Author's note: I need to get these out or I end up deleting and starting again, like with chapter 1: So might want to give that a re-read.

Merc Work

Six was led through alleys, cramped with the homeless Six tried to not step on them, like ants huddling up. The insects though lessened, as they got closer to a carpark, The carpark was populated by young kids wearing old edgerunner jackets and boots. They were surrounded by apartment buildings. on a Friday night the carpark was filled with a variety of vehicles from Villefort alverado's that didn't belong in Watson to Makigai Mai Mai's. Six was unable to find the afterlife's exact location.
"So, any idea where it is?"
"The old morgue." Jade pointed to a random set of stairs going down, identical to the other steps on the exterior of the apartments around the parking lot. A faint emerald glow coming from the steps. Jade placed her hands in her pockets, leading Six, A choice for a white shirt, dusty pants and office shoes was practically asking to be robbed, especially with a joytoy by their side, though the shirt was more in tatters, Six's arm, the sight of all, sleek black, military grade on display made the smokers outside take a step forwards, one though had an idea and snuck up behind Six, reaching for their pocket. The idea that Corpo's had enough money to be careless with wasn't always correct, as Six felt something at the base of their neck, the cred-chip. Six spun around the end of the barrel pointed towards the meat sack. Their vision began to glitch. Index coiled around the trigger, just a little twitch, and the meat sack would learn it's lesson.
"Just play it cool." Jade's voice caused Six to look away for a second. All it took for the edge runner to through the cred-chip on the floor and run away.
"How do you mean cool?"
"Don't point your gun at everyone."
"Anything else." Six placed the chip back in their body.
"Just look intimidating. Like a solo. If you want high paying contracts you got to look the part, as I don't, you'll be the one to do that." She looked towards the entrance to the morgue, a silver corridor with solo's leaning on the side, checking their weapons and even a bouncer at the door. She turned to Six. "Remember no guns."
"Blades?"
"No." Overhearing the conversation the corridor mercs, looked up, giving the new arrivals a double take. The sound of Laz-pop came through the doors muffled, with every step they took ringing out larger than the music, boots banging on the metal floor, clinical and cold. Emmerick Bronson's head nearly touched the ceiling, casting a shadow over those, who had to stand before him, A little taller than Six. Their eyes observed the two, stepping aside, for Jade to go through the doors, and holding an arm out to halt Six.
"What brings you here?"
"Looking for work."
"No Corps, No Cops, No Media."
"Why?"
"Cops ain't fun, media can't keep their mouth shut and you're bad for business."
"How?"
"Faraday."
"Explain it to me like I just got here."
"Corpo played Millitech and Arasaka, got himself, and his whole crew killed. The last thing we need is you getting information on any jobs against whoever the hell you work for."
"I work for Jade, so just let me in." Six stepped around, Emmerick, tying to move up down, around and under.
"That means she's Corp too." Emmrick shoved Jade into Six.
"Get going."
"I used to work in cliuds, I'm not working with Arasaka, c'mon I'll even go in without them." Jade distanced herself from Six, but Emmerick just held her up by the collar.
"No means no. I get it Dolls don't understand that, but you're not getting in."
"Asshole." Jade raised a middle finger to Emmerick. "And I'm an Ex-doll." She turned around, shaking her head. "I got other ideas, The Mox should be close by." Jade got to the steps, looking back, seeing Six hadn't moved an inch. Their trigger finger twitched, as glitches began to pop up on their optics, the sound of a snarling dog, taking over sound, Jade's voice emerged from the barking. "Six, remember be cool."

