling bass rumbled.

 

Lucy, outside, rolled her eyes “The new guy, the youngest of them, don’t play me like a fucking tool Maine. You know his name, it’s just the fact that she’s dead and he’s not and the only living…His name is David…he’s done his job.”

 

“Erm, hate to ruin a potential fun night for you both, Lucy…he’s not slid the tracker in. Although could you help me crack this car? Might be able to boost the thing, with the car.” Sammy contributed, he was there primarily as the secondary or now tertiary staller to prevent Maxim from leaving. Rebecca would have been the first but Ajuka had stepped up exceptionally quickly, with a very clever play.

 

Unfortunately, Maxim’s eyes turned yellow as he received a call “Maxim.”

 

“Hai, Tanaka-Sama?”

 

“I need you to pick me up.”

 

“On my way.” Dorio cursed, she’d only gotten up to 96% copied, their Fixer wanted all of the navigational data, they still needed to return the chip. “Lucy…please tell me you’ve gotten into the car.”

 

Lucy was shaking as she was frantically trying to hack the car “Nearly…there…” Dorio held onto the chip as it tipped to 97%...this was going to be tight. There were seventy yards from the bar to the door. Maxim, turned to leave and crossed thirty of them as it hit 98%. 

 

“Need a distraction,” Dorio whispered. All she got in response was a cackle from Rebecca and the compact weapon specialist ex-mox got to work. It just worked, David re-inserted the chip and rushed outside to find Lucy just finish breaking into the car.

 

“David…you know how to drive?” Sammy asked.

 

“Er…no.” 

 

“No time like the present. You’re gonna see either a button or a key slot…” Anything Sammy was going to say, was interrupted by a barrage of gunfire.

 

David panicked and started the vehicle. He, theoretically, knew how to drive but in reality he had no experience. The gunshots had forced Lucy into his lap, he pressed the ignition button and everything descended into mayhem.

 

Maxim was incensed, not only had he lost money, he’d also lost his company car; meaning he wouldn’t be able to complete his job. Yes, he worked for Arasaka but mainly as a chauffeur and a bodyguard but for people like him, there were many corpos who were willing to shell out for his skillset. “Fucking Night City.” He growled.

 

Ajuka stumbled out “What’s wrong?”

 

Maxim spun, his rage shortciruiting the majority of his good common sense and he turned his smoking overture on the MedTech. What brought him back to his senses was the nonchalant, almost slouching stance that the MedTech had taken. “You mind, lowering your smoking overcompensator?”

 

“Overcompensator…I will have you…no, I’m not going to say that.” Maxim replied as he lowered the Overture.

 

Ajuka chuckled “You were opening yourself up for a ‘that’s what she said line’, man, choom, you’ve had a rough day. You some eddies and now you’ve lost your car.”

 

“Yeah…too some Latino punk and his Output. How stupid do you have to be? Stealing an Arasaka-Corporation Vehicle? The cybersecurity is just too good to be true, you have to be insane to do such a thing.”

 

“Insanity, might, be a valid reason. Another reason could be that they’re just that good? Or adrenaline junkies…was there anything valuable or important in it?”

 

Maxim looked at him “How did you not lose your job at TT? Surely you know about vehicle cybersecurity interfaces?”

 

“Can’t say that I do…I’m more interested in stitching broken organic matter back together or welding new cybernetics to cybernetics and the like. The most I know about vehicles is; twist key for ignition, holding point for clutch and gear transfers and evasive driving manuevers. Considering I can J-Turn an Ambulance whilst a gastric bypass is occurring in the back I’ve not had the need to learn more about it. You need to contact your boss, inform of it, inform him of everything you saw.”

 

Maxim nodded and he began the monumental task of trying to save his job. As the Edgerunners piled out of the pub “Well…we’ve got the Nav Data, and, Lucy and David have taken the car for a spin…” Dorio whispered.

 

“Well…shit. Everyone we'll split up whilst Maine and I go to get our runaways. Regroup in a day or two."

 

Ajuka nodded and the Edgerunners dispersed leaving him with Maxim Kuznetsof. The giant of a man was fuming "I've just lost my damn job. That car was one of two ways; the other being kidnapping my former employer, Tanaka Kirito, too access the R&D projects that Tanaka wad overseer of."

 

Ajuka’s eyes widened "That's why, you were so concerned about those punks for jacking your car."

 

Maxim nodded "I didn't like my employer, or Arasaka in general, but…"

 

"They paid well, very well, with decent benefits."

 

"They can't claim any Eddie of mine. When you join with Arasaka, they give you a serial number and an allocated serial number flat and account. All money is paid into it."

 

Ajuka nodded "You squirreled funds away. Now you're looking for work."

 

Maxim nodded "Yeah. I don't have much to offer, but, I'd like to think I'm a decent driver."

 

Ajuka nodded "If you can get a reference, I'll be able to set you up for an interview. It'd be a driving job, comes with some perks. Nothing like a Megacorporation, but…still some perks."

 

Maxim nodded "I'll give it some thought. Those kids have got Guts, should they survive."

 

Ajuka chuckled “I’ll see you about.”

 

With a contact made, Ajuka headed back to his clinic.

 

Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back X

 

Everyone had turned up at Turbos. It was an open parking lot with a converted petrol station into a bar. It wad easy enough for the gaggle of MedTechs, all piled into a customised Mackinaw.

 

It definitely turned heads when an armoured truck with the colours of Trauma Team reversed, rolled into the parking lot. Maine, with his arm around Dorio, snorted "Couldn't you have come in something…less discrete?"

 

"Considering the most discrete vehicle we've got, smells like a hotbox and gangbang party vehicle." Ajuka replied causing Sam to flush.

 

"Plus, I can't fit 4 Guys and 1 Lady all on high protein or concentrated protein diets into a car smaller than Ajuka’s foot." Sammy replied shooting Ajuka a filthy look "That was one time when we left NightCity."

 

Ajuka chuckled “It was a brilliant piss-up. We woke up somewhere with some Nomads.”

 

Sam looked at her boyfriend “Are you insinuating that you’ve got a child somewhere?”

 

Ajuka paused “I honestly don’t know. We weren’t together then…I was sixteen. So, the answer is honestly not fucking clue. Then I returned I was scooped up into TT and completely forgot about it.”

 

Sam shook her head before smoothly cracking him over the head “You’re an absolute idiot. Now, do you remember the band of Nombads?”

 

“Began Al…something or other.”

 

“Aldecados, good people, very protective of their own.” A drawling voice called out, Ajuka spun almost activating his own Sandevistan. He stopped before, letting out a painful groan.

 

A cybernetic arm caught him and he found himself resting against the windshield of his truck; looking at a well-dressed man in a brown suit “The name is Falco, I’m an ex-Nomad, I used to ride with the Aldecados.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Falco, I think.” Ajuka murmured.

 

“The answer to your unasked question to me is yes. I remember you and Sammy getting absolutely wasted with us, yes, the pair of you do have a pair of kids with the Aldecados.” Falco said with a shit-eating grin.

 

“Are YOU okay?”

 

“Currently in utter disarray; mentally, physically and emotionally. Mentally, it’s been draining keeping my clinic out of the Underworld bar being medical clinic and not a backroom dealership for all things Chrome. Physically because I’m nowhere near 60 and yet due to my own Sandevistan, I’m developing rheumatoid arthritis…business has been too busy for me to even book a BioTechnica treatment. Now emotionally because I knocked a woman up, gone in the morning and completely unaware that I have a kid, whose roughly in there teens with a deadbeat absent father with no-way of even knowing how I’m going to tackle that shitball, would they even want to know me? Meet me even?”

 

Falco chuckled “They don’t blame you, the Aldecados, they’re slightly pissed off that you didn’t get in touch. They get it, city boys come out to the Badlands for some fun and leave again. Hell another one of ours Trace, his mother was a Big City Girl. No-one knows WHO is mother is but many can guess.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Can you tell me a bit about them? Nothing like hobbies etc. but rather male, female and basic looks.”

 

Falco nodded “I could. But I’ll do you one better, I’ll give you their details. On the condition you call them right here and now.”

 

Ajuka’s eyes lit up a bright blue as a profile appeared Isis Bright. The image caused Ajuka’s heart to skip a beat, tanned skin with dark brown eyes with blonde, black and green hair…although it looked like the green hair was much more natural than the other two.

 

Gulping down his fears he pressed dial.

 

Isis: Uncle Falco? It’s been a while! New number?

Ajuka: Sorry. Not, Falco, Isis…I’m sorry for ringing you at such a late hour…
Isis: Then-then why are you calling me, stranger, how’d you-you get this number anyway?
Ajuka: I got it from Falco…and…Isis, this is going to be the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard…
Isis: Go on. Tell me. First your name.
Ajuka: My name-name is Ajuka Bael, I might have intro-introduced myself as Zeke or Ez-Ezekiel to your mother.
Isis: Hold-hold the fuck up…are-are…you insinuating what I think you’re telling me?
Ajuka: That-that depends on what you think I’m saying…I-I, have it on very good authority from Falco that you were born, sixteen to seventeen years back.
Isis: Yeah…I was…looking Ajuka…just say who you think I am to you and what you want.
Ajuka: I think I’m your father and I’d like the chance to meet you…bring as many of your clan as you want to the meeting if you’re interested.
Isis: I’ll…I’ll…think about it. I’ll call you in three days about the meeting, should I want to. Then you’d better be at the meeting point at the specified time.
Ajuka: I will.

Isis: I’ll let you know in three days, Ajuka Bael, and…you’d better have a reason.

 

The connection ended “You okay?” It was Sam, holding a double vodka and red nicola.

 

“That…could have gone worse. She could have just told me to fuck off. However, she said she’s willing to talk.”

 

(David)

David sat with glass of whisky with Lucy, who was calmly smoking a cigarette with a nicola “To a job well done.”

 

Lucy smiled weakly at that “A job well done. You did, very, good. Listen, David, I want to tell you something."

 

David looked at her curiously, the earnest look in his face caused her to flush pink. "I'll tell you at my place." David nodded just as a familiar song began to blare from the bar.

 

"But first…I want to listen to this song." Lucy replied, moving closer to David; who draped his arm around her. 

 

"This was playing when we met."

 

"It was."

 

David grinned “Let’s get…” The words died on his lips as an expensive limosine rolled into the parking lot and the music cut. “Who’s…” He began.

 

“That’s Faraday, our Fixer, he gives me the creeps.”

 

(Ajuka)

“Fuck me…that’s that prick of a Fixer.”

 

Freeze looked at the limo and swore briefly in German “Want me to get the ‘Banshee’ ready?” Banshee was a customised Squad Assault Weapon, it was initially built in 2012 as a Light Machine Gun. However, like all things, at Tactical Trauma Ltd, everything was modified, to the point of the small subsidiary of the Trauma Team Megacorporation was unofficially designated as the ‘Experimental Division’ of the Trauma Team. A Spokesperson from TT declared that everything outside of the impeccable trauma and injury figures and results had ‘nothing to do with the company as a whole’. So, Ajuka had given them a concealed portable war crime machine gun and Freeze had a trigger finger.

 

“Fuck it, yes, Freeze…no shooting unless Sam officially designates it. I’m going to have words with the Fixer.”

 

“Ajuka, don’t kill him…Killing Fixers is a bad rep to have.” Bones chipped in absentmindedly.

 

“And pissing off MedTechs and decent Rippers is even worse. I would stake a limb that even if we, I, did, flatline him, I wouldn’t expect retaliation. Rogue uses us…”

 

“But would she if we flatlined a Fixer.”

 

“Maybe, maybe not. I’d trust Rogue to investigate the matter and deal with us. Good MedTechs are harder to come by, Fixers…not so much.”

 

Sam sighed “You’re an absolute asshole but not wrong.”

 

Maine strode up to the limo “It’s here, the navigational data.”

 

“Well done, Maine.” Came the far too neutral voice of the Fixer. “The data?”

 

Maine handed the data chip over to the Fixer who slotted it. “The data isn’t on there.”

 

Ajuka moved into view, his face cold as ice “Fixer, allow me to interject before my colleague does something stupid.”

 

Faraday nodded “Proceed…I recognise you.”

 

“Yeah, I told you to go fuck yourself. I still do, however, my obligations got mixed up with you and yours. So maximum offence intended at the recognition. Anyway, you give your team of Edgerunners their orders and then you pay them correct?”

 

“That…IS…how it’s supposed to be.”

 

Ajuka snorted “Then because you didn’t tell them the exact data you wanted, you do not get to be an utter short-circ’d wanker because they didn’t retrieve what you wanted.”

 

Faraday fixed Ajuka with all four of his a glare that would have chilled many a man to the cyber-limb. “Operational Security, the less they know, the better it is for those involved.”

 

“Better for you, Michael Lucius Faraday.” Ajuka growled causing Faraday to pale and Maine to grin.

 

“How…That matters not. What do you want Bael?”

 

“Maine, how much was he paying you?”

 

Maine smirked “63k split between seven of us. Then a 2.5million bonus if we did it without being caught or detected.”

 

Faraday growled, however, he shut up when Ajuka pulled out a handgun. “This car is bullet-proofed beyond whatever meager bullet you’ve got in that monstrosity of yours.”

 

Ajuka smiled as he lifted the handgun up “16cm long, 16kilograms in weight, fires .666caliber rounds. The ultimate fuck you sidearm, Michael, do you really want to hear this thing talk?” 

 

Faraday gulped, this was why he despised this MedTech and his family. Yes, they’re vanishing, mass murder, had been a blow to NightCity but they had been his first steps in dealing with his own family and becoming a Fixer. Faraday, had been raised as an orphan and had scrimped and saved to find out his origins and to find out his mother had been a Joytoy and his father was Zekram Bael, the younger brother of Zachariah Bael; the great-great-grandfather of Ajuka Bael had infuriated him. Zachariah had offered no reason as to why he’d abandoned Michael other than he hadn’t anticipated the Joytoy to have faulty bioware and so at age eight, Michael had killed his father and as he got older proceeded to eliminate the Bael Family. Once, Ajuka was dead…he, Michael Lucius Bael would claim the entire fortune of the Bael family. Granted he had a large portion of it already but the rest already in his cousins hands. He grudgingly handed over the exact money.

 

“Anything else, MedTech?”

 

“No. He’s got nothing else, but, I do. We’re done Faraday, we’ve completed your jobs so we’re done.” Maine growled.

 

Faraday snorted “You signed a contract, Maine, ‘your services are exclusively mine until I deem otherwise’. Do you remember that part of the contract?”

 

Maine shrugged “We’ll take our chances.”

 

Faraday smirked “As you wish, I beg you’ll reconsider when no other Fixer will approach you for breaking a contract. As for you, Ajuka Ezekial Bael, I’ll forgive your transgressions and getting caught up in my affairs this once. The next time you do so, I may not be so benevolent.”

 

Ajuka twitched “Safe travels, Fixer.” Something about Faraday unsettled him.

 

Maine grinned as his team swarmed him “We got paid and we’re no longer working for Faraday.”

 

David’s eyes widened as he saw the number of eddies in his account skyrocket. Working as a courier meant his bank account whilst not empty, it wasn’t exactly swollen with eddies. With the 359k in his account, his eyes swole up. He’d never seen this many eddies in life before, ever. Even his mom’s accounts had never been this large.

 

Freeze snickered at David’s dumbstruck face “Let me guess, never seen that many eddies?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

Freeze nodded “Talk to Sam and ‘Juka, they’ll give you some solid advice. Remember money doesn’t just talk, it also listens and sings a sweet seductive siren song.”

 

Sam looked at her Cryospecialist “Is he bothering David?”

 

“Yeah…look, I’ve just…”

 

Sam nodded “We’ll talk tomorrow, here, take these.” With that she slid him a box of condoms “Your output is eyeing you something serious. Go, have fun, be careful.”

 

Lucy had made her way over to him, draped her arms around him and whispered "I really wanna stay at your house."

 

David shivered at her breath on his ear "I really hope this works out." Lucy's eyes began to burn with a passion.

 

"I need to talk to you, seriously, and I'd rather not be exposed to the jeers of everyone else."

Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Summary:

Smutty goodness

yberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back XI

 

(Obligatory Warning of Smut ahead!)
David and Lucy found themselves on the roof of Lucy’s Megabuilding, drinks in hand and an unlit cigarette in Lucy’s off-hand, and her left hand was tenderly resting on David’s right. The only evidence of them being there was currently the high-vis jacket, David was wearing. 

 

“Thanks, for coming here with me.” Lucy murmured as they watched another rocket launch from the pad with its destination being the moon.

 

“Getting invited back…thanks…last time was entertaining. Thank you…for…well…everything.” David managed to say, it was slightly embarrassing; the last time he’d been with Lucy alone, they’d nearly missed the job and Sammy had found them together.

 

Lucy snorted “Yeah, that was embarrassing. It was the first time, anyone, really who’d found and been in my apartment, aside from me…and the first time we met everyone; Maine and the Others for you, and I met the MedTechs who’re protecting your gonk ass.”

 

David nodded “I can get that. You wanted to talk to me, privately?” David wouldn’t admit it, but, he was shitting himself when he heard Lucy say she wanted to talk to him privately. “This is the moment, she realises she can do much better than me.” It was an insidious thought, it might not be true but David wasn’t holding many high hopes.

 

Lucy nodded “You’ve taken to this, lifestyle, like you were born to do it. Please, I know you…I read your cyberware…and I saw how you reacted when Maine was so callous about your mom. I also remember you asking Vik for advice on bioware and ways to build mass. How’re you taking to the boxing lessons?” Lucy wouldn’t admit it, but, she was worried. She liked David, fuck, she wanted David to be hers and no one else’s. She remembered how Viktor had stared David down and decisively cut her crush’s desire for chrome and bioware and offered him an alternative. She then saw how smoothly he’d acted on the mission, only, losing his nerve towards the end and having to hijack the car. “Why can’t I just tell him…or show him. He can do much better than me.” 

 

David looked at her, tears welling in his eyes, he gulped “What’s…the point of this? Lucy…I’ve only just got to know you, since we met everything has been going fast…I need a point to this.” David was trying really, really hard not to fall apart in front of her.

 

Lucy smiled “When we went down the highway on the gurney, that was the first time I felt alive. Then you showed genuine interest in me and my dream and then you took me out on a date! If this is what romance feels like and I’m not in a BD, I don’t want this to end! I don’t want you to become a legend!”

 

David paused, everything, he wanted to try and argue seem to fall short. “If you can’t argue, reason and learn mijo. In fact always try to reason, learn and understand…this is important.” He turned to face her, gently encasing her hand with his own. “Lucy…so far, since we’ve met, life has been nova. I feel like I’m in a BD. Furthermore, I’m worried that you’re going to find someone better than a Street Rat from Santo Domingo.”

 

Lucy turned, mimicking his stance and smiled warmly as she watched David turn bright red and saw his second brain sticking up. “You gonk. We’ve barely met, with our first interaction with me following you to beating. Then we had that trip down the highway, then our nights together and the date…oh wait…He’s dim. Book smart but dumb in every way that matters to be an Edgerunner. Funny, Sam, Ajuka…you’re so right.” She moved forwards, pulled herself onto him and wrapped her legs around his waist; grabbed the back of his and captured his lips in hers. “I’ll make it simple, gonk. I like you, hell, I like you enough that I want you to stay tonight and whenever you want.”

 

David froze. However, the way the blood was flowing sang to him what to do next. With Lucy, trying to remove his mouth with her own, he pushed his tongue into her mouth whilst pulling her head to him. David grinned, slid off the wall and to his feet, spreading his stance to stabilise the fact that he was carrying Lucy. That wasn’t to say that he was weak, he had been developing his stamina and muscle mass but not overly much so. There was only so much core strength and lifting his arms being a drug courier could create; then there was the whole thing of not yet starting his boxing training or been to the gym yet.

 

Lucy tightened her legs around his waist, before leaning backwards to grab the door to the roof of the Megabuilding. She moaned at the distance of her mouth from David’s but decided to throw the gonk a bone. The door creaked open, David activated his Sandevistan and they vanished into the Megabuilding. Lucy hadn’t had the time to process, the reckless usage of the Sandevistant, the rapid change in location. “You…utter gonk.” She breathed softly in his ear.

 

“Second time today…yes, I’m a gonk.” He replied softly causing her to roll her shoulders up “But I’m yours.” He finished. Lucy smiled at him, and kissed him again, this time her tongue probing at his mouth and he let it enter. Lucy noticed that they were next to her sofa and with a subtle flex of her hips, David and her landed on the couch; Lucy pinning him in place. 

 

The kiss reluctantly broke, with strands of saliva connecting them. David, if he wasn't aroused…he definitely was right now. Lucy moaned as she rocked her pelvis into David’s “What…do you want? Right now, David?” She whispered with her last tempting thrust.

 

“You! Lucy, you.” David whimpered.

 

Lucy smiled impishly “Don’t forget that you need to be punished for being a bad boy and using your Sandivistan more than you need to.”

 

David could only follow a lamb to the slaughter, Lucy; the ass-swaying in a manner that had him whimpering. "She's going to kill me, but, what a nova way to go."

 

Lucy stopped just before her bed, turned and with that she turned, grabbed David and pushed him onto the bed. Davids' eyes widened as she straddled him again; from the underside of her arms, the two thin orange lethal monowires floated free. His eyes widened and his adrenaline spiked as the wires tenderly wrapped around his wrists, loosely tying him to the bed. Lucy giggled as she squatted above his genitals, and she eyed the swelling member "You deserve to be punished, for being a gonk, David. Don't fight this." With ease, the shoes and David's trousers were removed. Lucy had to fight back the urge to cut the clothes free. 

 

David was left in a black t-shirt and dark blue boxers, which were doing next to nothing to reveal how turned on he was. Lucy smiled seductively, whilst discreetly grabbing her leotard “I thought I was going to punish you, but, it appears I’m going to have you rewarded.” With that she pulled down David’s boxers and tenderly fondled his swollen ball sack.

 

“Lu…cy…” David groaned as he shuddered at the unexpected touch. The monowires tightened ever so slightly, they weren’t active so David didn’t have to worry about losing his hands.

 

Lucy could only smirk before she placed both her hands around his rod. She gently blew on his member and smiled, warmly, as David writhed in anticipation. “David, look…at…me.”

 

Delirious from the anticipation and the blood that seemed to be constantly pumping into his dick, he was almost delirious. He was pretty sure that Lucy had duplicated. Focusing, he managed to make eye contact with the Silver-Haired Goddess or Temptress. “Y…y…yes?”

 

“Do you want this?” This wasn’t Lucy, playing around with him, sensually torturing him to the brink of release; to deny him. This was Lucy, on their first date; nervous and worried.

 

“Yes.”

 

Lucy crawled up to him, slackening his restraints slightly, “You want this? You want to be corrupted, to be tortured, I want you to remember that I’m the only one in your heart.” With each phrase, her right hand began to stroke his throbbing penis. Davids’s vision nearly went white at the scintillating threat. "God! What a way to go…!” David thought. “Ye…ah…Oh God, Lu…cy…” The drawing out of her name caused Lucy to blush and slightly turned on. Lucy hadn’t resorted to sleeping with men, for eddies…thankfully, Kiwi had found her before then. However…Kiwi, whilst being a decent guardian and decent teacher; was, however, a little careless when it came to romance novel shards and BD. Lucy grinned and tentatively began to stroke his member. 

 

“Eyes on me.” She stated, David groaned with bleary eyes, he just made contact. “Are you with me?”

 

David nodded “I’m with you. The brain is currently melting.” Any other words vanished as Lucy began to lick his penis! If he wasn’t going to have a biological short-circ from Lucy’s blatant teasing, he was now. Lucy relaxed her throat and shoved her head down his penis, she grabbed his hips as he began to ejaculate. The monowires’ slackened, David inhaled profoundly and he sat bolt upright, causing his balls to slap into Lucy’s chin. David kept eye contact with the beautiful woman currently sucking him off.

 

“Do it, David, you know you want to,” Lucy told him, David only just realised that her eyes were glowing, showing that she was contacting him. “You want me to do what?” He repositioned himself, wrapping his legs across her back, forcing her head further down. He could feel Lucy enjoying this, and then he placed his hands on the sides of her head, placing pressure on the temples. He moaned and his vision rolled again, Lucy had now begun to suck with no regard and the squelching gagging sounds she was making as his dick exploded violently, down her throat and into her gut, a second time.

 

Lucy removed her mouth from Davids's member; semen, spit and saliva trickled from her mouth and began to drip onto her enclosed breasts and onto her leotard. "That was tasty, David, but I want some more." She moaned.

 

David looked at her, their eyes connected, Lucy could see in his eyes, barely controlled lust. There was something in David, the desire to dominate and to simply take…Lucy crawled forwards giving David a view of her tits. "Do it. You're mine and I'm yours."

 

David's control cracked slightly. One moment Lucy was crawling towards him, the next, Lucy was on her back with David trapping her hips between his legs. "If that's the case, look at me." David caused Lucy to playfully scowl at him.

 

“Fuck…you. Get your own catchphrase.”

 

David paused “So you don’t want this?” He questioned, as he tenderly ran a finger across her leotard and across her slit. The whimper from Lucy was music to his ears.

 

“No…Want…want…more.” Lucy moaned.

 

David smirked “Then…look…at…me!” With that he carried on teasing Lucy, this time using two fingers, moving in opposite directions. He grinned, as this simple action elicited more moans from her. Not completely done, still keeping her somewhat restrained, David with his left hand gently pushed the leotard away revealing Lucy’s glistening slit. Lucy whimpered as her slit was revealed, damnit! David was making her wet and the gonk was practically oblivious!

