Chapter 20: Case 008 - Afterlife and Alive Only
You know what is the worst thing about concussion? Except for very very bad headache, possible damage to skull, poor coordination and blur the worst thing that brain is very fragile thing and therefore requires a lot of very accurate treatment. You can easily replace limbs, some organs like heart, kidneys and so on. But when it comes to brain things are much more complicated.
Why I am telling you that? Because I am stuck in hospital bed for few days by now and all thanks to that crazy muscle bitch that launched drone at me. I had wonderful experience of having to take in a lot of medicines that even my sweat reeks of chemicals and my head covered in hickeys thanks to constant scanning and diagnostics. Brrr, hate that shit.
Now back to business. After crisis at concert Night Corp and other organisations had a very rough talk with Axel and his manager. Problem was not that a lot of people died or got injured. It was property damage. Stadium requires a lot of repairs as well as nearby area got damaged by fans and others. So they decided that Axel and his manager must cover the costs. After having a glance at them I have started laughing. Axel and his manager will not be able to eat anything except for cup noodles for at least 5 years and probably end up having side job as prostitutes and adult movie actors to make at least something. Almost all earning from concerts, recordings and etc will be directed towards repairs as well as covering interest rates on their gigantic debt.
For me results were completely opposite. Again I have made it to news and internet. My fight with fans went viral and again I got called Guardian Angel but this time I had word Bloody added. Trauma Team PR again went ecstatic and only my beaten up state didn't allow me to be enslaved by them again. Trauma Team finance department provided me with good reward and greedy dragons this time took only half of it. Seems they start to get that I am like chicken laying golden eggs for Trauma Team so no point being excessively greedy. So in total I have now close to 400,000 plus my bodyguard work will add another 50,000 thanks to special clause in contract.
Hahaha, finance department started charging Axel right the moment I called for evac so now they don't have to deal with getting money out since eddies got transferred automatically. No need for having meetings and discussions as well as court cases to extract money they deserve. I guess finance department was really happy that day.
Finally, all my teammates are back and I can work as normal.
"Hey Ron, hey flyboys. Nice to see you back." - I waved at them after entering hangar.
"Guys, just look at this. Angel is amongst us. I got to say you had one rough landing as your face looks as bad as piece of shit I stepped on a morning." - Ron laughed and gave me a hug. Others started gathering around and started patting me.
We started telling each other how our days been. Jorg got his fingers back and said that he is so happy that he got not only them back but also some hidden implants completely free. Well, what should I expect from Jorg, I guess he has probably terrorised finance and HR department till they surrendered and just given scrooge what he wanted.
Flyboys told us about training course and how they started beating up others till true professionals turned up and handed their asses back to them after few flights. But they actually enjoyed it saying that they got some new tricks and made few connections. Well, flyboys still the same.
Ron spend his time with family visiting universities and colleges for his kids to study in future. So nothing interesting, typical family guy things.
Sam, similar to me, spend time babysitting but instead of junkie rock star it was some old hag that constantly pestered him about poor quality service or some minor problems. He was really close to strangling his client. I understand your feelings brother, I have been close to beating the shit out of Axel every time he did something dumb.
"Well, now we are back let's earn some eddies. Gosh, you can't imagine how much they charge Harvard and Arasaka." - Ron told us while we were getting into aerodyne.
"Cap, maybe you want to hear about..." - Jorg started speaking but got immediately interrupted.
"Shut your damn mouth! I am not listening to this bullshit you brainwash people with. You got Markus here so go and enlighten him more about that crap you keep pestering us since we got you here." - Ron said to him putting on his helmet.
Captain, you bastard! Why the fuck did you point at me! Jorg will fucking rape my mind with his Way of A Scrooge! I had enough of that shit before and just started to recover from it.
"Well, well. I have completely forgot about my young acolyte. Now tell me....." - Jorg had mischievous smile on his face.
Oh god. No. Please. Not fucking again. I am begging you!
So for next hour I got tortured and demoralised by Jorg. As punishment I have to fast for a week and only eat canned soup and drink water.
"Wake up, everyone. We got a evac request. Client is in Afterlife. Get ready for anything to happen." - Ron ordered us and started communicating with dispatcher.
Afterlife, famous bar for solos and merc gangs. Being allowed to enter Afterlife is the same as being accepted to major league. And now we might have to face some really tough guys in case situation gets sour.
We landed almost at the entrance of Afterlife and got greeted with a lot of guys with guns ready to shoot. So we stood pointing guns at each other until big bouncer got out of bar.
"Trauma Team, come in. Your client is inside. This is not a trap. Rogue promises that you will not be harmed and can leave with client safely." - he said.
"Got it. At ease guys." - Ron said but secretly told us to stay frosty and be ready for anything.
We followed our guide and he got us to one of negotiations rooms. Our client had been either attacked by netrunner or poisoned since there are no signs of wounds. Jorg and Sam started stabilising client and preparing for evac. But after a while client died without coming back to consciousness. So while Jorg and Sam were busy doing post mortem things me and Ron had to gather information what happened here.
We needed solid evidence and proof that shows that we arrived on time and client died before we evacuated him and that it wasn't caused by us. Yeah, bullshit thing, but bureaucracy and our lawyers need that shit. So now we spend time getting recordings and other evidence.
"You must be Markus Berkut, famous Angel-Guardian of Trauma Team according to mass media." - someone called me out and I turned my head only to be surprised that it was famous Rogue Amendiares, owner of Afterlife.
"Yes, madam. Although it all mainly thanks to our PR team." - I replied.
"Still, you made quite a show. I have to say that if you get tired of saving bleeding and covered in vomit rich kids contact me. I think you will become one good solo." - she said looking at me as if she already scanned me and found satisfactory.
"Thank you. Will keep that in mind. But I have a debt to payback first."
"You have not only a debt to payback to Trauma Team. Now there is a bounty on your head. One of leaders of Animals wants to get you alive."
"Alive? Not dead?"
"Seems you got Sasquatch quite angry. She wants to get you alive."
Fuck. Sasquatch, that was tattooed on chest of that bitch that got me in the end. Moreover, she is one of top dogs in Animals.
"Hmm, can you tell me more?"
"Sasquatch is possible candidate to become new Alpha of Animals, specialises in brutal slaughters and has one hell of a character. And you managed to earn her hatred so she wants your alive and crash your bones one by one. Well that's what I heard people are saying now. On your place I would grow a eyes on your back. Just in case." - she said sending me link with information about Sasquatch at NCPD database.
"Bounty is not big. But you know. The one that will bring you to her will gain a favour of possible future Animal's Alpha. So there will be enough people to take a risk."
"Well, they can try."
"There are some reasons why nobody wants to take on you yet. You are still under Trauma Team and has some reputation so they understand that you are not an easy target. But, sooner or later they will start hunting after you."
"Thank you for information. But why you decided to tell me that?"
"Maybe I want to earn a favour of another possible legend or remarkable merc?"
"I will remember that. Now I must go."
Me and team got back to aerodyne. All the way back I was thinking about whole situation. The only thing that come up to my mind - I need to get stronger and get really big calibre to get down that giant shaved gorilla lady. Really big calibre.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone