DateTime Data:
June 28th, 2077, 6:10 PM
"Hey, everyone. Feels great to have ya back. So, then, did y'all hear about that Arasaka aircraft carrier docked in Night City? Called "Kujira," or the "whale." Apparently the corp figured it wasn't safe in Japanese waters. Afraid some local fishermen might harpoon it for scientific research. But honestly, it's quite the power move. Wonder what Militech'll respond with. Maybe Myers will fly a rust-bucket B-17 flying fortress over Arasaka HQ. Oh man, that's, that is insensitive, I am sorry, where are my manner?... "President" Myers, I mean, of course. Gotta respect the office." Ruth Dzeng said over the car radio.
"Alright, here we are." Morgynn said to Sam, snapping him out of his daydream of warm pie at midnight with a glass of cold milk and a side of vanilla ice cream, watching one of his favorite old movies, "Rebel Without a Cause"—a southern boy's perfect nightcap.
"K. Let's bounce." Sam replied, as he opened the door on his side and Morgynn mirrored. Making their way across the small parking lot for of the infamous "Lizzie's Bar" or just "Lizzie's" now…
Just as the doors were about to shut to the car, the radio could be heard in one last utterance.
"Anywho…"
As the two approached the front door, a woman in scantily clad, ripped up outerwear and positively covered in tattoos and had a head of purple hair could be seen guarding it. She flaunted her two carbon fiber cybernetic arms that were most definitely meant to increase her battering capability. Out of all her tattoos, Sam noticed one that stood out, the one just above her breasts that read, "Mox". He knew the name, but little more than that. From what he was told, they were an all-female gang that prowled the streets of Kabuki. Morgynn tapped him on chest, giving him the silent signal that she'd take the lead and handle this.
"Hey there, dollface." The guardwoman said, armed with a spiked bat. "Interest you in a preem BD?"
"Whaddaya got?" Morgynn asked, playing along as Sam just stood silent.
"What don't we got? Women and men of your dreams, synaptic acting A-listers. No washed-up virtuporn boytoys or blow-up dolls here." The guard replied, making her sales pitch.
"Amateur stuff -it'll grip your heart and blow your nerves right out of your body. Pure bit-based ecstasy – that's why people come here." The other woman said who had been silent up to this point, enjoying her smoke break.
"You two clearly know how to sell it." Morgynn stated.
"Not a sales pitch, it's a warning. I'll give you one word – bespoke. Not for everyone's synapses." The guardswoman warned.
"Think you and your boy, there, can handle it?" The other on-break woman asked Morgynn, gesturing her cigarette at the silent Sam.
The wording the two chose to describe Lizzie's latest gimmick was one that Morgynn found quite exciting. BD's could be found everywhere, but custom-made stuff was where the tech could really shine. And even though they had a job to do, she would have to come back at some other time and try it out. She'd just need to play along to get inside, as if she was a paying customer. Luckily, it wouldn't be hard to feign excitement.
"Bespoke – damn, that sounds promising. I get it, I'm in." Morgynn responded.
"Mhmm. Couple of things you need to know first." The Mox guard said, taking glee in the fact that her pitch was successful. "Ahem. Severe penalties for any unauthorized recording… No drugs, no groping." The Mox woman said, lightly slamming her spiked bat in her hands to make her point even more clear.
"Someone catch your eye, you don't grab 'em. You find 'em in the catalog, ask for a BD and get yourself a box." The other woman commented.
A sour look came on Morgynn's face at that point, diminishing her excitement.
"I look that green to you? Like it don't know…?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"No, but he certainly does." The smoking woman said, once again pointing it at Sam.
"Mhm. Door's open. Have fun kids… And welcome to Lizzie's" The Mox guardswoman said, opening the front door and moving out of the way
for us to enter.
Song Choice: SLIME – Shygirl
After we entered the building, I looked around at the neon-bathed décor. The establishment was only officially open at six, but this place was already packed with people. From the braindance booths, to the bar, and to the upstairs lounges, there was nearly no place that sat empty. Me and Morgynn walked to the bar where, just by looking at the back profiles of the people at the bar, we were most likely to meet some characters. Since Morg wasn't given a reference visual for the client, we had no idea what this Evelyn looked like, just that she had to be somewhere inside.
We walked up to the two empty stools on the right-side of the bar, and took our seat.
"Hey." I said, initiating conversation with the bartender.
The man, who had implanted eyes that glowed a shiny white, only two to be fair, though, turned his attention us.
"Get you something?" He inquired.
"Lookin' for Evelyn Parker. Know if she's here?" Morgynn asked, getting to the point, quickly.
"Who's asking?" The bartender returned.
"A big tipper. Generous when I get the answers I'm lookin' for." Morgynn stated, trying to play it cool.
Although, not cool enough it seemed, as the bartender just let a soft smirk appear on his face, as if he'd heard the line a hundred times.
"Appreciate the gesture, truly." The tender replied, turning us down. "But, afraid I don't get paid to talk. Opposite, actually."
"It's all right, Mateo. I was waiting for these two." One of the other patrons at the bar piped up, seemingly a regular enough to know the bartender by name.
I turned to look at the person from which the unbeckoned voice had come from. I saw a solid blue-haired woman with a bob hairstyle that was dressed in a short-cut sequin cocktail dress, adorned in multicolored feathery outcroppings along the neckline. It was certainly loud, even or Night City, but somehow… fit.
The woman put up three fingers and hopped out of her seat. She came over to myself and Morgynn, with no words spoken. Once she stood just a foot away from me, she rested her elbow on the bar and gave a nod to the bartender, Mateo. He pulled out three small Manhattan-style cocktail glasses and began to fill them.
"Evelyn Parker." The woman said, introducing herself. "I knew it was you as soon as you two walked in."
Mateo then put down the three filled glasses in front of us. I picked up the drink only out of my southern obligation to be polite. But as soon as the liquid hit my mouth, I was quite surprised to find that it was Centzon, my favorite tequila, and the only one I would willingly drink while sober. Morgynn didn't seem to be the biggest fan, but gulped it down anyway.
"Centzon? Only tequila I drink." I stated, letting the tastes of glide down and around my throat, warming my upper-chest. "Hm. How would you know?" I asked, being reminded that I knew nothing about this person, and foolishly believing that she knew nothing about me. Just because one cannot see his opponent, does not mean that his opponent cannot see him…
"I like to know everything about the people I work with." She responded with a soft smile. "Either that or it was just a lucky guess."
She definitely knew how to sell herself. I thought to myself as I laid eyes on her charming smile.
"Why we meetin' here? Any particular reason?" I responded, still sipping from my glass of Centzon.
"Yeah, actually doesn't seem much like your thing, this place." Morgynn said, making a keen observation.
"Hm. I'll take that as a compliment." Eyelyn said, brushing off the slightly passive-aggressive nature of Morgynn's tone. "C'mon. Know a place we can talk where ears won't prick up to listen." She finished, taking a long gulp of her serving of tequila that still stood full. "We'll be in the lounge, Mateo. Anyone asks, we're not here."
She began to walk away as me and Morgynn found each other's eyes and gave a nod of confirmation. We both rose from out seats as well and followed the mysterious woman.