The afterlife Solo's enjoyed laz-pop, drinking finding jobs only distracted from the alcohol and eddies by Emmerick, forced through the doors by Six. The strength made the animal slide back along the sticky floor. Six on-top clattered their fist into their opponents face, snarling. Emmerick grabbed onto Six and tore the borg off their body, throwing them into the wall. Six was up in a second, flexing their fingers in their hand. Enough motor functions had been restored to make a fist. Six readied themselves in a boxers pose, hopping from one foot to the other.
"I think if I beat you up, I've earned entrance, don't you think."
"How about this? Get out and I won't tear you in half."
"Sounds fair to me." Six took one step forwards when a red dot appeared on their shirt, more being added, by the second, and that was from the mercs that had the nice weapons. The room filled with clicks and clacks of various weapons all aimed at Six.
"I haven't seen something that stupid since Arasaka tower." The voice came from the side, feminine. A liberty pistol pressed against Six's head, as they raised their arms.
"What could possibly motivate you to charge head-first into a bar filled with heavily armed mercs?" Six's optics couldn't look at the person's face, only able to see the combat boots black pants and yellow shirt with 'Survive' written on the front.
"Looking for a fixer."
"There are plenty in N.C why come here?"
"I don't know the streets. Jade told me we could get fixer's here."
"So that's why you decide to barge in here, demand a job when no one knows your name?"
"Six. Well, now they know my name." The lady lifted the pistol from Six's head and let out a small laugh.
"Claire, put the gonk on the bottom of the board." The bartender paused her drinks serving and grabbed a chalkboard, writing Six's number. " One job a week or you'll be taken off the board. Live longer than those fodder and that's when you'll start hitting it, big time If not well, you'll be dead."
"Rogue he's a Corp." Emmerick spoke up, watching her begin to walk to her booth. She waved her hand in the air.
"Doesn't mean he can't be an edge runner, Blackhand was Millitech. You've let worse in here Bronson. Let the thing earn some cash." The bar went back to its usual business, people talking with silenced pistols under the table, alcoholics at the bar, clobbering people. Emmerick shoved into Six on his way towards the door.
"In my defence I didn't use a gun?" Six turned to Jade who was wide eyes, staring at the ten names above Six's.
"You're insane."
"I got us in didn't I?"
"And nearly got us into the actual afterlife." Jade took a seat at the bar and ordered a Jackie Welles, something strong to calm her down, she took a small sip of the drink, staring at the board. Claire was still polishing glasses. Jade pointed to the names.
"Who are they."
"Up and coming Mercs. After David Hernandez and V. Rogue decided to keep an eye out on up-and-coming talent."
"Hear that. We're up and coming talent." Six lightly shoved Jade, nearly forcing her from her stool.
"And all you had to do was nearly take a bullet from everyone in this bar. Just stay here, let me do the talking." Jade stepped off her stool and looked around, one person was scrambling around, asking questions. A possible job. Jade waved over, they weren't a normal fixer, A nomad in their denim jeans, hair dusted up and goggles hanging around his neck, it was the dress of someone who spent their time out in the Badlands, they looked towards Jade, and moved past them, asking the fodder behind if they're willing to earn some cash. Jade's eye twitched.
"Hey. I'm willing to earn cash."
"I need muscle lady."
"You saw the commotion before, they're with me." The nomad looked towards Six, asking another person.
"C'mon man, I need some help. It's only maelstrom you can deal with them."
"Don't think anyone's gonna help you. Aside from us."The nomad made eye contact with others, only for a split second before they looked away. Jade's eyes never broke from him, The nomad checked his watch, the body froze.
"Fine." The nomad was led to the stool next to Six. "All right I got a job. Fifteen percent, each Needs to be done before daybreak though." Six turned on their stool, staring at the Nomad, who moved a stool away. "My Truck got Klepped by Maelstrom. I want it back."
"How Many we talking?"
"Ten, maybe more?"
"What's the scratch?"
"A few thousand." Six stood up and flexed their fingers, a calibration test.
"That's a lot for ten corpses."
"Yeah, well they're not the job, the truck is." Jade nodded her head.
"We'll help, where's your truck?"
"Watson, I'll take you there. Names Dax" A small introduction later they were takwen outside. Dax staring at their phone. Placing a sawed-off shotgun on their back. The only one un-armed Jade gulped, seeing a Budget arms vending machine. Buying a slaught-o-matic for little more than a can of Nicola.

