Bab 11: The Badlands
Lei pulled up to the Royal Freight Yard with a slide of her bike. Newly acquired high-end BLACK synth lipstick now adorning those full lips of hers. She was curious to see if they changed the way people saw her. For this reason, she didn't keep her infovisor on for the time being.
It didn't take long to find Panam. Lei only had to walk around for a few minutes to locate a woman reaching deep into the front of her car's hood. Her bottom was sticking out for all to see.
Johnny glitched right beside the woman and observed. Lei couldn't help but observe as well. What an ass. That was Night City's ass right there. Countries would burn for such an ass. Such a perfect heart shaped pear…
Lei and Johnny looked at each other and nodded. It was a tacit understanding. Time to move on though. The money never slept.
"Panam? I'm here." She greeted.
"So you're Drifter." Panam commented without looking up.
"That's me."
"You gonna help me get my car back?"
"What's wrong with this one?"
Panam stopped working for a moment but didn't fully look up. She seemed to be getting mad again. Looks like Lei would have to be careful.
"THIS-" The nomad girl gestured to the car. "-is not mine. I'm BORROWING it."
"Alright, alright. I get it. Relax."
"Don't tell me to RELAX. I can't even do deliveries with this junk! Unless it's pizza."
"Panam, I will help you get your car."
"Good!" Her whole attitude immediately shifted. Talk about moody.
The now happy woman finally straightened up and closed the hood of the car. Only then did she finally turn to see the person she was speaking with. As soon as she met Lei's eyes, she jumped.
"ARGH!" Panam took a step back.
"Oh…sorry." Lei gave a sad smile while putting her visor back on.
'Damn.' She thought. Looks like the lipstick didn't work.
'Don't worry Lei. I think it looks nice.' Johnny said.
'Thanks, Johnny.'
"Um…" Panam immediately felt bad. She knew that was fucked up.
"Don't worry about it. Do you know where your car is?"
"...No. Do you?"
"Gimme a sec."
Stepping away from the nomad, Lei made a quick call. It only rang once before the person answered. Rogue's face appeared on the display.
"What."
"...You know where Panam's car is?"
"Rocky Ridge."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
The call was cut. Lei casually made her way back over. Panam's arms were crossed.
"It's in Rocky Ridge. I assume you know where that is?"
"Nash, that dirt eating bastard! I will strangle you. Screw Rogue too." She growled. Looks like the location was enough to determine who stole it.
"Is Nash one of your chooms?"
"Do NOT call him that."
"Alright. Partner."
"Former partner. Nash is a Shiv. A Raffen Shiv. He tricked me."
"That's like the country version of a Scav, right?"
"What? No! Scavs are the worst of the worst. Raffen Shiv is one step above that."
"So not too far off."
"Not really, no."
"So I was right then." Lei gave a slight smile. Panam frowned.
"Are you trying to piss me off?"
"Nevermind that. Let's go get your car back."
"Wait…Fuck. Siiiigh….I gotta make a stop first." She huffed in frustration.
"Where to?"
"The Aldecado camp. We need backup and some of my friends are there."
"Ready when you are." Lei said. The nomad girl nodded.
"Get in."
Both of them hopped in the car. Panam had to try the engine a few times before the car turned on. It was plain to see that she hated it.
Even more surprising was what happened next. The girl pulled out a smartphone. A relic of the past. After typing in the keypad, she made a call. The car started to move.
It was a long conversation with a man named Boz. Moral of the story was this: Nash had an exchange planned with Boz. Since he screwed over Panam, the drop won't be happening since Lei and her will be sending the man to hell. In other words, they were now making the drop after.
"You know…"
"...................." Lei waited for Panam to finish.
"...You can take off your visor. Didn't mean to scream like that."
"It's fine. Keeping it on."
"For real. You aren't a cyberpsycho. Don't feel like you have to-"
"The visor is staying on." Lei repeated. Her voice was flat.
"Alright."
It took almost 30 minutes to reach the Badlands. Another 15 minutes to reach the actual camp. Panam stopped the car right in front of two guards. They were protecting the entrance.
"Stay in the car, come with me, up to you." She spoke before getting out. Lei didn't hesitate to follow.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in." The first guard spoke up. He wore a hood to cover his face and shield out the sun.
Panam dabbed up the guard before moving to the next one. They all seemed friendly enough. The drifter decided to ease up a bit on the alertness.
"Is that a ghost or is it just my hangover?" The other guard joked.
"Fuck you too." She quipped. They gave each other a fist bump. Only then did the guards look at the figure beside them.
"And who's this?" The hooded man asked.
"That's my babysitter." Panam joked. "Drifter, this is Scorpion. Mitch. Two old friends."
"Hi." Lei said. Her voice was curt.
"Sup."
"What brings you round these parts, city girl?" Mitch asked Panam.
"The big city got too small for her. You got any idea how angry the old man is gonna be if he sees you here?" Scorpion followed up. The country girl frowned.
"I'm only gonna be here for a second. Saul needn't know a thing."
"Mhm." Mitch grunted with sarcasm.
"I need your help. The Raffens screwed me over. With all four of us, we'll thrash em. You in?" She asked. Mitch sighed.
"You know we'd do anything for you, sister. But…" He said.
"Things are kinda hard right now." Scorpion finished Mitch's thoughts.
"Generators are down. Till we get them back up, we're stuck here." Mitch revealed.
"Generators? You can't help me because of some goddamn generators?! Tell me this is another joke." Panam exclaimed in disbelief.
"No joke." Scorpion said.
"Wow. Holy shit. You two don't give a single fuck about me!"
"Listen, Panam. We can't leave camp…but Saul never said anything about gear. Catch my drift?"
"I get it. Yes. Well…I'm gonna need that rifle of yours, Mitch. Along with my own stuff." The nomad girl said after a moment of thought.
"Take whatever you want." Mitch said. Panam looked at Lei.
"You coming with? Need help carrying."
"Sure." The drifter said.
The two casually strolled into the camp. People of all ages could be seen hanging around in different areas. Some people even greeted Panam and asked when they could hang out. Seems like she had a good standing among the people.
Panam reached the weapons tent and grabbed Mitch's sniper rifle. A medium sized crate was right next to it. Hmm. She gestured over to it too. Must be heavy. After Lei picked it up, they made their way back to the car. And it WAS heavy.
"Alright, Rocky Ridge. Time to fuck over some Raffens. Can't believe Mitch and Scorpion aren't helping me." Panam couldn't help but complain.
"Honestly, Panam…"
Lei glanced at the curly haired country woman. Her black hair shined under the sun. She fit her clothes well.
"What? You don't care?" Panam questioned with a frown.
"I'm enough for the Raffen. You don't need them. Trust me."
"Trust you? Just met you an hour ago. Don't even try that with me."
"You'll see."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
7DeadViolets
7DeadViolets Night City's ass right there.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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