Un-wanted visitors

Jade had to be awake. How long did ganics need to sleep anyway? Six slammed their fist into their apartment door, not giving the question much thought, waiting. It took five seconds before the constant beating of Six's hand against the door caused Jade on the otherside to pull herself off the couch, throwing the dirty clothes from yesterday. Six's jacket still hanging over her shoulders. Jade checked the peephole, seeing Six's bullet-ridden shirt.
"Christ Six. Do you know the time?"
"Half seven."
"Yeah and I got into bed like four hours ago?"
"So? Everyone in the office just has coffee."
"You got insta-coffee up here?"
"Don't drink."
"Well I do, I need my coffee."
"Fine let's go."
"In that?" Jade pointed to Six's shirt.
"Yeah? It's just a bit of blood. I can hide it with a coat."
"You'll scare people and I want a drama free coffee, so get changed." Six reached out, their wardrobe was packed with white shirts, dark jackets, identical boots and business slacks. Jade looked away but managed a small peak. Six's torso was the colour of cast iron, probably as heavy too. From the shoulders down. Six's borg's began to show. No breasts or pectorals. It was a flat exterior meant to simulate a torso's shape. Theur shirt, hid the abnormalities.
"You know where the nearest place to get coffee?" Six closed the door behind them, pressing the button for the ground floor.
"It's your megatower, you don't know?"
"Never looked."
"They'll be something on the streets."
"I need a location to send to Dax."
"Tom's diner." There had to be one in close proximity.

Tom's diners were identical like the megatower's a single floored building shaped like a Nascar racetrack, with the floor of a chess board, and a bar with stools around it, for the sleep-deprived to hunch over and get refills of Luke-warm coffee by the waiter with a bowtie. Jade occupied a booth in the corner, kicking her feet up on the couch, closing her eyes and leaning against the window. Six opposite, observing, Eyes closed was a good way to get shot and back to a window was like begging a sniper to take a shot. A voice came from the side.
"May I take your order." Six's optics snapped to the disturbance, the shadow loomed over Jade, Six's hand reached under their coat, wrapping around their gun.
"Just coffee and pancakes please." Jade groaned, opening one eye, and spotting Six, seeing under their coat. The last thing she needed was to get kicked out of Tom's diner. "Six." Her voice changed Six's direction to her. "She's here to take your order."
"Full body convert." Six's grip changed to reveal a hypo-stim. The waiter paused for a second vanishing into the back. Their head peaked through the window, staring at Six.
"Never been in a diner before?"
"No."
"I'd ask if you were born yesterday, but infants can't get chipped." The camera in the building tuned to Six, observing the implants
"Just never had a need."
"Even before all, this?"
"Don't remember."
"That's…heavy. Guess if you had friends you wouldn't come to me for help."
"Not a chance. No one in the office compares to you Jade." Six looked, down to their hands as they scratched at the table.
"And if it helps. You're the only corp who's not screwed me, literally or figuratively." Jade managed a small chuckle at that. The coffee mug was placed in front of Jade, she poured enough packs of sugar until no more could dissolve and sipped the coffee. "I was just meant to be your faceman."
"You can be?"
"And have you botch our jobs that don't require blowing everything to kingdom come?"
"Fair point." Six injected the synth blood into their arm, able to give their brain enough oxygen. The waiter's shadow lingered over the two
"S-sir. My manager had k-kindly asked you to l-leave?" Six turned to the waiter.
"Why?" The waiter recoiled shielding her face.
"T-the m-manager would like you to leave."
"My waiting for pancakes Six stood up, causing the waiter to squeal. The door swung open revealing the manager.
"Listen pal. No funny business. I say the word psycho, we got Max-tac here in minutes. So get out." Six's hand clenched into a ball, before being grabbed by Jade.
"We'll take the pancakes to go." Jade let go of Six, hands. "I'll join you outside." The bell rang as Six stepped out of the restaurant and sat on a barricade, the managers eyes still lingering on Six. Jade left soon after, box in hand next to Six. She got through her first pancake before noticing Six, Jade hid her face with the box lid, trying to hide the rate she was devouring the microplastic-infused food. Six tapping their food.
"You wanna eat in there you can."
"If I go back inside I'll have to pay. You think they're gonna come out here after askin' you to leave."
"What because they think I'll go psycho?"
"They're scared."
"Are you scared of me?" Six turned to Jade, shoving pancakes in their face. Six looked down to their hands, they'd wrapped around her neck, soft squishy skin, able to be crushed. Six saw Jade's neck, there was still a bruise where their hand had been. Six shoved their hands in their pocket away from Jade's neck. Jade was used as a hostage. Six wouldn't have killed her. They hunched over, staring at their feet.

