"Tell me again who gave you this job?" Lucy said, David knew she was crossing her arms even over a voice call.
"Kirk." David said as he dropped down into the side entrance to Embers.
"Mhm." Lucy deadpanned, "And how badly did you hit your head today that makes you think you can trust a gonk like that?"
David chuckled softly, trying not to draw attention to himself.
"Don't trust him either." he said placatingly, "I'm doing this to help out a buddy of my mom's."
Lucy fell silent at that, so David continued.
"Always used to look out for me and mom. Would drive us home if she fell asleep at the bar." he said, soft smile on his face. "He owes Kirk, I took a job to settle the debt and square away some extra enny's for the moon trip."
Lucy let out an irritated groan. "You and that hero complex of yours." she sighed, "Just make sure you come back to me, okay?"
"Always." David grinned, "We still good for lunch?"
"Sorry, dinner ok? This job is looking like it'll take us a while longer." Lucy said.
David furrowed his brow at that. As he slipped into the sterile corridor of the club's garage, he internally pondered what could have delayed her that much.
"That's fine, is it-"
"No, don't think it's actually Bartmoss." Lucy said, "Least, I don't think it is. Still, if there's even a chance it might be, I want to be prepared. Think I managed to narrow down the sig though. Me and Kiwi are going to check it out right now."
David hummed to himself. He understood, anything to do with the Old Net, DataKrash or the Rogue AI's hiding beyond the Blackwall troubled his netrunner. He suspected it was mostly for peace of mind rather than any legitimate danger, more reassurance that she didn't need to run, that her past was behind her.
Still, it was relieving to hear she wasn't going alone. With her former mentor-turned Netrunning partner at her back, David didn't think it was possible for her to be any safer handling Net related dangers.
"Alright," he said, "Dinner it is. Gotta go, call you later?"
"Of course." Lucy said, "Love you."
"Love you too."
David rapped his knuckles against the counter, the man behind the wire grate looking up from his Screamsheet.
"Help you?" he droned.
"Kirk sent me." David murmured, looking around to make sure they were alone.
"Watch your footwork!" Jackie barked as he lunged forward, gloved fist striking at where David's head would be.
Ducking deftly under it, David threw two punches at the larger man's midriff, his gloved fists bouncing off with minimal impact.
"Here he comes again!" Vik called out from the side of the ring. "Keep your arms up!"
He saw the strike coming, Vik's constant maintenance of his Sandevistan had benefits outside the immediate, it seemed. He felt lighter, faster than he could ever believe, and this was without any enhancement the Sandy actually provided.
Taking two leisurely steps back, David drew back a fist. Breathe in, Breathe out. Lunging forward again, his fist rocketed forward, colliding with Jackie's temple.
The large man reeled from the blow, David stumbled, trying to catch himself.
Wham.
Jackie had thrown another fist, far faster than David had anticipated.
David dropped to his knees, clutching his gut. He gasped for air. Jesus, the hell does he eat to throw punches this hard.
"And it looks like the round goes to the Jackster." Viktor chuckled, helping the younger man to his feet.
David shook himself off, trying to ignore the sting of defeat.
A bottle entered his vision, turning to face the person holding it, David smiled as Lucy gave the bottle a small, impatient shake.
Taking the bottle and pressing a kiss to her forehead, David drank deeply.
Ah. Carbonated.
He mock glared at his netrunner, she merely winked at him, strolling back over to take a seat at the side of the ring.
"Alright, Kid." Viktor brought his attention back. "Guess now's a good time for a lesson."
Jackie chuckled, "C'mon Vik. You're gonna fry the poor kid's gray matter!"
"Well, say you were gonna have a proper boxing match." Viktor continued, ignoring Jackie's ribbing, "And the Jackster there was your opponent. Tell me what's going through your head."
David hummed, thinking. Taking another sip of the bottle, he grimaced.
"Well, he's bigger than me." David began, "Stronger too, and with more reach."
"Go on." Viktor gave a small grin, an encouraging one.
"But... He's not as fast as I am." David furrowed his brow, what else. "And he likes to throw bigger punches."
"Hey, think he's getting it." Jackie whistled, "But did he just call me fat?"
"And if you wanted to exploit that?" Viktor prodded, "How would you do it as you are now."
"I'd... I'd get in close, force him to keep backing off." David muttered, deep in thought. "I don't land big hits anyway, I'd need to be fast, and hit him a lot of times and keep him off balance."
Lucy watched this unfold, a smile on her face. She felt like a weight was lifting from her shoulders, the burden of knowing the young, reckless boy she had fallen for would get killed by a merciless city. Now that possibility seemed like just that, a possibility. A troubling thought that only grew fainter and fainter as her love continuously took advice and lessons from more experienced mercenaries.
"I'd use the Sandevistan if he's got me in a bind, reposition myself somewhere to give myself some time to breathe." there was a gleam in David's eyes now, the pieces were falling in to place. "And I'd wait for him to slip up, save everything for a single opportunity."
