17 Chapter 17- A Nomad, a Techie, and An Anomaly Walk Into A Bar

Funnily enough, the first time around, Maine's crew never really dealt with Maelstrom all that much barring the instance where they grabbed Becca and demanded ransom for her. That had honestly been one of his… most treasured memories for a while. The whole crew together working in tandem with no one having gotten hurt, and David having been the star of the show, getting Becca out of harm's way letting the rest of them handle the Maelstrom goons.

…. Should have been obvious that things were going to go downhill at that point. Things had been going so well. His relationship with Lucy, his skills as an Edgerunner, and more. When Pilar died, it was like the good times were over. Like a fucking pall hung over the crew. The reminder that you could die at anypoint.

And that no one remembered you for how you lived.

You're only remembered for how you died. And Pilar died a shit death.

Flatlined by a fucking homeless cyberpsycho chromed down to the literal fucking dick while he took a piss. What a shit way to go. No toasts to his memory like that. No afterlife drink.

Only a sister who pretended to hate his guts to get through the pain.

Not that David ever realized that with how selfish and self-centered he'd been.

But this time around… well. David didn't have as much time as he had last time to fuck about, as he'd been focusing on beefing up his skills. This of course led to him and Pilar not hanging as much as they had last time. And to be fair, they hadn't even hung out THAT much outside of a couple of visits to Lizzie's with Falco, checking out the new actresses on braindance.

For… a number of reasons, David wouldn't be partaking this time. Number one of course was his distaste for BD's as a whole. Except of course Lucy's Moon BD. That was still preem because it was with his Lucy.

But the other… well it was because he was with Lucy now. It felt like cheating in a way. And at this point? With everything he'd experienced?

The hollow nature of simple sexual pleasure in a braindance held less than no appeal to him. Hell, just the idea of it revulsed him. Which in a way was a little surprising. He hadn't been huge on porn beforehand, but he'd enjoyed some of the BDs that he'd experienced.

But the idea of watching them again this time?

Blech.

"Hey Kid! Get your head in the game. We're almost there."

Came the gregarious tone of Pilar in front of him.

David shook his head to clear any other thoughts out of his head. He needed to be on his guard as it was just going to be Falco, Pilar, and himself on this job.

"Alright… sorry about that. Ok so, let me go over this again. Falkins got info from Wakako that there are some Maelstrom making their way into Westbrook. Wakako is busy, and basically told Falkins if he wants to continue working in her district, he needs to handle her headache. That's where we come in. Falkins is offering us 20k for the job split however we want."

Pilar just gave him a flat look, his visor glowing in pulses.

"Fucking… really kid? Ugh. Alright. So since yours truly used to Run with Maelstrom, our glorious leader decided that he's gonna try the Diplomatic route and see if I can't get them to fuck off back to Watson for Jones to deal with and stop being a pain in the ass for Westbrook's Dragon Lady."

Falco then turned his head, giving him a casual little smile and a nod.

"Meanwhile, Maine got me to deliver y'all to the meeting space as well as carrying more of Pilar's munitions if they turn out to be necessary. Which by the way, nice to meet ya. I'm Falco. I was a Nomad but now I work as a transporter and wheelman for a lot of folk, but I mainly partner with Maine. Been doing so for about 2 years now. You're Gloria's kid right?"

David nodded as they continued coursing through the streets.

"Yeah."

"I heard about her death. That's a hard thing to go through. Gloria and I didn't know each other well, but she was good people. Patched me up once or twice too. It's a goddamn shame she's gone now."

The former Nomad was soft in volume, but earnest in tone as he spoke. Damn…. He'd forgotten what it was like to have Falco on his side, the former Nomad not having been needed all that much in the past few weeks. At least not for jobs he was involved in.

No, the jobs Falco was involved in were when they needed quick transportation and the hauling of gear, such as they were doing now.

He'd been extremely valuable and essential to the growth and efficacy of the group when Maine and Dorio had died in the past timeline. But….

Shit. Just the sight of him made him remember. Remember the last few minutes of his life. Remember the last few things he ever said to him.

F̴̨̩̗̪̖̲̲͉̎̊́á̵͖̖̯̹̮͆ͅl̷̡̦͈̮̀̊̍̆͌̈̕c̶̪̦͕͎̗̮̾̾̓̋͂̐͝͝ö̵̢̫͓̺̱̭́͐͒̇…̷̹̘̱̪͕̮̾̔̈́ ̸̡͙̭̫̯̮̄̿Í̴̟̫̩̂͊̓̇̄͒̈ ̴̡͉̽̒̊͜͝n̸̨͎̦̫̖̐͛̑ė̵̝̳̋͋ē̵̩̜̒d̴̢̦̀̑ ̴̲̰̙̣͎͎͈͗̆͗̒̊͝a̵̛̲̝̭̹̮̥̟̎̊͛ ̷̢̥̼̫͉͊͐̿͆̋͋͘f̷̱̹̟̰͛ą̸̟͍̥̤͖̠̝͆̅v̶̈́̋̆̿̈̔ͅo̶͎͚͉͙͙̘͖̒̍̉͑̔̕͜r̶̡̧͇̲͔̪̖̒̌̒͜.̵͕̘̟̔̃̈́̓̈́̆̉

̴̤̿͋́́̋̓

̸̡̨͚̺͚̮͙͆

̸̢̞̮͉̯̇̈́̅̇͠Ṭ̶̝̿ẽ̷̖̘͕̿̉͜l̸̺͓͇̭̤̳͌l̷̢̦̹̹̦͎͚̐͊̽̆̒͜ ̷͍͑̈́͛̉̆̉̋̕h̴̥͐̒̐͐ę̵͈̌́̄͛̚r̴̹͎̫͂…̸̺͕̱͍͋̆͌͌ ̶̣̞̣̠͛͂̌Ĭ̶̜͈̞͈͐̾ͅ'̴̛͙̞͐͗͋̄̓͗͌m̶̨̡̬̱̘̖̲̣͑ ̶͇̀̑̌̆s̸̨͖͎̃̓͜͜õ̴͉͍̫̠͈̱̼͛͝r̸̡͔̱͎̯̳̯̾̂̏r̶̡̺͝y̸̛̟̐̽̔ ̸͇͙͖̘̳̝̖́̾Ì̴͉̜̳̙̆͠ ̶̢̜̮̖̩̲̩͋́̈̀͘͝͝c̶͓̙̥̭͈͗́̈́̒͐́͋͝o̷̝͇̰͌̈́͆̇͐͋̌̈u̸͉͚͗͒̊l̷̢͔͈̺͚͍̋̓̕͘ḑ̷͖͙̦͐̍̿͌̑̕ņ̸̗̩̩̭̫͇́̄̔̌͠'̵̲̻̎͋̚ṱ̴̙̩̓͊͊̂͜͜ ̴̠̯͓̠̙͚͖̌ẗ̶̬̈́̇͌a̸͓͗̈͛͆̚͠ḵ̸͐e̸̝͛́̓͘ ̵̙̘͊̏́͐́ẖ̶̞͐̈́̀͋͑͝͠e̵̢̻͉͖͖̟͝r̸͎̬͕̻̄ͅͅ ̴̡͈̈͛͆̿̅̿́t̴̩̟̿̈̔̅͘ǫ̷̯͈̈́͐̇͂̕ ̴̗͔͍̭̗̈́t̴͚͚̬̉͊̉̄̑̉̒h̴̛̤̝̠̭͇̆̈́͐e̵̛̼̞̗͎̯͉͓̱͊́͌ ̷̭͑̽̿m̴̦͉̫̫̔́͘͝ó̵̺͂̒̈̂̉͘̚o̵̧͍̫̣̫̪̖͐̉͂̈́͌͌͜͠n̷͎͍͕̬̎͗͐͗̀̉͜.̶̲̩͇̻̫̌̓̈̎̆͋̕͜ͅ ̸̛̫̱̺̫̙̻̃̿͋͂͘ͅͅÌ̴̲̟̥͇͎̱̀̿̌̎͝ ̶͚͓̋͛̀͛̓͝ļ̴̖̳̮͉͇́͝o̵͚͛v̸̢̥̖̺̗̟͓̜̇͒̅e̴̡̳͓̋̾ ̵̛͓͗̑̽̏̉͜h̴̙̲̙̠̋̅e̷̟̞̩͈̅́̅͋̇̽ŗ̶̣͉̪̥̼̔͌́̄̇̎͜͝.̴̬̺͈̫͆̽̈̒̾́̾ ̵̼̼͊̈́̄̕ͅY̸͕̝̯͐͠o̸̩̜̝̲̿̆̕ư̶̭̪̙͎̠̖̟̇̓̆͋͘ ̸̫̤̰͓̓̃͊g̴̖͑ó̶̦̞̬̤̬̟̄̽̄̀̊̀t̸̠̖͔͘͝͝ṱ̷͐͊͛̄͝ḁ̸̛̠͎̻͖̱̟͚̈̅͆͆͝ ̵͚̀̋̉͋̋̐̎̚͜t̷̠͇̘͐̐̃̔̐͠e̵̛͇̞̭͙͈̾͆̓̑͠͝l̸̨̛̠̖̋͗̓͌̕͝ḻ̶̡̡̙͐̄͛̑ ̶̧̧̟̤͖͙̃̊̂͘͜h̴̠̪̜̩͚̑̀̉̂͆e̸͖͕̠̽r̶̡̬̖͓̩͋͂̅͝ ̶̡͖̂̍t̵͖̝̯͖̆̂͆͂̈́́̂̏ḧ̴̛͖̺͂́̉̿͆̿a̵̫̗͓̮̖̯͗͝t̵͕̗͙͑͠.̵̢̡̥̦̪̩̼̥̔͊͛̀͆͌

