Chapter Three:
Southern Border Crossing- 1.5 Miles to Night City.
"Alright everyone act causal, Border Crossing ahead." The driver said.
"I'm removing the gun, no suddenly moves we clear?" The chick spoke with an air of lingering hostility.
"Crystal!" I said in pure deadpan.
"Guy's ease up, he knows how to behave," David said to his crew.
"I guess thanks for giving the benefit of the doubt." I sigh.
The Southern Border was a well known export route for smuggling contraband and trafficking objects, hell people for that fact. Sadly it was one of the only ways in or out of the City.
The easy part is getting out of Night City, that's a entirely different ball game coming back in. Look an inspector the wrong way, if your car smells funny. Shit even if it's a color they don't like, there going to pull you over. Either for questioning or entire sweep of the vehicle.
"Any one have eddies to bribe the inspectors with? Ask Mottly bringing up a valid concern.
"You don't think?" Shutters the girl.
"Easy Choomba I've been a driver far longer than anyone of you been alive." The driver replies pacifying the situation.
Third in line, and it seems like they got the real picky gawnks have at the border today.
Eventually we pull up, and the van is scanned. The inspector knocks on the window, the driver obliges by rolling it down.
"Good afternoon Choom, just coming back from a family outing."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"I believe that getting out in nature makes for a happy family unit, right kids."
We all quickly agree.
"You expect me to believe all three of them are your kids, it's an unlikely story."
"See we have my eldest daughter, Mimi, my oldest son Diego and his brother Saul. We adopted Diego." The driver said laughing and shooting the shit.
"Dad can we get Buck-A-Slice, I'm hungry." I said In a playfully voice.
"Sure son, whatever you like. But we really shouldn't keep your mother waiting, she's expecting us home before too late." He played along.
"Alright, head on through." The border inspector let us pass and we drove back on to the main road.
Suddenly the gun's pointed back at my head.
"Seriously?" I turn to face her rolling my eyes.
As we ride along what I expect to be Pacifica, the road gets bumpy and nauseating. Although I couldn't tell.
The van comes to a stop, the driver gets out, David opens the door and the chick leads me into a garage. The place was decked out. Music played over head and people whom ever they are watched as I was escorted into a different room.
"Sit and don't move, otherwise." She leers at me directing me to behave.
"Yeah yeah."
I do as I'm told and sit on a small wooden chair, I can hear distant chatter from the distance.
"Look what you've gotten us into." Mottly said seriously pissed off.
"If they wanted to kill us, we'd be dead genius." I argue back with him.
Next thing I know a tall heavily built dark skin male steps into the room, alone. He places one huge gun on the table the other in his hand firm.
"So first things first, who do you work for?" He said taking the seat opposite of me. He didn't show any weakness only utter domination and control of the situation.
"Some bit rate Fixer by the name of, Drake Mastiff. Said I could smash some Saka goons and I could get paid by retrieving the tech being exchanged during the meet." I said honest and forthrightly. No room for bullshiting around, this Goliath of man scares the crap out of me.
"First, what is the tech, do you know what it is or how it operates."
"No."
"Second, why the Arasaka hate, only fool's try tangoing with them, and the even the best of the best rounded up dead by the end of it."
"They used and killed my father. Took all his research, disregarded his will for me, and left me for dead. Does that answers your question!" I snap back at him, forgetting my place in this mess.
"Oh..." He said and we sat in silence for a moment. "Your playing with fire kid, if you want to survive out here, holding on to a grudge is a fool's errand.
"Who says I ain't a fool?" I counter.
"Alright you wanted to retrieve an object from reaching Arasaka and we needed to bring back an Arasaka VIP with us. But seeing how biz got handle let's see if you're Fixer in a bargaining mood?" He said.
Drake Mastiff- Outgoing Call.
"Where are you, Arasaka and Kang Tao are up in arms over what little stunt you pulled-"
"Your Merc can't come to the phone, you're dealing with Maine now, we have him and the object you seek. How much are willing to part for the object?"
"Hmm- I know who you are Maine, and I know you aren't the one for games. Twenty-Six hundred eddies." I hear him declare, that's nowhere near what I was getting paid for this gig. Cheap bastard.
"That's acceptable, now how much for the kid?"
"Do what you will with him, he failed me, he's of no use. I'll be sending you drop location. You'll see your cash soon enough."
The call ends, and my heart drops. I have no use, and now with nothing tethering to be set free, I suck up my resolve and accept what's coming to me.
"Sorry kid, but that's biz," he said standing up, his gun pointed directly at my face.
"Yeah I understand." I say standing up and turn to let him shoot me in the back of the head. "Ready when you are. Fire away."I expect a loud thunderous bang, agonizing pain. Then nothing but void and stillness. But nothing...
"What the hell you doing, c'mon." He says.
"Yeah I get it, don't wanna stain your nice place with blood and viscera. We can do this outside."
"Kid, the hell's wrong with you?"
"Oh don't play coy with me, at least let me die with some dignity intact."
"Kill you...?" Maine broke out a roarful laughter. "Your a funny one, you know that. Kill you? Hahahah."
"You're not?" I mutter softly holding back warm tears, it's not everyday I cry.
"You said it yourself, and from one Saka hater to another. If you're gonna swing at them, you can't do it alone. You're gonna need a crew. Besides I'm pretty sure that trash mouth Fixer going to spread your name ragged. Doubt you'll find work anytime soon, so what do you say. Ummm...?"
"Ryan, sir."
"Sir? I'm not an old man, call me Maine, just like the rest. C'mon might as well break the news to everyone." Maine laughs putting his huge muscular arm over my shoulder, leading out of that dusty room and back out into the main area where everyone sat starring at me as if I head three heads..
A/N: Thanks for all the likes and followers and overall support. I'm sorry this chapter might be meh, but I just wanted to upload it so I can plot out the rest of the story.