Chapter Four:
"Crew I'd like to introduce you all to Ryan, as of now he's one of us." Maine declares to the whole group. "Let me you introduce you to the family."
"Urg we agreed no more strays, Maine I hope he can handle himself." Sighs the older female with blonde hair.
"This grumpy thing over here, is my Input, Dorio." Smiles Maine giving her a parting kiss. "This tall quite one you meet before, that's Kiwi, she a bit rough around the edges. David you also know. Our trusted wheelman Falco, he was pointed to the older male who drove us here."
"Good acting back there kid," Falco congratulate me.
"This tiny spunky, trigger-happy runt is Rebecca." He pointed to the short girl with pale blonde hair in ponytails, she had a bore red and green eyes.
"What's shaking Choom," she said grabbing and shaking my hands very tightly. This small girl has a tremendous strength to her. Note to self never piss the pipsqueak off.
"We recently lost her brother Pilar, he was great guy. And lastly, this here is Lucy." Maine said pointing to the girl with pastel rainbow dye hair sitting next to David."
"It's nice to meet you all, I'll do my best to be as productive as possible."
"What he said." Mottly spoke aloud, the only ones not caught off guard are David and Kiwi as they first heard him speak.
"Yeah this Mottly, an AI construct linked to my neural interface. He's the only thing remaining of my father's work." I say scratching the back of my head.
"Awesome, you think I can get one?" Beams Rebecca with a mischievous smile.
"Arasaka has all the research either locked away or burned." I say softly letting her down.
"Dorio and I have a delivery to make, David you're in charge of catching him up to speed." Maine spoke up, grabbing Dorio ass and leading her out of the garage.
Santo Domingo: Rancho Coronado.
David and I left the garage with Lucy in tow, as we head for the N-Kart station. The cold night air nips at my face and neck, I was dressed for desert weather, when I realize my car is back cross the Border.
"Urg this pedestrian life is for the birds." Mottly bitches out loud.
"Like we had a chance to break for our car. I swear if you'd have a face I would punch it."
"I'm so scared Ryan, sides you hit like a girl. No offense Lucy."
"None... Taken...?" She replies awkwardly. Waiting for the Tram, the air smells off, guess it's that Santo Domingo charm.
"Honestly I'm spent, I'm in no mood to talk biz." David yawns. "Might as well exchange numbers, I'll make sure the others receive it.
We exchange numbers and at first Lucy was hesitant to but gave in at the end. I understand that skeptical nature of her's. The Tram was due to pull in anytime.
"Same, given all things that transpired today well having sleep for dinner has to be the lowest point of the day." I grunt rubbing my stomach.
"Where do you live if you mind me asking?" Lucy turns to me ask.
"For the time being the No-Tell-Motel Room 304 in Watson around Kabuki. Today's gig would of been the first step of many of dragging myself out of poverty."
"Here it ain't much, but it should tide you over." David spoke up passing me a small bill of Eddie's. It was a total of a hundred Eurodollars.
"No David, I couldn't." I look at him trying to hand him back the money.
"I insist, I am in charge of you aren't I." He says with a cool smile.
"Reckon you're correct." The Tram rolled into the station, it was Watson bound, so I nod and wave at the pair stepping in the middle car. "Gotta Delta." I say as the door's shut.
The station blurs by as the neon lights of the inner city illuminate the night scape.
"They seem nice, decent at best." Mottly said in my head.
"Yeah, now maybe we'll be raking in decent money to look after ourselves and our new comrades." I reply as I lean back into my seat.
"I'm starving, how about we grab a bite to eat before getting home?"
"No your are not Mottly, you can't feel hunger. Beside at this time the vendor's are closed. So for now it's just a Burrito from the vending machine in the lobby."
"Gross." Mottly fake gags.
"But you're not to one who has to force it down, so hush." I say scolding him.
Mottly is like annoying older brother with a dash of a little brother rolled in one. He can be deadly serious and protective, to childish and immature in a matter of seconds. If only I could unplug him. I laugh to myself with that devious thought.
Watson: No-Tell-Motel
With the Burrito nuking up in the microwave, I kick off my sneakers and rip off my T-shirt tossing it over a chair. Home was a very cramped hotel room with a musty and stained bed, from God knows what. At least I'm able to wash the blankets and comforter. A rough sofa with springs ready to snag the unexpecting victim. And a small TV monitor. Of course it doesn't work.
Grabbing the Burrito from the microwave, I blow on it to cool it down. I end up eating in two bites, the taste of synthetic meat never gets better. No matter how much you shove it down one's gullet. Reaching for a half empty N-Cola can I guzzle the flat soda down before stretching back on the couch, as I listen to the pitter patter of the incoming rain. Glad I was able to not get caught up in that.
Soon I feel my eyes grow heavy as I crawl for my bed, throwing myself under the blankets like a human Burrito, I settle in for the night.
"Night Ryan..." Is the last whispering words I hear from Mottly.
Ring Ring Ring. I roll around to avoiding the noise that's pulling from my sleep. It stops.
Ring Ring Ring, it starts up again. But it ceases once more. My body eases back into slumber.
CRUNCH! I jolt awake to the sound of metal being pulled.
"Raise and shine sleeping beauty. I've got you first gig lined up." I hear a loud thunderous voice. I quickly rub the sleep out of my eyes to see Maine standing beside my bed. With this wide smile on his face.
Day One Start!