With a powerful will, he was able to keep his distress and flashbacks from appearing on his face as he plastered a smile so that Falco could see in the rearview mirror.

"Thanks. it's… it's honestly really heartwarming to hear that everyone had such a good opinion of her. Makes… makes it like she's not really gone. Ya know?"

The former Nomad nodded solemnly as they continued driving, before continuing the former subject of conversation.

" If ya can't get Maelstrom to back down, you're supposed to flatline em. Falkins identified 10 of them, but if it turns out there's more, there'll be a bonus for dealing with more people. However, if you can't handle it, we can just drive. Maine was very clear on that to Falkins, that we wouldn't be taking part in a suicide job."

Which was actually something that had made David quite pleased. Last time around, Maine never attempted to negotiate the surroundings of the job like that.

What he'd been more shocked by and honestly quite appreciative of was the fact that Falkins understood, and told them that if they needed to regroup to handle things with a larger group, he would compensate them.

Falkins had been an exceptionally forthright kind of fixer, never delaying on payment, made excuses, or tried to hide certain things from them. If he did not inform them of something, it was because it had to be secret due to the client, and he made them aware of the secrecy. In return, the crew was exceedingly thorough when it came to handling his jobs. Not even Pilar fucked about which was a surprise. Focused Pilar had been something he wasn't used to.

But he got the feeling that Jeff was beginning to reach the end of his influence and that he wouldn't have jobs for them soon. Mostly because he wouldn't be able to afford them for the lower level jobs he would have.

They needed to move up the chain into bigger fixers. Like Regina Jones, Padre. Hell, maybe even Wakako.

And honestly, with the amount of jobs they had done, with not a single one worthy of being called a fuckup, they were goddamn DUE a move up on the food chain.

"So… Pilar. Do you really think you'll be able to convince them to fuck off back to Watson?"

Pilar shrugged.

"Depends on where they're coming from. Brick? Yeah you can work with Brick. He's fucking 2 steps from going cyberpsycho, but he keeps to deals and ya can make arrangements. Royce? That fucker is basically a half lucid Psycho. "

David blinked.

"Um… who are they?"

He'd never really paid attention to gang politics and who the leaders were. Probably not a smart thing for a Merc looking to make his way in NC.

Pilar chuckled.

"Alright, quick explanation. Maelstrom is currently led by Brick. Chromed to hell and back, but he's generally an ok sort to make deals with. Been leader for 4 years ever since the previous leader Khrome snuffed it. If this group was sent by Brick, we can probably make an arrangement to have him go back, though Falkins will need to sweeten the pot. He agreed to it, however."

"Ok… and if it was sent by Royce?"

Pilar grimaced.

"Royce is one of Brick's Lieutenants. He was around back when I was part of the gang and… well. Trust me. You don't want to be around Royce unless you can put his ass down. I didn't have the hardware to do so, so Royce was able to boot me around like a fucking football."

David grimaced at the idea of someone like Royce being in charge.

"So, if Royce is the one who tried to expand?"

Pilar blew a raspberry in annoyance.

"If it's Royce we're going to have to fight. And in all honesty, we should keep an eye out for a fucking hostile takeover. Royce never liked Brick, and expanding and taking more territory would be more than enough to get that fucking Borg the support he needs to overturn the current regime."

Falco hummed.

"Don't mean to cut y'all off from the Intel lesson, but we're here."

And indeed they were. The place looked like a classic Maelstrom joint. Metal skull tags that were fresh, disarray, plenty of scrap.

"Alright kid… just let me handle the negotiations. You're too young. Not enough chrome. They won't look at you as anything but meat."

Pilar said, his face serious as he looked over the young Edgerunner.

"You get Flatlined, I'll probably follow you next even if the fucking Maelstrom cunts don't get me. Your output and Becca both will be trying to gun for my ass. So just keep quiet, let old Uncle Pilar handle the borgs."

David frowned, but mostly at the idea of calling him Uncle Pilar…. Bleh. He might have reminded him of a drunken uncle but hoo boy. The idea of being related to him? His sympathy towards Becca. Not that he hated Pilar of course. He was … ah shit. He was gonna say that he was part of the family.

He was Uncle Pilar wasn't he?

Goddammit he could never know.

"Alright so, what do I do if they start pulling iron or trying to zero us?"

Pilar nodded.

"If that happens, I want you popping that Sandy and dropping THESE in front of the fuckers farthest away."

He said handing him a couple of EMP grenades.

"Do not go near these when they explode, David. Even with only one implant, from what I hear that thing is your SPINE. Don't go fucking with that."

David nodded, placing the grenades in his jacket's inner pockets.

"Should I wait for anything special to drop em?"

Pilar nodded and tapped his head..

"I'll be calling you right now."

Waiting just a second, the call was registered and picked up instantly.

Pilar: "Right. So if I tell you to drop the EMPs, you do it fucking immediately. You follow my lead, and we'll all be blowing Jeff's credits on drinks at Lizzie's tonight."

David was about to complain when Pilar cut him off.

"Alright, time for the game plan. Falco, you keep the engine running hot for if we need to Delta immediately. Ya dig Choomba?"

Falco just gave him a calm wave of his hand.

"Don't you worry about me. I'm not the one who's going to be walking into a den of Maelstrom."

Pilar just flipped him off casually making Falco laugh, and David and Pilar left the car.

Making their way to the entrance of the vandalized warehouse, a flash of light drew David's eyes to a camera.

"Smile Pilar…. Think they see us."

David murmured lowly and Pilar nodded.

"Good catch…"

Pilar raised his eyebrow at the camera.

"Whaaaaa? Don't none of ya recognize old Pilar? I'm hurt Chooms!"

A pause, and then a speaker crackled into life.

"Oh shit is that Pilar? Shit choom haven't seen you in years!"

Pilar's grin widened as he heard the voice and leaned casually next to the intercom.

"Goddamn is that you Boomstick? Howya doin choombatta? Think you can let me in? Got some negotiating I'd like to do. On behalf of a local fixer."

