\+/ Tales From Night City \+/ Chapter 38 - The Reset
A mellow cadence of reggae fills the room like the smoke from Audrey and Brian's cigarettes. Netty The Kid sat on the couch watches Brian pace back and forth occasionally glancing out of one of the apartment windows. He waves his hand over his face in discomfort... overwhelmed by the excessive cigarette smoke.
"If what you're sayin' is true then we shouldn't have much of a problem." Brian proclaims.
"Yeah... Its a good plan." Audrey agrees.
"The only problem we got's his huscle... Hes gotta have beefed it up by now right?" Netty says.
"Since he's on the outs with his corp his funds can't be too healthy... corps tend to operate on company accounts not personal ones... just another way to keep em in line. Huscle shouldn't be too much of a problem... the location change works to our advantage. Isolated and away from prying eyes. Probably figures the bigger the castle the safer he is... doesn't realize the closer you get to the bottom makes you all the easier to break. Typical corpo gonk" Brian responds.
He continues after another drag.
"We're only gonna have one shot at this... I'm gonna take the kid with me." Netty looks over at him in surprise.
Brian glances over at Audrey with a serious expression. "Watch her... Holo buzz me when she comes too."
She nods in agreement.
Brian gets up and grabs his iron off the coffee table and racks the slide.
"W-Wait. We're goin' now..?" The kid asks nervous.
"No better time than the now. Let's go kid." Brian says as he turns to walk out the front door... the kid quickly gets up and follows.
Later that night, Brian and Netty drive through the streets of Watson... The hour is late as the sun gives way to the darkness... a fertile canvas for the blooming neon light of the city. Brian lights a smoke as Netty stares out the passenger side window.
After the series of violent and chaotic events of the day, heavy thoughts weigh on his mind... being that close to cybernetically enhanced brutality has taken its toll. An adrenaline dump like no other. The fading stress of a life or death struggle seeps out of the open window as they continue to coast through the streets. He hears a man's voice from his past come into focus:
"You don't want this life son... but I understand that I don't control what you want... if you're gonna follow in my footsteps-" "-You're gonna learn." Netty says to himself under his breath making Brian glance over at him but say nothing.
Brian picks up on the kids energy before breaking the silence.
" So... 'Netty The kid' huh. tch... you runners are somethin' else with your handles."
"Name's Netaniel. Choom of mine took to callin' me Netty when we were still in the sandbox... stuck n' evolved from there. Honestly been thinkin' of droppin' the 'kid' ever since i passed eighteen but... let's just say the name was given to me and i've always dug it."
"Where you from kid."
"Watson... family moved all over the city though... was in Heywood for a while.. then Kabuki.. we even had a small place over in Westbrook for a little bit."
"Y'know, at your age I was more concerned wit chasin' tail. What're you doin involved in shit like this..? Don't strike me as crim if i'm bein' honest. Goin' after a corpo's never a good idea. Pretty far out on the edge there choomba."
"Cmon' choom you know how it goes in this city-"
"Nothins free, nothins fair." The pair of them say at the exact same time.. sharing an instinctual chuckle. Finding connection in familiarity.
"Havin' a rep in this town can prove to be more of a problem than an asset. 'specially these days." Brian says
"Yeah... no kiddin'.. that's why i keep things encrypted... stay outta the spotlight if you know what i mean... Honestly didn't know what was gonna happen after your friend made me... its never happened before."
"A tat with your calling card on your neck says otherwise kid.."
"Tch.. yeah.. Good luck to anyone tryin' to get close enough to see it." The kid responds in an unexpected tone... causing Brian to look over at him.. masking being impressed.
"And your cyberdeck..? Some impressive stuff you were able to pull back there. Made it look effortless. Who'd you klep that from."
A pause takes place as the idle sounds of the busy streets take over briefly as the pair drive by a crowded Jacked and Coke.
"It was my father's."
Brian looks over at the kid now staring back out the window and says nothing. The beginning patters of rain start to tap on the windows of the Galena G240.
Audrey Back at the hideout rests her forearms on the fire escape railing having a smoke and listening to the growing patters of rain settling in.
Shes uncertain about all these factors that've come crashing into her life... but as a veteran of patience, she rests in a brief calm... looking forward to a warm night inside. The moonlight glow gets a few final peeks before being masked by rainclouds as she thinks deeply about her past. Various thoughts and memories having been laid to rest begin bubbling to surface of her psyche. Her mind races with anticipation on what might happen or what she might have to do. She glances down at the caved in railing Zaunya slammed her fists into and shakes her head... taking a deep breath before another drag of her smoke. She looks back into the apartment in Zaunya's direction before she receives a call on the holo... causing her eyes to glow orange.
=Audrey... its Bear. I was just over near your shop and saw badges snooping around.=
=What?=
=Didn't think much of it till I saw a corpo Chevill roll up next to the squad car... then another... looks like a serious pack of suits.=
Audrey flicks her smoke out into the rain and quickly walks back into the apartment.
=Scan them for me.= She says sternly as she quickly begins to put her jacket and gear on. =I'm on my way... meet me at our spot.=
=Roger Roger.= BugBear responds before ending the call.
Audrey grabs her iron before walking back to the room Zaunya is passed out in... she stands over her with anxious concern.
She bends down and gently places the palm of her hand on her shoulder firmly before closing her eyes.
She opens them with a serious look on her face.
She turns to leave the apartment... sliding the door closed... cutting to black.