Six jolted up hearing a loud bang. A vehicle backfiring, Six was the first on their feet. The Red Ga40xt Rattler, earning its name by the noise it was making, the engine's movement seemed to shake the entire front of the car, giving it a clanking noise when exceeding sixty miles per hour. Dax slammed the brakes, hearing a screech as the car took longer than it should have, skidding past the two before stopping at the side of the road. Dax poked their head out the window.
"I have good news and bad news." Jade's eyes were on the rattler.
"What happened to your ride?"
"That's the good news. I managed to repair this rattler, So I can now drive you guys. The bad news. Dakota took my ride and well My fixer's not giving me jobs anymore so…I'm broke, and without Suzy we have, Fran."
"You named your Truck?" Six questioned.
"Well yeah. You got a name too?"
"Six is my designation."
"How about Blade? A little edgy but suits you."
"Six works."
"How about a normal name? Susan? Greg?"
"Six."
"Attached to that name huh?"
"Six is mine. I don't try and change your name." Jade finished her pancakes and slumped back taking a deep breath. Her stomach still grumbled; it would take more than pancakes to cure starvation.
"No offense Dax, you being our driver doesn't solve our job problem. Your one Fixer isn't working with us."
"Well do you guys have any suggestions?"
"N.C.P.D scanner hustles?"
"And get paid for helping the pigs."
"Look. You decide. I'm going to change out of these dungarees." Jade shook her head, leaving Dax to think, sitting on the rattler's hood scratching his head. "Do you know anyone?"
"No."
"Question, were you ever let out of Arasaka tower?"
"After I was deemed a non-threat."
"Meaning?
"Acceptable risk of cyber psychosis." Dax stroked his chin and snapped his fingers. "Now that's an idea. Tell me Six. You ever dealt with cyberpsychos?"
"Occasionally."
"Good. Because I found us a job." Dax leaped off the bonnet and began to tap into their phone for Yaiba tower calling Regina jones, only for the phone to carry on ringing. Dax hung up just to try again, and the phone this time rung for a shorter period of time, before it asked Dax to leave a message. "Ok we'll have to go to the job. You got your C.V ready?" Dax gently shoved Six their grin revealing a chipped smile.
"What's your plan?"
"See. What's the last thing you'd want to do?"
"Work in a factory?"
"No."
"Sewer work?"
"Also no."
"Accountant?"
"Ok I'll tell you. Hunt cyberpsychos, and Regina will pay us." Six lammed their fist into an open palm making a clank.
"We get paid well?"
"Wait…you'd prefer hunting cyberpsychos to accounting?"
"I'd get bored. Fighting ganics is too messy." Jade wandered out with Mox's brand Bitch clothing, ripped jeans, boots and an old edgerunner jacket over her jumper, looking between the two and instantly hunching over. This was going to be a pain. Dax was already behind the wheel and Six in the back. Jade sat in the passenger seat taking a deep breath.
"Dax…Is this going to be like last night?"
"No. This time we're getting paid." Dax pulled the car out and sped off down the road, only to be stopped by traffic.

Dax sounded his horn, peeking out the window.
"You got a Caliburn asshole! Use the car like you're supposed to." The city centre at rush hour were lines of cars filled with those trying to get into the centre for work and back home after a night shift. Leading to jams of slow-moving cars resembling a line of ants.
"So did you find us a job?" Jade reached out to the side of the vehicle, holding onto anything that didn't shake with the engine.
"Yes. I got us another fixer, Regina Jones."
"We're hunting cyberpsychos." Six pushed their head through the gap in the two chairs.
"Not a chance!" Jade reached for the door, opening it to get a honk from one of the cars going past, snapping the door shut. "What made you think this was a good idea?"
"It pays well, also look at Six. Easy money. All I have to do is drive you there and get a third."
"Whoa, whoa. You're not getting a third if you're just driving us there."
"Well what are you doing?"
"I made the deal with Six who's actually risking their life fifty-fifty." Six listened to the two and banged their head against the seat, causing Jade to jolt forwards.
"We split it into thirds equally, happy?" They leaned back as the discussion was halted. Six watched the walkers, suits and briefcases in hand. The sidewalks were wide enough for half a car. Their foot tapping on the floor. They'd just have to run over a few people.
"Six. You ok with it? You're the one risking your life?"
"So long as you get your rent, Dax gets their truck back and Arasaka don't take my pay. I'm cool." The car continued to crawl forwards in silence. Dax turned on the Radio to Morro rock. Jade changed it to Pacific dreams.
"You can't just touch a mans car." Dax turned it back to Morro.
"Can we at least not have Samurai on. It's a bit early for them don't you think?" Back to pacific.
"It's never too early For Samurai. The dial turned to Morro, Pacifi,Morro,Pacific. Six pushed through the two and reached for a dial, grabbing onto it and twisting it to Body heat F.M Pon Pon shit playing on the radio, both audibly groaned. Six was in the back banging their head to 'Laser pop scop' as Dax put it.

