Ken stood before Lucy’s apartment.
To say he was nervous would be an understatement. After all that mystery of keeping the meeting location secret until an hour before meeting, it turned out to be her apartment in Little China.
His plan of checking an escape route before meeting had been all for naught. How could he run away from the twelfth floor without Lucy unlocking the door for him?
“..ou sure he is going to arrive? It’s already time.” Ken checked the time on his holo, it was still two minutes early on his defense.
“How would I know, it’s up to the kid.” Was Lucy’s careless remark thrown toward the group.
Another familiar voice chided, “That’s why you shouldn’t do anything you’re not told. Maine told you to find out the boy’s location, not–”
“No. Lucy did good. If he doesn’t come, we can just go to him.”
“I think the kid’s here.” Lucy said and the door slid open. There was a small crack from the start, which let him eavesdrop.
‘You knew I was here from the start, didn’t you?’ Ken frowned and looked visibly cautious by the amount of people in the room. “Who are you guys, you don’t look like the people my mother would associate with.”
Aside from Lucy and the gorilla of a woman named Dorio–who searched his apartment–Ken realized he knew another guy. It was the lanky techie who threw a fit because he wasn’t the usual mule who hauled his techs, Pilar, if he remembered right.
That left only one guy he had yet to name.
The man who stepped into view was massive. Dark-skinned, blonde haired, bearded, and built like someone had decided ordinary human proportions were merely a suggestion. Chrome covered his arms, disappearing beneath a body already thick with muscle. Even standing still, he looked like a walking threat.
From all the mention of the crew’s leader he could slap the name on the guy’s face.
“You’re Gloria’s brat? Get in.” Maine beckoned with his neck. His voice was deep and Ken realized he was the other guy with Dorio that night in his apartment.
Ken hesitated. “Are you really Mom’s friends?”
“Don’t get so cautious with me, brat. I’ve been chooms with your mother before you set foot in this world. Now get your ass in here.”
That was news to him. Then again, he had long realized he never asked Gloria what she used to do, how was her life, what made her come to Night City of all places.
Ken walked in and sat before the trio squeezed on one sofa.
Dorio, Maine, Pilar. Though Maine alone took half of the space and Dorio herself was anything but thin.
“Soooo, the girl I just happened to meet yesterday, happened to be your crew member, and the same crew happened to be Mom’s chooms, you think coincidences like that exist.” Ken threw Lucy a side-glance, not willing to take his eyes off the trio in front of him.
Apparently she didn’t hide the fact she met him yesterday. So he could only play along.
Dorio had the look that she didn’t really care but spoke anyway. “So you think we sent her after you?”
“What else?” Ken didn’t believe himself a bit. It might’ve held some strength if it wasn’t him who decided yesterday had been a great day to stalk a dangerous girl who he only knew from a distance.
“Who do you think you are pipsqueak? If we wanted you zeroed, you think you’d be standing there shitting your traps?” Pilar questioned like Ken offended his family.
“Shut up, you all!” Maine’s voice boomed before he lowered his sunglasses, the guy sure liked to act cool wearing sunglasses indoors. “You have my condolences, brat. I’ve known your mother for long, we did biz and never shortcharged the other... Ah, fuck it. Look, I’m bad with sugarcoating words. Yar mom’s have been chooms with us and all, but I don’t like feeling betrayed. Ya seen my baby when you moved out of your apartment?”
Maine brought out a picture of the Prototype Experimental Sandevistan’s spine and neuroport, and slid it on the table.
“Your baby?” Ken glanced at the picture. They were already lodged in his spine and neck. Both.
“Yeah, mine. Bought and paid for it. I was high until your Mom decided to ghost on me... or so I thought. Now I have to search for a chrome I’ve already paid for the delivery.”
“‘S whatcha get for payin’ in advance.” Dorio snarked from the side.
“Gonk move.” Pilar snickered.
“Gloria doesn’t ghost on us! She is one of our own. She’d been good for it too, up ‘til now.” Maine barked.
“Yeah, yeah, until she flatlined.”
The world slowed. Ken had plenty of time to think now. Unless he moved, the pressure from running Sandy for a long time in a single run was almost negligible according to RCD of his System’s Cyberware page.
Ken thought and thought how to go about it. It was highly likely for him to roll with the guys in the future. Like Lucy said, real gonks will figure it out if they rolled together for some time.
