Ken found himself walking through an abandoned part of Westbrook district.
The mid-July sun of this world was enough to cook his skin. He had to bear that painful burning for ten minutes before his holo map finally indicated he had reached his destination.
“Over here, kid.” Maine called him.
‘Abandoned building? Not sketchy at all.’ Ken followed the guy inside. Waiting for him was Maine, Dorio, Pilar, and a woman he saw for the first time.
“Mornin’, sunshine. You ready for the gig of your lifetime.” Maine greeted, grim look on his face, but not questioning. This was not a choice anymore.
“Data wasn’t lyin. He is a brat. Can he keep up?” said a red, sharp eyed woman. Something about her jaw reminded Ken of Elena Gomez.
“Guess we’ll have to see.” Maine shrugged.
“Hello–”
“Don’t fucking speak when you are not told to.” Maine barked then pointed to the guys surrounding him. “This one is Kiwi, the others are already as you met Dorio and Pilar.”
“Why do we even put up with you?” Kiwi questioned with a frown.
“Now, kid. No need to get yourself comfy here. This might as well be your last gig.” Then he tossed Ken a shard. “Slot that.”
‘Sheesh, alright. I’m not welcome, I shouldn’t have joined you guys.’ Not that he had better solutions at that time, or even now.
Ken slotted that with a displeased look.
A video played immediately, it seemed like an underground fighting ring? Then came the information about the Arasaka Corpdriver, their target.
‘Ok, I’m already hitting my future employer from get go? Cool... fucking hell, what was I thinking? Joining them without any research. Lucy was right. These guys are top class mercs, in a whole new league compared to being a mule. Only those with reputation get gigs that confront them with corpos, especially something bad like Arasaka.’
“Say hello to our corpdriver, Maxim. We’re gonna swipe the nav data from the limo he rolls in.” Maine introduced the details.
“Just the nav data? Not any other secret digs or the ride?” Ken had a bad feeling, if they klepping just nav data, that meant the guy they were after was likely a big shot and didn’t want to alert him. Possibly for a future shot or something.
Shit just got better. Oh, he meant worse.
“If we klep the ride, the ‘Saka's ninjas swarm us like flies. So, yeah, keep it simple and short. Just the nav data, don't warn him.”
“I guess you already settled how? So we are swarming the guy during his off day?”
“Exactly, which is today.”
“Wait, today’s Sunday and his day off? Sounds like trouble.” Ken frowned.
“What do you mean?” Dorio questioned.
Ken mused for a moment about how to word it out. “Well, corpdrivers don't really have a full holiday even on their days off. If their boss calls, they still have to answer. Actually, most of the time it’s their kids using the driver to have their own fun. Not like they can always use their parent’s fancy ride.”
“And how do you know that?” Kiwi questioned.
Maine answered her. “Kid goes to a corpo school, knows a thang or two about them. Guess we have to be ‘pared for interruption. If things go bad, you snag the data directly from the car, faster that way.”
“Why don’t we do that from the start?”
“Higher chance of getting caught. Take the safest route kid. Alright, guys, we move now. Dorio, is it possible to arrange the match early?”
Dorio shook her head. “That would defeat the purpose, guy only comes for her match. So he’s most likely to come around the scheduled time. But I can make it so he has his dose of sorrow on the first round.”
“Tsk.” Maine made a sour face before standing up. “Will have to make do with that. Stay sharp, eyes open.”
“That’s everyday thing.”
/ / /
Ken got bored of waiting. At least the brunch came from the crew’s pocket so he had his fill before the mission.
“So, this Butcher... Guy’s been betting on her every week for a month straight. Guess she wins a lot.” And Butcher, for the record, was humongous. Easily twice the size of Dorio and she was already tall.
“She wins every time. The ring always hypes because the scene gets bloody.” Dorio’s mouth curved up, thin and satisfied. “Not tonight.”
“How’d you know that?”
“Made a call. Had a choom get in the ring.” She finally glanced up. “She's going down in round one. Fast, ugly, no doubt about it. Maxim’s gonna need somewhere to drown that. Guy always does that.”
“Wow, you planned his whole day.”