We sat ourselves down in one of the VIP lounge's booths, apparently exactly where Evelyn wanted us. It was smart to put us here though, the noise pollution from the outside had pretty much dissipated, all that could be heard in here were the remnants, low hums and dimmed echoes of the outside.
The door closed and the small table in the room lit up to show a holographic stripper showcase. Evelyn picked up the small controller for the thing and turned muted the volume.
She pulled a unique-looking case out of her overcoat pocket and lifted a cigarette from it. Taking her matching lighter and igniting small cylinder. She put the case back into her pocket and took a long draw from it and blew out before speaking.
"Dex had load to say about you. Called you professional, effective…" She trailed off. "And trustworthy." She finished, almost sarcastically. "I hope he wasn't overselling…" She commented, obviously making reference to Morgynn's little hiccup at the bar.
I turned to see a serious, but unfazed look on her face—she had no time to be bothered with pleasantries or petty disagreements. She was definitely business-minded. But what else can you expect from a kid raised between a trifecta of Valentinos, Six-Street, and Moxes?
"You don't give a rat's dick what Dex thinks. We both know that." Morgynn shot back, but with little aggression or malice in her voice.
"You have trouble accepting compliments?" Evelyn replied.
"No… Just think flattery's beneath you. Am I wrong?" Morgynn returned, not letting Evelyn knock her off base easily.
Evelyn lightly scoffed at that remark, surely surprised that her newest mercs were as feisty as this, to a client that still held all the cards… and the information. She then decided to sit down on the booth next to me.
"Maybe Dex is beneath you. Have you known each other long?" She questioned. From this point on, it would be a dangerous line she would be choosing to walk. Even though I didn't have the experience to know the inner-city politics of Night City, I knew what this was. She was trying to drive a wedge between us and Dex, manipulation at its finest. I'd had dealings with this kind behavior in the past—long ago, and dealings I'd rather forget.
"You writin' Dex's bio? Hate to disappoint, but I just don't know much?" I said, trying to throw her off the trail she was headed down.
"In other words, you hardly know each other… Yet he fingered you for this job. Hm, curious." She remarked, and obviously knowing what she was getting at as well, Morgynn ordered, thankfully cutting through the bullshit.
"Let's – cut to the chase. Whaddaya got for us?"
"Your… target – I trust you know what it is?" Evelyn asked, quizzing us on what we know so she could fill us in on what we don't.
"Relic. "Secure Your Soul" trinket. Key tech in the program, actually." Morgynn answered, citing her information from Dex.
"From what Morg's told me, we're tanglin' with Arasaka. Makin' this heist one dangerous, risky motherfucker." I added.
"Mhm, Arasaka's poured billions into personality transfer technology. But me – I just want the data on this one." Evelyn admitted, finally starting to inform us. " The chip is tucked away inside Konpeki Plaza, the hotel. Either of you ever been?"
"We never have, no. But could ask our partner if he has. Classy corp hotels are just out of our price range." Morgynn said.
"The décor's to die for. As you'll see for yourselves."
"So where's this thingy-ma-bob hiding exactly?" I asked, using only the most esteemed of vernacular skill.
"This "thingy-ma-bob" is in a suite on the top floor. The room's occupied by Yorinobu Arasaka."
"Yorinobu Arasaka… in Night City? Guess the screemsheets weren't lyin' this time." Morgynn perked up, surprised.
"It's on the lips of everyone in the city. Saburo Arasaka's only surviving son, heir apparent to the Arasaka empire in town? Ha, Please."
"Could it be? Emperor's prepared to cede his throne after a hundred and fifty years? Doubt it. Man's ruled since before may grandfather could shit in a toilet by himself." I commented.
"Only a handful of people in Night City know what the Arasakas' real plans are." Evelyn said, sobering the conversation back to its intended course.
"Tellin' us you're one of 'em?" Morgynn questioned, wanting to get to the bottom of this woman's demeanor. It's mystery both perplexed her and frustrated her simultaneously. Who was this woman, and how the hell does she know what she knows? To have information about the specific whereabouts of someone like Yorinobu Arasaka was, is more than statement, it's a flex of power. Even Alex, even though he was considered an up-and-comer, had been in the corp for five years before he was let go, and I'm almost certain he never knew the location of Yori. For this random woman to have that kind of info was absolutely something to be cautious of.
"So we're not jumpin' the corp. We're jumpin' Yorinobu Arasaka himself." Morgynn stated, in utter shock.
"Eh. Yorinobu is a puppet. He lost all his cards years ago when he failed to do daddy's bidding." Evelyn informed, shaking her head at Morgynn's eagerness.
A statement I could actually sympathize with… to some extent. I thought after hearing those words.
"Saburo's had Yori's balls in a vice for years. He might just turn the screw and crush them outright if he learns his son's up to no good again." Evelyn continued to explain.
"Even so… it's still Yorinobu-fucking-Arasaka." Morgynn said in a low tone.
"Yup. Top dog like Yorinobu is bound to have an army on call. Hotel's prolly a goddamn fortress by now, too."
"And that's where you'd be wrong, dead wrong. Yorinobu keeps exactly no huscle around. Not one guard. Got rid of 'em a long time ago."
"Huh. Why's that?" I asked, her genuinely perplexed as to why he'd do something that just seemed so… stupid.
"Surely you know what they say about Arasaka intel?" Evelyn replied, only slightly teasing. "Sneeze in Night City, and a cherry blossom falls in Tokyo." A line I was sure that Alex would have been able to finish if he was here. "Yorinobu was convinced that his Arasaka security detail reported directly to his father."
"Okay look, we're getting nowhere with this. If you've got any spare aces up your sleeve, now's the time to show 'em." Morgynn jumped in.
"Now, this should make your tits perk up. Yorinobu recently swiped the chip from an Arasaka laboratory. He's made a deal with NetWatch, aims to sell it to them." She said addressing Morgynn's overt skepticism, specifically. "Have you spotted my ace yet or do I need to spell things out?"
"That's all well and good, but what's Yorinobu due to walk away with?" I asked, wanting to know more about the situation.
"Unimportant. All you two need to focus on is the biochip."
"But he makes a point. What could cyberspace's watchers and protectors offer him? Intelligence on his enemies?" Morgynn objected in my defense, sarcastically.
"And I said it doesn't matter in the least. Because you'll make sure the transaction never happens, and I get the chip." Evelyn said, shutting down the point.
"Nope. Don't buy it. Yorinobu has no need to ask NetWatch for anything, and NetWatch's integrity rests on their neutrality. Why would they tarnish their rep by procuring stolen goods?" Morgynn said, not willing to let the contention die.
"You may be a netrunner but you don't know much about corporate relationships nearly at all. NetWatch is a corporation that provides net security for all corporations. And collects eddies in the millions for it. But… in this day and age, everyone's in the game, and no one can afford to be a saint. To win, one has to go all in." Evelyn explained, dispersing Morgynn's ignorance.
I decided now would be a perfect time to redirect, otherwise I could get caught in multi-hour catfight on the logistics of inconsequential details.
"Fine, so no Arasaka security detail on the device 'cause Yorinobu whisked it away in secret. Now, where's he hidin' it?"
