Stepping into my apartment, I looked around…
It seemed like no one else was inside. Which was good on the one hand, but on the other, it was strange, since I had been followed… or had they decided not to resort to rougher methods like a search, for now?
I shook my head, quickly undressed, took a shower, and then collapsed into bed. I had called Regina while on my way and she was fine with the fact that the job wasn't completely done yet. As she admitted, she had actually thought I'd be kicked out of the bar, but when that didn't happen, she realized I had found a way to get along with the Mox.
Well…
I can't say I got along with all the Mox, but I definitely got along with one in particular.
I fell into a deep sleep and woke up early in the morning, right on my alarm. After a shower, I got dressed and left my apartment.
I called Judy when I was halfway to the bar. She was happy to hear from me and said she would meet me. But as soon as I pulled up, I knew things weren't going to be easy. Right in front of the bar's entrance was a Tyger Claws car, and one of the gang members was looming over the security guard who had let me in yesterday…
"You're a fucking doll! I'm gonna fuck you, and then I'm gonna hit the club! You're all whores and belong between a real man's legs!"
My pistol was in my hand, and when I came up beside the gang member, I pressed it right against his groin.
"Wh–"
But he couldn't say anything more when he saw my friendly smile.
"Listen, not-so-illustrious gentleman, why are you harassing my friend? She clearly isn't very happy with your company… and yeah, tell your chooms not to twitch in the car or reach for their guns. They might flatline me, but I'll shoot your dick off so no implant can ever fix it. Comprende?"
"Y-yeah…"
"And you're ready to turn around and get the fuck out of here?"
"Y-yeah…"
"Then go…"
I moved the pistol away from his crotch but didn't put it away. He slowly backed away, got into his car, and leaned out the window slightly.
"I'll find you, you son of a bitch!"
"I'm not hiding… new solo, call sign Ghost. And it looks like I'll be taking jobs on Tyger Claws soon…"
I shook my head.
"I'll remember you!"
The car screeched away, and only after that did I put the pistol back in my holster.
"Thanks."
The girl gave me a genuinely friendly smile.
"Don't mention it. I'm David, by the way."
"Vicky…"
She smirked.
"…and they're waiting for you."
"Uh-huh… catch you later."
I walked into the bar and immediately ran into Judy.
"That was preem…"
"Thanks."
I smirked, and we headed to her lair.
"You know, I was thinking about your words for a long time yesterday… you know, after you left."
"And what did you decide?"
"I want revenge, and I've already sent an inquiry to a lawyer, and you know, he didn't send me a rejection right after getting the letter. So now I'm waiting for a reply…"
"That's good. You can only forgive loved ones; everyone else…"
I shook my head.
"…everyone else needs to be taught not to hurt you."
Once we got to Judy's lair, we got to work and didn't bring up any difficult topics. We just talked about our interests. Well, to be precise, I talked about David's interests before I took over his body—that he sold black-market braindances at the academy and didn't mind watching them himself. Judy offered to let me watch her work, the stuff that wasn't porn.
Well, I agreed, but only after we finished the job.
This time, we worked until lunchtime. Then Judy gave me some goggles and a shard, and I was gone from the world for the next half hour. And that was because the realism of Judy's braindance was off the charts.
David was a savvy kid, but his memories of braindances said that despite the high realism, there was always some… wrongness. But in Judy's braindances, there was none of that. She first gave me a braindance of a concert from an old band, Samurai, and I immediately realized she was a true master…
Back then, the technology for recording braindances didn't even exist…
"Damn, Judy, you're a wizard!"
When I came out of the recording, I just stared at the basement ceiling for ten minutes until I could finally voice that thought.
"Oh, come on…"
"No, seriously…"
I shook my head.
"…I'm afraid to imagine how many tapes and audio tracks you had to process to get that effect… I felt like I was actually at that concert!"
"I'm glad you liked it…"
Judy shyly scratched the back of her head.
"I'd say 'liked it' is an understatement…"
"Yo, Judes!"
I blinked in surprise. The same short girl from the neighboring apartment walked into Judy's lair as if she had known her forever. But what was even more surprising was that she was dressed in a tight thong and bra, an open jacket, and high boots. So her entire body, quite mature for a girl so short in stature, was clearly visible.
"You got a boyfriend? I thought you were into girls?"
"Don't talk nonsense, Becca!"
Judy got up and walked over to the girl, hugging her, lifting her off the floor, and spinning her around.