 

She was wrong, David wasn’t oblivious; well…not totally. All he had running for him were some XBDs he’d pushed for Doc. He grinned and exhaled softly onto the wet slit, Lucy whimpered in ecstasy as David then began to lick it and slide his fingers in. David’s smile got wider as Lucy’s moans got louder and louder, but, the best thing was she never broke eye contact. “Da…vid…Please…”

 

“Please what Lucy? Keep your eyes on me. What…do…you…want?” David replied with each gap, he began to eat the delicious opening causing more moans and squeals of pleasure from Lucy. “ish…me…makemecum!OhDavidpleasemakemecum!” Lucy babbled as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. David chuckled “If that’s what you want, then I’ll provide.” With that, he traced his hands over her slit, delicately aroused a small nub. Lucy’s eyes widened as David placed his mouth on her vagina, his tongue touching the nub and sucked gently.

 

Lucy let out a wordless and soundless scream as her vision went white. Unlike David, who had felt momentarily legless after the breathtaking deepthroated blowjob; Lucy went limp. David smirked and crawled back onto the bed “Lucy?” He began to repeat calling her name whilst planting kisses up her body eliciting more glorious moans.

 

Lucy mewled in response, as she managed to look at him. The look in her eyes sent David into overdrive; the raw unbridled want, desire, love and lust were a kaleidoscope of pure want in her eyes told David everything he could ever want to see or hear from her. “How…are…you…so good?”

 

“Would you believe me if I said XBDs?”

 

Lucy nodded “Partially, gonk, only partially.”

 

David blushed and he pulled Lucy to him, resting his head on her shoulder with prime purchase on her neck. “And…Ajuka, Sam and the rest have been…extremely thorough.”

 

Lucy tried to move away but she felt too much like jelly. “More, David, more.” She mumbled as feeling and muscle control slowly returned to her. She turned and in turn straddled David, squatting above his penis; then reached up to the top of her leotard and slowly began to unzip it. 

 

David was momentarily paralysed as Lucy divested herself of her clothing. "You're mine and I'm yours…" Lucy breathed as she unfurled her wires, binding David again before pushing herself down onto David's dick. Both of them groaned as the new experience engulfed them. David found himself, both, in paradise and in utter horror; the latter he was somehow okay with; yes the monowires were around his neck and hands again and their wielder was currently riding his dick and had her knees clamped to his hips as if he was a Bronko…he could cope with it. “But what a way to go.” He let out a groan of pleasure as Lucy moaned and forced the entirety of David inside her.

 

Lucy felt her eyes widen, one of the few bits of chrome that she’d gotten had been a Midnight Lady. Kiwi had insisted on it, fortunately, the model Kiwi had recommended and Viktor had installed was one that worked closer to the old ‘tube-tying’ procedure back before The Crash and Times of the Red. “Fuck! David!” Lucy moaned as she, paused mid-thrust to fully accommodate him and restarted her grinding and thrusting. David moaned in ecstasy, Lucy was very much the forbidden fruit for him. “Lu…cy…” He moaned, he tried to sit up but he was pushed back down Lucy had lent forwards, and captured his mouth in a searing kiss, whilst pushing her tongue down his throat. 

 

Their tongues battled, and David managed to snare Lucy with his bound hands and get her to experience what he was feeling. To his utter amazement, and slightly oxygen-deprived brain; he felt Lucy’s pussy tighten even more around his dick. Then, Lucy with one sharp thrust of her hips gave a silent scream, David accompanied with a low moan. The interesting thing about the Midnight Lady, it protected Lucy from getting pregnant and allowed her to keep going, but; it did nothing to stop her from squirting as her third or fourth orgasm rocked her world.

 

The bedroom was beginning to smell with the aroma of sex. The pair snuggled together, with Lucy starting the process of getting David ready to go again. They’d done loving and caring with a hint of danger with her wires; now she wanted David to really let go. She’d seen it in his eyes and in his soul after the mind-blowing orgasms “David…”

 

A groan was the response she received in return “Yeah?” His voice and throat were dry, husky and caked in the juices of Lucy. The playfulness in her eyes returned, she planted more kisses against his body, eager to get his attention again.

 

David vaguely remembered some of the more ‘vivid’ XBDs, granted he’d indulged in those repressed memories when he had his operation done for the Sandevistan. Yes, he’d been under generalised anaesthetic but, even with the recovery medicines, the after-effects of the surgery still hurt. Remembering the sampled and pushed XBDs had helped reduce the pain. He’d complied with the medication course, but, he needed other things to help them take the edge off. The feeling of flesh-on-chrome-on-flesh sent shivers running down his spine. God, I want more. She wants more…but… The picture of Lucy, naked, sitting on his leg and rubbing herself on it, her chrome glowing and reflecting the bright neon lights of the never sleeping city outside burned itself into his mind. Fuck XBDs, fuck BDs, if Lucy wants me…I’m not going anywhere.

 

Lucy grinned as she straddled his leg “Hey, David, are you okay? We can stop if you want?” David looked at her, a grin threatening to take his face off “Oh no, Lucy, I want more…” His voice lowered and deepened, it was almost a whisper but there was intent to it “I…want…to give…you…everything.”

 

Lucy paused, she stared down at David “Everything? Be careful David…you don’t…”

 

David activated his sandevistan, to move behind Lucy and wrapped an arm around her waist, one hand on her cheek and deactivated the sandevistan as he pushed his tongue into her mouth and pulled her into him. Lucy squirmed at David taking charge, she broke the kiss before leaning forwards, raising her ass and vagina to him “David…I WANT you. I know you don’t want to hurt me, but, I WANT YOU to drive me into the bed, the floor and the wall…David…” Lucy paused, he seemed to get it but she needed him to truly understand. She sat up on her knees, and arched her back to the point where she feared she’d break her back with her forced flexibility “I… want…you…to…break…me.” She moaned as she watched David’s face harden as did his dick. He’d felt so good in her when they’d been so romantic and playful, but now…she wanted him to be as feral as he could; she knew somehow, that David would do it. But it was fun to coax it out of him.

 

David paused, he closed his eyes as he began to think over what Lucy had said “Everything that happens here, stays between us?” Lucy nodded a coquettish grin on her face "Always. Please, David, I love you…and I want you to do this."

 

David broke, he pushed Lucy back onto her elbows and knees. He grabbed her luscious ass and squeezed. Lucy purred at the change of pace, the purring turned to moans of pleasure as David began to thrust. Her hands reached out to grab the bedding but David grabbed her hands and held her wrists to her lower back forcing her to moan into the bedding. It was wonderful! Lucy couldn't believe the sensation of love and pain between them, it was even better when David stopped slapping her ass one-handed and reached out to grab her hair.

 

David groaned as Lucy dissolved into a moaning, groaning she-beast to be grabbed, physically manipulated and dominated. He didn't even know he enjoyed this sort of thing, but, judging by Lucy’s near-enough silent screams; he could tell she was. Because she was enjoying it, then, who was he to disagree and stop, David grinned as he, this time, tapped the nape of Lucys’ neck sending her into another sensational orgasm.

 

They kept at it, the sheer level of feral lovemaking, or, rather rutting, all the way until the morning. David was covered in bite marks; some of which had been bleeding but had now long since healed and the blood congealed and stained on his skin. Scratches adorned his body, some had even drawn blood but the clearest and most vibrant of his markings were the extremely light burns and erythema markings around his wrists and throat. David had collapsed bonelessly onto the bed, pulling a limp Lucy next to him. Like David, Lucy was by no means unscathed by the night's worth of passion and lust; her ass and back were bright red, her ass from Davids’ delicious spanking and her back after he’d slammed her into the wall, then the coffee table and finally on the floor. Her stomach had swollen a little from their activities, Lucy looked at the dozing David “I’m not pregnant by the way.”

 

“Thaz nice.” David mumbled, his eyes closed.

 

Lucy couldn’t help but smile as she draped herself over him and sweet blissful dreams rolled over her. For once she felt safe and secure.

Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back XII

 

David groaned and Lucy moaned, David opened his eyes to find he was in Lucy’s apartment, on her bed. It would have been in her bed, but the duvet was on the other side of the room.

 

Lucy had fading redness, around her throat and her ass. Similarly, her hips displayed redness as well as her back. Coupled with the evidence of his semen trickling out and down her legs, it didn't take a genius to figure out what had occurred that night. “I can hear you’re awake and thinking.” The Silver-Haired Wonder commented, rolling over to look at him. “You did nothing that I didn’t want you to do, also, you cum…lots.”

 

David blushed at the comment, he wanted to move but Lucy had crawled across the bed and straddled his leg. She smiled down at him “Is little David still raring to go?”

 

“When on a mattress with someone who is far too good for him, how can I not be?”

 

Lucy’s eyes widened, She pulled David’s head up and kissed him deeply “Don’t you dare say that. I’ve seen you looking at me, making me feel like a diamond when I’m actually glass.” David looked up at her, she’d told him during their date that her life had been rough and as a result. Some of the data shards, he’d been leant by the TaTr Crew, he’d been particularly interested in was psychology; especially in regards to cyberpsychosis. “Lucy…want to…”

 

“Do I want to what?” Lucy whispered softly into his ear.

 

“Go see a show, this evening?” David replied as he gently traced her chromelines, causing Lucy to purr and moan before pressing herself closer to David, she began to plant kisses on his chest before heading up to his throat. “That sounds perfect…aren’t…you meant to be at work?”

 

At that moment David’s hollo-communications began to ring “Hello?”

“Ah, David…I was wondering if you were coming into work today? Or are you enjoying your morning afterglow?” David groaned, he could tell immediately who was ringing. “Ajuka…”

“David.”

“I’ll-I’ll…be there…”

“I’m in the lobby of the megabuilding…tracker remember.”

David sighed audibly to Ajuka’s rumbling chuckle “I remember…all…too…well. Anything else?”

“How was it?” David hung up, Lucy pouted “Where is he?”

 

“In the lobby. Said something about not wanting to come into a flat where I’ve been sowing my seed.”

 

Lucy giggled “I’ve not had someone to my garden that well before. I’m…going to need to talk a Ripper…”

 

David, had just pulled on his trousers grabbed Lucy by the waist “No. Come with me, talk to Ajuka…for all of his fucking around and immaturity that makes Pilar look responsible, you tell him you want some medical advice he’ll look after you.”

 

“I remember him pulling a heavy assault rifle on me.”

“You did pull monowires.”

 

Lucy shook her head and straddled David, finishing dressing him “That is why, I…am worried about having nice things or good things.” David pulled her to him “You’ve got me. You said you wanted to go to the moon, I told you…I’ll help you get there.”

 

“What about you?”

 

David grinned at her and kissed her “I don’t have a dream…because…I think I’m either living it or fucking close to it.” 

 

With that he got dressed and threw on his mother's EMT jacket, he left. Ajuka met him in the foyer, with three bags "Two sets of uniform, one for now and the other at your Outputs, the other is for now…complete with a Unity. Finally, your deliveries. Sorted shit out with Maine, you're clear, Hibatsu Yoshino called me.",

 

“The Japanese guy…Well, one of the many.” David replied.

 

Bones nodded “Anyway…You’ve got a courier gig. Simple medicine deliveries and keep an eye out for the locals.”

 

David nodded “And my cut? From this coming from a fixer?”

 

“Don’t get cheeky, but, yes, something is happening. You’re wasting time and daylight.”

 

David snorted and left the Megabuilding.

 

Lucy, reluctantly got dressed. She’d just pulled on a t-shirt that she’d acquired, from Kiwi. Her nightmares had gotten the best of her a few weeks ago before she’d met and hooked up with David. She’d acquired it then, she was heating up a burrito…it was her comfort food. When there was a knock on the door.

 

Using a Quickhack, she opened the door and she saw Ajuka standing there. “Sup, Lucy…just here to give you this.” Her eyes followed the bag and her eyes narrowed.

 

“It’s David’s spare TaTr gear, unadorned. He works for us remember.” Lucy nodded slowly, still not taking her eyes off the MedTech. She watched as Ajuka blush.

 

“Sorry about…well…holding an assault weapon in your vicinity and rather…at you…whilst in your house?” Lucy nodded “I accept, and, I’m sorry…I guess…I threatened your Rocker friend?”

 

“We had that coming…in some way shape or form. Anyway, I wanted to give you a number. It’s for my mainline; look you’re shagging my employee, or even dating him, the least I can do is ensure that you’re looked after.”

 

“And you do that by giving me your other half’s details.”

 

“Unless…you want to be talking to me for some good quality morning-after-pill medications.”

 

Lucy blushed and she tentatively crossed her legs “Why are you being so good to me? And for David?”

 

“You look like you need some love. Also…I’m being good to David; I’m guiding him on his destination to self-destruction in the guise of looking after him…I’m kidding, mostly, Gloria…she was a good woman, the least I could and can do. I’m more concerned about Maine’s impact on David, anyone with eyes can see David could become a chrome fiend.”

 

Lucy’s eyes had hardened at that “Oh…”

 

Ajuka snorted “He’d burn Night City to the ground for you…He wears his heart on his sleeve, but…is…rather dense about it. Anyway, I’ve got jobs to do.”

 

(David)

He made the deliveries with no problem when he heard gunshots. Adrenaline kicking him, reflex…led him to want to instinctively activate his sandevistan. However, the shooter had gone wild with their shots. 

 

David was one of the lucky ones. It turned out the shots had come from a highly decorated 6th Street Coloured 620 Ragnar Chevvy. He heard bodies hit the floor, an adult woman and a gaggle of children…roughly five by his estimation had hit the floor. His temper flared, but he had to dampen down on it.

 

He called Ajuka and the man picked up.

“Everything go alright?”

“6th Street…Chevvy…Shit…” David flung himself to the floor as bullets strafed where he had been standing “In…Japan Town…just been complimented several times on my fluency for Japanese. Now, 6th Streeters are shooting the place and me up.”

“Don’t be a fool. Get stuck in…your rep will go sky-high if you’re the first one to get stuck in.”

 

David pulled his new Unity, it was a tricked out thin. He spied a Crunch Mod, and a digital HUD revealing his ammo; oh and he had an extended magazine…multiple of them. He popped up from lying on the concrete, and began to squeeze the trigger.

 

His first four rounds, he’d thought he’d fired one, were the opening committee of the deluge of return fire. He saw Tyger Claws appear, giving him dirty looks before quickly helping him turn the Chevvy into a bullet-ridden one.

 

It felt like five minutes but in reality only nine seconds had passed. That was from the initial bullet fired from the Chevy to the point that the vehicle fell to piecemeal due to the amount of bullets puncturing it.

 

"You did good, kid, for a gaijin." A burly Tyger said, David might have been on the shorter side, but, the recent turn of good fortune meant he'd done some major growing. He was now either as tall as Lucy or taller.

 

The Claw was broader than David’s body. “This one appreciates the honesty.” David replied bowing to the man.

 

 

“You speak? Are you fluent?”

 

“This one speaks fluent Japanese, Spanish and English without the need for translation chips.”

 

“Soft words and good actions. However, I’m not the one you need to speak with although, here’s an appreciation of our efforts. I was going to give you more, but, since you are fluent you are familiar with our customs?”

 

“Family looks after Family, the innocent who’ve fallen just now…there father or relative is in the Tygers?” David replied.

 

“Correct.”

 

“I was here delivering medicines from Tactical Trauma. Some of your own, use the…”

 

The Claw nodded “Bael sent you…of course he did…would you please report to him, that my mother…Okada-Sama dislikes being chastised by a whipper-snapper like himself?”

 

David froze, he had met Okada Wakako! He merely bowed to her as one should listen to their elder. The Claw chuckled, you truly are new to the world of Edgerunning. You treated her with respect due to her age? You didn’t put anything together did you?”

 

David nodded apologetically “Is this the moment when one of your hitters comes and executes me for my disrespect?”

 

“No…it does, however, get you an audience with her.”

 

David nodded “I need to message someone.”

 

The Claw nodded.

 

David began to call Lucy.

 

“Hey. I was just thinking about you! How’s work?” Lucy asked curiously.

“Errr…it’s finished. Look, you know how you told me I should develop my own rep as an Edgerunner.”

Lucy paled “What’s happened?” She’d been hiding out on her Netrunner Channel 77ChatArchive recently, and, hadn’t seen the news.

“6th Street, Watson, I’m working in Watson…Now, I’m off to see Okada Wakako…Can you pass the message on?”

“Yep yep.”

 

(Lucy)

Lucy disconnected from her lover and messaged Maine’s group chat. She seldom used it, mainly; so Kiwi wouldn’t bombard 77Chat with her constantly with trolls. However, Maine had told her to keep an eye out on him.

 

Lun4y: David’s gotten himself an audience with Wakako!

Maine: No way…I thought you were keeping an eye on him?

Lun4y: I know where he is, besides, Juka came by!

Ajuka: He WORKS for ME! When we’re not on jobs…and…Lun4y, you said Wakako?”

Lun4y: Uh-huh

Ajuka: Leave it with me.

Lucy left the chat, it was a source of minor amusement. But right now she had a musical playing in the background as she resubmerged herself into her icebath. She was going to rub this in the others faces!

 

(Ajuka)

“Ajuka! HOLD HIM DOWN!” Sam yelled as a patient by the name of Kyle Garrick began to jerk and twitch. Poor bastard had survived being shot in the head and set on fire; some poor saps in the Night City Medical had scooped him and dumped him with them. 

 

“Easy, Garrick, easy…things are good right now. Well…they’re not because you’ve got a bullet in the head and you look like you’ve been cooked alive. Look, I don’t want to drill through your knee-caps because if you don’t calm down, we’re going to have to redecorate the chair with you.” With that the thrashing loon slowly began to relax.

 

Ajuka nodded “That’s a good lad. Listen, care to tell me what you’re doing wandering around with a bullet in your head? Your friend with the Skull bandana are doing walking around out in the junklands out of Rancho Corranado?”

 

Garrick passed out, Sam turned to him “We can’t do much more for him.”

 

“Is that…ever…or currently Sam?” 

 

“Currently…We don’t have enough trainees, but, I’m not going to let him to die.” Sam replied nervously.

 

Ajuka nodded, he didn't know the exact details on the Centre's finances but he knew that they weren't anywhere near bankruptcy. As for localised Trauma Callouts…so far they'd had very little. All of their traffic had been footfall traffic.

 

The Trauma Team command was going to be sending an inspection team. To assess them and hopefully, with this assessment it would mean more funding and more trainees. "Frieze…"

 

"Yes?"

 

"One more for the Cooling Room."

 

"Yes Boss. How are we going to explain this?"

 

"An investment."

 

"Okay Boss. Should I prep the good stuff?"

 

Sam gave the cryo-specialist a dirty look that promised pain beyond death if he was that stupid.

 

(David)

"Do you understand your task?"

 

David nodded "Follow the marker, reaquire the lost package. Take the package to the destination, hand it over, and go. Get paid."

 

Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back XIII

 

David was blindly firing out of his window at Scavs as a car blew up…and it wasn't his fault. He'd found what he was looking for, as Maine behind the wheel of his Quadra; had skidded around the corner. There was a look of utter fury on the man’s face; the door opened violently and David found himself looking down the barrel of the Militech Crusher “Get in.” David, gulped, he hadn’t done anything wrong had he? He climbed in and he’d barely sat down in the seat before Maine wrenched the car into first gear and set off.

 

“Where are we headed?” He growled, David looked on the case and began to rattle off the address only for Maine to snort. “Dawg, you’re doing a run for Pilar. After you’ve done this, you and I need to have word.”

 

“No.” Maine nearly ploughed into the car in front. “What did you say, punk?”

 

David let out a breath “Everytime you and I have met, you’ve either wanted to be my best-choom and mentor or you want to kill me or fuck me over. I’ve found myself doing a gig for a Fixer…yet, you come charging down on me like Maelstrom on your ass, threaten me with your crusher and tell me ‘we need to talk’. So Maine…what have I done now, to dent your ego?”

 

It was an immensely cathartic experience, Maine had during David’s argument managed to pull over. He let out a deep breath “Alright…Okay…David, where to begin. First of all…this is not to do with you; it really gets under my skin when a kid…like yourself, with very little chrome just waltzes into this line of work and does so almost like riding a bike. Second, I brought you into this line of work…I was anticipating or rather expecting you to be pestering me for work."

 

David nodded "Well…tough, Maine. Look, Ajuka and his Team have been looking out for me. Then Lucy as well. I'm not some pawn of yours you can throw into a situation. I always knew working with you was going to be temporary and that was to pay off my Sandevistan. If I'm going to be an Edgerunner I'm gonna do it my way. I'll work with you, but never for you. I might consider it if you ditch Faraday as your Fixer."

 

Maine glowered at him "You're cutting strings with me because of a Fixer? Dawg, that's probably the worst…”

 

“So you’re fine with that Fixer of yours, treating you and your team like shit? Ajuka warned you about him.”

 

“He did…but the pair of you don’t understand.” Maine replied weakly.

 

“We can’t understand, if you’re not going to tell us. We as a Team, can’t complete our gig unless we know everything.” With that David got out of the car “Thanks for the ride. I’ll finish this, call in with Wakako, and then see if any other Fixers need help.” 

 

Maine looked at him dumbstruck “This is what you’re going to do? The moment your debts cleared, you’re taking off on me? On us?”

 

“There never was an us…not really…you only ever saw me as my mothers kid, someone who owed you or you owed them, in some twisted sort of way. If our first meeting was anything to go by, you completely botched any chance of me willingly working with or for you. I still might…but that’s not my terms. I didn’t want this to go this way.”

 

Maine nodded “Hey, David…look, be…smarter about things. All you can do is what you can do. You’re going to go far as an Edgerunner; just…don’t forget your old crew.”

 

David snorted as he walked away from Maine. As if she was tracking him, Lucy called.

 

L: Hey-hey, how’d it go?

D: So-so good to here your voice. Just saw Maine.

He could imagine Lucy freezing slightly “D: Luce? What’s…”

L: I’m sorry…David…I…I…I need too explain something.

D: Okay?? Care too fill me in?

L: It’sallmyfault.

D: What is?

L: You asked me to pass on your message to Maine and Ajuka about you working a gig for Wakako, right?

D: …Not…in that order. Yes, I wanted you to pass a message along; to Ajuka it was…they’ve enjoyed my punctuality and ability to speak Japanese, got-got involved in a shoot-out, now running a gig for Wakako. For Maine it was something like ‘Got to put in my hours all day-to-day for my actual job.

L: …shit. Maine heard all of it.

D: That’d explain the open hostility to me. 

L: Open hostility…where are you?

D: I’m near Wellsprings NCART.

L: See you shortly.

 

David deposited the box, with a bleary eyes Rebecca answering it. After beating an extremely hasty retreat, he made it to the station and after nearly falling asleep on it; stumbled off at the station near Lucy. Lucy was waiting just outside the terminal, with a burrito and a broseph for him. David sat bonelessly next to her, before giving her a brief hug and peck on the lips before devouring the burrito and broseph. “You’re a hungry boy…today.”

 

“Onwy becosh no eathen a thing waww deh.” David replied, as he struggled to chew a piece of synth-beef. Lucy could only giggle at the uncivilised conversation. “You know you can use your communication-cyberware to talk to me, when you’re eating.” David gulped the last of his burrito down and followed by the beer.

 

“You know, I wouldn’t have minded seeing you as I walked in the door.”

Lucy snorted “Like a ‘normal couple’, David…we smash and grab and other things and get paid for it. Embrace it. You run around with pharmaceuticals…As far as I’ve known you, I have never seen you drive.”

 

David blanched “Let’s just say…I have…problems with cars. Give me a bike and I can drive, but a car…don’t give me a car and expect it to survive.”

 

Lucy’s mind whirled as she pictured herself screaming as David activated his sandevistan as he was driving. “Only if it’s a last resort.” She informed him, she stood up coaxing David to his feet “Let’s go to mine and we can talk.”

 

Upon returning to her apartment, David flopped onto the sofa with Lucy supporting his head on her legs. Her hand grabbed his and tenderly stroked his hand with her thumb. Just feeling that sensation, with her other hand stroking his hair, David began to explain.

 

He explained how he’d found the fallen briefcase, then, as he was crossing into Heywood, Maine had come screeching round the corner solo; looking for him. David explained he’d been threatened at shotgun point and escorted to the destination which happened to Rebecca and Pilars place.

“What happened?”

 

David looked at her “I completely blew up at Maine. Told him how I actually felt when I was with the group. Asked him if he was happy with being treated like shit by our Fixer, when…there are plenty of other Fixers who’d happily take us on and not treat us like shit. Hell…somehow, I’m not even an insect for Wakako to notice and yet I’m doing gigs for her.”

 

Lucy smiled “That’s because…in Westbrook, especially Japantown the Trauma Clinic is becoming known as neutral ground, the fact they can ring the clinic and if they miss your first call, you can guarantee they'll get back to you. Plus, they've got a brilliant good looking runner for them. Who happens to be an Edgerunner."

 

"Wakako was annoyed at Ajuka."

 

Lucy's eyebrows headed upwards "Not unsurprising, he's known to piss off everyone with his no-bullshit mannerism." David explained "Apparently…Apparently…Rogue's the only one he's not pissed off."

 

Lucy chuckled at that "Well…before we got distracted with your legitimate work…Maine's not exactly wrong but he's not been entirely fair with you…Yes you should strike out on your own, that way, you're not dependent on one-person to help feed you. However, you should have let him know that you were branching out."

