36 Foes and Friends
"Not if you had proof that he killed Cleveland Fabrosi! You could use it against him if he tried to go against you!"
...
She pauses at that, sending him a speculative glance, "You have proof of that? More than just your word, right?"
Ori wets his lips as he thinks through things... Max and Six had been rather extensive when cleaning up the crime scene, removing any data that could lead back to them. Shit, why were they so good at their jobs!
"I'm waiting..." she presses, allowing her finger to snake around the trigger of the pistol.
"T-the car!" he exclaims, "The rear camera of Cleveland Fabrosi's car, my friend took the recording, he must still have it!"
She tilts her head at him, "Well then, you better confirm that."
Ori nods, retrieving his holophone and calling up Max, the man answering with a gruff "Whaddya want?"
"It's Ori, look, remember the other day with the Corpo? Well, I need the camera data, the one that showed Quentin doing the deed."
...
"That's with Six, I personally don't keep incriminating shit like that around, but he likes 'em as momentos. Why?"
"Just needed it for some blackmail, it's scrubbed of us right? Only Quentin' is shown on it?"
...
Max eyes him suspiciously through the holocall, "Yeah... Look, everythin' alright there? You seem a bit out of it, kid..."
Ori firms his expression and nods, "I'm good, just need the data, think you could get it for me? I'll pay you if that's a thing?"
Max shrugs his shoulders, "Don't worry about it, I'll give you a call, get Six to send it over..."
"Could you do it soon-ish? I'm kinda in a rush..."
...
"Fine, also, there's a job tomorrow, regular protection schtick. You in?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Don't mention it."
*Beep-Beep*
[Call Ended]
He looks up at the woman, "See? Things're fine. You got what you want, and we get to see tomorrow, that sounds like a good deal to me!"
"We'll see if your friend delivers the data. If it takes longer than an hour then you're done." she looks to Quentin, "You should be thanking your friend here, I doubt you've got anyone else who'd race here and put their ass on the line for you."
Quentin scowls through his injuries, "I-I did, before my d-ad fucking zeroed them..."
She crooks a brow at that, "Hm? You're not lying about that, huh?"
"Obviously, why else would he risk his cushy Corpo lifestyle by killin' his dad." Ori retorts.
"Youknow, you're not bad." she remarks, gesturing Ori's own gun at him.
"Gee, thanks." he sarcastically offers.
"Not bad enough to escape bullet though. Let's hope your friend comes through..."
...
"What's your name?"
"Hm? You didn't fall in love with me did you? Are you a masochist? You don't want me to beat you up again do you?" she asks with a mischievous grin.
"I don't know, are you that flexible outside of fighting?" he asks, allowing his eyes to travel up her body.
She giggles, "Sorry, I don't date kids. Or rookie mercs, they don't tend to last long."
Ori grins toothily at her, "That's only two strikes outta three."
"Du'mmy, you only had one." she drawls, her eyes quirking as Ori's holophone chirps.
[VIDEO RECIEVED]
[You owe me.] - Six
She snatches the holophone away with her cable and ports into it, downloading the video. Her eyes flash and she sends a crooked brow at Ori, causing his lips to thin.
"Did he not send the right one?"
"No... He did... Just..." she shakes her head and turns to Quentin, "You're free to go, I'll contact you when I need something. And trust me, I WILL need something." she growls, using her claws to sever his restraints. "You, come with me, we need to talk." she states to Ori, walking towards the exit.
"E-er, t-thanks Ori... Really, you saved me there..." Quentin utters graciously.
"I wouldn't mind some Eddies for my time, I was doing something important before I got called down here." he says with a wave over his shoulder, following the woman who slings his discarded shotgun as she walks out.
She continues walking until they reach his car, the girl tossing his weapons into the backseat before leaning against the door. "So, he doesn't know, does he?"
"Doesn't know what?"
She smirks almost cat-ishly, "That you're the one who hunted his friends. I found all the photo's on your phone... You really need better security."
...
He rubs his face, "It ain't something I'm proud of, but I need the Eddies badly... Besides, I'm trying to make up for it by helpin' him out."
"A merc with a conscience? Those two things don't mesh well together." she adds.
"You say that like you have experience..."
"Maybe, maybe not. I can tell you haven't been in the game long, walking into an obvious ambush for someone you barely know... You're lucky I'm nice, is all I'm saying." she says, looking ready to leave.
"Hey..." he abruptly asks, "You're a Netrunner right? A good one, from what I can tell..."
She nods, "Yes?"
"I was actually looking around for one... I've got a job, if you're free?" he awkwardly asks.
...
She hums to herself in thought, "I've got time, I'll hear you out, see if I want it after."
"Basically, I'm trying to find some Scavs who're selling some eyes in some Auction in Japantown-"
"The one by Yori Saeki?" she finishes for him.
"Yeah. How'd you know?"
She shrugs, "It's not all that well hidden. Most people in the game know about it, occasionally you can find some cool things there. Why you want the Scavs anyway? They take something of yours?"
"It's personal."
She smiles at him, "You're the one trying to convince me, your reasons might help you there." she states, idly twirling the cord in her wrist in a circle.
...
"They butchered my dad, cut out his eyes and are now selling them on the auction... There, happy?" he grouses reluctantly, looking down and not noticing the woman next to him losing her grin.
"That so...? You just want to find out where they are? Nothing else?"
He nods, "Yeah, I'll handle everything from there."
...
"Alright, I'll get it done tonight." she casually says, surprising Ori.
"You'll what? Just like that?" he asks, baffled.
"What can I say? You've convinced me." she pats him on the cheek, "I'm a softy with things concerning family. Lucky you."
"And the pay, how much do you want for it? I was at the building earlier, it won't be easy I can say much at least."
"Don't worry about it, you saved me a lot of trouble with Quentin so this one's on the house." she says, pushing herself off of his car and twirling on her heel to face him, "I'm Sasha by the way, nice to meet you, Ori."
He awkwardly scratches the back of his head, "Yeah, you too... Sasha,-And er, sorry for shooting at you earlier." he adds.
"Hahaha! You're really funny!" she says as she throws her legs over the motorbike hidden in the corner and puts on a colourfully decorated helmet with cat ears.
"What's funny about that?"
"Nothing! It's just that you're the first friend I've made that actually apologized for it." she gives him a mock salute before zooming off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.
"Friend... Huh...?"