The three were walking…Again. Jade kept between the two. The plastic masquerading as a pistol held tight in her hand under her coat. Eyes scanning the street for anyone looking too long.
"Why don't you have a car?" She called to Six.
"Expensive, why don't you have a car?"
"You think I have enough money for a car."
"Cars ain't that much". Dax followed their signal, past the more industrious parts of Watson, large towers replaced with redbrick buildings that went out of fashion more than half a century ago. A few more blocks to go, Dax's walk, speeding up, checking the time."I got my first car for a couple hundred Eddies, course the air bags didn't work…or tha' seat belts, I had ta replace the engine. I think it was also stolen."
"We could steal a car." Six tapped on a car window.
"We are not stealing a car." Jade, reached for Six's arm, trying to pull it away from the window
"I'll give you guys a ride back. For five percent of your pay."
"If we don't get a ride back, we're not helping you."
"Fine, but we need to get my ride back first." Dax reached the destination and placed their head around the corner. Maelstrom guards, armed with S.M.G's. The Nomad turned back to look at the two. "So Six right? I've got a plan."
"What's the plan?"
"You distract them. I'll sneak around the back, and grab my ride, and drive off."
"That's your plan?" Jade grabbed Six, skidding along the floor, unable to stop them. "Use Six as a distraction?"
"Surely they can take a bullet or two."
"Relax Jade. I know how to distract people." Six gave Jade a thumbs up.
"Fine, but I need you alive for our deal."
"Relax, I don't even need to get a good look at their chrome to see it's Gomi."
"Gomi?"
"Trash!" Six yelled down the alleyway and held their arms out, practically making themselves a bigger target. "Right fellers. 've not had a good fight all night. Give it to me." Six grinned, Maelstrom were the lowest of the low. No one would care, no one would even call the cops, even if they weren't meat. Just meant they might give Six a decent fight. After all, a good fight didn't end with Arasaka coming to take your opponent.

Jade had followed Dax around the block, towards the back of the shop, where the metal gate stood in the way. They shook the gate, only hearing it jingle.
"Didn't expect a gate."
"You thought it was just going to open up?"
"I am choosing to ignore your sarcasm." Jade sighed and crouched to look at the gate's locks. She reached to grab her hairpin.
"It's a cheap lock." Dax poked their sawn-off through the door just in case some un-welcomed visitors came out the back. Jade flinched as Gunshots echoed around the block. She muttered under her breath.
"If your plan gets Six killed, you're next."
"You two chooms?"
"Saved my life. I owe the thing a favor." There was a click. The gate squealed, with Dax pushing it open.
"Almost sound like a nomad." Dax placed themselves against the door, still open, the gunshots continued, Six was still alive, another sound could be heard, between gunshots. Laughter. Jade shivered, screaming as a bullet ricocheted off the garage wall, taking a chunk out of the brickwork. Her eyes looked back to Dax, entering the building. "That kid was a good distraction. Place is empty." Dax ran to their truck and hugged it, a Thornton Mackinsaw, though the front had been crushed and scratched up. "Bastards took it for a joyride."
"You got the truck, grab the keys and go." Dax checked their phone and paused.
"Shit. It's outside."
"What?"
"I didn't think one of them would have the keys."
"Next time, how about you leave the planning to me." The gunshots stopped. Jade and Dax turned to the door. Jade's hands clutched around the slaught-o-matic.
"Take cover behind the truck…maybe We can? I dunno? Get them by surprise?" Dax leaned against the wall, hands on the lever, Jade hid under the truck, aiming towards out the door The door began to lift, revealing a mound of bodies. and limbs. Behind a pair of crimson boots. The dark clothes were painted red, mantis blades dripping. Jade pulled down the trigger. The bullet entered the boot and crushed itself against the chrome foot, She heard Six yell and climbed out from under the truck, seeing them hop, holding their foot.
"Can you not shoot at me please!" Six bent over and picked up the bullet shot at him, crushed against their body. "I still feel it." Jade lowered her shuddering weapon with Six wandering into the garage.
"So when do we get paid?" Dax wandered to the pile of bodies, sifting through their carved-up clothing, reaching inside, through the intertwined meat and circuitry, revealing a key, wiping the blood off on a corpses jacket.
"About that." Dax opened the back of the truck. "I'll be able to pay you back once I've done this job."
"Sure, Let's do that."
"You don't have to do that. I'll meet you back in the afterlife." Dax entered the truck, seeing Six opening the door and held their hand out. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. If you're getting in we're washing off that blood." Six rolled their eyes and wandered out of Jade's view, she was looking at the corpses, she couldn't even make out any of their faces, It was a scrap heap of parts, oil and blood, leaking. The laughter…She had to get out, then what? Back to the doll house forgetting hours, weeks? Her bullet lay discarded on the floor, crushed. She picked up the scrap metal between her fingers, seeing more broken pellets around the corpses. They held actual guns. Jade snapped back, Dax's hand poked her shoulder.
"You still with us?"
"Y-yeah. Just Never got close before."
"Yeah, don't focus on it. Either us or them?"
"Was it?"
"They'd have zeroed us, you saw they tried to shoot Six."
"Yeah sure."
"Cyberpsycho's all of 'em." Six came from the backrooms, the blood able to slide off their chrome with a quick wash, though blood was a pain to get out a white shirt.
"There it's dry, can we get in now?"