"Likely in a specialized container, one that mimics an organic neural environment. On the outside, looks like an ordinary briefcase." Evelyn explained.
"And the case is…?" I inquired, needing to know more before we just embark on something that could very well end with us in a cell for the rest of our lives, or better yet, dead on a class corp hotel floor.
Evelyn decided now was a good time to move, as she uncrossed her legs and walked past us standing next to the entrance into the VIP room.
"You'll see for yourself soon enough. Provided we're done gossiping about the Arasakas." She answered, not willing give up any more details as of now. I began to doubt she knew as much as would have us believe.
"One more thing. Data that's on the chip – what is it?" I asked her, simply curious.
"Irrelevant. Entirely."
"We're talkin' about data that Yorinobu Arasaka snuck out of Arasaka. What's more, he wants to pass it onto NetWatch. Sounds pretty damn relevant to me." I returned a bit more aggressively than I'd intended, sort of getting a little aggravated at her disregard for providing us with information that was obviously important.
"Listen, Sam—you're Sam right?" She asked, trying to confirm my identity, as I responded with a nod. "The Relic – that's my concern. Your concern – earning a paycheck. Just get the job done. I'll make sure your bank accounts're sated." She said, once again disregarding my questioning.
But maybe she was right though—maybe I was being too high-maintenance about it. After all, I'm a merc here to do a job at the end of the day, a dangerous as all hell job, but a job nonetheless.
"OK then. What's next?" I questioned, getting up from the booth as Morgynn mimicked me.
"Now comes the best part." Evelyn said with a smirk. "Follow me." She commanded as she pressed the button to open the V.I.P room door.
The three continued their walking pace though the back hallways of the bar, and getting full view of where all the working girls came to on break. They lined the hallways in brightly colored latex underwear, covered by other random items of clothing. From snow jackets to fake fur blankets. The hallways were a stark contrast to the upbeat atmosphere of just beyond the wall. The walls were concrete and nothing more, not even paint, just old posters dotted the flat, grey, surfaces.
"Got somethin' for you. Should help you plan. Braindance from Konpeki Plaza." Evelyn said as they continued on.
"How's a braindance supposed to help? Need facts, not thrills." Morgynn replied, showing her continued distaste of Evelyn's ideas.
"Think BDs are only good for fondling virtual tits, jackin' off to in those boxes?" Evelyn returned firmly. "No. They can be a very useful tool. Good for analyzing details human perception, even boosted, doesn't grasp. Exactly what you need."
It was obvious that she wanted to help the two, but Evelyn needed being cautious. Morgynn didn't seem to take kindly to her skiddishness, she was all for planning things out, being aware, and having sense enough to vet somebody before you trust 'em. But she just couldn't help the feeling that this woman was not telling her something. Which didn't make a lick of sense to her, if this woman really wanted our help, why would she keep details away, details that could very well save our lives.
"So what's on the tape?" Sam inquired.
"Yorinobu's suite. The glorious interior." Evelyn replied, without skipping a beat. "You'll need to locate the Relic yourself. Hope I grabbed enough detail to make that possible." She finished, causing Sam and Morgynn to silently look at each other, having the same idea about what she'd just inadvertently revealed.
"Hold up… Mean to say you recorded this?" Morgynn asked, stopping in her tracks, wanting to know what was actually going on before she continued any further with Evelyn's plan.
"Mhm. BD rec implant. Why, you object?" She asked, as if nothing seemed off about it at all.
Just before Morgynn could blow up in Evelyn's face, Sam got the first word out, completely aware of Morgynn's… impassioned nature when it came to clients and fixers not telling her shit beforehand.
"Supposed to be Yorinobu's pad on tape. Mean you were inside. You know each other?" Sam question, wanting to make sense of it all just as much as Morgynn.
"How else could I get all this intel? I know him pretty well, actually." Evelyn replied with a suggestive smirk paired with a scratch at the back of her neck and a quick look to her red thigh-high heels, telling Morgynn all she needed to know—to which her face formed a noticeable grimace. "We have an arrangement. Strictly busines. Suits us both, I think."
It all made sense to the two now, how she knew so much, and how she was familiar with shit and people that even Alex couldn't have dreamed of breathing the same oxygen of.
"Let's see this braindance, then." Sam said getting down to business.
"Judy'll help. She's a Mox, too. Besides, we go back, uh… years." Evelyn informed, trailing off and alluding to an unknown past.
The three came to the basement of the establishment, upstairs noise now completely drowned out. Evelyn stopped in front of a door, and tuned to face the two behind her.
"Sam, Morgynn, this is important." She said, finally showing a tone that was sobered, almost concerned. "Judy's always been there for me. Always helped out. I trust her. But she's a Mox, not the latest member of your crew. Try not to forget. So you two'll be a good boys and girls, tread lightly and keep that tongue on a leash." Evelyn teased, finishing her warning as he pressed the button for the two doors to open.
"Relax. Believe it or not, I'm no stranger to tact. In biz or life." Morgynn replied, as the two began to match pace with Evelyn.
They walked through the cold server room until they came upon another set of doors which opened up into a place that resembled Vik's clinic, though a fair bit more high tech. Sam looked around and couldn't seem find a place that didn't have a computer monitor every two feet. Morgynn seemed to look around, in awe and seemingly at home in this sort of place. She spotted a woman, currently involved in a braindance that had the news channel on had one of her legs kicked up on her desk and her head leaned back to enjoy whatever it was she was experiencing at the moment. Sam was surprised by her in his own way, she didn't really appear as he'd come to expect from the typical Mox. She wore an outfit that was fit for a car mechanic rather than a someone of the Moxes gang. She wasn't overly bright or loud, and didn't possess much… "pizazz", save for the many tattoos and multicolored green and hot pink hair that'd been shaved and styled in a unique fashion. In fact, she reminded him of his aunt, who was also a car mechanic—back in the clan.
"Ahem…" Evelyn said, clearing her throat loudly bring the woman in the office chair to attention.
The woman's hands slowly reached up to shut off the BD headset. Once done, she looked over to Evelyn with a smile, dormant headset still wrapped around her head.
"Hey, there you are." The woman greeted.
Evelyn seemingly having no time for pleasantries, got straight to the point.
"This is Sam, and this is Morgynn. They're here for the BD roll. And guys, this is Judy – best braindance editor I know." Evelyn said, introducing the three in a surprisingly polite manner.
"Enough, already. Gonna make me barf." Judy said, shutting down her apparent sappiness, to the unintentional soft smiles of Morgynn and Samuel.
"Sensory sig amps, acoustic and emotive wave monitors… Top-shelf hardware." Morgynn interjected with nerdy computer knowledge.
Morgynn's attempt at conversation seemed to work, as Judy's attention was torn away from the news.
She made a gesture with gesture with hand that expressed, "more or less" as her face and eyes squinted, an obvious attempt to stay humble, something Samuel found himself already respecting about this woman.
"Eh. Most of it's customized. Only thing factory are the casings." Judy replied, going tit-for-tat on Morgynn's initial nerdgasm.
"Mod all this yourself?" Sam asked, wanting to jump in and flex a little of his own tech knowledge.
"What do you think?" Judy returned, only for Sam to shrug and nod, agreeing.