“Ok, let me get this first. You paid and bought this chrome from Mom. You know what this is?” Ken decided to play safe.
“Sandevistan, ‘fcouse, they don’t hit the market often and this one is not your usual one either. A mil-grade you won’t even get to see in your entire life! See the spine? It’s one of its kind, in the market currently.” Pilar looked like he wanted to say more but a look from Maine made him curb himself.
“Wait, it was the one Kurosaki Jimmy featured in his Edgerunners XBD series all along?!” Ken looked surprised and put on a thoughtful expression. “You said you already paid for it, but from what I know, the starting price for this mil-tech chrome is around 250,000 eddies. Last time I checked Mom’s accounts, there were no such big transactions.”
Dorio and Pilar didn’t look familiar with the XBD so Maine filled them in about the details. Then he turned to Ken, “So, you have seen this chrome?”
“You haven’t answered my question yet.”
“You–” Pilar didn’t seem to like his attitude and was about to flare but Maine stopped it once again.
“Of course we didn’t know the price of this tech at that time. So we decided on 130,000 eds. The specs were nothing like ‘ar run-out-of-mill stuff after all.”
“I can’t confirm with Mom, even if you shortcharged me I can’t complain, and won’t. Even then, I didn’t see that big of an amount in her account.” Ken started to feel like this Maine guy was up to no good.
“Of course, you wouldn’t.” Maine stated and Ken looked at the guy at that. “I don’t have that much eddies lying around. She didn’t want it in one lump sum either. 30K as down payment. 50K before August, and another 50K before January. We go way back and she trusted me to pay her on time.”
If Ken had doubted the guy before, it lightened considerably at that. August and January, that was exactly before a new semester in the Academy started and Gloria had to cough out a massive amount if she wanted him to continue his study in a corpo academy.
Unlike him, Gloria had taken the proper path of selling the chrome and securing his corpo life. Alas, life. It had its own fate.
“At this point, I don’t know what to say” Ken threw those vague words out.
Maine frowned defensively from his seat. “What do ya mean?”
At the same time, his holo rang.
Ken sighed. Turning to the side where he could keep his eyes on the crew from the corner of his eyes, he accepted the call.
<Lucy: What are you doing?>
<D: Improvising. What’s the problem.>
<Lucy: You cannot reveal you have Sandy on your spine–Why have you turned to the other side?>
<D: They can see my eyes, they would definitely ask who am I holoing.>
<Lucy: Use the patch I just sent you.>
Ken cut the call, opened the patch. It ran in the background as he turned to the group.
Seeing no reply from Ken, Maine slid another picture on the table. “Do ‘ya happen to know this?”
Ken looked at the blurry picture of Sandevistan. How could he not know this one? “Yeah, I’m the one who took the shot.”
Lucy’s holo connected with his again.
<Lucy: What’s that about? First time I’m hearing it.>
“According to the junkie snooping around with it thought it was the car accident. I had my netrunner check on it a little, and apparently to her, there were no strong heatsigns and most likely taken indoors.” Maine had his eyes literally locked on him.
“That’s because it was. Had to find out the price while keeping myself safe from the gang heat.” Ken shrugged at this point. He didn’t think they would be able to get even that pic. Doc did say some cyberpunks were digging through, oh well.
<Lucy: Dick move.>
<D: It seemed like the best course of action at that time, trust me. You know the best part? The guy I sent it to quoted me 10K for it.>
Ken expected an honest laugh at that. However, it seemed like the joke was lost on the situation. Sad but he moved on. Maybe he was the only one not feeling the tension in the air?
“So you have it.” Maine looked visibly alive.
“Well, how can I say it. I have it, but you’re kinda late for the delivery.”
“What do ‘ya mean?!” Maine stood up, Dorio and Pilar followed.
Lucy frowned from the windowsill. Yeah, it was her confirmed favorite place. “Hey, please don’t get blood all over my room, all right? I just moved in recently.”
<D: Did you just set up the meeting here so you could use that excuse?>
<Lucy: Fuck off.>
“You stay out of it, Lucy.”
“Should I remind you guys that I’m the one who found him?”
Maine snarled but stomached the loss.
Ken also stood up, the tension finally settling on him.
“Exactly what I said. It’s been what, almost two weeks? Did you think if I had it in my arms would I be sitting here to talk with you?”
Maine frowned, his body tense. “Did you sell it, to whom? I have to get it even if I have to take it from their corpse.”
