176 Sewer Mouth

"Are you nutso!? You wanna go into the combat zone for that cyberpsycho!?" Rebecca shouts as he packs an egregious amount of weapons and supplies into the back of his truck.

"Would you still be mad if I went for another reason?"

"What do you think!? Getting yourself killed trying to rescue some gonk is the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"

He laughs, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not saving anyone. I'm gonna shoot that crazy old bastard in the face."

"So what's this really about then if you're not acting the gofer for Regina?"

Ori shrugs, "I've got a grudge I want to settle, and no, you can't come."

"Why not!?"

"First, I need someone to keep track of the Cyberware for Charlie. Second, I'm not about to drag you into hell for this. Plus, Sasha needs someone to listen to her mix tape." he chuckles.

"Hell no! This is not negotiable! I'm coming!"

"I'm sure there's plenty of things I can bribe you with..."

She folds her arms, "Same here! I can take a lot more than you can too!"

"You don't wanna go down this route." he smirks.

"You leave me behind and you ain't touching me for, like, a year!"

He shrugs, "I'm sure Sasha would be willing to help me out, she had her needs... Or Lucy? Isn't Kiwi basically your aunt? I'll have a go at her too."

"Oh yeah? That David kid is pretty cute, maybe I'll hit him up too then! Or Maine, I'm sure Dorio won't mind sharing." she scowls.

"I'll fuck Pilar." he states, halting whatever response she's about to give.

"The fuck!?"

"That's what I said." he closes the door of his truck, "Jokes aside, I gotta go. I'm kinda on a time limit so no good-bye sex, so either you can kiss me or sulk until I get back." he leans forwards and puckers for her as she continues to scowl at him.

"Lwast chwance." he pauses, "I promise I'll be back. They can only cut off my head so many times before they get bored."

She sighs and gives him a peck, "You better, cuz I'm not being a single mom to Six's girl. AND, if you ever touch Sasha I'll shoot both of you until you look the same."

"That supposed to scare me? What I'd pay to have boobs like her." he japes.

"A pair like that comes at forty thousand..." she blinks as he stares at her, "What? I was just curious. And that wasn't what I meant either, you'd both like the same as bloody smears."

"It's scarier when you don't have to explain it." he grins, riding high from his good mood. Finally, he'd get that god damn knife back!

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[Really, I'd never ask you for this.] - Regina.

[I told you, whatever it takes to help. Cyberpsychosis hurts everyone. I'll try get this guy to you alive.] - Ori

[Guess I can't stop you. How are you planning to get inside?] - Regina

[Through the sewer. If I can't manage that I'll drive my truck through the front doors.] - Ori

[Well, good news, I've got some contacts inside who like to smuggle things.] - Regina.

[Can you get me inside without packing me up in separate boxes?] - Ori

[I'll send you their detes... Might take a while to reply though, heard that most of the combat zone is almost constantly jammed.] - Regina.

[Nice to know in there no one will hear me scream...] - Ori

[Except the guy who carves your face off?] - Regina

[Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood...] - Regina

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Ori glares at the manhole as if it just insulted his mother, inwardly wondering if wading through shit was worth it...

*Claank!*

A hand lifts and pushes it to the side, allowing a black man with a completely bald head and very obvious Cyberware to climb out. He glances around before finally focussing on Ori, "You da guy?"

"'Da guy?' Depends." Ori questions.

"Ah, funny-mon? Betta leave 'dem jokes here, creeps inside won't like 'em."

"No comedy club inside?"

"Heh! No no, nothin' of that sort. Anytime more than five mon get together it turns inta' a blood bath. Don' close your eyes, don' sleep, don' walk the street, don' think your big shit. I seen the biggest, meanest mutha-fuckers in there get shanked with a broken' monoblade on da' shitter. I seen you 'Zomboy', trust me, this 'ya last chance to quit this daftness and go home to ya' pancakes an' hot chocolate."

"I never caught your name, 'mon'." Ori grins, grabbing the rucksack from his truck.

"Jamarr, boys call me Marr. Ya' can use my full name though, Zomboy. Now, I gotta time limit, you got da' Eds?"

Ori sighs, "Thought she'd already paid you."

"Ya' but, my back pain's comin' back. Someone's gotta pay for my inconvenience." he grins, showing his silver teeth.

Ori drops the bag and raises a finger, "Or, and hear me out, I kill you and dump your body in the sewers while I find my way alone?" he says, prompting a staring contest that neither seemed keen on losing.

"Hahahaha! You're good! You'll fit it nicely mon!" Jamarr laughs, "Remember 'dat, don't let 'dem clowns fleece ya' on basic shit like dat. Now come on, we gotta lotta walkin'ta do."

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"So, what exactly do you smuggle?" Ori asks conversationally as he does his best not to tread on shit.

"Ah, ya'know. Tech the dead psychos leave, recordings, 'dat sorta thing."

"Recordings?"

"'Dem suits love ta' drop their tech in 'ere. Prototype skizz, see how many boys dey' can flatline til deir chrome fails. If it weren't for 'dem this place woulda' been abandoned years ago, as it is now, you want top chrome ya' can't get anywhere else, ya' go 'ere and fight for it... 'Da suits want 'ta know how deir tech performed."

"And if they want everything they need someone inside to get it... Is that why no one's bothered to take down the jammers?" Ori wonders aloud.

"Got good meat in 'dat noggin'o yours. Ya, no one gains from 'da outside seein' in, most sickos enjoy the 'freedom'.