 

David nodded "If you can illuminate what you mean…"

 

Lucy pressed a kiss to his forehead "And whats in it for me, Mr. Martinez?"

 

"Well…teacher…I'll show you why I'm a disruptive student."

 

Lucy blushed red at the the thought. "Think of Night City as a Megacorp, and every district is a different department. Are you with me?"

 

David nodded. Lucy smirked, she was no academic but it warmed her heart to know that her street-dumb partner got her bad analogies. "At the head of all the Districts are the Lead Fixers, then there are other Fixers at different levels below them; the most important thing to remember is…any lower level Fixers there results reflect on to the Lead Fixer of the area. Then Edgerunners are hired by Fixers on either case-by-case or a contract." The latter word was spoken with venom.

 

"Faraday has a contract with Maine." David stated, his eyes wide.

 

Lucy nodded and made a grunt of affirmation "In essence Maine recruited you, he's responsible for you…you jumping ship…it puts him in a difficult position. Faraday has a reputation amongst Fixers so…giving him as little ammunition as possible to possibly turn Maine and by extension us loose…is the smarter thing to do. Currently we're not under his employ as he doesn't have a job for us."

 

David sighed "I probably already muddy the water, because, technically I work for Tactical Trauma and the boss of TaTr brought me into the Edge Running Scene."

 

He sat up, spinning around to pull Lucy into his lap. He enjoyed her squeak of surprise at his sudden movement. "What do I do?"

 

Lucy nuzzled his collarbone "Leave it be. Maine's a guy who shouldn't give you too much of a hard time over a fuck up. Besides, I'm sticking with you, if Maine forces me to choose…I have no reputation or cred of my own. So…I'm going to hitch my ride to my Input. Becca would join you as well."

 

David cocked his head "Did you just…say…what I think you said?"

 

Lucy giggled and kissed him "That depends." God those kisses and then softly murmured words were absolute murder on his self-control. 

 

"Message Dorio…she'll get the message across to Maine." The last was accentuated with a nip to his ear.

 

David replied to that nip with a hefty slap to her ass.

 

(Maine)

He slumped on his couch, clutching his Chromanticore in a near death-grip. "Okay Chrome-Dome, you've brutalised the beer bottle long enough, what is it? You've had the face on since Lucy called you and you rushed out." Dorio stated "Talk to me."

 

Maine groaned "David…David ended up doing a job without my say-so. It led to him getting a job from Wakako."

 

Dorio's eyebrows shot upwards "I'm…failing to…Oh Faraday. You don't think he'd take…"

 

Maine snorted "He would. I knew he would, so I confronted David about it."

 

Dorio placed her hands on her hips "Oh I heard how you confronted David about it. It sounded like you were about to waste the poor kid, whose only error was to klep your Sandevistan…which is the beginning and the end of your grudge with him. He stole what was rightfully yours. Let it go! He fucked up…and he has the blessing of being utterly ignorant. He wasn't even a formal member of the Team, that Tanaka job was his Tryout. So he has no obligations to you."

 

Maine stilled, he'd been following the medication to the letter…but the cravings wouldn't end. The nightmares wouldn't end. "I've…been a right gonk about him haven't I?"

 

"The light bulb finally turns on. The fact he walked away from you is a testament to his maturity. You…really need to break this down for him."

 

However her eye lit up.

D: Hey Dorio…Lucy filled me in…I'm willing to listen and compromise if Maine's willing to talk and be rational.

 

Dorio snorted, she dismissed the message. She'd tell him later.

 

(Lucy)

That slap…right across her ass. That felt so good! She could only moan as she felt David's hands beginning to roam over her body. "Give me everything…David." 

 

(SMUT!)

 

David, parted Lucy’s legs and rolled her up so her shoulders and neck were on the sofa; her legs flexed and hooked around his hips he forced his tongue down her throat. 

 

She writhed as David effortlessly dominated her. Whimpers creeper out of her as she felt her slit and ass were exposed to his hand. "Please…" Lucy whimpered as David's hand began to rub along her slit and ass. "Please what?"

 

Lucy groaned as David stopped his rubbing. "Please…fuck me." Her eyes widened as her moans and groans of excitement were temporarily replaced by surprise and apprehension as she felt David’s dick press against her asshole. “David…”

 

“Yes?” Lucy turned so she could better look at her lover and his organic tool. “I’ve…never done anal. Please…be gentle.”

 

“Of course…you might want to get yourself comfortable.” David rumbled as he squeezed Lucy’s ass. Lucy couldn’t get out of her unitard quickly enough; she was on all fours on the couch. She felt his dick wresting against her ass, she tightened the muscles instinctually. She ended up moaning as David ran his hands along her hips, up her sides and then her arms; which resulted in him pulling into him and allowing him to nibble on her neck. Lucy began to relax, she moaned as David’s dick entered her ass.

 

“Oh my god, David, you’re fucking big.” Lucy moaned as he slowly began to thrust.

 

“That’s what you keep telling me…on top of…mold me for you and you alone.” David growled as he began to slowly speed up his thrusts. Lucy began pulling away as David pulled out and they slammed themselves together. Lucy moaned as she adjusted to her man taking her anally. Lucy screamed in pleasure and David moaned as the Latino spilled his load into her ass.

 

"David…you didn't think that we were done did you?" Lucy taunted, naked with her monowires on display.

 

(SMUT END!)

Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back XIV

 

The wet sound of his dick in someone’s mouth woke David, god he was sore and standing to attention. He looked down to see Lucy, eyes glittering in the late morning light as she hungrily devoured her man's penis. “Hey…I was wondering when you were going to wake up.” Lucy chirped through the cyberaudio. David could groan “Wake up to my lady, sucking my soul out through my balls. Talk about a wake-up call.” Lucy giggled causing David to moan which turned into a grunt as he grabbed her head and forced her down his dick as he ejaculated down her throat.

 

Lucy slowly removed herself from her position. His semen was delicious, she could have done without him grabbing her head, she was only lying to herself…that night she hadn't realised just how much of a deviant the pair of them were. She'd tied David up with her monowires and instead of protesting he only fucked her harder.

 

She stood up and crawled next to David, pulling him to her. They lay together just content to bask in the afterglow. “Are you going to talk with Maine?”

 

“If I have to. I’m not going to make the first move. I’ve sent him a message to talk so…” David replied as Lucy’s finger trailed down his face. He watched her eyes widen as she traced the deep lines where she’d bound him with her monowires. “I’m…”

 

“Lucy…don’t you dare apologise. Yes you used your monowires on me, I returned the favour by…” David stopped. Lucy giggled “You railed me against the wall and doggy-style against the window giving anyone with an AV a free show.”

 

David chuckled “Are you alright?”

 

“I’ve never felt better…but…I am hungry.”

 

David grinned at her “How’s your fridge?”

 

“Are you planning to fuck me silly, then double dip with my fridge? It’s full…I found a new job.” Lucy replied a sly grin on her face.

 

David grinned “Double dipping all the way as it’s your fridge. There are many fridges but that one is yours. I’m in love with you and your fridge. You stay there and enjoy the show and smell.”

 

Lucy watched as her lover headed over to the fridge and pulled out eggs, bacon and a few things that resembled organic vegetables before rooting around in her kitchen. She took a still, of him bollock naked wearing only her apron; which happened to be hot pink it had been a gag gift from Kiwi. Soon enough the smell of bacon was permeating the apartment “How’d you like your eggs? Aside from unfertilised.”

 

Lucy blushed bright red “Scrambled.” It took fifteen to twenty minutes but soon enough David was trotting back up the stairs with a tray in hand containing a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and something a shallow net dive called a ‘potato cake’. Lucy waited for David to return with his before wolfing her breakfast down. She also took a pic of the food, Lucy wasn't a sentimental person, but David…not only had he wormed his way into her heart, knocking down her walls in the process by being genuine. Then there was the fact he could cook!

 

She uploaded the two stills. The first caption said: David domesticated! With the second saying: Breakfast! Kiwi was the first to reply with a Stop warning up this chat, it's too early for such warmth. Lucy smiled softly at the response, it was such a Kiwi thing to say.

 

It was Maine who then rang

M: Luce…add him to the call.

L: Add him yourself…David won't say it but if you want to make it right…you've gotta make the call.

On the other end of the line Maine looked at Dorio, for help. "You brought this down on you, you get yourself out of it." Maine sighed and contacted David.

D: Maine.

Maine paused the pure neutrality, nothing but courtesy and it unnerved him

M: Look-look, Kid, David… I was a complete and utter dick to you. I brought you into my crew, meaning, I should finalise any gigs you do. However, I completely disregarded your boss. Look, I've-I've never been in this position before. I've not had someone who has so much potential do two or three jobs with me before blowing us off.

D: Don't make us your crutch…do you remember telling me that?

M: Y-Yeah.

D: Don't get upset because I'm doing what you told me. I want to be part of the crew but I want your word that you're not going to throw a tantrum if I turn a gig down from you or Lucy and I…

M: I get it. I get it. Before Lucy, Kiwi, Pilar and You…we had a netrunner called Sasha, she died on a job and I've been a clingy motherfucker since then. David…will you come back and work with me and my crew again?

D: Providing you remember that I'm not just working with you. I might want to build my own rep individually. 

M: Yep-yep David. I'll see you on the next one.

 

The three of them hung up at the exact same time. Maine nodded and grinned at Dorio who smiled back, David had grown on her; she was beginning to think of him as her kid brother. "He coming back?"

 

"He's back. Also told me to not get pissed off if he says no to a gig…I…have a feeling he's going to be avoiding Faraday." Dorio chuckled and placed her forehead against his.

 

"I wouldn't blame him gonkbrain. I'm more worried about Ajuka, he looked like he really wanted to murder him."

 

Maine nodded before he paused "The way Ajuka was so nonchalantly violent towards him…and knew his full name. I think there's more going on here."

 

(Ajuka)

To say Ajuka was angry, was an understatement. He was apoplectic with fury, people liked to compare there tempers and loss of it to the equivalent of bombs and grenades, one person was said to have one akin to a pyroclastic flow (everyone around it dies). Ajuka likened his to a riptide, stable on the surface but the initial switch happened so quickly that the poor gonk had no idea that he'd be dead until he was.

 

Currently, Ajuka was sat at the table eying a shard with venom. In his hand was a shot glass that was icecold to the touch and accompanying it was a bottle of vodka. He was drinking the vodka like it was water. Sam stepped over to him "What is it?"

 

"Michael Lucius Faraday…he's my fucking cousin. What's worse, he's the one that had information on…" The words trailed off as his throat dried up. Ajuka felt numb, he barely felt her wrap around him.

 

"Then you know what to do…David does jobs for Maine…"

 

"Who works for Faraday. When did we hire Lucy?"

 

"We? You mean I…hired her. Good girl, sweet girl in fact. Warmed up to me considerably when I started talking in Polish and she followed what I was saying." Ajuka snorted "Yes…I know you did…it's our names on the company."

 

Sam nodded "In that case, three days ago. She mainly does our Cybersecurity; plus…it helps she's a quick learner. I mean you're teaching David how to be a MedTech…"

 

Ajuka nodded "Lucy's learning…"

 

"How to deal with people and make pharmaceuticals. You are better at putting people back together, but, I'm the better drug maker."

 

"As long as you don't start making Glitter, Synthcoke etc."

 

Sam smirked, "So you're not going to be mad if I'm manufacturing painkillers so potent you only get two or three in a bottle."

 

Ajuka raised his eyebrow "How potent are we talking?"

 

"Fentanyl based oral products are low-bar." Ajuka shook his head, being a small independent company did have its perks. Yes they had Trauma Team backing for kit and supplies but aside from that they were on their own. TT also looked the other way when they distributed their own supplies. It was amazing what people would cough up for some stronger than normal medicine.

 

One of the things the Freeze and Bones had accidentally made was a medicinally appropriate use of the drug Glitter. Three weeks of late night diving into Shallownet and backdoor talks with TT revealed that Glitter was a Psychedelic Drug on steroids. So Freeze and Bones had begun working on finding a dose that was potent, but didn't inevitably kill the takers. Was it illegal? Highly, but better for TaTr to be in control of it.

 

"Ajuka…come to bed. I've got something that might interest you." Sam whispered.

 

Ajuka nodded, he slid off his chair and he buckled. It was a simple movement but with the amount of alcohol consumed it was working its magic. He maintained a deathgrip on the kitchen table as he placed the vodka bottle back in the freezer, then succumbing to the desire to hug the floor; he crawled into and onto the bed.

 

(Maine and Dorio)

"Ajuka isn't picking up." Maine stated.

 

Dorio nodded "He's a licensed Ripper, with an open Clinic. He's backed by TT. He's probably as overworked as any Corpo so he's…"

 

"Either asleep or in the middle of an operation that doesn't need cyberware active." Maine huffed, he grabbed his medicine pouch and took a hit. Viktor Vektor, the man should be recognised as a Saint, Maine regretted being so secretive with his chrome and his rippers.

 

Vik had quickly got him to change his tune. That man even accepted credit, providing they went to him and him alone; so far Maine had agreed. Part of his second meeting with the Ripper was to get a full diagnosis on how screwed he was in terms of Cyberpsychosis. Vik had given him a diagnosis of 'Screwed but Treatable'. Maine had dropped the majority of his rippers, but, due to Faraday being a gonk Fixer the duo were hanging in the wind.

 

"Maine…I put the word out to some people I know. There's a Fixer by the title Dr. Yellow…he's willing to take a chance on us. Yes, I know how much squaring with Faraday means and being honest with whom you work for. However, you have to think about this…he offers us meagre completion rates and massive bonuses of which he's paid three times in the entire time we've worked for him." Dorio snapped.

 

Maine's jaw dropped as his Output finally let loose "Maine…I love you, I really, really do. Unfortunately, I don't want to work for Faraday; I'd prefer to walk out of this job. I honestly think you've squared everything with him and he's just using that debt to keep paying you ennies, instead of the eddies you deserve."

 

(Faraday)

Faraday tightened his grip on his tumbler and it shattered into pieces. It was a shame about the tumbler, it was a nice piece but it was much better considering it was empty as opposed to the delicious 80-Year-Old Scotch he was about to pour for himself.

 

The big broad was absolutely correct; Maine had paid off his debt to him, at least five years ago. However, the big man had been notoriously easy to manipulate; Maine was a sharp customer, and he remembered signing a five year contract…which Faraday had retroactively recorded as indefinite terms of service. His mouth twitched, part of the contract…he'd never share it with his minions; it was better for them not to know that he'd duped their leader from the get go.

 

Furthermore, he'd bugged Maine's apartment. His associates and eyes on the street had informed him of the sibling duo's residence. Kiwi, his ever present elite plant had dutifully informed him of her protégé and her subsequent apartment. The only wild card, the predictable one, the newcomer. The Newcomer, his name was David Martinez and he lived in Arroyo.

 

Faraday scoffed, an Arroyo Street Brat who worked as runner for his naive cousin. As long as they didn't have to meet, personally that would suffice. However, Lucy did seem interesting and quite tempting.

 

Faraday smirked to himself as he began to plan his next plays. Tanaka had just gotten back to him and was eager to meet.

 

(Wrath)

Wrath sat bolt upright in the bathtub, spraying the lavish extravagant room with not only cold water, but icecubes as well. "FUCK!" He screamed as he pulled himself out of the bathtub, he missed the mat and found himself in a crumpled mess on the floor.

 

The door to the bathroom was practically ripped off it's rails. Striding into the room was none other than Michiko Arasaka nee Sanderson, director and owner of Danger-Gal Industries. She paid well and looked after the direct members of staff, Wrath remembered breaking into her property and passing out only to find her Husband waiting to interrogate him.

 

Wrath had told his story, his time as part of a Blackwall Operation ran by Arasaka Hanako herself. “Are you okay? What happened? Did you find anything?”

 

Wrath groaned, he twisted his neck and the blissful release of cripitus as the bubbles in the cartilage of his neck popped and cracked. He grinned as the rest of his body slowly followed suit. He got up and pulled on a pair of boxers, workout trousers and a form-fitting shirt “As well as I can be, Michiko…as well as I can be, considering that other members of your Family, notably, your aunt would be very interested in bringing me back into her little…torture programme. As for what happened…” Michiko watched as Wrath’s gaunt face mutated even more as a toothy grin appeared “I am not Rache, I am nowhere near Rache’s level but I can take the extraordinary satisfaction that one of my siblings…my choice and desperation I might add, has survived. As for what did I find, Michiko, you’re going to have to be a bit more specific. I found lots of things…not all of it would captivate you or really interest you and some of it I am 95% sure would repulse you.”

 

“Anthony…I am nearly 70 Years Old, and my Grandfather is a 157-Year-Old Tyrant obsessed with controlling the world, for what happened when he was 26, 131 Years Ago…there is very little that you could throw at me that would ‘disturb me’ as you put it but I applaud you for looking out for me.”

 

Wrath snorted “It’s more self-preservation than anything else. However, I did find something interesting…more in the direct parameters of Danger Gal targets.”

 

Michiko smiled at him “Where is it?”

 

Wrath turned “Give it five minutes for all of the contents of my dive to be downloaded onto my external deck.”

 

Wrath hadn’t wanted to increase his debt to Danger Gal by having Michiko repair his fried cybernetic implants. It hurt when he initiated and exited his diving pod, read, personnel bathtub, but, the pain it was a good pain. It remained as a memento of his trials and tribulations surviving Hanako’s Black Wall Expeditionary Programme.

 

He looked down at his wrist the now dull red, as opposed to bright red, tattoo reflected across the mist-covered mirrors BW/B1/001 clearly visible on the inside of his left forearm. Wrath looked at the brand and scowled, Anthony Brown had more than a few aliases when in the Black Wall programme, a few of them had been Vecna, another Malcador and the last but most humorous was Astronomicon North Star. Those handles like the child, teen and young adult he had been were dead, buried and calcified with time now with all of his creche siblings dead bar BW/B12/002, pure unadulterated wrath was all that remained. The only thing he knew, he with the assistance of Danger Gal would take their toll on Arasaka in blood, chrome and finances; Michiko knew he didn’t care how the Megacorp suffered only that the Megacorp suffered.

 

He got up and headed to the small kitchenette and pulled out a bottle of vodka and a chilled Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc and he found a wine glass and he returned with a glass for his host and protector “Now all we have to do is wait.”

 

“Thank you.” Tony’s eyes lit up as his fee was deposited into his account. It was the silence, the silence and the company after a Deep Dive for Michiko that he appreciated; the small moments of tranquility to quieten the perpetual scream in his ears, the gunfire and slaughter along with his deranged chants of ‘Maim, Burn, Kill’ and ‘I walk the Eight Fold Path of Slaughter’ as he unleashed his customised daemons onto his wanna be killers that perpetually invaded his nightmares. His dreams, well, his dreams amounted to him alone in the ruins of a city sitting atop a throne. A throne of corpses amongst them men, women and children with a few notable faces mainly Hanako Arasaka’s body flayed of skin which made the upholstery of the chair. “I am the essence of my daemons, so as I pray, unlimited slaughter works.” He shivered that phrase…that infernal phrase. He could only hope Michiko would be out of the city when he finally decided to use it.

 

Michiko looked at her surrogate grandson, he pushed himself so hard…he’d pushed himself so hard and had come so far. Yes, he was more stable than he had been when they’d first met. She just wished that he didn’t have to consider his own life as expendable. She finished her wine and draped a Danger Gal blanket around him, she was familiar with the routine. He’d finish his dive, drink the bottle of vodka, have a nap, wake up from the nightmare, show her and Marc his findings, eat an entire pan of whatever had been cooked, drink another two bottles of vodka with his medication and fall asleep again, then wake up from nightmares and play video games until he passed out again, then dive. Rinse and repeat.

 

“How is he?”

 

Michiko pulled her husband to her and rested her face against his chest “Better, marginally. Not screaming as he decouples from his deep dive but the crepitus and readjustment to realspace have gotten worse. He still won’t allow us to repair his cyberware even though it’d be no strings attached.”

 

Marc chuckled “It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him about it. He constitutes us with Megacorps. When we say repair, he immediately thinks it's replacing. I’ve finished my case, next shift, I’ll talk to him.”

 

“Please. He’s the best that we have for diving. It doesn’t hurt that he’s around the age of our Ajax and Bethany.”

Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Cyberpsychosis and Back XV

 

Ajuka and Sammy were out in the Bad Lands, it was barely 5 in the morning; it had been an extremely hectic two days for the Clinic. It’d nearly slipped his mind that he was meeting Isis, so that morning Sammy and he had piled into a car and drove out to the Badlands.

 

The time flew by as the two men idle chatter and reminisced about their childhood misadventures. “Are you alright, dude?” Sammy asked, Ajuka had been off the entire drive out to their current location.

 

“Faraday…the Fixer, that David works for loosely is my cousin. He's also the last one to know where my entire family has gone or what's happened to them. Although I'm beginning to think he killed them to claim the fairly significant fortune. He's got about 60% and I've got the remaining 40%. The money would certainly get him going as a Fixer and coupled with whatever Sponsors he may get.”

 

“Jeez, that's rough dude, so…what are you going to do about it?”

 

“I have his Team of Mercenaries. I just need my Cousin to burn them.”

 

Sammy stared at him, eyes wide “You're going to break your vow of neutrality!”

 

“Never said I'd break it when I'm in the Clinic. But off the clinic…and here we are. Here they come.” They were cut off from their musings as four modified Thornton Colby's and Mackinaws rolled up 30 paces from them. The doors opened and a young woman got out of the Lead vehicle. 

 

Ajuka’s heart skipped a beat, her hair was dark brown with dark green highlights, her facial features were sharp and gave her a distinct regal like aspect. Her sharp features were more to do with genetics than time and nature of his job. “Isis.”

 

“Ajuka.” The rest of the introductions were given.

 

“What do we do now?” Sammy hissed.

 

“Now…it becomes a Nomad Game of blinking. If we blink first they'll probably not want anything to do with us or if they blink…now it's got nothing to do with blink…well shit.”

 

Isis had started to move, she crossed the gap and held her hand out to Ajuka. “Nice to finally meet my sperms donor.”

 

Ajuka gave half a smirk and shook her hand “Nice to meet my offspring…fifteen years late, but still…nice to meet you.”

 

Isis snorted “Ajuka…what did you want with me?”

 

Ajuka pursed his lips, hissed and let out a soft whistle “So much. The main one is ‘Are you happy?’”

 

Isis recoiled “What's that meant to mean?”

 

“Your father…” Sammy began only for Ajuka to turn to him “You have your own kid to see here, Sammy.”

 

“I meant…are you happy as in rolling with the Aldecados. I know they're your clan and family but is that what you want?”

 

Isis paused “If I said I was what would you say?”

 

“Would you be alright with me coming to meet you, be it here…in your camp. Isis…I'm not doing this to worm my way into your heart as a father or even a parent, I've very thoroughly burned that bridge. I do however want to get to know my daughter as a person.”

 

Isis paused “You realise that's what a parent should be doing.”

 

“Touché. Well I'm not. So what's it like living as a Nomad? Are you going to be in Night City long?”

 

Isis paused “Why? What's with the questions? You're a big city guy…”

 

“I'm a Night City guy…that means,  you're always sleeping three streets away from someone who wants to be the next Johnny Silverhand. Furthermore even if you avoid the Johnny Silverhand wannabes there's always Gangwar that's gonna cause Night City to run red with blood or forbid the next Corpo War. My paternal and maternal grandparents were in the Unification Wars. The entire family has either served as Medics and Solos or one or the other. So I'm well attuned to listening to the tremor of the street, I'm looking for a getout plan.”

 

Isis giggled at that “And you think chasing after your daughter across the desolate windblasted deserts and roads of America is what you want to do?”

 

“I mean…you guys are going to need MedTechs and Rippers right?” Isis looked at Ajuka her eyes wide.

 

“You're a Medic? Right, right…my father's side are Medics and or Solos. I've been interested in learning that sort of thing…would you teach me?”

 

Ajuka grinned “You'd have to leave being a Nomad for a while. Being a MedTech isn't something to half-ass.”

 

Isis nodded “It's what I want to do! I kinda need to save up for… it's stupid.”

 

“It can't be stupid and there's nothing stupid. Ignorant and dumb yes but stupid no.”

 

“I need to get some scratch together for a car. It's a Nomad thing on your 18th Birthday, you can either accept a car from the clan or you can contribute to the clan and get some say on the car.”

 

Ajuka nodded “You thought about the car that you want?”

 

Isis paused “No. Not a clue. Sorry but as long as…”

 

“It has four wheels and goes from A-Z you don't care.” Both father and daughter chuckled, however, Ajuka doubled over coughing and rasping.

 

“Ajuka…”

 

Ajuka groaned “Smokers cough with a cold. Don't worry…too much.”

 

Isis raised an eyebrow “There's something else isn't there Father.”

 

Ajuka nodded “If you want to become a MedTech, I won't turn you away but you need to know I'll do my best to protect you in Night City but The City is a different kind of beast entirely. It doesn't help that you have a cousin who's gunning for you and I.”

 

Isis's eyes widened “He can try. He'll miss me and I'll T-Bone him.”

 

Ajuka giggled at that “Isis, what does a Nomad teen girl do in her downtime. I'm pretty sure you don't want to just sit here chatting with your sperm-donor and you'd rather do something.”

 

“You know anything to do?”

 

Ajuka smirked “I'm…Blue Light trained…Isis…wanna learn how to drift?”

 

“I know how to…”

 

“Not rally drifting but street drifting.”