<Lucy: Don’t say it.>
<D: At this point, I’m already exposed. Just one request, can you make it so the door is never locked for me?>
The world slowed once again. Ken felt like he was deciding something big.
‘If they wanted to kill me, they would’ve gone more aggressively after Mom–or me, for that matter. Them waiting for a week and even being willing to speak like this meant they had a good connection with Mom.’
‘If I keep lying and continue interacting with them, which is likely to happen as I get more skilled in my side-identity biz, like Lucy said, they’ll eventually discover the truth. Then I might have a target on my head.’
‘Honestly, if everything else fails here, I run away somewhere and hide. It’s just that I don’t understand Lucy’s stance. She is unpredictable, otherwise, with a netrunner’s help I’d have more confidence doing this.’
Either way, he decided he would force his way with the truth.
First Ken gave Maine a thumbs up with his right hand, declaring, “I have it.” Then he pointed it at his neck, “I have it sitting in my spine, and I’m not handing it over.”
“YOU lil tawt! How dare you klep what IZ MINE! Even darin’ to get it chipped!”
“Like I said, you’re a week late, old man. Was I supposed to get mugged by some gangs on the street with it? Besides, it is like a handover from Mom, still want it? Take it from my dead body!”
At this point, their faces were only separated due to the table in between them.
“Don’t think pulling Gloria’s name makes things free'n'easy for you.” Despite saying that, he looked visibly held back.
“Look, I had no idea it was yours. Not like I just found it chromed up immediately. I had it in my hands, three days, or maybe four, it’s already lost on me. Do you know what I felt when I knew the worth of the thing I carried with me all the time? I questioned how I even survived till then.”
“Yeah, I remember my good ‘ol times. Chippin’ my mom’s mil-spec chromes lyin’ around like it was yesterday. So nostalgic.” Pilar quipped not even looking at him.
Dorio lightly punched Pilar’s head. “Back off. He didn’t know what he was doing.”
Maine scoffed.
“How about I pay back the down payment? Now.” Ken offered. That was even an option due to Lucy and his heist. They had klepped a total of 28,137 eddies, most of which came from the six money shards from the corpo kids mixer. One guy alone had 10K, imagine the crisis he was going through by now.
“Oh, you think you have some money, huh?” Maine threatened, challenge dripping his tone. “But not good enough. Shit’s military-grade. Can’t just buy another off the shelf. Even if ya threw eddies in kilos, you might not get one like that. So money’s not the issue here.”
“Heheheh, do I do the honor, Maine? Sellin’ him to scavs would at least break us even for pulling the baby out.” Pilar’s monovision flickered with an eerie green light as he offered almost graciously.
“I said! No murder!” Lucy added from her place, already lighting the second cig.
“What else do you want? Except Sandy of course.”
“Now that’s funny. Do I look like I need something from a brat?” Maine scoffed again. He already looked a little lost, like not knowing how to handle the situation. If it was anyone else other than Gloria’s little brat, he wouldn’t hesitate to put a hole on the boy’s gonk brain.
Ken suddenly had a brilliant idea. “How about this? You want the Sandevistan for what it can do. I will pay you back and do gigs for you that require Sandy.”
“You talk big, that’s for sure.” Dorio added.
Pilar countered hard. “I call bullcrap! Toddler like you can’t boot it up without keelin’ over.”
Ken didn’t even say anything and pointed with his chin at Lucy, who took the cue with a rather distaste in her voice. “Well, this toddler is full of surprise then.”
“Hmm?”
“Hmm? No. Not possible. A body of his size’d sizzle up after two hits.” Pilar leaned over the table, eyeing Lucy like he wanted to gobble her up.
“I’ve seen him fire it six times. Toddler didn’t break a sweat.” Lucy seemed to like the word ‘toddler’ as she used it for anything.
<D: You know it’s more than that.>
<Lucy: Do you want someone to wipe your ass after every time?>
“C’mon. That’s a load of bunk and we all know it.” Pilar didn’t seem to believe it.
Ken was rather surprised. “You don’t believe your own mates? Well, I can prove it to you.”
““Hmm.”” All three pulled their guns on him–at the same instant–without a moment’s notice. Ken had to fight the reflex to stop himself from firing Sandy.
“Whoa. Plant your ass back down. Don’t get any funny ideas.” Maine indicated to the sofa with his gun.