There was silence for a moment and the voice broke the silence once more, less friendly.

"Yeah alright. But no fucking clever moves, or we'll have to ventilate you."

And with that, the large metal door began to rise from the warehouse, revealing multiple turrets that immediately locked onto them scaring the shit out of David. Before he could do something that would have immediately gotten them into the firefight, the turrets seemingly identified them, and continued their watchful surveillance.

Pilar: "Easy Kid…. Standard operating procedures for Maelstrom. Put up a bunch of turrets, always makes the Meat nervous when they come inside. Combine that with everybody chromed to fuck, it's usually a good way to put anybody on their back foot. Remind me to show you how to disable that shit when we're done with this job. Your speed, you could fuck up an entire room full of turrets."

…. well there was an idea. He'd never thought about doing any kind of tech shit… but that was kind of his goal right? Diversifying his talents?

David: "sure. If you wanna teach me I'm down."

Pilar looked at him, eyebrows raised. Like he wasn't expecting that. After a beat however, the techie gave him a wide shit eating grin.

Pilar: "Well shit! Now you definitely gotta stay alive. It would be fucking Nova to have another techie in the crew. "

David just rolled his eyes and followed the long limbed techie through a few doorways as they began to run into Maelstrom members.

There were more than 10. Quite a few more than 10 actually. Jesus. There had to be 20+ of these fuckers all moving around in the warehouse. The warehouse itself wasn't all that well lit, shadows everywhere and flickering lights coming from the sources which were obviously in need of changing.

David: ".... This isn't good. That's a LOT of them."

Could he handle them? Certainly. All on his own at that. But could he do it without using Sandy to it's full extent?

Not a chance in hell.

Pilar kept his face nice and relaxed, greeting some of the Maelstrom by name, complimenting some of them on their new chrome.

"Heeeeyyy Sheet! Damn girl you been working out or those Gorilla arms just for show eh?

The woman he'd spoken to just smirked and smacked her fists together, creating a nasty clanking thud.

"Hell nah they ain't for show. Just got em and these babies could punch through inches of steel."

Pilar: "Yeah… but so far most of the people here I'm seeing worked directly for Brick. We might have gotten lucky, and I can try and work my magic. Just… keep an eye out."

Pilar laughed and gave her a set of finger guns as he walked by.

"Shit, should hit you up sometime. I do love a woman who could ventilate me!"

Metallic laughter filled the air as they passed.

David: "... You serious or…?"

Pilar: "oh fuck no. That woman would find it hot to shove my Mr. Studd down a trash shredder with the nerves still attached."

David winced.

Yikes.

As they continued on to the meeting area, David could feel the pulse of a screeching metal riff come from a nearby radio. It was honestly… not very good. At least to his ears. It felt very… atonal, and not pleasing in the slightest.

The meeting area itself was just a couple of couches pushed into the middle walkway of the warehouse, where there were a number of Maelstrom casually sitting. The biggest one was all manner of borged out. Shit, even at David's worst, he'd still looked like a human. This guy had completely eschewed his humanity to have exposed chrome, obvious implants under RealSkin, and just….

He looked like he'd long since forgotten what it was to be a human.

"Boomstick my Choomba!"

Pilar called out, spreading his arms wide.

"Pilar you old fuck, how ya been?" The Borg said with a metallic grin, the lower jaw of his skull having been replaced with a brutal looking metal replacement. The Maelstrom now identified as Boomstick held out an arm, looking for some variety of handshake.

Pilar smirked as he clasped the man's hand before they pulled each other in for a slap on the back, one that obviously hurt Pilar more than the Maelstrom. He was good at hiding it however, so only David was aware of the small cringe from the impact.

"Boomstick my Borg looking friend! See you finally got the jaw piece. And is that a fucking impact launcher? Preem choice Choomba."

David meanwhile let his gaze wander along the rest of the gang members in the background. There were a couple continuing to move materials around, but most of them seemed to be on guard, watching them.

David: ".... So this Boomstick guy… he someone you can trust?"

Pilar: "Depends. Trust him to give you a good upgrade to some iron or some explosives? Sure. Trust him not to fuck your girl if she's tipsy? Not in the slightest. But he worked for Brick last I heard, so we should be in luck."

David looked around again, and couldn't help feeling…. Like Pilar might have jumped the gun with that statement.

As Boomstick gestured for them to sit down, both Pilar and David did so, with the Maelstrom captain doing the same sitting across from them. As he kicked his feet up onto a makeshift table, he spread his hands out expectantly.

"Alright Pilar. Whatcha got to say?"

Pilar leaned forward, clasping his multi jointed matte tech hands together as he looked at Boomstick steadily.

"The deal is this. Maelstrom's trying to move into Westbrook, and the local fixer would prefer… not to have that happen. So what can we do that gets you fellas heading back to Watson, and no further shit needs done?"

Boomstick sneered then, leaning forward, all full of aggression and disdain.

"What? Pansy ass fixer doesn't like some chromed up badasses making their way into the neighborhood? Too fucking bad! Royce is looking at expanding, and if that means we gotta step on some pussy's toes? Well. Stomp stomp motherfucker!"

David had to bite his tongue as he sent a message to Pilar..

David: "I thought you said that this guy worked for Brick, not Royce?"

Pilar: "He didn't used to! Shit. A lot's changed since I ran with em."

"Royce huh? Didn't know Royce was making moves like that. And I'm a little surprised Boom. Last I knew you were working direct for Brick, seemed pretty happy."

Boomstick snorted and waved his hand as he leaned back, multi glowing eyes staring straight at Pilar.

"Yeah well, Brick stopped rewarding us with good shit. New chrome started being less accessible, so when Royce comes in and starts handing shit around, you start listening."

David frowned as he listened to the Maelstrom captain speak. Honestly the timing felt off.. but honestly that was beyond the scope of his duty here. He wasn't here to put his perspective out about inter gang politics.

But something else he noticed, is that none of the Maelstrom were paying attention to him. Probably because he had no obvious chrome.

(Sneaky, Sneaky)

Heh… yeah. You're my secret weapon Sandy. These guys ain't got shit on you. Best chrome ever.

(Smug)

Pilar frowned, his lanky arms slowly beginning to develop a tension that David recognized.

David: "Shits about to go down isn't it?"

Pilar: "any fucking moment. I know Boomstick, and I know Royce. He isn't going to want us to go back to the fixer to let them get a heads up. Just….the moment you see iron pulled, do what I said. "

Without knowledge that Pilar was chatting with him, David would never have guessed that Pilar was any kind of nervous. Instead he seemed incredibly relaxed and boisterous, making him almost seem…

Kinda like the moron he portrayed himself to be at the afterparties. But Becca was right. He was smart. Just seemed like he might be a bit impulsive.

(Amused)

Hey, I have an excuse. I'm like 17. Pilar was like … 30 something.

"So.. I take it that means that we should just head out?"

Pilar said, offering the Maelstrom a chance to let them go, and they'd have to deal with things later. 20+ gangers was… well it was a lot. Nothing at all for David working with Sandy sure, but while he was still trying to build his foundation?

Not so much.

"Nah Man. I'm sorry but I think you know I can't let you go. Royce would have my skull adorning that fucking Exoskeleton of his. Out of respect, I'll use that badass Visor of yours. Keep your memory going."

It was then that David saw Boomstick going to pull out a… fuck what was that? A Nova? Looked like a tricked out one at least.

But David remembered what Pilar had asked him to do, and immediately triggered Sandy.

(Showtime?)

Showtime.

He lowered the dilation down to 1 percent to give him the chance to look around properly. He would still move at 10 because he was following Viks instructions, but not moving? Just processing information? Sure. He could go lower.

About 20 yards off, there was a big chunk of Maelstrom that could be a pain, but one EMP grenade… they'd be out of the fight immediately.

