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"Regina..."
I walked into the apartment and, after taking off my armor, quickly washed up. Then I went to the kitchen and started making our meal. And, of course, as I began to cook, I called my most expensive fixer.
"David, if you're calling about the Faraday job, there's no client yet..."
"No, I'm not calling about that..."
"Hmm?"
"I did a little side job... anyway, I came across a lot of interesting information that could help you get a lot of new debtors and expand your area of responsibility... Oh, and also to clean up a couple of unpleasant loose ends."
"And where were you doing this side job?"
"Ah..."
My image waved a hand.
"...I think the news will get to you soon... we have one less fixer in the city."
"Faraday? And what did he do? I mean, since you decided to zero him out without a contract..."
"The one and only. He just decided to set up Kiwi for a betrayal, but I didn't like it, and I decided not to wait until he managed to find a way to get to her."
I didn't mention that I doubted he could have done it. After all, excessive self-confidence doesn't lead to a good reputation. And in our time, you can find a way to get to almost anyone.
"So... what did you dig up..."
"Catch the files, study them, and yeah, I'm sending the same ones to Rogue after our chat, so if you're thinking of doing something, it's better to team up with her."
"You're sending them to her, too?"
"Well... surprisingly, Rogue is pretty nice to work with, and I haven't had any problems with her since the first setup. So I don't want to have to choose which one of you to help. You're both good girls and..."
"Heh, girls? Well, I might be a girl, but you could call Rogue a Grandma already..."
"A girl is as old as she looks and as she feels. Rogue is clearly a girl, or even a kid, in her heart. You're even a little older in that regard."
"You cocky bastard!"
Regina's image shook its head.
"Alright, did you get the data?"
"Yeah... and thanks."
"Regina, you helped a kid you didn't know back then. This kid was so cocky that he bypassed the local fixers and called you directly, and you didn't tell him to fuck off; you gave him a job. So I'm just responding to kindness with kindness..."
"Heh, I just saw your eyes... and I gave you a job that I would've given to someone lower down anyway... so I didn't lose anything..."
"Maybe so..."
My image shrugged, and in real life, I repeated the gesture.
"...but that doesn't change the fact that you didn't tell me to fuck off, that you were the one who noticed my skills, and that you were the one who made a name for me among solos."
"You made a name for yourself..."
"And I'm not denying my merits, but you could have easily given me a job like... 'go there and break a couple of heads'... But you didn't. You gave me the exact jobs that were right for me. So you have a hand in who I am today, too."
"Alright, I get it..."
The connection was cut, and without a second thought, I called Rogue's number.
"And what do you need from me? I thought I told you that if I found a client, I'd call you myself, and our weekly jobs are still a long way off..."
"Rogue, I just decided to show a little loyalty to both of my fixers and give them information that could help them cut off unnecessary loose ends, take control of more territory, and get some extra debtors."
I forwarded the data to Rogue. After receiving my data, she went silent and only spoke after five minutes.
"Very interesting... that kind of data could only belong to a very small circle of people..."
Rogue was frowning. She clearly didn't like what the data contained.
"I have to warn you..."
"Did you send the same data to Regina in full?"
"Exactly... I hope my two favorite fixers will come to an agreement."
"We'll come to an agreement with her... Maybe we'll even get Wakako involved and... Anyway, that doesn't concern you."
"Exactly."
"Alright... I take it you need something from me?"
"No..."
My image shook its head.
"...I just don't want to find out one day that you or Regina have just been eliminated. That's why I gave this data to you two. You girls are smart..."
Rogue scoffed but didn't argue with my assessment of her age.
"...you'll figure out what to do and with whom yourselves."
"Alright, thanks, I won't forget this."
"Alright, take it easy, Rogue, and good luck with your schemes..."
"Yeah."
The connection was cut, and in the meantime, I was finishing up with the food. The girls were sitting across from me, watching me cook with anticipation. And as soon as I started putting the food on the plates, the plates with food literally teleported away.
"What about the cakes?"
"I'll make cakes, but I need to buy the ingredients first. I can't feed you guys regular cakes for an occasion like this, can I?"
"I see... you want to show off?"
Becca looked at me with a frown.
"A little."
"Alright..."
A Couple of Days Later
I woke up to a terrible noise outside...
Police avs...
MaxTac avs...
Trauma Team avs...
All of them were flying around the city with monstrous intensity, and I, feeling that something had happened, got out of bed...
"David?"
"Panam, something's happened..."
"Huh?"
She always slept more soundly than me. But when a few avs flew over our place in a row, she opened her eyes and looked in my direction.