The cameras saw the rattler park outside the tower and Dax crawl out of the car, groaning. Jade crawl out the window and Six nearly broke the car slamming the door shut. Six looked towards the alleyway populated with junkies leaning against redbrick buildings. No chance that was Yaiba tower, turning around to see a monument to what Watson was meant to be. A dagger trying to stab into the sky. The tallest building in Watson that wasn't a megabuilding. Abandoned. The windows were boarded with metal shutters.
"You guys sure this is the right place?" Six crossed the road, knocking on the door, no response. "Shouldn't a fixer's place be a little less, crap?"
"Good luck finding that in Watson." Jade pressed the intercom, as it began to ring. A remnant from the tower's days as a planned apartment complex.
"You sure The fixer's here?" Six turned to Dax.
"Well Regina's not the type to accept a walk in. She usually calls us."
"So call her? "Six tapped their foot as Dax tried to call Regina getting nothing.
"She never gave me her number." Six jammed their hands into the door, fingers searching for a nook to get a grip, one that was found Six's arms cranked as the mechanical joints pried the door open, making a small gap, enough for Six to get their hands through, the door sparking getting it wide enough to see the mounted Millitech H.M.G. Six's synaptic accelerators pulsed, able to get them out the way as a few rounds were fired off. The door slammed shut, even then the fifty calibre rounds shredded through the metal, and even drilling into the wall.
"Anyone know another way inside?" The speaker crackled to life. Regina's voice coming through.
"Get lost. I got no jobs for you Dax, or your friends."
"That's cool" Dax ducked under the holes in the door, swapping to the cover with the inter-com. "We're here to help with your psycho problem." The receiver cut out Dax lowered their head. "Well, we tried." Dax wandered out the alley, until his collar was grabbed. Six used their free hand to point to a window.
"What about that?"
"A window? A two-story high window?"
"What if I threw you."
"Then I'd rebound off the shutter and fall to my death."
"Got a grenade and some duct tape?"
"Blowing up a fixer's crib is a good way to annoy them."
"Should have let us in then."
"We're gonna need an E.M.P as well. Just in case Regina's got things on the other side, and something soft to land on. In case you miss" Six went out into the street, finding a trash bin, overflowing and attracting flies, perfect, and Six could only find a few needles in the trash bin. Jade watched Six force the trash can under the window. Jade watched the two 'plan' That involved throwing a grenade, throwing Dax, then some rope,
"Is this a good idea?"
"You got any other ideas to get us an audience with a fixer?"
"One with less explosives involved."
"Like?" Dax pulled their welding goggles over their head and reached in the rattler's trunk to grab an impromptu explosive.
"Why do you carry grenades in your car?" Jade's eyes widened, placing her back to the wall. A good ten metres away from the vehicle, behind another car.
"Technically it's an I.E.D."
"See. Planning. This is why Dax is a part of the group?"
"What if a car crashed into the back of us?" Jade's breathing became shallow. She could see it now. Gone in a fiery explosion because someone decided the trunk was a good place to store explosives. "How have you not killed yourself?"
"I dunno…Never really felt suicidal."
"There has to be another option?" Jade looked at the tower. "Have you even looked for another entrance?" Six and Dax looked at each other than to Jade, who pinched the bridge of her nose
"Old buildings like these have air-conditioning? Like in megabuildings, big enough for people to crawl through." Six hunched over and Dax had to put their grenade back. Explosions were swapped for something far less fun. The air-condition on the back of the building a large boz with a fan that rotated only when the wind hit it. Six aw it was still in the way.
"Ok so if we throw a grenade at that."
"No grenades. No I.E.D's., no molotov's. There's a way inside." Dax hid the grenade behind his back.
"We just need to break it." Jade watched Dax run off to the rattler to find what no Nomad could do without, a winch. Six also took care of the cameras with a well-placed brick.

Six was the one to throw the hook and have it miss. It would have been easier to just blow the thing up, but every time Six reached for something to make their life easier. Finally the hook latched onto the unit, already half falling off the unit, Dax drove back, with Six's arms yanking back, tearing the metal from the wall, revealing a vent.
"See, wasn't so hard? Now all we have to do is throw Dax into the vent." Jade turned around, her partners in crime had their eyes set on her.