Morgynn continued to look around Judy's office, becoming all the more impressed as she found new things to silently gush over every other second.
"Expression translator – Fuyutsuki, right? Thought the matrices on that series were fucked up." Morgynn questioned, the words flowing so well and so natural that it almost sounded like she was just voicing her inner-thoughts.
"They were. But swappin' out matrices's simple. And this was the only model that'd support additional scanware." Judy said, now proving that she was a match for all the lessons T-Bug had provided in the past for Morgynn.
Not everything Morgynn knew came from Bug, but most of the new-age hacking stuff had been educated. Morgynn had always been a bright kid, daresay brightest in her neighborhood. But the inner-city doesn't respect smarts, fancy words, and high-tech lingo, it respects style and action. Most of her childhood was spent yearning to leave Night City and Heywood, find a place more conducive to what she wanted from life.
"Ahem…" Evelyn said, once again having to clear her throat. Good too, otherwise Sam they could have all been there for hours.
Judy took Evelyn's seriousness in stride and just smiled back at her, and put her hands up in fake-surrender.
"All right, all right… Complied your BD, Ev."
"What do you think? Will it do?" She asked her, wanting specifics.
"Still pretty raw… but yeah, oughta do." She replied.
"Mhm. They need to get deep inside, that's most important."
"Hold on. Who's actually going inside?" Sam asked, wanting to know if his first and only time in a BD would be looking through the eyes of the opposite sex.
"You, dummy." Morgynn declared.
"No, no, I didn't agree to that! Look, I say we do this the old-fashioned way… Rock-paper-scissors." Sam stated, proposing his childish idea Morgynn.
"Rock-paper-scissors…?"
"You're actually doing this?" Judy asked, giving them a look just oozed surprise, disappointment, and on some level, amusement.
Evelyn just gripped the bridge of her nose with her fingers and shook her head.
"Yeah. C'mon it'll be fun." Sam said, genuinely excited he might get to play Rock-paper-scissors with someone.
"Fine, but one round and one round only." Morgynn said, pointing her finger at Sam as if she was a scolding mother.
"Wouldn't have it any other way…" Sam said as he readied his hands.
Morgynn did the same and as they called out the name, "Rock!", "Paper!", "Scissors", "Shoot!", slamming their fists down onto their other palm with every call-out. Afterwards, the results were found. Sam had placed scissors and Morgynn went for the simple, rock. Making Sam the inglorious loser.
"—So cheated…" Sam mumbled as he went to sit on the chair in the middle of the room. And even though she passed the little game off as completely childish, she couldn't help but smile, with her back turned to him, of course.
"Alright, let's calibrate, tune it to him." Judy said, hopping up and out of her office chair and moved over to her other desk where she would spend countless hours scrolling and editing BDs.
"Believe me, I've dealt with worse. Should see the Jig-Jig Street porn we gotta contend with sometimes." She said, chuckling at her own joke.
"So, we drop Sam inside? Let him look, let him rummage around, right?"
"How 'bout it, Sam? Raw braindance – ever taken a dip before?" Judy asked, scooting her wheeled chair back to get a clear view of Sam, who was still sitting on the chair.
"What d'you mean by "raw"? How's this differ from the ready-mades?" Morgynn asked, hoping Judy could provide some new tech-nerd info.
"Huh. Ready-mades, provided they're well made, should feed you feelings and impressions you'd never have the chance to experience yourself in realspace." She explained to the both of them, despite Morgynn being the one to ask. "But It's mass-market shit, so it's pre-crafted, hard-coded, fenced in and manageable. A raw one… well, it's more like a virtu enviro. Get to move around, look at things in detail." She said, sort of overexplaining and beginning to nerd out over the specifics of her craft. But Morgynn didn't mind, she loved to be around people with passion. "Editors use those layers to fish for juicer emotes and impulses, then use the 'em to pad the BDs that go to market."
"Well, now that we know how the sausage gets made, can we get on with it?" Sam said, rubbing is hands together, visibly nervous.
Morgynn was torn with his response. On the one hand, she was perturbed that he shut down her passion like that. On the other, she could feel for him, he'd never really experienced a BD, period. Now his first experience was with one that he had just been told was shaky.
"Yeah, settle in on that chair, and we'll get you goin'" Judy said, seemingly recognizing her previous tangent and just brushing off Sam's nervous remark.
Sam laid back on the blue BD chair as Judy got up from her seat and put the headset on him, aware of his inexperience. After which she hurried back to her desk.
"Gotta create your sensory profile first." Judy informed.
"A what profile, now?" Sam asked. He swore that the more she talked about this shit, the more nervous he'd get. Stuff about shit he didn't know compiled on more shit he didn't know didn't exactly make for a welcoming atmosphere. He knew everything there was to know about guns and cars, but this kind of stuff was just out of his range.
"Model of your perceptions and emotional responses. Need to adjust that so the raw BD won't overwhelm you. If I don't, best case scenario, you'll get nauseous as soon as you're in. Prolly barf like you would in a shoddy virtu enviro."
"Mhm. And worst case?" Sam asked, torn between not wanting to know, but needing to all the same.
"Your synapses sizzle like locusts in a deep fryer."
"Yeah, just makin' sure. 'Cause I know people can have their brains baked, literally, burned out of their skull. Fire out of their eyes and the whole shit. But that could never happen to me, right?" Sam finished sarcastically, paranoia starting to show.
"God, you were like this with Vik the first time you walked in, I'm really starting to think you might be a little bitch. And by the way, that's netrunning, not braindances, dumbass. Plus, you're not even jacked-in. You'll be fine." Morgynn said, trying to comfort him—sort of.
"Yeah, but we're not about to let that happen, nuh-uh." Judy said, trying o reaffirm Sam's consciousness.
"OK, hit me. Just promise me it won't hurt." Sam pleaded genuinely.
"It won't. Not this time." Judy replied, quickly continuing on so as to not let Sam have another word in edgewise. "Now, sit still, look at me. Gonna run the analysis soft. Should feel a slight tingling…"
"Whoa…" Sam trailed off as his vision completely disoriented for a few moments, before becoming restabilized.
"OK, now let's set the optics and other sensory sigs. Look smack into these two screens, pretend it's an eye exam." Judy said, continuing to walk Sam though the process.
The two little screens in front of him began to flash with lights, which slightly disoriented him but he regained composure quickly.
"Get a lot of requests like this?" Morgynn asked as Sam was focused on the BD headset.
"All the time. But it's usually stuff the girls scroll at the club. I take that and do some routine porn tuning." Judy replied honestly.
"Crank up the orgasms?" Morgynn asked, only half-joking.
"More like cut out the other shit. Fucking's business as usual for these guys. Their minds wander… to grocery lists, spouses' birthdays, late bills, whatever." She began to explain, Morgynn a captive audience. "But even then, you can refigure things, mold the emotions into something unique, unforgettable. So, I can't complain." Judy finished, Morgynn, now with an involuntary soft smile, admiring this woman's passion for her craft no matter how grimy.
"Hows it goin' over there?" Sam asked, breaking up the moment.