 

Isis raised an eyebrow “Is there a difference?”

 

“You're in a three tonne armoured vehicle with a belly installed gatling gun and you have two workers in the back keeping someone alive and two in the front. You're sliding between vehicles and gang shootouts because your patient needs a hospital or its your ass on the line.” Isis nodded, that sounded fun.

 

“Dad…sign me up. I can move to the City in two days.”

 

Ajuka froze, he turned to Isis “Pardon.”

 

Isis looked at him “I called you dad…Is that a problem?”

 

“No. No. Look, Isis… there is every possibility that your clan might move on, so…I want to run this by the Leader of the Aldecados just to make sure that they're okay with this.”

 

“You mean it!”

 

“Isis, I was never present when you needed me. We've just met and suddenly you're willing to uproot everything to become a MedTech. I want to ensure that you've got all your options open for you.”

 

Ajuka and Isis hopped into a Mackinaw driven by a guy named Ryosuke, who happened to be Isis's Uncle, he drove them back into Night City. “MedTech…Saul will ring you and he's used to having everyone snap to his instructions.”

 

Ajuka snorted “Until proven otherwise, I'll get to him when I get to him. You don't annoy MedTechs out of principle.” Ryosuke smirked. 

 

“Kiddo…have fun.”

 

(Wrath)

Wrath left his building, via, the backdoor. He pulled his thigh-length reinforced hoodie up, pulled on the respirator, checked his Unity was in its holster and ensured his cyberdeck was on his arm.

 

He needed some fresh air. Michiko had forced him outside to get some fresh air and inspiration for his daemons.

 

Wrath chuckled, coupled with the respirator it sounded like a grating dismissive laugh. He checked his hacks, he had his basic hacks of ‘Ping’, ‘Backscatter’, ‘Short-Circ’, ‘Overheat’ and ‘Weapon Jam’ prepared but underneath all of them he had brewed a whole cocktail of daemons that were less ‘Dear sir or madame’ and much more ‘To whom it may concern’.

 

He chuckled to himself his ‘Thing That Thirsts’ kind of Daemons were several shades of messed up. Amongst Netrunners there were several specialists some were known as Sleuthers- Sneaking between layers of ICE undetected. Another were Forgers/Smiths, Runners who specialised in creating defensive workings like Black ICE and Misdirecting Layers of defences to disorientate any intruders. There were Destroyers/Viruses, a rare breed of Netrunner that didn't need to use a a Daemon to destroy the thickest of ICE, they were akin to a force of nature. Then there was the last that, he, knew of and they were Summoners/Binders/Forgers the Netrunner that could and would willingly walk beyond the Black Wall to trap the Daemons and AI's on the outside, vivisect them to work out how they worked and release them, only to create truly horrific entities based on those that had been trapped. It didn't help that Wrath already had a warped perception of humour and he had his own netspace at Danger Gal dedicated for his Daemon Summoning. 

 

Michiko had called him the ‘Bartmoss of Daemon making’. Wrath snorted, if Bartmoss was still alive, he was under no impression that the Krasher of the Net could wipe the floor with him.

 

He was so deep in his thoughts, he didn't realise he was past an Arasaka Limo and Motorcade. “Filth! Move!” Wrath stiffened as he felt a reinforced arm land on his back.

 

He spun to find himself staring at an Arasaka Solider “Fuck you, Saka Flesh Drone. I'm walking here, I have the right of way. Unless you wish to make something of this.” Wrath pulled away, the Soldier was evidently seeing red and went for his pistol. Wrath smirked as his eyes lit up a cursed and sickly green, the hack happened in such close proximity that it took next to no time to load up. It was a combination of ‘Reboot and Contagion’ as the main ICE collapsers followed by Foetid Blight Drone Daemon with the hack of ‘Cyberware Imminent Rejection’. It was a biomechanical daemon, not just chrome or mechanical…it caused paralysis and lock down on the legs, hips, arms, neck and head holding them in place as the cyberware ejected from their slots akin to shards being ejected from necks.

 

Three more guards rushed towards their down comrades, it only took twenty seconds but that was quick enough for Wrath to launch another minor Daemon, a favourite of his by the name of ‘Klyntar’. Anyone plugging their biomon into the guard would get the four Daemons in their colleagues body on their own as well.

 

The limo's window lowered “Who are you? A street rat like you just aptly defeating one of my security is nothing to sniff at.” Wrath turned to look at the suit, his Kiroishi optics detailing him as ‘Tanaka’. “Not someone who is willing to leave my current employer, sir. I apologise for the mess of your security, sir.”

 

“I hadn't given you leave…trash.”

 

Wrath stared him down blankly “Do you have a quarrel with me sir?”

 

“No I do not, yet, I do wish to know who your masters are.”

 

“Good for I do not intend to quarrel with you, as for my employers…not masters…sir, you can find them under Phoenix Security, sir.”

 

Tanaka nodded “I will be in touch, to potentially hire you as a subcontractor for Arasaka.”

 

Wrath nodded “That would be most interesting. When you contact Phoenix Security, give them the number 64432 and ask for Vecna.” Wrath snorted as Tanaka stiffened and the younger man quickly moved past the motorcade and vanished down a side-alley.

 

W: Authorisation code: Maryland Indiana Charlie Hotel India Kilo Oscar, come on. Come on pick up the holo.

M: Marc Sanderson, what's happening Wrath?

W: Sweet Metallica…music I found in a deep dive. Look, Boss…

M: Anthony, it's Marc. Michiko and I consider you to be family not an employer.

W: Marc, I need you to activate the Phoenix Security contingency.

M: Why's that?

W: Ran into some Saka suit by the name of Tanaka. Killed one or four of his guards.

M: Anthony! Whatever possessed you to do that?

W: I told you when I signed up…I want to take out Arasaka, apparently Tanaka is a big deal for DG.

M: Oh he is. He is a very big deal. Okay, keep your holo on…come back from wherever you are. Don't worry about your  supply run, someone will get that for you. 

 

(Maine et al.)

The crew had just finished dealing with a Scav Haunt for Dr. Yellow when the call came from Faraday.

 

F: Maine

M: Faraday

F: At least you're able to remember your manners. 

M: What can I do for you.

F: I have finally located Tanaka, I shall provide you with the information

M: Same song and dance. Faraday, we're done.

F: Excuse me…did you just say that you're done?

M: We complete this job, we grab Tanaka and get your data…we're done.

F: You realise that you're breaking a contract.

M: Balls am I breaking a contract. I said I'd work for you for five years or until my debt to you has paid off and its been more than five years.

F: Maine, Maine, Maine…you're never going to be free of me. You shouldn't have trusted me even when we served together, I was AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. Maine, you're to serve me until I have no further use for you. But you're correct once you complete this contract you're free.

Faraday hung up.

 

Lucy cowered as Maine let out a roar of anger and frustration. David was next to her, his nose running like a long dried up river as he placed himself between her and Maine. “Maine…breathe.”

 

Maine turned his eyes distant and vacant looking right back at David and Lucy. Rebecca watched the scene unfold with horror, she readied her Lexingtons…she wasn't about to let her choom and Lucy die due to some misunderstanding. “Oi, Bossman…let's take a step back yeah.”

 

Dorio had her hand going for her Overture “Maine…talk to us.”

 

David was watching with mounting horror, Maine was spiralling towards cyberpsychosis and there was nothing he could do. Yeah he had an Overture, right now he needed something with a bit more of a kick, something from Serbia would be much more preferable. 

 

Then somehow Maine stopped the cloudy distant look in his eyes receded “Sorry about that…I don’t know what came over me.”

 

David let out a piercing breath “Faraday called you. You lost your temper. You were in the final six.”

 

Maine’s eyebrows lifted up “Oh…fuck. I nearly went Psycho on you, David?”

 

“Yup…Which is a pity, I didn’t pack my Burya.” David replied dryly. “Maine…as a MedTech trainee…you need to really cut back on your chrome or replace it with stuff that has much less strain on you.”

 

Maine growled at the suggestion “I’ll consider it. Faraday’s been in contact with us, he’s told us that he knows where Tanaka is going to be in three days. In three days, we’re going to be rid of him!”

 

David looked at the others, Rebecca held his gaze and shook her head
B: That is if we make it that far Dimples? That’s what you’re thinking?
D: Yup.
L: David…Becca…get me outta here, please.

David cleared his throat “Maine…if we’re not needed, Lucy, Becca and I are going to scram.”

 

Maine nodded “I’ll pay you once we get paid. David…you’ve done some good work there.”

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Cyberpsychosis and Back: 16

 

David, Lucy and Rebecca chucked themselves into Rebecca’s MaiMai. “Where're we heading, love birds?” Rebecca called as she cackled as the duo blushed.

 

“Mine.” Lucy stated “David's not brought me back to his yet.”

 

“Because Ajuka, Sammy along with Samantha have a walk-in policy. Sammy also lives with me under the pretence of keeping an eye on me. He's a Rockerboy wannabe, teaching me the guitar. Said something about good fingering patterns.” Lucy and Rebecca went red, for both women, it was a coin flip as to whom was redder.

 

“Would you play something for us at some point? I.E. soon?” Lucy asked. If it wasn't for the fact, that a MaiMai could, would and did fall apart at a moments notice, David didn't reach out for Lucy’s hands. They screeched to a stop at a red light allowing David to grab her her hand and gently kiss the palm and the monowire ejection port.

 

Lucy gasped, “David…please…stop.” She panted. David eyed her “Why?”

 

“We're in Rebecca’s MaiMai. Can't you see what's happening with her?” The Pint-sized Solo looked like she was desperate to either flick her bean or climb into the backseat to ride David. 

 

“You're both so sappy and kinky it's hot as fuck.” She blurted out, as the lights turned green as Lucy's apartment came into view. David blushed, what happened next would nearly cause him to have a heart attack. “Bex…would you want to help me give David a heart attack?”

 

“How so?”

 

“Joining us.” David felt his dick beginning to swell from the blood flow. Rebecca nearly ploughed into a Thorton in front of them.

 

“Lucy! Don't tease her like that or me…” David protested.

 

“I'm not…it was a suggestion, one…my dirty twisted Output, are not disagreeing with.” Lucy replied grabbing David's hand, which contained his Personal Jack and kissed it.

 

David groaned in pleasure “What…straight guy turns down a threeway. I just hope it's not a one and done affair.” Lucy pulled back and stabilised the car as Rebecca turned in her seat, looking feral.

 

“How are you fucking real, Dimples? Also…exfuckingsplain why you're not fucking hoping a fucking threesome is not a fucking one night stand thing? Also Lucy…how the fuck have you not gotten yourself knocked the fuck up with this honest pure souls kid??”

 

Lucy looked at Rebecca aghast “You'd want that?”

 

“Girl…the way he handled you and the way you purred back at the Fixers office with Maine's nervous existential breakdown…I'd be ripping out my Midnight Lady. I still might.” Rebecca retorted as she turned the wheel sharply, causing the MaiMai to bank harshly and several people to honk their horns.

 

Rebecca had found a free spot in the garage of Lucy's apartment building. Rebecca was the quickest to move, Lucy remained in her seat “You're a lucky boy, David…that…I'm not…adverse to sharing.”

 

David groaned at the implications, before grabbing the back of Lucy's head and pushed his tongue into her mouth. “Shouldn't tease your Input with a good time.”

 

“Who said I was teasing you? I was honestly going to find out if you and Bex were attracted to each other…then surprise you with us having sex and join us. Or something like that.” Lucy replied, lust clearly evident in her voice.

 

David just wondered how he'd become so lucky. He'd somehow snagged a beautiful woman for an Input, then the Shortstack Solo whom you can't help but love was now waiting to join them for a threesome. Lucy finally let David out of the MaiMai, as Rebecca launched herself at the Latino.

 

As Rebecca became a temporary ordinance and sailed towards David, the teen almost absentmindedly plucked the High-Impact-Rebecca out of the air. “Boo. David, You're no fun!” Becca exclaimed as she scrambled onto his back.

 

“I'm no fun? Wait until we get into Lucy's apartment…minx…and I'll show you fun.” The ride up to the apartment was long, Lucy had detached Rebecca from her position on David's back. Now the duo were taking it in turns to tease and rub against David. The elevator dinged open onto Lucy's floor as Lucy decided to tease David by pulling her unitard tight.

 

They were distracted by a thumping on the door. “Open up yer pastel bitch, get ready teh dishcuvr a…a…real man.” Rebecca's eyes narrowed.

 

Lucy gulped “David, Becca…ignore him…” She couldn’t finish as David had left the lift. David ghosted down the corridor. He tapped the guy on the shoulder, before using the Sandevistan to vanish around him. 

 

The man turned, he was sure someone was there. He rotated his head and he staggered backwards “Ooo r u…punk?”

 

David kept his face blank “The last one you'll see if you keep harassing my Input.” To emphasise his point, his hand drifted to the Overture on his hip.

 

“I…can tek ye…I'm, I'm trained in being a soldier.” The drunk rasped.

 

David sighed and he delivered a fast strike catching the drunk in the head. He spun and dropped to the ground unconscious; David rifled through his pockets finding a Unity and €300, he placed the unity facing the man's head in the hand. “He's knocked out.”

 

Lucy's eyes dilated “You're really fucking hot…you know that? Dealing with a nuisance like that.” ” She grinned as she saw something primal surge behind David’s warm brown eyes. She knew she was getting aroused “Just a little longer, a bit more, teasing and we’re going to have a proper night of entertainment.” 

 

Rebecca looked like she wanted to drop David’s pants and impale herself on his dick regardless of where they were. Lucy, grabbed Rebecca picked her up and kissed full on the mouth “Get inside, then start.” With that Lucy began unzipping her Unitard and entered the apartment with the garment falling off her.

 

(Smut Warning)

The door had barely shut before Lucy grabbed Rebecca and forced her tongue into the petit girl's mouth. David hung his mothers jacket up and dropped his vest on the back of his chair.

 

He could only watch in arousement as Lucy effortlessly picked up and dominated the short-stack solo. The sound of their tongues duelling, accompanied by the throaty moans of both women.

 

David took the moment to pull his shirt off and sat on the sofa. As he sat down, he rolled to one side to avoid Becca's coat. David wasn't entirely surprised to find that Becca only wore a bright pink bra and neon green pants that were more like a thong, due to the size of her ass. Lucy broke away, she made eye contact with David her lilac eyes alight with want and desire. “Luce…” Whined Rebecca saliva connecting then.

 

Lucy giggled “Becca…did you think that this was it?” Becca tried to cock her head to look, however, she stiffened and pressed into Lucy as inexplicable warmth radiated from her back. She looked to the sides to see muscled Latino arms wrapped around Lucy effectively sandwiching her between Lucy and Dimples! “Lucy…did you know that Daddy was going to do this?”

 

David groaned as Rebecca said that and rubbed her meaty ass against his dick. “You're a very, very, bad girl.” David growled into Becca’s ear causing the teal-skinned girl to grin like a gremlin.

 

“How are you going to punish me, Mommy? Daddy?” Lucy flushed red, as she made eye contact with David.

 

“Punish her…break her.” breathedLucy growled as she sat on the sofa, pulling Rebecca’s head down and forced her between her legs. Rebecca needed no encouragement as she focused on the oozing slit, Rebecca smirked and licked it.

 

Lucy froze, it was almost as if she’d just had a livewire run over her. The cheeky bitch! If it wasn’t for the fact that Becca and Her had on a few occasions drunkenly hooked up and had told one another they were ‘drunk bump buddies’. This, this was new. Lucy moaned and writhed as Rebecca devoured her. “Daaviid!” Lucy moaned.

 

David need no encouragement, his hand trailed to Rebecca’s clothed snatch and began to rub. As his calloused fingers began to rub her slit, Rebecca shuddered…she had hoped beyond all measure that this would happen but now! After the day that they’d had and with Maine nearly going psycho on them, now, here she was having a threesome! One of those people happened to be her ‘drunk hook-up buddy’. Rebecca heard the sound of fabric hitting the floor and the unclasping of a belt.

 

She wanted to moan but currently, she was nearly two steps from heaven. She nearly orgasmed when Dimples started rubbing her bean, his fingers were so fucking good! She felt her underwear get pulled down, and then she froze. She pulled away from Lucy’s slit “Is that…”

 

Lucy giggled “Yep, Rebecca, that’s his dick.”

 

“Jesus…He’s going to split me in half.” Rebecca moaned as David rubbed his tool across her slit. Lucy kissed Rebecca savouring the unique taste. “But what a way to go, Becca? Are you enjoying this, you dirty little girl? Eating me out whilst having my David split you in half?”

 

Becca moaned in reply as David entered her. Lucy didn’t do anything other than watch as Rebecca’s stomach began to bulge with David’s dick effortlessly hitting her cervix. Rebecca screamed it was a high-pitched scream that her two lovers couldn’t hear, in ecstasy. If canines were about they’d have started barking madly at the pitch of her screams. “Daddy. Daddy. Fill me up.” Becca moaned as she found herself resting doggy style on the sofa.

 

The trio carried on with their depraved debauchery, in which wires were used and the three would not be able to look at a pig on a spit meal ever again without blushing. Rebecca especially.

 

(Smut end. I’ll write a better threesome when I find some decent threeway smut)

 

(Tactical Trauma)

Isis collapsed onto the sofa of her dad and step-mom's apartment. Her step-mom was awesome! Her dad was awesome. Due to Isis already having a very good understanding of the human body, one of her favourite subjects at the Aldecado camp was Biology and she hung around with Caleb, the Ripper of the Aldecado’s and Carol she was fairly savvy when it came to mechanics.

 

Ajuka and Sam had decided that Isis was going to learn the theory of the procedures via chip, but, after learning the procedures on the chip by muscle memory she would then practice on some ‘welcome volunteers’. By welcome volunteers, meant Scavs that the Tactical Crew had beaten up when they came across Scavs running Medical Scams and taking the Ambulances.

 

“So how was it?” Ajuka asked handing her a broseph.

 

“S’alrigh’ da…I mean…You sure those guys were willing volunteers? I mean…they looked pretty damn terrified of you especially when you fucked up that guy's tibia and fibula and severed the poster and anterior tibial arteries.” Isis replied before taking a swig and made a face. Sam chuckled at her reaction “Not had booze before?”

 

“Not that strong, Sam?”

 

“That’s not strong, Isis, that’s like 4.8% an average strength beer.”

 

Isis’s eyebrows nearly hit her hairline “Then that must mean…”

 

“You’ve been drinking the extremely watered-down beer. I’m not judging, look…I’ll level with you. Those guys you were treating or rather experimenting on…they’re the Urban version of Raffen Shiv. Perhaps slightly less horrific as Raffen, I’ve never met any Raffen so I couldn’t tell you. They run scams involving Ambulances, which gives any freelance Medics a really bad name; so Tactical Trauma decide to apprehend any Scav, Urban Raffen, and drag them back to the clinic so we can improve our skills, medication etc. As you’re studying under us…free clinical hours for you.”

 

Isis nodded “That’s pretty shit, Sam. Extremely, shitty to be honest.”

 

Sam shrugged “Hey, welcome to Night City, Isis…at least it’s honest shit. You learn to smell, taste, see, feel and touch all kinds of shit whilst you’re here. Honestly, the best shit…is honest shit. Honesty is a commodity on the Medical Scene, yes, we treat our patients as a statistic but…”

 

“We’re honest about treating them as a statistic and give them honest advice on how not to become another statistic.” Isis replied, she’d moved in a week ago, and she’d started learning on a schedule of two days 7am to 8pm of pure theory and two days of sixteen-hour shifts with three days of five-hour shifts. The best thing about the five-hour shifts…she got paid. She’d also made friends with the on-site medics. It also turned out that David and Lucy, two Mercs also worked there. Lucy is a Cybersecurity, HR and trainee Pharmacist and David is a courier. David was pretty cute though, as was Lucy…but the hyperactive green-haired woman with a large coat that covered the entirety of her body was pretty cool.

 

Isis finished her beer and headed towards the kitchen, Sam looked at her “What do you think you’re doing?”

 

“Helping cook? Why?”

 

“You’re not in the Aldecaldo camp, where you don’t need to help with everything. For now, relax, and destress…you’ve got a long three years ahead of you working full time.”

 

Isis smiled sheepishly “Sorry.”

 

“Don’t be. You’re a teen…we’re meant to look after you.”

 

(Maine)

Maine finished his call and he turned to the crew he had around him, Pilar and Dorio “Tanaka has finally resurfaced, we have our opportunity to get the nav-data.”

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Cyberpsychosis and Back 17

 

(The Crew)

Kiwi was the last one to arrive. Maine grunted at her arrival. Sammy was present, there was a nod between them. “Right, Tanaka, he's finally appeared” Maine announced.

 

There were a few cheers and grunts of enthusiasm at the prospect of finally completing their end goal. “Unfortunately, we'll require a very lucrative and tempting bait to get him out so we can apprehend him.” Maine growled.

 

“Lucy and I have been deep-diving and knocking around some contacts of ours. Someone’s mentioned someone by the alias of JK, being more active.” Kiwi droaned.

 

Pilar’s visor lit up, Sammy and Cel had saved him from a headshot from a homeless cyberpyscho. Cel had been a former Copro from Arasaka and was currently a recurring bedpartner for Pilar. “He’s a Braindance Editor.”

 

“He’s THE Braindance Editor.” David shot back. “He's the guy behind the Edgerunners XBD. Supposedly the guy can tune them perfectly to a buyer, which costs a pretty eddy.”

 

Lucy looked at him “And…how…would you know this? I mean Kiwi and I couldn't find anything.”

 

David had the decency to look sheepish “I may or may not have pushed XBDs at Saka.”

 

Sammy grinned “I can vouch for him. He's a cute little pile of untapped violence, I've seen his XBD Collection and it's a collection.”

 

Lucy and Rebecca stared at him “Is that why you've never brought us to yours?”

 

David shook his head “Because he's a homebody and a nudist, only much worse when Ajuka is over. I buy food and drinks and this stonerboy eats everything.”

 

Sammy nodded “I keep…”

 

“How the fuck do you keep rent going?”

 

“Okay, housemates…enough…we have a target. Now…how are we going to get them?”

 

David smirked “I think I have a way. Were going to need to hack into JK's comms for when Tanaka needs his fix. Then we can grab JK, and use him to grab Tanaka. We're going to need to spoof the Trauma Chips on the pair of them.”

 

“For knocking them out?” Dorio asked.

 

“Freeze and Blackbeard have something we could use.” David stated. “Something involving Ketamine and Diprivan would more than likely work. However, we don't know what JK has in terms of cyberware. Maine, how long do we have?” 

 

Maine unclenched his fists, seeing David take control of the operation, it was good to see but it did anger him slightly. “Three Days.”

 

David nodded “Rebecca, Pilar…without killing each other, get enough firepower to deal with possibly MaxTac and Arasaka Elites…hollow point, explosive rounds…some grenades would be good. Luce…Kiwi, try and track JK. I'll go speak with Tactical Trauma. Maine, Dorio…liase with the other two groups, the moment you have a position, let me know. As for taking JK…we're going to need to hit him akin to Maelstrom Convoy, fast and hard. We get JK, he calls Tanaka, then we take the suit and we grab the data.”

 

Maine nodded “What do we do if Faraday welches us?”

 

David grinned “Walk into Militech and ask to speak to the guy in charge of Militech Fixers. Or…tease other Fixers into a bidding war for what we have.”

 

Maine smirked coldly “David…kid…Though through the short time I’ve known you, you’re a natural at this…You’d have made a terrifying corpo. When I’d taken you on, I wasn’t all too confident that you’d even survive the milk run. Once this is done…I’d like to run a job, you organise.”

 

David gulped as he stared at the man “You’d want ME to lead? I thought…”

 

Maine grinned at him “I’d need to do a job or two under you, to know, I’m leaving the crew in good hands when I flatline.”

 

“If you flatline.” David stated.

 

Sammy looked at David “Kid…you’re going to need to run this past Sam. Normally I’d help you, for this…you’re on your own.” The Rockerboy had been with David as backup for a few of the gigs just to keep an eye on him but more and more, it seemed that David was doing very well in the group. Hell, the teen had been a source of inspiration. He watched as Lucy, then Becca kissed him before the crew dissolved into laughter as he went beet red and the pair headed out.

 

(Kiwi and Lucy)

“We’re probably going to have to do some full diving…including with your…” Kiwi stated. Lucy paled at the thought of that. 

 

“Lucy…I’m going to need you to do this. I’m sure David, would want you do this.” Kiwi internally winced at her manipulation, David would want her safe, she knew, Lucy wanted to keep David safe. Kiwi would have smirked beneath her mask, if she had her mouth. “Lucy, you’re too easy.” She dropped Lucy off, before heading home herself.

 

(Pilar, Rebecca and Cel)

The trio found there way back to their shared apartment. Since Cel had all but moved in “Cel, make sure, The Tumour doesn't do anything too stupid with his grenade acquisitions. DON'T TOUCH MY GUNS!” With that the short stack solo fled to her room. Where Cel and Pilar heard drawers being opened, and her bed being lifted up.

 

“How many guns does she have?”

 

Pilar shrugged “Enough. No one is dumb enough to unleash my Sisters' full arsenal.”

 

“Except David.”

 

Pilar snorted “We're dealing with a Saka Suit… David's the only one who knows more about them than the rest of us.”

 

Cel gulped “The Suit you're nabbing used to be my potential father-in-law.” Pilar stared at her! His jaw wide, sure, he’d known that she was a Corpo, or at least raised.

