章 213: State of Mind

The group all sit around with eyes glowing from the data they were processing, a virtual map of the surroundings open in their Interface. They were a pretty substantial distance from any cities, with the only actual boon being the fact they were within spitting distance of the main road between The North and South California, more importantly, the road people used to get from Las Vegas to Night City.

"So, what? We either head to Fresno or that shining shithole Vegas?" Pilar grudgingly asks.

"We're not going to any city." Lucy states, "Arasaka has a foothold in almost every place we could reach, only the NUSA would be safe since Militech is king."

"Closest safe place is Texas, and we'd be lucky to reach New Mexico like this." Falco remarks.

"You want us to just leave, after what they did to Dorio...?" Maine growls.

"What else do you want us to do? We can't even keep ourselves alive right now, how're we going to fight Arasaka?"

"I'd rather die on my feet than live on my back! Those fucker's flatlined Dorio and you guys want to run!? Flee to Texas and hope whoever's in power there doesn't sell us to those goddamn chongos!?"

"Maine, all we're talking about it reaching safety. After that we can plan to get back at them, right now we barely have a car, let us get back to a city that doesn't want us dead and we'll have some shit to work with." Ori assures.

"Tsch, I see your jaw moving but you're not saying anythin'. All of you sit around playing 'happy-fuckin daycare', not one of you bastards said shit about revenge since we got ran out." he palms his face, shaking his head with a frustrated sigh, "We head to Vegas and go from there, and I'm not askin'."

...

David turns to Lucy, "That doable or are we gonna get wrecked as soon as we come close?"

She wets her lips, eyes flashing, "Arasaka has property there but, they don't have a hold on it like they do in Night City. The Santeau and DMS still rule it, and even they don't have much control over the vast underground networks..."

"Who gives a shit about them, 'slong as they aren't hunting us I could give a rat's ass." Rebecca scoffs.

She shrugs, "Santeau won't be, but DMS has ties with everyone, from Arasaka to Militech. Depending on how much Arasaka wants us, we'd have to look out for them."

Ori glances at Maine, "So Las Vegas... There we can regroup and make some plans, maybe even a second Holocaust, if we could get our hands on a nuke?"

"No," David shakes his head, "If we're gonna hit 'em we do it without flatlining everyone else in the process."

"Yeah, Silverhand had the right idea but all he did was martyr them. The guy needed to cut the head off of the snake, kill that old bastard what's his face, Saburo?"

Rebecca shrugs, "Like that'd do anything but get us on a list permanently. I doubt the old guy does anything anyway, we'd just be putting targets on our backs."

...

"We'll figure it out, hell, I wouldn't be against bombing that space station of theirs." Ori states, "For now, living the life of highway robbers will have to suit us."

--------------------

With a basic plan of action decided, the group got moving the next morning. Going East down the interstate while giving a wide birth to any small towns they see. They were still too close to Night City, and since these places had active receivers up it wouldn't be a surprise to see Arasaka men waiting for them.

Two days later Falco perks up in the driver's seat and slows the car as the road dips down a large hill. "Anyone else seein' this?"

Rebecca hops into the passenger seat from the back, "Looks like a stick-up," she easily remarks, spotting a number of cars surrounding a trailer home with four people lined up next to it, guns pointed at their backs. "We've been needing supplies, and these guys come guilt-free!" she grins.

"Well, everyone get your shit ready. Who knows what these desert assholes are carryin', any of you get capped by some trash-built grenade launcher, you deserve it." Maine states, opening his arm cannon and using a dirty cloth to wipe dust and sand from it.

"W-what about me!?" Christy blurts out.

Maine sniffs at her as if she was covered in burning dog crap, shoving a small pistol into her hands, "You make it or break it, either way we'll be gaining a merc or losing a leech."

"B-but I don't know how to use one of these!"

"I don't give a shit! Get with it, and quickly!" he growls, stepping past her and preemptively opening the door and hanging out the back of the truck. "Lucy, you close enough yet?"

"No, whatever systems they have are too small to work with."

Maine shrugs, "Then, kid, I want the leader alive. See if we can't get the local layout." he says, eyeing David.

"How am I supposed to know who's in charge? Bag the dirtiest, ugliest guy there?"

"Or just cut the hands off all of 'em." Rebecca offers, "You're probably fast enough for it."

David reluctantly nods, gripping the handle of his blade, "What should we do with the hostages?"

"Depends on if they got anything worth stealing." Pilar remarks and snickers at Christy's wide-eyed look, "What? We aren't saints, besides, for all we know those guys are chainsmoking, cannibal, pedos, who kill kittens for fun."

"Stop projecting bro." Rebecca sneers.

"Alright, enough playtime. Those gonks see us already so get ready for a fight."

Ori leans out the back next to Maine with a revolver ready. The twelve or so bandits had already turned towards them, weapons ready but not yet opening fire. One man walks forward and tries to wave them down, as if he wanted to talk...