"One more sec, need to get the pain receptor limiters in…" Judy said, with a pause following. "OK. All set. Need to test your profile first . Tossing in a sample BD. You can use it to get to know the editor." Sam said, giving a nod of confirmation, seemingly accepting his fate now. "Now, lemme see. Where could we…"
Evelyn then got up from her silent position of observation and let out a sigh.
"Can't he just use my recording? Why're we wasting time?" She asked Judy.
Bitch… Sam thought.
"So we don't risk our necks. 'Sides, won't take a sec. Got somethin' here. Should be perfect."
"What'd you choose?" Sam asked, curious.
"Corner store hold-up in Heywood." She said, a cheeky smile appearing on her face. "Real amateurs. Don't even know where I got it. Suits our needs perfectly, though. You ready?"
Sam let out a long exhale of anxiety and confirmed,
"Boot it up."
"Mhm… Lemme give you the tailored version first, let you get your bearings – then we'll jump into editing mode." Judy said, primarily talking to herself.
The lights on the headset once again began to flash as Judy commenced the countdown.
"Be diving in in 3… 2… 1…"
And a flash of white light was the last sight of the real world for Sam…
Song Choice: Criminal – Eminem
"Plan's simple, do nothing odd, don't get creative. You go in, snatch the cash, get out, and we sell the BD to those psychofreaks from the studio." He said, givin' me all the direction, I needed and more.
While kept fucking around with the cameras, I couldn't lie, I was getting' antsy. Wanted to get this done quickly rather than the other way around.
"Got it, got it." Charlie said, turning to me in his mask. "And remember – everything on full blast. They'll spot us extra for a wicked adrenaline high."
I wasn't sure. I mean, holding up a store just to scroll a BD, for those freaks down in the Glen? Shit of the NCPD got on our ass for this we'd be two dead motherfuckers with no BD to show for it.
Charlie shut the breaker box lid and handed me some extra iron he was carryin'.
"OK, on ya go." He commanded.
I pulled back the slide and walked up the sidewalk going into the place. My breathing was already ramping up—But damn it! I couldn't afford to be a pussy about it! Needed to just get in and get out—piece of cake.
I walked in and saw that there was a grand total of three people in the joint, and suddenly, I was far more confident. I aimed my gun, waving it around, making sure they knew what was up.
"Down, everybody! On the ground! Wanna see you kissin' the flooring!" I shouted, approached the checkout counter.
The first of the customers just bent down quickly and she covered her head in fear. The other was in my way and didn't quite have the hustle I was lookin' for. I smacked her across the head with my pistol. Then she went down with some hustle. Damn straight.
"Money! Now! Or I will fuckin' drop you! I swear to God!" I yelled at the man behind the counter, no sure if he was the owner or just an employee.
I aimed the gun at him, no way I'd miss the shot if he decided it'd be a good idea to play hero. He shook his head in response, cowering, blood drained from his face.
"Whoa! Yeah! Hey! I'm…! I…!" He stammered out, his brain scrambled, trying to find any way to save his own life.
I looked behind myself frantically, hoping to God that the PD didn't jump my ass before I got done scrolling.
"NOW! Before I blow your fuckin' head off!" I yelled as he finally got to work on the register.
He laid down everything in the register onto the counter, physical eddies and some change. Satisfied, and adrenaline definitely pumping now, grabbed the thick stack of cash and started walking backward, making sure they'd behave until I got outta the store.
Just about as I reached the front door, I made a break for it and—
"AHHH!" I said, being launched out of the BD.
"Slow, deep breaths. Your cortisol and adrenaline spiked, but the soft activated your hormone blockers. Nothin' happened, you're alive and well." Judy said calmly, as she had her arms crossed over the armest.
I could tell she felt at the very least concerned, as if she always hated this part with newcomers.
"That was… too much. Felt…could fell the guy's… pain, his stress, his hope? Hope wrapped up in something' else…" I stuttered out, barely able to form a complete sentence.
I looked to Morgynn, whose tune seemed to have changed, now seeing me like this—she knew I'd just been proven right on some level. She didn't outwardly say anything, but I could tell by her soft expression that she felt pity for what I'd just gone through—and for being wrong about this experience.
"Mhm. Probably took a booster just before." Judy replied, nodding her head, like she'd already head this shtick before.
She then raised her position and walked back to her desk-space.
"You'll be fine. Got everything set up. Let's switch over to editing mode."
The lights once again began to flash in front of my eyes and the white flash was the last I saw of the world.
This time I could hear Judy's voice, and I was aware… of myself—of me, of Samuel. I was no longer this guy, I was still me.
"I'll sever the link to the Bd roller's sensory array. You'll be able to look around freely. Whole scene's yours."
I was taken out of the man's body and was now observing the areas around him like some omniscient entity. It felt how I guessed flying a drone linked up to implants would feel. Effectively, you are the drone.
"Full cam control in analysis mode, so move around, zoom in 'n' out, whatever else you come up with… Think of it as your own little sandbox. So, analysis mode – you control playback, can even pause when you feel the need. Then you use the editor console to unpause. Try it."
It was only a thought, a thought with intention, that began the playback. And from then on, I was observing the very scene I'd just been a part of, in third-person.
"Plan's simple, do nothing odd, don't get creative. You go in, snatch the cash get out, and we'll sell the BD to those psychofreaks from the studio." I heard Charlie say, now just sort of… floating around, like a disembodied soul.
"Got it, got it." Charlie said, just as Judy's voice intruded from the outside.
"Preem as hell, right? Well, that's not all. You can speed things up or rewind, whatever you like."
Again, I simply thought and it did so. It… rewinded, like one of my dad's old movies, and once I could only go so far, the two men just stopped moving.
"All good, neat. Now try fast forwarding a bit."
I took her order and put it into action, and the two began to move quickly, unnaturally, until I stopped it.
"OK. You can also reset the recording. That'll take you right back to the beginning. Try it." Judy advised
I simply thought for it to, "begin" or "start", or something along those lines and it just… reset, everything back to its beginnings.
"Now for some fun. This here's why you came in the first place." Judy said. "In analysis mode, you get to view and even scan details of the enviro recorded by the BD roller. Focus on the heat, the gun this gonk gets from his buddy at the beginning. Now scan it." She ordered as I found the gun and just looked at it. A U.I came up on my eyes, as if my scanners were picking up something in the real world.
"Eexcellent." Judy encouraged, satisfied with the data the gun brought in. "Now heads up. In analysis mode, you can ferret out background noise and conversations if the roller got close enough. This tech records everything, every little detail. Even the sights and sounds the roller was never aware of. To see the sources of the recorded sensory signals, switch to the audio layer of the editor. Go ahead and try that now."
I brain simply selected "audio", and it moved to it. All of the images became black and white, completely drowning out all visual stimulation. Now the only thing present, and hyperpresent, was sound.
"OK, good. Now you should see several sound signatures in the store. Choose one and hone in on it." Judy disembodied voice once again commanded.
I looked around and saw, what can only be described as prompts. Green ripples in the fabric of the black-and-white space around me. All I need do was focus on them with intent, and the data was apparently transferred.
"Fuck! Argh, little shitheads…" The voice said, clear as day, but it was not there, it was behind the walls of the store. This tech, whatever it was, was powerful indeed. "Go restock. I'll take the register." How 'bout you go suck a bag of dicks, hey?"