The biggest issue was the fuckers up on the walkways. They'd need a way up. Or a better position. For now however, after pumping the dilation to 10, David just placed the EMPs wherever he found the most people clustered.

Getting a mischievous little idea as well, He moved back to the couch where Boomstick was still in the process of drawing his Nova that it made it more than easy for David to just casually remove the iron from his hands, and go back to his place on the couch, the Nova a bit heavier but felt a LOT beefier than his Unity.

Dropping Sandy's time dilation, David levelled the Revolver at Boomstick, and because this wasn't a fucking Pre-DataKrash movie, he didn't spew a one liner.

… out loud.

Looks like you needed this meeting like you needed a hole in the head.

Squeezing the trigger, he had to work hard to not react to Sandy's disapproval, and also avoid the kick of the revolver from smacking him in the face.

(Bad! Booooo!)

I thought it was funny.

There was a shocked silence as the entire top half of Boomsticks head was damn near obliterated, blood pumping out sluggishly as his empty hand still twitched for the Nova.

The silence was then broken by the explosions of the EMPs sending the Maelstrom's optics and other cyberware on the fritz, making a good chunk of their forces utterly incapable of moving.

David: "Take cover!"

And with a practiced motion, Pilar reached up to grab the back of the couch, kicked with his feet, and flipped himself to the back of the couch while David rushed behind some concrete supports. The roar of gunfire was everywhere, the flash of muzzle flare blinding if you were to look directly at it.

"Well, this went about as well as could be expected!"

David called out as he took his opportunity to line up a couple of decent shots and…

Fuck, the kick of this thing was way worse than his Unity. But DAMN when it put a hole in someone, they went fucking down.

Maybe Becca had a point when it came to bigger caliber weapons.

"Yeah, but what these cocksuckers don't know is I've got a secret weapon!"

Pilar called back out, cackling as he occasionally threw a grenade here and there, David cursing at the sneering metallic tones of Maelstrom gangers filled the warehouse.

"And what's that?!"

David yelled as he had to throw himself into a combat roll to avoid a grenade from Maelstrom.

"This!"

Pilar exultantly roared, sliding a big heavy metal disc out into the open.

For a moment everybody stopped, curious at what the fuck Pilar had just thrown into the fray. A full 5 seconds passed, and a ganger on the walkways above cackled.

"What do you know? Looks like Pilar fucking lost his touch!"

"Pilar… " David called out slowly, while Pilar cursed, and threw a nearby broken ashtray at the hunk of metal.

"Work you piece of-!"

With the impact of the ashtray, the machine seemed to whir into life, Pilar's visor changed colors to an almost acidic green, and the rowdy older man smirked.

The chunk of metal unfolded into… holy shit.

"FUCK HE'S GOT A TURRET!" came the terrified scream of a nearby Maelstrom fighter, the techies cackling laughter being drowned out as the turret whirred to life, letting loose a veritable flood of ammunition, tearing any Maelstrom into synth-burger.

This was what he could never get enough of from Edgerunning. Working with someone who had your back. The knowledge that if you didn't use every skill you had to your benefit, you wouldn't get out of things unscathed.

It was an adrenaline rush like nothing else. And when fighting against bastards like this group of Maelstrom? He didn't even have any worries about killing.

Actually… now that he thought about it… killing really didn't affect him like it should have perhaps. Then again, perhaps he should have expected this. He still had the addiction to chrome, so maybe he still had the effects of being so close to cyberpsychosis for so long.

All he knew is that as he lined up a shot with the Nova revolver….

He just… didn't care as he watched the man's skull he'd aimed at deform into a bloody pulp.

Maybe he should tell Vik? But… Vik wasn't really one who he should talk to about mental shit. He was already doing double time helping him with his addiction, learning boxing.

He cursed as a Maelstrom with a pair of Gorilla arms came swinging, eager to separate his head from his shoulders. For a moment, he felt panic, having no idea as to what the hell he should do.

But then, just as the roaring woman made to punch his head off, David brought his arms up, and shifted his body to the side. She was faster than Vik, but not as fast as Dorio.

But more importantly?

She telegraphed every move she made. Before she even reached him with a wild haymaker, he knew she would be going for it, well practiced moves and drills having him duck under the massive borged up arm,and level the Nova at her head.

Point blank, no chance of missing. Squeezing the trigger, the Maelstrom melee fighter's head exploded and her body collapsed next to him. As she fell, he idly realized that this was the woman that Pilar had been speaking to on their way in. What the fuck had she been called?

Chip? Cheat? He could have sworn it started with a C.

Meanwhile, he continued to hear the steady fire of Pilar's turret, and said Techie's cackles punctuated by the occasional grenades.

"THERE'S ONLY TWO OF THESE FUCKERS, HOW ARE WE GETTING ROUTED?!"

Came the pissed off mechanical voice of one of the remaining gangers.

"Cuz we're fucking BUILT DIFFERENT GONK!"

David taunted them as he moved to a new pillar for a more sturdy cover.

David: "ok, what next? We've thinned them out pretty good. But there's still like..-"

He poked his head out from cover to count, only to be cut off by a shot from a rifle chipping some concrete and cutting his face up a bit.

"Shit!"

He cursed as he moved back behind cover, the steady thumping of the turret that had been supporting them suddenly rattling and catching. A whine and wind down being heard.

David: "Still about 10 left, and they're starting to move smarter."

Pilar grimaced out of sight for David, the link to the Turret showing a jam in place.

Pilar: "yeah. And my turret is jammed. Gonna need you to use that Sandy to the fullest. Know you've been holding back, but I'm almost out of 'nades. And I was never all that great a shot."

David grimaced, but nodded.

He wanted to get better at doing things in real time, but Pilar was right. With the situation deteriorating as quickly as it was, and there being way more people than expected?

It was time to cut loose.

David: "you got it. Just a sec."

He took a breath before closing his eyes.

Think you can do a quick ping for me Sandy?

(Affirmative!)

Exactly half a second passed before…

(Ping.exe active!)

And once more, his mind's eye was willing with the lines, though they seemed to have a bit more substance this time. Better modeling perhaps now that Sandy had been tinkering with it?

(Pride!)

Heh… yeah yeah. You're very clever.

Not like it was pride unearned afterall. From what he'd figured out after doing a bit of research, Sandy had managed to reverse engineer a Quickhack that had been used multiple times while Rebecca and him had cleared out that building of Tygers.

So now, he was able to pinpoint exactly where they were.

Alright… kill it.

(Acknowledged! Ping.exe deactivated!)

And as soon as Sandy confirmed it was done, and the lines disappeared, he activated Sandy's core ability. Slowing things down to 10 percent, he quickly picked up a nearby knife from a deceased Maelstrom, and started racing through the warehouse to each location that Sandy had pinged.

Even with their reinforced skulls, no one casually shakes off a knife jabbed into the temple or through the eyes.

It was only as he finished up his bloody work by withdrawing his knife from the last Maelstrom in the warehouse that he realized something.

He'd make a terrifying assassin wouldn't he?

Dropping Sandy's time dilation, everything sped up, and other than a bunch of gurgling and sudden collapses, no other sounds broke the near dead silence.

"... Jesus fucking Christ Choomba, so this is what Becca meant by badass."

He'd never heard Pilar sound subdued or awed before so… this was a unique scenario.

He felt a bit tired, but honestly? It was probably the adrenaline mixed with the sudden massive hunger he felt in his stomach. Man he definitely needed some food. Blinking, he looked around at the bodies near him and grimaced.

His first worries being about food after killing a bunch of people… yeah. He… he might need some sort of psychological help.

In his mad dash to put down all the Maelstrom that were still alive, he'd made his way up to the walkways above the ground floor, so looking down, he spotted Pilar getting up, stretching and using his long ass lanky arms to pick up the turret no bending or crouching required.

"So, you want to call it in to Maine? Send him a scroll so Maine can show it to Falkins?"