"Sounds like he's got the hang of it." Valerie said, as she placed down several boxes filled with pistols, rifles and shotguns as if they were empty. Behind her, V huffed as he placed down a single box, filled with knives, katanas and a baseball bat.
David furrowed his brow again, "But that's just Jackie, I don't see how this helps me in the long run."
"Maybe he doesn't have the hang of it." V chuckled.
"Jackie's just the example, kid." Viktor said, "Lucy?"
"What's up?" the netrunner snapped back to reality, had she been zoning out thinking of David? That's embarrassing.
"Describe how you'd operate if you were in a firefight, will ya?"
"David knows how I do things." Lucy stated.
Viktor smiled, "Yeah well, the rest of us don't, just humor me."
Lucy tented her fingers, thinking.
"I hack." she stated plainly, "That takes time. I carry iron with me but... I've got a slow hand, and my aim isn't anything to brag about."
She looked up, "So I hide from people I can't hit, and anyone that gets too close?" she flicked her wrist, her monowire shooting out in a spiral, "I'll cut 'em to pieces."
"Outstanding." Viktor said, grinning, "See, kid? That exercise wasn't about you looking for Jackie's weaknesses, it was about getting you to think about what you can and can't do."
The gleam had returned to Davids eyes, the final piece fitting in to place.
"Just because you're mostly 'ganic, just because you can't tear a car apart with your bear hands like some other people can." Viktor said, patting David on the shoulder, "That doesn't mean you have to get those same implants, it just means you find a different way to fight."
"I think... I think I get it." David said, grinning confidently.
"Then I guess you don't mind if I ask to be your next sparring partner?" Valerie stepped forward, dusting off her new implants.
David eyed what chrome he could see, immediately trying to put Viktor's advice into practice.
"Sure thing." he grinned.
"Alright." Viktor clapped, "First good hit that either of you land decides the winner. All the chrome you got is all the chrome you can use."
"No problem." Valerie grinned, slamming her fists together with a resonant thump.
"Fine by me." David grinned back, tenacious as ever.
"Val..." Viktor sighed, "Try not to punch his head off or anything? I'm a good ripper but I can't fix... death..."
Valerie lunged forward, throwing a quick fist. David ducked, using his hands and feet to scramble behind the woman.
She's got Arasaka Strong-Arms. He mused, mind racing. And she's fast.
He tilted his head to one side, another fist rocketing past his head. His eyes narrowed.
But... Another swing flew wide, Valerie stumbled at the overswing.
I don't think she's good at adjusting her footing.
"You gotta land a hit to win, chico!" Jackie called out.
"C'mon David!" V called out, "Show us what you've got!"
Lucy said nothing, she didn't need to say anything. Her eyes met his and he understood.
Another fist came his way, this time he kicked off the ground, darting to one side and-
David yelped as Valerie grabbed his jacket by the collar, wrenching him closer.
Her fist was shooting towards his face, he couldn't dodge in time. What could he do? How could he fight?
Breathe in, breathe out.
As Valerie's fist got closer to him, it began to slow rapidly.
Breathe in, breathe out.
She had a firm grip on his jacket, he doubted speed could provide him with the force to break free. But what if he could turn that against her?
David slipped out of his jacket, grabbing the reinforced hem in a firm, tight grip.
Go fast, go hard. He mentally prepared himself.
He kicked off the ground, shooting past Valerie. Low to the ground, he brought his jacket with him.
As he predicted, Valerie didn't have the best footwork. Once the jacket grew taut, fighting against the two mercenary's grips, Valerie was slowly yanked off her feet, her own iron grip being the anchor to her undoing.
Breathe out.
Valerie was in the middle of an a flip, her expression shifting from focus to shock.
Breathe out.
Landing hard on her back, she had barely a moment to take a breath before David flicked her on the forehead.
"I think..." David panted, "I win?"
V, Jackie, Viktor and Lucy all stared at him, eyes wide in shock. Clearly they hadn't expected him to come out on top against a more seasoned and chromed out opponent.
"I mean," he grinned confidently, "I didn't really hit her hard, but I think that counts."
"Kid, that was incredible" Viktor laughed, shock wearing off. "How'd you come up with that?"
"Had a feeling." David said plainly. At that, Viktor, V and Jackie exploded into laughter, Valerie brushed herself off.
"Not bad, David." she conceded. "Got some damn good instincts."
Lucy gave him a quick peck on the cheek, though the heat in her eyes made something deep in David's gut clench.
"Well, those are the basics." Viktor said, clapping him on the back. "Now you just need to hone that major league intuition of yours."
"Now it's time to get you some proper iron, chico!" Jackie said, picking up one of the boxes. V took a deep breath and did the same.
"Yup." V grunted, "Time to get you sorted with a gun that feels right for you."
David swallowed, between sorting out his loadout and the heated looks Lucy was still giving him, he had a feeling he was in for a long, long day.