“I planned his whole loss. He does the rest himself.”
Maine’s voice cut in over comm, low. <Split up. Group like this draws eyes. Dorio, upper level. Pilar, stay near the bar. Kiwi, you know your job. Kid, klep the nav data and stay loose, ready to move.>
<D: Copy.> Ken said, and tried to sound like he used the word every day. ‘Weird, did they not take Lucy for this gig? Well, they do have another netrunner. Is she like a VIP? I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was.’
“By the way, kid, didn’t thank you.” Dorio suddenly added.
“For?”
“Well, Maine is a proper leader with a good head on his shoulders. He keeps everyone in the line too but he can be reckless himself. Honestly, his body is already at limit, adding that monster on his body, I was afraid something might really happen. So, I’m glad you joined us.” She gave him some strong pats. “Just do a good job here, and I’m sure he won’t think of yanking that out of your spine.”
“Can I say, fuck you guys?” All of them really, the last part really was not needed.
Dorio just laughed wildly as she went to her position, on the lookout for anything unexpected.
<Pilar: Wait, D? Where have I heard of that name? Fuck–you’re that mule! Dick-D.>
<D: Took you long to realize, but hey, just D, man. Just D.>
<Becca: Uwah, didn’t think that funny guy would become our new crew member, yar well-come!>
<D: You’re here too?>
<Pilar: A newb among newbs! How dare you come to our crew.>
<Maine: You know him?>
Then Pilar went about to explain how they met previously.
Butcher went down in round one, exactly as Dorio said.
Almost a winning fight, but the opponent’s next punch connected, and a long knife shot out from the fist. The crowd noise curdled into something ugly fast, half of them screaming refund, and Maxim’s face collapsed like a man watching his favorite star hit the dirt.
‘Man, let’s make sure to avoid getting punched as much as possible. This world is too scary, you don’t even know if it’s a real arm or not due to Real Skin™. Corpos just want eddies, dammit.’
<D: Guy’s moving.>
<Dorio: Give him three minutes. Goes to the exact same place every single time.>
She was right. Three minutes and two turns later, Maxim ducked into a hole-in-the-wall dive so ancient it barely qualified as a bar. It was the kind of place with one bartender, three regulars, and a neon sign missing letters that just read UOR.
Ken slid into the building before Maxim and browsed the menu from the farthest place.
Maxim didn’t look up from his glass. “You see that fight?”
‘Bro, why are you talking to me?’ Ken was sitting there, with a mask. Obviously not wanting to talk with anyone. Still, he shot away, not willing to stand out more than he already did. “Rough one.”
“Month of scouting. Month.” Maxim laughed, short and bitter, into his drink. “Corpo boss pays me to read people, and I couldn’t read a fixed fight.”
“Sounds like everyone's night got ruined, then.” Ken rolled his eyes. ‘And you’re ruining mine by talking to me.’
“Everyone's.” Maxim knocked the glass back, waved for another.
Then the guy started ranting about traffic, corpo bosses, and all the shits night city threw at you. Midway though, the guy lay flat on the table.
<D: Kiwi, any eyes?>
<Kiwi: Clear.>
Ken didn’t waste a single moment.
<D: Got it.>
<Pilar: 'Bout time. Bring it here,>
Pilar had the copier open on the hood of a beat-up sedan by the time Ken reached and slotted the shard, screen already humming.
“How long?”
“However long it takes. Don't rush art.” Pilar didn't look up. “Go stand somewhere useful.”
The data was maybe sixty percent through when Maxim's holo rang.
Ken caught it from half a block back, not the usual chime, something different, sharper, a name flashing that even Ken's optics zoomed in on out of pure nosiness.
<Kiwi: Bad news, that's the Boss.>
<Maine: Pilar, you got what we need?>
<Pilar: Almost. Ninety more seconds.>
<Kiwi: He doesn't have ninety seconds. He's already up and walking.>
<Car> Maine said, flat. <Kid, go. Now.>
<D: Great.> The initial plan was to copy the shard and make a new key, get in the car and take the data and delta. Now though...
Ken moved, took the shard and zapped away.