“How about you guys lower your iron? Trust me when I say it, you guys can’t hit me.” Ken offered instead. His eyes glued to the triggers.
<Lucy: Great move. A greenhorn challenging experienced mercs.>
<D: Yeah, didn’t sound like that in my head, dammit!>
“How ‘bout I test it?” Pilar seemed more than ready.
‘What problem do you have with me, seriously?!’ For some reason the guy was out for some blood, especially his.
“Chill out, Yo! Just gonna get a cig, lower your irons first man.” Ken sighed in relief when Maine lowered his. He moved from his position but the others only saw a zap, if one blinked they wouldn’t even notice him moving. But there he was, already holding a cigarette, like it appeared with magic.
“Hey, that’s mine.” Lucy complained from the windowsill.
<D: You’re having too many cigs.>
<Lucy: No one asked you!>
Maine looked at Ken, then Lucy. Then the distance between them.
“Holy shit?! What in the fast forward shit is that?!” Pilar literally jumped out of the sofa. Either laughing from being scared or the guy was just crazy.
“So how about it?” Ken asked.
“How about what, brat?” Maine looked visibly displeased.
“My offer. I don’t think I can offer terms better than that.”
Maine went silent for a few moments. Then said with his heavy voice, “Ok, kid. You get one chance.”
Pilar tched.
Dorio looked pissed. “Here we go again.”
“I owe it to Gloria, and maybe the apple don’t fall far.” Then he turned to Lucy and beckoned her with his neck.
“Whoa, looks like we have a deal–w-what are you doing?!” Lucy suddenly hugging him from behind shocked Ken. Was that a welcome benefit of the crew? He was already liking it.
Then a shard went into his neural socket.
“Chill. Just slotting a tracer. Wouldn’t want you to go AWOL on us.” Maine guided.
“Hey, that was my offer in the first place. I ain’t running.”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard that one before. A lot of times actually. There’s a reason those two look pissed with your addition.” He pointed at Dorio and Pilar.
<D: Could’ve given me a warning.>
<Lucy: What for? You dug up your own grave. Being a mule and being in Maine’s crew is a whole new world’s difference.>
<D: So, it’s a promotion? How many levels did I skip?>
“You come running when I tell you to. Don’t keep me waiting.” Maine trio took that as their cue and was about to vacate but Ken’s reply made Maine pause.
“That would be troublesome...”
“What do you mean?”
“Only holidays and after evening, that’s the only time I can offer my service.”
“KID, you’re pushing your luck. This is not your side-gig but–”
Ken interrupted. “But it is. I have school attendance to keep.”
“Quit it.”
“Not possible. Mom’s dream. Trust me, I hate it more than you would ever, and still not quitting.” Not that he hated it as much as he did it before. Katsuo and others now left him alone, at most, making him spend more, but they make up by offering extra eddies and biz. These guys were even starting to look a little cute.
“Gloria’s dream? To finish your high school study? You can miss a few classes.”
Ken shook his head and pointed his index finger up. “To climb the highest ladder in this city.”
Maine frowned. “Think you can secure a job at a megacorp by passing high-school?”
“Why don’t you ask her.” Ken pointed at Lucy who finished with her love bite on his neck, or so he loved to imagine.
“Can you stop using me like I’m your secretary?” Lucy frowned but still answered at Maine’s inquiring look. “Toddler’s a student at the top Academy of Night City.”
“You mean Ara–fucking–Saka?! ‘Z that why Gloria was always scraping for eddies? No wonder that would leave her broke all the time. Still, not every graduate gets a job at ‘Saka.”
“Well, he is top of his class and even in the school’s internal ranking.” Lucy shrugged, but still explained Ken’s confidence. “He is what you would call a genius at useless things.”
“Hey, the last part was unnecessary.”
Maine frowned. “My gigs still take priority, kid. Be hearin’ from me by to-morrow.”
The guy didn’t wait for his reply and walked out looking all grumpy and muttering something along the line Gloria didn’t even like corpos why was she sending her son there.
{Alt Titles: I Have IT, in Mah Spine; A Deal with Maine; One Chance; The Sandy Problem; Welcome to the Crew; Mom’s Old Chooms; I Think I Just Got Recruited; BIG PROMOTION: Skipping the Ladders; Mom, Your Friends Are Weird; Apparently Sandy Is a Resume; Ken’s Already Liking The Joining Benefit;}