 

They’d met a few times, one time, drinking mainly at a dive bar that catered to off-duty NCPD. They were alright, mighty twitchy…it wasn’t hard to believe that they made decent Mercs…providing they survived. Then there was the fact that the Police didn’t like their own taking up the Merc's life. Pilar just found the booze tolerable, and the small solstice he had to repair the masks that he made to portray the exaggerations of the aspects of himself.

 

Pilar, had, until recently when he saw how happy his sister was after hooking up with Lucy and David. She’d not moved in with them, yet, but, there were more and more days when Rebecca would not come home. Pilar knew Rebecca would be okay. Him, he wasn’t so sure…then in came Cel.

 

“Cel…why didn’t you say?”

 

Cel blushed as she twirled her purple/silver hair around her finger. “I…didn’t think it was going to happen…I’d see or hear that name and the people with them.”

 

(David and Sammy)

David arrived at the Clinic, he walked in, past the Security. As he was working two jobs, one legit and the other not so much, time had flown by. When he’d first started, there had been only Sam, Ajuka and He working. He hadn’t been issued anysort of uniform, so his mothers EMT Jacket had become his uniform.

 

Furthermore when Sam and Ajuka had hire their old Trauma Team, things had been increasing. David’s jobs were taking longer to do, but, with Freeze and Sammy’s help, David had finally learnt to drive. At one speed only and it wasn’t civilian speed.

 

As he made it into the breakroom the entire Team was present. “David.” Sam stated.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Sammy mentioned that you had something to ask?”

 

David gulped, but Lucy wasn’t present. Isis was “Fuck it.” “Sam…I need some tranquilisers and some advice.”

 

Sam cocked her head and Bones winced “Damn, kid…you’ve got us kinda gripped? Tranquilisers we don’t exactly hand out…even amongst all of us. I’m the only one who's safe enough to decide whether they’re being used or not, I’m the only one sane enough to know what they’re used for. Ajuka and Sam, you’d use them more on each other. Freeze, you’d be using it more on yourself.”

 

Sam nodded “The Gasmaster has a point…Why do you need them?”

 

“We're going to be drugging up one Jimmy Kurosaki and using him to lure out Tanaka. We plan to convince JK to convince Tanaka to come to a trap at Kurosaki’s studio. We incapacitate Kurosaki, tag Tanaka and whilst he's unconscious get what we need from him. I need enough Tranquiliser or fast-acting Anaesthetic to keep them down long enough to do what we need to…WITHOUT tripping the Trauma Coverage and the information would be the sort of cyberware and Bioware that they have, the last thing I need is for Arasaka to come at us in force.”

 

Sam stared at him incredulously “How much is the job?”

 

“Erm…we got the down payment, 8k apiece I think that’s after everyone getting a fair shake. In this part, at least ten or thousands of eddies even split. Maybe more if we can do this without anyone realising. It all depends on if Faraday’s going to pay us or welch.”

 

“We, The Clinic, want 50% of your share.”

 

David shook his head “15%.” Sam laid her hand on the grip of her sidearm. “Nice try in haggling. This isn’t one of those opportunities, punk. Tactical Trauma is a part of the Trauma Team. Yes, most of our income and supplies are self-sustaining us, however, we still need our Parent Companies, database and warehouses. Trauma is more willing to let stock go missing from the warehouses than our client data. Thus, you’re going to pay us for this.”

 

David nodded, his planned contribution for the moon fund with Lucy was going to take a hit, this time. David paused, did he really want the Moon? All he knew he wanted were Rebecca and Lucy. “Vid…David!” David looked to see Bones waving his hand in front of his face.

 

“You spaced out? You doing alright? Not been getting chromed on the sly have you?”

 

David paused “No…Honestly, I’ve been busy what with the courier job in the morning, then edgerunning every few days. When I’m not doing gigs, I’m picking up small side hustles, then I’m either with Lucy and Rebecca.”

 

Ajuka smiled “David, we’re going to need details and copious amounts of details.”

 

David flushed red “What…about…”

 

“It’s all going to take some time, so for now…details! Copious amounts of details.” 

 

David blushed, this was going to be a long afternoon.

 

(Tanaka)

The Patriarch of the Tanaka family was inwardly fuming. His Eldest Son, Ryosuke, had been foolhardly been caught in his bed with two different women and on two separate occasions; both times by his future wife! 

 

Tanaka wanted clip his heir around the head! He, himself, wouldn’t deny that he had played the field. What self-respecting corpo wouldn’t? However, when, he got engaged he had stopped. Something his eldest cleary did not regard as important.

 

Sato Celeste, Tanaka Celeste…a heavily chromed hand dented the desk. Recently, his department and family life had been nothing but failures and disappointments. His younger son, Katsuo, had been proven to be just as disappointing. Honestly, losing to a Santo Domingo charity case!

 

However, the child did show an amazing tolerance and resilience to cyberware. Canny as well, when he'd been offered a choice to return to the Academy he'd elected to withdraw.

 

Ryosuke had redeemed himself, he was an effective Enforcer in the R&D department. Tanaka sighed, however a call came in…one that he’d not anticipated.

 

JK: Tanaka-sama, pleasant tidings

T: Same to you, Kurosaki. What is it?

JK: I’ve just received a most interesting tip-off for a one-off extraordinary experience.

T: An experience? Of what sort?

JK: I have received a tip-off that I’m going to be kidnapped and held hostage in a location, you and I know very well. It would be a colossal tragedy if you, Tanaka-Sama, just happened to be visiting a friend of yours when this all happens.

Tanaka smirked, he loved the feeling of the blood running down in his arms as he relieved the Edgerunners Series. It was such a shame that he’d never actually got to star in one, until now.

T: You’d make me the star?

JK: But of course. I’m considering making this particular Edgerunner episode a limited run, with say… 11 copies. One for you gratis, of course. How could I ask my star and saviour to pay such a price?

T: To play a hero, and, to save an upstanding member of the community. It would be my honour. Let me know when…

JK: I will. In fact, I have. A courier will be arriving shortly, you’ll know it’s them because of their…extremely dogmatic nature. Please, play along with it, he’s a little eccentric but harmless.

T: I shall. Take care, Kurosaki-san.

JK: Happy hunting, Tanaka-san.

 

Tanaka hung up. He turned his face back to the myriad of screens on his desk. They were all CCTV footage, all of them had the sequence looped and slowed in various degrees of slowness. Ever since Norris had gone on a rampage and Arasaka had failed to retrieve the Apogee Sandevistan, Tanaka had been devoting much of his time in tracking it down.

 

With a few bribes and loosely insinuated threats to the NCPD, it wasn’t hard for him to acquire what he needed. Tanaka snorted, Special Operations and Counter Intelligence…Tanaka would always want them where he could see them, he fiercely appreciated their skills and dedication but at times they were all caught up in the intricacies of espionage and corporate assassinations that they seldom used the straight forward laws of the land. “Not everything requires a knife in the back, open assassination or even blackmail…sometimes, a few words and eddies are all that is required.” He thought to himself, he scanned the pictures.

 

Orion Maine

Dorio Riess

Celeste Sato

David Martinez

Lucyna Kushinada

Falco

Phillip ‘Pilar’ Rosenbaum

Rebecca Angellica Rosenbaum

Kiara ‘Kiwi’ Williamson

 

Tanaka licked his lips. If he could grab the Sandevistan and the Runaway, oh the ascension to Tokyo Tower would be meteoric. “With that in hand, I might well achieve some decent betrothals for my sons.”

 

“Ano…Tanaka-Sama…We have a courier here. He is refusing to handover what it is he's carrying.”

 

Tanaka chuckled “Thank you, Himeno-san. He has been expected, please, send him up.”

 

“Hai. Tanaka-Sama, my apologies.”

 

Tanaka wasn't waiting long for the elevator to his office dinged open. In stepped a young man, wearing battered trainers, trauma pants and a crumpled shirt with close cut red hair, out with him were four Arasaka Guards.

 

“Are you the Courier?”

 

The Courier snorted “Depends…if you're Tanaka and you have evidence. Unfortunately, these four lovely bits of prepack were adamant on coming with me.”

 

Tanaka looked at the guards “You may go.”

 

The Courier pulled out a box inside his jacket. “I need some sort of ID.”

 

Tanaka obliged and the box was placed on the desk. The Courier nodded and left, but, not before receiving a substantial tip. Tanaka loved due diligence and the Courier was nothing but diligent.

 

He removed the chip and slotted. No matter the tactics used, the chip he'd received the moment it was planted into one of the myriad of sockets was keyed to Kurosaki's two hearts, Tanaka would pay top eddy that these fools wouldn't want to kill Jimmy to lure him out.

 

 

Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Cyberpsychosis and Back 18

 

The three days seemed to crawl by. David had used the time to get some more conventional firearms training done, this time using precision rifles and assault rifles. 

 

David was currently lying on Lucy’s bed, with a cold and chilly Lucy curled up, her head resting on his chest. “You’re warm and I can hear you think. You’d be much better if you weren’t thinking.” She murmured as she took the time to gaze up at him.

 

David snorted as he repositioned himself, allowing him to pull his Lover close to him. “I have a lot to think about.”

 

Lucy nodded “Go on, my philosopher, what's on your mind?”.” Her hand drifted lower, down his chest to his member. David’s eyes widened as her hand did so, Rebecca meanwhile snuggled deeper into his spine. When had Rebecca joined them?

 

David sighed in relief. He then remembered his clothes coming off far too quickly for his liking; then Lucy's monowires. He vaguely looked down at the red but fading marks. “This job, you…me, Rebecca as well.”

 

Rebecca giggled “Lucy…Why didn’t you say that David was such a monster…I’m sore.”

 

David grinned “Somebody kept saying ‘Inflate me, please, Daddy’.” Rebecca blushed, it was a full-body blush and the EMP Threading caused her to glow like a lamp.

 

“I don’t like this mission. I’ve got enough tranquilisers to kill a trio of Maelstrom, yet…”

 

Lucy nodded “You’re improving as an Edgerunner and a Cyberpunk. You’re observing, you’re noticing the small things that will keep you alive. What’s your take on this mission?”

 

David sighed “It’s a suicide job. This job is all but stating ‘Hey We’re Being Backed By A Megacorp.’ And it’s no surprise that a particular Megacorp would be interested in taking a swing at Arasaka.”

 

Lucy and Becca paled “Faraday…he works for Militech?”

 

Becca scoffed “That scopshit…directly for Militech? Unlikely, being a Militech-sponsored Fixer is more like it…you mean…” She finished.

 

David nodded “Tanaka is known to be the Head of Arasaka’s Research and Development primarily the Weapons department. The Nav-Data we were instructed to get? It would have led to the black site or black sites where all of the Weapons Research…the target and anything else that Arasaka is or was working on is located in those sites. Faraday ordering us to try and swipe Tanaka HE KNOWS is going to go wrong, we'll trigger the TT Chip, MaxTac will get summoned as well and we're dead. Faraday will get his hands on the data, then, head to Arasaka and get a first-class ticket to the Top of the Ladder.”

 

Lucy had gone pale at the very thought of that. David rolled himself and Becca over “Luce…come on, what’s going on?” David whispered as Rebecca scrambled over to wrap Lucy in a hug from behind her.

 

“Luce…we can't help if…”

 

Lucy looked at the duo, her eyes wide and she had nowhere to hide. Rebecca had her in a vice grip and David would use his Sandevistan to catch her effortlessly. “I've not told the group everything about me, the most I've said has been Kiwi found me and raised me. That's true, what I've not said is that I was born Lucyna Kushinada and raised to be a Netrunner to bring honour and glory to the Corp. To Arasaka.” The last word was spat with so much venom, that it caught David off guard.

 

David went pale and Rebecca turned grey, however, that it didn’t stop the duo from sandwiching Lucy between them. “Why? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” David whispered as Lucy burrowed underneath his jaw. 

 

“I was scared. You, treat me like a diamond where I’m more like glass. You should hate me, David, you have a future outside of being a Cyberpunk but you’ve taken to the lifestyle like you were born to do it. I have never been more scared of or for someone ever before. You not remembered by how you live, David.”

 

“But by how you die. I remember Lucy. Lucy, I was going to become an Edgerunner anyway. My mom died, and this infernal city did fuck all to help her and they could have! I was planning on going to see Doc, in Arroyo initially to get the Sandevistan chipped then Ajuka walked in. He told me, he wasn’t going to stop me from chroming up and he wasn’t going to stop me if I was about to die, Sam informed me that ‘Ajuka is helping me to my demise’. Lucy…you've been nothing but a rock that I can cling onto in this psychotic city. I've barely had time to grieve, because I've been so busy as an Edgerunner and Courier. By now I'd have chromed up far more than I currently have. Lucy, Becca…I care about the pair of you immensely, Lucy I love you. Becca, I love the idea of being in love with you if you're willing…”

 

His words were cut off as Becca captured his mouth in a breath stealing kiss. “Dimples…I wouldn't have said yes to coming back with you to this place, if I didn't have genuine feelings for you.”

 

Any further discussion were cut off as their internal agents began to ring.

 

R: Hey ya boss.

M: Becca…the others?

D: Right here, Maine.

L: Here.

Do: Here darling

K: You guys are making the Net very warm with your mushy behaviour.

L: Kiwi… Unfortunately for the group, they all got a giggle as they pictured the pastel-haired netrunner blushing from the teasing.

 

Meanwhile David and Rebecca had decided to tease her. David by planting soft tender kisses across the back of her neck, and Rebecca began to lightly tickle Lucy’s back over her netrunning implants. M: Right…it's show time. Meet by the J&C and we'll go from there.”

 

The instructions were given, the trio groaned, and they slowly got dressed. David grabbed his rifle, unity and grabbed the small portable freezer that Tactical Trauma had knocked together. It was cold to the bare skin, David hissed as he quickly let go, he finally found his thick gloves and picked up the canteen shaped device. 

 

Ajuka was waiting for them. He said nothing as he gathered his two workers and their friend “Whose the Shortstack with the shotty?”

 

“Becca, choom, don't wear it out.”

 

Ajuka snorted “Name or pushy? One of those don't appertise To me, something about Shortstacks doesn't sleep right with me. Also, getting my favourite workers killed off because they've got the unfortunate job of dealing with an idiot for a boss. How could I not help out.”

 

David and Lucy blushed “Thanks.”

 

Ajuka snorted “Don't thank me. You've fucking paid me, half of your gig pay to get some additional help. We'll…sort out bonus pay should you get it.”

 

Lucy raised an eyebrow “You said you'd be getting some tranquilisers.” Then she saw the container and her eyes widened.

 

(Tactical Trauma)

Business had been booming, hell, when you're positioned in the middle of an intersection of multiple gang boundaries, of course it would be. However, on that particular day just, as Ajuka left an armoured Quadra 540, screeched into and onto the hastily made parking lot…this ramshackle parking lot was not made for the general public, rather for the three ambulances that were parked.

 

The Quadra was in the colours of Trauma Team, the parent company of Tactical Trauma. Sam looked up and had to bite back a curse. It was Hugh E. Rection! “Bollocks.” Sam had nothing against Hugh, he was a decent worker but he was so anal-retentive that his nickname of ‘Straight Erection’ was self-explanatory. Oh and Ajuka hated him, Sam could see why.

 

Where Hugh was laughter and life manifest, Ajuka was cold and melancholy; where Hugh would make light of a situation, Ajuka would happily murder the moment. Hugh was always absent when Ajuka wanted to file his downtime and Hugh was always haranguing her boyfriend about being married ‘to his job’. Hugh, had been the person, Ajuka had vomited on and nearly beat to death. “Hello, Samantha, how’s my favourite…” Hugh began.

 

“Straight Erection, you let Ajuka know you were coming down?” Sam retaliated. She smirked as Hugh blanched. Sam seized the initiative “Now…why are you here? What do you want?”

 

Hugh sighed “I'm here on behalf of the auditing team… You have been operating without an outside remit for a few months now, Trauma Team are very interested in their new subsidiary. You know, the ‘paper-pusher’ crap.” Sam sighed, Hugh was an efficient and effective auditor. It was part of the reason why Ajuka despised him.

 

Hugh had been able to wrangle himself a management job despite not having spent a single day in the field. It pissed her boyfriend off more than nearly anything else. “Fine. All of the books?”

 

“All of the books. Oh…and I’m going to need to ask some questions, particularly from Ajuka as I cannot understand the mess that is his handwriting.” Sam sighed.

 

“He’s out.” Sam stated.

 

“He’s out?” Questioned Hugh indignantly. Hugh hated it when their were unexpected variables, Ajuka loved them. Thinking on this, Ajuka had probably deliberately chosen to head out just to wind up the auditor without intentionally winding him out.

 

“Yes he’s out.” Hugh could be very slow on the uptake, despite being more evidently chromed out than the entirety of the Bael Clinic put together…chrome doesn’t seem to increase intelligence.

 

“Doing what?”

 

Sam rolled her eyes and Freeze entered the foyer “Probably your mother, Erection, probably. The more likely option is, he’s running errands.” Freeze carried on saying.

 

Hugh stared at them “Well then, since I outrank…”

 

“This isn’t Trauma Team, we’re Tactical Trauma…we don’t work for TT, we work alongside them. So…we won’t answer to you. We’re only answering to you to help you get sorted and leave us the fuck alone. You thought Jukebox Juke hated you? You’ve got no idea of the loathing that the rest of us have for you, a corporate kid, who never sweated a day of his life in the trenches.” Freeze stated, as one refers to the common occurrence of acid rain in Night City, in opposition to a sunny day…a matter of fact.

 

Hugh sighed “Please, can someone show me to your records.” Sam smirked and pointed him in the direction of the backroom. 

 

Hugh sighed, how was he to know, that sleeping with his managers niece would result him in, having to do the paperwork for the TT Subsiduaries! Did these heathens and philistines not understand how fortunate they were to be working as part of the Trauma Team Company. Then he remembered that it was ran by Ajuka fucking Bael of the fucking Bael Family; honestly that family could do no wrong. The shit thing was Hugh knew he had no hope in Night City of even being able to match Ajuka in terms of skill; however…skill was more and more becoming irrelevant as the City was slowly becoming claimed by the bureaucracy. He smirked soon Ajuka Bael would be struck off the list of Medical Personnel in the City.

 

Who knew that getting to know a Fixer would be so useful. “Let’s see how you’re going to get out of this.”

 

(The Gig)

David and Lucy were looking pale and shaken. Sure, Ajuka knew the Crew and the Crew knew him…sort of. The closest the MedTech ever got with the world of Edgerunning, was dealing with the aftermath of a gig and chatting with David and Lucy. However, they were all talking about Watson’s Whore and the incident with an elbow and a rimjob and how it would work without killing someone.

 

Ajuka would always find time to jump onto Chat77 and checkout his favourite feeds. He had yet to anticipate that Rebecca would follow similar feeds. “Ajuka, choom, who is the teen? Not Dimples, the other one.” The picture was of Ajuka, Sam and a young woman who had dark brown hair, snagged with layers of green highlights.

 

“My daughter.”

 

David, Lucy and Rebecca looked at him with surprise! “Damn…”

 

“Sammy and I got drunk…we hooked up with some Aldecaldos. Lost contact and that's that. Falco put us in contact, Isis…she said she wants to be a MedTech and I'm training her. Professional? Not really, ethical? As long as I pull some strings so her final exams aren't with me…then it doesn't matter. She gets free bed, board and pay and I claim all her time so she can't use her money. Anyway we're here.”

 

They pulled into the Jacked and Coke and settled down to wait.

 

???: Is this Ajuka Bael's agent?

A: Who the fuck is this?

???: It's Hugh.

A: Erection…now…what the fuck do you want?

???: I have questions and if you would be so kind as to cease whatever…

A: No. Ajuka dropped the connection as Maine, Dorio, Pilar and Kiwi walked in.

 

“Good…you’re all here. I’m going over the plan once more then we’re doing this.” Maine rubbed his cybernetic hands together gleefully.

 

“2.2 Million Eddies apiece should things go to plan.” Maine declared.

 

Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Cyberpunk: Cyberpsychosis and Back

 

Ajuka looked like he'd been pistol-whipped “2.2 Million Eddies…per person, for this job.”

 

Maine nodded, looking exceptionally gleeful about it. “Yeah, we got sniffed out of an additional 20k per person but we've done pretty well out of it.”

 

Ajuka's eyes widened as he turned to his employees “David…you didn't say it was going to be this much…Lucy, you're in on this to?” The young lovebirds nodded as one.

 

“Right…then, David's not footing this on his own. Now I do have a few questions.”

 

Maine nodded, he went to move his hands but they didn't move…he tried again this time they over-exaggerated the movement causing him to break his beer bottle. “Sorry, I've been a right gonk recently.”

 

Ajuka was already moving, his bio enhanced frame grabbed the oversized gauntlets and slammed them on the table. “You go for that monster of a shotgun, I'll turn this into an execution.” He growled.

 

Maine gulped, he'd always seen the MedTech when he'd grabbed David and Lucy for a group job from the clinic looking overworked and generally pissed off…he'd never seen him this furious. “Wh…wha? I'm good man…seriously I'm good.”

 

Ajuka was already jacking into the arm “No…no…you're fucking not. You're in the Amber Road.”

 

Dorio gasped “Amber Road! You mean…”

 

“Cyberpsychosis is imminent…yup. Fuck me, Maine, you're seriously fucking close to going out on us.”

 

Maine gulped “What do I do? I'm not strong enough.”

 

“You cut back on the chrome yesterday. I get you on the fucking table yesterday and I try and save your fucking life.” Ajuka growled.

 

Maine nodded “My suppliers gone…most of my other suppliers aren't really…” He explained.

 

“Your supplier? Jamaican, liked to use an onahole? With a bite-bar bed?”

 

Dorio nodded slowly “Maine swore by him.”

 

“Ah, it seems I might have screwed the pooch there. He pissed me off. Someone offered me 10k to deal with him and I did.”

 

“You killed a Ripper! How the fuck are people going to trust you if that gets out?” Rebecca shrieked.

 

“Cause I've got the biggest Fixer in my corner outside of the Black and Gold…She calls, I obey. She keeps my official job untouched by everyone.”

 

David's eyes widened “Rogue…you're protected by Rogue!”

 

Ajuka nodded as he absentmindedly began his diagnosis. “Yup…She's not taken to Faraday too much.”

 

Ajuka turned to Dorio “You’re the second right?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“What's the plan?”

 

Dorio sighed “With David's help we've managed to find and get a location on Jimmy Kurosaki, a tuner and creator of unique XBDs. We're going to lure out Tanaka by grabbing Kurosaki. That's where the tranquilisers come in. We knock them both out, Kiwi spoofs their Trauma Chips and Lucy starts cracking Tanaka’s ICE.”

 

“You get the data and scarper.” Ajuka finished. He let out a sigh.

 

“I'll be able to help, this job could not have come at a worse time.” He admitted.

 

“You fuck up at work?”

 

“Unlikely… we need to turn over our books, as we're being audited. Hugh E. Rection is the Trauma Team Lead Auditor is currently going over the books with a scalpel.”

 

Maine groaned as Ajuka disconnected from his systems. “What'd you do to him?”

 

Ajuka smirked “He's better at reports and better looking…I'm the better MedTech. Plus I might have laid him out and vomited on him. Work-induced sickness, he somehow got all the promotions I should have received. There’s every chance that he’s out to screw me over because of my skillset; so I’m going to need to be very careful on this mission. None of the tranquilisers can be traced back to Tactical Trauma, understood?”

 

The Edgerunners nodded “What are you going to about Maine?” Dorio asked nervously.

 

“He's not going to be running on this mission. I'll be taking him for emergency treatment…it's going to be steep but we'll work something out.” Ajuka growled as he manhandled Maine and dragged him to  an armoured 4x4. Ajuka sighed, Maine sat in the back on the bed “You wanna knock me out?”

 

“I don't think so. Listen Maine, I'm…really worried about you.”

 

“You don't need to be…”

 

“Bullshit. David for better or worse looks up to you like a father. He desires your look, all the chrome…”

 

Maine looked at the MedTech like he'd been slapped. “He…looks up to me…”

 

“He sure as fuck doesn't listen to me when it comes to chrome. I've had to restrict his access to the collateral room because I've caught him salivating at the raw amount of chrome that we've got lying around.” Ajuka stated as he poked and prodded Maine, attaching various bags of fluid, some were antibiotics, others were nutrient bags.

 

Ajuka gunned the engine and slowly the armoured 4x4 melded into the evening traffic. As they left, the Edgerunners piled into their various vehicles and began to complete the hardest job yet.

 

(Tactical Trauma)

Ajuka drove the 4x4 back to its parking lot, with Maine lying on the gurney, with new fluid bags attached, he began to wheel him into the surgery room. “Bael to all Personnel, Code Yellow burgeoning Red. All hands on deck.”

 

Hugh looked up from the books, unfortunately for all of his digging in the hope of finding dirt…Tactical Trauma was squeaky clean. It was infuriating, he’d even reached out to several Fixers, intent on finding something…anything to give him the chance to prove his superiority over that infernal Ajuka Bael. He’d finally struck gold when it came to a Fixer willing to assist him, the man had introduced himself as Faraday and the initial contact with him had set Hugh on edge. Faraday was related to the Bael family some how, despite his hatred to the surviving legacy of the family it warmed his heart that Faraday Bael also had a grudge against his nemesis.

 

Just then, Ajuka’s voice crackled over the intercom proclaiming in Trauma Code “Code Yellow burgeoning on Red”, Ajuka wasn’t qualified to treat Cyberpyschosis! Hugh fist pumped, he’d finally had the sallow fucker, ‘Strapped to the Gurney’ as Ajuka used to say. Hugh caught the clinic rushing into the surgery room.