"I'm so happy to see you…"
The girl was set back down on the floor, and now I could see genuine smiles on both girls' faces.
"Me too, choom, me too."
"…as for David, he's a solo that the Mox hired to help me fix my equipment."
"He knows his way around specialized gear?"
"Nah…"
Judy shook her head.
"…but while he was fixing the server and the old computers, I was able to fix the specialized gear. We just finished, and I let him check out my Samurai braindance."
"That's preem!"
"Well…"
I smirked.
"…since we're finished, I should probably go."
"Huh?"
Judy looked a little confused.
"Judy, you have my contact info. Call me. I'll help with both tech and with assholes…"
"Alright…"
"Hey, what's up, choom, you leaving already?"
"Well, I'm not gonna get in the way of girl talk…"
I shrugged and walked past Rebecca.
"Hold on, choom! I'm here because of you!"
"Uh-huh…"
I nodded.
"It was hard not to notice you guys following me, but I have nothing to tell you…"
I waved, walked on, easily evading the little girl's attempt to grab me. I went up the stairs and passed through the bar, where I noticed the entire crew of girls that had been watching me, except for the blonde. This meant I had another meeting planned… or maybe the girl just decided not to wait in the bar.
"Regina, hey, I'm done."
After leaving the bar, I contacted the fixer.
"Yeah, the Mox just messaged me. They're happy with the result, so you'll get two grand for the two days."
I nodded with satisfaction.
This was less than I got for the first job against the Scavs, but on the other hand, that job came with a risk to my life. And if it wasn't for the Sandevistan, I had a good chance of getting stuck there, or even getting flatlined. The Scavs were losers, sure, but even they had a chance against a lone solo if he didn't have the right weapon. And I didn't.
So, two grand. Considering it was only lunchtime…
"Regina, can I take another job… I'll grab some lunch and I'll be ready to work again."
"Pfft! Look at you, all gung-ho…"
Regina's image smirked and shook her head.
"Any preferences?"
I winced slightly.
"If you have any jobs to clear out Scavs or Animals, I'd be happy to. I just need a little cash to go to a decent ripper. I have a feeling the last one wasn't the best specialist."
"Hmm… Well, nothing on the Animals in my district, but against the Scavs…"
The girl's image nodded thoughtfully.
"There's one underground base for those freaks where they operate. I have a contract to destroy it."
"Then give it to me, what the hell… I'll eat and then go turn some Scavs into trash."
"Alright, here you go…"
She forwarded me the job details, and I nodded.
"Thanks, Regina, I won't let you down."
"I hope so…"
The girl's voice became professional instead of friendly.
"…I've given you a very generous advance on your work."
"Alright, Regina, I'm going to grab some lunch and then get to work…"
"Go on, I'll be waiting for your report."
The connection was cut, and I calmly walked down the street to a nearby food stall, where I got a decent-sized bite to eat and sat down at a table. The table was empty, but barely five minutes after I sat down, a blonde sat down across from me.
"And?"
"Huh?"
"I'm asking what you want from me? You're a friend of that girl who looks like a kid, right? I, of course, also saw the others who were following me, but I'm too lazy to list them. So, the fact that you guys were following me…"
I shrugged.
"Well… we're just interested in a girl… Gloria…"
"Martinez?"
"Yeah."
"Tall, red hair, worked as a medtech?"
"Yeah."
"Don't know her…"
The girl blinked and then, five seconds later, frowned.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Uh-huh…"
I nodded.
"…she's dead. So you can stop looking; the urn with her ashes is in my new apartment, waiting for me to find a picturesque place where I can scatter them."
"And you…"
"Her son."
"Her son?"
"Yeah…"
"And how did she die?"
"The Animals started a shootout on the highway, and she got caught in it. Then she was taken to a ripper, and he was able to stabilize her… but it turned out not to be for long. And she died. So, there you have it."
I shrugged.
"And you know about her business?"
"How would I? Until recently, I was studying at the academy. I only know that she worked her ass off. To pay for my education at the academy."
"I… I'm sorry."
"Uh-huh…"
I nodded and, finally finished with my food, got up from the table.
"Wait!"
"What?"
I looked at the girl.
"Can you meet with Maine?"
"Who's that?"
"He's my boss…"
"No…"
I shook my head.
"…I have work right now. And after that, I need to rest and then get back to work… I have absolutely no time for meeting random people."
With that, I left the eatery and went off to work…