"I have to turn on the TV, and call Regina; maybe she knows what's going on."
However, I knew exactly what could cause such an uproar, and as soon as I turned on the TV, I was convinced my suspicions were correct.
"Goddammit..."
"Huh?"
Panam followed me out of the room and looked at the TV, which was showing breaking news. They were talking about a daring attack on the Kompeki Plaza and the murder of Saburo Arasaka.
"Shit, V, what the hell?"
"Uh... you think it was her?"
I looked at Panam.
"Who the fuck else? Who the fuck else?"
"Well..."
Panam shrugged, and at that moment, the other girls started to appear from their rooms. And every single one of them wanted to understand what was going on.
At that moment, I understood more than ever that my actions could affect... the lives of my girls. No, I always remember that everything depends on me; after all, if I mess up, they could get to them, too, but right now...
I closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry, V..."
"Huh? What are you talking about right now?"
"Girls..."
I ignored Becca's question.
"Everyone turn off your comms. ALL of them."
"Huh?"
"I don't want to get involved in this shit..."
I shook my head.
"But... I won't be able to refuse if they ask for our help. On the other hand, if they can't reach us..."
"That's kind of cowardly..."
I glanced at Becca, who had said this.
"It is."
I nodded, confirming her words.
"And believe me, if it were only my life at risk, I would probably already have my gear on and be ready to roll out when they call. And I'm almost completely sure they're going to try to get in touch. But your lives are on my shoulders. The lives of the Aldecaldos.
I looked Becca in the eyes carefully.
"So I'd rather be a coward and save all these lives than be a brave idiot who puts everyone at risk from Arasaka. Or do you think I have the right to risk all of you?"
I looked at Kiwi and Judy.
"Girls, please ensure a complete block on all signals. So that no one can call us, and we can't call anyone... because I have a feeling that Becca, just on principle, won't turn anything off."
"But she's your friend! If you're right, of course..."
"A friend... and while I had the chance, I warned her. I told her not to get involved with Dex, I told her how he works, I advised her to get new chrome. I did EVERYTHING in my power."
"But..."
"Becca..."
Kiwi cut her friend off with a single word. Or rather, not a word, but the tone in which she said her name.
"...I'm with David. No, I would have taken part in the adventure if he had decided to help V, assuming it was her who started this mess..."
"I trust our captain's judgment on this matter."
Judy jumped into the conversation, and Kiwi looked at her with a bit of irritation, but after a couple of seconds, she nodded in thanks, taking her opinion into account.
"...so, I, and any of the others here, would have taken part in the adventure. But I don't know about the others, but I would have been a little disappointed if he had decided to take part in this. Although who am I kidding? I would have been very disappointed."
"Becca..."
Lucy joined the conversation.
"...I don't understand your outrage."
"Lucy?!"
"We all know V; you could even call us friends. But you personally talk to her the least."
"But you can't just do that..."
"Just do that?"
"...what if we were talking about one of us? Me? You? Kiwi, Judy, or Panam?!"
I sighed.
"If we were talking about one of you... I would probably have put a dose of a strong sedative in your drink before you started a job from a random fixer."
"Huh?!"
"B. Becca. Do you think I would have let you work for a random fixer, without me, and on a shady job, to boot? I would have kept you under sedatives for a couple of days, and after that, I would have just listened to some stupid tantrum, like the one you're trying to throw now."
"I'm not..."
Becca looked extremely lost.
"You're trying to... we just can't figure out why..."
Panam nodded.
"...I think I can speak for everyone. We're not happy that David decided to ignore the danger to our friend, just by cutting off communication. But who am I kidding? Knowing David, he probably feels like shit himself right now..."
I nodded in agreement.
"...But we all know how many times he talked to V, how many times he tried to influence her and Jackie through Misty and Vik. He didn't even demand the payments that V was late on this month! And it's all because he understood that she would need new chrome for the upcoming job..."
"Yeah, but... I'm not throwing a tantrum..."
Becca looked from Panam to me, then to Judy, Lucy, and finally to Kiwi, her face full of confusion.
"You are..."
"Fuck..."
Becca collapsed onto the couch and put her face in her hands.
"Did I really look like a psycho?"
"Well..."
I looked at Becca and, with some sixth sense, I knew I didn't need to spare her feelings right now.
"...yeah."
"Fuck..."
"Becca, we know you... you have an explosive personality, so we often ignore your little fits, so..."
"Fuck, so this wasn't even the first tantrum you've seen?!"
"Well... actually, yeah..."
Kiwi nodded.
"...when you were with Maine's crew... you acted pretty questionable..."
"You called me a psycho so diplomatically..."
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