Pilar shrugged and poked at the turret before sighing and folding it up to place on his back again.

"Yeah might as well. This was…. A lot dicier than I expected, kid. There were too many to even run from. So… good work. Really fucking good work. I might have said some gonk shit in the beginning but.."

Pilar rubbed his visor, the color having changed to a warm orange.

"I was wrong. You're a badass David. I'm glad to be working with you."

David blushed slightly before rubbing the back of his head, bumping it with the body of the Nova he'd klepped from Boomstick.

"Ah… shit. Um… that gonk was talking about taking your visor… do you want his iron?"

Pilar gazed at it for a second and then shrugged.

"Nah. You keep that. You seem like you got a feel for it anyway, and to be honest? You needed to upgrade from that Unity anyway. Thing wasn't even modded at all. You really need something with more oomph."

He had a point. And David wasn't exactly attached to the Unity. So… maybe he would sell it?

"If I use the Nova, what should I do with the Unity?"

Pilar shrugged and began looting the bodies, David following his example, taking a number of the rifles and stuffing them in one of a number of duffle bags that were strewn about.

"Well, if you were serious about learning a few things… I could teach you to tinker with Iron on a gun you're not looking to use. So even if you fuck up, it's not a big deal. We can work in the tutoring on turrets and cameras as well."

As they continued to clean out the Maelstrom hideout of all the loot they could, David considered the offer. He honestly didn't see any drawbacks to it. And if Pilar could be as chill as he was right now? Hell he wouldn't even mind hanging out with him.

He was knocked out of his own thoughts by Pilar standing up, and talking. Ah… must have gotten the call.

"Yep… all the Maelstrom were handled, but shit Boss, there was a LOT more of them than there should have been. Like, damn near pushing 30. "

….

"Nah, we're fine. David's got a bit of a cut on his face, but nothing that won't heal up no problem."

….

"Yeah boss. Shit got handled, so once those Eddies hit, I'm taking the boys to Lizzie's. We earned it."

….

"Course we're not leaving Falco. Dude was fucking imperative for if we were able to fucking Delta. You know I agree with ya on that. I might be a gonk, but I don't play favorites."

….

"Yeah yeah. Oh and hey, if ya see Rebecca, tell her I'm not gonna be home for a while."

….

"Later boss."

With that, Pilar hung up the call, and slung the bag of guns and gear over his back, turning to face David with a wicked grin.

"Alright Choom, you ready to hit Lizzie's?"

David grimaced. Dammit… he really didn't want to watch porn. And he was really fucking hungry actually. He'd rather just pick up a pizza.

"Ah come on man. I just want to get paid and go home."

Pilar seemed like he was about to laugh and joke for a moment before speaking in that normal tone he had been working with before.

"Buddy, I just want to buy you a drink or two ok? Learn a bit about the new crew member. If ya really just wanna delta, no worries. But… I do kinda need to talk to you. But I'm gonna need to be drunk."

He blinked as he looked askance at the Techie, and the man just sighed and waved him off.

"Come on. Whatever you get is on me tonight."

They walked silently, the both of them carrying bags of guns.

Well… if the man was offering...

"Does Lizzie's have food?"

Pilar froze as they walked through the door leading out to Falco who was waiting in the car, visibly tense until he saw the two of them walking casually.

"...did you just ask… if Lizzie's… has food?"

Pilar asked in disbelief, a wide cackling smile breaking across his face.

As David groaned in annoyance, Pilar did his best impression of a Hyena as they dumped off the bags of guns in the back.

As Pilar slid into the passenger seat, he immediately turned to Falco.

"This fucking guy! You know what he just asked me?!"

Falco raised an eyebrow, before looking back at David.

"What did he ask?"

Pilar almost couldn't keep up speaking with how heavily he was laughing.

"He! He asked if-if…"

More laughter, and it was honestly starting to annoy David.

"Fucking hell Pilar, all I asked was if Lizzie's had food!"

Falco's face screwed up into a snort of amusement as Pilar sounded like he was dying of laughter.

"Heh. I think that's literally the first time I've ever heard anyone ask that question. But to answer your question, yes they have food. Wings. Nachos. They even have some pizzas they can throw in the oven. You hungry?"

David ignored the slowly petering out laughter from Pilar and nodded towards the former Nomad.

"I'm fucking starving actually. I've actually just been really fucking hungry for a few weeks now. Must be all the extra activity. I didn't used to eat a lot. Ya know… poor family, but now I'm running around, fighting and boxing and shit… guess it makes sense that I'm starting to get hungry as fuck."

Pilar finally cooled off, only the occasional snicker coming from him as Falco nodded.

"I hear ya. Being a Nomad, finding food can be a bitch in and of itself. A lot of time all ya can find is that mildly meat flavored kibble, or some other bullshit that makes your taste buds hate you, your body despise you, but you live for another day. One thing I can say about Night City? If you got the scratch, you got all manner of culinary delights."

Falco gave him a little grin though, and continued afterwards.

"Yeah… Lizzie's ain't gonna have haute cuisine, but it'll do you just fine."

David blushed a touch, before looking out the window as Falco weaved in and out of traffic. He really was hungry. Funny thing was he didn't remember being so damn hungry last time. Did he have an implant that held off hunger? Did he have an internal feeding mechanism?

He blinked as with a slowly dawning horror he realized.

I don't remember all the chrome I chipped.

And it wasn't that he was losing his memories of the past life. He remembered everything perfectly clearly.

But… he remembered the big pieces. Subdermal armor, gorilla arms with an Impact Launcher, Maine's kludged together combo. Um…. Fortified ankles he thought? But…

No. He didn't remember.

"Hey… you alright David?"

Came the calm concerned tone of Falco, cutting through the sheer horror of the realization of just how far he'd fallen into the pit of his addiction.

"Yeah… yeah I'm fine."

He said with a weak smile.

"Guess I'm just really hungry. I feel kind of off."

Falco just looked at him through the rearview some more and hummed.

"Ok kid. Don't worry about it. We'll get you to Lizzie's. Pilar, can you call them and ask to have a pizza going?"

The visored techie shrugged and put in a call.

"Heyyyyy Rita! Think you can get a pizza in the works right now? Heading there now and I got a Choomba who could really use some food before we start drinking."

….

"You're a piston girl. Thanks choom."

Pilar turned back to face David and gave him a wicked grin.

"There ya go Choomba! We'll get you some food, drink some shit and finish it off with the new and upcoming actresses!"

David groaned as he put his head in his hands. Of course he was going to go that route.

As they finally pulled into Lizzie's, Pilar and Falco were no longer laughing as they could hear David's stomach making growling noises.

"Christ Choomba, you alright?"

Pilar asked with legitimate worry in his voice for once as Falco parked the car.

"...I think so?"

David said cautiously as he exited the vehicle. He was so hungry, that his body actually didn't… feel hungry now. In that weird contradictory manner things could be sometimes.

Falco locked the car and gestured for them to go inside where they were greeted by a colorful and obviously chromed female Mox Bouncer with a smirk.

"Pilar. You finally gonna pay your tab? No drinks or dances til you do."

Pilar grinned and placed a hand on his chest.

"Rita! Choom! Do you really think I'd try to schmooze my way In without paying my debts?"

Rita just gazed at him flatly.

"Yes."

Pilar shrugged.

"Fair enough. But my Choombas and I just got paid from a gig, and we're nice and flush. This here's the star of our little gig."

He said gripping David's shoulder suddenly, surprising the young man.

Rita looked at him with disbelief.

"Really? This punk?"

"Mmmhmm. Saved our asses today. He's the one I ordered the pizza for."

Rita hummed, peering at him, while David just looked in her eyes with a cocked eyebrow.

She smirked.

"He's got spunk. Alright kid, rules are this. No violence, you see someone you like, you ask for a braindance at the counter. You do not grab at anyone you understand?"