"So, any thoughts?" Judy asked curiously.
"Unbelievable. Seriously. Like it was happening right next to me." I responded, not even a trace of fabrication in my voice.
"Yeah, it's how BD recording implants work. They pick up everything, all the elements in the background, then an editor tweaks 'em, makes 'em pop. Keep playin' with the sound, explore it a bit. We'll move on when you get bored."
She said, and I did so, I looked towards another one of the "prompts" and kept my focus there for a bit, analyzing the specific soundwaves.
"Pack of cigs, case of Broseph, and a couple of zappers." One of the customers said, counting off their items. It was amazing to me that these little interactions were always there, just never picked-up on.
"Okay, we have a deal today in two flavors, Kani and—" The man I now knew to be the store owner behind the register said, before being cut off by my—his entrance.
I decided now would be a good time to switch back to color, to the visual layer.
"Sometimes you can analyze extra layers in the raw, stuff the roller's cyberware picked up." Judy's voice said.
"Like what, exactly?" I asked, really only thinking back.
"Ev's got Kiroshi optics that grab infrared. Meaning you should be able to grab heat signatures form her recording." Judy said, which, now that I'd overcome the disorientation of this whole ordeal, made me sort of excited.
"Huh, hella nice." I responded.
"Now let's wait 'til the guy punches out the gonk at the counter." Judy ordered.
I resumed the recording and could hear the very lines I'd just spoken, spoken once again. The man walked up to the counter and punched out the customer, sending her flying to the ground.
"Scanning works on peeps, too. Go up to the wounded chick, try scannin' her." She said.
I focused on the fallen body and the data just kept rolling in.
"All right, next thing. Scroll forward to the part where our artist gets a lead injection." Judy said, continuing to guide me though.
Just as I had done before, he did as well. Some part of me wanted to call out to him, tell him to stop, look around, and not be so goddamn jumpy. But this song had been sung long ago, man had been dead a long time, now.
He walked backward, and just as he was about to make a break for the outside, he received a clean bullet to the skull.
"See that? They shot him, an' he never saw it comin'." Judy said. "But you will. Here it comes – my favorite part of the game. See that blinking thing over the entrance? Security cam. Must've caught our shooter. You'll see in a sec. Cam feeds to the screen behind the clerk. Roll back to where the screen's in the kid's field of vision. Then scan it."
I rewinded, and he was brought back to life before my eyes, no different than I movie, I guess. He aimed his gun at the man behind the counter yet again. And I looked to the screen behind him.
After scanning it, a camera feed was displayed on the heads-up display. I could see the feed play out perfectly. I saw the man with the gun waltz in, before getting full vision, and enhancing the quality, I assumed it would be the other employee in the back. But as the video footage was enhanced, the guy began to look mighty familiar…
"His own choomba shot 'im. Probably planned to all along. Musta got a nice slice of cred on the black market for a BD like this." Judy revealed. "BD freaks are ready to pay a preem for a real flatline. Anyway, though, if you've seen enough, you can exit."
I was taken aback, the pain of death that was inflicted upon me was from someone that, in the moment, I trusted. I couldn't help but feel somewhat betrayed by that revelation. After all, I sat in the head of this kid, in full consciousness. For a time, I was him, in every way that mattered. But it was time to stop messing around, I knew there was work to be done. I focused my mental energy hard to—well… wake up for lack of a better term, only thing that it could be related to.
I leaned up in my chair and the first thing I saw was Judy, still in her chair.
"Yeah, it's 'mpressive, right? It's too bad most of the BDs we do here are only good for floggin' the log…" Judy said letting out a disappointed exhale. "Anyway, you ready to do this, look at your rec?"
With my mental energy, well, let's say "strained" I responded,
"Dunno, I… Let's take a break. Still fell like that kid when… Phew, yeah, I think I'm done."
"Sam, there's no time. Get it together, please." Evelyn piped up.
I wanted to tell her off so badly, but she was the client, and I had a job to do. I couldn't… I couldn't pussy out…
"OK, OK… Go ahead… Just need T-Bug to link in." I said, to which Morgynn nodded.
Judy seemed to have an unexpected reaction; the entire time we'd been here she'd been cool as a cucumber. Now though, she hopped up out her seat, seemingly caught off guard by what I'd just said, looking around the room for some information.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who?"
"Another runner from our crew, security specialist. She'll tell Sam what to look for while you guys analyze. No problem, I hope?" Morgynn informed.
"Actually, it is a problem." Judy replied, shedding her previously cool demeanor. "Not what we agreed, Ev." She said, looking towards Evelyn with a sneer.
"Evelyn? I won't get a damn thing out of this without T-Bug." I pleaded, hoping that for just once, she'd take me serious enough to respect what I was asking for.
"Judy, please…" Evelyn said, seemingly taking my side of things.
"Ev, they want to bring a 'runner in. What part of that don't you understand?" She asked, growing more and more unlike her previous self. "How do I know she'll only perch in this footage, observe, not fuck with anything?"
"Me – I'm your guarantee." Evelyn replied in a stone-cold manner.
Judy just gave her a half-baked smile back, not believing her seriousness in the slightest.
"Yeah, right…"
"Help me this one last time. I promise everything'll work out – just like we planned." Evelyn said, pleading and bargaining with Judy.
"Okay. Call T-Bug and we'll dive in, Sam." Judy relented reluctantly, sitting back down in her chair.
Morgynn pulled out her holophone and dialed 'er up.
Her hologram popped up as she answered.
"Hey, Morg. What's happenin'?"
"Bug, listen. We got some useful footage from Konpeki Plaza. It's a braindance." Morgynn informed.
"Konpeki? Ohhh, thought as much…" Judy remarked at Evelyn… seemingly not in the know about that either, though unsurprised.
T-Bug seemed to hear the background noise.
"Someone there with you guys?"
"Judy and Evelyn. They're chill. They're helping me work though this BD." I said extending my neck as far as I could over the armrest to be in frame for T-Bug.
"Uh-huh… All right – are either of you gonna tell me what this is about?" Bug asked.
"Listen… we need your help. Sam's got no clue what to look for once he's in." Morgynn said.
"All right, what the hell? See if I can walk you through it." T-Bug replied. "Jackin' into your tech now, Sam."
A warning symbol came up on my cornea that read, "Unauthorized Access".
"Mh, you've gotta give me access. Opening port 1779… Secure protocol?" She asked, as Morgynn looked to Judy for the answer. Judy nodded her head and Morgynn did the same for T-Bug.
"Good, I'm goin' in. Should be getting my request…" Bug stated, trailing off. "…now."
"Got it. You ready?" I asked her.
"Milisec, OK, connection confirmed, now some quick temp ICE and… we're clear." She said, confirming her readiness. "Ready to dance."
"Alright, fire 'er up, Judy." I ordered, as the lights on the headset began to flash again.
Knowing how this routine went by now, I just kept my eyes opened and waited for the inevitable…
Song Choice: Wallace – Hans Zimmer, Benjamin Wallfisch
Since Judy had cut the sensory shit, I was still able to see, and feel like myself, not like someone else completely. But I still noticed that I could feel Evelyn's emotions, anticipation and excitement… So, it almost felt as if I was only half me, and maybe that's the best I could ask for.