The rope was folded over her body, by Dax. Six forced the trash bin again into a spot under the new entrance. Jade swallowed.
"Is Regina really that important a fixer?"

"Never try never know." Six placed a hand on Jade, her body locked, their scanners were revealing an elevated heart rate. "Ever flown before."
"Not even by plane."
"Exactly. So could enjoy flying." Six grabbed onto Jade's arm and yanked her body forwards, the boosters pushed out Six's leg as they jumped. The thrusters forcing Six far enough, aiming their throw, despite Jade's distracting screaming. She flew, her body ascending to the silver vent. Her hands clawing, scraping at anything they could get a hold of, scratching into the vent, her body dangling, hearing a loud crash from below. Jade kicked at the tower; her shoes unable to find any grip. Jade stared into the metal corridor, kicking and clawing, her body slinking inside, laying on her back taking deep breaths.

Down below Six poked their head out of the trash bin, the needles sticking out of their body made them look like a porcupine, still nothing compared to being shot.
"How are you doing up there Jade?" Six watched the vent, her legs still dangling. Humans couldn't die from shock, could they? Six's boosters charged again, they started to take another run up halted by Jade's voice.
"How do you think! I just got tossed into the air, and nearly fell to my death. How do you think I feel?"
"Excited?"
"No! Terrified. Screw you. I want out of this." Jade peaked her head out, making the mistake of looking down, and crawling back into the vent. Her body had to keep moving forwards guided by the lights in the vents. She kicked the panel down and dropped to an incomplete apartment. A concrete square, at least she was able to open the window. Attaching the hook to a door. Dax was launched through the window, colliding into the wall. The metal rope strained, under Six's weight, able to pull their body through the window. Standing up to observe a barren room.
"This really is a Fixer's place of operations?" The rooms were barren, and the corridor only had cameras in the, the only difference between the vents and the interior was that Jade could stand up straight.
"You ever been to Watson?" Jade cocked a brow.
"Konpeki plaza, never Kabuki."
"Well Kabuki's what happened when Arasaka ran everyone outta town." Jade looked out the back of the elevator with a window allowing for the sight of Watson, when the doors shut behind them. The elevator jolted, starting to ascend.
"They didn't run everyone out of town." Regina's voice came from the elevator panel, with numbers counting upwards. As the elevator raised Six could have one of the best views of Watson, extending all the way to the waterfront. The Arasaka logo on a giant rooftop, covering a quarter of Watson. "They built their hotel, built their port, then constructed a wall and let everything around it rot."
"Take it that's why no one likes Saka around here?" Six's optics scanned along the water seeing huts made of scrap along the water on the other side of the island. The door opened and Six stepped onto the top floor, three red dots merged on their chest aimed by heavy weapons, Regina behind them.
"Wasn't the turret on and locked door enough of a hint?"
"We're just here for a job."
"I know." Regina moved her pistol to Dax. "I said get lost didn't I?"
"Six can handle whatever job you give him." Dax hid behind Six, the closest thing to a shield." He's on Rogue's board."
"I heard. Arasaka merc charges into the afterlife. I don't work with Arasaka." Jade's arms quivered her voice quiet, just loud enough to be heard.
"Can we talk without the guns? Please."
"And leave myself defenseless?" Jade's hands slipped into Six's jacket reaching for their pistol and throwing it on the floor. Shooting Six a look before they could comment, only able to open their mouth. Looking towards Dax. "Weapons, on the floor." Dax placed their shotgun on the floor kicking it across
"And the Mantis blades?"
"We're not here to kill you."
"The rule still stands. I don't work with Arasaka."
"Why not?"
"Bad luck to sell-out
"You won't. We need money, we're here for the money. Willing to do anything."
"Even those suicide missions." Dax spoke from behind Six." Regina walked back to her desk, looking at the computer, no sign of movement as she grabbed a burner phone from her desk, throwing it to Jade who dropped it.
"Here are the rules. Jade is my point of contact. Not Dax and not the Suit. I give you jobs. You do not and I repeat do not. Come to me without permission, or the turrets will be on shoot on sight." Jade picked up the phone just in time, the elevator doors slammed shut, descending.

Not sure how I feel about this chapter.

On one hand it is contributing to a larger story idea I've thought of but this seems like wasting time.

It was better than my last idea at least that WAS actually a waste of time.

After a few re-writes I decided to just post it, see what the wider world thinks.

Also think it shows the chemistry and a little bit more of the group dynamic and personality. I think I need to slow down and go less break neck. Let the characters breathe.