 

Sam was ready, impeccable perfection, as always. Freeze, slinging on his coat, and wheeling a cryo-tank towards the service elevator; the look of constipation clear on his face. Bones and Blackbeard already yelling about the drugs being required and shouting about locking down the pharmaceutical lab. Hugh, paused, he didn’t even know the Clinic had a pharmaceutical lab…then again, he didn’t know too much outside of the records, he was inwardly impressed. He had managed to gleam a copy of the contract, for the nature of it being a contract, it said ‘provide a localised base of Trauma Team’. However it had been padded out with various legalise.

 

He entered the operating theatre.

 

“What’s his name?” Sam yelled.

“Maine.” Ajuka replied.

“Surname?” Sam responded.

“Maine.” Ajuka deadpanned.

“His name is Maine Maine?” She responded slightly confused.

“Believe so. Remember Major?” Hugh contained a snort, who didn’t remember the orderly with the name.

“Major Major?” Hugh wanted to cough as he swallowed his tongue, nearly. So that was the joke Mr. Major liked to pull.

 

Hugh’s jaw openly dropped as the Clinical Staff got to work, the terminology was crisp, fluid and it appeared to be seamless. Hugh was already mentally compiling a report to his superiors lamenting the loss of Ajuka Baels Platinum Trauma Team. He swallowed his pride, watching his nemesis and Team effortlessly working together stirred up old jealousy.

 

“How much are we taking this dorpher for?”

 

“Seriously, Bones, you're yanking his legs off and you're wanting to know his bank balance? Buy the man dinner before you fuck him.”

 

“He ain't come to us willingly, probably, because Jukes got a bleeding heart. So I need to know how much of a bill we're looking at Sam. We do need to demonstrate a profit.”

 

“We'll get our money. Besides, he's one of Viks patients. Anyway we'll hit Vik with the bill and we'll organise something.”

 

“Hitting our teacher with this morons expenses…that's…”

 

“Fucking genius. You honestly think this guy will have the liquid on him to pay for what we're doing? Viktor Vektor is a known commodity and we work with known commodities. Now, his limbs are safely removed.” Ajuka stated as he removed the patients’ Mr. Studd.

 

“Wow…Juke…you're giving me a hard time, here you are with his dick in your hands.”

 

“Seriously Teach…just keep him breathing. Sam…what have we got that will allow him to do what he does?”

 

“We’ve got a couple of updated Militech reinforced Legs and Arms…I…may or may not have accessed Militechs roster and Maine’s name is Orion. He served in the Unification Wars and managed to muster out after losing most of his limbs and other bits.”

 

“As a Trauma Team subsidiary you do realise…” Hugh began, only for Samantha to turn to face him.

 

“Look, Erection, I’m not sure how hard you are right now being an auditor, you’re not meant to be in here. Before you start trying to enforce Trauma regulations on us, I’m the senior member of this team, I’m the primary signatory on this building. You have a problem with us, come to me, you have a problem with my man…you deal with me. The only difference between myself and this crew…I have a few extra qualifications that they do not. We outrank and outclass you in practical field work.”

 

Isis heard the call as she scrambled to help, she found herself locked out of the clinic. “Damnit, dad’s going to be fucking pissed! I wasn’t meant to be on call, I missed this. I read the…” Her internal thought process was cut off as Freeze left the operating room. “Kid.”

 

“Mr. Freeze, I’m sorry I’m late. What do I need to do?”

 

Freeze sighed “I don’t think you’re ready or even remotely qualified to do anything yet, so shadow, better yet…come with me.” The Cryospecialist led Isis into the store room.

 

“Is this a mortuary or something?”

 

“Close enough…this is the Vault. Basically any patients who die in the Clinic, we take their chrome; clean it, debug it and store it. Then we attach it to some new idiot and send them on their way…if they can pay for it. Although, your dad has a bleeding heart.”

 

Isis snorted “Knowing him, he wants to give this guy good quality chrome and then the guy has to work it off.”

 

“That works. Although he's a borderline psycho…Weve gotta do this right to prevent the Tame Psychos shooting this place up.”

 

Isis nodded and began to think “I think I know what to give him.” With that she headed over to the cyberlegs. “I’m thinking a Militech Mk. 4, two of them and I’d…suggest Superchrome Covering, maybe the Leeroy Ligament System, and the Grip Foot. As for the arms…Same make, Wolves, Subdermal Grip or a Projectile Launcher…and as for the Mr Studd…unfortunately we don’t have a Dong.”

 

“A Dong?”

 

Isis shuddered “Ask no questions, tell you no lies.”

 

(Edgerunners)

 

Falco was ready. Dorio had loaded up the anaesthetic rifle; she didn’t want to be doing this…Maine should be David’s cover but he wasn’t here. “David?”

 

“Yeah, Dorio?” David was keeping an eye out for Kurosaki’s trademark Caliburn.

 

“Is Maine going to be okay?”

 

David reached into his pocket “I…hope so, Dorio. I really hope so. I’m not going to say anything apart from Ajuka will do everything in his power to save him. I do know that they’re gonna hit you with a fuckoff big paycheck.”

 

“How big are we talking?”

 

“That depends on how much Sam will allow Ajuka to be a bleeding heart. Ajuka knows I look up to Maine, so because of that he’s not going to want to burn you out of house and home, but…Sam’s gonna want to ensure that the clinic makes a profit.”

 

Dorio nodded “I suppose that’s all I can ask.”

 

David’s eyes turned yellow as his favourite person began to contact him. “Hey-hey, you.” 

 

“We’re on a job-job. Cali-Caliburn matching Target just passed us.”

 

Lucy hung up. David turned to Dorio “Game time.”

 

The Purple and Dark Blue Caliburn Arondight parked smoothly into the relatively empty parking lot, it pulled up conveniently into a small group of cars that blocked them from observing the occupant.

 

Jimmy Kurosaki looked exactly as he’d been found. Dorio needed to thank Kiwi for that research. David opened the door and headed in the opposite direction, he looked and looked again. “Holy shit! Are you Jimmy Kurosaki?” David asked. He needed to play the over-enthusiastic fanboy, it hurt to drag up his past poor choices but for this…it was necessary.

 

Jimmy turned, his eyes widened marginally, he knew who this kid was…one of his wannabe abductees.

 

Flashback

JK: Tanaka-Sama, this…is an unexpected surprise.

TJ: You are a valuable…acquaintance to me, Kurosaki-san, dare I say it a friend.

JK: My thanks, Tanaka-Sama, may I ask what the purpose of this call is?

TJ: I have come into intelligence that I am to be a target from a set of edgerunners, furthermore, they are going to target you to flush me out.

JK: I am honoured. I shall do my part, infact…I shall with your blessing create an unique experience for you.

TJ: *chuckling* This is why I am fond of you. I am providing a list and images of the edgerunners coming for you.

JK: Then I shall simply put on a show.

 

End Flashback

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. It’s not often I meet a fan I try not to meet my fans for the fear of not measuring up to their lofty expectations.”

 

David smiled nervously “Can I get a picture or handshake with you…I mean how often do you get to meet the famous Jimmy Kurosaki!”

 

Jimmy grinned “Not often, David Martinez, in fact, you’ll be the first guest to star in my latest Edgerunners series.” David paused, he was about to say that he’d been compromised before his world erupted into pain as electricity coursed through his body locking down his Sandevistan and paralysing him. “My sincerest apologies, Mr. Martinez, for that…you’ve been…framed. Don’t worry, I take wonderful care of my guests.” Jimmy explained as he injected something into him causing him to blackout.

 

“-vid, DAVID!”
“Kid!”
“Shit!Falco! Becca!”

“Lu…cy.”

 

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Cyberpunk: Cyberpsychosis and Back

 

Falco took off with Dorio in hot pursuit. Tyres burned as they kept relative pace with the Rayfield Caliburn, driven by Kurosaki. Falco swore under his breath, the guy they were chasing was good! More than any Nomad, however, unlike Nomads, the Media Techie Multi-millionaire he never improved his car.

 

Lucy was catatonic in the backseat, her eyes bright red as she launched consecutive breach attempts to place a ‘ping’ on the car. She jerked upright “David’s under a scrambler, so I can’t ping him…but…I’ve got him and his car.” 

 

“Lucy, if I’ve not mentioned it before, I am saying it now…you make netrunning look too damn easy.” Kiwi groused as her body rocked as they went over a pothole. They slowly gained on the Caliburn.

 

Jimmy looked behind in the rearview mirror and smiled beneath his mask. “I’ll take them to the studio, and begin to make David Martinez my brand new host. Hopefully he’ll last longer than the last street-trash.” David was still passed out, it made the BD Editor smirk. It was positively hilarious, the street kids last ride was in the car of his dreams.

 

They made it to the Glenn to find Tanaka Jinta waiting for him “Kurosaki-san.”

 

“Tanaka-san, I had not anticipated to see you here.”

 

“I was worried about you. You and I have a very good relationship, I think you’d agree with that statement.” Tanaka commented as if blindly talking about the weather.

 

Kurosaki nodded “I certainly do agree. Tanaka-san, would you mind doing me a small favour.”

 

Tanaka’s eyebrow raised “That all depends on what the…” Words failed him as he noticed, passed out in Kurosaki’s car “David Martinez…if I live and breathe.”

 

“What do you need me to do?”

 

“Merely carry him inside, although Tanaka-san, can I interest you in increasing your ‘personalised experience’?”

 

“You certainly can, especially with the fact that you’ve managed to return the Arasaka Missing Property. What would it entail?”

 

“It would entail you getting your hands dirty as you get to make and star in your own BD that you helped make. I’ll walk you through it and using the data-scroller embedded in all Prototypes, we’ll be able to see what your little Prototype has been doing since being implanted on my Number One fans back.”

 

Tanaka chuckled “That’s something I never knew about the boy. Katsuo always disparaged Martinez, simply because he was born and raised in Santo Domingo. The place of ones birth is never a factor, although, those with breeding are valued first. Tis the nature of such things, one should never be disparaged for wanting to improve one's station. Now shall we begin?”

 

Kurosaki smirked as he opened his studio apartment doors above his workshop. Tanaka carried the unconscious David in and down to the workshop, it was a warren of servers; cables and screens. It was everything that Tanaka had for his own office, only…less refined. Although, not everyone had the vast resources he had to build his state-of-the-art electronic devices.

 

Tanaka placed David in the chair and placed the straps on the teens arms and legs before placing the brain-dance scroller on the teens head. “Hopefully you’ll provide me with some exceptional quality XBDs.”

 

Tanaka joined Kurosaki in the booth “Now what?”

 

“You press this and it begins.”

 

Tanaka smirked and he pressed the activation button, the groans of the teen were like the beginnings of a symphony for him.

 

(Edgerunners)

They’d trailed back enough to keep the ping going. “In there!” Lucy stated as she pointed out a rather well kept warehouse, outside was the Caliburn. As Falco pulled to a stop, Dorio reached backwards and grabbed Lucy.

 

“Kid…slow down. You’re no good to us or your man if you’re goin off half-cocked and half-a-tank of gas.” Falco drawled as he put the car in neutral. “You lot get our dude back, if he makes a break for it I’ll T-Bone him.”

 

Dorio nodded, she knew Falco could have a vicious streak but this! This was something else.

 

“There’s three people in the warehouse, Kurosaki, an Unknown and David.” Kiwi stated “Lucy’s better at breaking ICE, I’m better at sleuthing. David’s going through hell, he’s hooked up to a Brain-Dance bed and is being run ragged…not sure how he’s holding up.”

 

Lucy began to struggle against Falco more “Let me go! Let’s go!”

 

“Have you even got a plan, Lucy? I’m all for going in guns blazing to get Dimples but I’m not going in just to die for your libido.” Rebecca snapped.

“What about us for yours?”

“Touche.” Rebecca pulled out Guts and racked it “Fuck it lets go and get our Dimples.”

 

(Kurosaki and Tanaka)

 

“Are you anticipating anyone? Kurosaki?”

 

“No at all, unless, it’s our Number One fans’ Edgerunner Crew. In fact…it would be so impolite if we don’t check on your fellow connoisseur of my works.”

 

Tanaka snorted “That is so true.”

 

David jerked back to reality, his body pouring with sweat, his eyes wide and adrenaline coursing through his veins. That was something else! It was fucking terrifying, he knew the scene all to well, it was Lieutenant Colonel Norris’s Cyberpsycho Rampage! Only it was him! 

 

“David Martinez, are you with us?”

 

David snorted “That…was new…” He drawled, his vision had blurred but as it came back into view, he looked up and he went pale, he could see Jimmy Kurosaki looking down at him along with Tanaka Jinta.

 

“You recognise me David Martinez?”

 

“Only your voice, Chairman Tanaka, now having met you may I be brutally honest?”

 

Tanaka chuckled “Of course, although, speak carefully.”

 

“What the fuck is wrong with your kid? It's now obvious that Katsuo got the majority of his looks from his Lady-Mother. Where did his lack of tact, subtly stem? He tries to walk like his father, talk like his father but it falls completely short of actually meeting you. I suppose I should also say I apologise for beating the shit out of Katsuo but not sorry for why I did it.”

 

David was surprised when Tanaka let out a belly laugh “You speak truly, Katsuo…he’s my son…and like all fathers they love their sons even though they can be so disappointing. I know you have the Sandevistan that belonged to the Late Lieutenant-Colonel. I am offering you a chance to come back to the Academy.”

 

“No thanks…too much has been said and done both by myself and others.”

 

Tanaka nodded “You could have done well at Arasaka, David Martinez. I will remember you fondly as I tune your experiences to my liking.”

 

(Tactical Trauma)

 Rection stared at the MedTechs in front of him. They were standing, sitting and lying everywhere they could in the operation room. Ajuka was passed out on a chair, Samantha was leaning against a wall, Blackbeard and Freeze were sitting on the floor and the cute girl-intern, who Hugh had his eye on was putting the coffee on.

 

“So what’s a cute…” He began.

 

“Huge Erection right? Yeah, my dad who’s sleeping against the wall informed me about you. Now, not interested…you touch me or come a single step closer to me if my dad and step-mom don’t give you a vasectomy without anaesthetic then the rest of my family will give you a physical reminder of being spitroasted.”

 

“I love that! The hog on a spit rotating over a fire.” Hugh replied.

 

“You’re the pig.” The girl replied as Hugh finally realised what was being explained to him.

 

He was also unaware of movement on the operating bed. “Now see here…”

 

“How bow thu thut thur thucking mouff befaw I…corwect you.” The big man on the bed murmured, anaesthetic waring off eliciting still clogging his tongue. 

 

Hugh quickly decided to beat a hasty retreat, he had more than enough to make, unfortunately a good report for Trauma Team. Hugh sighed, he left the clinic and drove off.

 

The MedTechs began to stir “You…rest.”

 

“My Kwew? Teh misshin?”

 

Ajuka’s eyes widened “Fuck…they started it…okay…Maine, rest, please, fucking rest. We didn’t nearly kill you and now we’re about to start huffing MaxDocs like asthmatics. Sam…I’m…going to save his crew.”

 

Sam nodded, tears welling in her eyes “Please…be careful.”

 

Isis smirked “The dumbass that is my father isn’t going alone. Besides, he might be a good city driver for emergencies, but this requires a Nomad.” The father and daughter duo rushed to a car, Isis flipped the engine and with a screech of burning rubber, they sped off. Ajuka began trying to frantically call Lucy and David.

 

Contacting David yielded no results yet Lucy picked up on the third attempt.

 

L: KUROSAKIHASDAVID!

A: Lucy, run that by me again, less Sandevistan and orgasmic.

L: Kurosaki has David. Kurosaki made the Edgerunner XBDs, he’s putting David through it. Tanaka is here. Please, I’ve never begged, please help me save David. How’s Maine?

A: We’re on our way, my daughter and I, we will. Awake, groggy and Sam’s probably strapping him to the bed.

L: He’s not psycho!
A: Tapdancing the tantalising tango still but for now same.

L: Seriously? Of course, you are. We’re in Watson, you’ll see a purple Caliburn.

 

“Isis…look for a purple Caliburn.”

 

Isis nodded as she effortlessly drifted through a light heading towards Watson.

 

(Edgerunners)

Lucy couldn’t help but grin, she scrambled up a fire-escape, Rebecca and Pilar hot on her heels. “Lucy, calm yo’ mighty fine ass a sec.” Lucy looked over her heeld at Pilar.

 

“What?”

 

“What’s got you grinning like David’s knocked you up?” He asked cackling as Lucy blushed a bright red, a similar shade was on Rebecca’s face. 

“Ajuka’s hauling ass to us. Maine’s not dead.” Dorio who was bringing up the rear, her eyes widened.

 

“Lucy, please tell me you’re not fucking around with me?”

 

“I’m not Dorio…besides you get that enough from Maine and Ajuka being well Ajuka.” Lucy replied as Kiwi undid the door.

 

(Inside)

An alarm blared, the XBD viewing stopped causing David to jerk. He was slowly losing track of the rampages he'd been forced into, this one had caused his blood to surge with sheer fury. 

 

Kurosaki had seen his colleagues, and he'd begun to model the people gunned down as the Edgerunners and Tactical Trauma. The worst one was the rampage where he killed Lucy in no less than sixty different ways. Each of those ways revealed to David just how horrifying being clad in chrome and how easily killing his girlfriend and friends was. He refused to break, he wasn’t going to go Cyberpsycho! He only had the Sandevistan! He refused to break, as the XBD run finished and his breathing began returning to normal; he began to think about his mother. She was right! This…this wasn’t the life she’d wanted for him and he wholeheartedly agreed, but, simultaneously, his climbing the corporate ladder did not appeal to him. “We have company, Kurosaki.”

 

Jimmy looked up “Ah, the intrepid Edgerunners here to rescue our friend and kidnap you.”

 

Tanaka turned to him “Kidnap me? How…did a simpering sarcastic holier than thou gentleman in red with four-cybernetic eyes contact you, Kurosaki?”

 

Jimmy nodded “Certainly, a most disreputable creature; a Fixer with grand dreams of grandeur.”

 

Tanaka’s visor shifted colour “I think I have a way to turn this to my advantage.”

 

David was slowly recuperating. He looked down at his bound arms legs, he stretched his hands and the bindings were loosening. He grinned to himself, as he slackened his hand. The manacle crossed over his knuckles, he opened his hand and with the slightest sucking sound the strap came loose. As David undid his other hand the sound of drones powered up.

 

“DAVID!” He looked up as Lucy, Rebecca and the rest of the Edgerunners bar Maine burst into the warehouse.

 

“SHIT! LUCY LOOK OUT! WYVERNS!” Rebecca shrieked as the drones began to fire.

 

Tanaka’s visor changed colour again, his suit sleeves and shirt sleeves ripped apart as a pair of orange-red mantis blades appeared from his forearms “I know who you are Arasaka Property, Lucyna Kushinada. Hanako-Sama will be extremely pleased when I return you to her. It's a shame about what happened to your family…”

 

Lucy froze. She'd been very young when she had broken into her fathers laptop. Why? How? How did the suit know about that? She didn't do that did she? 

 

“Such fearsome young woman…now a meek kitten. All you need to do is one small thing and you and David will be free. Under Arasaka Employment naturally but no more will you be having to scavenge for scraps from the table. Why are you after me? Who sent you after me?”

 

Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Cyberpunk: Cyberpsychosis and Back 21

 

Lucy froze, the target was right there! “Pardon?” The Executive chuckled, she could hear the Wyverns whirring their guns powering up. She observed the giggling lunatic, Jimmy Kurosaki, then the chair holding her David.

 

“I understand that this is an extremely high-stakes environment. Those useful turrets that Kurosaki-san has could easily make mincemeat out of you and your entire crew before they even set foot into this building, or further in your case. Why are you and your motley crew of Mercenaries after me? Or is it rather what I possess has sent you after me?”

 

“LUCY! DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!” Shouted Rebecca.

 

“Rebecca…we’re all dead if we don’t parley with him.” Lucy replied waspishly.

 

Dorio had made it into the building “Executive Tanaka…” She called out. The Executive turned to face her, Lucy used that to get to the bed that David was strapped into and began to remove the cables, she split the visor open with a ‘force open’ quick hack. She repeated the quick hack releasing David, he rolled off the chair and onto the floor dry-heaving and hyper-ventilating. Lucy would have found it arousing to see her man like that except only when she or Rebecca did it, because, what happened next was fucking exquisite.

 

Tanaka turned, one of his many HUDs in his visor kept a bead on the Prototype Wielder and the Project Survivor. Tanaka shook his head, foolishness compiled upon foolishness, the only smart move Hanako-Sama had made when Kushinada-san had left his computer open for his daughter to access, was to terminate him. Then terminating Shimmer-san was unnecessary; yes she was on the Arasaka Books as a Freelance Netrunner of some considerable skill that was wastage. He would have terminated Kushinada-san but kept Shimmer-san alive, Arasaka was meant to be ruthless in conquest and reprisal but magnanimous in reparations. Shimmer should have in his views been awarded full access to their family finances and moved to another Arasaka facility where she would have been further rewarded but heavily monitored. ‘A cage is still a cage no matter how much it glitters’. Dorio made her way forwards “I am the Number Two of this Mercenary Team, we were after you, specifically Tanaka-san because of your position as Arasaka’s Head of Research and Development, we do not know what we are after because we were not informed.”

 

Tanaka grinned, things could easily be resolved then…hopefully without copious amounts of bloodshed. This Team were…commendable, sturdy, steadfast and loyal! Loyalty was hard to come by, Tanaka knew he could hire any team of third-party Edgerunners to do his bidding; however, keeping their loyalty was always a challenge no one could be trusted whether to remain in a contract or flip for a larger sum of eddies. He’d seen street trash turn on their old hires for a fistful of eddies and change again for a few eddies more. “You are after my research?”

 

Dorio nodded, any further conversation was halted as a car screeched into the parking lot. Tanaka’s HUD picked up two more figures hauling themselves towards them. “Kurosaki-san, who are these newcomers?”

 

“They…appear to be a Trauma Team.”

 

“They don't Operate outside of four mateams…ah yes, the infamous Tactical Trauma.”

 

“Tactical Trauma?” Kurosaki asked curiously as the Tactical Trauma duo burst through the front door.

 

Ajuka and Isis paused, they’d arrived expecting and anticipating a blood. Isis picked out the Wyvern Gun Turrets that were turning to open fire on them, Ajuka was already moving his SAW to his shoulder and he fired two, three-round bursts, right through the drones. “Everyone alive? Everyone in tact?”

 

The Executive chuckled “So what brings Tactical Trauma here?”

 

“Two of my workers were tasked with capturing you for shit, shit that we don’t know about, from an Arasaka Executive…considering you’re the only Executive looking Executive present I’m presuming that’s you? And if you’ll forgive me for saying ‘you don’t fucking look fucking captured’ so, Dorio…what in the name of a hernia and testicular torsion is going on? David, Lucy…you love birds alright?”

 

“I’m alright, David however…” Isis was moving, her eyes widened at the nearly broken Latino.

 

“Ajuka…he’s been put through a ringer.” Isis opened her kit bag.

 

The Executive quickly took control of the situation. “Perhaps we can come to an arrangement?”

 

Ajuka looked at the Executive “I'd like that…one second.” He pulled out a pistol, aimed and fired. Kurosaki froze before dropping.

 

“Executive, you were informed of this particular group of Edgerunners coming for you from Kurosaki, correct?” Ajuka stated.

“Indeed.”

 

“Kurosaki was informed of their coming by their Fixer.”

 

The Executives visor turned from red to blue before flashing back to red “The Fixer, set his own men up to take the fall…then using the information he had to make me his target, would walk into Arasaka and spill everything in return for a high placement in the Corporation whilst neatly wiping his hands of the situation.”

 

“He’s also on the Militech books as one of their Fixers.”

 

Tanaka’s face hardened “He’d be setting off a 5th Corporate War! Not even the Emperor would have the stomach for it…as much as I would love it so, the conflict itself would not be a problem but the other Megacorps and the Countries that would inevitably get dragged in…I dare not run the numbers but it would most assuredly be in the billions if not trillions of eddies.”

 

“I grew up in the aftermath of the 4th, specifically the airburst of Night City.” Ajuka stated.

 

“What is your price?”

 

“We were going to be given 2.2 Million Eddies split between us upon contract completion.” Dorio replied.

 

Tanaka smirked “I…believe…I can do one better. 2.2 Million, per group member…but it comes with…stipulations.”

 

Ajuka raised an eyebrow “Those stipulations involve my employees entering the Arasaka Company? It’s not hard.”

 

“You do realise who and what they are?”

 

“One has the Prototype Sandy installed in him, you’re welcome. The other…apart from being one of his inputs, she works hard. She’s my Cybersecurity expert.”

 

Tanaka paused “You have a counter offer?”

 

Ajuka nodded “Give them enough data so Faraday will pay them the paltry figure of 2.2 Million for the Crew. Then offer then say…18million…2.2 Mill ahead with some small change, You give them a contract with a buyout clause and pay them well. Use intermediaries if you must, allow them to do jobs for other Fixers but your jobs take priority. That way David and Lucy are under Arasaka's thumb until they decide to leave the life behind.”

 

“We’re training him to be a MedTech if he so wishes…so…Tanaka? Do we have a deal?”