Dax sat in the driver's seat, stroking the wheel. "Good ta have you back girl." Dax twisted the key, hearing the engine rev, pressing the pedal down, hearing a mighty roar echo through the building drowning out all sounds from the tuned exhausts. Dax moved the stick and frove over the Maelstrom bodies onto the open road.
"So when do we get paid?" Jade leaned between the seats, staring forwards, her eyes refusing to look in the rar view mirror to the alley they came from, her weapon still in her grip.
"About that…I can pay you after this job."
"What!"
"Easy, easy. I'm going to pay, we just need to complete the job, like I said you'd get fifteen percent, each." Jade sat back, folding her arms.
"Sounds like bad news. Six, if he tries anything funny, steal the car?" Dax looked over to Six and shuddered. Dax's hands locked at ten to two, quickly snapping back staring to the road.
"Relax Jade. We'll get paid."
"Just later, how much later?"
"When I finish the job, I mean when we finish the job." Dax moved the beast through the streets. Turning corners that would flip the vehicle at higher speeds, unable to resist putting their foot down.

Dax opened the trunk, grabbing the box. They grabbed their phone and started to speak about a drop, Jade leaned out the door.
"I don't like this. Keep your Iron close." Six placed their gun in Jade's hands. "I can defend myself. You'll need a proper gun, one that'll do more than tenderize meat, or explode in your hands" Jade looked at the pistol, blood on the end of the barrel, she shook her head and passed it back.
"I'm just the faceman. You do the dirty work."
"You'll need to defend yourself."
"I'll stick to sneaking."
"And when you get caught?" Six hid their gun behind the car door as Cars pulled up, screeching on the other end of the alleyway, bathing Dax in a bright light, Dax shielded his eyes, watching a figure step out.
"Dakota said you got the goods." Six's optics couldn't make out a face, the lights were too bright, even an Anti-dazzle lens such as theirs couldn't see through it. Dax placed the case down and kicked it across the floor.
"Everything and more." The figure bent down, opening the case, staring inside as fog rose from the sealed box.
"Is this a joke? You delayed us for an empty box?" The figure clobbered Dax with the case, showing him the contents. "One last laugh before we left? Wasting our time."
"No. No." Dax reached out to the box, staring inside, it was empty. Maelstrom were never ones to let cyberware go un-used, in one of those desecrated corpses.
"You can forget the money. Forget the clan." The lights died down and the figures had retreated back into their cars, leaving Dax hugging the box, trembling, muttering to himself. Jade, looking into the box. Jade kicked Dax's truck.
"Oh come on! We risked our lives for your dumb truck and nothing, how much is this damn thing worth."
"Not enough." Dax leaned against the wall. "What we lost was state of the art and that Chrome junkie probably turned it into scrap." Dax showed their middle finger to Six, who stepped closer, placing their foot on the case, applying pressure, making it squeal infront of Dax.
"Don't blame me, It was your idea to put me as bait. I just fought back"
"And I thought you'd be Bait. Not do that."
"Well now they're mincemeat, along with the only thing of value in their body. How do we get paid?"
"We don't? Infact as of now. I owe Dakota."
"Seriously?" Jade reached for the door and yanked at it, again and again, trying to open the locked door. Six xame to help, the noise getting their attention as Six smashed their hand against the window, denting the metal.
"Don't treat my ride like that."
"We need to get paid You promised us money." Six's eyes scanned the Nomad, some less than impressive metal but it would sell. "How much are you worth?" Dax raised their hands up in the air.
