Brian and Zaunya slowly stagger to their feet as they stand over the Animal... staring at his lifeless body with his face caved in over pooled blood. She turns to face him and grabs both of his hands to get a closer look at them. To her surprise, although dripping with blood, they're completely unscathed... really showcasing the quality of the cyberware Audrey chipped him with. Although the chaos of Night City can see anyone flatlined... there's still an established pecking order... a never ending arms race of chrome and technology that's ever evolving. Looming over every confrontation... every choom you pass by on the block... wondering if today's the day. As physically imposing as the Animal was... it didn't make much of a difference.
The kid finally speaks... stuttering over his words with a shaky voice.
"H-Hey... uhhm.. are-... are you the-"
Brian snap points his blood red, crimson Nue directly at the kids face and says nothing... Zaunya glances at the kid while crossing her arms... uncomfortably before looking down and away.
"Woah woah.." The kid says putting his hands up in surrender... he takes a few steps back. This causes Brian to lower his Nue... still staring daggers at the kids eyes.
He recognizes the fear... the kids intimidated. He turns around and walks back into the apartment.. Zaunya quickly follows behind.
"He won't be coming back here..." Brian says to Zaunya as he begins to rummage through a computer desk.
"Don't think he's gonna run to his corp about it do you..?"
"Nah... as far as he knows, they may be the ones that sent us. Regardless, we're on a timer now... don't really have time to-"
They hear the sound of the door slide open as the kid slowly walks in. Brian points his Nue at his head again from a good distance.
"Yo choom... easy.. easy... white flag." The kid says putting his hands up in surrender again.
"If i see those specs turn red... this is gonna be the last thing you ever see." Brian says in a monotone.. staring the kid deep in the eyes.
"Did um... did they send you guys..?"
"Did Who send us..." Zaunya asks annoyed.
"I mean, well uh... his corp." He says with a nervous chuckle. "I mean... this rat's made a lot of enemies y'know. Even one of the-"
"-Who the fuck are you kid..." Brian interrupts lowering his iron.
He opens his mouth but hesitates to answer. "I'm-.... uhh..-"
"-Lets delta... No shots fired but we're all over this complex's feed. We should hit their server room before we leave if they have one." Zaunya says cutting him off ignoring him.
"Not leavin' yet. We gotta do cleanup first. Trails and fails.. remember." Brian says
The kid chimes in while slowly lowering his hands: "H-Hey! I can wipe this place clean if ya want."
Nervously, he looks over at Brian staring daggers at him.
"Hey choom, chill! Look, nothin' up my sleeve. Promise!" The kid says raising his hands again. His Kiroshis turn red as sparks and smoke shoot out of every camera and electronic device around them.. even several hidden cameras come slowly burning out of the walls and ceiling.. crashing to the ground. The computer they're standing next to also starts to smoke and pop causing Zaunya and Brian to quickly look over at it.
"See..? Done and done. All clean. Hardware n' Software to boot."
Brian picks up on the efficiency... the speed of the kid's capabilities... impressive... but the age and skillset simply didn't match... often signs of someone trained with formality and structure at a young age.
"Corpo." He thinks to himself dismissively.
Brian takes a harder look at the kid and notices several details: Tall for a kid... pretty scrawny... easily intimidated... skittish. All traits that become a real problem with the wrong power behind it... however... he also sees no bullshit in his eyes. Determination with a layer of fear on top of it usually means: genuine. Not to mention... what he was able to do to the both of them with minimal effort. Intimidating... but in-experienced.
Brian and Zaunya quickly glance at each other and then back at the kid before they make for the exit out of the apartment. Zaunya steps by him as Brian purposely shoulder checks him hard.. knocking the kid off balance as they exit out to the hallway.
As they make their way to the elevator and step over the kid's black digital mask they talk next steps.
"We gotta move quick on this cleanup.." Brian says. "Mama Welles might have-"
"-Hey!" The kid shouts rushing out of the apartment into the hallway after them. "Are you uhh.. like.. still goin' after this guy..? I can-"
Brian cuts him off. "-Get back to the academy kid... or whatever corpo boot you crawled out from under... we don't have time to babysit a-"
"-CUZ IF YOU ARE I KNOW WHERE HE'S GONNA BE NEXT." The kid shouts in a serious tone they haven't heard yet... causing them to stop in their tracks and look back at him.
Zaunya and Brian glance at each other with uncertainty.