The limo sat exactly a block away from the bar, sleek and black and radiating the particular quiet menace of something that cost more than any building on the block. Ken was three steps from it when a shape peeled off the shadow of the parking structure and fell into step beside him like she'd been there the whole time.
“Miss me?” Lucy said.
“What are you–”
“Get in. I’ll be handling the cracking.” She was already crouched at the other side of the door, a spool of cable unspooling from somewhere on her wrist, optics flickering gold. “You're welcome, by the way. This thing's running Arasaka-grade ICE.”
Ken took the main driver’s seat. “Think you can nab it before the Maxim guy comes?”
<Maine: Rebecca will create a distraction. You guys make it quick.>
“Don’t talk, I’m concentrating.” Lucy took out a sleek terminal and started typing away, fast enough that he found it hard to follow.
‘Yes, m’am.’ Ken shut himself up.
The interior smelled like leather and perfume that had never once been sat on wrong. The dash lit soft blue at his touch, every surface built like it knew exactly what it was worth.
“...Man.” Ken ran a hand along the wheel, reverent despite himself. “Will I have one of these one day. Just, having it. I mean, I’m not a car guy, but if I become a corpo someday. Hehe.”
“Focus, Martinez. Close the door, keep it open for ten more seconds, it will send a warning to Maxim’s optics any moment.”
“Oops, sorry.” Ken closed the door and opened it once again.
<Becca: Guys, target's incoming, sorry, that’s the best I could hold him. Doesn’t seem to have caught into–ok, my bad, the guy’s onto you.>
<Maine: If Lucy can’t get the data in time, Kid, get the car and drive to Aldo’s.>
<D: What???! Nobody said I will need to drive! I don’t even know who is Aldo!?!>
<Maine: Well, we always have something new to learn, kid.>
<D: The most I know about driving comes all from BDs. Never took a real wheel.>
<Maine: Oh, I thought you’re a greenhorn but you already have the basics down. Cool, counting on you.>
“ICE is down, got the data.” Lucy said, already yanking her cable free, code collapsing into static behind her eyes. “Let’s Delta–Damn, the security’s already back?!”
Lucy looked at the door in genuine surprise.
“Take this sid–” Ken noticed the Maxim guy in the side-mirror. He didn’t hesitate. The world slowed, he held Lucy, as gently as possible, and got out of the car being careful to not let her bump into anything. With the speed he moved, even a simple scratch might hurt like kicking concrete.
Maxim stood before the limo, hand still buried on his empty neck. The shard acted as the actual key after all. “FUCK...how do I drive when I don't even have the key...huh?”
It was there–the key shard–on top of the car roof.
“Do you think he will be happy if he finds the shard?” Just a block away, crouching behind a wall was Lucy and Ken. The latter’s hand was still very much sitting on a slim waist. Not quite evident from a glance, but the owner of the waist could feel the hand shaking from nervousness.
Lucy swatted his hand away and demanded an answer from him. “How did you know the door would get locked?”
Ken looked at the swatted hand. “What do you mean... how could I possibly know?”
“Don’t think you can dodge this. You clearly kept the door open because you knew it would get locked.”
“Damn, you’re too sharp.” Ken sighed. “The car’s one of my classmate’s parent’s. Probably. They got locked once inside the car, happened to hear it from them while pretending to sleep during a lunch break.” Mostly to avoid chances of talking with those holier than thou brats.
“And how do you know it was the same ride again?”
“What? How could I possibly know that? They probably have tons in their garage. I took precaution because its Arasaka corpo car.”
“...” Lucy just gave him a sharp glare and moved into the alley, moving to their rendezvous point.
“Wait, you suddenly don’t think of me as a mole or something, do you?!” Ken couldn’t believe it, how suspicious this girl could possibly get?
“You?” Lucy stopped for a second and pointed at him with her chin and smirked. “You need a new life to become a spy.”
{Alt Titles: Smooth Criminal; Butcher Getting Butchered; The Shard in the Neck; ICE Cold; A Car He'll Never Admit He Loved; Maxim Confused Pika: Did I Leave The Shard On Top of The Car???; Ken: My Car, with a hand on Lucy’s waist, Wait?! Lucy The Car Might Not Be Bad?!; }