I looked around a bit and as the terrain formed around me, I realized that I was in an elevator, and I could feel it's momentum slowing to a halt. This must be the Konpeki elevator, I was here, and not.
"All right, Sam– eyes open. Gotta find out where Yorinobu's keepin' the Relic." T-Bug's disembodied voice said, echoing over far channels.
Once the elevator came to a stop, I could hear footsteps from outside the small chamber. But it was not ordinary footsteps, either. These sounded like a metal elephant, even though the doors muffled the sound a bit, I could still hear every step with perfect clarity. I threw my… purse over my shoulder and got ready to exit.
As soon as the doors opened, I was greeted with the suite… and something else. I quickly realized that the footsteps were coming from this… thing. It was hulking mass of black metal cybernetic hardware. Not even sure if it was completely an android or not. Standing at least seven-and-a-half feet tall, this walking tank revealed its ability to speak, and it spoke to me, on his way into the elevator I was just exiting from.
"You look like a cut of fuckable meat. Are you?" He said in a metallic, grainy voice, that made every fiber of my being crack under its profound weight. His towering figure simply walked past and entered the elevator as I could now feel Evelyn's true fear of him. Since my mind and hers were equally paired, I somehow knew what she knew, the man-bot, his name was… Adam Smasher…
I'd heard the stories of Adam in my many years on the road, in passing, of course, he disappeared for the longest…was assumed dead for the most part. I guess that was no longer the case. It was common knowledge that Adam had a proclivity towards cybernetics, but something must've happened to turn him into… that.
"Evelyn… She… I felt her fear." I said, to no one in particular, and almost out of reflex. "Sure, got it under control quick, too."
"I said no." Yorinobu stated sternly, sitting on his luxury stools, viewing the projected screen in front of him. "
"They'll have my head for this…" The man on the screen protested.
"Then you shall perish for a good cause." Yorinobu responded.
"But I—" The blonde man on the screen tried to reply only, to be interrupted by Yorinobu.
"Make yourself comfortable. I need a minute to finish." Yorinobu said, addressing us, now aware of our presence.
"Listen in on that conversation, Sam. Could be something important." T-Bug said, calling my attention back to the task at hand.
I then jumped into the editor mode Judy had shown me before, "exiting" Evelyn's body for lack of a better term.
I switched to an audio-only layer. And the color of the scene went pale, with only the ripples of sound left to analyze.
While in editor mode, I continued the playback, now in full control of my consciousness, I could analyze. I scanned his phone, in an effort to synthesize his conversation with the man on the screen , to which he placed on a private call.
I heard the words come though crisply.
"The program is still in the trial phase. We cannot take it to market as-is!" The man who was previously on the screen warned.
"We shall see soon enough." Yorinobu responded, clearly not giving a shit anyway.
"Please speak with your father. He's taken a particular interest in this project, he can certainly explain the risks invol—" The man on the phone implored.
"My father is a tired, visionless old greybeard who thinks nothing will change and he'll live forever in his tiny, frozen bubble!" Yorinobu exclaimed at him.
"I should not even be listening to such things!" The man shouted back.
"You will listen to this – Saburo is an addled despot utterly removed from reality, stuck in some fossilized vision of a world that no longer exists! Of a world that may never have existed!" Yorinobu commanded growing angrier as the conversation went on. The angrier he got, the more his thick accent become clearer to hear. "We have not seen eye to eye for the past twenty years. I am quite sure we won't now."
"Read the documentation, carefully. The Relic requires specific storage conditions, you must abide them—"
"Noted. Enough." Yorinobu said, cutting the man off and setting down his phone on the coffee table.
"Heard that? Relic docs gotta be around here somewhere. Look for them." T-Bug prompted.
Before I did so, I made sure to scan the last of the current sound prompts I could find in the scene.
I found one that was placed directly on a decorative wall where the screen was projected.
"Hearin' a drone – ventilation and cooling? Servers, gotta be. All the fancy doodads in here need to be controlled." T-Bug said, intercepting my analysis.
I sped up the recording, and switched to the visual layer trying to find anything else of use, I was able to find a datapad the Yorinobu had been carrying on him.
"Manuel details a special temp-controlled container. Relic needs to be kept real cool." T-Bug said looking over the data.
"So – chip's gotta stay in the freezer?" I questioned for confirmation.
"Yep. Could damage it otherwise. OK, now switch to a thermal layer detection in the editor. Should be easier to spot where Yorinobu is keeping the chip."
While I was there, I decided to scan another interesting item, a gun, that Yori kept by his bedside. I focused on it and retrieved a significant amount of data on it.
Before I even scanned it was it was clear to me that it was a Constitutional Arms: Liberty model, with some customization.
"It's loaded, safety's on. Good to know, though. Once y'all are inside, don't forget about that iron. Sell it if nothin' else." T-Bug added.
After that, I reset the scene to the beginning, there were quite a few things that I hand an inkling would be useful.
I once again found myself in the elevator, now though, I could see Evelyn from a different perspective, instead of being her.
I saw the giant metal monstrosity and scanned him. Analytics came up that he was now ninety-six percent decked out in military-grade cybernetics. The danger monitor labeled him as, extreme, a label I assumed was only reserved for the biggest of badasses. One thing was for sure though, he was one ugly motherfucker, that was for sure.
I moved on and past Smasher, scanning anything I thought looked to be of relevance. I saw what looked to be a fancy camera and focused in on it.
"Shit, camera packed with newtech – motion sensors, heat sig activators, IFF." T-Bug said in a mix of concern and excitement.
"You skilled enough to kill it all?" I asked.
"Mucho more than enough. Just need access to their subnet." She replied.
I scanned yet another piece of hardware that caught my eye, what looked like an over-modernized dildo stuck on a wall.
"Alarm firmware's fresh, but… saw excited birds chirpin' on a BBS. Somethin' about lots of seeds fallin' though the sieve. Lemme generate keys, I can forge their sigs." T-Bug added.
I then fast forwarded the playback, not seeing else that immediately caught my eye.
Once Evelyn began to move around the suite, more became lit up for me to scan, I looked to the ceiling, and found yet another security system that caught my eye and focused in.
"Automated turret. Latest scanner model… Systems all connected to the server…" T-Bug trailed off, showing more concern.
"Can you shut 'em off?" I asked her.
"Externally? No way. Gotta get in, check how they link into the system first." She had a pause, trying to summarize her ideas about the security here. "Mmhm. Looks like all their security systems are linked to the hotel subnet. We need the Flathead. No other way to shut down these systems." She added lastly.
"Can't get around them ourselves?" I asked, wondering what we were to do if Alex and Jackie came back empty-handed.
"Nope. Least I'm fresh out of ideas." T-Bug replied.
After assessing everything in the visual layer that I cared to, I threw myself into the thermal layer, and it did admittedly disorient me, being my first time.
Everything was bathed in blue and varying shades of orange and pink for anything that put off heat.
I spent awhile shuffling back and forth throughout the scene and suite. I looked scanned AC units, champagne buckets, wine coolers, anything that could possibly match what we were looking for.