David nodded. Not like he wanted to cheat on Lucy anyway. He'd just be there for the food and drinks.

She nodded and moved aside.

"Welcome to Lizzie's. Have fun."

They moved past the counter into the club itself, and the pulsing beats of the club thrummed through David's chest. And despite all the naked or scantily clad flesh on sight?

David saw something far far more enticing.

His fucking pizza at the bar. Steering them towards the food, Pilar just laughed and got the Bartender's attention.

"Hey Mateo! Paying off my tab and opening a new one. The pizzas on there and I'm paying for the newbie tonight."

The bartender just rolled his eyes.

"Alright, so what am I getting you two then?"

David didn't pay attention to any of that, instead beginning to devour his slices of pizza with vigor. As soon as he devoured two more slices, he finally started to feel like he wasn't starving.

Falco just ordered a shot of tequila, and Pilar ordered a Sex on the Beach. Pilar raised an eyebrow at David afterwards, a little disturbed but a lot impressed at the sheer gastronomical devastation that was being committed. A full pizza devoured in the space of only a few minutes, all by the same person.

As David sighed in satisfaction, wiping his hands of any extra grease, Pilar took the opportunity to poke at him a bit.

"Jeez Choom. You alright? If you puke, I ain't helping you clean it up."

David snorted as he asked Mateo for a glass of Real water with ice,before replying to him.

"Somehow I think you'll be far too busy with handling your own vomit to worry about me. So right back at ya Choomba."

Pilar raised a glass to David in acceptance of what he said, before taking a long glug of his drink, smacking his lips as he looked out at the dance floor.

"My oh My…. There's a bunch of new tasty pussy out there on the floor. Whatcha think David? Any catch your eye?

The words were said with a weird tone of danger, and David was slightly confused as he took in what the Tech had just said to him. Shrugging he responded as honestly as he could.

"Honestly I'm really not interested. I'm with Lucy, and I'm not looking for anything else. And I'm really not interested in porn."

Pilar hummed and Falco looked curiously at them. With a jerky motion, Pilar motioned for Falco to give them some space, something the Nomad did with nary a complaint, heading over towards the braindance counter.

"Only got eyes for Lucy hm…. I'd love to know why your eyes keep groping my sister's ass then newbie."

He said as he drank some more of his cocktail. David, however, froze when he heard just what Pilar had said. Before he could even say anything, Pilar leaned in close, tone low, and voice dark.

"Becca hates me getting involved in anything involving her life. Fair enough, I'm a piece of shit who ruined her life and abandoned her to a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone. But she likes you. Like really likes you, despite that you're just some gonk kid. So if I EVER get the idea that you're using her as some side act-"

David slammed his glass on the table, earning a sharp admonishment from Mateo that was ignored in favor of addressing the Tech.

"How fucking dare you! Becca is my best fucking Choom ya get me? I'd never insult her, or betray Lucy by doing some shit like that."

The sheer concept of betraying either of them by doing something as gonk as that? Breaking either of their hearts by using them for their bodies, taking whatever he wanted?

It fucking made him sick, and exceptionally pissed off.

Pilar just kept up the hard glare for a short while, before sighing and signaling for another drink, this time a Tequila old fashioned.

".... I'll be real David. I think you're gonna hurt my sister no matter what you do. And I fucking hate that. She's been hurt too many goddamn times, and I can't do a goddamn thing about it. I lost my chance to protect her a long time ago."

He didn't say anything for a while, other than apologizing to Mateo, and requesting a Long Island iced tea, the drink that Becca had gotten him atl Turbos. Which…. Now that he thought about it, didn't she just get him a Broseph last time?

Something to think of for another time he supposed.

".... If you care so much about her, why did you leave her and join Maelstrom?"

Pilar froze, and looked at him in shock.

"She… talked to you about all that?"

David frowned, but nodded.

The visored tech wilted, before tossing back the entirety of the old fashioned, and shaking his head.

"... Christ choom…. That's… that sore history. Open wounds almost. But she talked about it to you? She ain't even….alright. Listen up."

Pilar said as a new song began bumping through the speakers in the club. It should have been hard to hear, but for some reason David didn't even register the music at all. He was lasered in on this conversation.

"Did Becca tell you about our parents?"

"Mmmhmm. Corpos. You were supposed to be the… heir to the family name."

Pilar snorted.

"Yeah. Christ. Not like we were the Arasaka's or something. We was middle Management in NightCorp. Dad had a pretty decent title. Can't even remember what it was anymore. But he worked directly under the VP's best buddy. And mom? She was the Secretary for HR execs."

He rubbed the visor In an imitation of rubbing his eyes, looking annoyed as he continued to speak.

"Essentially, I then took the same route that your mom put you through except I went through the whole damn thing. Then I went to college. Got a PHD in practical engineering. I was supposed to go into R&D for NightCorp's secret projects. Real top security clearance shit. But honestly? At that point, I was so stressed, hopped up on mental stims and utterly burnt out, that I figured I would just end up eating my iron by the end of the year. So instead, I used a bunch of my connections to have myself a big ass party with me, and my dad's bosses daughters. Triplets. We were all so fucking high, I have no idea how we ended up in his offices. All I know is that by the end, their insides were stained white, and I got disowned."

Pilar called for another drink, and once he received it, he began to sip it slowly. Meanwhile David had just been quietly sipping on the Long Island.

"Not a big deal right? I was free! No stress right?"

David snorted.

Pilar snapped his tech mitts fingers in emphasis.

"Exactly. I was a spoiled corpobrat. I had no idea how to survive on the streets."

As David listened to Pilar tell his tale, he noticed that this… this seemed to feel like the real Pilar. Foul mouthed. Dirty minded. However he felt intelligent. Perceptive. But with more than a couple of demons at his heels.

"For a couple years, it took every bit of smarts, cleverness, and pure fucking stubbornness to stay alive. But I'll tell you one thing… I don't regret a fucking thing. I felt more alive on the streets, pulling in just enough Eddies to have a shit apartment than I ever did, popping brain stims to keep up on a 30 hour shift. I would have stayed away entirely from my family if I hadn't heard some shit about the idea that my fucking oh so dutiful parents were looking at selling Becca to the son of the VP's best choom as a way to curry favor after the exit I pulled off. It was then I realized I needed to get her out of there."

Pilar grimaced once more and drank the rest of his drink, seeming a bit wobbly but getting another drink.

"Yeah… well. I managed that. My parents were fucking stupid and used the same old passwords they thought I didn't know back when I was a teenager. So I snuck in, grabbed Becca and delta'd."

David frowned.

"So where does abandoning her for Maelstrom and getting high off your fucking melon on Glitter come into play?"

A deep world weary sigh escaped the older Edgerunner as he looked over at David and for the first time… Pilar looked young. And vulnerable.

"I was scared David. I was fucking terrified. Here I was, in an apartment that had roaches everywhere, with the sister that used to think that I was the smartest fucking person in the world…

And I had absolutely no idea what to do. How to protect her. How to keep her safe and give her a normal life. So I went out, and told her I'd be back in a few days."

A look of such deep self loathing crossed his face that David was almost struck breathless by it.

"A choom of mine said that they had some new shit for me to try. I gave a good sniff… and somewhere in 3 days or so, I ended up going through the initiation for Maelstrom. Woke up screaming during the procedure… but I lived. Riding high off more drugs, a fuck ton of chrome, and pure selfishness, I thought to myself, 'she can take care of herself. Fuck, I had to.' and just kept on doing whatever I wanted."

David couldn't help the disdain on his face, the anger and disappointment he felt hearing Pilar confess his sins like this.

".... And you never even fucking thought of her until you hooked up a BD with her in it."

Pilar looked sick, and gagged as soon as David spoke.

"Fuck don't remind me. For as long as I live… I'm never gonna forget that BD no matter how I try. I saw that and…. Fuck I just… I realized what I'd done. I had to try and make it right."

