章 38: Occupational Hazards
The next day Ori, Max, and Six had just finished their protection gig, a schizo-client thought some corp was tracking and following him so he paid them to escort him around his usual haunts for the day. Nothing turned up obviously, and Ori was pretty sure the dude was off his rocker. He definitely didn't earn enough to keep paying mercenaries to watch his back.
His client's mental health aside, Ori walked over to his car that'd been parked next to Max's, Six was already in the merc's passenger seat, not seeing a reason to bring his own ride. Max and Ori stop in front of the vehicles before leaving however, both with something to say.
"So, you in big shit or what?" Max abruptly questions, lighting his and Ori's cigs.
"Hm?"
"Yesterday, you were either at gunpoint or had your balls in clamp..." he taps his temples, "Trust me, can I sniff this stuff out a mile off."
"Yeah, gunpoint... Why didn't you say something then?"
"You think I wanna say somethin' that gets you a bullet? Nah, you weren't beggin' or cryin' so I guessed you had it handled... Since you're here, I'm assuming I had it right?"
Ori nods, "Worked out a deal with that recording. Don't worry about Quentin either, he was there too."
"Hmph, sounds like a strange one..." he lets out a puff of smoke, and gestures the cig at Ori, "Say, did you get laid? You've had that stupid grin on your face all day, almost scared off the client..."
Ori touches his mouth, squinting in surprise at the upturned lines, "I did?" he shakes his head, "No, I didn't get laid... Anyway, I actually had something to ask." he states, changing the subject.
"Lemme guess, you need pick lines for that girly you're hot over?" Max snarkily replies.
"No! Even if I did you'd be the last person I'd ask."
"What? I'm probably the most handsome son of'a bitch you'll ever meet." he flexes his tattooed bicep, "This shit's all natural y'know!"
"Having no Cyberware doesn't make it natural, natural means no enhancement drugs either. You look like the picture they show kids to stop 'em tryin' steroids." Ori states, allowing them a good-natured chuckle, Max not confirming nor denying it.
"Anyway, I actually need some help with a personal job killin' some scav assholes. I know where they are, what time they'll probably be there, and how many're in the group... But I'm not really all that tactically inclined, as you know..." Ori admits.
"You want me and Six to help you out...? Cuz it'll cost you, friendly discount or not." Max confirms.
"What's the drop?"
Max shrugs and holds his hand out, obviously asking for the data. He quickly sifts through it before handing it back while flicking away his cig, "Approx twenty scavs, fortified position, alright security... Eight thousand for Six, five for me sound doable?"
"That include the 'whole' package?"
He nods, "Yeah, best part is you get to keep whatever we find there since you're the one payin'. Scav workshops have usually got some goodies stashed away... You might actually get your Eddies back after we're done."
Ori smiles but allows his expression to dull as he scrolls down the page, "There's only one condition I have." he points to Marv's face. "I want to gut this guy personally."
Max nods and shakes his hand, "Sounds like a deal. We'll get on it tomorrow, I'll do some scoutin' tonight, see if there's anything you've missed in that. I'll see you later kid." he says, patting him on the shoulder before departing with Six.
-----------------------
"There a reason you're so easy on the kid?" Six asks as they drive down the street and out of sight.
"What? Gonna tell me I'm too soft again?" Max grouses in response.
"Later. I wanna know why him?"
...
"Because you see him like Char-" Six starts but is interrupted as Max slams his hand onto the steering wheel.
"It ain't about her!" He shakes his head, "Do I need a reason to be nice once in a while!?"
"You? No. But like 'this'?" he nods.
"Fine..." Max relents, "Kid reminds me of my brother. Young, stupid, hopeful. My brother got dusted by a Militech Hovertank..." he states, his voice becoming slightly hoarse with emotion. He shakes his head and clears his threat, "Makes me wanna see where the kid goes, see how my brother might've turned out if he got the chance."
...
Six sits back in his chair and folds his arms, "You're being a fool. Letting your emotions control you."
Max sniffs at him, "Yeah? Well, not everyone can go full heartless-borg-asshole like some people." he pointedly remarks, "Some of us have still got things to hold onto..."
The rest of the ride is silent for the two, Max dropping Six off as his scheduled Ripperdoc appointment before driving off towards Longshore to get some scouting done.
---------------
Max parks a good distance away from the warehouse and slowly makes his way up a sandy hill overlooking the complex. He pulls out his binoculars and begins tagging the place with notes, recording everything so they could map out a plan tomorrow.
"Place looks like a goddamn anthill." he mutters to himself, worried about the amount of activity going on down there.
He tags a wall with clear structural weakness when he spots a van full of goons leaving the place... That wouldn't have worried him if they'd kept going their way, but instead, they'd driven offroad right towards his location, leaving a trail of kicked-up sand as they race towards him.
"Shit!" he curses, stuffing his binoculars in his pack as he begins hurriedly retreating. He'd left his LMG in the car to lighten his load and reduce the risk of exposure, but he'd have definitely liked having it on him right now...
"How the fuck did they see me!?" he mutters to himself, knowing well he hadn't given anything away.
He keeps running out into the desert and jumps into a small rocky ridge before the Scavs drive over the crest of the hill... They shouldn't have seen him right?
He holds his breath and keeps low as the sound of their engine approaches, the sound of tires transitioning from sand to rock causing his heart to beat faster...
"Hehe, told ya we'd have company."
"It's about time, you've had us keepin' watch like that for almost two days straight!"
Their footsteps kept getting closer, and closer... Until they were basically standing directly on top of his position...
"Hm... Could've sworn I saw something... Guess not?" the leader remarks out loud, and Max stifles a sigh of relief...