 

Tanaka looked at Ajuka “It’s a horribly slanted deal, but it should suffice. The Edgerunners Crew take an edited version of what I know to get their pay from their Fixer. I’ll add a tracker or something innocuous to the code, on its own reads as New Saka software but its other part is with me. I can then terminate him as and when, I’ll comp them a million a head. Once they’re free, I’ll hire them for ten jobs specifically then they’re free to leave. I’ll leave that 18Million as a hefty bonus for the completion of the jobs Arasaka has to offer them. I get to run some diagnostics on the Sandevistan, and on Lucy…I’m an intelligent man, I know when I see an effective Solo-Netrunner pair; it’ll give me something lord over Jenkins and Abernathy.”

 

“Trouble in paradise?”

 

“Not so much paradise, but trouble on powder kegs. Mr. Bael, I’m not…”

 

“I’m a qualified MedTech, and recently updated my credentials to include psychology and counselling. I have Arasaka Members coming to me for custom repairs, I’m as Arasaka as I can be without being shoved into your monkey suits. I’m a Ripper who moonlights as a MedTech with a licence to rip and mend. I also happen to be here…and I could not give a shit as long as shit does not come through my door.” 

 

Tanaka snorted “The Bael blood runs thick in you.”

 

“So I’ve been told.”

 

“Arasaka has three factions, those, factions spread deep. R&D is one of the most unified…they answer to me and I answer to Hanako-Sama, who is officially and unofficially the Voice of the Emperor. Yorinobu-Sama heads another faction and has most of the security and more than enough of Special Operations and Counter-Intelligence on his payroll, the rest follow Michiko-sama…who…is only present as and when she needs to. Outside of my Division, the one only more unified is Internal Affairs who answer to Arasaka-Sama himself.”

 

Ajuka sighed “Right…Tanaka-san, up in those Ivory towers where spinning multiple plates is the meaning of life or death, down here we deal with each shitstorm one at a time. Let’s see to it that these tools get their pay, get their Fixer in your sights and allow Lucy to ride her Output into oblivion.”

 

Over by Isis, Lucy blushed as she cradled David’s head. She held him as Isis began sticking nutrient bags into his arm. “How is he?”

 

“Physically…honestly he’s alright apart from repetitive strain injury and torn muscle fibres from the thrashing around. Mentally…being in a BDSM Club would have been healthier. Does he have any other chrome that I need to know about?”

 

“Just his Sandevistan.”

 

Isis nodded “Then it should be a relatively straight forwards recovery, now, help me get him to the van and you stay with him.”

 

Tanaka did not intervene or do anything to intercept the Tactical Trauma Operatives as they left the building. He headed to the computer terminals, ejected a shard and systematically transferred everything that the Edgerunners wanted. He handed Ajuka the shard “Let’s make this look convincing.”

 

The Edgerunners and Tanaka trashed Kurosaki’s facility, Kiwi drained Jimmy dry of all his money; Dorio, Pilar and Rebecca wailed on Tanaka whilst dealing decent superficial damage and received a major beating in return. Ajuka put some rounds into the building as well, before Isis plunged the armoured ambulance directly into the building as well, taking down part of the building itself. Tanaka snapped Kurosaki’s neck “You sold out a clientele for a few more eddies than what you stood to gain from me. You fool.”

 

Ajuka climbed into his ambulance, the engine turned to life.

 

R: Ajuka!

A: Yeah, pint-size?

R: I'll fucking fuck you up for that.

A: Really now? What is it?

R: How's Dimples?”

A: Lights are on, no one is home. He's only just about responding to Lucy. What I do know is…he's gone through hell. He needs time to realise that everyone is safe…for now.

D: What’s his recovery time?

I: Anything up to a month, if you really want him to be okay. His brains scrambled, he was forced through a tonne of XBDs that were in line with Jimmy Kurosaki’s ‘Edgerunners’ Series, only these were modified…

P: Modified how? C’mon lass don’t leave Pilar hanging here!

I: David was killing all of you.

That killed the conversation. Kiwi’s voice broke the tense silence.

K: I’ve…managed to acquire a fair bit of Kurosaki’s finances, once I’ve found out how much everyone gets a fair cut.

L: Kiwi…thanks

K: You my little prodigy apprentice little-sister would be getting more if I wasn’t warming to the crew.
Da: Thanks…everyone…getting me out.

The group disbanded the call, Lucy looked at the slowly returning to conscious David, tears falling down her face.

 

“David?”

“Hey Lucy…” His eyes widened, he tried to move but he couldn’t everything hurt!

 

“David…please…just rest.”

 

Tanaka drove back to his residence, his heart sank…waiting for him like an overly eager puppy was Katsuo “Katsuo, my office.” He ordered “Where’s your mother?”

 

“In the parlour, father, what is it? What have I done now?”

 

“Far too much, my son, far too much. Many a spinning plate may now fall because of bad choices and decisions.”

Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Cyberpsychosis and Back 22

 

Katsuo Tanaka gleefully took his father's sake tumbler. What he failed to realise was that his tumbler was noticeably fuller than his father's; furthermore, his father didn't drink any of his.

 

“You're looking well, a true man of the Tanaka Family and House.” His father said if Katsuo looked hard enough; he might have seen his father's mouth twitch into a thin smile. Suddenly Katsuo found himself slumping into a seiza position, his father had punched him in the gut!

 

Katsuo couldn’t control himself as he slumped to his knees, he rolled forward vomiting up the sake! “Clean the floor, then yourself, up.” His father snapped. Katsuo nodded, this sucked! What had he done to deserve this! His father had told him that he finally looked like a man to whom he could leave his legacy! Now he, Katsuo, was cleaning up his own vomit which should normally be a servant's job!

 

“You have caused a great many plates to wobble and potentially fall due to your actions, my son. With your arrogance, supposed intellect and supposed finances all of which stem from mine and your mother's purses but no more. Do you remember why you were sent to the Arasaka Academy?”

“For the best education?”

 

“True. But it's not all true. We sent you to Arasaka to network, to find peers of your standing or higher to expand our reach; you were also to reach out a hand for those less fortunate.”

 

“You mean that Street-Trash? Martinez!” Katsuo rasped.

 

Tanaka snorted “It’s funny when I said ‘less fortunate’ you automatically presumed I was talking about him. In this case, I was and I wasn’t. I am so disappointed in you, Katsuo…you should have attempted to cultivate a working relationship with the young Martinez.”

 

“He doesn’t…”

 

“His first piece of cyberware was a Sandevistan that Arasaka possessed and we grafted onto Lieutenant Colonel James Norris and he went cyberpsycho and some street-brat…acquired it and is quite frankly taking to it far better than any adult we would have grafted it onto.”

 

Katsuo’s blood boiled “He’s nothing. So what if he can wield a…”

 

“He could have killed you. If he had been one of us, a legacy, he would have challenged you to a duel and would take your life…I would have let him.” Tanaka stated causing Katsuo to freeze.

 

“You…think that little of me?”

 

“I do and I do not. I think little of you as you have done nothing but ride along on the purse strings and influence your forebears and I have made for you; that is not your fault. I do not think so little of you that I would casually cast you away, you’re my son, my impulsive, irrational son and I love you. You do need to wade amongst that trash to find diamonds occasionally.”

 

Katsuo nodded slowly “How does this…”

 

“I got set up…I was nearly a catalyst for a fifth Corporate War. I managed to acquire several potential assets, whilst avoiding that particular fate of being a catalyst for the mentioned Fifth Corporate War.” Jinta stated. “These assets are Edgerunners, one of whom you will know.”

 

Katsuo snarled at the thought of having to spend time with Martinez “If you cannot be professional with your…nemesis then you’re a bigger disappointment than I thought.” Tanaka stated. 

 

“Yes father. I understand…I think.”

 

Tanaka smiled a full decent smile at his son “To know when you do not know is sign of wisdom and a willingness to learn. I do not like some of my colleagues in Arasaka but I must work with them for we all work for a greater goal, something that we must put above our own selfish whims, wants and desires. You do not have to like Martinez, but, you must be able to respect him and work with him; he has his own goals, we have ours. We must ensure that our goals are achieved if it means assisting him on his own then that is a good deed. If we cannot then…it’s merely business.”

 

Katsuo stared at his father dumbfounded “Why isn’t this taught in the Academy?”

 

“It is. There is more to the academic programme at the Arasaka Schools than one admits. Yes, completing the base education will set anyone up for a future wherever they go…however the hidden lessons, in the background reading…those who find them are truly destined for greatness. I learned this the hardway, I inherited the Research Department from my father who…as much as I love him as my father was a horrendous Director. I made us relevant, it has taken me a long time to achieve it but I achieved it; now…are you going to break it down or are you going to build on it?”

 

“I want to do right by our name, Family and House.”

 

(David, Lucy and Rebecca)

Lucy, Isis and Rebecca half carried David back towards Lucy’s apartment. David slowly came round as they entered the elevator and with Rebecca leading the way, holding her beloved Guts shooing other residents back into their apartment.

“Who the fuck are you?” One resident shouted.

 

“Tactical Trauma…the violent bastard stepchildren on Trauma Team. We’re paid to fuck you up and then heal, as opposed to heal and fuck others up. We have care plans!” Rebecca snapped.

 

“You have a care package?”

 

“Yup.”

 

Isis tapped Becca on the shoulder and pointed to her teeth “Dental is included!” Becca shouted.

 

David grinned “Along with direct-to-door-within-three-days-or-sooner prescriptions.”

 

“Do you guys rip?” Someone shouted.

 

“If we must. Prefer not to but we can do. Y’see we have or are working towards medical licences.”

 

Lucy opened the door to her apartment as Isis gently nudged David inside, David found himself homing towards the couch and collapsed on to it. He was no longer seeing everyone they passed as dead. Tears began to stream down his cheeks. “David!”

 

David found Lucy and Rebecca bundling themselves around him. The trio didn't here Isis leave the apartment. The girls didn't ask him to talk, they just held him, they allowed his tears to fall and the gut wrenching whimpers and moans as David finally broke down.

 

They had no idea how much working for Arasaka even as an Edgerunner unsettled him. They learned that David was only going through the school just to make him appear more appealing for Medical School. His dream had been to open his own Clinic or finding work as a backstreet Ripper. He never wanted to be a suit or corporate type, he wanted to be a MedTech who helped his community, maybe managed to organise a lasting peace or a true neutral point between 6th Street and Valentinos.

 

“I might be able to do that…but…I want you both. Anywhere, just the three of us.” 

 

Rebecca looked up at him “You're not yanking my chain?”

 

“No…all I know is I want to be somewhere with the pair of you.” He didn't say anything else as Rebecca grabbed his face and forced her tongue into his mouth. Lucy giggled and slid her hands down to his waist.

 

(Maine and Dorio)

Maine smiled, a true grin! The one that Dorio had fell in love with, the large Edgerunners were hiding in Dorio’s apartment in Pacifica.cifica, specifically on the borders of the Voodoo Boys territory; Maine was lounging on the sofa taking up three-quarters of it where he would previously have had at least half-a-foot hanging off each end of the sofa.

 

“So…what’d I miss?”

 

Dorio grinned at him as she pressed against him “A fair bit…we’re waiting on the target getting back to us and giving us a shard of data that is going to give us the maximum pay from the Four-Eyed-Fucker, freeing us from the FEF but putting us under the thumb of another megacorporation; however, they’re willing to pay us into the millions of eddies per person. I believe the arrangement was ten jobs for the Other Megacorp and then we can opt out for an 18 million Eddie payday for all of us.”

 

Maine stared at her “What about Faraday?”

 

Dorio smiled “We’ll be free from him. Able to chart our own path to the top.”

 

Maine grinned at that “Our own way to the top…Babe, I was back on the dirt track when I was under. I never could see the end when I was training…only this time I could. Someone or a group of people were waiting for me…I’m…running out of track and time.”

 

Dorio stared “Don’t worry, this isn’t cyberpsychosis…this is just me being brutally honest; I love this way of life. It’s fucking preem, but…it takes a while for the circuits to work these days…all I wanted was to prove that I could be a leader, was the leader.”

 

“You have, you were and you are. Maine…we’ve gotta get through these ten missions…claim our buyout and we’re done.”

 

(Tactical Trauma)

Everyone was cleaning down the surgery room. The floor was being swept, washed and then dried. The bed had been rolled out and meticulously cleaned. “Why the fuck does Ajuka never have to do this?” Bones groused.

 

“He does…you never see him do it, yet, you wonder why he’s twenty minutes to an hour late to our decompression drinking.” Sam replied caustically.

 

“Even when it was just the two of us, I cleared up the front of the house and he cleared up back here. Now…now, everything should take a lot less time. Also…Freeze?”

 

“Yeah, Sam?”

 

“You’re on the late with Blackbeard doing the Clopen.”

 

“Fucks sake, Sam! Why am I stuck on the Clopen shift?”

 

“You’re an irritable, irritating, indispensable member of the facility who is far more nocturnally inclined; plus it limits your retail responsibilities to the bare minimum of half an hour; also you’re just being paid to stay awake, all the chores are being done and anything not done can be done for the dayshift.”

 

“You’re an utter bastard Nightshift.” Sammy yelled, the Rockerboy despite not having any medical qualifications had been recruited to help clean up the building. It inspired him to write new songs, which were subsequently building up in popularity such as ‘Tool Boss’ and ‘Dream Crash’. The first was loosely based on his observations of Ajuka and Hugh.

 

Sam looked up as she felt the ground shake, she left the theatre and headed to the front desk. Inside the TaTr Foyer were the usual suspects, emptying their burrito machine, men from the 6th Street and Arasaka.

 

They filed out as two people entered dressed in suits of the colours of TT with a bedraggled Ajuka following. “Samantha Kushnyada?”

 

“Depends on whose asking?” She replied, god, Ajuka was rubbing off on her in all ways. Some more beneficial than others, one of the men snorted.

 

“Your Input’s behind us. Could you please direct us to a conference room or somewhere we’re not going to be overheard?”

 

“Through those doors, put on the scrubs as you walk in. We’ve just sterilised the room…haven’t finished it.”

 

“What do you mean? You haven’t finished yet? Sweep, disinfect, dry…is that not what TT orders?”

 

“It is…we prefer also cover everything in hand sanitiser and ignite it, flames kill all. Exterminatus to all bacteria.”

 

“That’s the Bael on your team speaking.”

 

Ajuka cleared his throat “Daniel, Danielle…what’s this about? You…seldom leave your offices due to the shareholders demanding your attention and taxing your considerable patience?”

 

Daniel snorted “Can we not come and see our subsidiary? We received the report from Mister Rection.”

 

“Are you certain it was Rection and not MisdiRection? One’s insufferable the others just an asshole…no matter how you anethetise it.”

 

Danielle let out a choked laugh “Ajuka…one of these days your mouth is going to land you in some serious hot water.” She strode over and hugged the green-haired member of TaTR, “I’ve missed you, you horrible curmudgeon.”

 

Ajuka grinned at that “Pretty sure…”

 

“It applied to you, your father, grandfather and two of your siblings…You always spat in our face regarding orders; we tried to rebuke you but you always delivered results! However, it would be remiss of us to say that we have concerns.”

 

Ajuka cracked his knuckles, the two higher-ups could feel something shift in Ajuka’s stance “Let us see what we can do to ease your concerns…however I will be submitting a report citing the source of your report as being illegible to conduct a proper investigation of me without extreme personalised bias.”

 

Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Notes:

Hello! I'm back! So sorry, life and Miyazaki-sama's works along with Square Enix got a hold of me.

Cyberpsychosis and Back 23

 

Ajuka had been right. Then again, according to the Directors, Ajuka Bael was nearly always right. His reports were effective, efficient and inclusive, and he recorded everything down to the ‘t’, not like ‘500mg of Epinephrine used’ it was exactly how much of a drug was used, how much of a roll of bandages had been used and how many rounds had been used in a firefight. He further detailed everyone's exact positioning during the call, from entering the AV to disembarking and re-embarking with the package. He never used names, he used Operator Numbers and called all patients a package. Hugh, however, was a wheeler, dealer and conniver, it was clear that Hugh's report on Tactical Trauma was biased.

 

“Mr. Bael, we have received a concerning report about you and our subsidiary holdings. Tactical Trauma, to put it bluntly.”

 

Ajuka nodded “I see.”

 

The Directors slid forward a tablet. “It said that Tactical Trauma was down on signing people up for Trauma Team Membership.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Aye, we're down on coverages and more than likely down on everything across the board, yet we're turning out a decent profit? Ask no questions tell no lies…everyone who joined, Himeno and I, they are all Ex-TT, bar three. One is a courier, the other a security specialist and the last one she’s studying what we do.”

 

“You were saying that you were still making a profit. We need to know what you’re doing.”

 

“We’re creating, distributing, and charging for medication that the public would pay through the nose for. You and I know the Trauma Team pays for those from other Megacorps. The thing about patents is that they need to be kept in mind.”

 

“So you’re developing in-house pharmaceuticals and selling at low cost for everyone?”

 

Ajuka nodded. “More or less. If they can’t pay, we sort out a payment plan…nothing like Trauma Teams' ‘all pay or we stop’. Besides, you lot gave me the boot and part of my severance was to start a subsidiary of Trauma Team, run by me, owned by me, and done my way, with access to Trauma Team Warehouses and Depots. So far I’ve had no complaints from TT until Hugh turned up, made some inappropriate remarks to my daughter and probably notified you that the Clinic required ‘drastic measures’.”

 

“We cannot confirm or deny what was sent to us, but, any subsidiary of TT will at some point need to be audited by someone from our auditing department.”

 

Ajuka scoffed at the remark, causing two of the directors to stiffen “So what’s the verdict? I’ve been open, revealed everything, and even tuned down my perpetual sarcasm.”

 

“We shall let you know within 48 Hrs whether you’re going to remain a subsidiary of Trauma Team or not.”

 

Ajuka nodded “Thank you.”

 

The Directors got up, nodded to their former colleague and left. The moment they got into their car a shared smirk was had between them “He’s not lost his touch.”

 

“That he hasn’t…that he hasn’t indeed. In fact, dare I say, he’s grown into himself.”

 

“So we're not getting rid of him?”

 

“Of course not. Doesn't mean we can't sweat him a little bit, just, remind him who holds the leash. The Baels were and are apart of Trauma Team, yes, Ajuka no longer wears the colours of TT but he's still one of ours. The same with Viktor Vektor.”

 

“Haven't we cut ties with him?”

 

“For the most part. We still give him medical supplies anything else is breaking our contract. Viktor gets his supplies from us and he leaves us alone and we leave him alone. It wouldn't do to jeopardise the Patron Saint of Rippers…he taught a fair few of us.”

 

(Lucy, Rebecca and David)

 

Rebecca let out a moan of passion, and she collapsed bonelessly onto the luxurious queen-sized bed. She watched as Lucy grabbed the bedsheets with one hand and her own, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as David thrusted into her, his balls slapping rhythmically against Lucy’s ass. 

 

The smell of sex filled the room. The moans and groans from David and Lucy's depraved lovemaking…no…it was fucking, Becca could feel herself moistening as Lucy out an earsplitting shriek of ecstasy as she collapsed limply onto the bed, her head rolling into Rebecca’s knees.

 

“No more David. Please…I can’t feel my legs.” Lucy moaned. David groaned in relaxation, his eyes nearly closed as he looked at the duo.

 

“Damn, Luce…that’s what you’re getting?”

 

Lucy smiled bleerily “Yep. Now you.”

 

David looked at Lucy “You mean that?” The good feeling slowly fading away, this felt like a very serious conversation.

 

Lucy blushed “I’ve liked both…was surprised at how much I liked you when we met…prefer women and surprised by how much I like and wanted you then.”

 

Rebecca teased Lucy by planting a few kisses along her neck and down her back causing the long-limbed woman to shudder. Rebecca barely felt David drag her up the bed and sandwich her between himself and Lucy. “What do you know about the Suit? Dimples?”

 

David groaned, one hand tracing the elaborate mixture of tattoo and cybernetics. “I went to school with his son, an utter gonk. I was his fixation of his soc-called superiority; yet I outperformed him academically at nearly every turn.” David's eyes widened “That little fuckwit, He must have gone crying to his father whenever I outperformed him so they hit my mother with ‘unprocessed fees’, my Mom paid and I had to resit the exam…I scored higher, however whenever term fees were paid mine were astoundingly higher than others.”

 

Lucy paled “So WHAT does Tanaka senior do?”

 

David shrugged “Apart from being Chairman of the Arasaka Academy Board and having…surprisingly decent ideas in what future corpobrats should be learning…I include myself in that statement; look at me. I’m an Edgerunner whilst learning how to MedTech on the downlow and Medical School was and is crazy expensive.”

 

Lucy giggled at that “I’m sorry, David, I…I…just can’t see you in a cap and gown. Although you’d look sexy in it.”

 

“Lucy…he looks amazing in anything…in fact looks much better with nothing on.” Rebecca giggled.

 

“The same for the pair of you…I vaguely remember Katsuo saying…saying something about Research and Development.”

 

Lucy paled “So…Tanaka Senior has access…to…Arasaka files?”

 

“More than likely…Lucy…” David began, and Lucy began to move out of the bed, only for Rebecca to grab her hip.

 

“What's the rush?” Becca called out, pressing light kisses along the taller woman's upper leg and upto the hip.

 

“I…I…I was a Child Runner for Arasaka's beyond the Black Wall project.” Lucy began, only for David and Becca to throw their arms around her and gently force her back onto the bed, peppering her with affection and tender loving care.

 

“Problems for another time. Problems for another time.” David murmured.

 

(Tanaka)

 

Being in Management of a Megacorporation certainly had its perks. Tanaka noted as his verification codes finally cleared and his encrypted call finally began to ring.

 

“This is Arasaka-Sama’s Office. Takemura Goro speaking, who is calling?” 

 

Tanaka’s breathing hitched slightly. He’d received the number from the Head of the Arasaka Building in Night City, and now he was conversing with the infamous Everyman of Arasaka Saburo himself: “Takemura-Sama. I was anticipating this number would put me in contact with Arasaka-Sama’s Daughter, Hanako-Sama.”

 

There was a grunt from the other side of the call “Who is calling?”

 

“Tanaka Jinta, Takemura-Sama.”

 

“One moment Tanaka-san.”

 

There was a murmured hurried conversation before Takemura returned to the call “Arasaka-Sama will speak with you now.”

 

Tanaka gulped momentarily “Arasaka-Sama.”

 

“Tanaka-san. What is so pressing? That you must contact me so?”

 

Tanaka let out a short, sharp sigh. “Arasaka-Sama, I, the Company, have been targeted by an Outside Variable seeking information on Research and Development projects. The specifics are still unknown. I have managed to flip the outside Mercenary Team to Arasaka’s Benefit. However, for them to be truly under the Arasaka Corporation, I have figured I shall…”

 

“This is a call for permission rather than forgiveness, Tanaka-san? I care not for how you do this, illuminate Arasaka’s enemies using these proxies against them. Give them what you want to give them but ensure…” Tanaka grinned.

 

“I have just the thing, Arasaka-Sama.”

 

There was a definite snort on the other side of the call “You are so much like your grandfather, a dear, dear, friend…no…a much-valued friend Jinta-san. Succeed in this and I shall consider the follies and failures of the Tanaka family washed away.”

 

Saburo smirked to himself, the sheer determination of the current patriarch of the family had wiped away the failures of the previous head of the Tanaka Family. 

 

The call disconnected and Tanaka's breath was released; he had the Emperor’s permission and that was all that mattered. He scrolled through the vast cache of data that comprised the R&D Department of Night City Arasaka; this Faraday, he felt like a snake in the guise of a human and too trap a snake one required bait and the Fixers Mercenaries had generously given him. “I still need to give my newest employees a bonus for giving me that information.”

 

He paused as he stared at the screen, his fingers tapping a brief rhythm on his desk. He was brought out of his musings by a short knock on his door “Enter.”

 

“Otou-san, I have brought you food.” It was Katsuo, his nose twitched.

 

“Ramen?”

 

“Yes, Mothers own.” Jinta’s eyes widened, his wife seldom cooked anymore which was a shame; that was one of the things that had attracted her to him. Yes her family were of a lower status than his own, at the time; his parents knew that their own financial situation was not looking stable. He, Jinta, himself was aware that they might have to start over…if they weren’t killed for what they knew.

 

“What’s all of this?”

“What Arasaka has ever worked on, everything that the Tanaka family has ever produced…success or failure.” He looked over his shoulder to see Katuso dragging a stool over to have a look.

 

“You’re concealing something father. What’s happening?”

 

Jinta took a deep breath “If I told you that Arasaka was under attack what would you say?”

 

Katsuo paused “Would not be surprised, Arasaka has no shortage of enemies…Militech for one and Kang-Tao for another. So the question father is not we’re under attack it’s ‘Which one is attacking?’ followed by ‘How are they doing it?’”

 

Jinta chuckled “So your brain does work. The first answer is I don’t know yet, but I intend to. The second answer is through Mercenaries or rather Edgerunners.”

 

Katsuo rolled his eyes “Mercenaries…what good are people who will turn on their masters for a few eddies more?”

 

“For situations like this my son. When I was meeting Kurosaki-san for a personal meeting…”

 

Katsuo’s Strong Arms 400 arms were balled tight; so tight that the synth skin threatened to tear “I remember…you mentioned Martinez being part of the Squad although he was being ‘run ragged mentally’ if I remember your words correctly.”

 

“He was. He was being exposed to Kurosaki’s unique material of the mans ‘Edgerunners XBDs’. What shocked me was Martinez was also a connoisseur of such exquisite works of art.”