Pilar snorted and continued as he decided to take a break from drinks, spinning his barstool to look outward, watching Falco chat up a Mox, a new braindance between his fingers.

"...I quit Maelstrom after paying a pretty costly severance and went searching for Becca. Heard that she was rolling with a Big Black guy, and a couple of chicks, so I thought the worst and tried to put his ass down. Well, Maine might not have been built like a tank, but he was at the very least built tougher than me. He beat me down again and again. But I was… GODDAMMIT, I was determined that if it took me killing myself to make sure she didn't end up getting taken advantage of AGAIN… well, it was a better use of my waste of a life than anything else I'd used it for."

David hummed and finished his drink, feeling a bit warm, but nowhere near as floaty as he figured he might be. That was ok. He'd take the relaxation without the lack of control.

"That was when Maine offered to let you join."

Pilar nodded..

"If I swore to get off the glitter, and if Becca said it was ok. God knows if it had been me in her place, I would have told me to go die in a fire. But she said ok. Pulled me through my glitter withdrawals. David… Becca is just a better person than me. I've long since come to terms with that. And she can hate me, I've come to terms with that as well. But I'm begging you. Please don't hurt her anymore than she already is."

David swallowed and bowed his head, so that he wasn't looking at Pilar.

"I'm…. I'm trying. I know she feels shit for me. And fuck I can't even pretend I don't feel something too. But I… Lucy means the fucking world to me. I just… I feel like I'm being torn apart. No matter what I do, someone gets hurt. So what the hell am I supposed to do then Pilar? How am I supposed to handle this?!"

Pilar shrugged and ordered another drink.

"Shit like this is why I stick to porn BD's. That way no one has to deal with my bullshit and I don't ruin anyone else's life."

And with that, Pilar got to his feet slightly unsteadily, shotgunning the shot he'd ordered.

"Just whatever you do Kid… just make sure it's something you can live with mmkay? Too bad life ain't like one of those stupid Japanese cartoons with the harem shit."

David snorted in frustration.

"Even if it was, I'd be screwed. Only one girl gets with the guy in those stupid shows. All the other girls end up alone."

Pilar cackled.

"Yep… absolutely screwed then. I don't envy you, Choomba. Now, I'm gonna go have my neurons blown by some hot bitch in red hair. You coming?"

David didn't even hesitate, and shook his head.

"No… I'm gonna have some more food and then head home. You have fun."

The techie snorted and waved him off.

"Yeah yeah. Just remember to have Mateo put you on my tab. Remember to tip."

Yeah… he knew the need to tip.

Watching Pilar and Falco go to get a booth, he sighed as he put in the request for another pizza.

"Rough night mm?"

David snorted, and took a sip of his next glass of RealWater.

"You could say that."

The voice gave a bark of laughter.

"Yeah… Pilar and Becca's relationship is all kinds of messed up."

It was only then that David looked over… only to see the chromed up Mox from outside sitting next to him. Fuck what was her name… Lita? No! Rita.

"You're Rita right?"

She smirked.

"That's me Input. And you are…?"

"David. David Martinez."

Her eyes widened.

"Oh shiiiiiit. You're the gonk Blastin' Becca got all head over heels for?"

He groaned and dropped his head, hitting it on the counter on purpose.

(No self-harm! Bad!)

I know… just… frustrated.

"Huh… that's a hell of a response to a smoking hot bitch wanting to be your Joytoy input. What's your deal? She not good enough for you?"

David didn't even register the danger in her tone, due to just how utterly ridiculous that concept was.

"Please. If anything I have no idea why she's interested in a gonk like me. But I…. I can't. I have an output. And I couldn't do that to either of them."

Rita gave a small ahhh, sound as she reclined against the bar.

"I see. Well input, gotta say. You're a better man than most. Most gonks would be looking for a way to get some action on both sides, and fuck everything else."

David just sighed.

"Is it really so crazy to think that I just really care about my girlfriend and just want to be good to my best choom?"

Rita laughed, but when it became obvious that David was being serious, her eyes became softer and her tone became less provocative and more gentle.

"David… Can I call you David?"

"Yeah."

"... David, in Night City? I've seen exactly 3 healthy long term relationships. I've lived here my whole damn life. And if you ask damn near anybody else in this place? I guarantee you they'll say something similar. You're something special David, if you mean what you say."

She looked at him critically, and after a moment, he raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

She snorted softly.

"I guess I was waiting for you to insist you meant what you said."

That was… confusing, but David just shrugged.

"I know I mean what I say. Trying to make you believe it isn't really my goal here."

Rita's face broke into a genuine laugh, with a warm gaze as she leaned her chin on her open palm.

" Ya know… I'm starting to see what Bex Sees in you. Damn. It's a shame you're already claimed. Damn shame. Dunno about your output… but honestly I hope you and Becca work something out. Girl saw a lot before getting into the Mox and…"

She looked sad for a moment.

"... Always sucks to see a choom go."

She sighed and waved him off as she got up.

"Alright there input. You enjoy yourself. Hope things work out in the end."

Yeah….

He sighed as he began to dig into the pizza Mateo brought for him.

Me too.

__

Shiiit this was some preem new material. These new girls knew how to fucking SUCK. The sheer carnal pleasure that rushed through him as he watched and experienced the newest braindance star in Lizzie's deepthroat him and hum as she looked him in the eyes?

Oh fuck yeah. That was the fucking gooooood shit.

He sighed as he felt the BD end, and he removed the headset, pants sticky with his release, looking over at Falco, that stoic never reacting motherfucker. He never understood how the discount wild west looking ex-Nomad could go through a dance like that and not even an increase in breath.

As the man dropped out and removed his wreath he had a small smirk.

"The brunette was better."

Pilar gawked in disbelief.

"Bullshit choom!"

Redheads were superior dammit!

Falco just laughed, and Pilar… well. Pilar needed to get a secondary opinion.

"Hey… Falco. What's your opinion on the new guy?"

Falco blinked but took the question seriously.

"... Well. Kid doesn't really feel like a kid sometimes. Seems like he sees more than he should. But I like him. He just has this… vibe. Like I can trust him."

Pilar frowned, which Falco that perceptive bastard noticed almost immediately.

"Why? You got a different opinion?"

He let out a raspberry in annoyance. No. He didn't. And that's what felt so fucking weird to him. It wasn't necessarily that he didn't trust people. He did. The crew in particular. But just cuz he trusted people didn't mean he was one to open up. And he'd been way more honest and open with David than he ever was.

He just… didn't talk about his regrets with Becca, the torment he felt when he was doing his parents bidding.

"No. No other opinion. Just…. Wary. Folks that seem too good to be true usually are. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop I 'spose."