"NOT!" the man abruptly shouts, dropping a flashbang into the ridge with Max who isn't able to shield his eyes and ears fast enough.
*BAAANG!!!*
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Niggross
Niggross Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
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章 39: Friends...?
The next day rolls around and Ori slowly realized something was up... Max hadn't gotten back to him about the job, and wouldn't even pick up his phone when he called. Not to mention...
[Receiving Call: Six...]
[...Receiving Call: Six...]
*Beep-Beep*
"Six, is something wrong? Where's Max? He should've called by now." he asks as soon as he answers.
"They got him. The scavs." he neutrally rasps through the call.
"T-they what!? How? He was only supposed to be checking the place out! He's a pro isn't he?!" Ori reactively shoots back, shocked by the news. To him Max had always been a concrete figure, stern and unmovable in his work. For Max to get captured on a job he'd sent him on made him feel like a worthless piece of trash... It must've been his fault, right? Why else would it have happened?
Six ignores his panicked exertions as he glares at him through the holocall, "I'm collecting the favour you owe. We're saving his dumb ass, and we'll finish your job in the process."
"Favour? You mean for the vid?" Ori shakes his head, "I don't need anything to go save a friend, especially when I'm the reason he needs rescuing!"
Six scowls, "We don't need your charity. Grab all of your things and anyone with four limbs willing to fight, meet me in Pinewood." he orders before ending the call, leaving Ori in silence..
*Beep-Beep*
...
He lets out a held breath and stands, gathering everything he could into a rucksack before making his way down to his beat-up car. He wouldn't bring Bats even if he was present, the Ripperdoc was currently workin' in that sketchy repair shop, and he didn't want to risk Bats' life on his own mistakes anyway.
Still, he and Six were gonna be vastly outnumbered... He didn't really know anyone willing to help either. Sasha didn't strike him as the 'fighting' type. Most of his acquaintances are dead or missing, and even then they'd probably refuse him outright.
He could try to ask the Mox again, but that was a long shot. Northside wasn't their turf, nor was this something that really concerned them or the gangs 'tenets'... Hiring foreign mercs didn't work either since the scavs could probably pay far more than he could, not to mention the potential backstab-shittery that could happen... Who knew how extensive Marv's contacts went, especially since he was allied with that underground auction.
Still, there was one person left, his reluctance could be forgotten in this instance...
[Calling Rebecca...]
[...Calling Rebecca]
*Beep-Beep*
The pale-skinned, pink-tattooed girl appears on the holo-call in only her thin black bra and panties... She was laying down in a large beanbag chair, or maybe it was regular-sized since she was so small in the first place?
She grins toothily at him, eyes gleaming with mirth as his face flashes with heat at her outfit, or lack thereof.
"He-ey, it's Ori the wimpy merc! How's biz? Or is this a social call? You really miss me that much after one meet huuuh?" she smugly asks, looking pretty satisfied with herself for some reason...
He shakes his head and clears his throat, the severity of the situation allowing him to move past her... Rebecca-ness... "I'm up shit-creek and paddling my hands right now, I need some extra hands to help rescue a friend, couldn't think of anyone else better for the job." he says, trying to butter her up.
"Hnnnnmmm?" she hums with an odd look on her face before pointing to herself, "You want me, to help rescue a hostage? Ha! Either you're REALLY desperate, or you've got a shitty memory!"
"I wouldn't argue against either..." he sighs, "Look, I really need the help... I'll pay you obviously, and I'll owe you in the future..."
...
She leans back in her chair and folds her arms, eyes still focused entirely on Ori's face, "Hmph! Who told you I was weak against wimpy puppy-dog eyes? It was Judy wasn't it! That greasy lab rat!"
"Can you help me or not. I'm kinda in a rush here..."
...
"Mmmoouu... Fine! But I get first dibs on any cool guns left lying around!... And I want five-no, eight thousand Eddies!" she says, still accidentally holding up five fingers, which Ori doesn't draw attention to.
Fuck... This was really gonna set him back on finding Cat... He was tempted to just say fuck it to the whole thing and concentrate on his sister, but Max had gotten captured because of him... He couldn't just leave him there...
He remembered the vet saying something about scav workshops being worth a good amount, so hopefully he wouldn't lose too much... There was also Marv... Who knew what that cock-sucker was doing to Max...
Ori unconsciously grinds his teeth as he refocuses on the waiting Rebecca, "Five thousand plus the favour-"
"DEAL!" she exclaims ecstatically leaning forwards as if she'd been aiming for that the entire time... Was that her attempt at negotiating a price...? Considering most regular gigs paid 1k to 3k, he was paying her a little extra for the short notice. Whatever.
"Meet me in Pinewood, bring your best guns, we're gonna be outnumbered here."
"No kidding! Those are the best jobs! See you there!"
*Beep-Beep*
...
Sigh.
"I gotta bad feeling about this." he mutters, lighting up a cig before quickly driving away, headed to the meeting spot Six had designated.
-----------------
"Hey! Over here!" the plucky loli shouts from the corner of the street, her hand waving erratically as Ori pulls up. Honestly, it looked like she was barely able to walk with the heavy pack on her back and the numerous colourfully painted guns slung around her neck... It looked like a dad carrying in the entire month's shopping all in one go...
He stops in front of her, idly wondering if he looked like he was picking up a joytoy while rolling down the window, his brows almost reaching his hairline, "Er, I said 'bring your best guns', not all your guns..."
"Pfft, you think this is it? These are only my favourites! Besides, you never said how many dudes we'd be fighting!"
Ori palms his face, "Whatever, get in the back." he says, remotely unlocking the back doors.
クリエイターの想い
Niggross
Niggross
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
ShinAmazake
Kingsprovince
Faruk Ereng
VidDav FerDeL
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