 

Katsuo almost squawked “How do you know that?”

 

“You’re my son. I am also on the board of the Arasaka Academy. The board can appreciate a hustle, it was not hard to work out that someone was bringing restricted materials onto campus. Naturally since multiple members of the boards children were involved nothing could be done.”

 

“You think it was Martinez?”

 

“I know it was Martinez. People’s eyes tend to be yellow to orange when eddies are being exchanged, which is common knowledge. Another fact is that Arasaka Academy has cameras everywhere aside from the bathrooms, however, microphones are present…the bathrooms were generally a place of sanctuary and plotting without being overheard. I jest… the microphones in the bathroom. However, Arasaka does have cameras; so it is not too hard to put everything together, furthermore the amount of children saying they had ‘come down with the flu’ or ‘not feeling well’ spiked shortly after those transactions.”

 

Katsuo’s eyes widened “So…uh…what should have been done?”

 

Jinta smirked “I have Martinez over a barrel whether he knows it or not. I reached out to his Team Leader and have offered the crew a very generous payout should they be able to complete ten assignments on top of a very generous payout…should they make it through all ten assignments.”

 

“And if they do?”

 

“That’s what Arasaka Specialists are there for.”

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Cyberpsychosis and Back 24

 

David let out a sigh of relief; things had been quiet. Far too quiet; it wasn't like being an Edgerunner had stopped; there was always work to be done. Rather, there had been a temporary ceasefire across the entire city, and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Word had gotten out that renowned BD Editor Jimmy Kurosaki had died. Kurosaki’s XBDS had been a highly praised commodity, so all gangs had temporarily halted the gang violence.

 

M: Meeting, Electrode. Everyone needs to be present.

David sighed, this was going to be fucking annoying. He hated Electrode. 

D: Sure thing. Time?

M: 20:00, after you've done whatever else you need to do.

 

David grunted as he ended the call. It pleased him to no end that Maine was now no longer three steps from falling to Cyberpsychosis, but it annoyed him that Maine had decided to bring the crew back together so soon. It was fucking with his schedule, Tactical Trauma had just come under an audit and Ajuka had somehow managed to keep everything afloat with a few mild threats delivered back at the irate and perpetually cranky MedTech. The guy even gave David a MedTech Official Apprenticeship despite being a dropout. “These deliveries aren’t going to make themselves.” He told himself.

 

He’d been operating as a courier, and now, getting lessons on syringe construction and how to learn medical calculations on the fly, he did the courier job as part of his apprenticeship. David thrived on doing and reciting reading material as he studied. Tactical had complied, and with a bribe or two to Trauma Team, David had all the materials he could need and want. Currently, he was out in Red Oaks, and he paled; the opulence here was astounding! He looked at his list and began scanning the doors, it took him a while before he came to an eight-foot fence leading onto a sleek villa. There was an intercom: “Mr. Eurodyne…Martinez from Tactical Trauma, I have your prescription.” Holy shit! He was going to meet Kerry Eurodyne from Samurai!

 

The intercom buzzed back: “Come on in, Edgerunner.” David’s eyes widened, and the gate opened; the grounds were beautiful. There were eight security drones; they made themselves visible and tracked David’s movements, and he kept them at his normal brusque pace. He barely got to the door when it opened. “ID, please.” The speaker was a well built, bodyguard wearing a crisp black suit with a black tie on a white shirt. It was the way he carried himself and the slight bulge on his hip that gave him away. 

 

“Overture or Lexington?” David asked as he revealed his TaTr ID.

 

“Quaser, actually. I need to check your bag.”

 

David moved backwards, moving his pack behind him. “I'm afraid I can't let you do that…”

 

“Then I can't let you…”

 

David cocked his head “So you're going to deny me doing my job? You’ve seen my credentials, evidently, you believe them and yet…oh wait, wait, wait, you’re fucking hesitant because Mr. Eurodyne said ‘Come on in, Edgerunner.’ You think I’m here to take a potshot at him?”

 

“It would not be the first time.”

“Alistair…ease off on him.” A voice instructed. David turned, and his breathing increased. His heart started hammering in his chest. This was Kerry Eurodyne! The Rhythm Guitarist of Samurai!

 

Kerry grinned at the Delivery Man “I take it you’re here with my prescription?”

David nodded, he brought the bag round slowly. He opened it keeping the flap as it opened towards the two. There was a small rueful snort from the Rocker, he and his bodyguard had top-of-the-line and over-the-line optics from Kiroshi Optics and could easily browse the contents of the bag if they so wished. David withdrew two bags, both filled to nearly bursting with medication, he handed them to Alistair along with a chip.

 

“On the chip is an inventoried list of both prescriptions, as you, Mr. Eurodyne, have signed with Tactical Trauma’s Diamond Package; I must remain here until you’ve examined the contents of both prescriptions. If it’s to your satisfaction, please follow the Terms and Conditions of your Healthcare Package; if not, update the chip and I’ll ensure it is rectified upon return.”

 

“Sure thing Edgerunner, rest easy. Alistair, he’s doing his job. As for calling him an Edgerunner, I can’t see many kids willingly doing courier jobs unless it’s a side hustle.”

 

David grinned “Surprisingly correct but also incorrect. Edgerunning is going to be my side-hustle, it is, until I’ve completed my apprenticeship, my main hustle.”

 

Kenny grinned at his courier “You know who I am?”

 

“How could I not! My mother was a massive fan of yours. She used to play Critical Mass and Second Conflict almost constantly when I was growing up. She was an EMT for REO Meat.”

 

“Red head, Brown eyes and Latina? More flesh than chrome?” Kerry asked.

 

“Yeah…”

 

Kerry grinned “During my Samurai Days, I was the one who remembered all the faces; I remembered the regulars. Whenever I released an Album, I tried to track down the Following. Johnny wowed everyone, but was too idealistic to remember anyone aside from those who stood by what they were fighting for and normally used them for his own ends.”

 

David stared at him in shock. he was about to try and protest but this came from the Mouth of God, Kenny Eurodyne. Kenny grinned “You’re easy to read David…you grew up on a diet of Samurai and my own Solo Albums, probably attracted to the idea of being part of something glorified by Johnny and thought he was the Icon and Hero to follow. Yet here I am, shooting that down as calmly as an Overture is guaranteed to fire.”

“Just a little.” David’s eyes lit up as money was deposited in his account.

 

“It’s all good, Edgerunner…Nothing outta place, awesome.” Kerry murmured. “Thank you…and kid, come back if you wanna learn something cool. A decent Edgerunner and a MedTech need to unwind for a while.” David nodded, he nodded to the duo and departed. There were two other drops to be made in the area; these two were remarkably simple, he buzzed the intercom and a manservant or maid came to them, he received the same interactions from them as he had with Alistair. He had wanted to refuse to inspect the prescriptions as they were for his client only. They had responded with “We respect your intentions, however, it is not within our package clauses that we accept you onto the grounds unless the Client needs direct medical assistance.”

 

He received generous tips for his emphasis on protocols. The bag was empty and earnings collected, with one haphazard attempt by a Ganger-Wannabe who jumped him with a pipe. David stepped into the swing and slammed his foot into his attacker's upper leg. A sharp snap and crack followed as the reinforced footwear broke the femur, which subsequently dislocated the knee. This was followed by a vicious kick to the Gonk Attacker's spleen.

 

David left him on the pavement, not even worrying about a reprisal. He entered the clinic to find Isis and Rebecca at the receptionist's desk, curiously enough. “Hey, David. Anything I need to make a note of?”

 

“Unless you count a gonk with a steel pipe.”

 

“What the fuck happened dimples?” Rebecca exclaimed “I’ll murder him.”

 

“He’s dead or dying. Broke his femur, shut down his leg and toe-punted him in the spleen.”

 

Becca cackled and Isis raised an eyebrow “So that’s a no. Okay, then. Note…any description other than Generic Opportunist 1?”

 

“Not that I can remember…anyway, one empty bag and one full cred-chip.”

 

Isis inserted the chip, “Not that I don’t trust you, just trust and verify.” David watched as Isis’s eyes glowed orange as she scanned it. She ejected the chip and she locked eyes with him “You do realise you’ve made 6k in bonuses, and their notified as ‘Courier Martinez’.”

 

“I saw people were paying more than usual; never informed me that it was an exclusive bonus, besides, mama raised me with ‘Never take more than you earn, and keep everything you may be able to pawn.’ She never covered tips.”

 

Isis nodded “Let me get Sam.” As she turned to get out of her chair, Sam walked out of the operating theatre with Rogue, of all people. David and Rebecca stiffened. The Owner of the Afterlife, Veteran Solo and Queen Fixer of Night City and one of the only confirmed Living Legends left. “At ease punks, you’re gaining my attention.” Her eyes drifted over David and they narrowed “Taking after your mother, Martinez?”

 

“How…How..did…” David stuttered.

 

“Your mother had her hands in many pies…” Rogue’s eyes widened as she saw David look confused momentarily. She overheard him mutter about a side hustle of chrome for Maine’s crew. “Let me guess, she told you she was working a lot of Night Shift? For REO Meatwagon?”

 

David nodded “Said to gain extra money for my tuition.”

 

“Arasaka Academy? It explains a lot.” Rogue grinned “Her ‘Night Shifts’ were her working as a MedTech at the Afterlife. She was a savvy one, never took payment from most aside from favours for the most part; although anyone who was spending big and being an asshole, she fleeced them. She did some work for me, said ‘Let’s call it an IOU or UOME’. Consider them yours. You’ve got three, use them wisely.” Rogue left, the massive hunk of meat that had managed to go unobserved in the corner of the foyer, stood up and followed.

 

“The fuck is that?” Isis asked.

 

Sam grinned, “That’s Crispin 'Squama' Weyland, the only living scion of Andrew ‘Boa Boa’ Weyland, long on the solo and short on the ‘Legend’. An asset for anyone, because he’s solid and loyal, colloquially known as either ‘stolid’ or ‘stoyal’. Mercenaries are good, but a Stoyal is worth their weight in eddies, only for a Stolid this line of work extracts a harder price, a much harder price should the one they’re Stolid for flatlines they’re prone to do something completely and utterly stupid.”

 

“You know me well, my darling, if my daddy could hear sing such sweet things of me.” Squama called as they left.

 

“Don't look at me Dimples, I only knew your mama as a classy woman; with a cracking ass and rack.” Rebecca stated “Yeah, Dimples I'd have tapped that glorious ass if I had an honest to God chance. However, I've got you and your third leg along with Lucy.” Isis looked at her colleague, “I'm not sure if I should congratulate you on that or look for some brain bleach.” She protested, sexuality she wasn’t bothered and the same with sex; but the casual talking about it that unsettled her a little.

 

“Brain bleach…also, Becca, please don’t break the courier and my other student.” Sam retorted, as she pieced together the conversation, “Rogue's been nothing short of a godsend; the entire Underworld does not move against Rogue; anywhere she frequents is officially and unofficially designated neutral territory. Plus, it also helps that we have the Trauma Team as a supervisory body, which comes with some surprising benefits: NCPD wouldn’t dare to arrest someone here, and Corporations won’t conduct business here. Tactical Trauma enforces a strict neutrality, and with Rogue and MegaCorps enforcing, we’re skilled enough to do things our way and how we want to operate. David spent the rest of the day learning about the variety of fractures and locations of optimal localised anaesthetics with the slightest of briefings on optimal locations to replace organic limbs with cybernetics.

 

David was dismissed, receiving a transfer from Blackbeard; it turned out the Beard-braided MedTech had a sharp eye for money and often audited Ajuka’s work of billings, profits, outgoings and incomings for the Clinic. “You’ve done good work, Martinez.” He admitted as he transferred David’s earnings from his shift, along with all of the additional eddies.

 

“Dimples, we gotta skedaddle…Maine’s called a meeting and he's a right grump and ball-ache when chooms are late.” Becca shouted as she scurried out the door.

 

David followed and climbed into the ‘Deathtrap’. A Bright pink and Neon green MaiMai, held together by nothing more than duct tape. “Is this even safe?” David asked nervously.

 

“She'll get going, after that, Dimples, I make no promises. Becca cackled as the crunched to life and merged into the traffic.

 

L: Hey-hey babe

D: Hey, you…how was work?

L: You-you know—steady, productive…low key. Only three persistent attempted hackers…fry-fry one, they all fry.

D: Nova. You-you at the meet?

L: En route. With Maine and D-Dorio act-actually.

 

“Dimples! You can fuck Lucy in a moment…get your ass out the car.”

 

“Are we there already?”

 

“Yeah. Electrode ain’t far from where we work. Admittedly, more you than me. I hang out there and they give me odd delivery routes to accompany Juka’s lass. She’s alright, you know.” David nodded, he climbed out of the car, and shut the door only for the unmistakable sound of plastic cracking. David froze, he turned and let out a sigh of relief to see that he hadn’t broken the door, it was the other door and it was now hanging loose.

 

“Damn it.”

 

David ignored the ballistic compact solo and entered the neon yellow and blue building; the sound of Electronic Dance Music reverberated around his brain; he grunted and headed in. In the corner he easily picked out Lucy. he ordered a drink for him and Lucy before he slid over, not noticing Rebecca enter behind him.

 

Lucy looked up, when she saw David a grin crossed her face. “Hey.” Was all she could say as David sat next to her before she rested her head against his shoulder. “Hey yourself.” David replied as he calmly assessed the crew “Everyone.”

 

Dorio couldn’t help but grin at their newest addition and the fact he and Lucy looked so goddamn adorable together. She snapped a photo, she was going to pass it around a private group channel that had everyone bar Lucy and David. 

 

Maine cleared his throat “Everyone.” Everyone’s jaws dropped, aside from Dorio, as Maine flagged their attention.

 

Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Cyberpsychosis and Back 25

 

Maine looked different! Well, better than different. He looked alive, hale and hearty! He no longer looked like a guy who could easily break an armoured carrier in half with his bare hands. He was still gigantic! Then again, David assessed, that must have been due to his genetics; gone were the pounds of synthetic muscle, twitching, misfiring, oversized gorilla arms, and equally jerky PLS. In their place were two gleaming matching gorilla arms, Arasaka 400 series if David remembered rightly; they were slightly bigger than the standard ones Katsuo used to beat his ass with on the daily. His legs they were also slightly on the larger side, probably containing some surprises, and he was garbed in synth-skin that made him look more like a sun-kissed heavy lifting farmhand. “When did you get discharged? Any complications with your meds?” David asked.

 

Maine looked at David with sharper eyes “Six days ago, been on bed rest for another five. Only allowed to move to go piss and shit. No exercises, no working out, David, absolute torture. I wasn’t even allowed to do any extensive aerobics with Dorio if you follow my drift.” Everyone dissolved into giggling lunatics as David, Dorio and Lucy blushed like bright red search lamps. “As for the medication, I’m feeling dead inside, the shakes are minimal, although not being able to eat and drink my favourite foods and drinks without being a living fertiliser dispenser is something I’m not happy with, I’m wasting away.”

 

David snorted “It’s always good to be a little lighter…Da…Maine, the shakes being minimal is good, the feeling of being dead inside being a fertiliser dispenser, is temporary. Your body needs to adjust to the medication; be grateful you’ve only got those two. Others have and are reacting far worse.”

 

None of the Edgerunners missed the slip of the tongue. Maine looked like he'd been hit with a brick. “You…think that of me?” David nodded “How could I not, you knew my mother, suggested that you were close to one another. Plus you gave me a chance.”

 

‘“True. David, I've come to think of you as a kid of mine. I know for a fact you ain't mine by blood, certainly mine by deed. You've given me a longer lease on life; whilst I was out I understand that the Crew has been given a new contract? I need the details.”

 

David sighed “We executing the Tanaka job. It went sideways, I was being turned into the latest ‘Edgerunner XBD star’. We had Tanaka and the man said he'd fucking comply with our request on one condition.” Maine paused “Our target is going to be giving us what we're looking for? What's the catch?” Maine said as he began to pale “We've been set up.” He muttered.

 

David nodded as he lent back on the sofa as he fixed a look at Kiwi “You don't look surprised, Kiwi. That either means you're aware or you're a plant.” Kiwi squirmed as the crew looked at her, she was good netrunner…Her hacks were amongst the best in the Town, as fast as she was Lucy was her superior for offensive hacks. Kiwis gun hand was swift and good, Rebecca was faster on the draw. Dorio and Maine were faster than Olympic Athletes at this distance. Pilar had a wicked long reach. Then there was David, the most average of them aside from his Sandevistan, he could make other Sandevistans look slow. She was screwed if she tried to resist, the Edgerunners would make it painful if she resisted before they executed her. On the flip should she sing she'd possibly receive a quick death or potential stay of execution.

 

“Kiwi, out of the value of your weight in this crew. Explain.” Maine rumbled, he moved his jacket back revealing the holstered Crusher. David wrapped his arms around both Lucy and Rebecca; Lucy's eyes were turning blood red and Becca activated her berserk implant. Dorio plucked Becca from David's straining arm allowing his other hand to wrap around Lucy's stomach and he consumed her face with a soul stealing kiss breaking her concentration. “She's been…” Lucy began.

 

“I know she has information on all of us.” David murmured “What we need to do is keep a low profile right now, I need to ensure that Arasaka learn very little about you. They already know about me, they have some information on you but it's out of date. What is more pressing is that we don't trigger the 5th Corporate War.”

 

As he uttered those words, Dino Dinovic, a regular at the bar, paused the supping of his drink. He slid three bundles of eddies at the barman. “Alright shows over, I've got a leak downstairs, I'm shutting up until I can get it repaired.” The few early drinkers groaned as they finished their drinks and headed out of the door. However what they had was information that the 5th Corporate War was billowing. Soon it was going to proliferate amongst the City, Dino knew he needed to get on top of the situation. 

 

What he needed was facts and information from the source. He'd pay through the nose to get the information; he'd need to liaise with other Fixers. Night City had an ecosystem that all adhered and paid into, Corporation especially. Everyone remembered or knew about the Holocaust starting the Times of Red and no one wanted that again. He sighed he was going to be needing to launch the Court of Fixers. All the major Districts had a Fixer and Rogue ruled them all. It would also be the first time that Night City would be pulling together as a whole.

 

“Gentlemen and Beautiful Ladies all, please, before such a bloody work of execution, all facts must be on the table yes?” Dino asked as he joined them “I am Dino Dinovic and Im a Fixer.” Tempers that had been close to boiling over died down considerably. Dino looked over the crew “Mr Maine and Mr David, please carry on explaining everything. First I have a question, who was your main Fixer?”

 

Maine nodded to David “You brief the Fixer. You're the one who i want to lead should I fall.” David nodded.

 

“We were mainly working for Faraday.” Dino managed to keep his face straight, but his eyebrow twitched at the name of the Fixer. “I joined later than the others and objectively I am not a fan of him. However a job is a job. Our job involved taking an Arasaka Executive hostage and rummaging for certain data. I don't know what we were searching for. Faraday promised a massive payout. I have my suspicions about this payout. We managed to take the Executive, however he has complied whilst offering ten contracts for an extortionate amount of money.” David explained, Dino nodded. “You have a theory, yes?”

 

David nodded “We're being set up. Set up to be the Catalyst between Arasaka and Militech. We're going to cause the 5th Corporate War, Faraday is going to burn us the moment he give him the data. As Militech responds to the accusations of attempting to steal Arasaka secrets, Arasaka will react to the aggression by attacking Militech through the Net and then on the field to retrieve secrets thought taken by Militech. All the while Faraday will climb the ladder to executive level of any Megacorporation. My crew and I are fucked, should we survive Faraday's burning, we're almost guaranteed to die at the hands of Arasaka.”

 

“We're all dead when Militech and Arasaka start swinging.” Dino stated “I should be getting all of you killed, however, I like you, David. Sandevistan of Santo Domingo. You're a valuable asset for any Fixer, Fixers have a creed. We supply gigs, hire mercenaries, we need a measure of trust and respect from both clients and mercenaries. If one cannot do that then they do not deserve the title of Fixer.”

 

David nodded “So what can we do for you?” Dino grinned “Nothing yet just keep yourselves ready because you're going to need to keep your communications open as Fixers and our Trusted are going to ensure Night City remains standing.” Dino fixed Kiwi a look.

 

“You have something that you wish to add?”

 

Kiwi nodded “Faraday saved me from a dangerous situation, which made me look like this. My task has been to monitor the group on Faraday's Mercenaries, keep them focused, keep them on task and ensure they remain on target. I wish I could say that I was surprised that he offers big payouts but seldom delivers on them. He's a vain, narcissistic but exceptionally clever piece of dog shit; if he wants something he can never be told no…in fact he gets petty when he's denied something. David, I say this because Lucy is the closest thing to family that I have…He's got his eyes on her.”

 

David's eyes hardened and he growled “He wants her…Ill kill him or he'll kill me. Before I allow that to happen.”

 

Kiwi's eyes widened “You don't say such things…at least outloud.”

 

Dino snorted “Saying you want to kill a Fixer is one thing. David, I get it. If anyone wanted my Ex, I'd kill them if they're intending harm. If you're going to kill a Fixer, you need to do it smartly. No one will miss him but don't do it sloppily.”

 

David nodded “I will not lay a finger on Faraday, providing he keeps his distance.” The words “Unless noone is watching.” Were as clear as day. Dino snorted “Kiwi, continue, please.”

 

Kiwi nodded “He would always refuse to pay his exorbitant secret pay to his mercenaries, but always paid me. Smart, keep me on his side. I don’t know all of his secrets, but, I know enough to be eliminated. He’s got the eddies, he just refuses to spend them. He’s an investor, he reels you in with generous first mission bonuses, gets to know you. Tracks down and acquires whatever it is that you desire the most then sets you off on a string of increasingly more dangerous missions with even less information to deny paying you and to keep your prize out of reach. He’s burned through at least 50 Edgerunners, it’s why everyone gives you either pitying or dirty looks.”

 

It was a testament to Dino’s skill as a Fixer “I see…I understand the great risks you have taken to tell me this. As a Fixer, I cannot tell you to break faith from Faraday although I can see no reason in you not to answer him if he calls for you…I have things I need to do, batten down the hatches and all of that.” Dino explained.

 

Maine looked at the Fixer “You’re gonna help us out?”

 

“Yes and No. You live here, I live here. I have no desire to see the Holocaust again. Also no, because, Fixers have rules an noone wants to have the Queen come down on us.”

 

Maine nodded, he’d expected the answer. No official help from the Fixers, but he had a feeling that their would be a lot contract interpretations coming from the menagerie of Fixers and their exceptionally large tool kits of Mercenaries. The only three that Maine thought would openly disregard the Queen would Wakako-Sama, Padre Ibarra and El Capitan Reyes, the latter only because David was a Santo Domingo Man. The Other two they’d seen the Fourth War, Unification War and the Holocaust. Maine smiled “Faraday, you fucking fool. Trying to start the Fifth War all to advance your position, Night City might be at each others throats but when you threaten all the throats good luck surviving this.”

 

(Tanaka Jinta)

Tanaka looked at the three shards. The first one had the data from his R&D Archives, which had been constructed between him and the Emperor himself. It contained several detailed plans of thoroughly useless ideas and a few that were over-budget, they would be aggravating to fight against should Militech be able to reverse engineer the designs but they had Adam Smasher and very capable agents who could easily deal with them; if push came to shove. Furthermore, to sweeten the pot, he had carefully cherry-picked a few resources from the Graviton Warsuit. Not too much but not too little, just enough to make Militech believe the project had been shelved.

 

The other shard contained the instructions and the location of an Arasaka Turncoat. “You are to find a Fixer by the name of Watson, not a high rank Fixer…but one that is known for discretion. Give him that chip and inform him that he is to contact a Mercenary by the name of Maine or David Martinez. He will figure out the rest.”

 

“Yes father. Why shouldn't I seek out Martinez or this Maine myself? Surely that would…”

 

“It would upset the very fabric of Night City. Corporations manage the day-to-day running of the City, the Fixers are the liaison between the city and the underbelly. We give the Fixers the funds, supplies and information, they hire trusted Solos who in turn recruit their coterie. Said Edgerunners then complete the contracts from the Fixers for us allowing us to claim or deny the fallout of such missions. Morgan Blackhand is one such Edgerunner, he has admitted that he works for the highest bidder yet he has never strayed from Militech. There is power in coin and in a deal more than physical.” Jinta explained.

 

Katsuo nodded “Watson, give him the shards and leave. I am guessing I should not use a symbol of strength.”

 

Jinta nodded “Correct. You need something that is powerful, yet not too powerful and not an easy target.”

 

“What about a Ragnar? One of the 5-Doors, 5 Seater? Reinforced naturally. Black.”

 

“Why Black?”

 

“The colour of the everyman, wealth, power, respect, danger.”

 

Tanaka nodded “Does make operational sense. I approve. I shall come with you. I might be an executive, but I at least have the ability to look the part of a bodyguard.”

 

Katsuo looked at his father in a new light “Youve done this before?”

 

Tanaka chuckled “Of course. I was not always the picture of a corpse…I believe the vernacular is to describe us. I spent my childhood with thoroughly scraped knees and bruised limbs. I replaced my liver by the time I was 19.”

 

Katsuo grinned “Father, I request to be the one to deal with Martinez should they not see the wisdom of joining Arasaka.”

 

“Of course. Although I have a feeling he will jump at the chance to leave with his output, if given the opportunity.”

 

Katsuo nodded “I shall hope for the former and prepare for the latter.”

Notes:

First chapter, next will be...when I have time

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of Cyberpunk Collection