"Me? I've got value. A ride, information? Everyone and everything you need I got."
"I can kill you and take your ride."
"Like?" Jade folded her arms, stepping away from the truck.
"You guys are on the afterlife board, right? You need connections, fixers. I know one, out in the Badlands. Dakota. I'm sure she'd want my cut but I can get jobs We get jobs. All I ask is you let me live and I keep my ride." Jade banged her head against the wall.
"How much are these jobs, what are we doing?"
"Smuggling. Each run a few hundred to a thousand."
"Fine." Jade held her hand out. "But I need money for a room tonight."
"I erm, well I got the back of my van. All my money was with my clan, and-"
"Just my luck." A key card was waved infront of her face, Jade followed the arm to Six's face.
"I got a megatower in the city centre. I'm not going to sleep tonight, so you can crash there. As for Dax." Six's eyes glowed blue, sending their phone number to Dax's phone. They walked closer patting them on the shoulder. "Call me when you get a job. Oh and don't try to run. Arasaka's got eyes and ears everywhere." Dax nodded and scrambled into their car.
"You'll get a call, first job I get. Promise." The van drove from the alleyway, Six waving Dax off.
"How was that for cool."
"Ten points for making him crap himself, minus ten for mentioning Arasaka."
"So I was cool for a second."
"I don't have the energy to argue. Thanks for getting me off the street."
"I need you alive."

The city centre at midnight was dead, at least in Six's megatower, the drunks and gangers replaced with businessmen, sipping at their whisky, staring at nothing. How mundane. Their eyes looked to Jade, the only colour on the lobby floor, her hair a bright neon blue, as opposed to the un-dyed blacks and browns of suits, not even Six escaped it, made to blend in. They even had the generic features of those in the building, the same features. Six's only difference were the black optics with red circles. Jade leaned against the lift as Six pressed the button taking them up.
"Six, thanks for the help." Six perked up at the sound of that, looking back.
"Thank you too?"
"Weirdo."
"You're the one thanking me."
"For making sure I didn't die."
"And thanks for getting me a job. Not just running away."
"I did hold a gun to your head."
"Doesn't make you special." Six led Jade outside, seeing their neighbor. Six raised a hand to watch the neighbor panic and yank their door open, locking it after them. The door detected the range of the key, opening for the two, revealing an apartment exactly like Jade's. Not just in design but also its lack of anything. It looked like Six had just moved in. The bed even perfectly laid un-disturbed. Jade fell onto the couch, lying down.
"You sure you're ok with this?"
"I use it to charge my batteries. Don't needa' shower. I can go into low-power mode outside the office."
"You mean sleep?"
"I don't sleep."
"Sleep is a biological need. I do it to recharge."
"Sounds like sleep."
"You sleep every night. I'm not so vulnerable."
"So, what do you do when everyone else is asleep."
"I'll tell you when. I wake up. Don't touch my stash and see you tomorrow." Six called through the open doorway. "And lock my door. City centre still isn't safe."

Six leaned over the balcony and rubbed their temples. Six sent a message to Four, No reply, sent it to their life coach, they were asleep. Wire didn't reply either, sleeping. Six could probably check-up. Four was like them. Six plotted a course to Arasaka tower.

P.S Author's note:

I'm afraid this chapter is a little slower than theo ther but my first chapter was very action heavy, here I wanted a bit more dialogue, a bit more character revealed, though not sure how well I did. Enjoy at least.

I always welcome constructive criticism. I know I'm not perfect but I aim to entertain at least.