After a good while, I came upon a suspicious area in the floor that was significantly cooler than the rest. The only reason I'd glazed over it so much was because it was only visible in a small part of the scene, for only a moment or two. It was far removed from just about everything else in the suite.
I honed in on it and received the data we needed.
"Right, grabbed the heat sig. Matches the spec in the docs." T-Bug said over her distant comms.
"Yorinobu's got the case here, guaranteed." I responded, confident that I just had to be there.
"Mhm. We got it. Good work." Bug added. "Alright, looks like we got everything we need. Quit outta the editor."
At her order, I put my mind to it and pulled my consciousness back into the real world.
DateTime Data:
June 28th, 2077, 7:45 PM
Upon my return I saw Judy, Morgynn and Evelyn all standing around me, waiting for mine and Bug's analysis. And just like clockwork, Morgynn received a call…
"Got everything you need?" Judy asked
I returned with a smile, and a short sigh, happy to be done with it. "Yep, that'll do. Thanks, Judy."
Morgynn answered her holophone and T-Bug appeared.
"We got it. Later, T-Bug." Morgynn said.
"Nice work today, you two. See ya soon." She said, leaving just as quickly as she arrived.
"I'll wipe the cache and your data. You were never here." Judy said, generously.
She then got up from her chair and removed the headset from my head. She then handed it to me, with a soft, close lipped smile.
"Keep it. I'll put it on Ev's tab. Portable device for handling BDs. I already uploaded your calibration settings. Not as sophisticated as what we got here, but should do the trick."
"And it keeps you outta harm's way. Clever." Morgynn added.
"Speakin' of harms way. Know what I see lookin' at you two?" She asked, giving a slight pause. "Walking, talking corpses."
"Relax, we got it all under control." Morgynn replied, to Judy shaking her head.
"If you fuck up and they come knockin' on my door…" She said, voicing her worry.
"Judy… relax. That not gonna happen." Evelyn said, trying to comfort her.
"Evelyn, please, for me… no shortcuts." Judy pleaded with her. "You go that route, city'll always win. So be careful."
Evelyn made a sound just short of scoffing.
" 'Course I will be. Besides, we'll talk in a bit."
Evelyn lined up at the door to Judy's office, giving me my silent que to get up and outta the chair and follow.
"Well, don't worry. Won't do anything to get you in trouble. But, uh… I hope to see you again?" Morgynn asked Judy hopefully.
"Depends." Was the only thing Judy responded with.
"On what?" Morgynn replied, quickly.
"Whether you come alone or with a tag-along. Like another netrunner." Judy returned.
"No 'runners, 'sides me, of course. I promise… See ya." Morg said, trying to solidify trust with Judy.
"Guys, one sec." Evelyn said, calling our attention. "Let's walk."
We walked over and out of Judy's office now all secluded in another area of the basement.
"Well? What do you think?" Evelyn asked us.
"I think I see how you know so much about Yorinobu…" I said suggestively.
"It's simple – men like pillow talk a bit too much." Evelyn replied.
"So it's just about the sex?" I asked her, wanting an honest answer above anything else.
"Biz. And biz only." She responded.
"You sure Yorinobu doesn't expect this kinda move from you?" I said, making my next question heard.
"He's got no idea, trust me. He's too busy with NetWatch to give me that kind of attention." Evelyn stated. "Besides, even if some suspicion takes root in his mind, it shouldn't matter, he won't react in time. And that's something you'll handle, right?" She said, deflecting the question back onto us.
"You're not worried? Arasaka will flag and screen anyone who's had dealings with Yorinobu." Morgynn said, voicing her own concern.
"Well, they'll have a long list, then. Packed full of big names. Much bigger than mine." Was her only response, not the most solid in my opinion. "You tell me who they check first. Corpo hotshots and cutthroats? Or a little bedroom plaything like me?"
"Intel on Yori, the chip, the BD from Konpeki… Provided the winds are right, and plan's perfect. A job like this comes one in a million." I said, championing the idea.
"Mm. Thanks. Now the punch line, please." Evelyn said, seemingly knowing me well enough already to see though that.
"Just sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?" I asked.
"Cold feet? Are you looking to get out of it?" Evelyn questioned.
"No, but I wanna know if you're really in control here. That you're not sending us that sorta shit we can't wade out of." I said, finally getting the courage to just spill my worry all over the floor, outright.
"Sam. I have no reasons to haze you. We're in this together. Really. Trust me that I got this." Evelyn said, trying to encourage us.
After a pause that went on a little too long, Morgynn broke in,
"So, what now?"
"Guys…" Evelyn responded, trialing off, most definitely about to follow up with something. "Do this job for me. I mean me alone. No splitting the payout with anyone else. No middlemen. No Dex."
Morgynn seemed to be more shocked at that revelation than I was. From the beginning she was trying to drive a wedge between us and Dex, and now that her manipulation had failed, she needed to make her claim, fully.
"You wanna fuck over our fixer. I knew something was up." I retorted.
"Dex is a middleman. And a useless one, at this point." She said shrugging her shoulders, simply not understanding why we were holding on to Dex so strongly.
"Evelyn, you don't mess with fixers. That's the one rule every merc in this city knows – and actually follows." Morgynn piped up.
"But if were smart—" Evelyn said, trying to negotiate further.
"Doesn't matter. Mistake like that'll cost you your rep. And without a rep, you're nobody." I said, interrupting her negotiation before she could go any further. "You sure you wanna do this?"
"Better ask yourselves that question. Do you want to spend the rest of your days blasting scavs? Or become a legend overnight? Your choice." She fired back, not willing to accept her defeat.
"Look, if we agree, there'll be hell to pay. For sure." Morgynn said firmly.
"I know. Whatever you decide, it stays between us." Evelyn responded in an almost solemn voice. "I can offer fifty percent. Eddies enough to do whatever the hell you like."
"We'll be finished. Dex won't forgive a dirt move like this." I objected.
"Dex isn't the only fixer in town. But my offer's the only one you'll ever get." She replied.
"Huh, OK. Let's think on it for a bit." I relented, still not completely on-board in the slightest
"Mmhmm. If you need me, call. I send you two my number."
"OK." Morgynn responded, clearly overwhelmed by all we learned today.
"Good luck." Evelyn said as she walked away, back into Judy's office room.
I lightly slapped Morgynn on her back to break her out of her daze. We moved forward and out of the building. It was almost dark now, sun's light barely still over the horizon.
Morgynn then had the bright idea to call Dex and inform him of what's gone on here. At least everything we cared to tell him… for now.
His hologram popped up on her holophone and he asked.
"Alright then, how's it goin', Ms. Herrera?"
"Turns out Evelyn's recording from Konpeki was worth our time." She relayed.
"Beautiful. T-Bug already called; said she's workin' her magic." He responded.
"Question: Anything on Alex and Jackie? Anything on the Flathead?" I asked his hologram.
"Nothin' yet. I assume their still cleanin' it up." Dex replied. "T-Bug says no chance at that chip without that bot. So, we'd all better hope they get it back in good condition."
At that, we just walked out to the car in the parking lot, drowned in the pink neon light of the, "Lizzie's" sign. Morgynn switched it on, and we talked over what we'd just been though…