And when it happened, he would b-

C̶̡̙͇̺̥̙̈́ǫ̷̾͂m̸͚͍̞͇̻̀̆̕ê̵̡͙̜ ̴̡͙̒ȍ̸̤͓̮̤͓̚n̴͖̞̜͆̿̓̚͝͝ ̶͉͓̫̼̬̾̋͋̒̓̚B̶̛͍̱̠̿é̵͉̦̗̦̗̂̀̇̈́x̵͔̻͎̫̰̃,̷̫͉̦̝̉́̎́͜͠ ̸̡̝̺̼͂̒̒ẁ̴̛͓͔͓͛̍e̶̖͗̈́͛̓̕ ̵͓̎̄͜g̸̼͎̈̆̓͊̀̔o̷͎̪͈̓́t̶̝̰̟̫͒͗͂̊̃͠ͅt̵̨͓̉̎̊̒̇ä̶̧̦̹̹̰̫́̅̅͑ ̸̜̣͚̈́̀g̵͉̅͐͊̊o̴͕̥͙̰͖̿̀͝͝.̶̖̤̿̽̽̕͝

̵̥͖̑̓̌̊

̴̜̏̓͑͆I̷̖͈̳͉͕̐'̵͈̤̻͗̊̒̽̆m̵̝͍͂͋͂̽ ̶̢͕̮̥͉͍̏̚s̸̬̙͉̗͙͇̓̍ǫ̸̊͂͝ṙ̵̞̯̣̗͋̽̽̑r̵̯̲͎̫̮̀͝ỳ̵̢͇͇̗̙̌͠.̶̛̲͎̹̬̰͇̕ ̷̰̞͗̆I̴̡̥̘̖̻͂͠'̴̖̣̞͖̹̼͗͊m̶̻͒̀̋̀̕ ̵̭̱̹͓̽̓́̕s̵͓̤͙̑͛̀̈͋̂͜͜o̵̭̎̑̃̃͑̀ ̵̖̮̫͖̟̥̐͂͊͠f̶̠̳͆̽́́ͅṳ̴͙̺͗̆̉͛̇c̸̣̟͚̚k̷̖̱̤̠͇̽͒̾̒͜͝͠i̷̤̓͆͂̚n̷̡̨̛͕̺͋͛̇̚g̶̛͕̣̝̹̱̎̀́ ̶̭̙̪̦̠̈́͂̏͛͘s̷̝͍̣̞͗͌͒͝o̴̻̙̝͙̾́͆͘͝r̶̗͒r̵̝̈́ỹ̴̪̜͎̜̜͒͂̑.̸̭͔̗̹͔̫͆̓̈́̀͘

̴̳̋̆̈́̑

̷̟͎̹̤̱̂͝Ḥ̶̻̣͍̗͋ẻ̷̡͙̋͜h̸̗̞̭͑̈́,̸̲̐̈́̕͠ ̸͉̆y̶̦͈̺̕ͅò̸̡͔̦̤͇͊̕ų̴̹͈͋͌̔́ ̷̲͍̜̲̻͑̇̏ṳ̷̮̘̤̍̈́͂͝s̴̪̈͑e̸͇͊̆̆͘͜͝ ̷̧̯̠̮̣̓͐ͅc̸̪̗͖̦̄̓͛͗̾͠h̴̨̛͙͐͋͌́̕ͅo̵̢̠̰̟̥̓̑̅p̶̨̛̱̈́̂̚̚͠s̴͉̦͂t̸͍͔̯͙̎͋͂̅ī̷̲̼͕̫̝̺̇́̔̀c̷̻̰̦̹͋̕͘k̶̮͛̂̄͜͝ś̷̪̫̼̩̮ͅ ̶͓̝̲̞̅̓͝l̴͉͖̮̈́̃̉͗͘͠í̷̜̥̝̗̣k̴̢͖̝̭̀̋͑͑͜ę̷͓͂̈̄͝ ̶̧̱̟͎̀͜ţ̶͕̏̍͆̚h̵̢͔̮̹̯̦̽̋̈̕͠i̴͙̠̭̳̻͗̈́͛̍̔͝ͅş̵͔̞̟͐ͅ ̴̫͎̺͙̍a̴̰͇̻̠̱͍͌̇̀̈ṋ̴͇̤̝̩͋ͅd̸̲̘́͐̋̾͝͝…̵̭͕̰͚̫̞̉̄̀̊̚

̴̝͚̂̆

̶̘͗͂̇̐̌͠H̶̛̭̋̀ͅǫ̵̼̤̳̯̓̈́̅͝l̴̤̣͙͒̓͝͝y̵̪͖̪͖͎͋ͅ ̷̨̮̫̥̦̩̒́̑̑͝c̸͔̀͆̃̅̅͝r̷̩͐͆̈́a̵̢͛̔̆̎͘̚p̸͔͎̣̘̩͠ ̸̹͔̜̭̂̍̏̍͝y̶̡̯̱͎̗̑̎͜͝o̸̯̊̎̽ṷ̶̩̉̈̓́͠͠ ̶̡͂̇̈́͝c̴̬̥̹͑̍̔̿̔͠h̵̛̳̒͐͝r̵̙͈͎͍͇̓ô̴̹͚̟̭͕ḿ̴͉̲͍ë̵̪̻́͜͠ḏ̴̺̥̞̱̼̒͂͑̾ ̴̹̫̲̞̪̪͆͑̅̓̉̚ỹ̴̝̦͈̈́o̵̗͓̤̲̳̻͌ư̸̥̠̬͒̿͊ṟ̷̘̥̾ ̸̡̬͎̗͈̤̃̈́̿̎͘d̶̢̡͕̣̖͎̏ỉ̴̝̰͖̟͚͑́̽ç̵̭̬̭͆̄̔̀͘k̵̢̠̮̇ͅ?̴̻̈́͛̆̈̿̚ ̶̱̮̬͎̠̉̚T̵͎͋͗̕h̵̳͉͇̖̮̔̌̑̔ȧ̴̛̠͕̯t̶̢̤̓̎̎́̈ ̴̲̣̱̑͐̂̍ḧ̶͕͎̪͖̑̓͂a̷̧͓̩̺͑͌͗d̴̺͙͓̭̯̹̉̀̔̊ ̸̠̣̉̒̾̆͠t̸̹̮̖̺̱̲̑̕ö̷̧͔̜̺̻̝̆̔̿̀͝ ̵̛̰͍̭͚͓̫̏͐́ḩ̵͚̺̾̀͋̈́ű̷̳̺̱̂̀r̴͖̞̯̰͉̈́̈́̿͆͆͝t̴̝̣̙̄͒͝͝!̸̧͇̈́̊

̴̖͕̻̄̆̓́̑

̴̼̻͓̰͒͌̀̓̇͘G̴͔̺̫̩̹̙͛̄̈́̈́̑͠i̴̻̙̝̒͒v̸̲̯͙̯͔̗̎͌͘ĕ̸̜̥͍͋̎̕͘̕s̸̨̧͍͙͈͗͋ͅ ̷̛͎̐̑͋a̵̺̒͆ ̷͔̰͔̯͕́͂ͅw̴̥̎h̷̖͍̪̬̅̃͒o̵̢͚̗̯̖͆̆͗l̵̬̚͝ē̵͔̣̞̟͓̲̊̓̊ ̶̛͕͎̀̎̍̒n̴̮̫̹͛̐̎̔̀̀ȅ̵̦̫̱̀̃̕͠w̸̩̭̝͇̑ ̷͎̾̒̓̌̍m̶̯̠̻̫̅̑̉̆ę̶̺͓͕̠̘̌͘͝a̵͎̦̥̰͉̚ṋ̵̲͔̋i̵̪̍n̸̯̺͇͈͙̰͆g̷̈͜ ̸̢͎̔͂͑̾͐̃t̵̢̘̰̹̾͠o̷̰͐̚ ̵̱̰͙̜̩̮̅̂̎͋b̷͙̟̪̭̣̅̅͌̓͝ͅe̴͍͌̌i̵̼̰̒̏̑̈n̶̬̘̬̫͊͊̉g̴̨͈̙͎͑ ̸̼͑́̕͘̚h̶̡̹̺͑͐ã̶̜̙̳̃̓̈́̂ͅr̶̪̓͜d̷̨͇̹̜̀̋̐̀̌͑ ̴̦̈́̆a̴͔̩͓͋̌͊́̕s̷̹̓̚͠͠ ̶̭͇̭̣̒̎͛̇̄͝ị̴̳̣̖̭̦̋ŕ̷̲̥̝̝̙̎̿̌ó̷̳̹̙̀̅͐͌-̸̡͓̰͇̠̖̑

"Pilar!"

He shook himself roughly, looking at Falco who was just as stoic as ever, but had that characteristic gaze of concern.

"You alright?"

Pilar frowned as he looked down at his mitts, wondering why for a moment, he expected them to be gold, when he hadn't even ordered his new tech hands.

"Yeah… I'm alright Choom."

I'll be alright.